Category: wood beams

4 Intangibles That Make Your Home More Appealing

It’s easy to see a return on your investment for tangible home improvements such as painting or remodeling a bathroom or kitchen. It’s more difficult to put a value on intangible things such as lighting, mood, and use of space. However, these aspects of your home are as essential to your enjoyment, and perhaps even to resale value, as most tangible improvements. Here are four intangibles that will make your home more appealing.

Lighting

via mydomaine.com

Mood lighting is as important to your home as is functional lighting. When in the kitchen cutting vegetables for your Thai curry dinner, you need to be able to see what you’re doing and read the cookbook on the counter. But when sitting at the dining room table enjoying your freshly prepared meal with your family, you don’t need direct lighting glaring down on your dish. Think about mood versus function in your home, and do what you can to still be practical while giving your home that cozy feel. Just changing out some light bulbs to a lower wattage might help.

via Pinterest

Comfort

A consistent and natural temperature in your home is imperative to your comfort, and it’s one of those intangibles that will make a huge difference in the way your home feels. You don’t want Grandma to visit and have to bring her parka along to stay comfortable. A reliable and energy-efficient HVAC system that enables you to maintain a steady temperature and control humidity is essential to your well-being.

via Apartment Therapy

Fragrance

Have you ever stepped into someone’s home and had your nostrils assaulted by a foul smell? Your home’s fragrance is so important that real estate agents often instruct sellers to bake cookies or light vanilla-scented candles to make their homes more appealing to potential buyers. Don’t overdo it, though. Some people are sensitive to overpowering scents, so keep it subtle.

Flow

via Instagram

Good flow and use of space are other important intangibles that will make your home more appealing. For instance, no one wants to go up two flights of stairs to unload groceries. And the pantry should be in the kitchen, not in the basement. At the minimum, there should be one bathroom for every two occupants. Feng shui is also becoming a popular trend. It’s an ancient Chinese art and concept established more than 3,000 years ago. It shows people how to balance the energies and flow in any space to promote good fortune and blessings for the people living in it.

An inviting and memorable home will make you feel proud. And when visitors compliment you on your living space, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, when you spend time on the important intangibles of your home, they can actually add value. The bonus benefit to having a home that is pleasing to guests is that it’s more alluring to you, as well. So, the next time you want to spruce up your home, don’t forget to spend time on the intangibles that will make your house appealing.

October 24, 2017
Air Quality Considerations in Small Spaces

The tiny house culture is soaring in popularity. Owning a small space comes with unique challenges, though. You have to think about homeowner issues that people in larger spaces won’t. One of them is indoor air quality (IAQ), which comes with special difficulties for tiny homes.

Given the multitude of indoor air pollutants, conducting indoor air quality testing can assist in pinpointing a particular source of contamination and addressing it promptly. Luckily, G3 Environmental stands as a dependable partner, poised to swiftly deliver essential services and top-notch information. Committed to achieving the highest standards, G3 Environmental assures effortless attainment of fresh and uncontaminated air.

Here’s a guide on air quality considerations for small spaces.

Tight Quarters and IAQ

The tiny home culture isn’t just about the small homes that you see on reality television programs. One-bedroom and studio apartments, as well as dorm rooms, are tight spaces too. All of these dwellings have the same IAQ issues. The most important thing to realize is that you have less air in a small, enclosed area. When you have excessive pollutants in this space, the percentage of clean air is far too low. That’s why you must take special precautions to maintain high IAQ in a tiny home.

Spray for Bugs

Bug infestations are one of the worst problems in tiny homes. The husks of these creatures are so small that you may not see them, but they wind up becoming a part of the air. These pollutants can trigger allergies and even asthma attacks in some instances. While you may think of bug spray as a problem for IAQ, the reality is that getting rid of pests is critical to healthy air.

Check for Mold

Another one of the primary culprits of air pollution is mold. Dust mites, pollen, and mold are all major irritants that you don’t want floating in your HVAC ventilation system. You need to check for mold often, particularly in the areas of your living space that are most likely to get damp. That’s the attic and basement plus the baseboards of your home. If you see mold, you must sanitize the area to improve your IAQ.

You should also change air filters to lower the number of pollutants in your vents. A dirty air filter won’t stop as much gunk from getting into your vents. By replacing your air filter, you’ll trap more dust mites before they reach the vents. You may also want to buy an air filter with a higher MERV rating. These filters are even better at stopping pollutants from reaching your ventilation system. You can make a huge difference in your IAQ by spending a few more dollars on a better air filter.

