Minimalist Design for fungsionality life

If it isn't functional, why have it?
Minimalism is becoming more popular to be sure, but even so it's often misunderstood. While not owning a lot of stuff, living in a small house, or not spending money when possible are certainly part of it, underlying minimalism is the bringing together of beauty and functionality. My hub here is on beauty. This hub is on functionality.
The basic question a minimalist will ask of any item he or she owns is, "do I really need this?" Or in other words, "Does this serve a good function for me?" For example, a belt should be functional. But, as it stands that might mean owning dozens of belts. So, the second part of the question is, "does this item serve a function not fulfilled by something else?" Continuing the belt example, that means owning two or three at most -- an everyday one, and a nice one. Possibly both brown and black leather if your job requires a suit.
Let's look briefly at two things common in most homes, clutter and debt.Clutter isn't fuctional
Part of why a minimalist doesn't like clutter (or more broadly, having too much stuff), is because clutter doesn't really serve a good purpose. If I'm looking for something and I can't find it amidst all of my piles of stuff and drawers of knickknacks, then I'm going to end up stressed, frustrated, and unproductive.
On the other hand, if I can quickly find things I need and continue about my day, not only am i more productive, but I keep my spirits up. Everything has its place, and because I don't have a lot of stuff, it's easy to get to that place. Alternatively, if something isn't in its place, I probably don't need that long to find it. After all, there's not a lof of stuff, and by extension probably not many places I could reasonably look.Debt isn't functional
Financial freedom is a real treasure anymore. With all of our loans and credit card debt, not to mention car and house payments, few Americans can say that they have the finincial freedom and wherewithal to do what they really want to.
While I'm not saying that minimalists don't have debt -- many do, especially college graduates --, a minimalist sees debt for what it is. It's not functional, and things that aren't functional are inherently limiting. For example, in America at least, it's a good idea to own a credit card. Down the road, it makes applying for home or car loans easier. But functionally speaking, it's never good to spend money you don't have, or at the very least won't have by the end of the month. Credit card debt means interest, and interest means more debt. Paying it off every month means a good credit score, and not living beyond your means. Both of which, I might add, are a good thing.Minimalism works
The real essence of minimalist fuctionality is finding what works. If something just isn't cutting it for you, then why have it? The items we own should fulfill at least one of two purposes. Either they should be functional, or they should be beautiful. Ideally, everything you own should be both.
Minimalism in its various forms works for people because they have found ways to function better. They've stripped away the unnecessary, or are at least in the process of doing so. The hope is that by doing so, we can focus more on the things which really matter to us, whether that's our hobbies, or family, or travel, or whatever.
To reiterate, minimalism is not living like an ascetic, at least not for most minimalists. it's instead about having our needs met so that each of us can lead a productive and self-reliant life. Beyond that, most everything else seem extraeneous. As I said in another hub here, minimalism is a specturm, not a point. Find what works for you so that you feel the most productive and the most free.

