The Pros Of Skylights

First let’s talk about the potential upsides to having a skylight or two in your home.

• Added light – skylights can potentially save energy bills in interior rooms that have no side windows, such as bathrooms and attics. This can help you save on your energy bill over time as you won’t need to turn the lights on.
• Added warmth – skylights can allow rooms to warm up in cold winter months, potentially saving on heating bills.
• Ventilation – skylights that you can open can allow for ventilation, this is especially true in attics that have been converted into bedrooms or offices.
• Improved resale value – let’s face it – adding some nice skylights can improve the look, feel, and eventual resale value of your home.
• Added space – adding windows always opens up a room and makes it feel bigger and less confining.  This can be especially true for skylights.
• Added views – if your home is in a lush forest or mountain area, adding a skylight to improve your view of the tree canopy or mountains is a great way to give your home a natural feel.

The Cons Of Skylights

Of course, with anything there are always downsides.  Let’s take a look at what can go wrong with skylights.

• Too much heat – if you live in a warm climate with strong sunlight, adding a skylight could potentially make your home very hot in the summer months.  Shades can help, but windows still allow in quite a bit of solar heat.
• Expensive – adding a skylight can be expensive.  You will need to ensure that it is done right.
• Leaks – a skylight that is not installed properly can potentially leak, causing water damage.
• Positioning – positioning a skylight is an important task that takes a lot of consideration.  Poor positioning can lead to issues such as too much heat or not enough light.

Types Of Skylights

Fixed Skylight – fixed skylights do not open.  They can be a variety of shapes, such as bowed or flat.

Ventilated Skylight – these types of skylight open up, generally at one end like a door via a crank.  Ventilated skylights can also have electric openers that you can operate with a switch.

Custom Skylight – what is your dream skylight?  Skylights can be custom built, however it can be quite expensive.

Ridge Skylight – ridge skylights are on the ridge of the roof and follow the shape of the roof in an arc.

Pyramid Skylight – these skylights extend out from the roof in a pyramid shape.  These are typically seen more in commercial buildings rather than homes.

Let’s start with the most common types of windows you will typically see in a modern home:

Single and double hung windows

Single and double hung windows are similar, the difference being whether one or both panels are movable.  Single hung windows generally have a bottom sash or section that is able to be moved up and down, and the top section is stationary.  Double hung windows generally have both sashes that are able to be moved.  They can be counterbalanced with springs for easy opening and closing.  These are very traditional types of windows that are made by many manufacturers.

Muntins can be added to single and double hung windows – either fake (a wood or vinyl grid placed over a larger pane of glass) or real (individual smaller glass pieces).  Adding muntins to these windows can give them quite a variety of looks and add some flair, perfect for older style homes or homes with a more ornate style.

Casement Windows

Casement windows are attached on one side and open out on one side like a door, generally by a crank and hinge.  These are the second most common type of window style, and have a bit more of a modern stylistic flair.  If aimed correctly at the dominant wind direction they can be great at catching airflow.  They are slightly safer because of the narrower opening, and also seal better against the elements than hung windows.  However they can be damaged if they catch a strong wind.

Awning Windows

These are similar to casement windows but are different in that the bottom opens out, like an awning.  They are generally opened via a crank.  They can be useful in rainy areas where you want windows to remain open in the rain.  They are also good for deterring intruders if placed low enough.

Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are basically what the name suggests – these windows slide back and forth horizontally on tracks.  They are mechanically very easy to use and simple to maintain.  They became most popular in the mid century modern aesthetic, and can still be found on older homes.  Although this style has fallen out of popularity in recent years, it could definitely fit a certain type of home.

Fixed Windows

Fixed windows are windows that are not able to be opened, and are placed where light may be wanted but is not necessary to open them.  They are obviously slightly cheaper than articulated windows, and they can open up the space in a room quite a bit.  The classic front room picture window is a great example of this type of window.

Glass Block Windows

These types of windows are made of translucent glass blocks, and are commonly built into walls as either wall replacements or accents.  This style is a bit dated, and was popular in the 80’s and 90’s.  You don’t see this as much these days.

