Cottage House Plans and Designs

The home is where the heart is and it hardly matters whether you live in the city or a town or the country side. However, the rustic appeal of a cottage cannot be matched and now many people in the cities too are striving towards replicating the look. The cottage designs are typically fashioned to maximize space and well accommodate an area of less than 1000 sq ft. Most buyers and home owners seek cottage plans while contemplating on getaway homes in the mountains, close to the beach or a wooded area or any other exclusive location.

The typical cottage design includes a large planned space to serve as the living and dining areas. The plan also includes space for the bathrooms and one or two or the number of bedrooms planned according to the space at hand. The cottage plans are available at a number of online and offline resources and for every style of small home. You can plan a log cabin or a residential bungalow. The designs also accommodate the very chic Swiss-style chalet designs and the cozy self-enhanced cottage with a private theme. Now, your dream country cottage is just a resource away!

There is a lot of skill involved in the creation of dedicated cottage house plans. An ideal cottage blueprint maximizes space efficiency, while optimizing appeal and comfort. The plans for cottages are created to take care of the need of the home owner to adopt a unique sense of style and comfort, within the exclusive setting. You can even buy the house plans over the net. The quaintness and coziness of the cottage is not difficult to acquire with little research prior to the endeavor. You could include a foyer or breakfast nook with a little planning and a perfect fireplace!

These plans help the homeowner to accommodate any number of bedrooms and a bedroom or two to accommodate guests or for extra storage. The plans can be further modified to fit in the desired spacing requirements or to include either an attached or detached garage space. You could indulge in a two or even three story plan to create the spaciousness of a luxurious and sprawling home. There are a number of blueprints that you can access to maximize the space as efficiently as possible.

You can plan fold-up beds that are hidden within the bedroom walls. The plans have exclusive living area ideas to include the curb appeal that completes the character of the plan. The ambiance of a unique cottage plan, like most country house plans, is customizable and has ample of scope to include outdoor amenities. The outdoors of the cottage can be enhanced with special porch designs and landscaping. The elegant yet simple residence in a unique setting can be planned to accommodate every need! The cottage designs fit just about every size, type, style and budget that a home owner can spell out.

There are special plans and designs drawn for large and small houses, duplexes and vacation homes and log cabins. They also include designs for sheds, playhouses and arbors and various dedicated backyard projects. The exclusive use of field stone, gables and roof shingles, rived cypress shingles and the all time favorite wood helps to create a home in complete harmony with the surrounding. The porch with an inviting hammock and rustic furniture, a vestibule at the threshold to cut off the draft and exquisite partitions between the hall and the living room; all these features make that perfect cottage!

You could plan curtain alternatives and heavy pottery and room screens which could be spread across or removed anytime. The cottage designs are exclusive and leave the home owner with ample of opportunity to personalize the designs further. The base plans can be purchased and worked upon to give you something from an original Grimm or Tolstoy.

Home Interior Design Ideas

Designing the interior of home is something we do quite infrequently (except if you are a professional home designer, that is). But, truly speaking, these are the moments we live for! Designing our own nest nothing gets more lovely than that. This is the time when all of our family gets together, adds bits and pieces to the house and converts the house into a home. And it is guaranteed much more than living in your home, you will cherish the days you spend building it bit by bit.

But, let's face it we are not professional home designers. Even if we hire professional home designers, we will need to give them a basic concept of what we are looking for. A home is a very personal thing. Your home designer will have millions of home interior design ideas, but it is you who have to provide the concept. The home designer will invariably ask you what it is that you are looking for, and work with the grain of the idea you give him or her.

So, the crux of it all is that you need to have some basic sense of what home designing is. What is it you are looking for in your home interior? This article is not about actually designing the home (you will be hiring a professional to do that, after all), but it is about making the preliminary ideas that will help you start your discussion with the interior designer.

I have enlisted three important points that you must bear in mind when setting out to making your home interior. Here they are:-

Home Interior Designing Tip 1 Space

The first thing that you should think about is the space your home affords. Each and every component of your interior designing will depend on the square foot area that your home floor has. The days of the royal palaces are gone, and homes are becoming smaller day by day. Hence, you have to keep the size of your home in mind when you are preparing the initial designs of your home.

I am not saying that small homes cannot be designed well, but you will simply need some judicious planning. For example, instead of making a sprawling wall cabinet, see if you can build some interesting shelves inside the walls. Interior designers can do that in interesting ways. If you are designing for your child's bedroom, then having a loft bed and the study table below it could be a very interesting space-saving idea. Also, you could have a wall-mounted television in the bedroom to save space. Work out such ideas. The question is not about how much space you have in your home; it is more about how you are using the space.

Even if your home is big enough, you must think whether cluttering it with furniture is a good idea. This is the day and age of minimalism, and it works in the home as well. You can in fact think of creating partitions in your rooms to make better usage of available space.

Home Interior Designing Tip 2 Utility

Most of us give the utility of the home interior design a backseat when they are chalking out the home designs. The eye is mostly on beauty and even unconventional appeal, but we hardly pause and think, 'How useful will this addition be to the home?' The wise people among us will first think about the usage of each and every aspect of the home design, even if it is a minor shelf added on a particular wall. When preparing the initial home design idea, your first question should be, 'Do I need this thing?' and the second question should be, 'Will it look beautiful?'. Think of things in this order and you will hardly go wrong.

This also applies when you are adding the furniture and furnishings to your home. For each component that the interior designer wants to put in your home, think whether you really have a use for it. This is the place where the costs pile up. So, it is wiser in more ways than one to think about these additions.

Home Interior Designing Tip 3 Color Coordination

Very few of us know about the vast improvement that a color combination can bring about in the home design. In the seventies and eighties, American homes usually contained single color schemes like a bedroom would be done in various shades of blue but the trend has drastically changed in recent times. Now people are more in contrasts. Do not be surprised if your interior designer suggests a starkly black and white color combination for your kitchen. Or some other such combination that have colors that are poles apart.

The thing is, you must stop and ask what you really want. Have you visualized a color combination for the concept you are planning? If you have, then let the designer know. It doesn't matter if the scheme is totally out of the world. The designer will suggest you other options if the scheme is impracticable. Personally, I like warmer colors for the kitchen, dining room and the sitting room and cooler colors for the bedroom and the room where I simply lounge around and read. But, of course, you can have your own color combinations in mind, and speak with your designer if you can implement them.

These are the three main tips that you need to keep in mind. Of course, there are other aspects like position of things, lighting, furnishings and such which need to be considered later on too. But these help to give you a preliminary notion of things.

Ceiling Designs for Kitchens

Kitchens are usually all about the countertops, cabinets, furniture and appliances. Thus, no one thinks about giving them a decorative ceiling, since that's the last thing you notice about a kitchen. However, if you have a traditional, modern or contemporary theme for your home and the various rooms, why not make the kitchen a part of it too? I am sure you would love to stare at the ceiling in the bedroom, or in the living room or even in your bathroom.

You don't need to have a decorative ceiling in the kitchen so you can stare at it, but it can definitely have a greater impact on the visual appeal of the room. With a variety of ideas and types of ceilings, usually used for the other rooms in the house, you could incorporate them in the kitchen as well. In the coming up paragraphs, we have put together some great kitchen ceiling design ideas which could give your kitchen a dramatic change! So, read on and find out which of these suit your demands and choices, take a look.

Kitchen Ceiling Designs

Just like any other room in your home, you can install beautiful and decorative ceilings for your kitchen too. You can use various materials like wood, metal, plaster of Paris (POP) or concrete to decorate the ceiling. These materials not only add the element of style to the room, but they also provide the required strength and durability to the ceiling, so that it could be used for various purposes. Depending on the traditional and modern ceiling types you would like to choose, we have some ceiling designs for kitchens mentioned below just for your convenience. Pick a favorite!

False Ceiling
False ceilings are the best alternatives if you are looking to remodel your kitchen temporarily, yet would like to have a stylish room. Kitchens look beautiful with various shapes and styles, such as curved, angular, circular designs installed as these false ceilings. They are usually drop ceilings where the original ceiling is at a height and there is an extra unit added at a lower level to highlight the second ceiling. Taking advantage of the support provided by the main ceiling, these false ceilings are made into various designs. False ceilings are considered to be a part of the modern kitchen designs, because of the built in secondary structure. When ceiling lights and chandeliers are installed in these, the kitchen looks brighter and extremely attractive.

Wooden Ceiling
Another great alternative to an ordinary, boring and plain kitchen ceiling is a rich and classic wooden ceiling, patterned in various contemporary styles. Wooden ceilings are gaining popularity because of their neutral look, durability and of course timeless ambiance, which cannot be matched by any other ceiling material. There are many types of wood ceilings which could be installed in kitchens as well to give a light and informal look to it. Linear designs, which is the most common among wood ceilings could be used in case you don't want to overdo your kitchen. Other ceiling designs for kitchens using wood are installing, grille, cubed and coffered ceilings which are very elegant and attractive ceilings.

