6 Lessons From Bathrooms in Scale

How we mix objects of different dimensions, masses, proportions and patterns — in other words, how we work with scale — is still a big part of good design. Architects and designers use scale to make balance and interest, and taking it into account leads to good design in the tiniest rooms of a home. To find out what I mean, take a look at the lessons in scale out of those six baths.

Dick Clark + Associates

1. Use comparable shapes in different sizes. Using similar shapes — rectangles and squares or circles and hexagons, such as — in different sizes can add interest and subtly draw the eye around the space.

Unlike most baths, where rectangular and square tiles have an important presence, this bath has round elements — hexagonal tiles, round mirrors and round floor mats — which make an environment that is both fun and minimalist.

The white hexagonal tiles on the walls, floors and bathroom vanity create the space feel large and bright.

LeichtUSA

2. Play with one main material. Selecting one main material on your toilet’s palette will help harmonize the elements, creating a visual flow that is easy on the eyes.

Here is a clear example of how using one main material generates a calm feeling. The large 12-by-24 tile lessens the amount of grout lines, adding to the toilet’s expansive feel. Along with the simplicity of one substance makes it possible for the art in the area — the silver steer head — to have an actual presence.

Panageries

3. Vary shapes and the sizes of furnishings and materials. Transitioning between dimensions of furniture and materials connects various areas of the space in another way.

There are lots of good examples of scale in this timeless toilet. There’s a wonderful transition from scale from floor to ceiling, with the little basket weave tiles onto the floor, the medium subway tiles for the wainscoting and the massive drywall that leads to the ceiling.

The leaded window design relates in pattern and proportion to the basket weave floor tile. And because the ceilings are quite high, I really like this tall wooden chest next to the cast iron tub. It helps connect the space from floor to ceiling.

Copper Brook

4. Create collections. Using grouped objects at precisely the same scale adds variety and rhythm to layouts. Do not overlook the connection between wall sconces and the vanity in the bathroom.

Because this vanity’s mirror is as broad as the vanity, the lighting over the mirror needed to span the same width. Instead of adding one large flat light fixture, this designer utilized a collection of three sconces over the mirror, creating a wonderful rhythm and tapping into the power of three.

Northworks Architects and Planners

5. When working with one substance, use it in different sizes. The floor and window-wall planks in this wonderful barn bathroom are one size, the vanity-wall planks are thinner, as well as the ceiling planks between the rafters are nevertheless another size.

Employing the same substance in a variety of sizes — one way of working with scale — made this toilet simply beautiful.

Alair Homes Forest Hill

6. Use varying shapes. On occasion the use of the same shape can create harmony in a place, and sometimes the usage of different shapes can create a comparison is effective.

In this creative bathroom, little white floor tiles contrast well with 4-by-4 glistening black ceramic wall tiles. The black and white palette allows the wall mural to create its announcement.

Are you playing with scale recently? We would really like to find out what you’ve done.

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How to Produce Your Oceanfront Garden Thrive

Beachfront living is tough if you are a plant. Salt spray, searing sun, erosion, drought and hurricane-force winds exclude all but the toughest plants from coastal gardens, but luckily they are also some of the most spectacular.

If you reside in a warm climate, however, your favorite landlubbing plants are having difficulty getting their sea legs, follow these suggestions for a resilient and undemanding beachfront getaway.

Blakely and Associates Landscape Architects, Inc..

Use native plants. The best guideline for gardening on the beach is to use plants which belong there in the first location. If you are unsure of exactly what natives will flourish on your beach, like a walk in the closest beachfront nature preserve (Florida, for instance, has several excellent state- and – city-run parks) and shoot some pictures to demonstrate the staff at your garden centre.

Native coastal plants really are an asset to your property because they stabilize the dunes by growing right up into the high-tide lineup and holding the sand in place with their specialized roots and stems. The sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera, zones 9b into 11) and beach sunflowers (Helianthus debilis, zones 8a into 11) in this picture can be viewed growing all the way to the border of the dunes here in Florida, surviving drought, baking sun and copious quantities of saltwater — not to mention hurricanes! Of course, the word”indigenous” is relative depending on where you reside, so learn what beachside plants are native to your area before planting.