American Peoplae in minimalist lifestyle

Brutal recession and lingering economic stagnation have massively expanded the ranks of Americans who espouse a minimalist lifestyle. Reduced income and assets forced reductions in spending. Voluntarily making further cuts in spending offers a way to regain control.
It’s fun to read blog posts written by someone who sold or gave away all of his possessions and now lives out of a backpack. But who wants to live with a maximum of 25 material possessions? Or even 100?Different Approaches to Minimalist Lifestyles
Minimalism refers primarily to a philosophy of living rather than a one-size-fits-all set of rules. Eliminating unnecessary possessions that waste resources and don’t add meaningful joy to life forms the core of a minimalist philosophy. People implement that philosophy in a way that best suits their individual preferences.
Members of the Small House Society practice minimalism by living in ultra-compact homes as small as 140 square feet. And some minimalists have no permanent home; they live essentially as nomads. Both approaches are too extreme for most people. A minimalist can also live in a “normal” sized house by making other changes - mostly getting rid of a lot of excess property.
Going minimalist all at once could be too much of a shock and lead to failure. Instead, minimize in phases to gradually adjust your minimalist comfort zone. In each phase, sort soon-to-be eliminated items based on whether you will trash, donate or sell them.Step 1 - Basic De-Clutter
In Step one, inspect all areas of your home and car. Spend no more than ten seconds making a decision on any item. If you can’t get comfortable with eliminating something within ten seconds, keep it for now. The goal in Step one is to build some momentum.
Much of what you eliminate in Step 1 will fall into the trash category. It is harder to part with something that still has value (even if it is worthless to you).Step 2 - Scale Down Your Possessions
Schedule a garage sale. Inspect your remaining belongings again. Focus on identifying items to sell. Assembling a good inventory for the garage sale provides a financial incentive for vigorously discarding excess possessions.
Commit to unloading any possession you have not used for a certain period of time. Choose a time period no longer than one year that matches your comfort zone.
As soon as you conclude the garage sale, donate everything that did not sell (and anything you previously set aside in the donation category). I usually donate my stuff to Goodwill. They open their donation receiving area every day, which makes it convenient.Step 3 - Refine and Simplify Your Life
Steps 1 and 2 generally don’t require much time, maybe just a single weekend. Step 3 is an ongoing advancement in your minimalist lifestyle. Regularly scrutinize your remaining possessions. Pare them down until you only keep what you really want.
Eliminating excess possessions frees up space in your home. Living with less clutter can have psychological benefits too because seeing the clutter can create stress. Clean surfaces and more open space have a calming effect.
As I write this hub, I have only just barely completed Step 2. Getting rid of lots of stuff I don’t miss at all was fun and inspired me to move on to Step 3.
To learn more about the minimalist philosophy, check out Leo Babauta’s zenhabits.net. Babauta’s blog even sports a calming minimalist design to complement the content. It includes a series of educational posts organized under “Start Here.”

Minimalist Home Design Interior

A room full of furniture does not make it a home. One cannot be the master of all trades, professional help has to be taken when it comes to decorating your home or you may end up living in a shoebox. The right stuff in the right place is the magic mantra, the day you learn this mantra you can say you have the knowledge of interior designing.

The lack of knowledge about interiors forced people to stay in houses congested with huge furniture, as they were in vogue in the past. With a little help from interior designers or few tips from the net or magazines one can make remarkable changes and create more place with the same space.

The common man’s ignorance about interior designing has made professional interior designers the most sort after professionals. A common man would never think that factors like light, furniture style, paint and other accessories play such an important role in giving your house the desired effect.

When it comes to interior decorating, Often people are under the impression that designing their homes means stuffing it with the most expensive furniture and fixtures, but if placed well even ordinary items can give stunning results. Secondly no matter how big and well furnished your house is, if it is not neat and tidy it can never look beautiful, this is one golden rule all interior designer follow and advice the same. An interior decorator can only decorate your home but it’s up to you to maintain that beauty and class.

Laziness can never be an excuse for untidiness. Everything has a particular place in a house, a slight alteration or misplacement disturbs the entire getup. You can follow simple tips and maintain the beauty of your home, say for e.g. you can always use a table with drawers rather than a counter-top, this will help you to maintain tidiness as well as carelessly stuff everything in those drawers.

If you are an intellectual person your home décor cannot be complete without a bookrack, but books can be can cause a real mess if not managed properly. Interior decorators will always advice you to discard what is old and not required. It is observed that some people tend to collect things that don’t match their interiors and thus end up occupying space and the worst is that they can never decide what is required and what is not when it comes to discarding things.

Before choosing the furniture for your room the usable space is to be kept in mind, if your room is small you should always prefer furniture that occupies less space and arrange it in a conversational placement i.e. facing each other and not just keep where it fits right. Secondly proper lighting plays a significant role while decorating your home, a properly lit room can enhancing the beauty of the room as well as make it and appear less claustrophobic. So keep in mind that using dark shades and low wattage lights, especially in a room that does not get adequate natural light is very bad idea.

Minimalist home Design: Simple is Better

These days, most people believe that 'simple is better'. You may notice that most houses built today have minimalist style. As a result, we often find that one house is not so different from the other. If you are the type of person with quite an eccentric taste, you might not like the idea of minimalism. You will likely to expect something different, especially when you are designing your house. Instead of following the trend of using modern, minimalistic home design ideas, you probably would like to give Victorian style a try. Because of its complexity, people tend to avoid designing their house in this manner. Therefore, you can be confident that your house will be unique and one of a kind.

