House Design News

House Design News

Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses – Playground with Shock Absorbing Surface
Mead Residence by EJE Architexture
5 Rarely Asked Crucial Questions about Mosaic Tiles
Explore the Fabulous and Appealing Canvas Art Ideas
A guide to buying UPVC windows
Polites Apartment by Enoki

Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses – Playground with Shock Absorbing Surface

Posted: 16 Nov 2013 11:34 AM PST

This penthouse located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The penthouse’s roof has a roof terrace, its called Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses, was done by JDS Architects. The hedonistic rooftop is reflected in a playground with shock-absorbing surface and a playful suspension bridge, a green hill with varying accommodation backed by real grass and durant vegetation, a viewing platform, an outdoor kitchen and barbecue, and a more quiet wooden deck.

Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses by JDS Architects

Description from JDS Architects:
“Elmegade district is probably one of the most densely populated areas of inner Nørrebro, Copenhagen. The triangular block Birkegade / Egegade / Elmegade has a very high density, turning its courtyard to a close to zero surface. When we were asked to design 3 penthouses on top of one of the block's co-owned buildings our concept became to use the roof of the newly designed top floor to create the 'missing garden' for its community of owners.
In order to qualify 'the missing garden', we looked at the Copenhagen typology of garden, which characteristically has an associated functionality.

The hedonistic rooftop is reflected in a playground with shock-absorbing surface and a playful suspension bridge, a green hill with varying accommodation backed by real grass and durant vegetation, a viewing platform, an outdoor kitchen and barbecue, and a more quiet wooden deck. We seek to optimize and fully exploit the situations the site has to offer, and thereby design a potential for the future exploitation of the roof to the delight of all the co-op's residents. Usually a roof defines a final measure of any construction. We imagine cities where people will be the last measure of the environment. ”

Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses, Roof Terrace

Roof Terrace,Playground with shock-absorbing surface

Hedonistic Rooftop Penthouses, Roof Terrace

Penthouses with Roof Terrace

Source : jdsa.eu

Mead Residence by EJE Architexture

Posted: 16 Nov 2013 11:34 AM PST

The home takes great advantage of the environment and the topography on which it sits. The steep sloping site allows the home to be split horizontally into functional areas, while a lift and stairs link the zones together. The ambience and mood of the residence has the fantastic ability to change constantly depending on the time of day and weather conditions. A play of light and shade is created by the horizontal and vertical sunshades. [ EJE Architexture ]

5 Rarely Asked Crucial Questions about Mosaic Tiles

Posted: 16 Nov 2013 04:48 AM PST

Mosaic tiles add life to any part of your house. Its colors and designs are attractive and vibrant. Making mosaics is no easy feat though. It needs a lot of focus because of the nitty gritty details involved in creating it. Here are some questions that are rarely asked about mosaic tiles but are crucial to the process of creating it.

What specific precautions should I take when doing a Mosaic project?
Yes there are! One should always have eye protection on, such as safety glasses. When nipping glass mosaic tiles, shards can sometimes fly in random directions if your nipping technique isn’t quite perfect yet.
It’s always best to do mosaics in a well-ventilated area as you start gluing or grouting your project. Wearing gloves is especially important when you start grouting for several reasons. The grout can dry out your skin, you would not want to wash your grouty hands in the sink since the grout can clog your pipes, and it would be really difficult to remove the grout from your skin once it has dried.

What safety precautions do I need to take?
Making mosaics requires basic shop safety practices: Wear goggles when cutting mosaic materials or mixing grout. Mosaic materials are often sharp. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid breathing the dust when mixing grout. Wear rubber dishwashing gloves when grouting to avoid irritating your skin. Don’t overload patio tables with mosaic materials so that the table becomes unstable (top heavy). You should also make sure that the table frame can support the overall weight.

What is the best grout to use? Sanded or Premixed?
Sanded Grout A mixture of portland cement, sand and special additives providing a dense, acid and alkali-resistant grouting material. Colored Sanded Grouts also contain color-fast pigments. Sanded Grout can be used in virtually any application, indoors and out, even when grouting on floors. Sanded Grout is a porous cement, which means that it can absorb liquid materials after it has dried. This can be good and bad: you can stain your Sanded Grout after it has set with a colored grout stain, or it can be stained accidentally with spilled liquids – watch out for that red wine and grape juice! See the section on sealing your grout for information on how this can be prevented.