Glass Ceiling
These are known to be true designer kitchen ceilings, as they have an exotic touch to them and there are innumerable designs you can choose from, to make your kitchen look unique. Glass ceiling design ideas are the latest trends in kitchen ceilings. The ceiling includes a block, frosted, plain or stained glass unit which is installed below the main ceiling with lights. The lights reflect on the glass and provide a wonderful look to the kitchen. These units could be installed directly above the kitchen table or over an island or could cover the entire kitchen ceiling. So, if you want to add color, elegance and beauty to your kitchen, go for the glass ceilings.

With these great choices on kitchen ceiling designs, you must have made up your mind! Well, kitchens are also a work of art and making them look presentable could make working there more interesting and fun.

Adding a Second Story to a House

With a growing family, you start feeling the want of more space in your house. Adding a second story to your house is a prudent and economical way of adding more space. Such additions are major house remodeling jobs, which require one to take a lot of issues into consideration, before going ahead.

There are two ways in which you can make the space in your house grow. One is horizontal growth through building up of more space around by buying land around the building. The second, more economical option is to grow vertically upwards by adding another story to your house. Building a second story is increasingly preferred by majority of people, who need to have more space. Some people even add a story to a garage to create small living quarters or study rooms.

This kind of a project gives you an opportunity to rectify your mistakes and create additional amenities that you couldn't add before. Buying new land and building over, generally costs more than adding another story to an existing property. Let us see what is the recommended procedure to go about in case of second story additions and what are the conditions which make this a feasible move.

Things to Consider
A major home construction operation like adding a second floor to your home will be a major project which will require cost analysis and meticulous planning before you can go ahead.

Get a Permit From Zonal Local Authorities
To build another story, a permit from a local or zonal authority is generally needed. There are certain norms about how high a structure can be built in certain areas. That is why you need to get a clearance from the local authorities. You will have a permit, once you submit a design plan for second story home addition that you are planning to make.

Contact Local Architect & Contractor
Next thing to do is contact your architect and get his advice on the feasibility of the project. You may want to tell him about what your expectations are, about the number of built rooms on the second floor and the extra amenities. This will help your architect to come up with a design for a story addition, which is consistent with your existing house plan and does full justice to your expectations. You need to contact local contractors to get an idea about the cost per square foot to build a new floor.

Structural Considerations
One important thing that will be checked by your architect or structural engineer is whether your existing house foundation and wall structure can withstand the additional weight of a another story. He will calculate the amount of reinforcement that will be needed.

Creating a Design
After structural solidity is taken into consideration, you can get an architectural plan created. This will involve a lot of issues like the way in which the plumbing system for the new floor will be added, the construction of stairways, electrical wiring plan and other such considerations. Adding an entire story is largely influenced by your original floor design and foundation of the house.

Calculating the Cost Per Square Foot
After you have a plan ready in your hand, you can make an estimate of the total cost involved in constructing a second floor to your house. This will include the cost of remodeling the roof and putting in a new slab, flooring, roofing, plumbing and adding all the other necessary amenities. A major deciding factor will be cost of building materials and of course labor costs.Consulting a local contractor will give you a total estimate about the cost of building. Make sure that you keep room for an additional 15% to 20% increase in costs, which may arise due to contingencies.

Going for the Construction
With the plan in hand, permits from local authorities, availability of funds and hiring of contractors, you are ready to begin construction. You may have to relocate your family to some place till the construction job finishes. Make a planned building schedule and see to it that things go according to the plan.

So, these were the most important factors that need to be taken into consideration while adding a second story to your existing house. Take advantage of this opportunity to completely remodel your house and make it a more spacious and comfortable dwelling, for days to come!

Home Improvement Ideas

Mostly people undertake the project of home improvement for increasing the value of their home. By incorporating additional features to your home, beautifying your landscape or patio, or repainting the house can greatly increase its value greatly. However, many people also consider ideas related to repairs or remodeling if their home hasn't gone through renovations for years, or if people have moved into an old house. Given below, are the various tips for redecorating your home right from decorating the bathroom to the living rooms, and other important repair and remodeling tips.

Ideas for Home Improvement

Remodeling Ideas
If you wish to remodel certain things like plumbing or lighting in a room, but have no experience of doing these things, then it is better that you let a professional do these changes. However, if you are DIY enthusiast and have skill and experience of such repairs, then you can follow a tutorial to do these things yourself. So, plan properly before you start remodeling and get an estimate of the remodeling cost of the particular room you wish to remodel.

Decorating Tips & Ideas
If you are bored of the old interior then consider revamping your old place into something that looks new and fresh looking. For this you can consider buying some new accents for the room, change the furniture placement, paint the walls with fresh colors, add some wall art, change curtains, etc.

Adding Useful Appliances in Kitchen
There are many brands of kitchen appliances which have great innovative designs, and many features that make many cooking and cleaning chores easy. Consider investing in such electric appliances. These appliances will make the chores easier and faster.

Decorating Your Outdoors
Decorating your front yard or patio region in your backyard will not only create a beautiful outdoors for you to relax on weekend, but also make your house look more inviting, thus increase the value of your property. You can use these ideas to decorate your patio and landscape:

• Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas
• Front Yard Landscaping Plans

Inexpensive Ideas
So, you wish to decorate your place, but can't afford to spend too much? Then use these ideas of decorating interiors on a limited budget.

• Decorate a Living Room on a Budget
• Decorating Bedrooms on a Budget
• Patio Ideas on a Budget
• Small Bathroom Ideas on a Budget

Gardening Ideas
A small or large garden is always a value added to property. Also, having greenery around your house will make your place more natural and beautiful. Use these tips and ideas to start a garden and decorate it.

• Gardening Tips for Beginners

Tips to Open Up Small Spaces
If you don't have a large house or you have small rooms in your house, then using some design ideas and principles and few tricks, you can create stunning looking small places which look big. Here are various tips and tricks.

• Bathroom Design Ideas For Small Spaces
• Kitchen Ideas for Small Kitchens

Tips on Repairs
Listed below are various repair instructions on repairing your appliances, fixing cracks in floors, pool repair, etc. And some home improvement tools that can come in handy while performing repairs.

• Wood Furniture Repair
• Pool Leak Repair

Tips on De-Cluttering Your Space
Clutter is something inevitable in every house. However, with some smart ideas you can manage all the stuff in your house better and make the space look neat and clean. Here are various ideas that will help you make the home space look uncluttered.

• Toy Clutter - How to Get Rid of Toy Clutter
• How to Organize Clutter

Tips on Removing Mold and Mildew
Certain moist and dark conditions form a favorable environment for mold, mildew and other fungal growth. Here are tips on removing mold from your basements, and tips to keep the home space free of any mold or mildew growth.

• How to Remove Mildew

Using Basement Space Smartly
Many people use basement space as a storage room. However, if you make the basement waterproof and repaint it, then with some appliances and indoor sports games you can make the basement a recreational room.

• Basement Remodeling Plans

These were the various ideas on decorating your home and home improvement tips on repairs and mold removal, and decluttering the space. So, use the above ideas to transform your home into a beautiful one.

Mobile Home Remodeling Ideas

If you are staying in a mobile home then procedure of remodeling the same can be a bit different from that in case of regular homes. If you are planning to start off a remodeling project, then planning it well is quite essential. While updating these homes you must not just consider working on its aesthetic appeal, but much more than that. There are various ways in which you can give a fresh look to your dull, old mobile home. While renovating these homes you must work on the 'missing' basic requirements and then further add accents to beautify the space. Get a few mobile home remodeling ideas in the following sections and move on to beautify your mobile living space.

Remodeling Tips

Plan the Things To Be Remodeled
As mentioned earlier, before you start off the project it is essential to make a list of things to be remodeled in you mobile home. Once you have finalized on the plans, working on the same will be easier, and it will also ensure that the expenses do not exceed your budget. Make sure you take an estimate of the entire project and then start it off. In case the expenses do not fit in your tight budget, you can simply cut off a few unnecessary things from the 'to-do' list. Let's move on to see what are the basic things to be worked upon.

Work on the Basic Renovation
Now, basic renovation starts from repairs and those 'long due' maintenance projects. There might be plumbings, flooring, ceiling, furniture, walls and window which need to be repaired since a long time. These repairs must be the first priority in remodeling project. You might need to replace windows or flooring if they are badly damaged. Adding sliding windows or latest designs in replacement windows is a great idea. For flooring, consider carpeting which is a cheaper alternative.

Next, consider remodeling the bathing space. You can consider adding latest shower stalls which are specially designed. With decorative shower curtains beautifying the bath area is much easier. Next clean your furniture items and work on the repairs (if any). You can give the tables, chairs, beds frame and cabinets, a fresh look by polishing them. Painting furniture is also a perfect idea to refurbish the old pieces and give them a lovely finish. Ceiling and wall cracks, or any other problems, must be fixed up first to avoid water leakage and maintain the interiors in good condition.