Donna Lynn – Landscape Designer

Pick salt-tolerant plants. Salt spray introduces the largest challenge to people seeking to create a beachside backyard, as many plants become burnt or killed by salty breezes. Worse yet, tropical and subtropical storms occasionally inundate gardens using a dangerous storm surge of pure saltwater. Native plants are the top candidates for the area closest to the water’s edge, but past that there are vibrant and architectural exotic plants which will also flourish.

The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis, zones 9 to 11) shown here is among the better vines for beachfront plantings, due to the flamboyant, vibrant colors and fantastic resistance to salt, drought and winds.

Shrubs such as this dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis ‘Little John’, zones 8b into 11) are essential for beachside gardens, because they diffuse salty winds, protecting plants and making the backyard more livable.
Some plants can take more salt than others, so plant the toughest ones closest to the shore and also plant the more sensitive ones in the shelter of a building, dunes or tall shrubs. Some of the most tolerant options include sun mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa, zones 8 to 11), spider lily (Hymenocallis latifolia, zones 9 to 11), natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa, zones 9b into 11) and also firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis, zones 9 to 11).

Raymond Jungles, Inc..

Utilize local materials. Using locally sourced landscaping substances isn’t only environmentally friendly, but it will help save you money and seem far more natural. Why work against your landscape, especially when so many excellent stuff are right under your nose? This Florida Keys landscape design by Raymond Jungles is an superb case; crushed limestone creates a permeable and striking walkway which glows in the moonlight.

Native stone can also be used to create stone pavers, statuary and stucco. Coquina stones, for instance, are made up of the remains of tiny coquina clamshells and have been used in northeastern Florida as both stone cubes and an element of a stucco known as tabby. In Pacific coast areas, volcanic stone such as basalt are a useful and workable addition to gardens.

Native plants are helpful even in their afterlife, lending regional flavor via hardwoods for building, palm fronds for thatching and needles and leaves for mulching.

Donna Lynn – Landscape Designer

Create drama. Coastal gardeners may get a smaller selection of plants than many anglers, but there continue to be so many opportunities for effect. This drought-tolerantcabbage tree (Cordyline australis, zones 8b into 11) becomes a focal point amid the simplified shapes and muted colors of dwarf pittosporum (Pittosporum crassifolium‘Compactum’, zones 8 to 11) and foxtail agave (Agave attenuata, zones 10 to 11).

Naturally occuring beach landscapes are visually pleasing because they contain only the few plants which can manage the rough beachfront states, producing the look of a well-tended and salt-pruned backyard. Have a page from Mother Nature’s plant and book masses of proven and beautiful plants. Alternate fine-foliaged (small-leaved) plants with class (large-leaved) ones to keep the scene intriguing, and arrange them in naturalistic curving swaths to mimic the beach and surrounding landscape.

Debora carl landscape layout

Use drought-tolerant plants. It is highly likely that your coastal land is mostly sand, so forgo thirsty turfgasses and finicky plants whenever possible and also opt for a water-wise alternate. This planting of century plant (Agave americana, zones 7 to 10), blue fescue (Festuca glauca, zones 4 to 8), kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos‘Red Cross’, zones 9 to 11) and crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii, zones 9b into 11) is cohesively vibrant and thrives on neglect.

Susan Cohen Associates, Inc..

Enjoy! Now that you’ve taken the steps to create a booming oceanfront backyard, it would be a pity to let it go to waste. With a durable teak deck, sturdy iron furnishings and weather-resistant cloths, this outdoor area with a perspective by Susan Cohen Associates reveals beachfront living at its finest.

Your turn: What plants and hints do you recommend for a beachfront backyard?

