Archive for the ‘home design’ Category
Home Lighting: Going Green with LED
Home Lighting: Going Green with LED
More and more home, apartment and office owners are looking for ways to go green. The benefits not only improve the quality of our environment, but they also make for significant tax deductions at the end of the year. As energy efficiency is becoming more prevalent in household lighting and home lighting design is becoming more popular, it is no surprise that LED lights are coming to the forefront as a leading choice for illumination.
We are all familiar with the traditional incandescent light bulb. These bulbs are filled with a gas and then a filament is stretched across the inside. When electricity is run across the filament, it heats up to often very high temperatures. The bulb’s glow is a result of the filament heating up. The heat is a result of wasted energy. Incandescent bulbs also suffer from inherent fragility. These lights weaken over time as the heat separates atoms from the whole and causes thin spots in the filament. Eventually these thin spots will break and you will need to replace the bulb.
An alternative light to the incandescent is the halogen bulb. In a halogen bulb the envelope that holds the filament is a lot smaller, made of quartz and is filled with a halogen gas. These bulbs can burn a bit brighter and will last for longer periods of time. It is halogen lighting that is currently used quite often by movie theaters, television studios and movie sets. These bulbs are still heat inefficient, however. The most common halogen light used for indoor and outdoor home lighting is the twelve volt MR16 halogen light.
The LED, light-emitting diode, bulb is a culmination of the best of both the incandescent and halogen worlds but with the efficiency that neither can provide. In an LED bulb, the science on which it is based is completely different from the other two options. There is no filament and very little heat. The light source is a diode that emits light when electricity is applied. This mechanism for creating light allows for much lower energy use, brighter light, and longer lasting bulbs.
One of the most common LED home light bulbs available is the LED Lenser Leflector. These bulbs can replace any halogen bulb up to twenty watts. The leflector can burn continuously for more than 50,000 hours before needing to be replaced. That is more than five years of continuous use and over thirty years if the bulbs burn an average of four hours a day. LED home bulbs are over ninety percent more efficient than a halogen bulb and can be operated for pennies a year. These features make them perfect for moving your home – kitchen, living room, game room; you name it – to a more environmentally conscious dwelling.
Outdoor applications for LED lights are many. They work well for outdoor accent lighting because of the many color options available and can be adjusted to be both spotlights and security flood lights.
Updating light fixtures in a home or office is an excellent way to reduce household costs, save energy and at the same time improve upon your home lighting design.
~Ben Anton, 2008
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Home Interior Painting 101
A new coat of paint can refresh and revitalize any room in your house. Paint is also a very cost effective way to change the look of a room. The best part about interior painting is that almost anyone can do it—all you need is the right material and a little bit of knowledge.
Painting Supplies
Your supply needs will vary depending upon the room that you are painting and the type of paint that you are using, but here is a basic list to get you started:
• Paint. After you choose a color, you will also need to choose a finish. The finish determines how shiny the paint will be. Choices include flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. Flat finish is hard to wipe clean and should only be used in low traffic areas that will not attract dirt. Satin, eggshell, and semi-gloss finishes are easy to wipe clean and can be used almost anywhere. Gloss finish is very shiny and is best reserved for small areas such as trim or molding.
• Paint Applicators. Paint rollers and brushes are necessities. A good paint roller can paint an entire room. Choose one that has a fair amount of nap to it– the thicker the better. When it comes to brushes, everyone has their own individual preference. A small angle brush works well for trim and corners. A three inch flat brush or a paint pad will work well for the places that a paint roller can not reach.
• Miscellaneous Supplies. In addition to paint and paint applicators, you may also need drop cloths, cleaning rags, paint trays, spackling, sandpaper, and a putty knife (if your walls are damaged and need repair), and a ladder or stepladder. The ladder will need to be sturdy and stable to support your movements. Try choosing a ladder with a wide base or a flared bottom like on a Little Giant Ladder.
Painting Tips
When painting, the most important thing you can do is take your time. If you move too fast, things could get sloppy. Also important, is the prep work. Your painting project will go much smoother if you are properly prepared prior to painting. Here are some tips that can help:
• Make sure that you have everything you need by organizing all of your supplies before you start painting.
• Protect your furniture from paint splatters by moving it or covering it up.
• Use low-tack masking tape to tape off baseboards and trim. Remove the tape before the paint dries.
• Paint the walls before painting trim or woodwork.
• Do not apply a second coat of paint until the first coat has dried.
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Home decor planning
Before you do anything to change your home decor - whether it’s just one room or the entire house, ask yourself (and others in your family, if it’s a group decision), what do you want to accomplish. Is it just to get a fresh look with a new color on the walls, or is it to really throw out the old and start all over again?
If it’s a new wall color you’re considering, make sure the paint you purchase will compliment your existing furnishings. Don’t rush out to your nearest home supply store and purchase a can of paint because it’s on sale or your think the color will do. Get several paint swatches and bring them home.