Skylight Windows

Skylights are windows in the ceiling of your home or office.  They can either be opened or fixed, and sometimes come tinted.  The difficulty with opening these is that sometimes birds can fly in your home!  They can brighten rooms without the use of a lamp, and are great for attics to add some space and illumination.

Bay And Bow Windows

These types of windows jut out from the frame of the house making a semi-circle type shape.  Often a window seat or a shelf is put in this space, or it’s merely an open space if the windows extend to the floor.  Bay windows tend to have more angles, and bow windows are more circular.

Here is a list of some of the most common and popular roofing styles, in no particular order.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingle roofs are one of the most popular roofing types in North America due to its longevity, ease of maintenance, and low cost.  An asphalt shingle roof typically comes with a 20-30 year warranty and it is very easy to replace single shingles or sections of the roof in question.  The shingles themselves are typically made of a base of fiberglass and a topping of composite mineral and asphalt.

Standing Seam Metal

Popular in areas with risks of high snowfall or wildfires, standing seam metal roofs are incredibly durable and are recyclable when they have reached the end of their lifespan.  They are made of aluminum or steel panels that meet at raised metal seams.  This type of roofing lasts 30-50 years on average, and is fireproof and capable of dealing with heavy moisture easily.

Metal Shingles

Designed to be a bit more pleasing to the eye than the traditional standing seam metal roofs, metal shingles have been created with all the benefits of standing seam metal without the industrial look.  These metal shingles are stamped in metal and then finished to mimic asphalt roofs, wooden shingles, or even clay tiles.

Wooden Shingles

Wood shingle roofs are one of the more luxury type roofing options as they are typically very attractive looking.  However they can be more expensive to maintain, and aren’t always suited to very damp climates or areas where wildfires pose significant risks.  The shingles are generally made from cedar or redwood, and can be stained or painted.  A well maintained shingle roof can last 50 years in dry climates, but in damp climates it may need replacement after around 20 years.

Clay Tile

Clay tile roofing is a very popular material in salty coastal climates or hot and dry climates, such as Florida and California.  A very durable roofing material, these tile roofs can last a century if maintained.  Cost can vary depending on the type of clay or tile you use.  Clay roofing is often seen in different patterns such as Spanish, Mission, French, and shingle.  Clay tile roofing is also fireproof.

Slate

Slate roofing is probably the most expensive type of roofing you can buy.  This makes it most appropriate for luxury houses where cost is no object.  The trade off, however, is that slate roofing is extremely long-lived, and can last up to 200 years!  Installing slate roofing is a specialized task, so it may be harder to find a roofer who can install it properly.  Another option for slate roofing is rubber slate, which is a convincing doppelganger for actual slate roofing but is much cheaper.  Rubber slate roofing only lasts 50 years.

Rolled Roofing

Rolled roofing is one of the cheapest solutions, and is often used for industrial buildings, flat roofed houses, and sheds/structures where good looks are very far down on the list.  You will often see this on the tops of apartment buildings where the roof is flat and not visible from the ground.

Rolled roofing is applied in strips and a good rolled roofing solution should last about 10 years if it is installed and maintained correctly.

Built Up Roofing (BUR)

Built up roofing is another option for flat roofed or industrial buildings.  It consists of several layers of roofing felt combined with heat applied asphalt.  A well installed built up roofing solution can last almost 20 to 30 years.  It is more costly than rolled roofing but lasts longer.

When choosing a garage door you will have to consider multiple pros and cons of each type of door.  Think about how you want to use your garage for the most part – for vehicles, for storage, as a workshop?  All of the above?  Also consider how tall your vehicles will be, and if you will be putting any sporting equipment on the roof such as surfboards, kayaks, and bikes.

Let’s take a look at the main types of garage doors:

Sectional

Sectional garage doors are divided into horizontal sections that hinge and roll up on tracks.  These are one of the most common types of garage doors when someone wants an automatic garage door opener.  There are a huge range of styles for these doors and they come in a variety of materials, finishes, and decorations such as windows.

Pros:

• Great with automatic openers
• Wide range of styles
• Don’t stick out from the garage when opened
• Generally quiet

Cons:

• Take up space in the garage, on the ceiling.  Can reduce ceiling height when open.

