The value of stacked stone panels is derived from the alluring patterns that bring appeal to home surfaces. It is real natural stone in a great variety. Forget the many faux panels being sold and opt for the authentic durable natural stuff. They are easy to maintain and all you need to do is high pressure spray twice a year. In addition, you could brush the panels with a soft bristle brush. Avoid strong cleansers like ammonia and bleach or acidic substances.

If you seal the stacked panels each year, it retains the lustrous effect. Don’t forget to brush to get rid of dirt before the sealing. Then, scrub with a natural stone cleaner and warm water. Rinse and allow for drying for two hours before sealing. Make sure it is the right sealer. Check out some of the outdoor wonders!

Golden White Stone
Enhance the home value with stacked stone surfaces. Do you fancy the Golden White natural quartzite split-face panel with several sparkling tones of reds and grays, creams and golds? Appropriate for both the modern and traditional décor, such an exterior wall would elevate the appeal.

Amber Falls Stone
Stucco and shingles may not be enough decoration on the home exterior in comparison to stacked stone. Amble Falls that originates in quartzite, also has mica that results in the shine in the sunlight. Gray, rust and copper combine for that unique flavor.

Gray Oak 3D Honed
With outdoor living features getting so popular, imagine a grand fireplace out there, draped in stacked stone. Gray Oak 3D Honed is created from natural marble. A modern look comes from the midtone grays and clean lines. Create a welcome ambience when combined with the natural wood effect on the furniture.

Golden Honey
Fireplace lovers would take Golden Honey to heart. Natural quartzite reveals grays, whites and golds for a fascinating environment. Imagine a serene fireplace next to the pool, adjacent to the outdoor kitchen! Get set for a party under the stars.

Durango Cream
If you find a stacked stone feature wall or backsplash inviting, the Durango Cream travertine effect would be immensely effective. A modern approach with travertine would be exciting indeed. With the contemporary fetish for the outdoors, create your own mini resort for happy getaways without the journeys and the expenses. Cook and entertain out there!

Add great aura with the stacked stone durable panels to the home surroundings. It will weather the elements outdoors and bring a rare beauty. Check out many more cute options.

If you think you are sacrificing your lifestyle by living in a small home, you are making a mistake. Small house plans support eco-friendly living and consequently cuts down your overall expenditures.

Small home designs when well planned preserves the interest of the inhabitants. Whether you are living in a big or a small house, if not well designed, your living will not be comfortable and becomes restrictive. You can explore your creativity when it comes to selecting a suitable design in small home plans.

Here are offered some vital tips that can work wonders for you:

Adding a sunroom or a porch is a less expensive way to make your home look bigger and also improve your lifestyle. It is certainly one of the best ways to bring your outdoors inside your home. The “inside out” experience enhances comfort, style and brings in the openness and practically makes you forget that you are living in a small house.

To make the most of the liberating experience and attain best results, keeping in mind the aspects mentioned below will be helpful:

• The exterior living space can be accessed with double French doors.

• Floor of your room can be turned into a patio or deck. However, make sure what you do is safe and legal.

• Create shade with location and construction of the room.

• If possible, avoid air conditioning or heating and use fans and windows to enhance circulation inside the room.

• Indoor/outdoor furnishings and plants bridge gap between outdoor and indoor living.

You can attain a heavenly feel with creativity. You can create something that will not become a struggle and help you enjoy even in a small house plan.

So, with the right approach and planning you can simply turn the “insides out” of your home. You will love every bit of your stay with a planned approach.

Some of the other aspects that you can pay attention to make your home more livable are as follows:

• Try to keep the interiors open, rather than cutting it up.

• One or more rooms must extend walls to the exterior walls whenever possible.

• Eliminate the dining room and keep the kitchen big.

• Ensure plenty of windows in the living.

• Look for small house plans with larger, shared bathroom with a separate toilet room.

• Look for a detached garage with storage in the attic.

• Increase ceiling to 10 foot, instead of 8 foot.

• Use of vaulted ceilings instead of loft.

