Saturday, September 20, 2014

How To Design Your Dream Home

They say home is where the heart is. Imagine being given a chance to design your dream house, right from scratch, adding your personal touch. You can design it however you'd like, be it neo-modern or traditionally quaint. Here are 5 simple ways which will help you do just that.

Start Simple

Don't let the design process intimidate you. It's quite simple, really. All you have to do is jot your ideas down on paper. Even a rough sketch describing your ideas would help your design team understand your requirements.

Observe Your Surroundings Closely

Visiting the locality and plot, and familiarizing yourself with the surroundings, will help make designing your home much easier. For instance, if there is a lot of greenery on one part of the property, then you can design the living area facing the greenery, or if the area is close to a stream or river then you can build your bedroom facing it, in order to enjoy the picturesque view.

Reflect on Light

Make sure there is enough light entering the house. Light is powerful because it can brighten up your day, literally! In addition, you could also install skylights, maximizing the natural light coming into your home. Also, if you want to enjoy the natural morning light in your dining area, then make sure you place it towards east, the direction in which the sun rises.

Think About the Future

Keep in mind that early planning is always beneficial. Design your home in such a way that you can accommodate the changes that would eventually take place in your life, be it extending your family or accommodating office space in your house. In addition, you could also make room for some extra space in your house in case you would want your friends and relatives to come over during the holidays.

Prioritize Features

It is important to identify the most important features of your house. This will help you keep your budget under check. Otherwise, while designing your dream house, you might get carried away with the wide range of options you could choose from, resulting in over-stretching the budget.

Following the above steps can help you design your dream house. Make sure you take your time while designing it, sit with the design team and discuss your queries with them if you are unsure about how things are going. Remember, it is much easier to be upfront and discuss all your requirements in the initial stages than miss out on something important which would require you to remodel your custom home later.

I am an avid writer, whose focus is more towards highlighting civic issues our society faces on a daily basis. I provide tips on property investment, write on real estate market price trends in India, and provide an insight on the latest residential projects. For more property related queries, you can visit http://www.commonfloor.com

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Interior Design Ideas For Your Home

is really great to be in a place where you can relax and be really comfortable. Whether it is your bedroom or the living room, it is always such a nice feeling to stay in a place that looks calm, beautiful and relaxing. This is why, creative interior design is very important.

And when you think about interior design, there is a popular city that always springs to mind with its spectacular infrastructure and design forward homes. You can't walk into any establishment or any home in the emirate without being floored by the interior design. These designers recently unveiled several trends making their way into interior spaces.

Most offices are starting to recognise the benefits of doing away with the corner office. Instead, expect to see more brainstorming spaces that bring teams toward better collaboration and dynamic creativity. Custom lighting, fluid layout for better movement, spacing and ambiance are all key to introducing a closer atmosphere in most offices. This has already become a trend.

Sustainability is also becoming a consistent element for interior designers. Design pieces are reclaimed or recreated, adding an entirely unique vibe to any space, from homes and offices to retail stores and hospitality establishments. By no means should this indicate throwing a piece of wood around the house or your place of business. Expert interior designers recommend going for sinuous lines, textured palettes, natural colours, and basically, using nature for inspiration. This is not only great to look at but very calming and comfortable.

Monochromes and colour blocking are out. Optical geometrics, illustrated prints, and other patterns are in. Designers are looking to meteorology and climatology for fresh, inventive, and a new generation of styles that highlight molecular and abstract forms. You'll also find contemporary design will be alluring to the eyes as well as decadent to the skin. This is design and comfort in one.

Another creative interior design idea is making use of wallpapers. Wallpapers are making a comeback. Colours, prints, and patterns on walls add eye candy to any space. Reduced deign is also a very popular one. This concept will never go out of style. So you'll still find this design idea a hot trend. Free up your interior spaces with lighter palettes and forms, and keep it pure and simple. This minimalist style is often viewed as trendy, chic and sophisticated.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Number One Tips For House Extensions

Having house extensions is a more sensible option than selling your house and buying a bigger one. With the housing market not stable, selling a house would take longer time. Buying a house would probably cost more. It would be more practical and more convenient to hire an architect to design for your house extension. Having House extensions is more advantageous than having to move to a new and more expensive house.

Having a house extension will add value to your house. This you could sell for better price once the market condition has become more stable. The usual home extensions are adding a new kitchen or a lounge. Older homes usually have not given much priority or attention to their kitchens. Or you may choose for a lounge extension considering you have a growing family. You can have quality time together or entertain guests at your extended lounge.

If you prefer to add another bedroom with its own bathroom, it could be possible to have it over your garage space. Or if you have a large backyard, you can have your house extension there. The space would be great for your children who might need more privacy or for guests and relatives who visits you occasionally. There are certain limits or boundaries you can build your extension without needing for a planning permission.

You may want a conservatory for your home extension and this can be built in just a few weeks. You may also be considering having a playroom or study room based on your needs.

But before proceeding with building your extension, you must ensure the foundation is strong enough to allow the extension to take place. Your foundation must be placed directly under your walls and position them properly to avoid having problems with it in the future. Aside from the foundation, you also need to check your damp proofing. Checking this will help you prevent future related problems.

Electric cables should have proper protective coverings. This actually is very important primarily for safety purposes. The floor should have the proper height so that your doors and windows will have the proper height too.

An experienced and reputed builder knows which mistakes to avoid, but if you are the one doing the extensions, it is best that you also take note of these and have them checked. It is advisable to order adequate materials before the start of the construction of your house extension. If you run out of materials, you might be faced with difficulty finding similar materials.

A house extension will not cost you as much and will increase the value of your house. A good company is capable of handling the project from start to its completion. The company's representative can determine whether your extension design will be feasible or not. Your specific needs and preference will be discussed with you and necessary recommendations will be given to the feasibility of the project. The company will provide you with full transparency for the management system of the project. You will be provided with constant updates as the construction of your house extension progresses. You will be provided with a detailed breakdown of the estimated cost so you could manage your budget well.