Some Tips In Building A Green Home

Garden Design Ideas

If you are thinking of joining the advocacy of going green, what better way to do it than to start building a green home. You will need to follow certain environmental practices in building a green home – such as those that help lessen (negative) effects on the environment.

Some Tips In Building A Green Home
image source

First thing you need to consider is building materials. Building a environment friendly home would require materials that are eco-friendly and compliant with the current standards in constructing green homes. You may browse the internet for details regarding the compliances and product info to help you where to get and how to use them. If you have a contractor in mind, make sure that the company offers services specifically for building a green home.

It is imperative to prioritize sustainable materials such as those that can be recycled or natural materials that can be replenished due to their growth rate. Hardwood from large old trees should not be cut down and used, since they take years to grow and the earth beneath will also be affected when they are taken out. Using alternative wood such as bamboo is better since this specie can grow rapidly.

Lightweight concrete is a type of concrete that has been used in building a healthy home for years. However, this type of concrete is not as strong, but it can perform as well as traditional concrete and can hold up to any weather condition. It is often used as home insulation and it’s also capable of retarding fire.

Prefabricated panels for homes are also available and they can be ordered and purchased at reasonable amounts. Generally, they are similarly priced to regular building materials that are used for a typical home. And they must also get approval from organizations that monitor environmental compliances.

In …

Continue reading

Home Style Teaching – A Handbook For Both Parents And Teachers – A Book Review

Signature Homestyles

In the field of education as it is seen today, there can be a tendency to view it as an ‘us versus them’ mentality when it comes to who is more responsible for the children’s education. On one side of the line are the parents; on the other side are the teachers.

Home Style Teaching - A Handbook For Both Parents and Teachers - A Book Review

image source

From a purely academic standpoint, the teaching profession believes it to be eminently qualified as the best avenue to a child getting a proper education as society deems acceptable. From a practical position, parents feel the need to have great sway regarding their children as to what curriculum is presented that best suits their children’s educational needs.

Into the middle of this situation come Raymond and Dorothy Moore. Known around the world as fully qualified within the academic field, they have also taken up the cause of the parent’s right to determine what is best for their children. From this position we find an excellent book that addresses both viewpoints titled “Home Style Teaching”.

“Home Style Teaching” is more than just another book written that positions itself as to what is best for the child from the parental point of view. It also takes the side of the teachers, understanding why they are so passionate about their perspective when it comes to the education of the child. “Home Style Teaching” is a great resource for teachers and parents alike as it determines to quench the differences between the two camps and accentuate the positives that each has to offer.

Here is an excerpt from “Home Style Teaching” authors Raymond and Dorothy Moore, describing their own reason for writing this book in the first place:

“Home Style Teaching is a simplified, research-based handbook designed for both parents and professional teachers and for student teachers who are worried …

Continue reading

Design Styles – Shabby Chic

Architectural Styles

For those whose homes were in need of a little tender loving care, shabby chic was the design style from heaven. Starting in the UK in the 1980s and spreading around the world, the style was pounced on by those who were looking for an alternative to minimalist white boxes. All of a sudden old furniture and scrubbed walls were in and we couldn’t get enough of it.

Design Styles - Shabby Chic

image source

Unfortunately for those of us with decaying run down homes, the designers quickly pointed out that this new interior decorating craze had to be a fusion of shabby and chic and that mere shabby just wouldn’t do. There was a certain irony in this as the inspiration for the design came from the grand old houses of the aristocracy where items such as chintz chairs were expected not just to last for a lifetime but for several generations. In these homes faded materials and patches were signs of thrift and tradition.

The earliest shabby chic style was rather grand in manner, using large pieces of furniture to make a statement. Nowadays it has transformed, becoming softer and more feminine but still aiming to tell a history of the property or piece.

When decorating your home in this style the easiest place to start, particularly in an older home, is with the walls. Often you will find that they have had a succession of paints or papers. Carefully peeling layers of these back allows you to expose the history of the house and the changing styles that it has experienced. However, this layer peeling should be done by an interior designer or someone with an artistic touch. Mere ripping of paper can just leave your home looking like a building site.

Often the wall layer will provide the inspiration for the …

Continue reading

Designing With Modern Flair

Modern Style Homes

Do you love clean lines and simplicity in your home? If you do, then decorating with a modern look is probably what you will want to incorporate. Using great organizational tools, neutral colors, and clean lines, are all ways to help you achieve this look. Below are a few tips to help you get started.

Designing With Modern Flair

image source

If you have ever seen homes that are decorated with a modern flair, you will notice that the spaces are generally very open and clutter free. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything in your home, but you will need to find ways and spaces where you can put it all away. For example, having a basket in each room in an inconspicuous spot, where you put all of your excess items each day, can be a great way of keeping your modern house looking clutter free. Another great thing is to design your home with a lot of cabinets in it. If your home is already built, adding great wall cabinet displays can really help you achieve this look.

If you are going for the modern look, then using clean, neutral colors will definitely help to get you there. Using a lot of lighter colors will really help you to open up the space. White walls with black picture frames can easily be a striking display in your rooms. Using white walls, cabinets, and countertops in your kitchen will help you to maintain a clean lined, open look to the space. You can add splashes of color through your favorite artwork or in the place settings on your dining room table. This will keep everything very simplistic and help you to not make your use of color too overwhelming. A dramatic art piece, which is very colorful, will help you to …

Continue reading

The Right Style And Color For Your Home

Home Design Ideas

When looking around for a home to buy, it is normal to feel perplexed due to the many available choices that you have. There are wide choices from the several styles of housing that you can find on property listings.

The Right Style And Color For Your Home

image source

Nevertheless, try to focus on the major kinds to avoid confusing yourself with so many different options. You can choose from bungalow, high-rise condominium units, colonial homes, townhouses and luxury homes.

Bungalows are the most popular choice among many homebuyers. It is a compact house with two or more smaller rooms with a basement or an attic. It looks elegant and chic and is a wonderful option if you desire a high level of privacy in a single story home.

Condominiums are increasing in popularity primarily due to its convenience and less maintenance required. This is your best choice if you cannot afford to purchase a piece of lot along with your home purchase.

Town homes are distinct from condos because you will not only own the unit but the land as well. This is more costly compared to a condo unit. This is perfect for you if you prefer to get more control on your home.

The most expensive kind of property is a luxury home. It has a wide space and has very urbane design that is preferred by those living in high-end neighborhoods. If you have enough money, you can opt for this housing style and enjoy your luxury home to the max.

As soon as you have chosen a housing style that will best suit your needs as well as the whole family, you should be able to choose the right color for both your exterior and interior paint jobs.

In choosing the right color for your home, keep in mind that your preferences …

Continue reading