Archive for November, 2007
Go Green With Your Roof
I am always on the lookout for new green design products. I found this wonderful roofing product while looking for alternative building materials for my class today. I had to share it with you as it’s really a cool product.
The product is called EcoStar and it’s a US based company that supplies sustainable tiles for your roof. The best part is that they also have a 50 year warranty. Check out there products page and take a look at what there different products look like. I have decided that I really want the house on the main product page, but thats not for this blog. I love the look of wood shingles, they just stand out and complete the look of the home.
Excerpt from website:
Seneca is engineered to meet the need
for a safe, durable alternative to wood
roofing while maintaining the look of
shake. Produced using some of today’s
strongest, most flexible recycled
materials, rubber (EPDM) and plastic
(TPO), Seneca emulates the exact look
of wood shake, yet is durable. Seneca
Shake is available in nine different
colors, offering unique architectural
opportunities.
I like the idea of these tiles as we all need to start looking at our effect on the environment and ways to recycle what we already use. I know this is something I’m going to recommend to my parents who are thinking of redoing the roof on a home they are going to be selling once the market is better. I think this would add a great value and selling point to the home. I’m sure they would also get there money back on this investment.
This site also has other types of tile, not just the wood looking kind. I loved there selection, I just wish they had one’s that looked like clay tiles. Those are my favorite and I want to use them on my own home if I can ever build it.
Fun things to buy for your home
Some of the best things you can buy for your home are for you. They are things that are fun, make you feel good or just plain look great in your home. Buying something you like not only makes you happy when you buy it, but can make you happy later on too.
Bedroom furniture is one of these things. If you get good sleep you are happier, right? A nice comfortable bed sounds good to most people. Of course you can always make it fun depending on the type of bed you buy. Children love bunk beds, even if there is just one child, get them a bed with a desk under it, or at least some sort of play space. They can use it as a cave or a castle. My niece loves her bunk bed because she can put all of her Barbie stuff under it.
Another thing to buy to add some fun to your home is Bar Furniture, this is mostly for the adults, but children love it too. Remember they can’t get into a real bar so to them having a bar at home is really cool. Make it like an ice cream shop and they will love you even more.
The last area that is always fun to buy stuff for in the dinning area, this time of year
Dining Room Furniture is a big seller, mostly because family’s grow and with the holidays here many people don’t have enough room for there family. Buying a new table and decorations to go on it is always fun for me.
What kind of home items do you like to buy?
Divide and Win with your Design
One of the big trends in home living is getting a loft apartment. usually these apartments are just one big space with nothing dividing the bedroom from the living room. This can be a problem if you have people over for the night, or you just like your privacy.
If you want to create a private area room dividers are a great way to go. There not the ugly things they use to be either. They actually look really nice, you can get fabric ones or bamboo. They even come with lights in them for a dramatic effect. There are many places to get good stylish room dividers. Just do a search on the Internet or click on any of the links in this post.
I also like to use room dividers to spruce up a black wall, put a nice divider between the wall and a sofa and see the dramatic change that happens. You will love it, I promise!
Walk Through Art
There are many different ways to collect good artwork for your home, you can go to a gallery and buy it right off the wall. You can go to an auction and bid for the item against other people or you can walk through art and find what you really are looking for.
What I mean by walking thorough art is that you participate in many of the art fairs and art walks around the country. The St. Augustine Artwalk is suppose to be a wonderful and huge event, my grandparents go there every year, which is why we are having an early Christmas. They want to get to Florida early so they can buy some nice things to send back to us.
This is a great way to find unique art that no one else will have, artist from around the world attend these types of events. There is an art fair where I use to live that is held every summer. I have met people from china and Europe who have the most amazing artwork you have ever seen. The St. Augustine First Friday Weekend Art Walk is a walk around the gallery’s of the town, they even provide a shuttle for you if you don’t want to walk. This is a unique idea as I have never seen anything like this before. The best part about it is it’s not a once a year thing, it’s done on the first weekend of every month. So if your in the area check out this event and you may come home with a treasure that you can show off to all of your friends and may even be the completing piece to that design you have been working on.
Buy the gift of good design
With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would give out a great list of places that you can get some great products for you home, many are not to expensive as I know many of us just don’t have the money to spend. I’ve even listed a few of my favorite items from each store for you, to help give you ideas.
Artful Home- The regal bowl is beautiful and worth the money, and take a look at the Hubbardtion Forge metal sconce.
Canvas on Demand- This is one of my favorite gift sites, you can turn any photo into a work of art complete with framing.
Colorful Images- This site actually has much more then just home decor. They really have a little of everything, but it can all be personalized so I really wanted to share this with you.
Furniture.com- I can’t leave out a site called furniture.com can I? They have a great selection of all types of furniture. They also have articles to help you figure out just what type of furniture you or your friend would love.
The Paragon- This is the most beautiful Crystal poinsettia. Crystal is always a great gift, they have a wide selection of wonderful Crystal items. Right now they are also offering 20% off your order!
I hope you take a look at these sites, they have some great ideas for design and for gifts for your loved ones. Happy Holidays everyone!
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