Category: Home Improvement

How Green is Your Furniture?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

The modern sustainability movement is rapidly expanding into all aspects of design. Even design undergraduate students from all creative industries now have to consider the ‘cradle to grave’ lifecycle of the materials, processes, and end product of their coursework assignments as a standard concern. And as a consumer, it is something that we too should consider when buying furniture for our homes. The following article will discuss eco-friendly furnishing and give tips on how you can make your purchases greener.

Reclaimed Materials/Furniture

Furniture made from reclaimed wood can come from a number of different sources. However, it is commonly made from structures that were originally crafted from wood but are now no longer in use – old railway sleepers, for example. Reclaimed wood is usually very strong as well as flexible and wears its dents and imperfections from its former life as a badge of honor. The finish of reclaimed wood furniture is usually stripped back and has a rough, natural-feeling texture. But don’t worry, the timber isn’t splintery or damp like it’s just been ripped off the side of a railway track; it’s kiln-dried and checked for infestation and moisture before it gets re-purposed. Using reclaimed wood also saves 87% of the carbon emissions that would otherwise be used to make the same product from virgin wood, according to the Waste and Resources Action Program. Plus, as well as saving the trees from deforestation, a reclaimed wooden dining table has all the charm and backstory of an expensive antique for around a tenth of the cost.

Bamboo

Bamboo isn’t a type of tree, it’s actually a type of grass – which means it’s extremely fast growing and can be easily replenished; the perfect sustainable building material. Bamboo is very versatile and can used in range of different products – from flooring to blinds to furniture – because the fibres are very flexible and strong. In terms of bamboo’s sustainability credentials, bamboo forests require a lot of water and can deplete the amount of minerals in the soil due to frequent harvesting. But overall, bamboo is still one of the most sustainable building resources out there.

Solid Wood

It is common for solid wood furniture to be handcrafted. You can usually see how the piece was constructed by spotting the visible dove-tail joints. You should also be able to feel the grain of the wood on the surface. If there are carved pieces as part of the furniture’s design, this will be another indicator that the piece is made from solid wood, rather than merely consisting of a wooden veneer.

Although not strictly environmentally sound, solid wood can be seen as the more sustainable furniture material over cheaper veneer coated furniture because the piece will hold together and look beautiful for decades to come. This means that you won’t have to keep replacing broken or out-of-style furnishings in your home. Your solid oak dining table therefore can be fixed, redecorated or handed down through generations.

Certified Sustainable Wood

Organizations such as The Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council certify products made from resources that are sustainably grown and maintained fairly by people who have access to education and decent pay. There are thousands of furniture retailers out there that specialize in sourcing certified, sustainably made pieces. So if you’re serious about the environmental impact of your decorating choices, these would be the vendors you’d want to target for your furniture needs.

So there you have the low-down on sustainable furniture. If you have purchased sustainably made pieces of furniture for your home, please leave a comment below.

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How to Protect Common Items Stolen During a Home Burglary

Posted on by John Conde

Unfortunately, thousands of homes get robbed each year. As a matter of fact, as many as one in every thirty six homes are robbed annually. That means there is a good chance your home will be a target sometime during your life, whether it is a full-fledged home robbery or a bike getting stolen from your garage. However, there are things you can do to protect the items in your home. Take a look at these four items that are commonly stolen during home burglaries and what you can do to protect them.

Cable Lock Your Computer to Your Desk

Computers are commonly stolen during burglaries because they are expensive. Plus, they often contain personal information that burglars can use to steal your money or even your identity. For instance, you might have passwords saved on your computer or use an auto-complete app to quickly fill out personal information on websites.

You can protect your desktop from being stolen by securing it to your desk with a cable lock. These are readily available at office supply stores. They are great at deterring burglars because they require burglars to take your entire desk along with the desktop computer since they are inseparable, which is annoying and difficult to do. To protect smaller computers like laptops and tablets, you should store them out of sight when they’re not in use. A burglary can happen anytime, so you’ll have to be vigilant about not leaving them out.

Store Your Expensive Jewelry Separately

Burglars also target jewelry boxes because they often contain expensive items. Burglars can sell jewelry to pawn shops for cash or sell them for their metal or precious stone value, making quite a bit of money. So, if you want to protect your jewelry from thieves, you should store your expensive jewelry in a safe box or some other safe place in your home. You should do the same with any jewelry that has sentimental value. Keeping your expensive jewelry separate means that burglars won’t necessarily know to look for it, too.

Do What You Can for TVs, Game Systems, and Other Electronics

Just like computers, TVs and video game systems are commonly stolen during home burglaries. You can protect them the same way — with locking cables, when possible. It also helps to store accessories like remote controls and video games separately from your entertainment system because burglars don’t always know to look for them, and you at least make the accessories harder to find. Putting your name on things also deters burglars because it makes it easier to identify stolen items.

