Home Design and Architecture Guide

Shelter 2.0

Shelter 2.0 is an incredible prefab building system designed to provide shelter for those who need a home. The parts are fabricated from standard building materials and the shelter itself can be easily assembled by inexperienced builders. The estimated cost of a 10′ by 16′ shelter will run between $1,500 and $2,250 in materials. All the plans and assembly instructions have been published under a creative commons license to help put this simple housing solution in more hands.

Have a Successful Renovation

Start with hiring the right contractor for the job. Make sure your contractor is licensed, insured, and bonded. The contractor should obtain all necessary permits but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of such details (like which permits you’ll need).

Many times as renovations begin, it’s revealed that the electrical system needs to be updated. Before any unpleasant surprises arise when the walls come down, hire a licensed electrician to walk through your home and check that everything is up to code. It can be costly to bring a home up to code so it’s better to know and be prepared. Speaking of being prepared for added costs, it’s very important to have realistic budget.

Often, the unexpected does happens so prepare an extra 10-15% on top of your estimated budget (some contractors recommend as much as 25%-30% more). A realistic assessment helps the homeowner from taking on too much – sometimes once the ball gets rolling it’s easy to want more and more, then suddenly that the money’s run out. Stick to the plan and avoid biting off more than you can chew.

Plan it out before you Gut

Choose a long lasting design because trends change quickly from season to season. Having a renovation done in a neutral and classic style will help you enjoy the room for a longer time, as well as help sell it when the time comes. If your home was built in a specific architectural style, the new design should follow suit. Also remember to check out your neighborhood and make sure that your renovation is in the same price range and style of the other homes in the area.

Buy Quality and Think Green

Saving money is typically one of the most important desires of a home renovation. But choosing the lowest bid isn’t necessarily the choice that will be the best for your budget. When you buy cheap materials they may end up costing much more in the end. If you don’t have the money to invest in quality work and materials, it may not be the best time to renovate. Another way to go which may seem more costly at first but can actually be a smart investment is to choose green. Energy efficient components will save on heating and cooling bills. And it’s not just about spending less on new materials by using recycled ones but about being ahead of the market as green construction continues to grow. It may be tempting to buy cheaper windows as high quality ones are quite expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Looks are everything

Getting professional guidance from a designer for your project will help you get the look you want. Details like fixtures and lighting are key to achieving the look you’re after. Make sure that the fixtures you choose are appropriate to scale; narrow sinks and low-profile toilets are more suitable for tiny powder rooms. And lighting will affect how everything looks as well as the ambiance of each room. Remember the triumvirate of lights: general, task and accent. For example, in your new kitchen, a main ceiling fixture and pot lights create general lighting, meanwhile under cabinet lights provide illumination to work with, and the pendent lights over the kitchen island definitely adds the drama. You can never have too many lights.

Lighting can also affect how the paint looks in a room. However, it’s important to pick the right paint in the first place be it colour or shine. Matte types or semi-gloss eggshell finishes work well in bedrooms and living rooms while semi or high gloss types suit high traffic kitchen and bathroom areas (or trim). Very flat paint works best for ceilings. Remember that how a colour looks in the store or on a sample chip might not be exactly how it will appear in the home. And that even will differ depending on the lighting (ex. incandescent, natural, or fluorescent). Before you commit, paint one test wall and view it at different times of the day.

Be better than a scout

DIYer’s ready to get going? Don’t forget to measure everything. Even a half-inch off can make for an unhappy difference. Aim for symmetry. Make sure you have the right tools for measurement and for all other jobs. If you’re not sure, ask your local hardware and home improvement store for advice. Make sure you also have all of the safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, ear protection and work boots. And once you’re all suited up, do all of the prep work. Move or cover up furniture and doorways; protect areas/surfaces with plastic sheets. Finishing floors? Clean up all debris and sink nails of subfloors as you go. Before you paint, mask all edges and wash walls before priming. And remember to store materials safely in a cool, dry place.

Steady, Ready … Go

Feel ready to renovate with a very detailed plan? Great, but remember that It may end up to be even more of a long haul then initially expected. However, but with the plans and details in place, these help you to be prepared for whatever comes your way. Even when the unexpected arises, good homework and planning will allow you to take everything in stride. Before you know it, you’ll have achieved a gorgeous and successful renovation.

How-To Create A Living Roof

It’s a how-to article on setting up a shed roof for growing plants. This seems like an excellent idea for those with limited space and a shed or tiny house. I’ve always been a little skeptical about anything on a roof except roofing material because I grew up in a house with a partially flat roof and leaks. Adding a living roof seems like a good way to invite trouble.

But I must say the idea is definitely worth some research and consideration because of the numerous benefits of a rooftop garden.

* Adds home insulation
* Provides food if you grow edibles
* Attracts wildlife like birds
* Blocks exterior noise
* Utilizes rain water that would otherwise run off

Of course there are some important considerations like can the existing structure support the additional weight of the living roof and the work that’s needed for waterproofing and drainage. But if the right circumstances are in place a living roof might be a great addition to any shed or tiny house.

Glass Sink for Your Kitchen

Beside of that stainless steel sink option, glass sink is also can be a nice option to look, especially for its durable and fashionable design. With the right choosing of it, glass sink is also can be a decorative appliance for your kitchen.

Mrdirectint.com is the place where you can shop glass sink online. There are about hundreds of glass sinks available inside you can shop, ranging on the variations of designs, colors, shape, and size.

You will be able to find the selections of glass vessel sink with prices that vary. Just find your best one, and create a better kitchen decoration with these luxury-look glass sink.

Decorative Window Coverings

Window is merely a window when it is plain. It is only a thing for air and sunlight circulation in the house. Moreover if the house has a large window, certainly much sunlight comes to the room. You need to give it such a protection and give the artistic touch in it.

Window Coverings will answer your problem. Even though it seems to be a simple thing, window coverings can provide different atmosphere in a room. Of course you should match it with a good capability in mix and matching the window covering’s design with the existed features of the house, and the result will be satisfying. It will give your house a great decorative feature and protect the house from any intruders which means you can be assured for your privacy in your own home. Window Blinds are the example. It is usually fixed at the top of the window and has the slats that can be pulled. The material can be made from wood, aluminum or vinyl. Different materials will have different result. For example wood will bring a warm and natural look to a room; it is different to the aluminum.

The Window Shades are usually made of a roll of cloth that is fixed at the top of the window and it can be pulled up and down. Window shades are also made from wood, bamboo, rattan, or fabrics. Of course, you can pick whichever you like but make sure it will look suitable with your existed home’s style and design. There are many kinds of online shop that sell them. Only select the best product from them and the products will arrived in the house. You can make a research to compare a shop to another to get the best deal with the best quality. Now, you can easy to install by yourself.