Monthly Archives: March 2020

Bathroom Renovation Ideas: Industrial Loft Style

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary

– The colours of industrial style

– Raw and natural materials

– Wall and floor covering

– Furniture

– Shower and bathtub

– The plus: the canopy!

– Where to find its decoration and industrial furniture

The industrial style is defined by simplicity, character and recuperation. It is a very trendy style that combines metal, wood and raw materials and creates an authentic and contemporary atmosphere for your bathroom. Furniture that is mottled and diverted from its main role, metal, concrete, subway tiles, all of this is a perfect combination for an industrial loft-style bathroom.

The colours of the industrial style

For an industrial loft-style bathroom, opt for a shade of grey that will remind you of concrete and metal. Generally speaking, industrial style comes in shades of grey, from lightest to darkest, including black. For colour enthusiasts, you can use saturated colours:

– Khaki

– The verdigris

– The dark blue

– Brick Red

– The rusty orange

Bright colours are only found on small pieces of furniture: chairs, lights, towel rails, accessories…

Raw and natural materials

An industrial loft-style bathroom must have solid, raw materials. The industrial style is inspired by industrial buildings, old warehouses, old factories and factories that were not built with an aesthetic in mind. This is why most of the materials used are raw and unfinished. The raw materials to be found in your bathroom are:

– Steel: it is difficult to give an industrial style to your bathroom without incorporating steel. You can, for example, use steel for accessories, the towel rail or in the choice of faucets.

– Concrete: nothing is more industrial than concrete. You can use it on floors or walls but also on the worktop of the furniture with the basin.

– Wood: choose raw wood, aged or patinated.

Wall and floor covering

The walls

For the walls of your industrial style bathroom without water contact, opt for paint in shades of grey or in saturated colours: grey, anthracite, black, khaki, navy blue, brick red… On the other hand, for walls in contact with water, opt preferably for a tile-type covering or wall panels. Metro tiles are perfect for industrial decoration; otherwise choose slate imitation tiles or grey tones to remind the concrete aspect.

Tip: A new material is on the market, it is called sheet stone. It is a thin sheet of stone that is glued directly to the wall. It can also be used in the shower as it is water repellent. Moreover, it is easy to install and maintain, and there are many aspects: slate, moonstone, rock stone…

The floor

For your industrial bathroom floor, opt for a floor with character! Tile is still the best choice for bathroom flooring, so have fun with the different aspects:

– Concrete-look tiles: easier to maintain and crack-free

– Tiles with a rusty metal appearance: the appearance is similar to metal surfaces, rusty or brushed. The advantage is that a tile, unlike metal, will not stain or change its appearance over time.

– Wood-look tiles: wood will bring a warm tone to your bathroom. To stay in the industrial style, choose a raw or aged wood instead.

Note: For quality tiles, choose porcelain stoneware: count on average $30/m².

Furniture

Designing your bathroom means above all choosing furniture adapted to its volumes. For an industrial loft-style bathroom, objects that you find or that you divert from their primary role are ideal. Choose a piece of furniture under a wooden basin or use an old chest of drawers that you transform into a basin unit. You can also opt for old-fashioned industrial lockers, you will bring a touch of vintage and it will offer you very practical storage space for your linen. For furnishings, hang metal shelves on the walls and hooks as coat hooks. In an industrial-style bathroom, everything is on display, from the smallest accessories to the plumbing.

Tip: Nothing is more industrial than exposed plumbing! There’s no need to rack your brains to hide, copper pipes become a decorative element in their own right. The industrial style plays its cards on the table and does not try to hide what is usually hidden.

The washbasin

Preferably choose a round, rectangular or oval basin with clean lines. To complete your decoration, you can also choose a stainless steel, copper or zinc basin. The coolness of the metal paradoxically gives off strange warmth that plunges you directly into the atmosphere of a workshop.

Taps

There is nothing more design and in theme than an old tap with cast iron industrial valves: a raw and retro look for a typically industrial look. Or, very trendy at the moment, the copper faucet is the detail that changes everything!

Shower and bathtub

The shower

In an industrial-style bathroom, opt for a simple and open shower to recall the loft spirit. For this, an Italian shower is ideal because it opens onto the rest of the bathroom.

The bathtub

You can restore a vintage bathtub in beaten copper, you can restore a beautiful enamelled standing model or opt for a steel bathtub with pure lines: more contemporary but well adapted for an industrial atmosphere.

The plus: the glass roof!

