Design Articles


My Safe-Haven

bench30328730.jpgWhen you were a kid, you probably dreamed of having your own treehouse where you could have a safe-haven, a place for independence while mom and dad are not far away. Your kids want the same thing, so get your work gloves. Building your treehouse safely is the first step to fulfilling childhood dreams.

"My Safe-Haven" »

Custom cabinetry

cabinents37474726.jpgWhen you have a home and you are looking to improve it, one area many people consider upgrading is their cabinetry. The question you have to ask yourself is whether or not custom cabinetry is going to be worth it? In some cases, it is, in others it is not.

"Custom cabinetry" »

Choosing accents for your home

contract60514977.jpgYour home is your domain, and if you plan to spend significant time within its walls it is a great idea to decorate it nicely. The problem is that not everyone has an eye for decorating, or even knows where to start. The following is a look at how you can start decorating, and how to choose the perfect accents, accessories, and items for your home.

"Choosing accents for your home" »

Tips for exterior painting

house37738594.jpgPainting the exterior of your home is not only intimidating but it can be complicated. The last thing that you want to do is to make the investment in the materials and cost of paint needed to paint the exterior of your home, just to waste it all on a shoddy job. Don't let not knowing any better be your excuse for doing a poor job when it comes to painting your home's exterior. You can learn how to paint like a pro. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

"Tips for exterior painting" »

Preparing the yard for summer

bench30334537.jpgAs soon as the danger of winter frost has passed, you are ready to get out and start getting your yard work going. The sooner you can go out and get busy the sooner your yard is going to be prepared for summer. Preparing your yard for summer takes a lot of time. The work has to be started during the spring because once the hot summer months hit you will want to enjoy the green lawn, not work on getting your lawn green.

"Preparing the yard for summer" »

Picking Your Period

contractor26497763.jpgThe style of homes has changed over the years as society has evolved. Some period styles appeal to some people and other period styles appeal to others. If you don't know what period you prefer it may because you don't know what the different period styles have to offer. Below is a list of popular period styles that are still used today. This is not an exhaustive list of period styles, so if you don't find something that fits you, keep looking.

"Picking Your Period" »

Overcoming negative press

houseforsale30461935.jpgPublic image is a very important thing to businesses and individuals. It can make or break their career depending on if it is positive or negative. But there is some strategy that can be used to overcome negative press if you become involved in something that has a bad image and here is some more info on how to do that.

"Overcoming negative press" »

Outdoor Living in Focus

dog30338610.jpgYour home comes together around focal points which your family gathers around such as a fireplace, kitchen island, or entertainment center. If your yard is well designed, it will include focal points for gathering as well. When you are planning your landscape design, center it around focal points for your yard. Here are some ideas for focal points for your yard and ways to make them really stand out:

"Outdoor Living in Focus" »

Organization Day Dreams

flooring26497853.jpgA home organizer's nightmares most often come true in a laundry room, craft room, home office, or closet that has turned into a "catch all" space rather than functioning at their optimum level. They are the messy little spaces that keep getting cluttered no matter how hard you try to organize. The problem isn't usually in your organization, but in the design and function of the space. Make your "catch all" spaces more inviting and easier on the eyes by following these simple design ideas:

"Organization Day Dreams" »

Money Saving Design Tips

bar32374706.jpgHomes are expensive, especially if you are starting from scratch. Once everything is built, it can be expensive to finish it off too, even if you already have all your furniture. Remodeling your home can break the bank as well. But there are ways to cut costs so you don't go over your budget on a home project. Follow these simple money saving tips when designing and decorating your home:

"Money Saving Design Tips" »

Making your porch more livable for summer

foyer37474791.jpgDuring the summer, many people enjoy sitting on their porches socializing with their neighbors. This is great for people who have a livable porch, but not everybody has the type of porch that allows them to sit outside and socialize during those warm summer evenings. If you need to make your porch livable for those warm summer months here are some tips that you can follow to improve your porch.

"Making your porch more livable for summer" »

How to get rid of bees and wasps on your patio

arch30715406.jpgWith summer here, many people look forward to spending a lot of time on the patio, whether it's to relax with a good book, grill, or have a get-together with friends and family.

