Home Design: June 2013

Plan For Your Home Improvement Projects

This is the reason why even though there are so many resources available in the market, only a few homeowners are actually able to appreciate the said offers. As a result, when the time comes that home improvements are already thought about, making changes may not be that easy to consider anymore.

Certainly, it is not new to many that that home improvement procedures are not that easy to handle especially if there are already major changes that needs to be done in the house. Considering that major changes are to be made, this would surely cost some money. For this particular matter, it is important to know that home improvement projects should then be planned first before anything could actually be done.

As a homeowner, you must know what you want from the place of stay that you are living in. Having your own house actually gives you the chance to create a sanctuary for your own and your family that would become the source of your refreshment and relaxation. Through having a home improvement project that specifically addresses your needs as the occupant of the house shall actually give you the finest results for better home living.

However, as noted earlier, projects for ambiance change is not that easy to prepare. Calculating the materials needed to be used and the amount of time needed to complete the tasks for developments that need to be addressed in the process is indeed an essential phase of the changes. After the preparation, you are then ready to begin the application of the prepared changes for the redecoration and rearrangement as well as re-maintaining of your house. But what if during the planning process, you found out that you do not have the right amount of money to proceed with the project of home improvement?

Naturally, some people get dismayed when they find out that their finances are not enough to support all the materials and the procedural needs of the DIY that they propose to be done. Thankfully, there are financial institutions now that are already able to provide home improvement loan to homeowners. Aside from being reasonably cheap, the said home improvement loan offers are directly designed to assist homeowners in creating the right kind of home ambiance that they are due with the efforts that they are putting forth at work everyday.

Should I Use An Interior Designer? Or Do It Myself?

Some people have a preconceived idea about interior designers. Some think "a designer is not for me" out of a sense of inverted snobbery. Others think that a designer will rack up huge expense and that they will end up with something that the designer likes rather than a home they want.

And for this reason most people will attempt to remodel or redecorate a room themselves, hence the booming DIY or Do-it-Yourself trade. Sadly the outcome is dull, ineffective, mundane or even worse.

Here are a dozen or so reasons why you should talk to an interior designer.

Cost

An interior designer can save you money. "No way", you say, "what about their fees?" It is true that many designers charge a (typically) 10-15% fee on the overall cost of a remodelling project. But it is only the total cost comparison that really matters.

* Designers usually have trade accounts and so can get materials and furnishings cheaper than you can

* A good interior designer will avoid serious style errors (e.g. badly mismatched fabrics, paints & furniture) which you would eventually regret and redo at additional cost.

* If your designer project manages as well as designs you will save valuable hours in your busy schedule. No need to take time off from work to manage tradesmen in your home or to await deliveries, or to give up valuable weekends or holiday, sacrificing your golf clubs for a paint brush.

Time

If you want to do your own decorating or remodelling, you need time, a lot of friends willing to volunteer their time, or you need to pay tradesmen to come in. If you do not want to live in a partly completed house for months (who honestly does?) then a quick job needs professional project management. To completely revamp or remodel a lounge, for example, you need to coordinate, painters, electricians, curtain makers & fitters, furniture makers or suppliers, carpet suppliers/fitters. And you will need someone to add the finishing touches to the room with pictures, lamps, artwork, plants and so on.

If you have the time and dedication to do this on your own you will have the satisfaction of having completed a project all by yourself, but time is often not as available as you might imagine. At Art from the Start we have seen far too many partly completed projects often years after they started; half finished bathrooms, lounges with wiring hanging out of walls, kitchen with old & ill fitting flooring and so on. These have all started with the initial enthusiasm of a typical DIY project but failed to reach a clear goal.

Quality

When you engage a professional interior designer you are buying into their experience and knowledge. Try asking them "How many homes have you worked on?" and then ask yourself the same question!

Any reputable designer will show you examples of work and provide you with customer testimonials. Ask for references, prior clients you can phone to get an honest opinion on your potential designer.

Most designers will be properly trained in their profession (not all, so that is a key question to ask before you hire) and therefore have a strong grasp on all aspects of design, decorating, furnishing etc. You might feel comfortable slapping on a few coats of paint or re-arranging the furniture but are you so sure about everything else?

If you need other trades such as electricians, plumbers, carpet fitters you will probably turn to Yellow Pages or Google. On the other hand your interior designer will be working with and managing these people on a regular basis and will have selected a good support team around them.