If you wish to partition your bathroom space, opt for the glass roof… As a shower wall or partition, the interior glass roof is in pure industrial style. It gives a feeling of volume, depth and airy style to your bathroom renovations. The price of a canopy varies according to its size.

Where can you find industrial decoration and furniture, and at what price?

You will find all the elements in the large decoration stores or on the commercial websites. But you can also adopt an industrial loft style by walking through flea markets or sales rooms. Factory furniture is often on sale at reasonable prices. Hope the above bathroom renovation ideas help you out. Remember to leave your comments below!

Types of Landscaping Lights

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Category : Home Improvement

Outdoor landscape lighting is an important consideration in trying to illuminate your patio, entrance, yard, landscape garden or deck. But, sadly though, outdoor lighting is often ignored. Homeowners should remember that outdoor lighting can give the sense of “completeness” in their homes. Therefore, considering very detail of its decoration is essential to achieve a completely beautiful and presentable area that will surely catch every guest’s wandering attention. Landscape lighting tips will help brighten your gardens and landscape during the evening hours. Some landscape lighting tips are meant to show off different areas of your garden landscape. Landscape lighting is not only popular to homeowners but also business owners to highlight the business building during the evening. Everyone enjoys low voltage lighting and solar lighting because they are inexpensive and easy to install and are available to purchase almost anywhere.

The outdoor lighting you chose to have will not only add an important aspect in the appearance of the area and in helping you light your place rightly, but it will also give you a sense of safety and security for your house. All that you needed to do is to make the perfect choice of the lighting that will just be fitted for your house and your taste, and then you will all be set in achieving beauty and security. Consider the following types of landscape lighting:

1. LED (Light Emitting Diode) Landscape Lightings – these are one of the possible great choices for outdoor spaces lighting. Since, at the present time, many homeowners are enjoying spending time outside their houses, LED lightings can accentuate any outdoor space that may need lighter than the others. This type of lighting can come in different voltages so that finding the perfect one that will meet your standards for intensity, color, and brightness, or any of your personal needs will be made easier. This can be used in illuminating your patio, driveway, or garden. Not to mention that this is also one of the few lighting that can also be environmentally friendly since they are an energy saver type of light. People even in businesses choose LED so that they will save their resources, especially in paying their electric bills, and to do their part in saving the environment.

2. Solar Landscape Lighting – is a perfect way to bring forth light to your pathways around your house or business areas. Different manufacturers have come up with different styles that are also environmentally friendly and will not require the use of electricity in order to make it work. Solar lighting makes us of the sun’s full light so that it can operate at night. It makes use of small solar cells to charge the batteries that are already built in. This is so when you have fully charged it the whole day, it will provide the all the needed light in the night. One thing to consider in purchasing this type of lighting though is the PV panel. The PV panel is important because it is needed in the charging of the battery; it needs to be located somewhere it will be conducive to have more sunlight on it, otherwise the battery will not charge properly. It would also be wise to find out if there are available replacements for the batteries and bulbs also. Take note that the best types of this lighting are those that are that are weather resistant, durable, and stainless steel.

3. Garden Lighting – having a garden at home enhances the beauty of the place even more. And having a garden should be enjoyed at any season or any time of the day. And to make the garden even more attractive even at night, adding lighting on it can really make all the difference. Planning will also make the big effect on the goal that you would like to achieve. Garden lighting can be used to accentuate the general layout of your garden. If your garden has a seating area on it, it would be wise to put the lighting there; while adding a touch of green will be better if you use solar lights accompanied with lampshades. But if you have a pond on it, it will enhance it even better if lights will be placed underwater. Putting fountain lights can also add effect and offers another option you can take. Garden lighting can also be solar powered so even if your garden is located far from an electrical source, it would not pose any problem. Highlighting some trees can also be dramatic in the different seasons of the year.

4. Low Voltage Landscape Lighting – if your discretion is to save energy efficiency, using low voltage landscape lighting that will illuminate outdoor spaces can be ideal for you. Low voltage lighting can be very economical and practical in times like these. And no activity will be hampered just because of the lack of light; low voltage lighting can also provide spotlights for you on times when you needed them most. Three types of low voltage lighting can be considered as good options for this purpose. One of them is pathway lighting; this can be the lowest voltage of all and primarily designed to give a downward or even an outward glow. Then there are mood lights that can cast a soft or warmer glow appropriate for a romantic dinner or even just to have a personal conversation. And finally, there are also the accent lightings which can draw your guests’ attention to whatever special and unique features that your garden is offering. They can be your ponds, any outdoor sculpture, waterfalls, or trees. Securing and ensuring that these lightings will last for several and all types of seasons will be the topmost consideration here.