Protect Anything that is Pretty or Looks Expensive

You should try to protect anything in your home that is pretty or draws attention because if you like something, chances are good that burglars are going to like it, too. You can put alarms on pictures and several other items. However, burglars typically avoid stealing trinkets, lamps, and other fragile items because they don’t have the space or time to handle them. But, they don’t think twice about breaking them, so protecting items physically is a good idea, too.

Taking measures to protect the items in your home is a great way to deter burglars and keep more of your stuff.

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How to Turn Your ‘Man Cave’ into a Stylish Bachelor Apartment

Posted on by John Conde

Bachelor pads have a reputation for either looking cold and clinical or being a cluttered mess. However, somewhere in between these two extremes is a homely, stylish and masculine home.

Your home is an extension of you and as a result, it should reflect your individuality. The ‘bachelor pad’ is synonymous with the idealised life of a young, trendy man, so your apartment should be fun, stylish and functional.  It should also be a place where you can relax, as well as a social space for entertaining others.

As a woman, I’ve never lived anywhere that could be described as a ‘bachelor pad’ although I feel I can offer a feminine perspective on what is a very manly space. The most important thing is that your home should have a personality – yours!

Liven Up Your Walls

Nothing feels less homely than bare walls. It makes a room feel unfinished and that is why it’s probably good a starting point for this guide. There is a huge variety of framed prints online ranging from landscape photography to old advertisements, and from abstract painting to graphic design. There is something to suit any person and any room, so pick out a canvas or two that reflect your personality or interests.

Another great addition to a wall is a mirror. It brings in light and makes the room look bigger.

Let Things Grow in Your House

And I don’t mean mould. Pot-plants add a bit of life to a room and help it feel fresh. If you’re worrying that your green-leafed friend may die, then you could always try a cactus, as they are very hard to kill! Bamboo requires infrequent watering too, so if you’re a bit forgetful that’s another stylish but low-maintenance option.

Add a Bit of Colour

A colour scheme that works can really alter the mood of a room. It is important to think about which colours you like and what mood they would create. You may love bright orange but it would be hard to relax in a bright orange cube, so it’s not the best colour for your bedroom!

Good, masculine colours are blue, grey, brown, green, white and deep red. Think about combining two colours that work well together, like a bold red with a muted grey.

Lighting: From Functional to Fun

Lighting can make a real difference to how you use a space. You can make the same room fun or relaxing in the flick of a switch.

Try adding ‘feature’ lights to a living space that allows you to turn off the main lights and create a different atmosphere. Swapping your overhead pendant for some dimmed wall lamps creates a warm, romantic environment – perfect if you’ve got a date round!

Striking Design

You don’t have to fill your home with unique designer furniture in order to get a striking look. Just pick one or two pieces that are a bit unusual and they will draw the eye, such as quirky bookshelves or a uniquely-shaped armchair in the corner.

If your budget can’t stretch to new furniture then you can liven up a room in many other ways, such as reupholstering your sofa in a more eye-catching color or, as I mentioned before, installing a large artwork on the wall (IKEA art is cheap and looks good!).

Create a Social Space

Whether you want to invite friends over or a girlfriend, you want to feel like you have a place where people would actually want to visit.

This involves some thinking about how best to use your space. Try arranging sofas and chairs so that they create a circle or a right angle, providing a place to socialise. No one likes to be left sitting at the end of a straight line in a group of people!

You’ve also got to consider whether you have space for dining with friends. If you do, an elegant glass dining set could add a sophisticated touch to your bachelor pad. If this isn’t for you, another great social space would be a pool table. I’ve heard it is on every man’s wish list, and this one is particularly special as it is shaped like a car!

Simple Yet Stylish

The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple. It’s better to have a few great items that really work, than a whole apartment cluttered with wonderful (yet hidden) things.

When designing your bachelor pad remember that you can have decorative items, which provide a masculine and stylish look – not all trimmings are feminine! And in not decorating at all, your apartment could easily become a genderless and generic box.

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Top 10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Posted on by John Conde

It can be a daunting prospect putting your house up for sale. There are lots of uncertainties, from a fickle housing market, to whether you’ll get enough viewers through the door and, ultimately, how long it might take to get any offers rolling in. Whilst you can’t control everything, there are lots of ways you can make your home more attractive to potential buyers, and add value to it. Here are 10 of the hottest home improvement tips to add worth to your abode.

An Attic Conversion

Potential homebuyers find the prospect of an attic conversion an attractive proposition, with it adding about 20% to the value of your property. But, again, make sure it is well designed and laid out, and that access to the loft is easy and you can stand up fully when inside!

A Kitchen Re-fit

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home, and many property experts argue that homebuyers place a lot of emphasis on the kitchen when it comes to deciding to purchase a property or not. Getting your kitchen re-fitted if it is looking tired and dated can be a wise decision. And although it doesn’t come cheap, it will add value to your home.

Install Central Heating

If you don’t have modern central heating in your home, then you’re at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to selling your property, no matter how appealing the rest of your house is. No potential home buyer wants the inconvenience, disruption and expense of having to get this installed, so you may struggle to clinch that all-important sale without it. Even just having a dated boiler can be enough to put potential buyers off. If you really want to add value to your home then get central heating installed and ensure you have an energy-efficient boiler.