Jazzing Up the Interiors and Exteriors
Once the basic refurbishing is done, you can opt for some luxurious ideas. These will help add a style element to your home. Consider coloring the interiors and exteriors in fresh and bright shades to give it a new look. Use the latest options in paints and enamels for coloring doors, windows and trims. Replace or polish door knobs and handles if any of them are damaged.

One of the best ideas is to add new door and window curtains. Make sure you have tie-back ropes for door curtains. Wide vertical blinds can be a good option to give a contemporary touch. Next, you can have new furnishings for sofa-cum beds or other seating furniture, and new bedding for bed in your home.

Floor rugs, area rugs and carpet runners are best room additions for mobile homes which can give a grand touch. You can add some decor pieces like flower pots, large artificial flowers, fix up frames on walls and also add some nice light fixtures to heighten the overall beauty of your home. All the best!!

Remodeling Mobile Homes

Living in mobile homes gives you the ability to create a completely unique and personal space as opposed to larger homes divided by walls and into rooms. A mobile home is a great option for those who find it convenient to live in smaller spaces. However, living in mobile homes for long periods calls for a regular process of remodeling, just like a regular household.

While remodeling, you must have an idea about what you wish your mobile home to look like. If you are unsure about it you can take a look around, in magazines and on the Internet, to find something you like, and that suits your style. Take a look around the mobile home, and first check what actually requires repair and remodeling. Make an extensive list so you can have an organized remodeling plan at hand. For instance, the floors may require repair and replacement, while the walls may need to be remodeled. Even windows may require remodeling. Then follow these simple tips go about remodeling your mobile home.

Walls

1. In the process of remodeling mobile home walls, consider drywall as an option in order to maintain it easily. It can also be easily painted over.
2. Mobile home repair material may be available at a regular hardware store, while for some particular material you may have to visit a hardware store specifically for mobile homes.
3. Remove the previous drywall paneling, to replace it with new drywall. Attach each piece of drywall with nails that are placed 24 inches apart for sturdiness. You may use trim to hide the intersections of the drywall.
4. The walls can now either be painted over, or covered with wallpaper. The variety of available wallpapers is now making waves in the world of interior design. Why not use them to jazz up your mobile home too?
5. A tip for choosing the right color for your mobile home is that it should make the space look bright, and spacious. As such, choosing a light color, particularly for the walls is advisable. If you opt for a wallpaper, choose one with smaller prints rather than large prints to achieve the effect of spaciousness.
6. One last tip on mobile home walls. Get rid of internal walls to allow free movement and increased space around. If you are comfortable with combined spaces, this is a wonderful way to create a roomy ambiance in your mobile home.

Ceilings
Mobile home ceilings are usually flat, and tend to start rotting over time due to water collection. Repairing and remodeling the ceiling, then becomes a priority. However, this is something that should be done by a professional, rather than oneself, if there is growth of mold and other formations on the roof. Again, applying a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling can do wonders for a mobile home, as is the case with the walls.

Flooring
Flooring is another important element that contributes to the overall appearance of your mobile home. It, therefore, should not be ignored. While mobile home floor repair and maintenance is essential, aesthetics in this area matter too. You may choose a carpet as a floor covering. However, do remember that carpet requires more maintenance than other types of flooring such as wooden flooring. Install flooring that is easy to maintain, clean and also one that enhances the appearance of the mobile home. Tile flooring should be avoided as an option as while relocating, a tile floor may crack and require replacement yet again.

Finishing Touches
The final touches include replacing the blinds, fixtures, faucets and hinges, as per the current trends, and all such small things that come together as the finishing touch. These are available in a variety of finishes and designs, and you can choose those that complement the style you have chosen to remodel your mobile home. Replace blinds with curtains, that are available in several colors and patterns that suit your style. The cherry on the icing would be to add small knick-knacks around the house, as you would do while remodeling a regular house to give it a personal touch. You now have a new, improved and completely personalized mobile home.

With these tips and tricks on remodeling mobile homes, you can give yourself a new, improved, unique and completely personalized home. It is not as difficult as it may seem, and in fact will give you a sense of satisfaction that you may seldom have sensed before.

Living Room Design Ideas

Living room serves a lot of purposes at home, may be it watching television, listening to music or welcoming guests. The living room should be designed in such a way that it is spacious, attractive and most important - it should be comfortable. Whatever theme you use in designing the living room, it should be easy to maintain. The living room design should be appealing to everyone who visits your house. Hence you need to give special attention while designing the living room. There are plenty of living room interior design ideas and you need to choose one that will fit in your budget and one that can be implemented well in the living room space available. Modern, Rustic and Eclectic living rooms are some of the popular living room decorating ideas implemented by many home owners. Let us have a look at each of these living room designs ideas below.

Modern Living Room

Modernizing the living room is the latest trend for improving the home decor. A modern living room is functional and uses the living room space very efficiently. These living rooms are spacious and uncluttered. Almost every modern furniture is simple, functional and mainly serves the purpose of storage. Many of the furniture used are geometric in shape. The cabinets used are closed types that store things and at the same time give uncluttered look to the room. Modern living rooms make use of very bright colors. The furniture color and the color of the walls should contrast each other to give an ultra modern look to the living room. The colors used should be bold, yet pleasant. See that you do not modernize the living room to a great extent. Add some antique frames or art pieces to improve the room dcor.

Rustic Living Room

Rustic living room is the best way to give your living room a natural feel. Rustic decor has always been a favorite choice of homeowners when it comes to giving a unique look to the living room. A rustic living room is very comfortable and the best place to relax. There are number of ways to give rustic feel to the living room. The colors used for rustic living room should be ones that are more prominent in nature. Red, wood tones, brown are the colors that are widely used for such type of living room design. Cover the flooring with area rugs. Wall hangings like antlers, animal heads, old lamps and old rifles have a special place in rustic living room design ideas. Use quilts to cover your sofa and other furniture of the living room. Rustic living room is the best way to reflect your personal interests.

Eclectic Living Room

Designing an eclectic living room is nothing but mix and match of various themes that includes traditional and modern designs. Eclectic design is basically a combination of art forms of all the eras. The combination should be done in such a way that the accessories used blend well with each other without ruining the beauty of the living room. The furniture and the accessories should be placed such that the combination does not look random. There should be a proper planning to pose them at the right place.

Living room design ideas are endless. Living room should be designed properly, it being the place where maximum time is spent by the family. While designing the living room the factors that should be considered are space and comfort. In addition to that, you can use your own creativity that will reflect your interests and style to give it a more personalized look. Happy "Living"!

Landscaping Ideas for Front of House

To make a house, a home, you need to see to it that the exterior of the house is as good as the interiors. Landscaping the front of the house is a very good way to make sure that your house looks appealing from the outside too. A well-designed landscaped garden with a beautiful fence is will greatly enhance the exterior of your home. When you plan a landscaped front yard, remember that proper maintenance and upkeep is also extremely important. A landscaped garden or front yard should be a reflection of the interiors of the house. You can add a water feature like a fountain or small structures like a bird house or bird bath to create more interest in your garden.

Simple Landscaping Ideas

Before you start with your front yard landscaping plan, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. A landscaped garden or front yard is the first thing that guests and passersby will notice when they enter your home. So, it should be such that it is inviting and relaxing. Also the architectural style of the house, will have a bearing on the kind of landscape you should have. A cottage style house needs very simple and rustic landscaping and looks great with bamboo or wood fencing and lot of colorful flower beds. On the other hand, if your house is built in a modern style with glass and chrome, then water elements like fountains, as well as a rock garden, will look very appealing. Given below are some ideas for landscaping your garden or yard.

• One of the best landscaping ideas for front of house is to plant trees and shrubs as well as flowers. Selecting the right ornamental trees for landscaping as well as shrubs and bushes for landscaping is very important, since their height and structure has a bearing on the overall exterior of the house.
• It is a good idea to draw up a plan for landscaping your house, instead of randomly planting shrubs, bushes and trees. This will enable you to have a clear idea of how the finished landscaped project will look.
• While designing your front yard, you should see to it that the placement of tress, shrubs and landscaping bushes is such that it showcases the front of the house, like the doorway or the driveway.
• In addition to this, you have to plant shrubs in such a manner, that they appear balanced and harmonious. A balanced landscaped is one where there is equal number of trees, plants and bushes on either side of the house. Imagine how lopsided and unsymmetrical the landscape would look if there is more number of tress and shrubs on one side and other side is completely barren. You have to remember this design principle while considering landscaping ideas for front yard.
• Another good landscaping ideas is to choose a special feature like a fountain, a graceful sculpture, sundial or a birdhouse. These features provide visual interest to a house, and make it look more attractive.
• For a country-style house, you can opt for a beautiful lattice work fence and gate. This type of fencing pattern goes well with an informal garden design.
• Stone sidewalks from the entrance of the house to the gate also looks quite attractive. You can choose natural stones like river washed stones, small pebbles, slate and crushed granite.
• For a modern home, a Zen garden works quite beautifully with the clean lines of the house. You can also opt for irregularly placed flagstone pavers to create a path from front door to the side of the house.
• Planting flower beds with flowers in two to three contrasting colors near the house is also a great front yard landscaping ideas.
• Accentuate the space between the flower beds and the lawn by using stacked flagstones as edging. You can also use bricks or cobblestone for creating unique edging.
• Lastly, do remember to install outdoor lighting in your front yard to illuminate the pathway. Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge difference to the landscape and also provides safety and security.