Designing a small house plan is not an overnight job. It involves planning, preparation, analysis, scheduling, organizing, buying and execution. If you feel it seems like an endless task, you can get in touch with architects online and find the best solution that suits your needs and requirements.

There is much excitement when the time comes to build the home of your dreams. However, without intentional planning, the process and result can turn into your worst nightmare. But you can minimize this risk by taking time to carefully plan things for your custom home design by working with your builder and thinking ahead. Here are some things you can do to ensure that your dream home becomes the reality you long for.

Designing the Home of Your Dreams

1. Work out as many details as possible before the first shovel of dirt is ever taken. From who will build the cabinets to paint colors and siding, there is no detail too small to plan in advance.

2. Don’t skimp on storage space. Take time to look over the blueprint carefully and look for space that can be converted into storage areas – especially hidden areas such as those underneath the staircase!

3. Buy the best quality home appliances your budget allows. They may cost more now, but it will save you money in the long run.

4. When buying tile for flooring or countertops, always buy an extra 15% so that you have plenty of pieces in case it is damaged during the build process or in the future when it might not be easily available.

5. Consider the HVAC system and your home needs carefully. Talk to a few local heating and air specialist to determine what type of set up will get you the biggest value for your investment. This is one of the decisions to make prior to the building!

6. Splurge only on the things that you truly feel you cannot live without, but don’t cut corners on structural components, doors or windows.

7. Pay attention to the bottom line. You don’t want to be surprised when all the numbers are tallied.

8. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Look for unique items such as decorative doors, windows, flooring and light fixtures at salvage stores, demolition sites, and yard sales. Many times you can have structural elements for free, if you are willing to haul the items away.

9. Don’t over-build for the neighborhood. Rather your much larger home adding value, you will actually loose value should you decide to sell later on.

10. Have the laundry room convenient to the bedrooms. This will save you time in the future.

Working closely with your custom home builder means a result that meets- if not exceeds- your dream home’s plans. Take the time to talk to local home builders and the people for whom they have built homes for to ensure that your home is everything you want it to be. Then, get ready to enjoy your custom home

Whether you want additional space, a link between the garden and the home or a place to entertain, a conservatory can be a great addition to the home.

If you are planning on adding a conservatory, there are a few things you should remember to ensure you make the most of this new room.

Conservatory or sunroom?

The first thing to decide is whether you want a conservatory or a sunroom.

This may affect planning applications and the cost of building the extension, but the decision should be made based on what is more in keeping with the existing building. You do not want an extension that looks out of place.

Heating options

If you are planning on using the conservatory as a spot to entertain, you want to be able to maximise the space available.

Underfloor heating allows you to create a warm, welcoming environment without having to install radiators or other bulky heaters.

You will then be able to use the additional space for furniture or simply for extra floor space.

Radiant heat, used by underfloor heating, naturally heats colder objects first.

Conventional central heating uses air circulation, which can result in temperature variation throughout the room.

The fact that underfloor heating is invisible will also fit in more with a conservatory, where there is bound to be more emphasis on natural materials.

Using light

If you plan to use the conservatory in the evening, you should also consider lighting options.

Soft lights tend to work better in spaces like conservatories, so consider spotlights, table lights or uplighters or downlighters.

These will complement the natural light, without overpowering it.

Choosing materials

The choice between glass or plastic is a very important part of planning a conservatory.

If you pick glass, make sure this is toughened. Ideally it should be a double-glazed, specialist safety glass. The glass should also be laminated.

This will improve security and will also reduce the strength of the sun’s rays, so you won’t need to cool the conservatory in the height of summer.

Polycarbonate sheeting will most likely be used for the roof if you go for the plastic option.

Maintaining your conservatory

Cleaning the conservatory can be a challenge, but there are steps you can take during the planning stage to make this easier.

The roof should have a slope of at least 25 degrees. If it is shallower, rain water and debris is less likely to slide off.

If you choose an aluminium frame for the conservatory, this will also reduce maintenance time.

