Posts Tagged ‘outdoor space’
2010 Home Design Trends and You
I have to say I am really looking forward to 2010 when it comes to home design. I just finished reading a great article about the new 2010 trends over at Cyberhomes.com and I agree completely that the 5 design trends they list are going to be must haves for most home buyers and something that everyone is going to think they need to have done to their home to make it perfect.
What they are saying is that green and small will be in. Gone are the days of extravagant homes and way too much space. Open floor plans will still be a must and more people will want home offices as more people will be working from home. Now one thing I do agree, but at the same time do not agree with is the outdoor space idea, yes I’m sure in sunny warm climates outdoor space will continue to be a big deal and everyone is going to want outdoor kitchens and a pool. In the colder areas of the world outdoor space means nothing as you can really only use it for about 4 months, then you have to pack it up and clean up the mess. This is why I want to move to a warmer climate, I want to be outside, but it just won’t work where I live.
What about you, do you think these are the hot 2010 home design trends or is there something else your going to look for in your must have home?
Spring Will Come Plan Your New Deck Now
One thing I love about winter is that you can spend a ton of time planning your spring and summer projects. It doesn’t have to be anything too crazy you could plan out a garden, a new tool shed or you can go a little crazy and add on a new deck.
Decks are a great way to improve the value and usability of your home. If you don’t have a deck you may really want to look into getting one as it really does help turn the outdoor space you have into an outdoor room. I love our deck, even though it is very small it’s still nice to go out there in the summer and watch the scenery. The kids play in the yard and the birds hang out near the pond and life just seems to move a little slower.
You don’t have to add on a huge deck but you do want to make sure the deck is a good size for what you plan on doing out there. Here is a short list of things you should think about when designing and building a deck.
How often do you plan on using it
Will you have a table, chairs and a grill on the deck
What areas of the yard do you want to see
What areas do you not want to see
How many people will be using the deck on a regular bases
Do you entertain a lot
How high do you want or need the deck railing
After you ask these questions its time to take a look at the type of deck you want. I love the new stain resistant decking materials as they look amazing and they stay in good shape for a long time. They tend to look better then real wood decking mostly because it’s a smoother service. If you like the more rustic look of real wood, go for it, but remember you will be doing some maintenance on it to keep it looking good. With some of the new types of decking products you won’t have as much to worry about as these products can be scratch, stain and wear resistant. It’s a great time to do some research into new deck products and I encourage you to check them out anywhere you can. Having a deck can really change how you feel about your home.
Move Outdoors
One way to improve the value of your home both monetarily and for yourself is to improve the 
outdoor space and make it useful. Creating outdoor living spaces has become a big business it is second only to kitchen redesigns. In fact many outdoor areas now include a kitchen set up so that you can cook, entertain and enjoy your outdoor space.
Adding a kitchen to the outdoor space is probably the best way to add value to your home. If you live in a warm climate it will really help the value. If your in a colder climate I would still recommend putting in a kitchen area, but maybe one that is smaller and located under an overhang area. You also may want to add a pizza oven or bar area to complete the feel. I suggest using stone or treated wood for your counter area as it will hold up well against the elements.
You also will want to invest in landscaping. If you don’t have much money I would suggest checking out a local technology center or collage that offers landscaping classes, these student need real world experience and you 
may be able to get the job done for a lot less.
Many people also think that adding a pool will help increase the value of their home, it does depend on the area you are in and if most of your neighbors have pools then go ahead, have fun and enjoy cooling off.
If you need some design ideas for your outdoor space check out these outdoor spaces.
Warm Your Nights With A Table Top Fire Pit
One thing to me that always completes an outdoor space is a fire pit, but many places do not allow burning so your really very limited as to what you can do. That is where a really cool table top fire pit may come in handy. I just bought one and I think they really are a great investment. I got my locally, but you can find the one I have pictured on Amazon.com. It’s $82.97 and really is a great investment if you spend a lot of time outside and can’t have a fire.
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