This was all about landscaping ideas for front of house. The front of house should look welcoming and with the correct landscaping designs, you can achieve that.

Dormers On Houses

Dormers on houses are a common feature of many American homes. They were originally invented by a French architect Francois Mansart. Dormers are small, protruding structures built on the sloping roofs of houses. Besides being an innovative aspect of home decorating, they create some additional space and headroom, and also increase the ventilation and lighting in the attics and upper rooms. Dormers are useful if you plan to create a living space in your attic. They can also be thought of as windows that have their own roof and extend onto the larger, overall roof of the house. They can significantly improve the aesthetics of your house.

Types of Dormers

Dormers can have many different shapes, each of which can complement the architecture of a house. Some of the common types are mentioned below.

The Gable Dormer
This dormer is shaped like a gable. It consists of a pitched roof with a gable at each end. It goes well with the American Colonial, Colonial Revival, Federal, Georgian, Queen Anne and English Tudor house styles.

The Hipped Dormer
This type of dormer is characterized by its roof which has three sloped sides. It is sheltered from the sides by the sloping roof which looks like a pointed cap over the dormer. It goes well with the Shingle, Prairie and French Eclectic house styles.

The Shed Dormer
The shed dormers have a single-planed, pitched roof. These dormers are not the same pitch as the main roof and require different roof sheeting. They go well with English Tudor, Arts and Crafts, Bungalow and Dutch Colonial house styles.

The Flat Roof Dormer
As the name suggests, roof dormers have a flat roof. These dormers are suitable when the loft space is not very high.

The Recessed Dormer
The recessed or inset dormer, is set back underneath the roof of the house. This dormer looks good on small roofs, as it doesn't jut out like most of the other types.

The Eyebrow Dormer
This type of dormer lacks vertical sides and consists of only a curved roofing. It is also set in the roof and looks like a half-open eye. It is a feature of Shingle style architecture.

Points to Remember While Building Dormers

• The dormer should blend well with the overall structure and design of the house. A huge dormer on a small house or a very tiny dormer on a big house will definitely not create a very good picture. So, in case of dormers, the correct size and proportioning matter a lot.
• The dormer should not occupy more than half the width of the roof on which it is built.
• The dormer should be placed slightly lower than halfway down the roof. This is necessary because the ridges of the dormers should be lower than the main ridge of the house.
• The roof of the dormer should follow the same style as that of the main roof.
• The dormer windows should be smaller than the windows on the walls below in order to create an aesthetically correct structure.

When trying to increase the living space in your home, the most economical options are dormers on houses. Cost of dormer additions is much lesser than any other type of home additions, as no extra excavation or foundation work is required. Dormers are a great way to add a new dimension to your home. They are very useful in creating small living spaces which can provide a good view, as well as some peace and quiet, and at the same time, enhance the appearance of your home.

Bedroom Floor Plan Ideas

Bedrooms are some of the coziest places in a house. Be it a Master bedroom or a guestroom, it needs to have a soothing ambiance and a relaxing environment. This effect can be achieved by carefully creating a bedroom floor plan. A professionally done floor plan might sound easy, but it can burn a huge hole in your pocket. So, what is the option? Just re-arrange the stuff in your bedroom and yet, make it look as good as new. My suggestions can also be a design guide for those who are planning to add a new bedroom to their homes.

Creative Bedroom Layouts
A bed the most important fixture of the bedrooms. So, before I proceed with any details of floor plans, I must ask you to consider the size of your bed and the bedroom. One thing is for sure, that the floor plan depends on size and placement of your bed. Whether your bed is placed on the left or right side, or right in the center of your bedroom, you need to adjust the rest of the furniture accordingly. It is best to get customized furniture, so that it can fit perfectly in the available space. Now, let us browse through some floor plans that offer plenty of space efficiency, free floor space and ample scope for layout experimentation.


Layout 1

• In this layout, the bed is placed on the left side of the bedroom. This leaves significant space on the right side and towards the entrance of the bedroom.
• The large window that occupies almost the entire wall adds to the charm. This window does not hamper the storage space of the room, which is a plus point.
• The dressing table which has ample storage space can be arranged in front of the bed. This leaves sufficient space to accommodate a chair and a small table there.
• To the left of the bed is a chest which can accommodate a lot of things. This can help to keep the room mess-free!
• The color of the flooring must complement the furniture you choose.
• Last come the lights in the room. You can use Plaster of Paris (POP) designs for your room. Place the lights so as to emphasize the plus points of your room.

Layout 2

• This is another example of a floor plan where the bedroom is designed in an ethnic way. This demands that you choose some furniture with a classy look.
• You can place the bed in the center, leaving enough space on both the sides to accommodate a small lamp table or an artificial plant.
• By arranging your room vertically, there can be a lot of space in front of the bed. This space can be utilized to hold a table and a couple of chairs.
• One wall which is next to the bed can be converted into a large window or not, depending on your needs.
• You can opt for a wall with an inbuilt wardrobe to save on the free space.
• Such a room must have a very good balance of lights. Yellow and white lights can go with the room's ethnic theme.

Layout 3

• This is another classic floor plan for a small bedroom. Things are arranged in such a manner that even if the actual area of the room is small, it still looks spacious.
• You can try creating wall with an inbuilt wardrobe to save some floor space.
• Use a small sofa or a couple of bean bags to increase the seating space.
• Think about the size of the bed while planning the layout. If the bed is meant for a single person, then you need not buy a double bed. This will help to make your bedroom look unclustered.

Layout 4

• This is a unique plan and can suit a children's bedroom. Two single-beds can be arranged at two extremes and the space in the middle can be utilized for a study table. Make sure that the size of the beds is not so long that it obstructs the entrance of the room.
• If you don't want a storage space, you can accommodate the stuff in any other room. That way, you can have a hand at experimenting with the arrangement even more.
• You can place a music system or a computer on the table in one of the corners of the room.
• If you need only one bed, then you can avail the remaining space for some other purpose. This space can be utilized for placing a wardrobe or a bookshelf. You can even place a small dressing table if the room belongs to your teenage daughter.

Layout 5

• For a tiny bedroom space with a limited scope for expansion, go for the simplest floor plan where you would accommodate only a bed, a table and a small sofa or a couple of chairs.
• Wardrobes can be fixed inside the wall.
• You can mount a television, provided there is a free wall in the room.
• A designer chair or a sofa can be allotted a place in one of the corners.
• If some more space is left, place a small table beside the bed to keep some small stuff like your phone or a pot. This will complete the look of your entire bedroom.

Layout 6

• This can be of the best floor plans provided you are willing to construct a new bedroom and don't have a properly shaped area.
• The odd corners in the room can be utilized to hold a triangular seating space.
• You can place the bed near the wall and carve a window if needed on the other. As you'll have very less area left after this, you can place a wardrobe in front of the bed leaving enough space to walk in between. Give it a vibrant look to add to the beauty of your room.

Layout 7

• At times, it feels like there is simply nothing you can do with your room. The size of your bed might be too large, which can hamper a change of bedroom layout. In such a case, you can just push the bed a little to one side and occupy the rest of the space as per your wish.
• If you have no storage problems, you can place a wooden rack that can hold some good antique pieces or your books. A designer bookshelf can also give this room a classic touch.
• Make sure, you keep some space in the wall for a window, if possible, as it will make the room look bright and full of light.
• If you want to make the room look even more spacious, you can try replacing your old bed with a sofa cum bed.

A Few More Tips
Budget is always a matter of concern for many. And why not, spending even hundred dollars may trim your budget for the next couple of months.

• Start by deciding the amount you can spare. Once that is finalized, it will be easier for you to buy things accordingly.
• Re-use as many things as possible, to save your money. e.g. Use an old wooden cupboard to create something new out. Polish it and add some embellishments. Make sure that the wood has retained its quality.
• Browse through some interior design magazines or the internet. Make use of some creative color schemes. Ideally for a small bedroom, choose lighter shades. But for a larger space, dark and bright colors that reflect light are the best.
• Accessories can bring life to your room. They help to give your bedroom a special identity. You can buy new accessories or just create some yourself.

I hope you like the ideas above and implement them soon! And yes, when you finally get your bedroom ready, don't forget to have fresh and lovely flowers there, every day! You'll love the ambiance even more!