More about coastal backyard layout

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Fantastic Design Plant: Towering Colewort Adds Playful Drama

Imagine baby’s breath (Gypsophila spp) on steroids; that’s colewort. The oversize foliage and towering inflorescence evoke a fun feeling of the tropics for gardeners in colder, drier climes. Colewort, also referred to as giant crambe, is a plant having enough physical existence in the backyard to serve as a focal point and also anchor a varied planting strategy.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Botanical name: Crambe cordifolia
Common names: Colewort, giant crambe
Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 levels (USDA climate zones 5 to 8; locate your zone); does not tolerate hot, humid climates
Elevation range: Up to 7,000 feet
Water necessity: Moderate
Light requirement: Total sun
Mature size: 4 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide
Benefits: Colewort supplies that piece of supersize fun every garden needs and produces a solid contrast to more finely textured plants.
Seasonal curiosity: Flowers June to July; showy foliage spring to fall
When to plant: Spring to fall

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Distinguishing attributes. The large foliage clump — with leaves around ten inches long — resembles that of rhubarb. Countless small white flowers form a dense, cloud-like inflorescence on sturdy stalks around 7 feet tall.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

How to utilize it. Colewort functions best as a single accent specimen in the backyard, instead of scattered here and there.

Use it using classic June bloomers like peony (Paeonia spp), Oriental poppy (Papaver oriental), iris (Iris spp) and roses (Rosa spp). Plants using silvery-blue or grey foliage — like Powis Castle blossom (Artemisia), blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) and rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) — are amazing companions, too.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Planting notes. Colewort prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Moderate average and water, well-drained garden dirt are perfect. Although colewort has a bulky, imposing root system, I’ve been successful transplanting it in early spring, just as the leaves begin to emerge.

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See Your House

Lighting is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to alter the appearance of a room. Appropriate lighting can highlight an area’s assets and help disguise its own shortcomings, boost function and set a mood.

Good lighting and bright light are not the same thing. An area that’s well lit provides illumination at varying degrees. The combination of shadow and light helps sculpt the room and makes the space more atmospheric and interesting.

To Take Advantage of the light in your home, just follow a few basic rules:

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Contemplate Function

Before light a space, consider how you utilize the space. Will the space get most of its use in the day or in the day? What activities occur there, and in what places?

Pinney Designs

If you plan on using the space for studying, for instance, you’ll want to supply lamps with each reading location. If the room is used for TV viewing, you’ll want overall illumination that can be adjusted to various configurations, with light sources that will not reflect on the TV display.

Where to Set Your wellbeing TV

Webber + Studio, Architects

If the room is used for tasks, flow, or by the elderly, you’re want lighting that’s uniform and bright. If the space is utilized mostly for relaxation, turn down the wattage and turn up the atmosphere.

Tom Stringer Design Partners

Consider Decor

Next, consider the room’s style. If the decor is modern, consider fewer lamps and much more built-in lighting, such as overhead cans. If the design is more traditional, lamps, pendant lighting and sconces can offer illumination and enhance the look you are trying to produce.

McCroskey Interiors

The Three Principle Types of Lighting

Ambient light: Lighting that provides overall illumination for a space. Ambient light can come from a ceiling fixture, recessed cans, torchieres or sconces.

The light should illuminate the space fairly evenly and be bright enough for vacuuming or other mundane tasks.

Tip: in case you don’t need to install recessed lights or sconces, another choice is to have an electrician hook up a wall switch connected to one or a couple of the room’s outlets, so that if you flip the switch several lamps come on simultaneously.

Lisa Wolfe Design, Ltd

To ascertain the total amount of ambient light you are going to want, a fantastic rule of thumb is to multiply the room’s dimensions to acquire a total square footage, then multiply that number by 1.5. That will provide you the total number of horsepower required.

Instance: A 10-by-12-foot room totals 120 square feet. 120 x 1.5 = 180, so you’ll need 180 watts of surrounding light.

Whatever you do, don’t stop at ambient light. There is nothing drearier than a bedroom, for instance, with one overhead fixture — it’s flat and unflattering, and doesn’t offer adequate illumination for anything but the simplest tasks.

Brad Ford ID

Task light: Lighting that illuminates areas for activities such as reading or cooking. It most often comes from a lamp or hanging fixture.

Task lighting should throw a pool of light that’s at least twice the room’s ambient light, and should normally be put in front of the individual doing the job, to stop his or her body from casting a shadow over the work surface.

Jancy Ervin Interiors

For reading, the light source ought to be located beside the individual.