A Driveway

With most families owning more than one vehicle these days, having somewhere on the property to park it, is a desired scenario. If you want to add value to your home, maximise the parking potential at the front of your property. Get any driveway repairs done and consider paving over unused areas at the front to make space for an additional car.

Add a Sun Room

Adding a sun room or conservatory will boost your home’s appeal, with estimates of around a 7% increase in value to your property. Make sure your conservatory is well built and fits in with the style of the rest of the house. This extra living space can be a real bonus but make sure that you don’t swallow up too much of your outdoor space when erecting it, as reduction in garden, especially if it’s already small, may cancel out any positive effects from building the conservatory.

Repair Any Roof Problems

Any problems with your roof will soon come to light, even if they aren’t visible to the naked eye. Most home buyers organize a professional survey, which will soon pick up roof issues, potentially slashing the value of your property. Protect your home and its value by sorting out any roof problems as soon as possible, before they get any worse.

Decorate

Adding a fresh lick of paint to your house (both inside and outside) can brighten it up and boost its appeal. If you’re trying to sell your home, opt for neutral, light colors that increase the sense of space in a room and make it easier for prospect buyers to visualize living there.

Add Curb Appeal

Adding curb appeal to your home can increase its value and make those first initial impressions of your property positive ones. Simply by painting your front door, adding some flowers in a hanging basket, sprucing up the garden, or cleaning the windows can make your home a more attractive proposition.

Add another Toilet or Bathroom

With many homes now having more than one toilet or bathroom, you could put yourself at a disadvantage if you only have one. Many families find the extra facilities a godsend, so if you want to add value to your home consider converting the under stairs cupboard into a toilet or add another bathroom if any spare space allows it.

Insulate Your Home

Energy bills are expensive enough these days, so making sure you insulate your home can reduce the cost of your bills and your energy usage. This makes for an attractive prospect for anyone looking to buy your home, and can add value to your Orlando property.

 

https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

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Looking to Improve Your Home Value? Try Landscape Lighting

Posted on by John Conde

Homeowners are always looking for cheap ways to improve the look and functionality of their home that also increases their home value. For your home’s exterior, there is little that can be done outside of painting and landscaping. Such upgrades can run you a few thousand dollars depending on the size of the home and the extravagance you’re trying to achieve.

However, there is a way to improve the look and functionality of the exterior of your home without emptying out your pockets – the answer lies in landscape lighting. It may seem like a small upgrade, but it makes a big difference when it’s done right. If you’re worried about making an investment in outdoor lighting, Realtors strongly believe you get your money back in the resale of your home. It’s a great selling feature because it’s like having all the bells and whistles on a brand new car.

Why Outdoor Lighting is Gaining Popularity

Exterior lighting has become one of the most popular outdoor living features according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. They’re not talking about the traditional porch light or lamppost though. Lighting that illuminates plants, trees, pools, walkways, and architecture adds a major improvement to your yard that goes far beyond nighttime curb appeal. It adds home value and living space.

Yes, exterior lighting in the front of your home improves the look of your property, but the lighting in the backyard has homeowners spending more time outdoors. It’s like adding an extra room to your house without having to hire a construction company.

As the cost of living and going out rises, people are staying home for their entertainment. The addition of fire pits, patios, outdoor kitchens, and dining areas are becoming more common and all of these amenities require lighting.

With more guests coming to your home you have to make it look presentable and that means landscaping. A little goes a long way in this department and if you really want to top it off, installing landscape lighting will add the wow factor you’re trying to achieve. Once again, such upgrades go a long way when you’re trying to sell your home.

Get the Best Out of Your Outdoor Lights

Placement can make all the difference with landscape lighting. If you have any walkways or stairs that lead to other parts of the yard you’ll want to make sure those are clearly lit. These don’t have to be bright and try to avoid lights that create a glare. You simply want to guide guests through the backyard.

Professionals recommend creating a focal point. If you have a pool, shining a light down from a tree will generate a flickering effect and people will definitely notice. Highlighting main gathering areas is important as well, but make sure the lights you choose aren’t bright enough to blind guests or create shadows. Low-voltage fixtures work just fine in most cases. Remember you’re trying to enjoy the nightlife, not make everyone think it’s daylight.

Another thing to consider is how you’ll control the lighting. Motion sensors work great for security purposes, but no one wants to keep getting up and walking in front of the light to make sure it stays on all the time. Timers can control when the lights turn on and off, but it’s tough to anticipate when your party will end so this may not be the best option. You might want to consider light-sensitive lighting, which tells the lights to come on at night and turn off in the daylight hours.

This last point can’t be stressed enough. If you’re looking to make an impact with exterior lighting, hire a landscape designer. The arrangement, angles, and voltage are crucial to getting the most out of your investment and it’s best to leave it up to those who are more experienced.

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