Outdoor Shower Designs

Contrary to popular belief, outdoor showers are not reserved for plush hotels and resorts. You can have your very own outdoor shower at home, to wash away sand and grime after a swim or just to feel close to nature. Showering alfresco in the outdoors can be exhilarating and there are many designs and styles of outdoor showers that you can choose from. An outdoor shower is generally constructed in the backyard and is mostly made out of natural materials. If you are keen on having an outdoor shower stall in your home, first decide on the level of privacy you require in your shower design. For people who live in large isolated homes, where there is no question of nosy neighbors peeking through, privacy is not a problem. But you will require some sort of privacy screens or doors in your outdoor shower if you have neighbors living close by.

Design Ideas for Outdoor Shower
Designs and plans of outdoor showers should not be like your indoor walk-in shower enclosures. Shower designs should be such that it blends in perfectly with the landscape and do not stand out like a sore thumb. It is best to keep designs simple and use natural materials that will work well with your garden or backyard. Use materials like pebbles, slate, stones, bamboo and wood as far as possible and steer clear of aluminum, tiles and steel.

Wooden Enclosed Shower
One of the best yet simple outdoor shower designs is to opt for a shower that is constructed out of redwood. A rectangular enclosed redwood shower with a partially open roof, provides the right amount of privacy. The shower stall can be as big or small as you want, with stainless steel hooks installed for hanging clothes. Construct a lattice roof and install this over your shower enclosure. A medium-sized outdoor teak towel rack or a teak shower bench, placed inside the shower stall would perfectly complement this rustic and simple shower design.

Open Outdoor Shower
Another good outdoor shower design is to construct an open shower with a backsplash of slate and a protruding side wall of rounded river stones. This is a very natural looking shower design and is great for people who live in beach houses. However, this particular design of outdoor shower does not provide any privacy and as such is suitable for people who have large properties without any neighbors living in close proximity. You can also use natural pebbles on the walls to give it a completely natural look.

Glass Block Shower
There are many design options of outdoor showers for people who desire to have a bit of privacy while taking a bath outdoors. Glass block showers work very well outdoors, as glass blocks are sturdy and low maintenance. Install a shower stall made of clear glass blocks or colored glass blocks. Although, glass blocks are not natural material, they still provide excellent privacy. You can also install aluminum screens that have translucent marbles suspended on it, to create a stained glass effect.

Brick Wall Shower
If you are low on funds and want an outdoor shower that is simple and cost-effective, then a brick wall shower is just what you are looking for. Construct a rectangular shower enclosure with bricks with an open roof. This type of outdoor showers are easy to construct, and they are low maintenance too. To help it blend with the landscape, you can build a border around the shower with pebbles or river rocks.

These were some ideas for designing an outdoor shower. If you are on a budget and require a shower enclosure that is cheap, then just affix a curved curtain rod on the wall and hang waterproof custom shower curtains on it. The curtain can be drawn when the shower is not in use. Plans for an outdoor shower should be made in consultation with plumbers, as proper drainage as well as supply of hot water are basic requirements. The material used for the construction of outdoor showers should be resistant to mildew and rotting and should also be easy to maintain.

Room Additions for Mobile Homes

A mobile home is certainly an affordable alternative for many people. But, nowadays, insufficient living space is becoming a serious problem, with an increase in family size. If you are thinking of increasing your living space, room additions are a very convenient solution.

Things to Consider

Those who are thinking of additions for mobile homes need to consider, if their mobile home can bear the weight of the extra room. This is because mobile homes do not have a stable foundation like permanent homes. Mobile homes are constructed, in such a way, that they can easily stand firm, despite being in motion more often.

Weight, Pressure, and Support Factors of the Additions
It's quite a dicey situation, trying to add stuff on to a home that doesn't have a strong infrastructure. That is why if you've got any questions regarding your home's integrity, you can ask your builder. The builder or any expert on mobile homes (in case your builder is unavailable) would be able to tell you how much weight and pressure the home can handle. The support of a mobile home comes from the ceiling, and there are few mobile homes which do not have any support at all. Usually, these additions are built to be set without any support, or only with minimum contact with the home itself. The addition can be properly sealed against the mobile home, however, its support may not entirely depend on the home.

Following Local and Federal Regulations
There are different prerequisites for adding a room to a mobile home, as compared to other typical home additions. A well-known and experienced contractor would certainly help you regarding all the aspects to be considered while installing an addition safely, as per the local regulations. You also need to get in touch with your local building inspector's office, regarding all legal issues and safe construction details and regulations, which you and your contractor need to follow. It's also suggested to take help from a local mobile home dealer, for obtaining recommendations of reputed contractors, who have expertise in this field. For one, you can make sure of not building anything illegal in your home. Secondly, it helps create friendly atmosphere with your neighbors and the local contractor, which can go a long way in getting that additional room built.

Turnkey Room Additions for Mobile Homes
If you think that there can be a certain risk in the future if you add conventional mobile home additions, it is better to go in for a turnkey addition. This type of mobile home addition is set up together at a factory similar to mobile homes. They are specifically constructed, keeping in mind, the standards and facts that they would be joined to mobile homes. They can be transported directly to where your mobile home is and incorporated with it.

Adding a Porch to the Mobile Home
Many people also opt for adding a porch along with a separate room addition. A porch is a very good place for hosting parties, but it is an inexpensive option. Instead of constructing it on the base of the mobile home, it is better to construct the porch separately and then, attach it to the home. This is because when moving the home, the porch would get damaged. Before installing the project, simply get in touch with your local building department, if there are some legal formalities to be carried out. The same goes for a deck, a carport, or even some steps. Either keep them unattached (maintain a small space between the home and the extension), or get some extensions that can be dismantled easily.

Taking Care of the Footing
If your home is not installed on frostline footings in a snowy area, the piers could shift, thereby causing the added room to move from its initial position. The room can then either break away from the home, or drop down due to excessive pressure. If you used simple piers, the ground below may heave after it snows, causing the pier to rise up due to non-leveled ground. Frostline footings, on the other hand, make sure the pier doesn't shift and greatly increases stability of your additional room.

Room Addition Cost
When thinking of rooms for mobile homes, a very important factor to be considered is the cost of the overall project. If you hire a contractor to construct a room addition, he can charge you up to approximately $75-$250 per square foot, depending on the complexity, materials required, local labor expenses; or around $30,000 to $100,000 for a 16x25 foot room. However, the overall expenses might even climb to $300 to $500 or more per square foot, depending on your customizations and luxury requirements.

Additions for mobile homes certainly increase the living space and also, contribute to an increase in the overall cost of your home. Moreover, this project is comparatively inexpensive, and may easily fit into your budget.

Modern Garage Design Ideas

A garage can be designed to make it a multi-purpose room/space. This enables the owners to carry out different tasks than mere parking vehicles. The garage can be a convenient place to store sports items for kids, gardening equipment and many other things. Before getting into the designing process for a garage, one should decide whether he wants to construct a home-attached or free-standing garage. Here are some ideas for designing garages.

Modern Design Ideas for Garage

Making a list of the necessities or needs is the first step in the process of designing. This way, one gets an idea as to what should be included in the garage. Plans pertaining to the procurement of items can be made.

Modern Door Garage Design Ideas: It is an important step in the process of designing a modern garage. One should think about changing the appearance of the entrance and a door with modern look should definitely serve the purpose. The garage door can either be transparent or tinted. A transparent door made from glass panels and having a design with contemporary look is recommended. Doors with pebbled glass, dark tint or those with a frosted appearance are good if one doesn't want to reveal the interiors of garage.

Flooring: Epoxy floor coating is considered suitable for giving a modern look to the garage. This floor coating is available in many different colors. There are polypropylene tiles available in the market which are specifically designed for garages. To protect the garage floor from dirt and oil which is brought in by tires of the car, one should make use of garage mat or vinyl tiles. All these enhancements make for a cool modern garage interior design.

Additional Living Space: Adding living space to the garage is one of the modern garage design ideas. One can think about constructing a two-storey garage that has an extra room. Space adjacent to garage too can be built and converted it into an office. This way, garage space can be used for some productive work. Maintaining the garage becomes easy as one spends more time there. The garage conversion ideas can be useful in turning the garage into a living space.

Pop-up Garage
The pop-up garage is one that saves a lot of space. This kind of garage provides underground space to park vehicles. The car is raised to the surface by means of a hydraulic lift system. It saves space and also presents a new look to the structure.

Automated Doors
The automated doors are equipped with a system of infrared sensors. Need to open doors, every time one has to park the vehicle is eliminated with the use of automated doors.

Portable Garage
The portable garages have tent-like structures and are installed with the help of pillars. A tent material is placed on top of these pillars to create an enclosure. Such garages can be used if one doesn't feel the need of building a permanent structure. These garages are cost-effective and also very easy for setting up.

One would find this information useful in the process of designing a modern and spacious garage.

