Trends in Modern Landscape Design

Landscaped Yard

Landscaping designs have changed over the years.  Classic designs are not abandoned but instead merged with current design.  Landscaping is like other fashion trends.  They usually first appear on the west coast and will eventually make it to the east.  Folks in New Jersey will get the new trends a little later than the Californians.  You can tweak your existing landscapes with some new features to give a completely new look.  The price of doing it this way is minimal as opposed to replacing everything.

Tips for Remodeling a Historic Home

Historical Home’s Slate Roof

To remodel a historic home, you have to be extremely dedicated to this project and be interested in the history behind the home and the time era it was built and maintained.  Research other homes of that era.  This will take research on the internet or by talking to historians.  It’s not like you can take a drive and look at homes built within the past 20 years.  If your house is historic, chances are there are other ones in the neighborhood that are very close to yours.  After all, the people that bought the other historic home have the same goal as you do………to preserve and restore.  That being said, talk to your neighbors and share ideas. 

Home Interior

 Get to know what makes the home unique in terms of architecture, materials used, and design of construction. Be realistic about the costs you will incur.  If it truly is historic, chances are that many of the crucial necessities to live in it may be damaged or not work at all.  Assess heating, plumbing and electrical first, since these are likely to be outdated and costly to replace.  Updating the electrical wiring and HVAC are 2 items that will certainly require attention to your budget.  You will need to install wiring that meets current building code.  Best to get a license electrician in Atlanta to perform this job.  To get to your wiring you will have to take down the walls to the studs or lath.  Be mindful of the walls you are taking down as you want to make them look as close to what they originally looked like. Do your best not to use drywall.  If you must, use wall board and consider adding a texture to it simulating the old surface.

One of the most unique characteristics of a historic home is its woodwork.  The moldings and staircases were beautiful pieces of art in the older homes.  This is truly the signature of a skilled carpenter.  Try to find a cost effective way to get the woodwork looking as close as possible to the original design.  It will be very costly to have a woodworker create an exact replica of the wood designs used during that time period so use current wood moldings in a way that are reflective of the ones used at that time. 

Home Exterior

When new homes are built, it’s planned by an architect and a builder at the same time.  That part hasn’t changed whether it is new or ones from 100 years ago.  When restoring your old home, everything should remain to scale the way it was originally built.

When looking to replace a slate roof, do some research on the expected longevity of the tile used on the roof?   Do regular maintenance.  Maintenance in this case would be close visual inspections.  Since you DO NOT want to climb on the roof, you may want to use a pair of binoculars to get that close up look.  If you see signs of deterioration or broken slates, get in touch with a roofer who specializes in slate roofs.  Get multiple quotes and inspections.  Shop around for a slate restorer.  Some will be cheaper than others.  Ask your neighbors how they restored theirs and who they used. 

Try to re-use the old wooden windows.  You will probably have to replace the glass (which is an easy fix and not extremely expensive) but will not be able to find a new frame built with the same style as the wooden one.  Use the wooden frame as long as possible.  Only you can be the judge on when to replace them with ones built with new material.  If you have a window with leaded glass, check to make sure all the mosaic pieces are solid and held in place.  If one piece of glass comes loose the rest of the pieces may also shift making the window irreplaceable.

New Jersey’s Historic Preservation Office, located within the Department of Environmental Protection, brings expertise in a variety of fields essential to preserving historic resources.  You can contact them for rules and guidelines to follow in your preservation.

Prepare Your Home For Summer

Porch Setting

The hazy, hot, and humid summer will soon be upon us.  We need to change gears and be ready.  This is where storage space in your house is a premium feature.  If you don’t have the storage space in your home, there is usually a storage lease facility close to you.  They seem to have a huge client base.   You can design your storage so that your keep each seasons accessories in predetermined spots.  That is for the “ultra organizer”.