Premixed (Unsanded) Latex Grout Our special blend of water soluble materials and acrylic-latex additives. Premixed Grout provides a smooth joint, without the graininess of Sanded Grout. Premixed Grout is not recommended for use on floors. Our Premixed Grout can be used in mosaics in which the grout line is up to 1/4″ in width. If you are using unglazed non-glass tile (such as ceramic or terra-cotta) you may want to use the Premixed Grout. These tile are prone to absorbing the moisture from your grout mixture and may become discolored. Premixed Grout has less moisture than a Sanded Grout mixture. As Premixed Grout is a latex-based admixture, it is not as porous as Sanded Grout. This means that it is less likely to become stained and discolored, but it is more difficult to tint after your grout has dried and set.

How do I mount mosaics on a wall?
Glue your mosaic tiles to fiberglass mesh at your work table. (Make sure your table is covered with construction plastic or parchment paper, such as used in baking, so that you don’t glue everything to the table. Most people cut the mesh in smaller sections, usually 12 inch x 12 inch, because it is difficult to handle sheets of mosaic larger than 1 sq foot. Most people use Weldbond (sparingly) to attach tiles to mesh. When the mesh is dry in about 24 to 48 hours, you are ready to mount this assembly to the wall. This is done by spreading thinset or mastic or Weldbond on the wall itself and pressing the mesh onto the wall. After this cures, in about 48 hours, you can grout the mosaic in place.

How do I polish my mosaic after I finish creating one?
After your mosaic is finished and your grout is dried, you can use mineral or olive oil to polish your tile. Using a soft cloth, sponge or chamois, apply a few drops of oil to the surface of your mosaic and rub it in. This should give you a nice, shiny wet look which will enhance the color and emphasize the design of the tile and grout for your floors. You may need to occasionally re-apply a coat of oil to restore this look.

How do I cut the precise shape I want from glass mosaic tiles?
Glass tile can be difficult to cut in a predictable shape due to the scoring on the backsides of the tiles. That is why you should cut the tiles upside down so that you can see how the embossed ridges might be affecting your cut. (Wear safety glasses as always.)

Here’s the more important information:
The pieces shouldn’t be perfect squares or triangle. The irregularity ensures a grout gap even when the tiles are pressed close together. More importantly, non-uniform squares will make the mosaic much more interesting visually than uniform squares. (Look at traditional mosaics if you doubt this.) Perfect squares make a mosaic look like it was made from a kit. A little irregularity makes a mosaic look more like hand-made art.

Tiles should never be “shaped” or custom cut. Instead, cut up about 4 or 5 tiles, and then select the piece that is closest in shape to what you need. You will find that you work faster that way with much less stress.

Author Bio:
Andrew James Stevenson is an architect based in England. He is also a part-time interior designer and a father 2 beautiful daughters. He plays golf during the weekends and design layouts during the weekdays.

Explore the Fabulous and Appealing Canvas Art Ideas

Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:06 AM PST

When it comes to home or office decoration, the canvas art is the first choice of the people. It is because the canvas arts are simple, elegant and appealing enough to transform a dull room into a beautiful and lively one. The theme and the color combinations are so fresh that even the other people will admire it a lot. So if you are thinking of renovating your homes or workplaces, then you can go for the cheap canvas art which is a superb option and affordable too. With plenty of ideas available before you, one can incorporate any idea which is best and most suitable for their homes and offices.

If you are looking for some great canvas artwork ideas, you have come to the right place. Here are some of the unique and fabulous ideas which you can integrate in your homes and workplaces.
Abstract Canvas Art
Abstract art is considered to be one of the best ways to embellish your homes in a unique style. If you are fed up with the old art forms, just explore and try the abstract canvas art which is not only a unique way to decorate your home but gives a different effect too. These kinds of art forms are not only ideal for the homes but apt for the workplaces too. This is the reason that the canvas has slowly gained a lot of popularity with numerous themes that can be combined for a perfect home décor. You can even collect your personal photos and get them stretched onto the canvas for a beautiful effect. This is also quite unique and you can prepare a family wall art as well.
Digital Canvas Art
With the help of the digital art, you can easily create beautiful and appealing canvas artwork which easily blends with your homes and adds a new touch to it. Nowadays there are a variety of software's available to create magnificent art pieces which can be incorporated in the decoration. You can also make use of solid colors and smudge them for a vibrant effect. This type of art form has really become popular and appreciated a lot. They are simple and are perfect for office decoration as well.
Exclusive Canvas Prints
If the above two ideas are not appealing, you can go for natural effects which look superb and dazzling. The floral canvas art can be a wonderful selection for the homes and the offices. You can choose from a variety of floral prints and get them stretched onto a large sized canvas so that it is able to utilize the space of the wall. You can choose any size which you think is ideal and will look good. Have a look at some of the best floral canvas arts and make your selection accordingly. Even bespoke art has become a popular option and admired by many homeowners.
Therefore, there are lots of options that you will come across for art on canvas, out of which you can select the best and impressive one for homes or offices.
Author Bio: Jasmine work with www.print2canvas.co.uk so he knows a lot about the canvas art so you can take their help and add a new look to your homes or workplaces.

