House Design News

House Design News

Spalding Gardening Calendar Brought to you by Spalding Bulb
Saving Your Back: 5 Office Must-Haves to Keep Your Spine Out of Trouble
How to Protect your Roof from Catastrophe

Spalding Gardening Calendar Brought to you by Spalding Bulb

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 03:16 PM PST

Many aspects of gardening can seem very overwhelming. Particularly organising what can and cannot be done throughout the year, and fine tuning for disasters. Spalding Bulb have developed this interesting infographic to aid your scheduling for the upcoming year, with tips and tricks for each month!

Saving Your Back: 5 Office Must-Haves to Keep Your Spine Out of Trouble

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:34 PM PST

To put it bluntly- we’ve all become slaves to our cubicles. And in addition to everything else, this lifelong relationship with the work desk has managed to take away any will we may have had left to hit the gym or at least pay some attention to fitness. What we don’t realize is that, in addition to giving us a pot belly, being glued to our chairs could also be proving absolutely lethal for our backs.

We’ve finally reached a point where fitness begins at work. And employers in top companies around the world have now started to sit up and take notice. Spine trouble is, after all, a grave issue. If you’re looking to offer your workplace some respite from that treacherous backache, we give you five things you should first have in place to pull it off.

•Chairs
We mean the right chairs. You’ll be surprised at how at least seven out of ten offices have chairs that give rise to awkward sitting positions, which in turn gives rise to a host of back, hip and shoulder problems. The chair should allow the shoulders to be relaxed, the backseat should ensure the back remains upright and offer complete support to the lumbar curve. The chair should also provide adequate head support. At the same time, it shouldn't be so hard that one feels like they’re sitting on a park bench, or so soft that a person just sinks into the seat.

•Additional cushions
If you’re buying the same set of chairs for the whole office, without taking into consideration the individual body types of employees, always keep a bundle of cushions in varied sizes close at hand. Cushions help to adjust the perfect height as well as provide that additional support to the back. Moreover, cushions ensure that the person sitting on the chair doesn’t slide down during downtime or take up any awkward position. It’s ideal- especially for those with lower back problems.

•The perfectly-positioned machinery
A lot of thought needs to go into deciding the right placement of machines, be it computers, printer and coffee-machine or the air-conditioners. When it comes to the computers, the keyboard should be placed such that the arms, wrists and hands are collinear. The mouse should be at the same level as the keyboard, and of course it shouldn’t be so far from the keyboard that you actually have to stretch! The distance should between the screen and the chair should be optimum. For the air-conditioners, make sure it isn't directly overhead or right behind the person’s back. Make sure there’s enough distance between the desks, the water-cooler/ coffee-vending machine/printer and toilets; this way people at least get off their seats and do some much-needed movement.

•The timeout
A Mount Kilimanjaro of workload is going to be the perpetual state at work. This doesn’t mean that the health of the spine should be sacrificed on the altar of efficiency. Instead, it is being glued to the chair that affects efficiency, since eventually the person is going to get constantly distracted by backache. We believe that every workplace, even a modular office, should have a timeout area an open space, devoid of furniture, except for a few shelves and some yoga mats- where everyone just stops their work for about five minutes and stretches, takes a walk, meditates, just anything that gives that back some much-needed rest.

•The spacing
While we understand the need to have as many people employed as possible to maximize output, we’re not in a time where any more space can be sacrificed. There has to be enough leg-space and space to stretch the hands and feet. Sitting in a cramped space can do a number on the whole body, while putting extra strain on the neck, shoulders and spine.
The employees are the backbone of any organization. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that their well-being is well in place. Luckily, for you, the changes are pretty basic, yet absolutely effective.
Leslie Kramer, the author of this post, is a freelance blogger, who is currently writing for BGC Modular, one of the leading suppliers of transportable buildings. Leslie plays lawn tennis in her free time and likes to hare her creative ideas on home improvement through blogging.

How to Protect your Roof from Catastrophe

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:33 PM PST

Dealing with routine roofing repairs should be planned on by homeowners annually. However, certain regions of the country are prone to more serious roofing catastrophes than other areas. What should you do if you live in an extreme cold climate where snow and ice can cause a roof to cave in? How can you protect your roof during a hurricane and other serious windstorms? Here are some measures you can take to help ensure your roof is safe during a catastrophe.

Change Roofing Materials
If you live in an area with high winds, use concrete tiles as roofing materials. Concrete roofing materials are strong and can withstand wind, ice, fire, and other conditions. If you plan on using concrete tiles, you'll need additional support within the attic for the extra weight. Another roofing option to consider is metal roofing. Metal does a great job protecting against snow and ice, as it simply slides right off. This makes it easier to protect your home from damage as the weight of the ice and snow will not stay on the roof for long, preventing cave-ins from occurring.

Make Repairs
When protecting a roof, it's important to make sure the roof deck is correctly sealed. You need to tape the seams between the deck sheeting to have additional protection from the wind, rain, and snow. If you have a shingle roof, repair or replace any missing and cracked shingles. Loose shingles will easily fly off the home during a windstorm. A single loose shingle can cause a ripple effect, causing additional shingles to fly off the home as well.

