From maintenance to design

Clean it up

If you would like to make a change, the best thing you could do is to clean out the porch. Make sure that there is no junk left when you start remodeling.

Furniture details

The next step is to pick a color theme for the porch. Naturally not everybody has a large budget for this project. If this is the case, you could opt for cushions and pillows that are less expensive.

Another option you have is to get some wood furniture. This could have any color and it could look modern or rustic. It is more expensive than the plastic furniture but it lasts longer.

If you would like to make a statement make sure that you have some strong contrasts in the room. For instance, you could have black furniture with turquoise accents.

Details make all the difference

Define the dimensions

One of the best ways to do this is to get a rug. This can define the seating area and also the room itself. The best thing is to go for something neutral. If you get a rug with patterns it may draw the attention away from the beauty of the room. The rug should be placed in the seating area. This way you can direct people towards it.

Window dressing

When you are transforming the porch it is important to think about the windows as well. If you want to have a more romantic look, go for sheer curtains. These are inexpensive and easy to install. They offer you privacy but they don’t make you feel isolated from the rest of the world.

Storage space

To make the look cozier you should have an end table or coffee table. This can be used to place drinks on, a fruit basket or a bowl of sweets. Weatherproof storage trunks could also turn out to be useful while adding some spice to the feeling of the room. It’s always good to have some hideaways to have things at hand.

(photo credit: www.thisoldhouse.com)

The choices you make

DIY or a professional

No one says that you can’t paint your house. Nonetheless the majority of the people don’t really have time for such activities or they simply don’t have the patience to do such a thing. If this is your case, you should opt for the services of a professional.

When to paint

The timing of the activity is also important. It is best to get the job done when there are between 50 and 90 degrees outside. The humidity should also be low. If the paint has the right conditions, it will brush out evenly and also dry evenly.

It’s all about the paint

Acrylics

These kinds of paint are considered to be the best one on the market. However you should know that they also differ according to the manufacturer and brand.

Oil-based paints

Although they aren’t as popular as they used to be in the 1950s, such paints have their advantages. These include smoothness and gloss that cannot be achieved with acrylic paints. Besides these they are also more resistant against dirt and they have a high level of hardness.

There are some outdoor items that just need to be painted with paint of this kind. Such items include the door, trim and wrought iron. This is because they are often touched and they look best if they have a shiny coat.

What should you look for?

No fade

There are some new kinds of paints, such as the no-fade ones. Their main feature is that the paint doesn’t lose its color because of the UV rays. The downside is that you need a specialized contractor to apply it on the walls.

Natural paint

Just as the name suggests, the best thing about it is that it doesn’t contain any harmful or harsh chemicals. If you apply three coats of this paint, it should last for about 50 years.

Waterbone oil

The interesting thing about this kind of paint is that it can be cleaned up using water and soap. It is more resistant and flexible than the usual oil-paint, but it isn’t as smooth. Also you have to remember that it cannot be used on porch floors.

Showering is perhaps one of the most basic activities anybody does daily. With the summer here and all the heat in the air, it feels natural to want to shower outside. Also, you can install vanity sinks outside for convenience.

Come, have a look at the coolest shower designs that make showering an exclusive experience.

1. Shower Wave

Designerzeit has a unique new outdoor shower. Designed for use by a pool, the Wave brings a touch of the contemporary outdoor art world right to your poolside.

Now the kids can wash off the sweat and dirt from playing in the yard before getting it in your pool. With Shower Wave, you can turn your ordinary pool into an extraordinary one.

2. Cascade Shower

The Cascade outdoor shower is versatile, functional and aesthetically pleasing. It features a base made from acacia wood that makes it comfortable to stand on.

There is a tube connected to the base that carries water to another, horizontal tube which then drops the water down onto you in a waterfall like style.

If you tap on the vertical tube, it will regulate the pressure of the water coming from the horizontal tube.

This is a wonderful shower for a garden, a terrace, deck, or even out by the pool or Jacuzzi. It is easy to both assemble and use. To connect water to it, simply attach an everyday garden hose to the base.

3. Myyour Dyno

Myyour has seen the new outdoor showers. Some of them are too pretty to use, some look like modern art, all of them are seemingly out of place beside your everyday run of the mill pool.

Taking all of that into account, MyYour has come up with a funky fun looking outdoor shower that is versatile enough to be used both in your backyard as well as by the seaside or at a hotel, condo or even campground.