This unique home design idea emphasizes on the use of beautiful and sophisticated decorative pieces as well as furniture pieces. Just as the name suggests, this style is inspired by the architectural style commonly utilized during the era of Queen Victoria of England. The houses and buildings built during that period were elegant and luxurious, due to the choice of furniture and colors. The one thing that you have to keep in mind is that building a Victorian-style house might cost you a large sum of money. Even so, the result will not disappoint you. If, however, you are running on a limited budget, you can just take some important aspects of this style to decorate your house. Nowadays, there are also lots of second-hand Victorian-inspired furniture pieces that you can find with relatively cheap price and good quality.
The walls of a Victorian-style house need to be painted in bold colors. Try using dark yet lively colors such as ruby or sapphire. You can also use wallpapers with floral motifs. Choose wallpapers with smaller patterns if your house is small, so that it won't appear smaller than it really is. Opt for wood flooring and cover with luxurious carpet. For the curtains, use materials such as velvet or brocade for that Victorian look. And to decorate, you can put antique figurines, candles, flowers, or oriental dolls in a display cupboard or on a table.
Remember that Victorian style is all about uniqueness and being different. This home design idea is not just for anyone. You need to be artistic and creative when it comes to decorating your house and the house that you have always dreamed of is yours.

Cost of Converting Your Crawl Space to a Basement

All have veriable costs depending on depth and the structural needs. Some contractors can complete a 1' digout for as little as $50 per square foot.

Converting your crawl space to a basement is easier than ever. Professional contractors have specialized equipment and full work crews that can get the job done quickly, and, fairly economically. When you consider how labor intensive a conversion is and how much they used to cost versus the return on your investment, the whole project is actually quite a bargain.
When a contractor converts your crawl space, they are literally digging it out, replacing it with the space for a full basement.
The greastest and most cost efficient use of the space under your home is a basement. You are improving space inside your existing footprint which saves tons of money on the front end of the project. No Zoning issues, land development issues or architectural needs. Lack of all these professionals really lowers cost of this kind of project.
Waterproofing the new structure, including installing sump pumps, window wells, bilco doors, bathroom, sewage pumps, new laundry tubs all can be added without huge professional costs.
The biggest problem is knowing what you want to use the space for. In most cases, the crawl space is unusable for even dry storage.
The area of the new basement is generally 1/2 of the square footage of the house and really provides great new space. With the crawlspace dig out only minor structural issues have to be addressed.
The work is very tedious and hard labor must be done to ensure the stability of your existing home. The old footers need to be undermined carefully and in small sections on opposite sides of the property at a time. This process is completed over rotating sections which eventually complete the new wall structure.
It's a big job, but most home owners get a 125% return on investment, especially if they are planning to sell the home at some point or use a home equity loan.
The 5 major areas of work involved in a conversion are:
1. Dirt removal
2. Structural support & engineering
3. New Footers
4. New Walls
5. New Floor
In most cases, the ultimate cost of a 2' to 3' digout to be $50-$100 per square foot. This covers the digging, dirt removal, fixing of structural issues (if any), adding new footers and new concrete walls and a new cement floor (which form the new basement).
If you want a rough estimate, take the square footage of your home, divide it by.5, then multiply that number by 50 and 100 dollars. This is just a guide, your home may cost more or less depending on your individual situation.

Home Improvement: Maximise the space

Double up
If you need a lot of storage space and rely on the room in your attic, one option worth considering is dividing your loft into two rooms. The main room can be the extra bedroom or study as planned while the second room would become a practical and accessible storage space. As well as gaining an extra room by converting the attic, you would gain a storage area which you could access via a door rather than via a ladder and hatch.

