Home Design Styles We Love: Where Rustic Meets Modern

Getting two completely different architectural styles to mesh well together can be tricky – but it can be done. Oftentimes it isn’t about the elements of the styles themselves so much as the execution of each element.

Modern designs are about wide open spaces, letting in plenty of natural light via windows, minimalist accents, and designs that echo contemporary art pieces in their shape and overall structure.

Rustic designs call upon nature and employ exposed beams, lower grade wood used for doors, flooring, and more, fireplaces, and typically echo log cabins. They can vary in terms of size, which means that some are smaller and provide a much cozier feel, whereas other homes are larger and can become more extravagant.

The two styles can co-exist when done properly. In fact, when it comes to rustic designs and the concept of spaciousness, it has already been implemented in many homes. Larger homes do indeed incorporate large windows that let in plenty of light and keep spaces open for a more natural feel. For a home that is rustic, you can incorporate accents that are slightly more modern, or even vice versa. For example, a rustic home doesn’t need to be filled to the brim with things that are meant to remind you of the outdoors, from rugs to knickknacks. Rather, utilize a simpler approach with basic furniture styles, minimalist lighting structures, accents that don’t call attention to themselves or are made of stone or earth metals.

If the home is more minimalist, then aim to include accents that are more earthy, such as simple wooden chairs and tables, soft single color fabrics, wooden floors, doors, or stairs, and a plant here and there to evoke a sense of life.

A quick search online for “rustic modern” will turn up a bevy of images that you can draw inspiration from. Some homes are even shaped in modern style, but crafted with materials more typically associated with rustic homes. Furniture made with rustic materials are shaped in modern styles. You won’t find homes cluttered up with unnecessary items, lines are clean, shapes are simple, and colors are as basic and natural as can be. Whether you are thinking of transforming your home into a bit of rustic modern style, buying a home that already aims for it, or have one style and are looking to blend the other in, keep the basics of each style in mind and work carefully to bring the two together for perfect harmony.

Credit to: www.Alder-Doors.com

Benefits of Hiring an Emergency Plumbing Service Agency

 You may agree to the fact that having a plumber that you can contact anytime round the clock can help save efforts, time as well as money. This concept has recently picked up. In the past, none of the homeowners ever thought of having services such as emergency plumbing from an agency. During an emergency, every moment counts and in case of a water leak or an urgent plumbing job, you need someone to fix the issue instantly.

When you do require an emergency plumbing agency then one of the first questions that you may want to ask them is that if they have a proper license to undertake the job as per the governing state and/or city. As a matter of fact, not all cities require a license however in case your city does, then it makes sense to ask. In order to obtain a license the plumber needs to pass a test to demonstrate his skills. While asking the agency, do not get confused between a business license and a plumbing license. There is a huge difference between both. While a business license indicates that they have the right to run their business in the designated state however it does not necessarily mean that they are skilled in plumbing and/or have gone through some kind of evaluation.

The next item that you may want to consider is insurance. When you do hire a plumber do ensure that they have adequate compensation for the worker and suitable insurance for any damage that they may do. While the worker’s compensation pays off for any injury the plumber may incur, the insurance would cover for any damage they may do to any of your items at home. The liability insurance would help to pay any repair work and/or damages that may happen due to unforeseen circumstances or due to the clumsiness of the plumber. If in case the plumber does not carry insurance then you are liable to pay for the damage that may occur.

You may have noticed but plumbers without insurance are often cheap and that is because they do not pay the hefty premium for the insurance policy. It is up to you whom you wish to choose.

Yet another factor based on which you may wish to choose an emergency plumber is the response time. Do ask your plumber the turnaround time in which they can fix the issue. Despite the plumbing agency offering 24 hours service it does not guarantee that they would turn up on time. If they are located miles away or are overburdened with service calls then no way on earth would they be able to make it to your place within time. However, in case of an emergency you need to ensure that they can reach you on time or otherwise they can refer you to someone who can definitely make it to your home.

