Michael Mock asked:




Mediterranean House Plans Feature Distinct Characteristics

A lot of Mediterranean homes today are built for their ability to remain cool in areas that are known to have a warmer climate. Many homeowners in southern states, including Texas, Arizona, Florida, and California choose this type of house plan and take advantage of the various forms that are available. There are a few distinct characteristics that make up a Mediterranean home that helps distinguish itself from other house plans, such as French, Modern, and Plantation designs.

A Mediterranean Home’s Exterior Offers a Unique Look

While the interior of a Mediterranean home will have certain characteristics, the exterior can normally be identified by the brick or stucco walls that are generally painted a cream color that contrasts the home’s roof. The roof can be brightly colored roof tiles, usually in a reddish tone, or covered with terra cotta. A low-pitched gable or hipped roof is also common with a Mediterranean house plan.

When you look for windows on a Mediterranean home you will usually find casements that are framed by wood, wrought iron grills, or second story balconies. The windows and doors may be arched instead of the usual rectangular shape. The side or front wall with this type of house plan may extend itself to form a porch or courtyard entrance.

Garages are either attached or detached depending on your preference. It can also be made into the form of a casita for a guest house. The upper floor will often include a veranda or balcony to take advantage of a home’s view. When building a custom Mediterranean home you will have the option of working with designers to create the exterior look you will fall in love with.

Asymmetrical Floor Plans are Popular with Mediterranean Homes

Mediterranean floor plans include gabled walls to make the house into an L or U-shape. This initially allows for the courtyard to be centrally located and easily assessable to various rooms in the home. Mediterranean homeowners often enjoy how easy it is to entertain with this accommodation. The shape of the home also allows an open breeze to flow through the house during pleasant days or evenings.

The interior of a Mediterranean home features an open floor plan with high ceilings. While walls can be painted in any color, most often you will find similar colors of the home’s natural surroundings. You can easily match the crimson or green tropical foliage, the blue sea, or the orange shimmer of sand and sun. Lively reds, terra cottas, yellows, blues, and greens are popular choices among Mediterranean homeowners.

Tile is also a common feature in Mediterranean house plans. Tile will keep your feet cool during the summer months, which is why it is popular in kitchens, bathrooms, and walkways. Travertine, granite, and limestone are favorites and come in a variety of colors that can match any style.

Mediterranean house plans traditionally have a lot of details in various parts of the home. You can have the option to include carved doors, columns, decorative railings, and carved pattern stonework that allow a home to match your style. You will find there are plenty of designs already created that you can choose from or you can work to make your own custom look.

Alicia asked:




Preparing your home for a beautiful output cannot be done overnight. However, the idea of making your home more beautiful can do with a proper planning. You do not have to hurry when decorating your house. Every now and then, you will find something that will be a beautiful addition to your house. Interior designs are somewhat more interesting when decorating your house. With the ideas of interior designs, you can make your house more appealing than what you think. You do not have to ask for designers, you alone can do it just get some ideas and do it yourself for a more enjoying designs.

Since dining room is where everybody always meets, designing it with decorative designs will make the whole family enjoy eating. Dining room interior designs are not that complicated to do. When designing this room, think of anything that will make everybody love to see. Since this is dining room, designs would make it yummier to dine. Put some simple art works showing combinations of different foods. You may also consider designs of your favorite restaurants. This would be the perfect reference for your designing ideas.

Interior designing ideas is not difficult to adopt. All you have to is determine what is your preference of design. The uniformity of the theme of your interior designs is much more important to come up with the favorable output. If you love reading magazines or any media sources, there are those gives plenty of ideas regarding interior designs. Learning the basic of interior designing is all you need to start with. Once you know what to do, the next you should consider is the size of the room you are going to design. There are right enough sizes of furniture and displays that you can use to enhance your ideas.

Home interior designs made easy by the different reading materials that available at any sources. The designs depend on the theme that you want for your home. Whether it is classical or if it is modern, what really matter is that the design meets your criteria. If you make designing a habit, it is not difficult for you to adopt new ideas how will you going to arrange your home. Be open with new ideas. There are interior designing that may seem not favorable to you but there is no harm in trying. The design that you do not think you will not like may come up above the expectations.

Richard Vande Sompel asked:




Quite a number of people think that raised decks are the only truly dramatic outdoor living spaces. However, ground level decks offer their own design advantages including those that are just a step or two up from ground level.