In many homes, the attic is a wasted, unused and somewhat undervalued space which is why a loft conversion can be extremely beneficial. Instead of housing Christmas decorations, old clothes and disused toys, the space could become an additional bedroom, home office or hobby room. As appealing a prospect as this is however, it does raise one concern; where can you store your attic treasures?
Maximise the space
A room created in the loft space will always be unconventional in shape and slanted ceilings mean that there will be some areas of the room that are less accessible. This low space under the eaves is the perfect place to build in some storage such as shelving, cupboards or cabinets as the area would not otherwise be used. Apart from giving you extra space to put things in, a cabinet built in this space would not encroach on the room as a free standing unit would. Using this space effectively minimises the need for other furniture pieces in the room making the room feel larger and less cluttered.
Under the stairs
There are many different options when it comes to building a staircase up into a loft conversion and some styles will offer you more storage space. A boxed in staircase can incorporate a cupboard into the space under the stairs which is accessible via a door. The triangular space under a straight staircase can similarly be used for storage even if the area is not boxed in because a cabinet, shelving, shoe rack or other unit can be comfortably accommodated. Unfortunately, this is not an option for those with limited space who might have to opt for a narrow staircase such as a spiral staircase.
Above the conversion
Depending on your house, there may well still be space directly under the roof once the loft conversion is complete. As with the previous attic, there will be a hatch into this area where things can be stored. Admittedly, this space will be less accessible than a conventional cupboard but it is perfect for items that you use less frequently such as seasonal decorations.
Landing storage
Lastly, in many houses, it is possible to create a fairly roomy landing space around the top of the stairs. A popular design is to have a long corridor with a gallery overlooking the floor below and if there is space along this corridor, it can be a good place to house a chest of drawers or bookcase.
Overall, a loft conversion offers many more benefits than disadvantages. It is much cheaper than an extension, offers additional living space and increases the value of your property. Although losing storage space can be an inconvenience, there are many ways to get around it, some of which can be incorporated into the conversion design. If the above solutions are not practical for your home or you need more alternatives, more storage can always be incorporated around your home with a little creativity. Under bed storage, built in wardrobes and shelving are a just a few simple ideas that can help you to make use of empty spaces.

Home Remodeling for sale

Remodeling your home can be a smart way to improve its appearance and functionality while also increasing its value. As a homeowner, you've probably read a little bit about which home improvement projects are the smartest investments. There are some really great home improvement projects that can yield a nice return on investment, such as adding a wooden deck or converting an attic into a bedroom to add living space.

But what are the home remodeling projects you should avoid?
See, not every renovation is a good value. There are some home remodeling projects that are a gigantic waste of money, so it's important that you know this before you make an investment in them.
What are the worst home remodeling projects for your buck? They include:
• Remodeling your home office - Get this: homeowners who remodel a home office only recoup less than half of the project's cost when they sell the home. Why is this? After all, aren't more people working from home than ever before? Yes, they are, but that doesn't mean they want to take up valuable square footage in the home with a space that's set aside just for work. When you dump money into building a real home office, you're taking that precious square footage and preventing it from being used for any other purpose.
• Sun room additions - Adding a sun room addition to your home will only get you about a 49 percent return on your investment. That's not a good value if you're interested in making a smart investment in your home. The reason these renovations generate such a low return on investment is because they represent an inefficient use of interior space. People don't need a sunroom; they need more living space. And when you consider that the average cost of a sunroom addition is $73,000, it's pretty clear that there are smarter things you can invest your money in.
• Backup power generators - A backup power generator seems like a smart investment, right? Maybe it is from a practicality standpoint, but from a financial standpoint, it's not. With the average cost of backup generators at nearly $15,000 for homeowners, you might be surprised to learn that you'll only recover about $7,000 of that when you sell your home. That's less than 50 percent return on investment.
• Garage addition - An upscale garage addition will run you over $86,000 on average. That's a lot of money! And guess how much of that you'll recover when you sell your home? Only about $45,000. That's just over a 50 percent recovery rate. The problem is that garages are labor-intensive to build, and they are an inflexible space with very limited use.
Now, it's worth noting that just because these home remodeling projects might not be smart investments if you're interested in selling your home, they can still be worthwhile if you plan on staying in your home for a long time and you just want to improve its function for your own life. Remember, you want to be comfortable in your home, so if you're going to be there for a while, do what you want with your space.