Home Addition Costs

Home addition is the best way to expand your living space as well as increase the value of your property. However, it is a project that cannot be planned overnight. You need to assess several different factors when it comes to home addition. You most importantly need to consider local laws and regulations, and if you actually can do it yourself. A majority of residents have big projects, as a result they prefer taking help from professional agencies for getting the job done.

Planning for Home Addition

The main aspect that we need to consider when planning for home improvement, renovation, or home addition is the cost involved. Proper planning and estimation will always pay off, with you getting the best improvement done at a very affordable price. If it is a small project which you want to do it yourself, you would certainly save on labor costs that are otherwise to be paid to professional workers.

Average Home Addition Costs

What additions you are considering is the main determinant for the cost of your home additions, be it your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, or a new story altogether. If you have enough floor space already, then adding a bathroom as a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project may cost you from $500 to $1,500, or even go up to $2,000 to $4,000 if you're considering a contemporary bathroom with advanced utilities. If a contractor adds new space to the existing floor, the costs may range from $25,000 to $50,000 for basic bathrooms and $40,000 to $80,000 for modernized ones.

In order to use the existing space to make a new bedroom, the costs for a DIY project may range from $200 to $5,000. You may have to shell out approximately $7,500 to $50,000 for a contractor to do the same work. If the project involves adding new floor space for a 10x15-foot basic bedroom, DIY work may cost you around $3,700 to $7,500; whereas $7,500 to $22,500 for the work done by professionals. Making a living room on already available floor space can cost you from $200 to $5,000, if you do the task yourself. The same project, if done by a contractor, may cost you about $7,500 to $25,000.

In order to get flooring space added to a 400-square-foot living room, you will have to spend around $10,000 to $20,000 for a project done all by yourself. The contractors may quote somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000 for the same home addition. When it comes to adding a story, it is strongly recommended to take professional help. And for getting such a project done by a contractor, you may have to pay a substantial amount ranging from $225,000 to $450,000. Generally, contractors determine prices according to the square feet that is to be worked upon.

The bottom line is that the bigger and more complicated the project is, more will be the costs. To get the best and affordable home addition costs, check out the quotations given by a few good contractors in your neighborhood and compare the quotations with each other. You will also need to keep in mind the county and local laws regarding home additions.

Cost to Add a Bathroom

Many of you might have often wondered that what is the cost of adding a bathroom? The following paragraphs elaborate the different items and their corresponding cost ranges. It must be noted that the prices might differ from place to place and also time to time. In addition to that there might be also a genuine difference between charges that are levied by contractors, who do the actual work. On the whole, the price ranges that have been mentioned below are more generic and might change from time to time.

Cost of Adding a Bathroom to a Home

The following are the different costs that you will need to analyze before building a bathroom. Based on people's opinions that have been found on different forums, it can be said that the average cost to add a bathroom, will be somewhere around $15,000. However, as it happens, the average cost of anything depends on the quality of materials used, and how much importance you give to luxury.

Drywall
You will need a drywall to separate out the proposed bathroom from the rest of the house. A single sheet of drywall measuring about one square feet will cost you about $10. If you plan to go in for more costlier and sturdier versions of drywall the per sheet cost will increase. In addition to that, there are several other expenses such as drywall holdings, drywall fixtures and anchoring that have to be taken care of. A real brick wall will be a bit more expensive than the drywall, but if you look at the positive side, it is durable and immune from breakage.

Bathroom Tiles
The genuine chunk of your budget will be consumed by the tiles. The cost of total tiling depends on two factors, namely, the nature of tiles used and the surface area of the bathroom that is to be covered in tiles. Some decent tiles will cost about $20 per tile. If you choose some high-end costly designer ones, the per tile cost is likely to become as high as $100. In addition to that there are some different ideas that can be used instead of tiles, such as a waterproof synthetic cover. The advantage is that the cover is very, very inexpensive and can be easily used instead of tiles especially, if you don't want your budget to run out of hand.

Shower Pan
A shower pan is another important necessity that you will need to consider while building the bath room. On an average a shower pan of a decent quality will range from $100 to $300, with a high-end model ranging to about $500.

Toilet
One must also never forget the toilet, which will range from about $200 to $500. In addition to the toilet you will also have to consider some additional expenditures such as flush dispensing tanks and piping for it. The outlet of the toilet that would lead to the sewer, will probably cost a lot, and will amount to about $700 to $1,000.

Bathtub
If you are planning upon installing a bathtub then you will have to invest another $500 to $700. In addition to that water piping and dispensing of water is another concern. The same is also applicable for piping for the water supply. On the whole the cost for the bathtub will amount to about $1,000.

I hope that the list of costs incurred while adding the bathroom proves to be effective and helpful. As a word of caution, let me comment that keeping the bathroom simple and the quality of construction long-lasting, is an essential factor.

Cape Cod Style House

Many people (including me) are still charmed by those romantic medieval English style houses. When colonist Britishers came to America they brought their special medieval home decor skills along and bestowed them here, in the form of Cape Cod style houses! The first ever Cape Cod house in America was supposedly built in the 17th century, along the Massachusetts coastline. To build these houses, they used the hall and parlor house models and modified their features in accordance with the stormy weather conditions of New England region of America. A typical house is a two or one and a half story cottage style house with home decor features like steep and shingled roof, a large central chimney, wooden shutters, clapboard and less or no ornamentation; in short, a picture perfect house!

Architecture

Cape Cod styles houses were the epitome of the typical English cottage style houses. Initially, Cape Cod houses used to be single storied with wide clapboard siding, steep-pitched roofing with protruding chimneys. These houses were later replaced with two or one and a half story homes, with multi-paned windows that look symmetric with the front door of the house which typically located in the center of the building. These traditional houses were replaced by the Georgian colonial, Federal and Victorian style houses, at the start of the 20th century. Later during the colonial revival era, these houses regained their popularity with a large amount of revival impact! Hence, during this era, the Cape Cod style houses were a bit different than the original ones.

Apart from the characteristic symmetric appearance, the most striking thing about these revived houses was the placement of the chimneys. Unlike traditional central roof position, chimneys of these houses were offset any of side of the house, excluding the frontal side of course. Modern Cape Cod style house exterior ornamentation is very limited as compared to the traditional houses. Since these are relatively smaller homes and are quite inexpensive to build, regular houses started being replaced by Cape Cod style houses. This trend was followed by the neighborhood areas of Massachusetts, including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Today, these houses are the most desired style homes for the hobbyists, investors and real estate marketers. If you want to purchase a Cape Cod house, then you need to understand that the price gamut of these houses varies with respect to the features, location, size and age of the house.

Features

There are three categories, namely, full Cape Cod, half Cape Cod and three-quarter Cape Cod house. The full Cape Cod house has a central front door with two windows at each side, the half Cape Cod house has front door at the side of the house with two windows, while the three-quarter Cape Cod house is flanked by two windows on one side and one window on the other. Apart from this main feature, interior decorating schemes of all these three types are identical. Commonly, additions are done so that it can match with the surrounding landscape. It is the reason why subtle designs and natural colors are prominent characteristics of these houses.

Interior Design
Cape Cod style house colors is the most fascinating thing for you to learn if you are aware of the cottage style decorating ideas. Trim colors and crown molding are the dominant features of these houses. The doors, mantels, cabinetry and kitchen furniture is colored in pristine white. The rest of the rooms also have clear white detailing. Another feature of Cape Cod interior is hardwood flooring throughout the house, except kitchen. Kitchen flooring is usually done with linoleum or ceramic. Interior wall paints of Cape Cod houses typically belong to the countryside and hence they are sunset red, ocean blue, sand beige and sea green. Colors that are seen on the seaside are always preferred as wall colors for Cape Cod houses.

Exterior Design
Exterior of Cape Cod houses is totally subtle, with nude wall paints, uncovered and uncolored shingles and clapboards that turn to gray or earthy colors with prolonged exposure to the natural elements like sun, breeze and water. Another characteristic of these houses is that even though they have the cottage style decorating, they do not contain the front porch or veranda. The modern variants of Cape Cods however have those chic sunrooms at one side of the house. Still, the main focal point of these houses is their front door, with its intricate carving and eye-catching colors. On the other hand, the windows of these houses have shutters that are either painted white or in the same color of the doors. Some other exterior decorative items of Cape Cod houses include a white picket fence, steep roof with overhang, detached garage and outdoor shower!

If you go through today's Cape Cod house plans however, you will come to know that the homeowners as well as architects have made a lot of changes and modifications in the original characteristics of these houses. Some prominent examples of this would be those roof dormers and additional wings at the rear end of the house! No matter how many additions and modifications these houses have gone through, they are still holding the place of a dream house for many people!

Screened Porch Plans

A porch is a part of the house, built as an extension to the main building, attached either on the front door or at the back door, unlike a patio. A porch, usually, comes with one or two sides enclosed, and one side of the wall attached to the building. Usually, one or more sides remain open, allowing free passage of air and sunlight. Porches are multipurpose, and can be used by any member of the family. The primary purpose of a screened porch is to help you enjoy a little peace. It can also accommodate playthings for children, such as a swing.