These decks are simpler to build than their higher relatives, raised decks. Low level decks tend to blend easier with the size and shape of the house to which they are attached. They also have more direct contact with the surrounding yard and its landscape features. This means that it is a much simpler matter to make the gardens, walkways, open yard area and the deck part of one integrated design.

In a practical manner, low level decks also rarely require the existence of a railing system which can create a strong sense of enclosure. And since there is no railing, there is nothing to interfere with any views that might be enjoyed while sitting on the deck.

There are a number of design techniques that can be used in creating an ideal ground level deck:

1. A wide set of steps can become a transition to the yard. They offer more design possibilities than standard size stairs. They can serve as platforms for container plants and other decorative objects. In addition wide stairs can be used as extra seating for small or large gatherings.

2. Something as simple as a change in direction in the shape of the platform can break up the monotony of a rectangular deck. A 45 degree angle here and there can alter the appearance of a ground level deck and add a dramatic look to it.

3. Container plants and hanging baskets can be used to create a movable landscape much more easily for a lower deck than a higher one. Clusters of plants in 1 or 2 colors are extremely effective in accomplishing this.

4. The careful placement of a perimeter of washed river rock or some other natural material can create the illusion that the deck is floating in place. Low voltage lighting can be used to repeat this effect once the sun goes down.

5. Lush foliage that strategically borders the low level deck can also be utilized to create an airy, floating appearance to this outdoor space.

6. A low L-shaped or wraparound ground level deck can be constructed to conform to the shape of the house in a more aesthetically pleasing manner without overpowering the home.

7. A fence or privacy screen can be easily used to provide a refuge from the eyes of prying neighbors or act as a wind screen. A trellis or section of framed lattice can also work well with climbing vines and plants to accomplish the same purpose.

8. Simple built-in benches can provide extra seating without obstructing views of the surrounding area. Something as simple as rearranging the deck furniture can be the key to improving the view also.

9. An overhead structure such as an arbor or pergola tends to be less obtrusive while providing protection from the intense rays of the sun. Either one can also provide support for attractive climbing vines and colorful plants that will enhance the look of the deck.

10.The use of similar materials on the house and deck can help the deck blend in with the surrounding backyard and ultimately add a great deal of subtle beauty to the whole landscape design..

Careful use of a variety of design techniques can enhance the look of any ground level decks and improve the quality of life for their owners and their families and guests.

Christine Harrell asked:




Cabinets for the den or living room are different from any other room in the house. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom where cabinet designs have a standard and specific purpose, these rooms serve a variety of functions and the storage needs to reflect that while still matching decor. It also gives you an opportunity to get creative with the styles and use of space.

Bookcases And Large Storage Cabinet Designs:

Storage in dens and living rooms help to keep the room organized and looking great. Traditional bookcases with elegant details such as crown moldings or custom accents are great for holding books and decor items. Some are having special inserts added into some of the shelves to hold movies and music.

Complete wall units added to these spaces house all of the necessities including TVs, DVD and media devices, home theater systems, and a media library. These pieces often become the focal point of the room with their rich graining and range of colorings. Large wall units are being designed in sections as well. This allows the homeowner to rearrange the pieces in many different ways to accommodate changing needs and tastes.

Built-ins are another great option. Spaces that contain stairs can have a custom cabinet design created to match the unique shape and space of the area to maximize the room’s storage. Cabinets can be built around couches and tables too.

Fireplaces:

Artistic cabinet designs created around the den’s fireplace create a stunning focal point in the room. Hardwood covering the back wall and a decorative mantel can go around the fireplace. Custom cabinets on either side can house decorative items or be used for extra storage. Other materials such as granite, marble, and slate are being incorporated into the designs as well. For an added look of luxury, custom wood boxes and holders for tools added directly into the original cabinet design or created separately to match the original design look fantastic.

Movable Units And Accents:

Separate cabinets are extremely popular in dens and living rooms for their versatility. Curio units are great for holding small antique items and collectibles. Wardrobes are ideal for holding electronics in smaller spaces because they still allow the homeowner to hide them away when they aren’t being used.

When it comes to spicing up the cabinetry, virtually anything goes. One of the most popular options is hand carved columns, appliques, and supports to give any design a custom handmade appearance. Glass or crystal doorknobs or replica door pulls completes the look and feel of a piece. Pot lights and glass shelving are also used in many different storage systems to bring attention to the items being stored in them.

The perfect cabinets will only increase the enjoyment you get out of your home and add to its value making them a worthwhile investment. There are an unlimited number of options when it comes to custom cabinet design for dens and living rooms. The only rule is that they function and are appealing for you and your family.