One more deciding factor based on which you may want to hire a plumber is the hourly rate. Do check for an estimate over the phone before you call them. Although, most plumbers may refuse to give a quote over the phone without seeing the issue but you can always ask for a ballpark figure based on their experience. After all you do not want to overpay. Some emergency plumbers also tend to add a service charge to the bill so do check before you call them up. Finally, do ask what form of payment they can accept and which not. You may not have enough cash at home so it would be best if you can ask the plumber to accept a credit card.

Last but may be not the least do ask for warranty. Since you are paying for the repair work, you may want to ensure that the job they do is of quality and has some warranty. 

How to turn your bathroom into a mini spa

We all deserve a little time out to relax and put our feet up, however not everyone has the time or money to escape to a luxury spa. So here’s the perfect solution - create your own mini spa at home!

Every once in awhile we need to escape from the hectic stresses of everyday life. Here are a variety of ways that you can turn your very own bathroom into a mini spa, perfect for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering.

Turn off your phone

We are a nation addicted to our smart phones, but this is not the time or the place to be on your mobile. You want to feel at ease and to do so you need to completely block out the stresses of everyday life. More importantly, you don’t want your afternoon at the spa being interrupted. Turn it off.

Set the mood

Before you get in the tub, you must do a little preparation. In order to completely relax you must create the right mood. A spa wouldn’t be complete without some scented candles and relaxing music.

The beauty of having your own spa at home allows you to have full control over these factors. Choose a scent that helps you unwind but make sure it isn’t too overpowering. When it comes to music try and choose something that you can listen to for a long period of time, you don’t want to be getting out of the tub to change the track.

Make your own treatments

Why spend money on pricey spa treatments when you can make your own natural skin care products home?

There are a variety of recipes online that you can use to pamper your body and soothe your soul. You’ll find that most recipes are made up of ingredients that you could already have around the house.

Invest in a bathrobe and comfy pair of slippers

After an hour of relaxing in the tub, there’s no better feeling than wrapping up in a soft robe and stepping into a pair of comfy slippers.

Go for a lightweight easy to wear robe and some waffle slippers, when it comes to colour go for white just like they use in the high end spas.

About the Author: Izzy Evans, interior design enthusiast, she often writes for  Iconic Hot Tubs blog. 

Kill The Household Mafias

Source: http://poulins.ca

Handyman- The three R's

Remodeling, renovating, and repairing are the three main projects done by the handyman. For a lot of you who don’t know what a handyman does and what kind of services they provide, a handy does all the things that need to be done when renovating or remodeling a part of your house. While it sounds obvious, a handyman is really handy when it comes to repairing water pipes, bath showers, tile installation or any kind of work that demands a certain degree of work ethic. It is an all in one service provider for your home available anytime at your convenience. 

Remodeling the floors of the living room to remodeling the design of your kitchen, renovating a part of your house to make it better and prettier, and repairing any kind of breakage in your house system are the services provided to you by professionals in the handyman service. It is always vital to hire a handyman rather than repair any kind of things in your house by yourself. Albeit you know your house and are comfortable in working alone to fix any problem, a slight incident may sometimes result in a major disaster for you or your family. With the quality of work promised to you and the warranties provided with it, it is better to hire a handyman than volunteering to work on things yourself. 

You may ask by now that what can go wrong with just the small kitchen you want to remodel. Maybe you’ve done it before and you pride yourself in completing the task single-handedly, but it is also possible that you would have made mistakes during the remodeling or repair processes and wouldn’t have noticed it. 

Let us look at the common mistakes people make while completing the three R task on their own. Let us take an example of a kitchen and what mistakes people make during the procedure. 