When you hire an architect to design your house the design process goes through a series of steps. Here are the steps:

Site analysis

The architect visits the site of construction and surveys it in order to come up with a plan. If you had a design in mind before, the professional will let you know whether it will look good on your location. The professional will also let you know the changes that you need to make to the original design.

Depending on the size and look of the plot, the architect will let you know where the doors, exit, fence and other amenities will be located.

Information gathering

Once the professional has visited the site he/she will research as much as he/she can about the constructions allowed in the area. The professional will research to know the designs, stories, amenities and materials allowed in the area. After finishing the research he/she will call you and let you know of the developments made.

Schematic design phases

This is the most recognized phases in the design of houses. The architect puts the house ideas into paper and draws the floors, elevations and other house features. To make it easy for you to understand how the house will look like, he/she creates 3D images.

To proceed to the next step, the professional presents the schematic drawings to you and you should thoroughly go through them and make the necessary changes.

After verifying the drawing, the architect now develops permit documents. The professional refines the drawings and puts everything into place. The professional also puts together a team of consultants. The consultants are composed of engineers who offer advice on the materials needed to make the house.

The architect puts together the final document and presents it to you. After you have verified them and given the go ahead, he/she submits them to the county government in order to get the building permit.

Construction

Once you have the building permit you can now start constructing the house. If you don’t have a contractor in mind the professional will help you in finding one.

When the construction is progressing, the architect will be regularly visiting the site to ensure that the construction is going according to plan.

Conclusion

These are the steps that an architect follows to come up with a great looking house plan. To ensure that your plan is excellent and professional, you should ensure that you hire a certified professional.

One of the major obstacles that people face while deciding to change their house is whether to renovate it or rebuilt it from scratch. Well, it’s a tough choice to make, but it all depends on circumstances and convenience of individuals. There are innumerable things to consider while deciding which one to go with.

What do you need?

Ascertain what you don’t like in your existing home and how you would like to change it. Whether its dated interiors or lack of space, you need to get to the reasons why you need a change. Do you want to extend your rooms? Is there enough light and ventilation available? Do you add a floor? These are just a few factors that you need to consider.

Does your house have a solid foundation?

Before starting out any major work for your house, make sure to get in inspected by an engineer. If there are structural issues like faulty plumbing or shoddy electrical wiring created by termite infestation, builders will refrain from tearing the house down. Moreover, if the property is old, major movements can cause the whole property to collapse. Just because you want does not mean that you can.

Are there any sorts of restrictions?

There are many restrictions on properties implied by the government or the local council. Make sure that your house doesn’t fall under these restrictions because if they are then, you’d have to rethink your whole remodelling plans. Contact your local council and make sure that you have the necessary permits.

How do you want to extend your house?

It’s a tough choice that most homeowners have to ponder upon. If you have limited space, and you do not have permission to extend your boundaries, then you have to resort to increasing a level. For this to happen your roof must be removed, and you must evacuate the house. But if you can extend your house boundary, it will be a much easier job without you having to vacate the house.

What kind of schedule do you want?

You have to decide if you want to do the whole renovation or construction in one stretch or in parts. Both has its advantages. If you are doing in parts, you can pay up in instalments that are quite welcome for homeowners. But if you are doing the whole process in one stretch, you won’t face any hassle.

When it comes to making your garden a better place, there are many tasks you need to consider. There is no denying that most landscaping tasks require time and patience on your end and the flower bed building is a vivid example of such a project. There are some caveats you need to be aware of, especially if you are going to accept the challenging mission of building the flower bed on your own. Here are a few guidelines that will save you the mundane trial-error process.

Ask yourself a few questions first – does the chosen spot get enough sunlight? Is the soil in good condition – no weeds, rocks, debris? Do you have a vision about the flower bed design? Last but not least – do you have enough free time and expertise to complete the project on your own or would you rather contact your local landscaping experts? If you think you can make it on your own, pull your sleeves up and keep reading.