The Dyno is made from polyethylene and comes in a plethora of colors. The shower head has silicon nozzles and the handles are chromed.

4. Natural Wicker

Are you in the market for a high end outdoor shower that has more of a natural look?  If you are, then look no further than the Wicker shower and towel rack by Horchow.

They are both lightweight and portable because they are made from aluminum and resin wicker.

The shower is functional once attached to a garden hose. It dispenses a natural type spray of water as opposed to the pressurized spray you get in an indoor shower.

It also has a soap rack integrated into the design. The towel rack is made to resemble a tree and the towels are to be hung on the ‘limbs’.

5. Garden Shower Ocean

Well, doesn’t this look like an interesting shower design?  It looks kind of a sickle. The small part has a control panel on it that activates and controls the shower in the tall part. Garden Shower Ocean is made from steel and is another addition to the Designerzeit family of outdoor showers.

They are known for the style and grace of their outdoor showers and this one does not disappoint. Place it poolside for a contemporary look or enjoy one at a hotel or condo. This design might also appeal to children who like to play in the water in the summertime.

6. Odalo Teak Solar Outdoor Shower

So you are looking for an outdoor shower, but you want to retain the ability to have temperature regulations in your water flow.

This is apparently a concern shared by many and the designers from Les Jardins au bout monde have heard the consumers’ plea and responded by creating the Odalo Teak Solar Outdoor Shower. Made from teak, it has a simple, sleek curved look and a camel back reservoir attached to the back of it.

Water is stored in here and heated by the sun. Mix in a little cold water from the garden hose that feeds water to it anyway and you have the perfect temperature in an outdoor shower. Perfect for the beach, pools, gardens, terraces and condos.

7. Bridge in Steel

This innovative shower is good for use at any location. The Bridge is made of galvanized steel tubing and has three distinct shower heads to completely drench the body in a soft spray.

The water is heated by a hot water regulator that can be installed either at the base of the shower or upstream near the source of the water flow.

Water is supplied to the Bridge by way of either a garden hose or a fixed installation somewhere near the placement of the shower.

This shower is available in a variety of colors to suit the needs of the landscape or your particular taste.

8. Solar Outdoor Shower

This is a really neat little shower!  The Solar Outdoor Shower is a portable outdoor shower. It connects to an ordinary garden hose and stores up to 6 gallons of water in its base.

It comes complete with wheels for easy portability, a tray to hold your personal shower products and a hand held shower head. There is also a slide bar to adjust the height.

9. Stilla Outdoor Shower

The Stilla Outdoor Shower by Ceadesign is a very unique piece and could actually double as a piece to be added to an art collection. Place it in the sun and you can imagine it as being raising its arm to welcome the attentions of the sun.

Very contemporary, it was designed by Girogio Parisse and is a glorious combination of style and functionality.

Its use as an outdoor shower is facilitated by the hydro-progressive mixer that regulates the temperature of the water. Two people can utilize this at once with the double shower heads.

10. Viteo Shower

The Viteo shower is an interesting one. It can be used to get salt and sand off you at the beach, to rinse off before or after swimming in the pool, or even just to cool off on those scorching hot days.

After connecting the device to a water hose, simply step on it. The weight of your body will activate it and you will immediately feel the refreshing coolness of water as it jets up, meeting over your head and gently falling back down on you like a cool, refreshing rainstorm.

11. Elegant Outdoor Showers

This is a simple yet elegant outdoor shower. Wait, when did outdoor showers become elegant?  Apparently they are now.

This shower is all black and has classic straight lines and a clean and sleek look. This shower is suitable for condos, hotels, poolside and gardens.

12. Minimal Shower

Newform has made an innovative new outdoor shower called Minimal. This looks more like a piece of modern art than a shower.

It has elegance and style that normally wouldn’t equate with a shower of any type. It consists of two pieces of cross mounted steel that are mounted on the floor.

It can be operated by way of a floor control or a mixer that is concealed – minimalistic. It is also available in a solo model. This would look fabulous in a garden, or in a contemporary setting.

13. Waterfall Outdoor Shower

Jane Hamley Wells has created an outdoor shower that is both functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Made from highly polished teak wood and cold, hard metal, this would be the perfect addition to your outdoor spa.

When you turn the shower on, the water flows from the top of this 7 foot tall structure in a sheet to cool you off completely. Use it for that purpose or to wash the sand away from your body at your beach house.

You could even use it to rinse off either before or after swimming in your pool, lake or any other water. This would make an interesting conversation piece for your garden as well.