5. Deck Lighting – since decks are most likely to be used during nighttime rather than the day, any lighting arrangements done here will complete the beauty and grandeur of the place. Lighting here will give the deck a more appealing look especially after sunset; it will make your deck dazzling and even more strikingly pleasing. Opting for low voltage lighting along your deck will make it also shine. There are post-cap lightings having removable lid or cover that will enable easy access to the bulbs in there. In fact, there are enough choices of low voltage lighting for decks that add that scintillating effect.

Get in touch with Aqua Spray Irrigation Inc to install your landscaping light that will enhance the beauty of your garden in the best way possible.

Choosing the Perfect Colour Scheme for Every Room

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Category : Home Renovation

While some people will insist that there is such a thing as a perfect colour for every room, we will have to disagree. We are firm believers in not being bound by tradition and to go with what you want. BUT! There are still a few rules you want to abide by if you don’t want a room to turn into a total fiasco.

After all, some colours really do not work in tight spaces or in a warmer region. Remember how school taught us that darker colours are good conductors of heat? Yep. While we are all for letting the child in you run wild, there are still a few things you need to bear in mind before buying wall paint and hiring a painter. One of those includes knowing the type of paint you should get. There are different types of paint on the market. Some of them are oil-based, others are water-based and others are latex. While each painting has its benefits, we would recommend latex paint mostly because it is easy to clean up and lasts long.

Now, let’s dive right in!

Which Colour Should I choose?

For the Living Space

Considering that paint colours for living rooms have a huge impact on the overall mood of your home, you want to pick them carefully. From a natural green that can breathe new life into a room to light shades of grey that create an illusion of spaciousness, there are a lot of colours you can choose from. If you want a calmer atmosphere, blue or beige is the colour is to go for. But if you have a flair for the dramatic, then why not go with navy blue, cobalt blue or even black?

For the Kitchen

The kitchen is the one room you must avoid the single colour schemes at all cost. Those days are long gone! For a more modern, high impact, look you want to mix materials and colours. From white, grey, blue, red, yellow, to green, you have a wide variety of choice. Each of these colours can do something different for the room. You just need to decide if you want to create a warm, welcoming space or a more striking look.

For the Bedroom

The great thing about the bedroom is that it is a private space. So, you could go totally crazy if you want. No one will judge you. and if done well, even the boldest of colours can work magic! If you prefer tranquil spaces, you can stick to softs colours and pastels. Washed-out Lilac and creamy buttermilk would be perfect in that case. If you want something with more character, then why not experiment with bold charcoal hues? Or why not paint the whole room with a shimmering grey? Accessorising with darker furniture will balance with that soft shade of grey and still create a striking vibe.

For the Bathroom

The bathroom is a small room – the more colour you sue, the tackier it will look. It’ such a small space you won’t be able to ignore an explosion of colour. So, in this room, trim it down. Try a monochromatic look. Do not confuse monochrome with black and white, though we have to admit that a black and white colour palette can still class up your bathroom. Monochrome simply refers to the use of a limited amount of colour. You can, therefore, use different shades of the same colour to paint the walls in your bathroom. Them to give the bathroom some pizzazz, accessorise with a pile of coloured towels or with flowers!

For the Study Room

A study room can be designed for several purposes. Entrepreneurs often renovate a room to turn it into an office. Parents design study rooms so that their children have a dedicated space where they can sit down, do their homework and catch up on their studies. Yet, regardless of what you intend to use it for, whether a home office or study room, you need to be a calming. You want as few distractions as possible in that room. We would recommend sticking to white paint for a fuss-free vibe. But if you want to make the room a tad more interesting, you can choose to paint one of the walls a cool shade of blue, yellow or grey.

Bottom Line:

When you are trying to pick the perfect colour palette for the rooms in your house, choose colours that you like. While the perfect paint colour will transform a room, it will be counterproductive if you hate that colour. Instead, try to find a shade close to the ‘perfect’ colour. Ensure that you actually like that shade though. With so many paint shades at your fingertips, you should be able to find one that both compliments the room and makes you happy.

How to Choose Your Granite Paving Stone

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Category : Home Renovation

The granite paving stone is made from a very resistant natural rock. Granite paving stone is very suitable for driveways, terraces, and borders. It is available in various shapes, thicknesses, and standards.

Other types of natural stone paving stones are sandstone paving stone, the bluestone paving stone, porphyry paving stone, quartzite paving stone and reconstituted stone paving.