Minimalist Home Idea

Why Should I Be Minimal?
The What and Why of Minimalism
Do you have a lot of things? Books, magazines, shoes?
Do you love all of these things?
Do you enjoy cleaning the dust off of them?
Do you admire the beauty of your home every day?
I certainly don't do any of those things, and I have mountains of stuff. Every room in my house has something in it that I don't want. So the only logical thing to do would be to get rid of these unwanted things? Right?
I am at the beginning of my minimalist journey. I have a long way to go, but I have learned a lot about myself and how I live already.
My reasons for pursuing minimalism.
Money. I spend a lot of money, too much money. By realizing that I need less, and that my material possessions don't define me, I have saved money. Now I can use that money to save for my future, eat at an amazing restaurant, or spend it on experiences with my loved ones.
Stress. The things I own cause me stress. I'm constantly organizing, cleaning, and moving around my clutter. Just imagine yourself coming home after a long day, walking into your clean and clear living room, and feeling relaxed. The stacks of magazines, unfinished journals, and books that surround me just cause me to feel anxious and stressed. I eliminate this stress by practicing minimalism.
Freedom. I feel free. I can go wherever I want, without feeling weighed down by a bulging purse. With less things, I spend less time cleaning and organizing, and more time living. The money I save gives me freedom. I have more in my bank, and therefore more opportunities to experience life.
Creativity. I used to think that holding onto hundreds of pieces of paper and notes helped me create better. I would jot down my ideas on everything from gum wrappers to backs of recipes, and I would hide these little papers everywhere. But without the clutter, and the stress created by all my useless possessions, I can finally think clearly. I have more time to focus on my mind, and my art.
Sources of Minimalist Wisdom
I first heard of minimalism through reading blogs and articles online. So here I share my favorite sources of minimalist wisdom. I hope these amazing minimalist help guide you like they guided me.
Rowdy Kittens - This woman is a wealth of information on everything related to simple living. Her blog is insightful and a great read.
Be More With Less - When I first starting researching minimalism I found this blog. The writing of this blog is easy to relate to, and her articles are always interesting. A would consider this a great place to start.
Mnmlist - Leo Babauta is a very inspirational Minimalist. He has 6 children and still manages to stay so minimalist, and so brilliant. His website is definitely worth reading.
How do I start?
Starting slow is the key to success in becoming a minimalist.
Spend a little time reading about minimalist, learn more about the mindset you have to have to become one.
Start with one project at a time. Don't try to get rid of everything you own at once. Just start with one shelf of your closet, then move onto the floor. Donate or sell what you don't need to have, and feel the weight of your clutter slowly lift away.
Spend some time creating and living. Clear out that one shelf or drawer or closet, and then spend some time outside. Make room in your life to de-stress.
Don't rush. It's not a race to be the perfect minimalist. The point of this journey to find peace and relaxation. So relax, and enjoy the process of changing your life for the better.
Minimalist Reading Materials
Reading everything you can about minimalism, and the mindset that goes with it will help you in your journey to a simpler, happier life.
Smalltopia by Tammy Strobel is a great read, so is her other ebook Simply Car-Free.
The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life by Leo Babauta is a wonderful place to start with your reading. I found this book insightful, and inspiring. It really helped me focus and understand why minimalism is the way to live.
Inside-Out Simplicity by Joshua Becker is another great book to read. This book will challenge you and encourage you to find a simpler life.

My Dream Home: Minimalist Home Design

As I was making my dream book some time ago, I started thinking about what kind of house I would like to own and live in. So I did some research and found that I gravitated towards minimalist and zen interior designs with a hint of Japanese flavor. But just what is minimalism and zen interior design? They're the same, aren't they?
Although some people think both styles of interior decorating are the same, they actually are not. Minimalist Interior Design focuses on freeing a house from things that are not necessary in order to give it a tidy, organized, and clutter-free look. Zen Interior Design, on the other hand, is all about turning a home into a place of sanctuary where one can experience soothing tranquility and escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
I like both of them for the following reasons:It’s more relaxing.
This kind of home contains only the bare necessities. In it you’ll find only a few essential pieces of furniture such as a couch, a bed, a dresser, a working table or desk and the like. It is uncluttered and so being in it relaxes the eyes and calms the soul.It looks classier and more elegant.
Dominated by subdued colors with just a bit of bright color, it exudes quiet elegance and sophistication. Earth colors such as green, brown, and blue which are often used in zen interior design also contribute to the atmosphere of pure balance.It reflects my preference for simplicity.
I value simplicity in all aspects of my life. I buy and keep only the things that I need. I prefer plain colored clothes over those with wild prints. The only piece of jewelry I wear is my wedding ring. (Yes, my ears have never been pierced.) And so a simply designed home fits my personality well.It’s easier to clean.
This, to me, is one of the biggest attractions of a minimalist home. Since there aren’t so many things in it, it’s much easier to clean! I have to confess, I absolutely hate doing household chores and would rather have a maid do it for me. But with a minimalist home, I’d probably be able to handle the cleaning myself (I think… Hehe… ^_~).It helps maintain a healthy state of mind, body and soul.
Okay, so this is the true benefit of a zen home. By having a place to be truly at peace after a hard day’s work, one is able to recharge the spirit and re-energize the body. Coming home would truly be like going to heaven when you have a zen home, especially when your husband or wife greets you lovingly with a smile as you arrive.
Tadaima. ^_^ (A Japanese expression meaning "I'm back!" said upon returning to one's home.)
Okaeri. ^_^ (Welcome home.)