Canopy

There are two types of canopy garage doors.  These are doors made of a single piece (not sectioned).  Protruding canopy garage doors stick out a bit from the garage when opened, and retractable canopy doors fully slide all the way into the garage.  These doors can be operated by hand, or they can have automatic openers.

Pros:

• Wide range of style options without hinges or sections to limit things
• When balanced properly they can be easy to open manually
• Can sometimes be used with automatic openers

Cons:

• Need space to open
• Can take up space on the ceiling area above the door

Side Hinged

Side hinged garage doors are more traditional, opening inwards or outwards on hinges like doors.  There are pros and cons to this design as well.  They have a more classic look and can seem more “rich” in appearance than typical Sectional or Canopy garage doors.  These are also called carriage or carriage house doors.

Pros:

• Can open one without the other being open.  Nice for those who have a workshop in their garage
• Look more “luxurious”
• Very simple mechanism to maintain
• Easy to open and close by hand

Cons:

• Swing inwards or outwards and require space to do so
• Don’t often work well with automatic openers
• Can be less secure vs vertically opening doors

Roller Doors

Roller doors are one of the more space saving garage doors that you can have.  They are made up of very small sections and roll up into a coil above the door.  These doors are typically a bit more industrial and you can lose a bit of styling advantage vs other types of doors.

Pros:

• Saves the most space of all the garage door types
• No swing in or out
• Can be very secure (often used in industrial storage units)
• Can also be used with automatic openers

Cons:

• Industrial looking, less suited for homes
• Can be pricey
• Less design options

Garage Door Materials

There are a few different types of materials that you can use for your garage doors.  However, your options can sometimes be limited to the type of door you select.  For example, you won’t be able to have a wood roller door, as those are generally made of metal.

Wood

Wood is the most basic garage door material.  Most older homes had wooden garage doors.  Luxury homes often have wood garage doors as this is a more luxury option that needs maintenance to look its best.

Vinyl

Vinyl doors are cheap and easy to maintain.  They are also marketed as being difficult to dent and damage, and therefore may be more suitable for families with children that might be apt to end up hitting it with a baseball or other object.

Aluminum

Aluminum doors are lightweight and easier to prevent from developing rust.  However they can be prone to dents.  They are available in a variety of finishes and colors.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass doors are less prone to denting but they can break if hit hard enough.  These types of doors can be in a variety of colors and shapes.  They are often made of two layers and filled with insulation.

Steel

Steel garage doors are sturdy however they can be dented and can sometimes suffer from corrosion in coastal areas or areas with lots of salt in the air.

The good news is that a simple list is often the best place to start: Here are ten ideas to get you in the creative mood for your own furniture projects!

Storage Beds

A storage bed can be a highly effective way to combine functionality with design and aesthetics, so it only makes sense that it would be one of the first places to go for a DIY plan!
Look into building one and see if it doesn’t get that perfect mix of excitement and practicality you’re trying to find.

Bedroom Cabinet

With a bedroom cabinet, you can find a place to store some of your personal items and belongings right in your own room for comfort and convenience. Making your own cabinet can be a great way to personalize this part of your bedroom and make it more in line with your preferences!

Chests

Looking for some extra storage space around the house? Consider making one or two of your own chests to cut down on clutter, impress guests with your craftsmanship or wonderful sense of style, and find a place to put some of your side items that you have difficulty sorting through.

Coffee Table

For those looking for a stylish coffee table while also keeping within their budget, building one yourself can be a great option. Try thinking about some different styles you’d be interested in and take a shot at hand-crafting your own coffee table!

Bookshelf

You might find that you want your bookshelf to be as unique and personal as your book collection itself! If that’s the case, it would be worthwhile to try making your own; doing so requires relatively few materials and is a fantastic way to practice some DIY skills.

Coat Rack

Getting tired of tossing your coats on the chair or floor? Luckily, you can get your own coat rack assembled in virtually no time at all, which will significantly reduce clutter while also giving you some experience in home furnishing and build confidence for more complex future projects!

Nightstand

Creating a sense of unique style and interesting design for your nightstand can be difficult, but this problem is much more easily solved when you construct it yourself! Plan out some of the details and get started on building it if you want another part of your home to be a more accurate reflection of your taste in furniture.