A three-way bulb that tops out at 150 watts is ideal. If that’s not feasible, look for a fixture that can adapt a 100-watt bulb or 2 60-watt bulbs. The bottom of the shade should be at eye level to prevent glare.

Zack|de Vito Architecture + Construction

Accent light: Lighting that highlights specific attributes in a space, including an architectural component or a work of art. It is usually produced by monitor lights, a directional recessed can or a spotlight. Accent light is the frosting on the cake — it’s not as crucial as the other two, but it adds a nice finishing touch.

Edwina Drummond Interiors

Emphasize a painting by setting a wall-mounted”art” light above it, or spotlight a decorative mantel with a monitor light or directional can light. Showcase the texture of a masonry wall by installing recessed wall tops above it, or put an uplight behind a plant to accentuate its cast or form pleasing shadows.

L K DeFrances & Associates

Ideally, each room should incorporate all three types of light, although you are usually fine with only ambient and task lighting.

Lumens

Skylark Incandescent Light Dimmer by Lutron – $22.80

Dim and Dimmer

The”people” spaces in your house should have at least 2 light levels: a bright one for parties or tasks, and a dimmer one for relaxing or much more subdued parties. You can achieve that variety by changing the lights you turn on, or with dimmers.

A wall dimmer (rheostat) costs less than $20, and the benefits will far exceed the price, permitting you to adjust built-in lighting to set a mood and even save electricity and bulbs. If your lamps don’t have dimmers on these, you can add you to the electrical cord for only a couple of dollars.

Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Location, Location, Location

Hang chandeliers about 30 inches above dining tables for optimum visual comfort. Install wall sconces 51/2 feet above the finished floor or 15-18 inches above a mantel.

Birdseye Design

Wall-mounted lights flanking a bed ought to be put 21 inches above the top of the mattress or 42 inches above the finished floor, given you’re using a typical 21-inch-high mattress. Set it 45 inches away from the ground with a 24-inch mattress, and 48 inches for a 27-inch mattress.

Need Help?

If light has you stumped, there are resources out there to help you. Architects, interior designerskitchen and bath designers can help with your illumination requirements. Lighting designers are specialists trained in the craft of light; they can be especially useful when dealing with new construction or a major remodel.

More: Find a light designer near you

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Go Tropical the Easy Way With Bromeliads

Step into the fascinating universe of bromeliads and become familiar with a family of tropical plants that can make a stunning centerpiece for the table or a sophisticated decorative announcement elsewhere.

Most bromeliads have dramatic, durable blooms, and some have brilliantly coloured foliage as well. These plants have been praised for their ability to easily adapt to the adverse growing conditions that exist in most offices and homes, due to the low light wants and drought tolerance. So it is no surprise that they have come to be a popular present.

To top it off, not only are bromeliads a beautiful and relatively durable alternative to a costly cut-flower arrangement, but they also release oxygen and eliminate toxins (following dark, like orchids and succulents), making them ideal in bedrooms or combined with additional day-purifying foliage houseplants for naturally-occurring toxin elimination.

Horst Architects

A single Vriesea bromeliad in blossom with its flat sword-like bract includes a subtle exotic fashion, which makes it the perfect companion to a sculptural red stool in the distance.

Although many bromeliads are epiphytic, meaning that they develop on branches and trunks of trees or on rocks in their native habitat, most could be grown in containers. Unsurprisingly, bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae, of which the pineapple is the most famous member.

Studio D – Danielle Wallinger

Here the number Aechmea weilbachii, that has a brilliant reddish stem with purple blooms, is a gorgeous complement to the delicate lavender mosaic tiles.

Bromeliad blooms can last from two to three weeks or longer, given ideal conditions. Bromeliads do not rebloom, but as a consolation, they will produce a small “puppy” plant in their foundation within two years of blooming, which can slowly grow to become the next generation.

Charles de Lisle’s Office

Once the bromeliad bloom dies, the plant itself can nevertheless be appreciated because of its long green leaves and rosette growth formation. A black kettle serves as a perfect foil for all these glowing green leaves and ties along a space with other black accents.