This post talks on the aspect of granite paving stone and in the end, you will be able to get an idea of which type of paving stone you are actually looking for.

Criteria for choosing granite paving stone

Granite paving stone is generally square or rectangular. The lightest of them contain quartz and feldspars; their density is lower than the darker pavers which are richer in ferromagnesian minerals.

When choosing a granite paver for a driveway, the granite paving stone must be at least 6 cm thick and 8 cm thick if there is a heavy vehicle passage. To benefit from road marking, paving stones must be more than 5 cm thick. In some states, the standard applies to new paving stones and not to reclaimed paving stones.

Several finishes of granite paving stones: flamed, cleaved, old…

Different finishes are possible depending on the aspect you want. Do not hesitate to ask a paver for more information: the finishes vary according to the manufacturers, suppliers and the origin of the paving stone.

Granite paving stone: which finish?

Bush hammer

– The stone is passed under a machine with aligned heads that move over the granite.

– The result is an appearance made up of small hollows and bumps.

Flamed

– The stone was subjected to a high-temperature flame.

– The stone bursts on the surface giving a rough, non-slip appearance.

– The color of the stone is enhanced.

Cleaved

– The granite is cut using a machine that includes large “guillotine” style knives, respecting the direction of orientation of the crystals contained in the granite.

– The result is natural, slightly rough.

Old

– Recovered or shaped, the wear is natural or natural-looking.

Laying granite paving

Granite paving stone is ideal for outdoor use because of its resistance, but also because of its timeless aesthetics.

It can be laid in alleys, along borders and why not to underline a massif, combined with luminous paving stones.

Price of granite paving stone

Prices include VAT, excluding installation and delivery. They will also depend on the size and thickness of the paving stone. In total, between $25 and $50 per m².

Hope the above helps you out in choosing your granite paving stone. For more information and tips, jot down your comments in the section below.

Why Choose Sheet of Stone for Your Walls

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Category : Home Renovation

Sheet stone is a flexible natural stone cladding for interior or exterior walls. This type of flexible natural stone cladding is made from slate or mica and is available in a variety of colors and textures.

It is a new and ingenious product that is revolutionizing the creation of natural stone surfaces.

Starting from solid blocks of natural stone, thin sheets of stone 2 mm thick are cut out using a very innovative technique. Reinforced by a fiberglass-based composite backing, these natural stone sheets are strong, light and easy to work with.

Stone Sheet: Characteristics and Composition

The stone sheet consists of the first layer of stone (slate, quartzite or mica) with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.8 mm, followed by support of fiberglass and resin. There are many colors, textures, and dimensions.

Where to Use Stone Sheet?

The stone sheet is ideal for decorating your interiors. This stone material is recommended to easily dress walls, floors, and facades, as well as to give a warm and contemporary atmosphere to your home. In addition, stone sheets give a room a lot of styles. 

There are several colors and textures available. Made of a natural and lively material, the sheet of stone has color variations that make each sheet unique.

Tip: Sheet stone is also ideal for use in damp rooms. Waterproof, you can lay it in your kitchen, bathroom, but also in your swimming pool and spa.

Laying and Maintenance of the Stone Sheet

Installation

Stone sheets can be applied directly to paints, wood, plasterboard… The work is therefore quick and within the reach of all DIYers. The installation is easy:

1. Prepare and clean the chosen surface.

2. Glue the sheet of stone directly to your surface. It is recommended to use hybrid polymer glues for the installation of natural stone sheets, as they have very high holding power and good water tightness.

Maintenance

After installation, maintenance is necessary to keep the natural and elegant sheet of stone:

– For damp rooms or areas such as the kitchen, we advise you to apply an anti-stain product.

– To preserve the unique color of your stone sheet, use a color reinforcement.

– For daily cleaning, specific products are sold with the stone sheet.

Stone Sheets: The Advantages of the Material

Resistant

This flooring is very solid and can be laid anywhere in the house or outside to cover walls and floors as it is waterproof and UV resistant.

Aesthetics

The aesthetic appearance is identical to solid stone.

You will find a large choice of colors, textures, and aspects to have stone walls or floors according to your desires.

Easy to lay

This material is easy to cut and install and is within everyone’s reach.

Their great flexibility means that sheets of stone can be laid on all types of supports (concrete, plaster, tiles, etc.), flat or rounded surfaces.

Thin and light (between 1 mm and 2 mm for 2.3 kg/m²), the stone sheet facilitates storage, transport, handling, and laying.

Easy cutting can be done with a cutter or a circular saw.