In fact, many stores now have sample jars of paint that enable you to actually paint a small portion of you wall to see how that particular color works with your scheme. Get several and paint them on the wall, let them dry and view these colors in different light; i.e., daylight and artificial light to determine which color really does enhance your room’s furnishings.
A color that looks really great during the daylight hours can look entirely different in artificial light. So, do your homework and you’ll be pleased with the new look.
Even if it is just a new paint job!
There’s really no one ideal way to start a home decorating project. You can get the bug by looking at a magazine and imagining some home decorating ideas, or seeing a beautiful fabric in a store and suddenly feeling that yours just doesn’t match up.
Go online to get some really great home decorating ideas and cost saving tips. Also, the many online merchants allow you the luxury of cost comparisons without leaving your home. You’ll be able to find casual and formal furniture as well as creative decorating ideas for any room in your home.There’s a wealth of information available to you, including books on decorating, accessories—from lamps to rugs and from throw pillows to wallpaper. You’ll find some extraordinary ideas for children’s rooms, bathrooms, living rooms and even outdoor rooms.
Homework applies as well to major jobs. Consider what each room is used for and get furniture that’s appropriate. Chairs and couches for a family fun room would not necessarily be right for a formal living room.
Make sure you have proper measurements and diagrams of where windows and doors are located and, above all, have a decorating plan so that all items coordinated—from carpets to wall covering.
Whatever your reason is to tackle a decorating job, it is very important that you set your goals first. At the same time, you must establish your budget.
It’s all well and good to have very lofty home decorating ideas and goals when doing home decorating; however, your goals may have to be tempered by your budget. Develop your budget and establish a plan.
So, before you start pounding the pavement, going from one retail store to another, go online to see what’s available, determine pricing and see if your plan is a reasonable one.
You may be pleasantly surprised at the cost savings ideas that are presented that will enable you to add just the right touch to make your home decorating dreams come true and to make your home one that is truly unique, functional and beautiful.
Just follow good principles of decorating and use your imagination and good sense to achieve your desired look. The online resources are numerous, so check them out before you do any impulse buying.
Good luck on your decorating.
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Furniture Tips: How To Choose A Curio Cabinet
Curio cabinets have become a delight in themselves as they showcase your favorite things and mementos to friends and family, keep all your dear treasures in one place to admire them in wonderment everyday, or protect your growing collection of porcelain dolls from your 5-year old.
Curio cabinets started as places to keep curios – defined in the dictionary as curious or unusual objects of art or knickknacks and whatnots that are perhaps worthy of collecting because of their oddity. This definition could, of course, include silver spoons from Alaska, all assortments of wedding and christening favors, crystals, face masks from Africa and possibly even shrunken heads from the Amazons of Ecuador and Peru.
Nowadays, however, you can use curio cabinets for anything:
- Show off your family’s sporting interests by displaying your son’s bowling trophies next to your husbands autographed baseballs.
- House your priceless family heirlooms – such as, great grandma’s turqoise and silver comb, grandpa’s golden pen, mum’s old sapphire brooch which you wore on your wedding day and your son’s first baby photo.
- Or perhaps, protect from dust and grime the brass alto saxophone that you know you’ll learn to play one day in your retirement years.
But how do you choose the curio cabinet that’s just right for you? Ask yourself the following questions below and find out how.
Tips on how to choose a curio cabinet
1. The first question you should ask when buying a curio cabinet is: What kind of curios will I put in it? If it is a tall brass alto saxophone, then you need to get a tall, traditional curio cabinet with fitted glass doors to keep the dust out and with removable glass shelves to make room for your favorite musical instrument.
2. How much light is there at the spot where you are going to put your curio cabinet? Is it in the sunroom with plenty of natural light or is it in a dark corner of the house? If the latter then you need an illuminated cabinet to brighten the corner as well as provide accent lighting to your displays.
3. How big a space do you have for your curio cabinet?
- Is the space amply high and wide? Then you might want to get a traditional, dark cherry curio cabinet with generous measurements of 44W x 17D x 79H inches.
- If narrower, then a more contemporary curio cabinet with practical urban living measurements of 24W x 12D x 76H inches may be better.
- If low and wide such as in a family room or den, then a golden oak console curio cabinet measuring 56W x 13D x 30H inches is probably what you need.
- And if angled in a corner, you may want a curio cabinet that can be snugly placed in a corner and probably measuring around 28W x 16D x 72H inches.
4. The other question to ask is – Do you want to match the look of your curio cabinet with the other furniture in the room?
- If you want to maintain a traditional look, then you might want to choose from grand old fashioned designs with bevelling, hand-carved details and dark timber finishes.
- If the room is contemporary, then you might want the clean lines and lighter timber finishes of a more urbanized curio cabinet with lots of mirror and glass.
5. What type of wood or non-wood appeals to you?
- If affordability is a consideration and you do not mind the look of MDF or engineered wood, then you might choose a curio cabinet made of strenghtened pressed particle board and topped with timber veneer or laminate.
