Category: skylight

  • Ideas for Expanding Your Home

    Ideas for Expanding Your Home

    There is nothing quite like having your own home. Your house is your castle and you are free to make whatever changes you see fit. This allows for all sorts of customizations which add value to the house, but mostly make it more livable. Most people will remodel the kitchen or knock down walls, but why stop there? Adding new rooms or additions to the house will help give it a unique charm, expand interior floor space, and offer new customization options. Here are just a few ideas for ways you can expand your home.

     

    First: Consider Your Property Lines

    Obviously, when thinking about making an addition to your home, you have to keep the property lines in mind. You do not want to completely obliterate the back yard, and even if that is your goal, taking up too much space can mean no more room to grow in the future. You will want to keep some space between property lines and your home regardless, as this provides room for contractors to work in. Not just builders, but any future contractors you may need to bring in for whatever reason.

    Second: Consult with a Professional

    When considering an addition to your house, consult with a professional architect. They can take a look at the layout of your existing home and make recommendations to keep your addition aesthetically pleasing while delivering what you are after. Note that we cannot guarantee that everything you want is possible with your existing home, but if it is – a professional will figure it out.

    Start from the Back

    The most common starting point for additions is to look into the back yard. Patios, pavilions, or a simple entryway in the back can help connect your home to the yard. In fact, depending on how you structure and organize the addition, you may even be able to create the sensation of your home spilling out into the yard. This can be an excellent addition for a kitchen – creating an outdoorsy space to enjoy your meal.

    Consider Building Up

    This depends on your foundation and local building codes, but other than those there is nothing stopping you from building up. This idea can be especially good if you are running out of room to expand. You have a number of design choices available if you choose to add a second floor to your building. Balconies are popular additions once you have some living areas constructed. It can also be a way to feel on top of the world when working from a home office.

     

    Keep Function in Mind

    When making any additions to your house, keep the function of these additions in mind. Having an idea of what you want that you do not have will inform your architectural decisions. Let your mind go wild when thinking of these additions, and only take the time to temper them down when it comes time to plan out the addition.

     

    Do Not Neglect the Basics

    When you are planning an addition to the home, it can be easy to forget the basics. Remember that you want any comforts available now to remain available throughout the home. This means remembering the electrical systems, cable systems, and of course climate control. Speak with your service providers to get recommendations about how to make sure these services remain available with any addition to your home. This is especially the case with climate control – consider a mini-split system so you do not have go through the trouble of installing potentially expensive ductwork. Cable lines should be run to the new room if it is closed in, along with electrical outlets. Though obviously, an outdoor room might do better without if it is not water-tight – consult with your local contractors when thinking about your addition to make sure your new room is as comfortable as the rest of the house!

    this post in consideration with adamsairconditioning.net

  • Get More Natural Light

    Natural light is something almost all of us crave. Our bodies literally love to soak up the sun, but how do we get more of when we are stuck indoors?
    Love door with glass to bring in all natural light. Too tight walkway though:
    Besides the obvious add more windows, consider replacing your door with something that will let the natural light in.
    whitewash brick Industrial Dining Room Designs London brick wall distressed wood industrial pendant light natural lighting pendant light reclaimed wood skylight white dining chair whitewashed brick wall wood ceiling beams wood dining table wood floor:
    via homecol
    If the thought of glass and doors combined isn’t your thing, imagine where you could put a skylight! This will give you the privacy and safety you are after will still flooding your home with natural light.
    Bed Bath and Beyond $500 Gift Card!:
    For those of you who can’t just add a window to a ceiling, there is always the amazing trick of mirrors. Mirrors do an amazing job of reflecting light. Place a mirror right across from where sun comes in and watch your room brighten.
    White bathroom, free standing tub, monogrammed towel, grey floor tile, glass shower, pendant lighting above tub | Lilli Design:
    Natural light and bathrooms have always had a tug of war between brightness and privacy. My favorite way to add natural light in a bathroom is high windows! Then the added feature of mirrors reflecting the natural light again.
    Olive tree in the livingroom, natural light undisturbed by blinds:
    The most simple way to add extra natural light? Make sure your windows are clean and if you haven’t considered it, you can always look into replacing your windows. There are so many new styles and designs that can give you the more natural light you crave.
    How will you add more natural light to your home?
  • Make your bathroom feel more luxurious

    Make your bathroom feel more luxurious

    I’m one of those people who loves a luxurious feeling bathroom, and a hot shower or bath at the end of a long day. I’m guessing we all wish we had a luxury shower. One that’s extra roomy with multiple shower heads and one of those speakers to jam out to music too! Don’t you think a place you visit plenty often during the day should be gorgeous? Agree or not, bathrooms are one of the most expensive things to remodel. So here’s a few pointers to making the shower you have a little more luxurious!