• Lack of planning is the main mistake that homeowners make while renovating their kitchen. They may start working beforehand because of not willing to make a plan of how they are going to remodel their kitchen and what is most suitable for it. You can’t look for a solution on the way, you have to find the exact solution and then work. Though it is time consuming and feels like a waste of time, a proper planning will ensure you don’t overestimate the capacity of things your kitchen can hold. 

• When you have a plan for a kitchen remodeling, stick to a particular budget instead of going on a spree to purchase the best over-the –top instruments for your kitchen. It grossly diminishes the possibility for a future remodeling of any other part of your house. Stick to a budget. 

• If you have planned something already and you are now thinking of changing the plan as you work, it only means that you did not think clearly while making the previous plan. Sticking to your plan is an important aspect of renovating any part of your house. 

• Improper lighting and no ventilation in the kitchen will be the cause of more heat to form inside the house and a horrible lighting cast on the kitchen design. 

Lastly, remember the first point we made about hiring professionals to do a better job. If you want an impeccable design for your kitchen or bathroom to your liking and want a neat job done on the house with a guarantee of long lifespan, it is recommended to hire a handyman to make your house strong and beautiful at the same time. 

About the author

Steve Watson has good experience in Home Improvement. He has been associated with a lot of building processes and understands quality construction.

The top 5 most incredible glass floors

Though we’ve long been familiar with the use of glass in our homes, offices and public spaces, we’re normally used to seeing it used vertically as windows or as glass doors.

Seeing glass placed horizontally and used as a floor, no matter how strong we know it to be, is still something a of a mystery to most people. And creates a surface that seems to float in mid air, working against all of the laws of physics.

This technique has now been used to create some fantastic tourist attractions and private homes. Here are five of the best glass floors from around the world.

Glass floors provide a great viewpoint on the city below

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Looking_down_from_Tower.jpg/640px-Looking_down_from_Tower.jpg

1. The Grand Canyon Skywalk

Number one on the list has got to be the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona.

The attraction was commissioned and is managed by the Hualapai Indian tribe, who have lived in the area for generations.

The skywalk is around 1,450m above sea level, with the direct vertical drop below the walk ranging from 150m to 240m.

The walkway above the Grand Canyon is one of the most impressive in the world

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Grandcanyon_skywalk_hd.jpg/640px-Grandcanyon_skywalk_hd.jpg

Visitors walk out onto the glass floor to look directly down into the canyon, gaining a fantastic view of this unique site as well as of the surrounding landscape.

2. The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

Opened in Portsmouth in 2005, the Spinnaker Tower rises for 170m above the city’s harbour, giving visitors a spectacular view of the surrounding area.

Its glass floor is the largest in Europe measuring 7.70m2, and at 100m up, is only for those who have a good head for heights.

3. The Sears Tower, Chicago

When this enormous skyscraper opened back in 1973 it was the tallest building in the world, a title which it held onto for almost 25 years.

Measuring 442m in total (108 floors) the tower dwarfs everything else in the nearby skyline.

Visitors to the tower can experience what it’s like to be almost half a kilometre up, by travelling to its 103^rd floor viewing platform, where retractable glass balconies provide a view 412m straight down onto the city below.

Only opened in 2009, the balconies are made completely from glass and allow visitors to feel the sway of the building whilst giving them an unobstructed viewing experience.

4. Salvador Dali’s Glass floor

As one of the foremost artists of the 20^th century you’d expect Salvador Dali to have a few quirky design features in his home and studio, and one of his most famous was a custom made glass floor.

Used as an aid for foreshortening perspective and creating weird and wonderful patterns, the glass floor was responsible for many of the most famous images associated with the Spaniard.

5. Tianmen Mountain, China

Echoing the Skywalk of the Grand Canyon, this gravity defying walkway in China’s north western Hunan province has got visitors clinging on for dear life.

With a 4000ft drop on one side and a sheer cliff face on the other, this mountain pass is definitely not for the faint hearted.

For the length of the walk the glass is just 2.5 inches think and 3ft wide and gives those brave enough to traverse it a clear view of the valley below.