Home Improvment: decorating Your Home

This article discusses the different types of materials that can be used for porch railings. It also enumerates the benefits and drawbacks of each material that can be used for the porch railing.
Depending on the materials that you use for your porch railings, you can bestow a professional or modern and trendy look to your house.
A porch is a wonderful addition to a house where one can relax in solitude or socialize by hosting parties and other events in the privacy of the home. Irrespective of the part of the house that a porch is located, it has an amazing number of advantages. Whether you want an intricately styled porch or a minimalist structure depends on your aesthetic taste. However, the fact remains that a beautiful porch can be the highlight of any house.
When you have a porch, it becomes necessary to install porch railings not just for the safety of your family and friends but for the elegance that it imparts to the porch. When choosing the material for porch and deck rails, you have a lot of variety but what you need to consider is the ambience of your house and the kind of furniture you have. If the porch railing does not blend with the furniture and style of the house, it will appear awkward and take away from the charm of the porch. So, you need to be very careful about it. Materials like wrought iron, vinyl, iron and wood are often used for the making of porch railings.
Let us first examine the various features of wooden railings. These railings provide a very solid and warm look to the porch. Another point in favor of wooden railings is that it is very affordable and even those with a modest budget can opt for some classy looking wooden railings. Apart from this, wood is flexible enough to be carved into innovative shapes and designs. Again, wood allows different baluster shapes like spherical, flat, square etc. Wood is very sturdy and easy to maintain and it can be protected from the weather by applying a coat of paint on it.
Vinyl railings, on the other hand, are very commonly used for all kinds of railings and fences. Many materials need to be kept safe from the weather by painting over them, but all that vinyl requires is using a damp cloth and cleaning the railing with it. With vinyl, you also do not need to worry about sanding, caulking, priming, and painting like you have to do with wood. Again, maintenance is something that you will not have to bother about with vinyl. The only problem of vinyl is that these railings are non-biodegradable in nature.
Last but not the least; you have wrought iron porch railings. These railings are also very strong and can last a long time despite being a little difficult to maintain. Wrought iron can catch rust easily and lots of attention needs to be paid to avoid corrosion in the railings. Since the manufacture of wrought iron railings requires talent and time, it is pretty expensive compared to other materials. However, the beautiful designs available in this material more than makes up for the cost of wrought iron railings.
Finally, what you need to gauge is whether the material that you choose for the railings looks good on your porch. On the basis of this, you can select the right material for your porch railing.
Read more details about installing deck railing and deck railing details at this web.

Improve Your Household Using Ship Wheels As Tropical Decoration

Thinking about sprucing up your ordinary room, house, or even office with the beauty of the ocean? Nautical decorations can be discovered in all types on the internet. Particularly, there are many ship wheel replicas that make outstanding nautical decorations. Ship wheels made of top high quality are made from a wood called shisham, which has teak-like durability and is polished within the center. You will find plenty of nautical decor websites on-line that sell ship wheels as little as 15 inches and as large as 60 inches across. Nautical decor items like ship wheel clocks are made the very best materials available, and handcrafted by master artisans. Nautical decorations like authentic ship wheels are positively great for finishing out a model ship collector's room. The big variety of wooden ship wheels will occupy your time as your attempt to determine on which one is greatest suited for your designated room.

The Significance of Ship Wheels

Ship Wheels have been around since the early 18th century. When they first came into existence they were utilized on the deck of the ship near the rudder and also the captain was always exposed to the elements. Eventually with the introduction of the steam ship, the ship wheel was moved inside to the bridge, where it was a lot simpler and safer for the captain to navigate. Ship wheels serve as great symbols of the nautical culture. Ship wheel clocks in particular are excellent gifts for nautical lovers. They're ideal for placement within the home, office, restaurant/bar and boat.
The ship wheel's significance dates back a number of centuries. The vast ocean transfers its power through to the ships wheel. The feeling of being behind the ship's wheel is really a tremendous surge of power that can prove to be intoxicating. Ship wheels are an extremely essential component of navigating the open seas, as well as an essential aspect of symbolizing the nautical culture. As such, ship wheels have been the inspiration behind numerous nautical decorations within the nautical enthusiast culture. There are numerous different kinds of designs for ship wheel nautical decorations. 1 such interpretation of the ship wheel is the wooden ship wheel clock. Wooden ship wheel clocks make fantastic nautical wall decorations around the home. Such wooden ship wheels go fantastic on the entrance to a nautical themed room as a symbol of what is behind the door.