Snow Weights
Do you know what weight your roof is capable of withstanding? Ice and snow can easily accumulate on a roof that has a flat section, which can cause a lot of strain to the roof. You may need to remove some of the snow to help prevent your roof from collapsing. Use a snow rake with an extension arm to remove the snow as you stand on the ground. Never climb onto a roof that has snow and ice on it as you can easily slip and fall. You can also contact a snow removal contractor to take care of heavy snow that puts your home in danger of a roofing collapse.

Remove Greenery
Trees that hang over a roof can cause problems. Leaves may often fall onto the roof, causing the gutters and downspouts to become clogged. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause ice to buildup on the roof. This can easily create cave-ins as the weight of the ice is too much for the roof to bear. Trimming back the trees can keep the leaves from falling onto the roof. It will also keep the branches from hanging over the roof, which can easily fall onto the roof during a windstorm or due to heavy snow.

Hurricane Straps
If you live in an area where hurricanes are common, protect your roof with some secure hurricane straps. These straps will make sure the roof is correctly bolted to the rest of the home. Hire professionals to inspect your roof for signs of damage and weakness.

This article was written by Jared Miret, husband and home handyman. He also recommends that you click here for a Texas Windstorm inspection, to assure your roof will withstand a storm.

Home Design Ideas

Interior Design Room Planner
Interior Designer Colleges
Yard Fountain
Raised Bed Garden Kits

Interior Design Room Planner

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 09:55 AM PST

The tasks of interior design room planners are to assist you in determining the spatial design most suitable for your home. An interior designer will first conduct studies or research buildings, and also the desire of the building owner. They examine the construction, layout, and spatial structures as a basis for designing future interior design. After the research is completed the next step is to determine the needs of material that is suitable to be applied to the conditions of space. Start of stage design of room shape by observing also the layout as well as the lighting according to the will of the house owner. Interior designer planers also served in the placement and selection of furniture in the room.

Interior Design Room Planner

1. Obligation of interior design room planner

Before you hire interior design planners, you should need to know their assignments. By knowing their task, you will understand what rights you will receive when you hire interior design planers. Interior design job planners responsible for all the design work he has received in accordance with the stated in the letter of agreement contract ranging from early process until all work is completed. Before their project started, they have to discuss with building owners to determine the design theme, the element that is used to organize the space, plan the budget for interior space, and give advice to the building owner so that they get the best results.

An interior design planners are responsible for coordination with other parties when officers directly elected by designers with or without the consent of its task. When an error happens, the situation is entirely the fault of the designer and the designer responsible for the replacement of the fault without any limitations. They also create program space, schematic design, and a description of background, conceptual philosophy, as well as sketching ideas. They should replace the position of owners of a building to oversee and direct all workers in the field. Interior designer should make sure that they work according to a design that has been made and in accordance with the specified time. If interior designer delays because the job giver, then they have to pay all the costs of the disadvantages as well as the penalties agreed upon in the agreement work.

2. Tool for interior designer room planner

There was already various software for designing house or room. So in order to obtain a good design, interior design room planner can make design through this software and the results can be seen at 2D form or 3D form. One of interior design software is Autodesk Homestyler. This is web-based application. Everyone can start designing the layout of room or house quickly with this free tool. This application is very easy although for people who have little idea about floor plans and arrangements of room. The drop method will help user and guide user through designing mechanisms for room design. To use this freeware, users don’t even need to register with the site. Just starting out with user interior design and applications, and then can start designing from the first step or just choose the layout of the application gallery.

Interior Designer Colleges

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 09:45 AM PST

Currently, have a career in interior design field loved by many people. If you want to become a professional and experienced interior designer, you must follow interior design degree program at the university famous. Hence, you should be careful in determining choice. Interior design degree program offers a student the opportunity to build their own interior design portfolio while being trained in such aspects of the field as exhibit, hospitality and retail store design as well as 3D design and space planning. When you are choosing interior design degree programs both of bachelor or master, you should also consider about the college's quality. The following will be explained about the best interior designer colleges in the world.

Interior Designer Colleges

1. Best interior designer colleges

There are four interior designer colleges that become best interior designer colleges in the world. First college is interior designer program at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. It is a private interior designer college that has majors in the fields of art, architecture and design. In 2008, Pratt Institute was ranked as the top school for interior design by U.S. News and World Report. Pratt Institute offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Science in Interior Design program. These programs educate students on the finer tools and methods used to create interior settings. Second college is interior designer program at University of Cincinnati in Ohio. The University of Cincinnati was ranked as the third school for best interior design programs in 2008 by U.S. News and World Report.

The third college is New York School of Interior Design in New York. In 2008, the New York School of Interior Design was ranked fourth by the U.S. News and World Report among best colleges with interior design programs. The fourth college is Interior Design Program at Bellevue College. This school provides a comprehensive, high quality interior design education that is responsive to the changing needs of its students and the design profession. Two educational pathways provide flexible, accessible options that promote student success and which are supported by outstanding faculty committed to teaching excellence.