There’s no doubt that glass can be used in inventive and exciting ways to add character and thrills to our best loved attractions.

So why not take inspiration from the Grand Canyon, Dali or the Spinnaker Tower and create your very own glass floor, giving any visitors to your home a surprise that they’ll remember.

Picture credits: Wikipedia 1 & 2

Author Bio

The Top 5 Most Incredible Glass floor was produced by Cantafix – The market leaders in specialised glazing and skyframes.

Top 15 Interior Design Blogs

In recent times, the internet has offered interior design enthusiasts a host of resources to gain inspiration for restyling their home. If interior design is something you're interested in, then take note of the following top 15 interior design blogs.

Roomenvy.co.uk

This blog is split into room sections, such as beautiful boudoirs and cool kitchens, so that you can see for yourself the must-have styles that every aspiring interior designer should aim to achieve for their home. The blog is easy on the eye and includes incredibly sumptuous interior shots.

Houzz.com

Anyone interested in interior design will be familiar with this site, as it's one of the biggest sources of home styling ideas and inspiration on the net. You can browse through hundreds of photos, read and join discussions, and comment on contributor blog posts.

Wowhaus.co.uk

Take a peek at this blog if you're interested in unusual, opulent or completely off the scale dreamy properties. You might not be able to afford any of them, but the blog makes a light-hearted read for the interested interior designer, and could give you some inspiring ideas how to turn your home into a palace.

Freshome.com

This nicely laid-out design and architecture site gives you a good insight into everything current in the world of interior design. Split into sections of the home, you can browse ideas, gain insightful information and gather inspiration for your own home.

Talesfromahappyhouse.com

If you have limited funds to devote to your interior design hobby, then you might be inspired to get crafty and make things from scratch, or source ideas on a shoestring. This blog will be the one for you, as the author gives brilliant ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Printpattern.blogspot.co.uk

If textile design is your passion, then this blog will give you an insight into the latest print and pattern styles and designs that could help guide you to create a stylish home.

Thedecoratingdiva.com

If you want to get decorating savvy and soak up some tips on what's hot to smarten your interior walls up this season, then this blog will be your best friend. Alluring photos will provide a wealth of inspiring ideas for when you need to decorate.

Katyelliott.com/blog

The lady behind this blog is in the midst of a major homes renovation project. If you've ever dreamt of restoring an old property, then seek tips and ideas from this blog.

Thebeatthatmyheartskipped.co.uk

If you crave a daily dose of design inspiration, then mark this blog as one of your favourites. You'll find anything and everything on this site, so there's no interior design limits set - the only limits are your imagination.

Apartmenttherapy.com

A major player in the world of interior design blogs, there's a wealth of ideas and inspiration to be found on this site, to cover all aspects of the home. It's split into handy sections, so if you want ideas for small spaces or design on a budget, for instance, you'll find all the answers you need.

Diydisasters.co.uk

If you're looking for a light-hearted blog that confirms that even the best of us get interior design and home DIY projects occasionally wrong, then this is worth a read. Gather insight along the way, so that you don't succumb to any of the disasters written about.

Decor8blog.com

Anyone familiar with the world of interior design will most likely have heard of this blog. It's a must-have resource for those seeking design inspiration. If you like the blog, then why not buy the book to accompany it?

Emmas.blogg.se

If you love Scandinavian inspired interior design, then you'll be in your element browsing through the vast range of arty photos that are incredibly pleasing on the eye.

Dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

Anyone with an interest in interior design will be more than familiar with the buzzword upcycling. This blog explores interesting and functional upcycling projects for your home, which even the novice can have a go at.

Whatsinyourbedroom.blogspot.co.uk

This slightly off-the-wall blog focuses on other people's bedrooms and how people have designed or styled them. Some ideas might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it makes for an interesting read, nevertheless.

Written by Gozde who is on the Suite Company design team.