- If you feel that a solid wood curio cabinet sounds like a good investment, then you should get a curio cabinet made from the more popular oak or maple – hardwoods that can only gain character and charm as they age.
6. And last but not least, what is your budget?
- Are you prepared to splurge on a Louis XV-inspired Pulaski curio cabinet selling for $2000 so that you can have a spectacular accent piece that can transform your entire living room experience?
- Or do you just want a simple wall curio cabinet – one that you can get for $20 at ebay to put your dog figurine collection?
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Fountains – The Ultimate Garden Experience
Fountains are one of the most comforting and beautiful elements found in garden design. Any time you think of a world-class garden that you have seen and been impressed by, it almost certainly will include some sort of fountain or other water element. Whether it is in Italy, Japan, Spain or any other country, everyone around the world understands the need for a beautiful garden to also be a place of relaxation and meditation. Not just visually relaxing, but every bit as important if not more so — calming and soothing to the ear. Nothing accomplishes that more than water in motion.
The Japanese, especially, seem to have a deep understanding of how important water elements are because they blend it so magically with the calm of their beautiful and serene gardens. They immediately bring to mind Koi ponds and the art of Feng Shui.
The types of garden fountains today are almost endless. They include every material and every design imaginable. From indoor to outdoor, floor to wall, tabletop to pedestal; you will find them in virtually every natural and man-made substance known to man. Some of the most popular are natural stone, brass, copper, etched glass, slate and stainless steel.
If you have a large estate or lot, they are especially beautiful in ponds and lakes. On smaller lots, simple backyard fountains or swimming pool fountains can also be very attractive.
Something new to me and absolutely charming is a “rain chain”. You add them to your gutter system and they become linked funnels that channel the rain gently from the roof to the ground, sparkling and bubbling as it flows.
A favorite of mine is a small pedestal-type garden fountain made of either mosaic tiles or beautifully patterned ceramic. They can bring a delightful and unexpected burst of color and fun to an otherwise rather mundane rock or ground cover garden.
How to Choose the Right Style of Fountain for Your Home:
Contemporary – stainless, slate, or maybe a fountain sculpture that can double as a piece of art would all work well. Cascading, flat wall or free-standing fountains of a very simple “tablet” design are naturals for contemporary homes.
Eclectic (combines several styles and bold colors) – copper and granite would make good choices. Mosaic is also charming with this style home.
Asian (Feng Shui) – Stone, bamboo, ceramic, slate would all look great, and there are many specific styles for Asian designs that will perfectly complete the exotic look and feel of your fountain.
Traditional – Classic style fountains of stone or resin are great for traditional homes. Tiered garden fountains or wall fountains with scroll work or 18th century style designs with lions or gargoyles for example, look really great with traditional homes. Greek mythology or Italian themes are also perfect.
No matter what your budget, what your style, or what your space, nothing says style, sophistication and serenity more than a fountain.
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Elements of Interior Design Drapery
Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or “starting from scratch” with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements and are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.
Element #1: Space
Space defines the boundaries and sets the limits on the functional and decorative things you can do. Usually you will not determine the space; instead, you will be faced with the challenge of using the existing space effectively.
Element #2: Line
The lines in a room are second only to color in importance when it comes to setting the overall mood or feeling of a room. The lines of window fashions should support the dominant line of the room. In most situations, the dominant line is straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather than curved. Your choice of emphasizing the direction of lines will determine the mood you want to create.
• Vertical lines add height and dignity, creating a more formal atmosphere. Vertical lines also balance the horizontal lines found in most furniture.
• Horizontal lines tend to create a restful, informal feeling. They work well in casual rooms or as relief to the strong verticals of formal rooms.
• Diagonal lines attract attention and lead the eye. They can be disturbing unless supported by verticals or opposing diagonals.
• Curved lines add a softening effect and keep the room from becoming too stiff. Use curved lines with some restraint to keep the room from becoming too soft and overly feminine.
Element #3: Form
Lines that join together produce the form, or shape, of an object, which in turn impacts the overall feeling of a room. Straight lines create rectangles, square and triangles. Curved lines form circles and ovals. The rectangle is the most popular form and is often the dominant shape in a room. Triangles provide stability and curved shapes soften the contours of objects.
Element #4: Color
More than any other element, color can make a room beautiful. Color can set the mood. It can make a room warmer or cooler, larger or smaller. It can hide unsightly features or call attention to the center of interest. Even with the simplest furnishings, the proper use of color can transform a room.
Element #5: Texture
Texture is playing an increasingly important role in home decorating. Visual texture is a material’s apparent smoothness or roughness. To maintain and enhance a casual feeling, use fabrics that are more heavily textured, nubby or rough visual texture. Smooth, shiny surfaces such as silk, moiré, chintz and silk-like looks support a more formal feeling in a room.
Using several levels of complementary textures adds variety and maintains interest. However, it is a good idea to avoid dramatic contrasts in texture.