Picture Frame

Smaller projects can sometimes be even more satisfying than the flashier ones, and this is no less the case for picture frames. Put together a beautiful home for your family photos and travel highlights with a subtle, yet no less effective custom picture frame!

Bed Frame

And speaking of frames, why not tie together your bedroom more creatively with a hands-on attempt at your own bed frame? This isn’t as complex as it might appear at first glance and can be achieved with some easily accessible materials and a handful of simple tools.

Small Tables

Tables are a crucial piece of your home furnishing and yet pre-made designs often come across as bland and unoriginal. Take a stab at representing your own bold or unorthodox choices by building a few of your own small tables to place around the home and bring some lively creativity to the atmosphere!

If this applies to you, then you might want to consider some basic tips and tricks to get the most out of your living room ideas. Here are five ideas to spice up the room and make the image in your head a little bit closer to reality!

Plan Ahead

One incredibly common mistake (especially if this is your first living room design) is to not dedicate enough time to planning the layout of your design. However, planning is the absolute key to success when it comes to home design!

A helpful way to go about this is to consider different viewpoints. Don’t just picture the design from one angle; try looking at it from the center, the sides, the corners, and off in the distance! This will allow you to get a clearer image of what the decor will look like.

Many people also find it useful to brainstorm some ideas at the very beginning and then narrow those ideas down later. Try it out and see if it doesn’t make things a whole lot simpler!

Perfect Sofa

The sofa is the star of the living room, so it stands to reason that the perfect living room begins and ends with the perfect sofa. And don’t let yourself get attached to a specific old sofa if it won’t work with your dream design!

View your living room as a blank slate. Attempting to force your design to conform to a sofa that isn’t right for your vision is a recipe for disaster. It’s important to view everything with fresh eyes and an open mind.

Only then can you truly achieve everything you want out of your home decor!

Artwork

Next, spend some serious time on considering what artwork you might like to incorporate into your living room. This also involves making sure to hang your art in a way that’s proportional to the room’s width and height to not throw off the symmetry of the whole room!

You’ll also want to be sure to select artwork in keeping with the mood and atmosphere of the rest of the living room’s design. Clashing styles between your decor and art pieces will stick out like a sore thumb.

Focus on Comfort

Comfort is incredibly important to your living room’s design. While you, of course, will want everything to look aesthetically pleasing, this will all be for naught if the room itself isn’t enjoyable to spend time in!

To maximize comfort, be sure to pick colors, textures, and materials that you find cozy, relaxing, and in keeping with your own identity and sense of style. Your dream living room doesn’t only look nice; it should feel nice too!

And finally, you should be confident and consistent with any theme or general style you select for your living room. When you mix and match elements from many different themes or periods, it can have a jarring effect and cheapen the impact of the components, each of which might have worked well on its own.

Because of this, you should always remain firm and committed to a single vision that you want from your living room. While this might feel restraining at first, it will certainly pay off in the end!

If you feel you need a little extra boost of brainstorming motivation, try some of these ten outdoor deck tips out for size. See if turning these over in your mind doesn’t cause your imagination to run wild!

Picturing the Layout

The first and most crucial part of creating the perfect outdoor deck design is envisioning it. Allow yourself to forgo the material preparations in the very beginning and instead just take the time to imagine the details of your ideal deck.

This will come in handy later!

Incorporating Entertainment

A perfect outdoor deck should be a fun, exciting, and relaxing place to enjoy with friends, family, and visitors. Try forging some space for entertainment by adding a game table and plenty of areas for physical activity, party games, or even exercise!

If you live a highly active lifestyle, this tip could end up being the feature that perfects your deck.

Seating Room

Of course, what good is entertainment if there’s no room for people to partake in it? Extra seating space can be achieved through a spacious deck and chairs, sofa, and other furniture to comfortably sit.

Play around with different ideas for seating and see what works the best with your personal vision!

Curves

One way to give your deck its own unique vibe is to base it around a curving shape. There are several materials to look through that can allow for this sort of shape and it has the added benefit of easily allowing for a round table setup!

Gardening Opportunities

If you’re a gardening enthusiast, why not reflect that in your outside deck? Consider throwing some flowerpots or other container gardening materials into the mix! You might find yourself pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to merge these two interests.