Cabinets for the den or living room are different from any other room in the house. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom where cabinet designs have a standard and specific purpose, these rooms serve a variety of functions and the storage needs to reflect that while still matching decor. It also gives you an opportunity to get creative with the styles and use of space.

Bookcases And Large Storage Cabinet Designs:

Storage in dens and living rooms help to keep the room organized and looking great. Traditional bookcases with elegant details such as crown moldings or custom accents are great for holding books and decor items. Some are having special inserts added into some of the shelves to hold movies and music.

Complete wall units added to these spaces house all of the necessities including TVs, DVD and media devices, home theater systems, and a media library. These pieces often become the focal point of the room with their rich graining and range of colorings. Large wall units are being designed in sections as well. This allows the homeowner to rearrange the pieces in many different ways to accommodate changing needs and tastes.

Built-ins are another great option. Spaces that contain stairs can have a custom cabinet design created to match the unique shape and space of the area to maximize the room’s storage. Cabinets can be built around couches and tables too.

Fireplaces:

Artistic cabinet designs created around the den’s fireplace create a stunning focal point in the room. Hardwood covering the back wall and a decorative mantel can go around the fireplace. Custom cabinets on either side can house decorative items or be used for extra storage. Other materials such as granite, marble, and slate are being incorporated into the designs as well. For an added look of luxury, custom wood boxes and holders for tools added directly into the original cabinet design or created separately to match the original design look fantastic.

Movable Units And Accents:

Separate cabinets are extremely popular in dens and living rooms for their versatility. Curio units are great for holding small antique items and collectibles. Wardrobes are ideal for holding electronics in smaller spaces because they still allow the homeowner to hide them away when they aren’t being used.

When it comes to spicing up the cabinetry, virtually anything goes. One of the most popular options is hand carved columns, appliques, and supports to give any design a custom handmade appearance. Glass or crystal doorknobs or replica door pulls completes the look and feel of a piece. Pot lights and glass shelving are also used in many different storage systems to bring attention to the items being stored in them.

The perfect cabinets will only increase the enjoyment you get out of your home and add to its value making them a worthwhile investment. There are an unlimited number of options when it comes to custom cabinet design for dens and living rooms. The only rule is that they function and are appealing for you and your family.

Jeremy Stevent asked:




Designing your own house can be a daunting task if you don’t have a lot of ideas. Where do you go to find some great house designs that will help you figure out exactly what you want? If you want to get lots of house design ideas, a great place to get those ideas is by looking at other houses. By seeing things that you like in houses that are already built, it makes it easier to come up with your own house design plans.

On Saturdays and Sundays each week, you will see lots of “Open House” signs on street corners in the residential neighborhoods. You can stop in to take a tour of all those houses you see open and you shouldn’t feel bad about not really being in the market to buy. This is a great way to see a large variety of different house designs, but also to see how they are furnished. How else are you going to get a grand tour of other people’s house all for free?

Once you are in an open house and are looking around, you might want to remember what you are seeing. A great little small camera such as a Flip Camcorder will fit right into your pocket and not be too obvious. It is small, lightweight, takes great movies, and is easy to carry anywhere. You can discreetly take a film of what you like in every house you go to!

Make sure you go to different neighborhoods so that you can see all the different house plans that are in your area. Going from house to house allows you to see all types of house designs from different economic areas and price ranges. You may end up realizing that you like one idea from one house and another from a different house. This will give you lots of great ideas once you start to design your own house plans.

Richard Vande Sompel asked:




Deck building is a polular do-it-yourself project with homeowners who can take advantage of how-to-do-it clinics and tools rentals at home improvement retail outlets to construct the decks of their dreams.

Cantilevering is a deck construction technique that can be used by do-it-yourselfers on almost all decks. It allows the builder to add several feet to the width of the deck without increasing the maximum span rating for the beams or the joists. This is especially true when homeowners are building bigger and bigger decks with more levels and more complex shapes.

In some instances cantilevering makes it possible for a smaller beam size to be used to support the deck. As far as the joist size is concerned a smaller size could also be used by the using this innovative construction method.

Another advantage of incorporationg cantilevering into the construction of a deck is that the location of foundation columns, support posts and beams can be less precise than in the conventional method of construction. This is an important consideration for do-it-yourselfers who are not as proficient as professional contractors especially in this area of deck building.