Screened Porch

A screened porch is much more effective than regular porches in preventing bugs and insects from troubling you. It also helps you to enjoy warm and soothing sunlight during the winter days, and ensures an escape from the suffocating and bug filled summer nights. It is often used as an extension of the living room, but people sometimes use it to keep their flower pots. Before you start to build a screened porch, you have to take a lot of things into consideration. Its simple enough to just staple screens to your house frames, but if you want it to stand the test of time, you need to make plans.

Plan to Build a Screened Porch

First of all, draft a plan as to how you would like to design it, thereafter the choice is yours whether you want to build it yourself or hire a specialist to do it. Even though, there are a lot of do-it-yourself packages in the market, it isn't always as easy as it sounds. Hence, it is always better to hire a specialist. In any case, you will need to draft a plan as anything more than just stapling in the screen, will need a lot more thinking. While planning, there are factors that we need to keep in mind. The plan should be simple and easy to understand, as these will be the guidelines to assist you while doing it yourself. It will also make it easier for you to explain your ideas to the specialists. Before you start any kind of construction, always make sure that you have submitted the building plan to the local building authority and have acquired a permit to build the same. Otherwise, they can declare your porch, an illegal structure.

A screened porch plan could start with a preliminary sketch, showing your idea of the porch, in accordance with the existing house plans. Nowadays, there are home design software available that aid in the making of such plans. You should also make sure that your screened porch blends in with the surroundings.The porch should be adequately equipped to withstand all kinds of weather. The addition and the modifications that result, should integrate with the overall design and style of the house. The raw materials, colors, roof styles and others should be able to blend in with the existing structure. A screened porch can be built completely from scratch or it can be developed from an existing porch. In case, people have to start from scratch, they need to build a whole new porch with a new roofing, which will definitely cost more. This is not exactly a very feasible option. Most people prefer to develop it from an existing porch, which already has a roofing, as it is much cheaper and easier.

Screening a Porch

The actual act of screening a porch, is a very simple process. After framing the wooden support on the porch, people usually fasten the screen on the wooden frame with batten boards. The screen should be strong enough to withstand all kinds of natural onslaughts. It should be ensured that the screen does not sag or wrinkle, while fastening.

Nowadays, there are customized, do-it-yourself screens available in the market. It usually comes with a ready-made screen, and instructions on how to do it. This product is becoming a lot more popular as it is usually hassle-free.There are a wide range of materials that can be used for screening, such as bronze, copper aluminum, vinyl, etc. Among these, vinyl is the most preferred, as it is easy to work with, and is extremely durable. New materials, such as rustproof bronze and anodized aluminum with a bronzed finish, are also becoming popular.

Plan for a Screened Deck Porch

There is a slight modification to be made, if a decked porch is to be screened. We need to ensure that the flooring of the deck is done with a solid raw material. The material should be strong enough to keep the deck from cracking up, as a cracked floor will allow the insects to come up through the floor. The base of the deck needs a very strong support, as it has to carry the additional weight of the porch. A strong material should be used for the support, as it also has to sustain the weight of snow that's usually accumulated, mostly in the northern regions of the hemisphere that experience snowfall. Some basic tips to help in planning for a screened porch.

Space: The space of the porch should be carefully planned, as the size will differ according to the purpose of the screened porch. Whether its to be used as a playroom, or as an extended living room or for storing flower pots, the amount of space available will always matter.

Exposure: The location should be decided, according to the level of exposure you most prefer. If it's to be used for keeping flower pots, it can be constructed in the front where the lighting will be the most, or if you want to use it for some private moments, then you can always construct it at the back, where you get the least exposure.

Raw materials: The raw materials should be chosen with careful deliberation, keeping in mind the natural surroundings. The durability of the material should be high and the color should be chosen, according to the appearance of the house.

Access: Access to the porch, should be unhindered. The location should always be nearer to the living room, or from a point where it's easily accessible for everyone.

With all the help that's available, it will be a lot easier now to plan for a screened porch for yourself . Now you won't need to go looking for an oasis elsewhere, as it is right there, in front of your eyes. You just need to discover it.

Garage Design Software

Garage designing, or remodeling, often finds a place at the bottom of 'to-do' list of homeowners. Most homeowners are hesitant to pay a hefty interior designer's fee for a job on the garage, hence, attempt to do it on their own. However, 'do-it-yourself' garage job is a tedious one, requiring lot of designing, planning and estimating. Without requisite skill and expertise, you may end up with less than perfect results. Garage design software is a great tool for implementing your own garage design ideas, without paying a dime to interior designers. So, what exactly is this software like? What are its features and how to use it? Let us find out answers to all these questions in this article.

What is Garage Design Software

Software assisting in home designing are always in demand. Garage design software are similar to any other home designing software, and allows you to design your garage virtually. The software offers 2D as well as 3D simulation which enables you to design the details of your garage. Using a 3D garage design software, you can actually take a walk through your garage. The biggest advantage of using a garage layout software is, you can easily overcome actual designing failures, since everything is first implemented virtually. Since, you can play around with the various features of this software, you can easily choose the best plan, as per your requirements. These software offer you all the designing freedom, that too within the confinements of your home.

Features

Garage plans software come with an array of functions. Through a user-friendly interface, you can access the various features of this software. It allows you to modify the size of your garage, while repositioning the garage doors, windows and other objects. Besides, you can choose from an array of roofing and garage flooring options. It also allows you to manipulate finer design aspects such as stud size, stud spacing etc. You can choose a simple four walled feature or you may move to the more advanced custom built garage feature. Besides, design and planning, the software also allows you to get an estimate on materials. The quantity of materials is also selected by the software according to the size of your garage. This feature particularly helps you to order the correct quantity of materials. The final cost of materials is also calculated by the software.

Where to Find It

Garage design software can be bought off for a low price from any shop dealing in sales of computers and computer programs. Free software can also be found on the Internet. Some websites offer trial packages for homeowners interested in designing their own garages. However, these trial packages often do not include all the features of the main product. You may benefit more from subscribing to any of these websites by paying monthly fees. These websites offer several modern design ideas, complete with the latest cost estimate of the materials. Since, the features and estimates of these software are often up-to-date, there are hardly any variations from design and cost on paper, while actually building the garage. You can then save your work and take the printouts. However, if you are interested in professionally designing a garage, then you might have to particularly look for a professional level software. These can be slightly hard to find, and are available only at specialty stores.

The garage design software also comes with a step by step instruction set for designing and implementing your ideas. Thus, this can be a useful product, if you have any plans for your garage in the near future. Alternatively, you may also subscribe to short term memberships offered by some websites dealing in this business.

Home Bar Design Ideas

There is a huge difference between getting a high at home and having that feeling of being elated somewhere outside. I mean, who would not want to sit in the familiar and cozy confines and have a nice drink. Personally, I would not want to go to a place where there is blaring music and too many people all around. I would rather be at home and have a good time. So then you have two options. Either getting the drinks from the store or get a bar at home. For this also you would need to get drinks from the store, but this will be more of your collection, instead of getting what is available. With it, you can also flaunt your collection and call people over for drinks! Here are a few ideas you would want to be enlightened with, so as to improve your home decor.

Design Ideas for a Home Bar

By Shape: Planning is very important. Consequently, when you design a home bar, the structure and the shape comes first in the picture. You can have an L shape bar, which is planned in an L shape as the name suggests. L-shaped bar, perhaps is least complicated. A convenient feature of this one is that it has room for fixing a sink on the shorter side. Another variation is a straight type bar. This type is typically at the end of the room and its length spans the width of the room. Here, the storage of drink bottles and glasses is mainly below the counter and three bar stools can be fitted well in a single row. These are the two comparatively conventional shapes for a bar. No one is going to stop you if you want it to have a whacky 'Z' shape or oval shape! There is no dearth of shapes for your bar!

By Style and Theme: There are primarily three basic styles. There is a wet bar, with a built in sink, which make the cleaning easier. Moreover, these bars have built up ice machines and refrigerators, which add to the convenience; you do not have to make round trips of the kitchen. To top it all, the best part about this is that you can also have a draft system, dispensing the coveted drink, especially beer. If you want a different style for your bar, you may try a rustic design, with wooden cabinets and nicely carved wooden counter table ( I am already liking it! Wow!). Again, style is what you are, so let that bar reflect your personality. Similarly, if you are a sports enthusiast, you can have a theme of sports. On the other hand if you are interested in cars, have a bar resembling the design of a jazzy, futuristic car! That is, of course if you have space and the big bucks enough for such luxury.