Lower Height

Those who are looking for a way to give their deck its own flavor could find a shorter layout appealing! This is a great way to allow for a closer and more intimate experience, especially if there is a lot of greenery in your yard.

Utilize Extra Space

There’s no sense in having a cramped deck if there’s space around it to spare, so it could be worth it to adjust the shape or the layout of the deck if can mean more breathing room for guests. Don’t get too fixated on a specific shape if another layout might make more sense!

Personalized Stairs

A simple, easy, and effective way to give your deck its own personality is to get creative with the stairs! Unusual materials for the steps or railing can be a great idea for accomplishing this as well as building the stairs with a curving or bending shape.

Soothing Atmosphere

Mood and atmosphere are often overlooked in home decor, but they are easily one of the most important factors. A cozy, gentle tone can be as easy as using a familiar and inviting color scheme or making great use of soft materials for your chairs and furniture.

Open Air

And finally, you might believe walls just subtract from the whole deck experience. If that’s the case, then why include them at all? Allow the deck to be surrounded by nothing but fresh, open space and bask in the feeling of being in the outdoors!

However, many people find that they can streamline the process and reduce any potential headache by staying with few basic ideas. Here are five ideas to get the ball rolling and create your own perfect greenhouse!

Organize Your Layout

First, you must get your plans in order and keep everything organized properly. A greenhouse without a detailed plan or layout can quickly get incredibly difficult to work with, so you won’t regret taking some time to think things through!

One key concern to keep in mind here is crowding. If you separate the different areas of greenhouse with a steady plan, you should find that you are able to maximize your space and allow all the plants plenty of space in the structure. Shelves can be an additional benefit when it comes to creating and conserving space for the plants.

Surrounding Plant Life

While the whole idea of a greenhouse obviously necessitates plants inside the structure, there’s no reason that you can’t have a few on the outside as well! Indeed, by filling up the space around the greenhouse with plants, you might find that it creates a more natural atmosphere and emphasizes the beauty of the greenhouse itself.

It could also be a very good idea to test out some different combinations of plants and see what works best for the mood and atmosphere of the area. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get inventive with your floral arrangement; if something doesn’t seem right, you can always correct it later in the design phase!

Seating Space

To give yourself, friends, and family an area where they can take some time to appreciate the beauty and soothing nature of the greenhouse, it’s highly recommended that you use part of the structure for seating! Of course, the question then pops up: How do I make sure the seating area blends in?

Luckily, there are a few simple and easy ways to do this. You can use green coloring for the seats to prevent a jarring contrast, for example, or include plant artwork or decorations in the mix. Any idea you can think of to combine seating with the greenhouse atmosphere is worth considering!

Resourceful Use of Space

If you’re working with a smaller or mini greenhouse, there’s no reason to let this deter you from having a great amount of plant life in the mold. By using vertical space, as just one scenario, you can add plant pots and really make effective use of the area you’re dealing with!

A seemingly small space can be deceptive, so it’s important to remember that a smaller design plan doesn’t have to be as limiting as it might look.

Creative Structure

And who says your greenhouse must fit the textbook definition of a greenhouse at all? A garden with a tent or a sunlit corner of can both be wonderful substitutes for a traditional greenhouse.

It’s also more than acceptable to remodel an existing structure such as an old barn or tool shed into a new greenhouse, as there’s no need to make a completely new structure from scratch when you have something that will already do just nicely.

You might find it helpful to look around the yard and see if you have any unused structure that could make a great makeshift greenhouse!

Outdoor lighting is incredibly important for aesthetics, nighttime entertainment, and a sense of home completeness for a holistic approach. And it certainly shouldn’t be glossed over to focus exclusively on the inside lighting.

Here are ten tips to help you out if you’re having difficulty in this area!

Candles

Candlelight is one of the oldest and most effective ways to light your outdoor gatherings and they still, to this day, work like a charm!

Candlesticks can be fantastic for more close, intimate, or romantic nights while using smaller candles might be the best way to get a familiar and comforting atmosphere going on outside.

Using Fences

Fencing in your yard can make for a neat little way to mount rows of lights in a single area. The size of the bulb is up to you, but keep in mind that large bulbs will cut down on the quantity of lighting you’ll need overall!