However, it is important to remember that there are still guidelines that limit the distance that a beam can extend beyond a support post or that a joist can extend past a beam. These guidelines also assume that there will be no unusual loads placed at the other end other than the deck occupants. These guidelines are there to provide necessary standards to ensure the proper and safe construction of outdoor deck spaces by amateurs and pros alike.

Under the right conditions, technically it is alright for beams or joists to cantilever up to 40% of the distance that they are spanning between supports as long as the cantilever does not exceed four times the beam or joist depth. An example of this would be a joist that spans 10 feet between supports. Theoretically it could cantilever .40% x 10 = 4 feet beyond the supporting beam. Thus a 10 + 4 = 14 foot joist would be possible. But if the joist is a 2×8 (with an actual width of 7.25 inches) then the cantilever would be limited to 4 x 7.25 = 29 inches.

Unless you like bouncy construction it would be a wise decision to limit the cantilever to about 25% of supported beam or joist length. An even wiser decision would be to never exceed 3 feet of cantilever in the construction of the deck. This will result in the deck feeling solid even when one is standing over the cantilevered ends.

Cantilevering more than 3 feet would be better achieved by moving up to the next larger dimensional size of beam or joist.

In the initial deck design process it is a good idea to consult with the local building department regarding building codes and construction methods. Once you submit your application for a building permit along with your deck design drawings, building department staff will make alterations in your design where necessary. Cantilevering can be incorporated into this design and their expertise will ensure that the deck design will adhere to construction requirements and result in the building of an outstanding deck that will meet the needs and tastes of its occupants.

Cantilevering can be an important and very practical part of that process.

Debra Gould asked:




If you make your living as an interior designer or decorator the current economy has got to be hurting your business. When the economy is slow, many people who might otherwise hire an interior designer or decorator are forced to move such a ‘non-essential’ service to the bottom of their priority list. If you haven’t felt the pinch yet, brace yourself as your business could take a drastic nose-dive during an economic recession. Nobody really needs interior design services, especially in have-not times.

There’s also the fact that so many of your days are spent on the business-side of design; negotiating with contractors, waiting for deliveries to arrive, billing, gathering quotes, and so on. This is all time that doesn’t directly generate revenue for your interior design or decorating business, and when client billings are already meager, this can really hurt your financial situation.

Maybe you’re one of the many trained interior decorators who have ended up working in retail for a 100% commission. If the economy gets worse and you’re working purely on commission, where does that leave you? Even in good times, if you work for 100% commission you might as well be your own boss and have the freedom to market yourself to new clients rather than being tied to any one store.

When I decided to take the reigns of my life back and do something that would allow me to profit from my creativity, I considered a career in interior design. I struggled with that option countless times across a 20 year period when I was unsatisfied in my work. I researched, and even interviewed, many interior design schools in my “former life” but for some reason I never took the step to enroll. I decided with my BA, MBA and a couple decades of experience in business, being in a classroom for two to four years with kids 20 years my junior was not something I wanted to do.

Never mind tuition costs and the tremendous loss of income while you’re a student. Then who knows how many years of working experience as a designer or decorator would be needed after graduation to really start earning money. I wanted to unleash my creativity and love for decorating, but I definitely needed to start making money as soon as possible. So, I started my own home staging company.

As soon as my business was launched, the money was coming in. Within my second year as a home stager I was making up to $10,000 per month. Compare that to the median annual salary of $36,150 a year for an Interior Designer according to Salary.com this year. I’m very happy I trusted my instincts!

If you’re an interior designer or decorator and you aren’t making enough money, consider adding Home Staging to your service mix or switching to a more profitable career as a Home Stager altogether.

Here a few ways a home staging business can be more profitable than an interior design business:

• As a home stager you get the opportunity to work with different types of people than you would as an interior designer. Generally, only very high income individuals hire interior designers, which limits your target market. Home stagers work mostly with clients in the middle to upper income level which gives you a much larger percentage of the population to market to, and increases the number of projects available for you to work on.

• Home stagers enjoy a higher volume of projects than interior designers because each one is so short in nature. One interior design project might take months to complete (especially when you factor in the wait times to have upholstery done, or furniture delivered), but the average home staging project takes only a few hours or days. There’s no way I could have decorated hundreds of homes within a couple of years as a new interior designer, the way I did as a new home stager. With such quick projects, a home stager is able to complete (and get paid for) a significantly higher number of projects per year than an interior designer who often has client work on hold through no fault of their own.