Prestige Builders

Bromeliads grouped together in an oblong container bring a timeless taste of the tropics for this streamlined architectural space. The Guzmania rana blooms found here closely resemble that of the ginger plant, therefore despite the plant South American origins, it actually looks very Asian and is a nice complement to this shoji-screen-inspired windows.

Whilst fascination with bromeliads appears to have risen lately, growing bromeliads turned into a hobby at the mid-1800s, often among those with a passion for raising orchids, as collectors couldn’t distinguish bromeliads in the desirable orchids in their natural habitat and mistakenly accumulated both.

ecopacheco

A jaw-dropping living wall of bromeliads is an aspiration for a serious collector. It is possible to do something like a much bigger scale, and even indoors, once you become well acquainted with the needs of this bromeliad species you’d like to feature.

In the meantime, consider combining different types and colors of bromeliads into a single widemouthed and very low pot to produce a stunning arrangement.

Philpotts Interiors

Placed to a side table in a long hallway, one bromeliad is perfectly paired with a sculptural eye pot that brings focus on the wealthy decorative components in its proximity.

Reynlds-Sebastiani Design Services

Bromeliads require only enough dirt to anchor their origins, which means you can make arrangements in odd containers that wouldn’t be suitable for additional soil-loving plants. You can even make a natural landscape look with an arrangement of stones, so that bromeliads appear to be growing between the cracks.

Alpha Design Group

A group of four bromeliad plants at one tapered container is well proportioned and an elegant addition to this neutral dining room. The brilliant red bromeliad blooms balance the red clouds at the painting like the eye dances between the painting and the headboard, creating a subtle sense of activity in an otherwise quiet space.

Grants Gardens

Outdoors, bromeliads are often planted in a bed of stones, a look you are definitely able to duplicate indoors with a large, very low planter. Here, the low-lying blossom of this Nidularium is particularly magnificent amid the apple-green leaves.

Westend Interiors

Get creative with bromeliads by combining them with other plants. This Aechmea bromeliad is along with the foxtail fern for striking results. Inside you can use any mixture of bromeliads effectively in the base of a tall tropical shrub of any type, remembering the different watering needs of every species.

The Aechmea is among the most resilient and longest lasting of bromeliads. The big, beautiful plant features a stunning light-pink bract that can last up to half a year, and also the mother plant and her offspring could be relatively easy to keep for several years.

How to Take Care of Your Bromeliad

Infection:
Bromeliads endure a wide range of temperatures, with an ideal range of 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 29 degrees Celsius).

Light: Bright, filtered or indirect sunlight is best, although the plants are usually tolerant of low-light ailments. Varieties with thick grayish leaves prefer bright light, while those with thin green leaves prefer lower light. The common houseplant varieties, Nidularium, Vrieseas and Guzmania are indigenous to the huge canopies of tropical rain forests and can survive in low-light ailments.

Water: The plants are extremely drought tolerant, though it’s best to keep the soil evenly moist or let it reach mostly dry between waterings. Do not overwater or permit the plant roots to stand in water. Tank-type bromeliads possess a natural reservoir that could hold water from the “cup” in the peak of the rosette or at the leaf axils in the base. To reduce stagnation and mineral salt buildup, should you supply water this way, flush those areas by pouring fresh water within the plant, inverting and filling again. If it seems hard, provide water through the dirt; your plant will not be quite as happy but will receive the water it needs. Water quality is important — use tap water to dirt watering, and rain, distilled or reverse-osmosis-filtered water for the tanks.

Soil: Nonalkaline, but most importantwell-draining, dirt is crucial to prevent root rot.

Feeding: Not necessary, though to speed the development of pups (see “propagation,” below), slow-release fertilizer is most efficient. A half-strength combination of liquid fertilizer can be put into the cup no more than once per month.

General: Blooms will last longest when the temperature is cool and light levels are low to moderate. Not all bromeliads grow well indoors, though many do. Beginners are advised to start with a mature and tolerant variety that is just beginning to blossom. After gaining experience, think about more difficult varieties and start propagating plants.