Ship Wheel Decor

Ship wheel clocks bring a lot of history to the house, and add a nautical sense of adventure to any room. Most authentic ship wheels are composed of the finest woods accessible, and could be found for inexpensive costs. Having a ship wheel clock in your nautical room is practically tradition in the hobby of nautical craft. There is really a wide selection of ship wheels that can found for this reason. If you are looking to discover such ship wheels, then you'll be pleased to find fantastic sources on-line with just a quick search. When looking on-line, looking for nautical decor ship wheels that are crafted to be as close in resemblance to the real factor as feasible.

A 19th Century House - City Landmark

A 19th Century House - City Landmark #106

911 N. Tucker, built c. 1840, is the only survivor of the dense residential neighborhood that once enveloped downtown. It is a wonderful example of the City's early Federal architecture as well as the City's changing immigration patterns. Owned first by a German family, it was then purchased by a Jewish family from Poland, and then an Italian couple who operated a speakeasy and boarding house. Rumors are that it was also at one time a bordello. It was converted into a restaurant in 1979 and later was renovated as the home of the Mounted patrol. It was designated a City Landmark in 1978.

The Origins of the Passive House

In 1988 Professors Bo Adamson of Lund University in Sweden and Wolfgang Feist from the Institute for Housing and the Environment in Germany developed the idea of the Passivhaus or Passive House. In 1990 they designed and built 4 Passive Houses in Darmstadt in Germany.

In September 1996 the Passivhaus Institute was set up in Darmstadt to help develop standards and improve techniques for building Passive Houses. Since then, over 25,000 certified Passive Houses have been built.Concept
The main concept behind the Passive House is to design a house that does not need to be ‘actively’ heated (or cooled) by a HVAC system such as central air, hot water or gas. As with sustainable design and green interior design, the motivation is to make environmentally friendly houses that have a low carbon footprint and that reduce the use of electricity to a minimum and thus reduce carbon emissions from power stations.

 The difference between a Passive House and a Zero Energy Building is that the Zero Energy Building does not seek to replace heating/cooling systems with alternative technologies. Rather the electricity for the house is generated from alternative energy sources such as photovoltaic panels. The aim of the Zero Energy Building is to make a building that produces more electricity than it consumes. The aim of a Passive House is to design a house that doesn’t need heating and cooling by heat pumps, furnaces, air-con units etc.

 Passive Houses have worked very well in Central Europe and Northern Europe. Most of the certified Passive Houses have been built in Germany, Austria and Scandinavia. Typically, a passive House loses less than 0.5 °C (1 °F) per day (in winter), stabilizing at around 15 °C (59 °F) in the central European climate. This is an incredible achievement and obviously makes Passive House technologies key to formulating strategies for making buildings independent of fossil fuel energy.How Does a Passive House Work?
One of the key components to designing a Passive house is the use of superinsulation. Superinsulation is what it sounds like – insulation of a much higher specification than normally found in buildings. One of the key components to Passive House construction is to build walls with much bigger insulation gaps than normal houses. Much more insulation is used. Although Passive Houses are normally built from scratch it is possible to retro fit a house to conform to Passive House standards.

 Insulation is also used in the roof and the gaps between the walls and the roof and the walls and the flooring are firmly sealed to prevent loss of heat. All holes for wiring, ventilation etc. are also carefully sealed to remove any holes where heat can be lost. Also the doors and windows are made with air-tight seals. Typically for a Passive House the walls are Rip40 and the roof is Rip60. These figures are measures of thermal resistance.

 Another key component of superinsulation is the window design. Windows are made smaller and often use tree cover and awnings to reduce heat transfer. The windows themselves are triple glazed with a low e finish to further minimize heat loss/gain.