Style and Vision

Did you know that 9 out of 10 people cannot visualise a finished room design when all they can see is an empty shell of a room or an architect's plans? Fortunately people with this skill often become interior designers!

A good designer works with the client to help them visualise the final design and then works back from the goal to build the plan. A good designer will work with the client to help them unravel what they really want, even if they outwardly have never articulated their thoughts. Often the designer acts a mediator between couples who have distinctly different opinions about decor and who may have differing degrees of assertiveness.

By contrast most people undertaking DIY projects look at a room incrementally from the starting point, so perhaps taking one step at a time (dictated by available time & budget) without each being part of a coherent master plan. Not surprisingly the end result of a sequence of DIY projects and a project led by an interior designer are quite different

Yet another reason for hiring an interior designer instead of relying on Do-it-Yourself!

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Home Interior Design - Five Common Mistakes

Each time people think of home interior design, they will think of hiring an interior designer. Hiring a professional can be really expensive, but now you can easily turn your house into the home of your dreams on minimum budget. But in order to do that, you need to avoid these five common interior design mistakes:

1. Over furnishing a room

It is important that you measure the dimension of the room you want to furnish before buying any furniture pieces. People tend to buy furniture that is too big for the room, which will only make it feel stuffy and crowded. Try to limit the number of pieces in the room.

2. Hanging artwork too high on the wall

Do not hang paintings or portraits too high, they should be hung at approximately eye level. But of course, eye level is different for different people. The rule of thumb is to hang the artwork 66"-72" (165-180 cm) from the floor. If the artwork is big, you can hang it higher, but still around the midpoint of the wall. If there you want to hang a picture above a sofa, the bottom of the frame should be 6"-8" (15-20 cm) on top of the furniture piece.

3. Disorganization

People often keep things that they don't really use, and at times they just leave stuff lying everywhere around the room. Surely you don't want a room that looks messy or stuffy. Try to get rid of unwanted or unused items and store the things you want to keep in a box or other storage unit. You will be surprised at how spacious your room can be.

4. Quantity versus quality

When decorating your home interior, more stuff does not necessarily mean better. It is important to get only what you absolutely love, and avoid cheap art. It does not have to be overly expensive, but it has to be the best that you can afford. High quality artwork or furniture will last longer and has good resale value if you choose to sell it later on.

5. Insufficient lighting

People rarely pay attention to the lighting in a room and they tend to utilize only one overhead light source. You should utilize several light sources instead. They are not only intended for lighting purposes, but they can help create an atmosphere in a room as well. You can add some table lamps in your study for reading books or a chandelier in the living room for a luxurious ambience.

Three Home Improvement Tips To Increase the Value of Your Home

Every homeowner is interested in home improvement tips to increase the value of your home. If you wait to the last minute to make home improvements, like before selling your house, you may find it too expensive. Try and keep up with improvements.

Replace the Roof

The roof is a very important part of the overall value of your home. If you are looking to increase the value of your home, then you need to evaluate your roof. The first step is to find someone who knows something about roofs. Hopefully, you have a friend or family member who can help you. If not, you will need to hire someone to come and take a look at it.

The only downside to paying someone to come is that they stand to benefit if the roof needs replacing, so they may inclined to say it needs replacing when in fact there could be a few more years of life.

The bottom line is if you are trying to sell your home and the roof does need replacing, this will greatly decrease the amount you can sell your house for. Replacing a roof can be expensive. So if you do need to replace it, make sure you shop around and find a solution that will add the most value for the least cost. You want to get your investment back.

How Does The Roof Look?

Your roof may be fine and not in need of replacing. However, is it clean. A home with a clean roof will be easier to sell than one with a dirty moldy roof. It is part of the curb appeal. Is it cluttered with branches and leaves?

Cleaning a dirty roof can be a little dangerous. Depending on how high the roof is, you may be able to do a little bit of clean with an extended broom or garden hose. Otherwise, it would be wiser to hire someone to come and clean it for you. Look around and find the cheapest option.

While they are cleaning the roof, have them replace any sections of shingle that need it. You should have some left over from when the roof was installed. If not, purchase some at your local home improvement store.

When Was The Chimney Last Replaced

Maybe replacing the chimney won't add a whole lot of value to your home, but and old chimney may make a house difficult to sell. The chimney is also a safety issue, especially if it is still in use. Therefore, replacing the chimney can be an important home improvement decision.