A guide to buying UPVC windows

Posted: 16 Nov 2013 12:55 AM PST

Purchasing new doors and windows for your home can cost you a lot of money, especially as many homeowners aren't aware that UPVC windows are actually the most cost effective type of window, they also do their job the most effectively. If you do your research and purchase smartly, your windows don't have to cost a fortune.
Aesthetically pleasing to the eye, UPVC windows have become synonymous with sophistication and modern style. UPVC windows are manufactured using very hardwearing building materials. Because of their increase in popularity, a lot of contemporary designers are now incorporating UPVC windows into some of their designs.
This article will explain the many different advantages of UPVC windows and the various styles that are available to homeowners

One of the most notable advantages of UPVC windows is the diverse range of styles. Some of the most popular styles in today's market are

Vertical Sliding Sash Windows

If you are looking for the more classic look and feel, you consider having Georgian sliding sash windows installed. When buying these UPVC windows, be sure to check that the product has steel reinforcement and an anti jimmy bar, this will prevent any unwanted break-ins.

Casement windows:

Casement windows are available in both top hinged and side hinged; these windows have become synonymous with homeowners for the high level of security that they provide. Home improvement specialists or homeowners are able to choose from various shades of rosewood, mahogany, golden oak, and white.

Tilt-and-Turn Windows:

These UPVC windows feature a unique tilt and turn mechanism that allows you to open then window inwards from the side, or from the top for a better level of ventilation.

Reversible Windows:

Mostly suited to high rise structures, where cleaning from outside is a tricky task. These UPVC windows are installed with 180° reversible hinges; this enables the window to be completely rotated. Reversible windows are also ideal for emergency exits as they have the 180° rotational feature. For added security these windows are installed with built in restrictors, these prevent children from opening them fully.

Below are 5 advantages of UPVC windows

Cost effective

To say this is a big benefit is an understatement. Not only is the upfront cost less, but there are also less ongoing costs. Because UPVC windows are so well insulated, less heating is needed during the cold winter months and not so much air conditioning during the summer months. In the long run UPVC windows will save you a lot of money. Although UPVC is a plastic material, it is incredibly strong making it ideal for larger structures like doors and windows, and because it is a plastic, it is a lot more cost effective to produce than other materials.

Durability

One of the biggest advantages of UPVC windows is their durability; they last for years and years. When the rain comes splashing they don't rot, and when the sun comes shining they don't splinter or swell. Because they are so rigid and durable UPVC windows will last decades before anything goes wrong with them.

Easy to maintain

Unlike standard windows and frames, UPVC windows don't rot and will always shut properly. To keep your UPVC windows looking their greatest there is no sanding or varnishing needed whatsoever.

Security

No other windows in today's market can rival the security of UPVC windows. With their inbuilt locking features they are nigh on impossible to break through. In today's world, the security levels of your windows are very important in protecting yourself and family.
Well Insulated
Because UPVC frames are combined with double glazing they provide an excellently insulated window. Unlike metal and wooden window frames a low amount of heat escapes. This is also a big advantage in the summer when the sun often burns through the windows and causes your room to get really stuffy.

This article is brought to you by Leekes UPVC Windows Leekes are an award winning family-owned retailer with a proud heritage in home improvements including conservatories, orangeries, windows and doors.

Polites Apartment by Enoki

Posted: 15 Nov 2013 11:34 PM PST

This luxury interior apartment was designed by Enoki. From Enoki : “Sitting above the Adelaide skyline with city and hill views, the client wanted their interior environment to reflect the views and their appreciation of international style and design objects. The bespoke joinery, in both polished and matt lacquer finishes, sits comfortably with the collection of Contemporary classic furniture pieces. ”
For further detail visit Enoki site.

Polites Apartment by Enoki

Polites Apartment by Enoki

Polites Apartment by Enoki