 Instead of using standard HVAC equipment such as central air, air-con units, gas, hot water etc. a Passive House instead uses a dual purpose 800 to 1,500 watt heating and/or cooling element integrated with the supply air duct of the ventilation system. Normally the heater will not be used as the house is so well sealed and insulated that the waste heat given off from electrical appliances such as fridges, washing machines, light bulbs etc. combined with the body heat given off from the human inhabitants of the house is enough to keep the house warm.

 It is, however, important to use electricity to keep the house properly ventilated. Because the house is sealed it is not easy for air to circulate around the house. Without air circulation the indoor air quality deteriorates. To solve this problem as efficiently as possible, using as little electricity as possible a heat recovery ventilation system is used. The heat recovery ventilation system has a heat recovery rate of over 80%. The system uses high-efficiency electronically commutated motors (ECM) to maintain air quality. When the weather permits natural ventilation is used such as a small opening or a more effective stack effect (smaller ingress and larger egress windows).

 To power the heat recovery ventilation system photovoltaic panels can be put on the roof. Because the system uses much less electricity than normal HVAC systems and because it is often not used in the summer and spring the electricity generated can be deployed for running other electrical appliances. Often a Passive House will also use solar gain technologies to heat water.Cost / Pros and Cons
A Passive House costs 14% more to build than a conventional house. The extra expense is soon paid for by the huge savings to be made on heating bills.

 Passive Houses have performed excellently in the colder climes of Central and Northern Europe. Only a few Passive Houses have been certified in hot and tropical climates. Obviously in hot and humid conditions the challenges to the green designer are different. There is a danger of the insulation in the walls and roof becoming covered in mold. There is a house in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, which is a certified Passive House The house uses Energy Recovery Ventilation instead of Heat Recovery Ventilation. This removes excess humidity and transfers excess heat to the hot water tank. Still much of the literature and technologies associated with Passive House design and architecture are concerned with replacing conventional heating not conventional cooling systems.

 Finally, Passive House design tries to limit surface area and window size. Not everyone will be happy about living in a smaller house with small windows. Still overall, the Passive House is an impressive achievement and a testament to the efficiency of superinsulation. It is also a testament to how inefficient conventional homes are.

boys room improvment

For your child to have a place to call his own, your boys room is key, so you want to ensure it has a nice decorating theme. But it might be challenging to make smaller areas look big on style. Luckily, there are many methods you can deploy to make decorating a small boys room a large success!

You would be smart to be certain to decorate for the size of your space. Clutter could make even the biggest of boys rooms feel smaller, and having a lot of stuff laying around an already small room ought to be avoided.

The color palette is another major cosideration when enhancing your boys room. You don't need to purely use light toned colors when making up for smallness in a room. You can dispense with that bland white and try a monochromatic palette, or go with colors which have identical intensity and this will not make the room look small sized. For a more colorful room go bold with bright yellows and oranges that all have the same intensity or to exude a calm and peaceful interior design style think about a monochromatic decorating theme of moss greens. Painting an opposing wall a deep color will cause it to look further away, thus adding depth and unique appeal. Pale tones will recede, therefore making the room look larger and blue gray is a fine decorative hue for a small room. If you think gray will be too bland, you can in effect decorate with any cool hue such as blue or green to get the same effect.

When it comes to putting furniture in the room, try and keep to small sized fittings. In place of having twin beds, try using bunk beds which will allow for sleepovers yet make the room feel larger. It's a good idea to add appeal to your boys room by mixing in certain larger scaled items, so mix your smaller beds, use a striking wall poster- this can add appeal and make the room look bigger also.

Another consideration for decorating a small boys room is to take into consideration where the pieces are going to be placed in the space. Even if lots of people brush off the principles of Feng Shui, the principle behind it can still be employed when putting the furniture in your boys room. Furniture should be put away from the doors to allow easier open access to the rooms and also make it appear larger. Besides, if you do purchase a bigger piece of furniture, such as a big stuffed animal or artwork, it will help to divert guests attention onto it hence making the room seem larger in the bargain.

Making good use of the area in your boys room is essential so think about this when implementing your home design. Think about designs which allow for much baskets and shelving as these can work as additional storage. No matter what you decide on, don't forget to be certain you like it, this is where your child will be spending a lot of time.

These suggestions allow decorating a small boys room to be simple in addition to effortless. Simply because your boys room is cozy doesn't mean it can't have the same incredible design style you see in designer houses - it simply requires some creativity.