Propagation: Once flowering is complete, the mother plant will produce small puppy plants around the outer perimeter of its foundation. A bromeliad is a really slow-growing plant. The pups will take about six months to rise to about one-third the size of the mother plant. If the pups reach that dimension, separate them by the mother plant. Permit the young plants to grow for six more months, after that time they might be mature enough to blossom.

Other Factors

Air purification:
While most ordinary indoor plants purify the atmosphere during the daytime, bromeliads release oxygen and eliminate air pollutants during the night time. When combined with foliage plants, bromeliads can help supply indoor air purification round the clock.

Cautions: None. Bromeliads are considered to be nontoxic.

Native environment: South America, from Mexico to Brazil.

Great tip for bromeliad enthusiasts: Bromeliads could be made to blossom by exposing them to ethylene gas. Place your bromeliad in a transparent plastic bag with a ripe apple. Seal the bag nicely and do not open or remove the plant for 2 weeks. The apple will give the ethylene gas, and also the bromeliad should flower in two to four weeks.

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Fantastic Design Plant: Partridge Feather

Partridge feather have a special and lovely look that’s best enjoyed where it can be seen easily and often: near walkways, decks and patios. An evergreen subshrub having a woody base, partridge feather is the perfect accent plant for the water-wise backyard. Its soft texture belies its difficult character; partridge feather will probably be happiest in the hottest and sunniest spot you’ll be able to provide.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Botanical name: Tanacetum densum sp amani
Common title: Partridge feather
Origin: Southeastern Turkey
USDA zones: 4 to 9 (find your zone)
Elevation range: To 8,900 ft
Water necessity: moderate to low; does not withstand high humidity
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature dimension: 6 to 8 inches tall and 1 foot to 2 feet broad
Advantages and tolerances: Thrives in sunny, hot locations on little water
When to plant: Spring through autumn
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage; flowers in early summer

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Distinguishing attributes. Finely cut, silvery-white leaves are soft to the touch and evergreen. Yellow flowers attract butterflies.

High Country Gardens

The best way to utilize it. Partridge feather makes a superb accent plant in rock gardens, where it enjoys the good drainage. In the water-wise backyard, it’s compatible with ornamental grasses and colorful perennials, such as purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata,zones 4 to 9), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9), hyssop (Agastache spp, zones 5 to 10) and hummingbird flower (Zauschneria spp, zones 5 to 9).

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Blend partridge feather along with different evergreens, such as juniper, ephedra and artemesia (shown here) for a backyard filled with winter interest.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Planting notes. Partridge feather should have well-drained dirt and will withstand lean — even sandy — dirt. Full sun is preferred.

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Foursquare Architecture

The foursquare residence, also referred to as the American foursquare or Prairie box, has a bulky and aerodynamic layout comprising four squares. The rooms are laid out in a set of four squares on the two floors. The reverse of elaborate Victorian layout, these basic structures can be bought from a mail-order catalog with some minor customizations. These traditional houses, now preserved because of their historic importance, were considered”modern” design in their heyday.

Beaconstreet Builders, Inc..

The American foursquare: composed of 2 and a half stories, wide eaves, a hipped roof, a front porch and a dormer at the center.

Elise Moore Design

A porch across the first floor is a frequent characteristic of of foursquare houses. Other details, like craftsman-made built-in closets or Queen Anne trimming, were utilized as well, but mostly foursquares do not have ornamentation.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc..

With four bedrooms on the first floor and four bedrooms on the second floor, the floor plan of foursquares is optimized to utilize every inch.The upper and lower chambers are linked with a central staircase and an entry hall.

AIA, bud Dietrich

Frank Lloyd Wright invented prairie-style structure and has been the inspiration for its foursquare. The low-pitched hip roof has been considered modern design at the moment, and its usage in the foursquare is the reason it was given the nickname”Prairie box”

First Lamp

Foursquares are readily recognized with their boxy appearance; they are symmetrical and incredibly linear.

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Foursquares were easy to build and were available through mail order catalogs from many makers, like Sears and Montgomery Ward.

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Ranch House Extensions Suit an Atlanta Family

While shopping for a new residence with remodeling programs in mind, bring your builder home hunting with you personally if you can. Architect Frances Zook checked her out clients’ top real estate options together to see which one had the best possibility to eventually become their perfect home.