• When the economy is slow, people eliminate the non-essentials. Interior design or decorating isn’t really high on the “essential items list” especially when choices need to be made about what to give up, and there’s no real deadline to redecorate or renovate a room. In uncertain times, interior design moves way down on the priority list, while home staging move up. No matter how slow the economy is or how much the real estate market has declined, there will always be people who absolutely have to sell and move by a certain date. Divorce, job relocation, job loss, mounting debts, a death in the family or a birth often get people to put their house on the market even if it isn’t the best time to sell. When a homeowner is desperate to sell their house, a home stager will often be involved since the seller stands to make a handsome profit from their services. When people have less time, less money or less equity in their house, they need a home stager so they can get whatever they can out of the sale of their home! As a home stager, your creativity and talent for decorating will serve you well in slow economic times and slow real estate markets.

I especially love the amount of creative freedom I get as a home stager. Because my clients know I’m decorating their home to sell and not for them to live in, I am able to execute my creative vision without their interference or taking their taste into consideration. I can’t imagine wasting hours sitting with a client who can’t decide which color they want for their bathroom, or which fabric to pick for their drapes. My clients don’t care what I choose as long as their house will sell quicker because of it. Besides that, my home staging business is extremely profitable which every entrepreneur wants.

If your interior design business isn’t doing as well as you hoped, it’s not too late to make a change towards living a more creatively fulfilling career that is also more profitable. Do some research into the home staging field. It’s a career that is virtually “recession-proof”.

Carole DeJarnatt asked:




There is a movement across the nation, more and more people are starting to raise chickens. Whether it be the state of the economy or people just wanting to get back to the basics–people are looking for ways to be a little more self-sufficient and having eggs supplied by your own poultry is one of many ways.

Along with the interest in raising chickens you need to be aware of some of the poultry equipment required to maintain your new flock. Some people just jump right in without a thought–kind of like I did in the beginning–my husband brought home six chickens and we scrambled around looking for temporary housing until we could build better and something to dispense their feed and water. If you have a choice, first determine what is needed to start raising chickens and then get your chickens.

What comes first–the chicken or the chicken supplies?

At a local farm supply store I noticed a lady had purchased a new baby chicken and along with the chick she had a chick feeder, a chick waterer, and who knows what at home that was waiting for her new little chicken. She probably is not aware within a few weeks the baby chickens will about double in size and will not be able to eat out of the chick feeder without opening the top and the waterer will not hold enough to give them an adequate water supply. These are some of the things that you learn from experience in raising chickens.

If I was considering raising a few chickens in my backyard for the first time, here are the preferred chicken supplies I would have on hand:

Chicken House–when raising chickens the chicken needs a place to call home. Whether it be a chicken tractor, a chicken coop, or a livestock barn, give the chickens a place to get out of the rain, lay an egg, and roost at night. Baby chickens require an area with a heat source for a short time so the housing requirements will be different.

Poultry Equipment–this includes the chicken waterer, poultry feeder, and nesting boxes. The type of poultry equipment you purchase depends on the age of the chicken. The feeder and waterer requirements for baby chickens is different than adult poultry. You will need the regular feeders at some point. Unless you buy a pre-fab chicken house most do not come with nesting boxes so you will need to supply the area where you want to gather the eggs.

Used Poultry Equipment–there are many sources to purchase used poultry equipment and the first place I usually look is Craigslist and from there I search for any local livestock or small animal auctions. And don’t forget your local trading posts papers. We have one that comes from our local electric company and sometimes they have some items at good prices.

Chicken Feed–when you bring home your new chickens one of the first things they want to do is eat. Again what type you buy is determined by the age of the chicken. There are a variety of chicken feeds out there so do your homework to choose the one that is right for you.

Storage Containers for Poultry Supplies–what do I mean by this? Somewhere to keep your food and grain so other animals do not have access to it. The likelihood of attracting critters of some sort is very high with all the scratching a chicken does in its food that helps to spread it around. I use metal trash containers and they do the trick. I keep my food supplies in one and my chicken equipment in the other.

I have been raising chickens for over five years now so I have my preferred methods of feeding and watering along with my preferred poultry equipment, some homemade and some store bought. If you are just starting out and not sure where to turn, visit your local feed store. Check out their prices and then compare them to the online stores. Most of the time you will find if you buy local you will save on the shipping costs. And there is the chance that if they do not have what you are looking for they will order it for you. With the interest in raising chickens you need to have the correct poultry equipment to maintain your new flock.