We are always looking are ways to beautify our homes and everything around it. Beauty is more often than not in the smaller details. It’s in small kink knacks on the centre table, the beautifully framed pictures on the stairwell or the orange chair in the living room! Concrete stencilling is just one of those tiny details that add so much more to a living space. Just like using stencils for art class in school, concrete stencilling is nothing about simple designs and detailing on concrete floors. You think of it as floor art! In fact concrete stencilling and convert any contractor into a part time Michelangelo! While the options for concrete stencilling are endless you will see how some people can make concrete look like ornate marble, stone or even branches of trees.
Posts Tagged ‘plans’
Make a perfect blue print
A dream house for many remains just that a dream, but if you are one of the lucky few who have the opportunity of materialising this dream then hoorah! But before we pop the champagne there is a lot of work that need to be done and one of the most important jobs you will have to undertake is finalising the house design plans.
When finalising the plans here are a few things to keep in mind:
Write down your Dream
Make a list of anything and everything that comes into your mind concerning the house. Every time you go through your favourite design magazine or visit a friend house and something inspires, jot it down. Many a times when the time comes we can never recollect exact details of what we want, so keep a book of ideas which can help make your dream home come to life.
Is it enough?
What we mean by this is are there enough rooms, are there enough bathrooms, what about the garden area and where will the pet sleep and play? All these are very important questions that need to be sorted out before you meet with the architect. Of course the architect himself will answer these questions, but a small family discussion can help get every one on the same page.
Hire a good Architect
It is very important to hire a good architect who can help you realize the dream of owning your perfect home. Most states require you to get your blur prints certified by a professional and authorised architect so that you don’t overlook any building codes and compliances. Architects will also tell you what can be done and what can’t be done and will also share his ideas and thoughts. It is their job to design a home that you will be happy with.
Make a Blueprint
This is an obvious step, but many don’t realize the importance of it. These house design plans are what give you a glance of what your house will look like and at this stage the most obvious mistakes can be apparent. Make sure you discuss the house plan in detail with your architect so that he can put it all on paper.
Get a Model House
This can be a little expensive, but if you want to get a look at what your house will finally look like then this is the best option for you. Of course the model is scaled down, but can give you a fair idea as what to expect. At this stage you can also make the necessary changes or additions, like say the extra window in the bedroom or the patio in the back garden.
Design
When designing your home make sure it is in sync with the nature outside and your nature inside. It would be a true disappointment if after all your hard work you weren’t happy with your house design plans. If you have children then make sure you have a nice garden area for them to play. Also take into consideration if any of the family members have disabilities then the house needs to be planned around their requirements as well.
Find the best contemporary architecture in town
Let’s start with first understanding what contemporary architecture is. Contemporary architecture is the architecture which is used in the present time, or is the building style that is used in the present day. This term is also used for the range of styles that are used in buildings, space and structure which make them optimum for use in the present day. Contemporary architecture is also sometimes used to describe modern architecture but this is not always used synonymously and is open to interpretation.
It is not necessary that contemporary architecture has easily recognizable features like say in the case of classical architecture with its arches, domes or steeples. Contemporary architecture is more so referred to features like clean lines, optimum utlilisation of space, energy saving building techniques, usage of two or more materials in one area like say the use of bricks, stone and glass on wall. Contemporary architecture also some times is very minimalist and uses building styles that lets in a lot of light and plays with shapes and features. This is why sometimes it also confused with modern architecture which uses the same features only lends towards the more art deco homes and out of the box designs.
Famous examples of contemporary architecture is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, or the Ratner Athletic Center which is uses only cables, masts and counterweights for load bearing. The Quai Branly Museum in Paris is also another example as is the CN Tower in Montreal.
Contemporary architecture for homes is very different from commercial buildings which are sometimes classified as internationally designed. It thus not strange that many a times contemporary architecture is more commonly used to refer to a certain style for homes and houses. If you are looking to inculcate contemporary architecture into your home then here are a few features indicative of this style.
Large, expansive windows, sometimes extending from floor to ceiling built with very minimalist frames thus allowing maximum light to enter the house.
Use of modern technology to expose beams, brick walls, and even add design features under the floor that can be used as a focal area in the house.
Eco friendly houses that use recycled materials and also making sure it is energy efficient by using sustainable material and products that are as natural as possible.
There can be many green components that make sure the house is energy efficient like open plan homes, large windows, and organic materials like bamboo wood flooring or stone countertops.
Many homes are even designed as flat roofs or split level homes that utilise the outdoors as much as possible thus bringing in the outdoors.
The biggest part of contemporary architecture is the use of the latest and most unique techniques and styles of building. As these evolve so does the architecture.