"How to get rid of bees and wasps on your patio" »

How to Feng Shui

relaxing32013453.jpgFeng shui is a design concept that can help you get your home in order and promote a healthy environment and lifestyle. It will help you turn your home into a sanctuary where you can unwind and relax easily. The feng shui enthusiast believes that if their home and life are in harmony with feng shui, you align yourself for greater wealth, health, happiness, and romance. The basic focus of feng shui design is look and feel of your home. A feng shui design's main purpose is to promote the circulation of chi, or life energy. Here are the basics for feng shui design starting with the approach to your home.

"How to Feng Shui" »

How to avoid bed-bugs, dust mites, and other harmful infestations

scarecrow15967955.jpgConsider yourself lucky if you have not yet had the opportunity to have to deal with a bug infestation in your home. Most of us have taken precautions to prevent bugs like spiders, beetles, and ants from getting into our homes. But there is another class of bugs that we have less control over because these bugs are already living inside of our homes. Bed bugs are small and oval in shape. These bugs can be seen by the naked eye but they could be difficult to spot unless you are looking for them. Most of these bugs are red or brown in color and have flat bodies that some say resemble the body of a cockroach.

"How to avoid bed-bugs, dust mites, and other harmful infestations" »

Going Green in Home Design

yellowflowers30363009.jpgYou have probably heard a lot lately about saving the environment and going green. Re-usable shopping bags are for sale in every super-market, hybrids and more eco-friendly cars are being produced, and the government is giving out grants for research into renewable energy sources. If you don't think you can make a difference in saving our world from a scene out of Pixar's "Wall-E," think again. There are some great environmentally friendly products out there to consider when designing a home or remodeling that are better than the originals. Here are the top five areas to consider:

"Going Green in Home Design" »

Give Your Home Some Color

painting63323849.jpgColor is all around us in nature. It effects our emotions in different ways. The serene beauty of a landscape covered in snow can bring a sense of calm and peace. A warm bright day at the beach with the fantastic blues of the ocean and sky against the emerald backdrop of forest and the orange, red and yellow of the sand can make you feel happy and energetic. The colors in nature can influence our mood and activity.

"Give Your Home Some Color" »

Don't Just Pass Through

window32013178.jpgThe first impression someone receives of the inside of your home is when they walk through your door. What does your foyer say about you? What does your foyer or entry hall say to you when you come home? How about your mud room? Does it greet you and others and reflect the personality of the rest of your home or is it neglected and a barren space that has no character or life?

"Don't Just Pass Through" »

Decorating the nursery

nursery63498521.jpgPreparing for the arrival of a new baby is a fun and exciting time. Among many of the things you must do as new parents to get ready is decorate the nursery.

"Decorating the nursery" »

Create Your Style

painting19148660.jpgFlow in your home makes things better all around. When you have furniture or accents that contrast in style, it can disrupt the flow of your home. What's worse is not knowing what style will make you feel your best and at home when you are home. Here are six tips to help you find your style with what you already have:

"Create Your Style" »

Building a fire pit in your back yard

bench30328730.jpgHaving a fire pit in a back yard can make get-togethers a lot more fun. People can gather around the fire and roast marshmallows, sit and chat, or roast hotdogs for a fun dinner. Some people even like to cover the fire pit to make a grill to cook chicken or hamburgers. A back yard fire pit can be used almost all year round. This article discusses how to build a fire pit in your back yard.

"Building a fire pit in your back yard" »

Aging in Place

bedroom63499487.jpgIf you are remodeling, building, or buying a home that you know you are going to stay in for a while, the best advice you could take is to design it for every stage of your life, not just the one you are in now. We all age, and to do it well we have to plan ahead. Your home is no different and you want to age well in it. Universal design is a design principle that incorporates safety and functionality for all ages as the first priority in home design. Universal design is not meant to make your home look like a public restroom with its safety rails and grab bars, but it does allow for versatility as you age. If you are serious about aging well in your home, here are some simple tips to get you started.

"Aging in Place" »

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