House Design News

---

Choosing Home Siding Made Easy Posted: 01 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT There are several variables to consider when you are choosing a new siding for your home: price, installation, water-resistance, energy efficiency, appearance, and durability. The best siding for your home depends greatly on where you live and what your preferences are. However, choosing siding for your home does not have to be a difficult task. Below is an overview of the different types of siding you may consider for your home. Stucco Siding Stucco is a house siding option that is available at a reasonable price. Stucco is an extremely versatile substance as it can be used for a variety of applications and there are many ways to make it, with its traditional components being cement mixed with sand or lime. When color is added to the mixture, it becomes homogeneous; diminishing the necessity for future repaints. Stucco can be shaped and textured to achieve different styles. Wood Siding Wood siding provides a natural and timeless, beautiful aesthetic to any home. Wood siding is available in many different types of wood, colors, and styles. The common types of wood siding styles include rectangular planks, clapboard, shingles, plywood, shakes, and solid wood. A huge advantage to wood siding is its insulating properties; it does a great job of keeping a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, saving the homeowner money on energy expenses. Wood is an eco-friendly option for siding not only because it saves on energy, but also as it is a renewable resource and is biodegradable. Hardie Board Siding Hardie board siding is made from fiber cement, or a cement mixed with sand, water, and cellulose wood fibers. Hardie board siding gives the beautiful appearance of wood siding while being far more resistant to rot and insects. It is also much more durable than wood siding. Hardie products come in many colors and styles, such as vertical reversed board, horizontal board, and shingles. Brick Siding Brick siding is often chosen only for its beautiful aesthetic, but it happens to serve many functional purposes as well. The unique insulation properties of brick siding provide a perpetual stabilization of temperature within the home, lessening energy expenses in the future. Homes with brick siding sometimes have problems with drainage; otherwise, they are easy to maintain as they only call for an occasional washing using a hose. Brick siding is extremely durable and should normally last as long as your home. Stone Siding When durability and weather resistance are top priorities, stone siding is the way to go. Stone siding is the most durable and weather resistant option of all siding types. However, it is important to note that stone siding often has the most expensive initial installation cost. Stone siding will benefit you financially in the long run as it will not get damaged through most weather conditions or with time. It also increases the value of your home. Finally, stone siding has insulating properties that will lessen future energy costs. This article was written by Jared Miret, father and home handyman. He loves sharing his knowledge of home improvement though blogging. He recommends contacting home exterior systems when it comes to installing the siding you decide. Don't hesitate to call them for a quote or with any questions you may have.

The magic of leather in your home Posted: 01 Jul 2014 12:34 AM PDT Decorating with leather is by no means a new phenomenon. Leather work is one of the oldest crafts known to mankind and ever since hides became available for domestic use, we've been using them in our homes. There's just something about the look, smell and feel of leather which brings a timeless, opulent feel to any room in your home. A design classic Invest in a statement piece of leather furniture, and you know you will still love it for years to come. Leather, more than any other fabric we use in our home, stands the test of time. Like a fine wine, leather furniture simply gets better with age – each new crease or change in colour signifying a history of use. A leather Chesterfield sofa or leather bedstead look stunning no matter how many times we change our interior design scheme around them. Elegance and opulence Leather pieces give off an undeniable aura of richness and luxury, adding refined glamour to the home. Textured and luxurious, leather furnishings provide focal points for your room, fitting seamlessly into contemporary or traditional interiors and giving your home a welcoming atmosphere. Child friendly While, it may not seem like an obvious choice for families with young children, leather is actually both beautiful and durable. While a different upholstery choice might stain, leather easily wipes clean with a damp cloth, so you can remove those sticky fingerprints. With the right care, your leather furniture should last for generations, withstanding anything your children may throw at it. Think differently While leather sofas and chairs are the norm in many households, leather can be used to stunning effect across other parts of the home. Leather floortiles offer a real design statement, giving a room texture and warmth. Kitchen cabinets can be finished in leather for a truly unusual bespoke look or a feature wall can be covered in leather rather than traditional wallpaper. Not only does leather have acoustical value, absorbing sound easily, but it has insulating properties which can make a room warmer. Also, there's no need to stick to neutral colours – although classic designs do, undeniably, look beautiful in taupes, browns and blacks. Leather can be dyed any colour, so you could combine the traditional look of a Chesterfield or Barcelona sofa, for example, with a stunning contemporary hue such as cobalt blue or sunflower yellow. The colours, grains and textures that can be used are limitless. Those finishing touches Choosing to invest in a big piece of leather furniture such as a bed or sofa is understandably a popular option, but leather can also be used to sublime effect in the finishing touches of any room. Leather lampshades, or bases, are a unique way to bring this versatile material into your home. Textured leather mirrors or photo frames look beautiful as display pieces and leather scatter cushions or seat pads for your dining chairs provide contrast to other fabrics. However you choose to bring leather into your interior design scheme, this beautiful and versatile material will bring a sumptuous natural element to your home décor. Bill began learning his artisan skills in Australia 30 years ago before opening his studio back in the 90's. The studio creates bespoke products and interiors for individuals and companies across the world. Bill can be found in his London studio at Bill Amberg Studio.

You are subscribed to email updates from Interior Design|Architecture|Furniture|House Design To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610