Don’t Use Air Fresheners

Air fresheners sound like they’d do wonders for your IAQ. In reality, these fragrant devices emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are terrible for the air that you breathe. The same is true of candles. You may love the scent, but you’re risking your health by using them.

Instead, you should use naturally fragrant scents, like flowers, in your home. Fruits also work well, as long as you remember to replace them before they go bad. These fragrances are just as lovely, and they don’t hurt the IAQ in your home.

Living in a small place is a popular choice today. If you’re going to do so, just make sure that you follow the advice listed here. These tips will make you air more breathable.

All images via Apartment Therapy

October 13, 2017
Decorating on a Tight Budget? Try these secrets!

Interior design can be very expensive. Even while redecorating a single room, costs always add up quickly. Our mind begins buzzing with questions. Do I want to buy carpeting or should I install hardwood? What paint color should I choose? How much of paint will I need to cover this space? Do I have to buy new furniture? Do I have to get after hour emergency electricians? Not only these questions can make things difficult, the idea of purchasing all such items can be quite overwhelming. This is why to ease your worries, we have developed this post for you. Learn our secrets and easily decorate your house while being on a budget.

via Pop Sugar

via One Kings Lane

Prior Planning

Proper planning is vital for any home improvement project when working on a tight budget. You don’t want yourself in a situation where you find the perfect couch only to find out that you don’t have enough money in your account.

Before you begin, find your design inspiration. You can do this by looking at magazines and searching on the internet. Then, break down the project into its components such as furniture, flooring, paint, accessories, and interior décor. You need to browse stores and get a solid idea on the cost of the components. Then check your budget and see what suits you best.

via 38th Street

via Pop SUgar

Repurpose You Possessions

Repurposing old design elements can never be exciting as installing new pieces. But, it can definitely save you a lot of money. All you need is a bit of elbow grease and some good investment in free time, and you can totally transform the outlook of any part of your interior design.

Look around and ponder which items you can repurpose. Think whether you really need all those new kitchen cabinets or just getting them refaced would be a good idea? See whether there are hardwood floors underneath your current carpeting? Think whether you can freshen up your old bedroom suit just by fashioning it a new coat of paint. These are just small things that can really help you in the long run. They can also save you a good amount of money.

via Pop Sugar

via Home Stratosphere

Anchoring room with furniture

Working with a tight budget is always about prioritizing spending. Working with limited resources means you have to spend your money where you will receive the most value for it. In interior design, this means dedicating a major portion of your budget to furniture.

Furniture will likely last for years so it’s good to spend on the quality items. If you already have furniture you can also repaint it or polish it and make it new again. Furniture is not cheap so you will be spending quite some money on it. We advise you to invest wisely.

Furniture draws eyes towards itself. If you are investing in good furniture items, you don’t have to do much decor as it will take care of 80% of your interior décor if done creatively. After this is done, you’ll only have to add minor touches to pull the room together.

*disclosure: this post syndicated by Gordon Powers

September 19, 2017
Modern Farmhouse: An amazing transformation

Modern Farmhouse

Believe it or not this sprawling farmhouse started out as a run-down cottage with a green metal roof and no upstairs windows. The owner, Michelle Colbert, still saw her vision in the ramshackle property, and all of her hard work resulted in the modern farmhouse of her dreams.

The stables are connected to the home via the kitchen! They have 8 horses, 11 goats, and 30 chickens.

The great room features gorgeous beams, white plank walls, and amazing natural light. Layered rugs keep the space warm.

I really like the pops of color found throughout the house, like the cobalt blue wall in the upstairs lounge.

The master bedroom is warm and cozy.

I love the playfulness the polkadot armchairs bring, and the orderliness created by their symmetry.

The kitchen is full of showstoppers, the main one obviously being the backsplash.

What we see here is the home’s front, but it’s truly beautiful from every angle.

A large light fixture draws the eye up in this perfect girl’s bedroom

See and read the whole story on Southern Living

August 30, 2017
Farmhouse inspiration: A charming upstate farm retreat

Farmhouse Inspiration

It’s a dream of all (admit it, all) NYC dwellers to have a country retreat. Kathryn Windley was no exception to the rule. She was tired of her grueling hours as an art director for a Manhattan ad agencies, and was recently divorced. She added a new twist to the New Yorker turned farmer by actually marrying the realtor who found her the property a few years later on the 20-acre grounds!

This living room is kept bright and cheery by the white upholstery and brightly striped rug.

In NYC, unless you pay for a separate studio, on never has space in their apartment for a studio.
One day I hope to have the space to paint and draw again.

The barn is actually a garage they designed to look like a barn.