    How amazing is this shower?

    Pick the perfect shower head! If nothing else can be fixed spend a little extra on an amazing shower head. It can make a huge difference in the morning to feel like you are in an expensive shower even if you have to close your eyes. At least it feels good! There are a lot of options available these days that have great pressure, but only use a small amount of water, so try and go the eco-friendly route when you can!

    Change up the paint. Sometimes a new perspective can create a better vibe in the bathroom. Try to stick with clean neutral colors. Those tend to be more soothing in the morning, but if you are a colorful person, stick with pastels! A gloss finish will make walls easier to clean. If you are super brave and really want a luxe look – try a navy blue or black paint.  You might be surprised at how much you like it!
    Another option if you are in an apartment, rental, or have a smaller bathroom would be to change the curtain rod! Most spaces like that go with a shower tub unit and those can make you feel really confined. You can easily find a curved shower curtain rod that gives the shower a little more space!   If you can manage it, a floor to ceiling curtain will really look luxe! When I’m feeling tired of my bathroom, I find that a new shower curtain and bathmat do wonders.


    The last but most important thing you can do to keep your shower feeling luxurious is to keep it clean and clutter free. The less that’s in your space to gather moisture and dust the better.  A vanity with drawers or cabinets is great for storing things off your vanity surface, as is a medicine cabinet.  If you simply must have somethings on the vanity surface, choose products with pretty bottles, or transfer products to pretty bottles.

    It’s amazing what a few changes can do to make a space one that you tolerate daily to one you can’t wait to step into!

    this post is in partnership with bathempire.com

  • Letting Light In! Beautiful windows and natural light-filled rooms

    Letting Light In! Beautiful windows and natural light-filled rooms

    It seems like the rain has set in these past few days and it can really make a day seem dreary. Even my dog is getting stir crazy from not going outside as much.  I thought that maybe some window and natural light eye candy could help brighten up the mood a bit.  After all, I’ve never hear anyone say “my home has too many windows – they make too much natural light!”  If I ever heard someone say that, I might have to slap them – and you should too.  (Sorry, I guess all the rain has gotten to me…)

    Most people consider energy savings the primary benefit of replacing windows, and while it is a tremendous benefit, you’d be amazed at what a new window, like coral windows, could do for your space! Enlarging a window or adding one where there once wasn’t can really transform the entire room.  The windows in the front of our house are wide, but barely 2 feet tall, so sometimes it makes me feel like we are in a basement or the lower floor of a split level.  I would love to replace them with taller windows – I know it would make the front rooms feel much larger!

    via Pinterest

    I use a sunlight lamp in the winter when we have shortened days, and it makes a tremendous difference in my mood. It’s no substitute for the joy you get when you step outside on a gorgeous bright sun shining day, but it’s better than nothing, and I imagine that upgrading your windows to let more light in will only help as well. 

    Pinterest

    via Pinterest via Elle Decor

    Unfortunately, we don’t all have the budget to replace our windows for the much needed luxury of light. There are certain tricks you can employ that don’t cost as much as windows.  I would try using a slightly glossier paint in your rooms (keep in mind that the glossier the paint, the more defects will stand out in your walls).  Also, consider painting your ceiling in a high gloss or metallic paint – it really makes the light bounce!



    We all know the trick of using mirrors to make a room feel bigger, and remember that mirrors also reflect light! Using a mirror on the opposite side of a window can create illusion of more light! Also avoiding heavy fabric curtains, and make sure they are hung so you can pull them back all the way from the frame of the window. 


    this post was in partnership with coralwindows.co.uk