Always remember to stay on top of your home improvement tasks, especially if you want to increase the value of your home. The improvements mentioned above a big ones, but they are very important, too. If you are looking for more ways to increase the value of your home, be sure to drop me a line.

Things You Should Consider On Interior Design

When you get a new house or apartment to dwell, or you just think about a project of redecorating your home, you might need an interior designer to help you create a good-looking and cozy place. He or she will do a favor for you in determining the right decorative accents for every room in your home. Also, you can share knowledge on this field with him or her. Here we have some points you should ask to your interior designer before you start the project to make sure you will get great result.

First thing you should ask is the agency's qualification or achievement. You need to know from what school he or she was graduated. Another thing, you can inquire about any professional affiliations he or she may have and for how long he or she has been working in this field. The more experience he or she has, the more you can trust the project on him or her.

Then you may ask for the portfolio on the works he or she has done for other clients. A professional interior design must own some online or printed portfolios that you can get them before you decide to hire anyone of them.

Another important point to consider is the work requirement whether you want to have the entire-home project or only one area or room. Some interior designers only accepts project to cover the entire home design. Hence, ensure that he or she meets your need. Avoid misunderstanding by having this discussion as the initial consultation.

Budget is also significant to consider. Ensure that the project fits your budget. Ask your interior designer to predict the expense. Speaking on budget, you need to ask for the payment before the work can begin. In addition, the length of the project is important to ask so that you can make proper adjustments. You may need to extend at least two weeks more than the deadline projected.

The next thing to consider is the contract. You can avoid misunderstanding by determining clear contract between you and the designer you want to hire. You may inquire anything you think you are not clear to him or her. You can ask for the clarification. For the construction crew, you can have a deal with your interior designer, whether you hire your own crew or let him or her use their own contractors for the project.

Importance of Good Home Improvement Contractors For Your Home Improvement

Good Home improvement contractors are very important for your home improvement project. Without them, you cannot alone bring into existence all your ideas that you have planned for your home improvement plan. However, there are some easy home improvements that you can handle alone. But when you talk about big home improvement projects, you are indirectly talking about home improvement contractor.

They are important because they are professionally trained for home improvement projects. Plus, they are into business and they know more than you do and think of. Whether you are planning a kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling or repairs on a big scale, you should get help from a professional home improvement contractor. On the other hand, if you plan to redecorate your home with a low budget and cost effective measures, you can do it yourself.

Big projects need bigger planning as well as understanding of the entire situation. It needs a lot of effort to complete a project with all the requirements. Home improvement contractors are licensed and also have financial assistance which they get from insurance companies. In case of a loss, mishap, thunder or any such unpredictable phenomena, good contractors have a safe side.

But do not select any home improvement contractor which does not qualify for your requirements; does not have a license and professional experience. Good contractors are those which help you save your time and money. In addition they also support your ideas just like you want them to be. One needs to think deeply before signing any contractor. Otherwise, results can be harmful.

The Secret of Great Home Interior Design Unveiled

Who among us would not like to return to a home that soothes our nerves at the end of a tiring day at work? Who among us would not like to get compliments from our guests about the decor of our homes when we invite them over for a party? And who among us would not love to live in a house that is easy to clean and decorate? Well the answer is obviously a resounding all of us! But creating such interiors is easier said than done.

One of the first things that you should know about home interior design is that untidiness is never alluring. Everyone knows that it is difficult to keep a place spick and span if one is living in it. However, the secret is to ensure that there are enough drawers and cabinets in the right places so that it is easy to find the household objects as and when required. More importantly it should be easy for the inhabitants to put away the items that they regularly use when they have finished with it. It may sound easy to design something like this, but actually it is quite a challenge. Therefore it may be good idea to allow professional interior designers to do this for you.

Another thing that invariably adds to the beauty of a living space is the amount of light in the space. The effects that can be achieved with natural and artificial light can transform a dingy apartment into a cheerful home. Achieving wonderful effects with lights is more than just having oversized windows or opting for fixtures with high-wattage lamps. The illumination system of a room should be coordinated with the colors of the walls, the size of the room, and the other furniture in the room. You will not be able to achieve something that provides the right kind of illumination and yet creates and outstanding effect unless you plan properly. Professionals who have formal training in this field are more likely to transform your house into an inviting place because a good of technical knowledge is required to understand what will look great and what will not.

Decorating a house is usually a daunting task because there are a large number of things that have to be taken into account to create the right look. You may contact a firm like the J Design Group because they can take care of everything from the design to the actual execution of the project.

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