By Color and Accessories: Color scheme of the bar should gel perfectly with the style and theme. Imagine how horrendous a rustic cabinet painted in blue or pink would look! Therefore, choose the color scheme accordingly. For a contemporary look, (unless it is a very specific theme based design) tan, mocha brown, black, red, chocolate, gray and white are perfect. While choosing colors, have a pairing of neutral shades with a tinge of a bright and vibrant color. Now, colors would not be considered excluding the accessories, so accessories are crucial. Sky is the limit as far as accessories are concerned, from flat TV's to disco ball to pool tables, et all. The objective is to make that area inviting, relaxing and full of fun, entertainment and trust me, people leave no stones unturned to create that perfect ambiance. This is of course, apart from the basic accessories like bar stools, glasses, strainer, mixers, etc. Neon signs and other type of light effects are incredible accessories to have, in addition to the above.

By Drinks: Who said, drinks do not come into the designs? Why not include them to get the overall bar effect. So a few of the cocktails and other drinks which could give your guests a lifetime of experience could be Catalina Margarita, Rocky Point Margarita, Belgian Beer (if you could get your hands on it) or ring in the 'cheerful spirit' with Bloody Mary or an innovative tequila shot! Flaunt your bar tending skills to your guests by preparing fine concoctions for them!

This was just a glimpse of what all could go in home bar. Are you game for making one at home? If you are, then all the best!

Garage Additions

If you are a car owner without a garage, you sure must be familiar with the agony of braving snow on a freezing morning while walking towards your car, only to find the doors frosted with the snow. While you struggle to get inside the freezing interiors of the car and turn on the ignition, the sluggish engine simply refuses to cooperate. Sheltering your car becomes a must if you live in regions of extreme weather. Even otherwise, protecting your car from impish teenagers in the neighborhood would be a good idea.

Garage Addition Ideas

Once, you decide upon building an addition for your garage, the next step is to look out for various ideas for garage additions. Although, the main purpose of garage would be to house a car, it can also serve a number of other purposes. You can use it for storing various garden tools and equipment such as lawn mowers which occupy substantial storage space in the house. You can also use it as additional living space by building a story on it. Garage additions can also be used for housing boats, kids' bicycles, toys etc. If you install a work bench inside your garage you would be able to complete your do-it-yourself projects in the garage. An addition can also serve as a good place for setting up your home office.

Designs

Design would primarily depend upon the purpose for which you would be utilizing garage space. Even though you might intend to use it only for parking your car, it wouldn't be a great idea to build an unattractive box, next to your beautifully constructed house. Irrespective of the purpose of garage addition, aesthetic plays a vital role in its design. The size of the garage is the most important factor to be considered while designing a garage. Ideally, you should not extend the size of the garage more than two-thirds of the total frontal size of your home. If you have plans for constructing an enormous garage equipped with all utilities, then it is recommended that you construct it behind your house, where it won't be visible. While adding a story to your garage, care must be taken that it ends well below the roof of your home. Before you approach a general contractor, you should be ready with the rough sketches, designs of the garage plan as well as some conversion ideas of your own.

Construction

If you are an avid do-it-yourselfer with a penchant for construction, then you can consider doing this job yourself. However, make sure you possess the requisite skills for doing this job. You may also approach a general contractor who may finish a part of garage addition for you. Usually, contractors take care of the construction of frames, drywall, roof shingles, insulation, garage doors, windows etc. Thus, you are left with the foundation, slab, electricity, floor sealing and painting which can be accomplished with the help of a laborer. If you decide to entrust the job to a contractor, get a proper cost estimate from him. Interview a couple of contractors before finalizing the deal with one.

Garage additions simply open a plethora of opportunities to utilize the available space. This home addition can take care of all your space related woes. Do not forget to equip your garage with a cabinet, closet and other essential furniture for additional comfort and functionality.

Home Bar Ideas

A bar at home is something that most people wish to have. Home bar is not only a great convenience, but affordable as well. What's more? It adds a style element to your house and a good section for partying. Well, if you are planning to have a home bar, just wait. First, get some useful tips and home bar ideas from the following paragraphs, and then get started with designing a great looking bar.

Where to Set up the Home Bar?
What are the possible areas of your house where you can have a bar? Well, let me tell you that a bar needs to have a dedicated area that can be utilized to have fun and party any time without disturbing other areas of your house. A basement bar is definitely what most of you would be wondering of. That's a great idea to consider and work upon. How about utilizing the attic area, if it is large enough? It's surely a smart decision to convert your unused attic into a beautiful home bar.

Material
Choosing the primary material used for the bar decor is the next important task? While most of you might opt for the popular wood decor, you can definitely experiment with other elegant looking materials. Marble, stone and leather are good options to check out. While that plastic decor is great looking and inexpensive as well, leather has its unique charm. Steel is also becoming a hot favorite of designers for beautifying bars, restaurants, reception desks, etc. Well, if you believe that marble is something that you can't afford, you can just pick those classy marble or granite laminates and play up the entire home bar decor.

Theme
Deciding a theme for designing your home bar is much helpful. This home bar design idea will help in having uniformity in the entire decorations of this area. If you are a sports enthusiast, you can have a sports theme. For those automobile freaks, a wonderful bar design idea is to have a car theme. A rustic theme will make an elegant looking bar. Home bar decoration ideas to complement this theme include addition of wooden cabinets, tables, chairs and wood wall panels to the area. You can also have a theme of a specific color combo. Well, we'll discuss more about the colors in the next paragraph.

Colors
Colors for home bar essentially need to be vibrant. Red and black, red and brown or black and white make some bright and hot color combinations. This means that the home bar furniture and wall colors, all must highlight this combination to have an overall funky effect. From the shelves and bar stools, till the lighting and accessories, all must be in theme colors. You can also try other flashy combinations like black and orange, purple and green, purple and black or yellow and orange.

Essentials
While you check out various home bar ideas, an important thing that you might forget is the furniture. Making the right seating arrangement with love seats, couch and stools, whatever fits the best here is important. Of course, a perfectly designed counter needs no mention. You need to decide, its shape, material and colors. Again, the shelving system is something that you might forget. Have enough storage space to keep the needed stock. Refrigerator, strainers, mixers and glasses can't be forgotten. Adding an entire entertainment center, not just the music player is also a good idea.

Lighting
Now, this is the main element among the various home bar ideas. Having the right lighting fixtures is essential to create the right mood in the home bar. If you have a small home bar, have enough illumination at the counter and near the windows to highlight these sections. You can opt for a disco ball, which is an ultimate piece for spicing up the home bar. You can also add the beautiful recessed lighting to the ceiling, especially above the counter or on the wall trims of this room. Adding the exotic mood lights to highlight some specific areas of your home bar is another unique design idea. Tiffany lamps are among the best accessories for illuminating a home bar. Trendy frosted hanging lamps of suitable colors can instantly spice up the space.

These were some ideas to design a wonderful looking home bar. Combine these ideas with your own ideas and creativity, to build a posh home bar that reflects your taste and personality. Cheers!

How to Build a Porch Roof

Roof porch can be an addition which along with giving protection, can also enhance the look of your house. While building a porch roof, make sure that the material and its color gels well with the look of the house. Porch adds a lot to our comfort zone.

The materials you will require are blueprint, lumber, roofing materials, concrete and nails. Before you start, check if this addition will suit your house and think if it can make a useful addition to your house. If there are some weak spots in your house, then it is not a good idea to build it. Hence, make sure that your house is strong enough to carry the weight of the porch. Before you begin the actual process, obstacles like a hanging tree limb, telephone poles or power lines, then they should be removed.

Now, the next step is to draw a blueprint to simplify the work. You can either refer an architect or a drawing professional for drawing the blueprint. If you are planning to run power to your porch, then make sure that in the electrical outlets are included. The porch should match the roof in pitch and shape.

Check if the level of porch is even. If it is not in level and you want to raise it, then you have to raise it and fill the gaps with concrete. If the porch is going to be on a concrete slab which is not leveled, then you will have to compensate for it by manipulating the length of support poles.

The next step is to lay out the support posts which can be round or square-shaped. These posts will hold up the roof. If the porch is the raised deck, then the posts should be placed above support posts which will make the roof supports extensions to the lower deck supports. The number of roof posts should be same as that of the deck supports. Secure the posts to the deck with the help of bracing materials. Purchase an appropriate size which is available at any lumber shop. The support posts should be vertically plumb.

Now, you can install the top plate. Attach the top plate to the posts which in turn will form a box-like shape. Then, attach the rafters to this box shape. If you want, you can also opt for double-plated top plate. Make sure that all plates are thoroughly cleaned and are sanded well. The board should be placed correctly on the posts. Splices and joints should be over the support posts and should be secured with lag bolts.

The next step is to install the rafters. As drawn in the blueprint, mark the locations of the rafters. After you have marked the points, cut the rafter. While doing this, make sure that you leave enough space for the overhang. For securing the rafters, use metal connectors.

Now, cover the roof with a plywood. The last and the final step is to shingle the roof. After you install shingles, take care that you clean it as well.

This was all about how to build a porch roof. This can add an extra protection factor to your house and also to the members of your family.