House Design News

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Cosy and Creative: The Epitome of the Home Posted: 18 Jun 2014 12:34 PM PDT The bathroom is one of the only rooms in the house that is used by every family member multiple times a day. Whether nature calls, whether they are brushing their teeth in the morning and the night, or whether they are beautifying themselves ready for the day ahead, the bathroom could well be called the hub of the home. Many bathrooms are considered cold and clinical, but the trend for cosy and creative bathrooms is now flying full steam ahead, with warm colours and homely vibes turning the bathroom into the epitome of household friendliness. Experts Bellabathrooms.co.uk explain how you can transform your plain old bathroom into a welcoming family hub. Colour is the most important element in a cosy bathroom; though many people favour the clean and simply white scheme, with hints of blue or black here and there, these colours are fairly cold and make the room appear less inviting to family members. Choose oranges, pinks and purples to warm up the room a little; create a feature wall or go all out and tile your entire room with one of these colours to create a wet room. The room will instantly be giving a vibrant lift, and will feel homely and comfortable from the off. Don't be afraid to get to grips with textiles in the bathroom. If space permits in a larger bathroom, add in a chaise longue and throw on some embellished cushions for a real quirky touch, or use your curtains, towels and fluffy bath mats to demonstrate the family personality. Don't worry too much about sticking to a specific pattern or motif; if you like the piece, you will find a place to incorporate it within the room, whether you are creating a makeshift shower curtain or lining the drawers of your new vanity cabinet. Choose your bathroom furnishings carefully when trying to create the atmosphere of cosiness and warmth. Many families might not be able to stretch further than a plain white bathroom suite, but the addition of the basin taps, the toilet seat, the shower curtain or the storage solutions can have a huge effect on how the room is perceiving and ensure that the stark whiteness isn't the first thing the eye is drawn to. Don't forget to accessorise! Hang vibrant paintings or pieces of art in the bathroom (ensuring that the frames and the piece itself will be able to withstand the potential moisture in the air), and add ornaments and decorative pieces that bring the interior design elements of the room together. Use embellished mirrors facing a window to increase natural light in the room, and make the most of things like alcoves, sloping ceilings and small window recesses to give an individual feel. Vases with plastic flowers can be used here (real flowers will often wilt faster in humid settings) and even quirky bathroom lighting arrangements can help to give the impression that the room is the creative hub, and the heart of the home, as is often the case when a room is used so often by every member of the family. This article was written by freelance writer and mother of three, Kathryn Thompson. Follow her on Twitter: @katht35.

How to Protect your Roof from Catastrophe Posted: 18 Jun 2014 12:34 AM PDT 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.

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