Zook, of Clark and Zook Architects, watched plenty of chances in a typical suburban ranch home. The clients love fun, and there was room to make a large, open kitchen and living room around the back. There was a walkout basement with a bedroom for their eldest child, a high school junior. They scooped it up, and she put the remodeling strategies together.

The springs included altering the front facade, turning the carport into a two-car garage, extending the back of the home and opening it to the landscape, creating a new master suite and including a screened-in porch.

at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two teenagers
Location: Atlanta
Size: 3,200 square feet on the first floor, 900 square feet on the basement level; 5 bedrooms

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

The first space was badly proportioned. Zook extended the home about ten feet out from the first footprint and created a new kitchen that opens into the family room. New doors and windows open the home to backyard perspectives.

Cabinets: habit, Jackson Cabinet Company

Zook & Clark Architects

“There was not really a fantastic space to float a kitchen table, so a built-in involving two openings was perfect,” Zook says. The feast’s tall back stands up into the high ceilings, and a pocket tucks out of the way. The homeowners like X-shaped particulars, which appear on the cabinet doors, trestle dining table and island.

Zook has been back into the home for a couple parties because the work was completed. “It is a real chance to have the ability to experience your work after a job is done and see that it is really working … you get emotionally attached to jobs, and frequently after the work is completed, you can’t get to see them,” she says. “My clients entertain a great deal, and this space functions really well during a celebration.”

Zook & Clark Architects

The old ceiling used to hang around as low as the bottom of the new coffers, which hide two large structural beams. The coffers fit the scale of this large, open room and make continuity between the kitchen space and the family room space.

All paint by Benjamin Moore. Walls: Creamy White; cupboards: Berkshire Beige; island: Texas Leather

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

The family room in the other end of the dining and kitchen area is its own cozy place for watching TV and enjoying a flame pit. A wall accented with boards and recessed markets with oak shelves anchors the space, and subtly distinguishes it from the kitchen.

Zook & Clark Architects

A vibrant barn doorway in Benjamin Moore’s Rhumba Orange conceals the laundry room.

That’s the household dog, Leo.

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

A screened-in porch supplies almost year-round living room, thanks to some wood-burning fireplace. “I had been here in December, and also with all the curtains closed and the flame going, it was really warm,” Zook says.

She placed a new master suite supporting the new garage. A soothing color palette, high ceilings and views into the backyard make it a calming retreat.

Duvet cover: DwellStudio

Zook & Clark Architects

The client fell in love with this St. James vanity from Restoration Hardware, so Zook made the master bathroom around it. The counter tops and backsplash are crema marfil marble.

Wall paint: Woodlawn Blue, Benjamin Moore; doorway paint: Urbane Bronze, Sherwin-Williams

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

The open doorway contributes to a separate toilet room. The shower is on the left, with convenient hooks for towels and robes on either side, and another doors result in closets.

Before Photo

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

BEFORE: The landscaping had some dangerous trees and cleaning up. Front door was far over on the right, and there was only a carport for home cars and other equipment.

Clark & Zook Architects, LLC

AFTER: Zook extended the roofline about 4 feet to cover a new front porch. “We added three sets of French doors throughout the front for equilibrium, and fresh measures across the front give it a courtyard feel,” she says. She replaced the briefcase using a enclosed two-car garage. “The home is understated; it fits into the atmosphere in a very natural manner,” she says. Redesigning the yard is next on the clients’ list.

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How Window Film Can Make Your House Look Better

Most people view window cleaning as a way to increase their home’s privacy and scarcely consider this addition as a way to increase the property’s curb appeal as well. In fact, there are different types of window tint for you to choose from that you can use to enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal.

Most residential window tints are made from PET, and while some tints are dyed with metals or pigments to reduce the amount of light that comes through, others are layered for extra strength. You’ll be glad to know that window tint is typically very durable and scratch proof, and is mostly applied on the window interior instead of the exterior.

Read on to learn more about the different types of window installation and how you can use them in your home.  