Dig the flower bed – make sure you use the right digging technique to avoid back pain afterwards. For the purpose, use a shovel and start digging from the centre of the area where your flower bed will be. Wedge the shovel to remove the turf, then lift the soil and throw it away from the work area. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of edging. You can use bricks, wood or stones.

Build a raised flower bed – this project might be successfully completed even by landscaping amateurs. All you have to do is visit your local home and garden improvement store and get a raised flower bed kit. It contains everything you need to create a bed from scratch, but keep in mind that you will not be able to tweak the bed to an extent it meets your personal preferences.

Time for planting – once you have your flower bed ready, it is time to proceed to planting your favourite annuals and perennials. You might have looked through hundreds of landscaping magazines and websites, but do not blindly follow the trends. Before you pick up your plants, you’d better take into account the climate in your region as well as the bed location. Some plants prefer shady areas while others love being bathed in sunshine. There are literally hundreds of species to choose from – marigolds, snapdragons, lobelia, sweet alyssum, cosmos, ivy geranium, calibrachoa. If you are not sure about the best flowers that will thrive in your area, you can always consult landscaping professionals. They know best which plants do well in hot/humid regions, and which are suitable for small or larger beds.

There are many rug materials in the market and you need to choose one which fits best to your needs and requirements. Any rug you buy endows all of its features and characteristics from the fibre it is made up of.

Each fibre comes with unique attributes which is exactly what your carpet is going to reflect. Following is the list of major materials used in the industry with their pros and cons. Make your decisions wisely based on the informed approach…

Overview:

We are going to discuss 5 major fibres which are wool, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene and natural fibres. We will discuss all these fibres in detail and will know their positives and negatives to make your rug buying decision a perfectly informed one.

Wool fibre

Wool is the most important and oldest fibre used in the carpet industry and is also considered to be the benchmark material. They are naturally found soft fibre known for their warmth feature and an attractive appearance. A lot of people prefer wool fibre over any other fibre just because they offer warmth factor to their chilly and icy floor in winters. They are perfect insulation for floors. They are soft, strong and durable. The fibre is excellent for absorbing moisture which means a natural air filter for your space. Rugs made of wool showcase excellent elasticity and are naturally resistant to dirt, wear and tear. The best thing about wool is that they don’t catch flames during burning. On the contrary they smoulder which means no spreading of fire during accidents.

If we have to list the characteristics of wool, here is the list in bullet points…

1. First and foremost; they are soft and warm.

2. They resist crushing and flames (they smoulder instead of burning)

3. They resist wear and tear.

4. Strong, durable, light in weight.

5. They absorb moisture and retain shape.

6. They have good resistance to stains.

When we are talking about wool used in rugs and carpets, they are hundreds of varying qualities available in the market. New Zealand wool is considered to be the best in the business which is naturally whiter wool. The colour treatment on them is more vibrant when dyed-due to the superior quality of the yarn. They have longer staple length which deduces to less shedding and better softness and smoothness.

Apart from all the mentioned advantages and features of wool in the rug industry, they have their own downside. Woollen rugs are considered to be one of the most expensive of all the other materials available. Moreover, it is not yet practical to achieve the design and colour vibrancy which we can have on synthetic yarns like acrylic. They are susceptible to dampness. Direct exposure to UV rays can cause harm to wool rugs. And last but not the least, wool is the natural habitat for moth, so extra care is required especially if they are left in dark spaces.

A beautiful home with beautiful garden area and all other necessary indoor and outdoor elements; you have got them all so, what next? The next step is that you place all your decor elements just in the right place to achieve the best visual appeal out of them.

Whether it’s your interior or the beautiful and serene garden place, you have to be extra cautious in finding the best place and the best companion to compliment your decor piece.

Out of all the decor elements in the world, we are going to focus on rugs and how to place them just right in your bedroom, living room, dining room, kids room and at your outdoor space if you have an outdoor carpet.

Bedroom

It’s your primary space you may want to give your best shot here. Following is the list of the things you should take care of while placing a carpet in your bedroom.