Create Extra Space in Your Home

Bathroom design

In today’s economic climate it can be less expensive to add room to an existing structure rather than buying a larger dwelling. While the real estate market is continuing its slow climb out of its slump, it can still be difficult to sell a home and buy another without getting in a financial bind. More homeowners are choosing to add more space to their house rather than moving. Home renovations that add square footage to a home can be a major investment but it can also add value to the home that will be evident at the next appraisal. There are several ways to add more room to your home.

Building on a Room

Adding an entire room to your house can be the best way to create more space. It will actually add to the square footage of the home as it is not just redistributing the available space but giving you some additional space to work with. One of the biggest pros about building on another room is that no part of the house has to be vacated while it is being constructed. It is also not hindered by existing structures. This will require that you hire a professional contractor in Atlanta who has construction experience.

Summer Home Remodeling Projects

Composite deck & Vinyl Rail

The warmer months are just around the corner and NJ homeowners are beginning to plan their home remodeling projects for the summer months. For many homeowners it is about making their home more efficient, more usable or to give it more functional. Others want to maximize indoor or outdoor spaces or install a pool or backyard deck. Many are already planning exactly what type of remodeling they want to do this summer while others are still looking for some good ideas. Here are some useful summer home remodeling projects that will maximize your outdoor space.

What is Modern Exterior Design?

Modern Exterior Design

The exterior portions of a home do not always get as much attention as the interior parts, but it is not any less important. There are many different design plans that can be used to develop the exterior of the NJ home. Modern exterior design is popular because of its space saving qualities. Modern design for the exterior of the home resembles modern interior design in that it uses geometric shapes and lines and takes the minimalist approach to developing the design. This type of home design will help bring in the right balance between aesthetic appearance and functionality. Exterior lighting and landscape designs will be complimentary of other design elements such as residential painting.

Tips for Backyard Landscape Design

Backyard Landscape Design

There are many different factors that must be considered when designing a backyard landscape. Most of the time, homeowners desire to change the overall look and feel of their home by changing their landscape design. Many times, a homeowner has entertaining in mind and wants a landscape design which makes it easier to serve and facilitate an evening with friends. It does not have to be a super involved task and in some cases, landscaping can be a do-it-yourself job. However, more intricate designs and those which require adding irrigation, waterscapes or hardscapes will require the help of a NJ landscaping professional. There are many different elements which must be considered when developing a backyard landscape design. Here are some tips for developing a landscape which can be enjoyed by everyone.

Designing a Backyard Pool

Backyard pool design

While the backyard swimming pool may be the centerpiece, it is not the only feature included. Designing a backyard pool will take planning and contemplation. Of course for most, the swimming pool will offer a social quality and it can offer the family hours of relaxation and fun. Prior to calling a Westchester swimming pool professional, there are three things to consider: the layout, location and types of materials to be used. These three features will determine how successful the installation will be. Landscaping should be considered while designing the pool instead of waiting until the pool is installed to try to figure it out. The swimming pool is a large part, the largest feature included in a backyard landscape design. To develop a functional backyard and pool all of the elements much be considered throughout the preparation and planning process.

Home Design Trends for 2013

Although there are not fast shifts in home décor, we do notice certain trends as they begin to occur. These are more of a slow move in one direction or another that happen over time, but not all at once. As last year came to a close we observed some aspects of home décor that were beginning to trend. Some decorating habits from last year will be long gone by the end of this year and many trends seem to hold on just a little while longer. Here are some of the main home design trends that we are likely to see continue throughout 2013.

What is Traditional Interior Design?

Traditional Interior Design

Many Hartford homeowners choose to go with a traditional interior design scheme when they remodel their homes. To get a good picture of this style of décor, think about the classic European style. This type of style incorporates elements such as deep wood tones, elegant furnishings and many architectural details. Traditional styles are very versatile and can be used in combination with other design elements to develop a very unique feel to a room. One of the distinct characteristics of the traditional interior design is the lines, or the silhouettes of the furnishings that are used. Tables with claw feet and wing backed chairs are typical. Some of the pieces used in this décor are of the Chippendale or Queen Anne styles. Many Hartford designers also integrate antiques into the style. And of course, there are newer pieces which mimic the style and lines commonly seen in antiques.