Glass Covers

Finding a glass cover for bright light sources creates a wonderful glowing effect that adds to a sense of escapism and serenity. Even a minimal use of this technique gives an extra boost to the mood of the nighttime decor and will help guests feel more comfortable.

Tea Lights

Looking for an ocean-like effect of many small lights in the yard? Tea lights are the answer! The dazzling starlight impression fostered by a good collection of tea lights acts as an additional sprinkle of outside design that makes the night a little more fantastical.

Tree Support

If you need a makeshift post on short notice, see if a tree out back won’t do the trick. The trunk of the tree can often make just as good of a support as any post and it cuts down on time and effort; just wrap the lights around it and call it a night!

Chandelier

An air of elegance and grace can be readily accomplished by adding a chandelier! If you have a dining table, consider hanging a chandelier above it or even make your own out of tree branches if you’re feeling a DIY mood overtake you.

Multiple Directions

When the lighting starts to feel monotonous, you might decide to mix it up by experimenting with the direction it aims in. Think outside the box and have the lights point toward interesting or unique places for a sense of diversity and variety!

Pendants

A classic for outdoor lighting, pendants have several time-honored advantages! Many home designers have found that placing a pendant in a certain area outside can give it a soothing atmosphere that guests might want to move to at some point in the night.

Basket Covers

Using baskets for light covers can have a certain charm or friendliness to it that you might want to cultivate at your outdoor gatherings. Try them out by hanging them from railings or tree branches and see if the effect that’s created isn’t exactly the sort of pleasantness you’re looking for!

Artificial Fire

With the use of an artificial flame, you can allow your outdoor lighting to have all the benefits and draws of real fire with none of the downsides. If you prefer to cut down on cost and time, this can be as simple as wrapping small lights around a few logs and placing them in a fire pit!

These five tips should get you well on your way to having a unique, personalized fireplace that helps you finally complete your home. Let’s get started!

Eye-Catching Patterns

Letting it feature stunning or intricate patterns is a fantastic way to get immediate attention on the fireplace and draw your guests into the area. Patterns have the benefit of being able to work well with many different textures, materials, themes, and color schemes and the bottom line is that you can seldom go wrong with a patterned fireplace!

Try looking through some different options for your fireplace pattern and see if something doesn’t grab your attention right when you look at it. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised by the sheer variety and quantity of choices!

Quality Materials

The next major item to consider is the material. And luckily, there is no shortage of options here either! Porcelain, for instance, can be a great choice if you want to try to emulate a wooden fireplace while maintaining a contemporary look.

Alternatively, marble is a wonderful material for a grand or dramatic vibe with your fire pit while concrete can give it a sleek, fashionable appearance while maintaining a traditional function. The best material will depend on your personal preferences, your plan’s layout, and other unique factors, so you might want to make list of the pros and cons of different materials for your fireplace and see what comes out ahead.

Striking Colors

Bold, confident colors can elevate the fireplace to the next level, especially if you’re stuck in a rut and having difficulty setting it apart from others. Options here could include unusual blue shades, a theatrical red tint, or any other color that seems stunning and unexpected.

These striking color tones can have the dual effect of making your fireplace unique and personal while also having an elegant, popular appeal to it. Look through some different color options and keep an open mind about some of the more eccentric choices; you never know what might capture your imagination!

Creative Themes

Another inventive and innovative option for making your fireplace a one-of-a-kind reflection of your own personality is to pick an original theme for it!

One theme you might find interesting is a rustic, natural option that incorporates wooden material and uses potted plants around it. A beach setting can also be achieved very easily with ocean colors and appropriate furniture.

Whatever theme you choose, the most important aspect is that you feel comfortable with and excited by the opportunities it presents. If you truly love the theme, you’ll find that the decor ideas will spring forth with little to no effort on your part!

Modern Sensibility

Even those who prefer a more traditional style for their fireplace could benefit greatly from a hint of contemporary style. And there’s no need to expend great time, energy, or money to give the fireplace this impression either!

Some simple tips to evoke modern fashion include the use of white coloring, hanging artwork around the fireplace area, and an experimental style for chairs or seating facing the fire pit.
Anything that will give the guest a sense of the 21st century will fit in quite nicely and give the fireplace an added sense of sophistication and beauty!