You will also find functional standard or custom sizes at DIY stores.

Good luck with your home decor. Remember to leave your comments below.

Knocking Down to Rebuild – Benefits and Considerations

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Do you feel like you’ve outgrown your home? Or maybe it’s gotten shabby and no longer suits your needs? While renovating, buying a new home or building elsewhere are three possible solutions there’s a fourth option that many people are now turning to: knocking down your house and building a new one in its place.

Given the many advantages of tearing down your home and starting afresh, it’s not hard to see why this is an increasingly popular solution. If you’re curious to see if it’s the right option for you, have a look at some of the benefits and concerns listed below for a fuller picture.

1. It can be a smarter move financially

One of the main draws of opting to tear down your existing home and rebuild is that it can be more cost-effective than renovating.

Experts state that it is not uncommon for extension and renovation projects to be 50 per cent more expensive to build than new homes on a square meter basis, partly because renovations often require a lot of time-consuming demolition and alteration work before the new work can even begin.

Also, some costs associated with renovating and extending a home are difficult to determine during the design stage. Some examples are when new subfloor, underpinning or plaster rectification are required. Allowances for such costs need to be built into the contract. It can be tricky to determine the exact level of allowances to be made.

This obviously won’t factor into your financials if you choose to knock your house down and rebuild, since your existing home will be totally demolished, allowing you to start afresh.

2. There are fewer surprises

While everyone loves a good surprise, you’re not likely to encounter many of them when renovating your home. Unforeseen problems like leaky pipes, damaged wiring or undetected asbestos can put a dampener on what was initially an exciting home makeover project.

Knockdown-rebuilds, on the other hand, don’t have as much uncertainty around them in terms of cost and budget blowouts like extensions and renovations do.

3. You can stay in the same neighborhood…

While demolishing and rebuilding your home has plenty of financial benefits, this building approach has a positive impact on your lifestyle, too. KDRs are a great option for families who love where they live and are loath to leave but are in desperate need of a new home that fits their lifestyle better.

4. …Or buy a house to raze and rebuild where you love

A shortage of land in and around metropolitan areas has been a driving force behind the popularity of knockdown-rebuilds. However, properties in well-established areas can be pricey, no matter how dilapidated they are, so it’s worth weighing up the cost versus the lifestyle benefits to make sure the price of the purchase, demolition and rebuild is worth it.

5. You start with a clean slate

Another advantage of a knockdown-rebuild is the creative freedom you can enjoy, not being shackled by needing to work around existing structures. While you still need to consider the general site layout, it is refreshing to have a clean slate to explore new ideas and challenge the previous layout. Building a new home gives you more options in terms of the style and size of the home, sustainability and the use of technology and modern building practices.”

6. Improved site access for a quicker build

KDRs also enable your builder to have unlimited access to the construction site, which will increase productivity on-site and could reduce your overall build cost and, ultimately, build timing. Efficient programming means you can move in faster, reducing the cost of other out-of-pocket expenses such as rent and storage costs.

7. You can go green(er)

Starting from scratch means that you can optimize the orientation and layout of your home and the placement of windows, to allow for maximum sun exposure in winter; shade and coolness in summer; and cross ventilation.

Knockdown-rebuilds give you the opportunity to construct your new home from the ground up, using sustainable materials and incorporating the latest smart, eco-friendly fixtures, features and gadgets too, which will improve your home’s carbon footprint and reduce your household energy spending.

Some Things to Consider

Sold on the idea of a knockdown-rebuild? Here’s some extra advice to take on board before you take the plunge.

  1. Get Advice Early – speaking to experts early can save you money in the long run. For example, working with professional home builders like Elite New Homes can guide you through the process; help answer the difficult questions; deal with the local council, builders and tradesmen, etc. Finding the right designer is key, and it’s a task that should not be rushed. Make sure they can demonstrate experience in meeting similar budgets and briefs to yours and ensure that you understand the fees and services delivered.
  2. Size up the existing structure – Check the existing foundations and the state of the existing building. For instance, if there are a lot of cracks in the walls, you may need to have some engineering work done to the foundations before you begin building.
  3. Have a buffer in your budget – while unforeseen conditions are less likely on KDRs, it’s always worth being prepared if something crops up along the way.
  4. Decide where you are going to live during the renovation – unless you are ok with living on a construction site, it’s likely that you will need to rent a property for the duration of the rebuild. This will add to your project cost and needs to be accounted for in your budget.

Have you embarked on a knockdown-rebuild project? Do you have any advice to share for people who are considering this building approach? Tell us in the comments below.

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