14. Energy D270

Arkema Innovation and Technology has designed a new kind of shower to be used on beaches and at hotel pools that actually uses the power of the sun to heat the water. Not only is it based on green technology, but it also has a stylish design.

The Energy D 270 uses a system of microchips and tokens to control the showers. For example, a paying guest at a hotel or condo might have a certain number of showers included in the price of their stay, but other users would have to go in and buy tokens to partake of the shower facility.

15. Under Tree Outdoor Shower

At some point, if you get this shower for your backyard, someone will mistake it for a coat rack. It was actually designed this way by Conmoto for a reason.

The shower water actually comes out of one of the branches while the others are there for the purpose of hanging towels, washcloths and your clothes. This is a light weight, portable shower system.

It is made from two pieces of stainless steel that can be taken apart for ease of portability and simply connects to a garden hose to become operable. With the simplistic design, it can be functional in even the smallest of spaces.

The size of the patio shouldn’t be a problem. In order to save some money, you might use what you have, and make some extensions. If you have to deal with sloping surface then you might have to create a retaining wall.

This might cause some problems when raining, so you should place plastic flexible tubing along the wall to drain the water.

Increasing the size of the patio means that you will have to excavate a certain amount of dirt and then to place the new concrete patio surface.

To do a high quality job, it might be a good idea to fill the excavated surface with crushed limestone and with paver base. In order to achieve a smooth finish, you could rent a hamper and run over the new patio.

The next step is to lay down the concrete pavers and it might be a nice idea to fill the crack between the tiles with river rock. In case you have to cut the tiles to a certain size, you might find a stone dealer to do this job for you.

All there is left to do at this moment is to add a personal touch to the patio. You might do this through adding a wooden table and maybe some plastic chairs. The different materials will add depth to the look of new patio.

You might use any items that you have in order to personalize the space. For example you might turn an old potting bench into a buffet. Such ideas will add personality to your new porch and it will be a joy to spend some time outside.

For many of us patios invoke semi private corners of home, paved with natural stones, greenery and marvelous flowers. So, when we want to decorate patio region, first we have to analyze the space available and think on how we can utilize the available space efficiently.

Here are some patio decoration tips.

Choose right patio furniture

Right furniture is vital for patio decoration because like you, visitors to patio notice your patio furniture first. So, selecting right furniture for patio certainly makes or breaks the impression of wonderful patio décor. Keep the space and theme of your patio in mind and select right type of furniture for patios.

Accessories for patio

Plants and flower arrangements are natural accessories for patio areas. Other than these you can also go for few more formal things like tea cups, teapots, vases and the like that you can arrange on tables.

Install hammocks

If your patios have enough space, hammocks are the best thing to start with while decorating patios. More than just patio décor, hammocks act as lure to a relaxing nap for you. Hammocks come in different sizes, shapes and colors. So, go for the one that suits the patio theme well.

Colors for patio

Colors that compliment exteriors certainly add up for stylish patio décor.  So, choose colors that complement the furnishings, exterior finishing or colors patio or deck themselves. However, experts recommend selecting paint that provides long lasting effect, even though they are expensive.

Add warmth with plants

Plants improve atmosphere of patio and add beauty and warmth to patio regions. Potted plants are obviously wonderful choice for patio décor. You can go for herbs or fragrant flowering shrubs in patio region to create an inviting and pleasant environment.

Provide good lighting

Whether you are decorating a living room, bedroom or even outdoor living spaces like patios, particularly, lighting is an important factor that you should consider. Apart from adding beauty to the patio, good lighting certainly makes the entire area safer to walk at night.

Install fireplaces

You can enhance the ambiance of patio with lighting of fireplace. Now-a-days, portable chimneys and freestanding fireplaces are available in the market.

Hang wind chimes

Don’t overlook the accessorizing part in patio decoration. Wind chimes add nice tone to outdoor spaces. You can select wind chimes according to the theme of your patio.

For instance, if you have wooden deck, wooden wind chimes suit perfect. Other than wind chimes, look for other patio accessories that create sounds like water fountains, bird houses, etc.

If you are a fan of native designs, wide open eyes dreaming and cool nights spent on a terrace filled with Africa air then making such a dream come true is a few decoration ideas away.

Africa style has been a common presence in the home decoration ever since the colonial era and since the native patterns is a huge comeback of this year, decorating your terrace using African patterns and furniture style is a very good idea.