Things to do:

1. A gap is an essential factor between your rug and the walls. This gap should be at least around half a metre to provide the much-needed breathing space.

2. Make sure that it starts just where you bed ends. If you have tables aside your bed, then it must begin right after them.

3. Ensure that the carpet protruding beyond the bed if placed beneath is in correct proportion on both sides to maintain the balance in your room.

Dining Room

One of the important rooms which requires a lot of practicality. Have a look at the key points to keep in mind while doing it for your dining room.

Things to do:

1. The first golden rule is to have the legs of your dining chairs well on the carpet. Just in case, you don’t have that extra-large rug, all you need to do is just try placing the front legs on it.

2. While deciding the size of the rug, just measure the entire dining set and the space they cover and keep in mind few centimetres for all four sides in spare.

3. It is recommended to opt for flat rugs as they are more practical for moving chairs. Also look for one which is easy to clean as food and drink spills is always going to be there.

Living Room

A lot of families spend majority of their time in living areas. Here is what to keep in mind while placing a rug in your living space.

Things to do:

1. The most important element amongst all is the size. Keep in mind that the size matters the most when it comes to placing a rug in your living area. Avoid opting for a ‘postage stamp’ sized rug in your living area. The bigger the size of your rug, the bigger your room would feel.

2. One common golden rule is to place your furniture’s legs over your rug for an added and enhanced visual appeal. To achieve this, it’s important that your rug should be large enough to have all four legs comfortably on it.

3. Just in case, the size is not that big, you can at least try placing the front two legs of your surrounding chairs over your carpet.

Kid’s Room

It’s paramount to understand how to place your rug right in your kid’s room, after all they are your loveliest possession. Here is a list of few important points which might help you do it the right way.

Things to do:

1. Decide the best spot where your kid spends most of his/her time. You would want to provide a perfect cushioning for your kid where he/she spends most of the time. It could be anything. A corner around the window, a place just aside the bed or any random spot. Keep in mind that you are here compromising with the look and feel of the room by providing a cushioning to your kid’s tender skin.

2. Just in case, if there is no such spot, then you may want to place it just aside your kid’s bed.

While most people think about wanting their flooring redone when it’s old, cracked, and eaten away, that’s often the most expensive time to do it. Your floor gives you plenty of warning signs when it’s time to be pulled up and replaced with a new one, so knowing when to redo your floors and when not to is a good bit of knowledge to have.

First, you don’t always have to redo all of your floors. Sometimes only certain parts of the floor are damaged while the rest of them are completely fine. So before you start tearing out every bit of floorboard, make sure to assess which parts are damaged and which parts are still good. You might be able to just replace the broken tiles or the rotted wood, for a much lower price.

You can spruce up most floors with a bit of sanding and scrubbing or, if they’re tiled, by redoing the grout. However, if the flooring is old, smells, or the damage has gone through most or all of the floor, then you probably need to redo it.

Damaged floors can be a risk to your health, can potentially cause injuries, and can just make your house look dated. If the floors have become a lifestyle problem, then you definitely need to look at creating some replacements through some flooring installation Mississauga contractors provide.

Flooring installation in Toronto is different than getting some flooring installed in areas with very humid or arid conditions, so first keep an eye on the climate and ambient temperature inside the home. For the Toronto area, you want to look for flooring options that can weather the temperature swings, as well as the winter dry heat, inside your home. If you are replacing flooring in your kitchen, look for vinyl or laminate planking or tiles that repel spills so accidents don’t soak into the floor.

Figure out the types of benefits that you want your new floor to give you, and you’ll be well on your way to replacing your old flooring with a newer model. Also, keep allergies in mind when picking a floor, not just if you are allergic to certain types of materials, but also if you are allergic to something in the air. A thick carpet or rug can collect mold, dander, pollen, and animal fur.

If your allergens are collected into one spot, then you’ll be suffering the symptoms for much longer. Plus, you’ll have to clean your carpets a lot more during allergy season, which might be a deal breaker for you.