2. What the interior designer colleges provide?

In general, interior designer colleges offer bachelor or master of sciences degree in Interior Design. The College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning offers the bachelor’s degree program for prospective interior designers. It is teaching students about technical expertise, design technologies, critical thinking and visual communication. The program culminates in a capstone project, which provides students hands-on practical experience. Students will take on a variety of classes ranging from 3-D design to architectural drawing. Training and classroom instruction will further develop the artistic skills students will need in order to excel in the interior design field. In addition to coursework, master’s students will complete a thesis project.

The colleges provide undergraduate students a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Applied Science and a basic interior design program. In addition, The basic interior design certificate program focuses on providing students with the fundamental skills and knowledge of architectural design for interior structures. Students will eventually develop a portfolio of design work that will aid them in their job search upon graduation. Graduate programs include a professional level and post-professional Master of Fine Arts program, a Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments and a Master of Professional Studies in Interior Lighting Design.

Yard Fountain

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 05:10 AM PST

Outdoor Fountains in Your Backyard

If you’re looking for a great water feature to install in a home you have just bought or built, then consider outdoor fountains as one of your potential options. Outdoor fountains can look really great on any home and depending on whether you have it installed in the front yard, the back yard or any other part of the garden, it will give off a certain atmosphere that is hard to beat. The benefits to having an outdoor fountain in your home far outweigh the disadvantages and for a little bit of extra maintenance every year, you can have something that is truly beautiful to behold and that will captivate your family, guests and friends.

Yard Fountain

Private and intimate fountains in the back garden

A lot of people will prefer to have their outdoor fountains installed in the back yard for reasons of privacy and intimacy. Without a doubt, one of the most soothing and relaxing ways to enjoy your garden is in the presence of a fountain. You can set up garden parties and barbecues in the back and have the added enjoyment of a beautiful fountain with running water.

Front yard fountains for displaying grandeur

Outdoor fountains which are installed in your front yard give off a different character and are more for display and creating an air of grandeur about your property that can be seen from the street. Generally, people don’t have barbecues and garden parties in their front yards, so outdoor fountains around the front tend to be more imposing, graceful and elegant. They can be in classical, gothic or baroque style and will be the ultimate centerpiece to your front garden, looking best when they are in the presence of neatly trimmed hedges or bushes, beautiful flowers and shaped trees.

Maintaining your outdoor fountains

It’s important to maintain your outdoor fountains and keep them in top shape. This extends not just to the fountain and the pipes, but also to the water quality. You will need to decide whether you want the water to be drinkable or not, even if it’s just for animals or birds. If so, you will need to use municipal water and regularly clean and filter the fountain. If you don’t care too much about it being used as drinking water, you can install your own tank that recycles the water (this is much better for the environment and doesn’t waste water at all).

Loren Taylor writes for Pro Home Stores which is a leading internet retailer of all things soothing. A large selection of water fountains, bean bags, fireplaces and other products to help bring joy to your life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7150076

Raised Bed Garden Kits

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 05:12 PM PST

Garden Bed Kits for Quick and Easy Gardening

If you are an avid gardener living in a location with bad quality soil or very little workable land, then you’ll appreciate the abundant supply of different garden bed kits and container gardening tools that are available these days. Kits can be purchased through a range of online retailers such as Amazon or from your local nursery and can turn even a concrete slab into a wonderfully productive vegetable garden beds.

For those with limited space for gardening, such as balconies, decks or window sills, container gardening means that you can still have great fresh produce and gorgeous flowers with just the smallest investment in space. Garden bed kits allow for different depths so you don’t have to limit yourself to just a few shallow rooted plants, but can actually take advantage of fruit trees, root vegetable gardening and much more. You will need to plan your garden space a little more in order to achieve the most production from the space, but with a little pre-planning you can grow numerous different plants close to each other and still not overcrowd your little garden.

Raised Bed Garden Kits

When it comes to gardening kits, the most popular ones are the raised bed kits which come in different frame materials. The frames are made either from treated wood or from composite plastic that looks like wood to creating a more harmonious looking garden. The advantage of using the composite is that it is not susceptible to rot in the same way that wood is and can be relocated easily and quickly should the need arise.

The kits generally consist of four posts with beams connecting into a ‘sandbox’ type structure. The depth of the bed will be dependent on the type of plants you want to grow. Deeper gardening containers are great for vegetables such as carrots and other root vegetables. If you want to grow lettuces and the like, then a shallow kit is more suited.

Maintaining your garden bed is made that much easier with raised beds and containers as you can water them and install the type of drainage suitable for that particular type of plant. Although the initial investment in soil is much greater than standard gardening, this investment pays off in the lack of fertilizer needed and also the quality of soil that you can invest in the beginning. Once you have your vegetables producing, you’ll find that the scraps can be used for composting and in turn this can be used to feed your next crop.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6149687