Types of Film

Decorative Film: This type of film is very thin, yet effective at blocking out light and providing discretion. Most homeowners use it to embellish their doors, and for many it’s the better alternative to replacing a window when desiring a stained glass.

Solar Film: Solar film is much thicker, as it’s made from certain dyes and metal, and it provides different benefits from decorative film, such as cutting glare, reducing heat gain, insulating the windows, balancing out hot and cold spots, as well as insulating windows and blocking harmful UV rays for up to 99%. The best part about solar film is that it automatically regulates the internal temperature of your home, while saving energy through reduced heat gain and better insulation. Also, with less UV ray penetration, your rugs and furniture won’t fade out as fast.

Security Film: Of all the three types of film, security film is the thickest. It’s very durable and is mostly used to transform the windows into safety glass. Due to its strength, security film doesn’t shatter when the glass is broken but forms a spider web that delays intruders while making it extremely hard for them to enter your house.

Installation and Curing

Installing window repair is fairly easy; however, it’s best to hire a professional for the job so that you know the installation comes with a warranty.

Prior to the installation, the windows have to be cleaned and the film glass sprayed with an application solution. Then, you have to wait for the film to cure, keeping in mind that thick and dark tints take longer to cure than thinner and lighter ones. During this process, you might also see some haze or bubbles forming on the tint, which is an indication that the light-blocking and insulation qualities of the film are working.

Cleaning Window Film

Cleaning window film is just like maintaining regular windows. All you need to do is use your regular window cleaner and a squeegee and microfiber cloth.

How Long Do Window Films Last?

Residential window tint for interiors is quite durable, which is why it comes with a 10 to 15-year warranty. The lifespan of exterior window replacement, on the other hand, will depend on the usage.

Sensibility and senses Produce a Melbourne Patio Magical

Equipped with a blank slate at the rear of their residence, Australian architects Dominic and Marie Bagnato chose to make an outdoor wonderland for their family. Having a playful and entertaining area was significant with two children in your home, but they wanted a calm spot adults could enjoy, too. Dividing up the area by activity, using plants that are appealing to all five senses and getting creative with storage and seating solutions created a lavish space that retains both kids and grown-ups in mind.

Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: Dominic and Marie Bagnato and their two children
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 580 square feet
Price: $31,000

Bagnato Architects

The living room opens out to the Bagnatos’ 22-foot-wide patio. Together with the children in your mind, they divide the area with a paved area for riding bicycles along with a small grassy spot for playing.

They constructed 9-foot-high fences on each side of the patio for more privacy. “We didn’t want the fences to be all the same, so we created themes,” says Dominic. The fence on the right is lined with a horizontal pattern of Merbau timber from Southeast Asia.

Bagnato Architects

The opposite wall is coated with layers of cement planks cut at a random pattern. Dominic completed himself. The paint includes iron fiber that reacts to an acid coat; it’s applied in layers. Only after he finished painting, a rainstorm hit, providing the remedy extra wear.

The Bagnatos incorporated plants that smell, taste, look or texture interesting for their children to encounter. Four kinds of fruit trees, pots full of planters and blossoms with succulents pleasure the senses.

Bagnato Architects

“We sought to make a series of outdoor spaces for our family to enjoy, like you would plan the interior of your house,” Dominic says.

Low planter-box walls at several heights make more seating for kids and adults — pleasant to have around the dining room. A complete barbecue cooktop is hidden on a stage behind the stacked stone wall. Here the adults can cook dinner and watch over the kids. A garage with direct access to a rear road sits just behind the grill. Five 9-foot-tall pine posts help differentiate the garage area from the entertaining zone.

Bagnato Architects

The patio extends down the side of the house, finishing at a red lime-wash-painted wall. The characteristic wall highlights a DIY garden ornament that’s visible from inside the house. Wall lighting makes the garden texture magical at night.

Bagnato Architects

Above the patio an extra room in addition to the garage functions as an office and press room. It has a crystal clear view of the house out of its Juliette balcony. On top of that, it’s accessed from the ground by a pull-down ladder, giving it a playful feel.

Have you generated an wonderful outdoor room? We would really like to find a photograph below!

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