I adore this kitchen, and Kathryn claims the farmhouse sink is what sold her on the property. The runner was a once a damaged full-sized carpet she had cut and bound to fit the kitchen.

What do you think?

Read the full story and see more at Country Living

May 25, 2017
Beautiful kitchens in every style

Beautiful kitchens are hard to ignore. Kitchens are undoubtedly the busiest rooms in the home, so making it beautiful and functional is (maybe) more important than the function/aesthetics of any other room in the home. Kitchens also tend to be toward the front of the home and therefore see more traffic and visitors then dens and bedrooms. All the more important to make your kitchen welcoming, efficient, and a place that you, your family, and your friends will want to be.

The geometric rug and the super cool modern barstools add character and style to an otherwise staid, albeit beautiful white kitchen. I love those leaded panel windows and the counter to ceiling white subway tile.

Another white kitchen gets some character and fun with a green kick board at the breakfast bar. A glossy brass pendant and gleaming tile balance out the country stools and light wood floors.

This kitchen might be my favorite. The large rustic island, the absolutely stunning runner in faded colors, the layout, it’s somehow peaceful and energizing at the same time.

I think this stove could make even the most reluctant person want to cook. It looks like a work of art. The pale exposed bricks and decorative open shelves is a nice touch too. Add the copper accents and amazing hood and you have a very French aesthetic.

This might be a galley kitchen, but it sure packs a punch! The windows are amazing! The thick black counters and vertical wood panel cabinet fronts are really dramatic as well. I never thought a kitchen could look “zen,” or spa-like, but this one sure does.

Another amazing galley kitchen. The soft gray herringbone floors lead you to beautiful glass doors. The skylight also adds light to reflect off of the beautiful brass cabinetry hardware.

Do you have a favorite kitchen from the ones above?

All images via My Domaine

January 31, 2017
Moroccan Interiors: beautiful and airy spaces

Moroccan interiors have a soft spot in my heart ever since our trip to Morocco. With the ease, focus on comfort, and beautiful craftsmanship it’s hard to find something not to like.

One thing about Moroccan homes that I loved were the courtyards. Granted, I don’t live in a climate where an open, roofless home would be practical, but it was so nice to come in from the busy street and have a little privacy while still feeling like you are outside. Ornate wood and plaster carving also adorns a lot of riads in Morocco.

Part of the ease of Moroccan interiors is that there are always places to plenty of places to relax and lounge. Layers of textiles also promote comfort.

2 images above via The Poetry of Material Things

Beautiful.

I would love to be able to take home an ornately carved door or column and have it installed in my home.

Yes please! The daybed in white with and airy canopy.

4 images above via Theia Interiors

January 18, 2017
Warm and rustic spaces to inspire you to cozy up for winter

Well, we’re expectinh highs of 78 here in Maryland, but we all know winter will be here in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re a fan of winter or not, these rustic cozy interiors will make evenings indoor a toasty treat.

A glamorous modern chandelier and sleek upholstered headboard nicely contrast the dark wook paneling.

A really cool live edge wood headboard, and wool and fur textures make this the perfect cold weather retreat.

This ceiling has so much vision. I never would have thought to panel the ceiling in wood planks! All of the textures in the bedding are nice too!

How gorgeous is this hallway and staircase with wood beams?

This kitchen is AMAZING. Sleek cabinetry and square tiles paired with rough hewn beams, wideplank floors, and that island?!?

Just add a fireplace to this bathroom and it’s perfect for winter nights!

November 2, 2016
Blog Love: What I’m loving from other blogs

I love blogs and bloggers. Today I’m paying a little homage to my fellow partners in helping to keep the web inspiring.

From Rdeco

From Coco & Kelley

April 13, 2016
A charming upstate farm retreat

It’s a dream of all (admit it, all) NYC dwellers to have a country retreat. Kathryn Windley was no exception to the rule. She was tired of her grueling hours as an art director for a Manhattan ad agencies, and was recently divorced. She added a new twist to the New Yorker turned farmer by actually marrying the realtor who found her the property a few years later on the 20-acre grounds!

This living room is kept bright and cheery by the white upholstery and brightly striped rug.

In NYC, unless you pay for a separate studio, on never has space in their apartment for a studio.
One day I hope to have the space to paint and draw again.

The barn is actually a garage they designed to look like a barn.

I adore this kitchen, and Kathryn claims the farmhouse sink is what sold her on the property. The runner was a once a damaged full-sized carpet she had cut and bound to fit the kitchen.

What do you think?

Read the full story and see more at Country Living

April 4, 2012