Mainly this decoration style focuses on introducing a close to nature concept, the usage of natural fabrics, raw wood, basic furniture, cotton curtains and colorful hemp rugs.

Consider this style for a vacation home with a wide terrace where you would like to welcome your guests during the hot summer evenings because the laid back colonial style is fitted especially for older residences that the owner might want to keep looking vintage but also offer them a welcoming touch.

Colonial furniture with a white birch table on a roughly finished deck, surrounded with willow wood or rattan chairs will for sure make your guests enjoy the relaxation moments.

You may be tempted to add a touch of classic and that would be a good idea. A stylish cabinet in a matching tone with the rest of the furniture will surely make an impression especially if you pick one with antique metal details that have a “used” look.

Choose a rattan armchair or sofa decorated with a cotton mattress or pillows for a delicate island look or even a hammock to hang on the terrace’s pillars.

Pick some large luxuriant plants in pots and post them on the corners of the terrace. You can also add a lovely touch with a copper candle lantern and a wood fruit bowl in the middle of the table.

Keep in mind that all your decoration must retain a vacation country style look and such a look would be enhanced by a ceiling fan you may find for a very good price in any used electric gear shop.

Botanical details on chair pillow and terrace cotton curtains are very good looking and enhance the island air of your terrace.

The most important thing is that any items you might need to create such a romantic summer retreat are available in both new and second hand shops so you must be aware that with a bit of imagination  and not necessarily lots of cash you can create a piece of stylish African paradise.

Their latest project is the famous Californian spa center – Sonoma Spa Retreat. The whole architecture of this project speaks of minimalistic idea, aesthetic look and ergonomic and sustainable design.

The new spa building is made to be a real futuristic wonder as it represents spa and swimming pool built as an outdoor living space of a rammed-earth house.

The designers created special spa outdoor pavilions that surely opened the landscape and are very adequate to the local climate. The spa center is equipped with special rustic trellis that provides shades from the California sun.

It also frames distant views of San Francisco to the south. The modern simple and sustainable design of the Sonoma Spa Retreat has already brought up the public’s attention due to its creative look.

In abstract paintings, disorientation and peculiar mix of colors may be considered an art. This fact however may not readily apply for selecting the right mix for exterior house colors.

A red roof with tangerine walls, blue painted gutters and green fences will not create a good picture at all.

Exterior house colors are essential components that complete the beauty of a house from outside. The turns and twists of how intricate the corners of a house were made can be either emphasized or ruined by the right or wrong shade of color used on it.

Carefully picked and planned exterior house colors complete the whole package of what a house is.

Picking out exterior house colors is not really a complicated thing. But it is definitely not your average everyday activity. It is well and good if you pull in the right shades. If not, it could cost you more for the tweaking.

Avoid the possibility of spending because of dissatisfaction and selecting the best exterior house colors for your humble abode. In selecting exterior house colors you just have to know what you want and find out how to properly place them.

Go the extra mile on these basic steps and find out that you could do more for the least effort.

Easy steps to follow in choosing exterior house colors

The dominant ones

Some of us have a color preference that we hope to use as an exterior house color. Others want at least two of their preferred colors in place.

There is nothing wrong with that. But when you have two dark colors like royal blue and dark brown, you may want to use one as an accent to the other to produce a visually pleasing effect.

Having two or more very strong or otherwise dominant exterior house colors may not have the effect that you desire when jammed up together in no particular array.

One light to go bright

After choosing the dark and dominant ones, choose one light color that will complement them. In choosing a light color, make sure that it’s the right blend for all the dark colors that you have in place.

White is a very neutral color, but may reduce the overall effect of exterior house colors[color wheel] to boring. Choose a color that will bring out the brightness of all the rest.

Proper place to ace

When you already have all the colors, decide and research on how to put them in proper places. One general goal of your exterior house colors is to enhance, accentuate and create optical illusions.

Dark colors define and enhance the points and turns of your houses, while light colors widen it. Further enhance this knowledge by investing on reading materials that will help you further know how colors should be placed to ace the overall effect.

It’s like the 1001 Arabian nights in steel and concrete. These villas are fantastically designed and combine modern clean lines with Arabian aesthetics. The stark white walls and the part glass walls make the structure truly majestic. The Villa has been designed in three floors.

The ground floor is airy and cool with an almost 4m high ceiling. All the formal rooms are located on this floor, the formal living and dining as well as the Majilis. The formal rooms all have great views of the greenery and the fountains in the garden.

The Majilis look sublime with the sunlight creeping in through the perforations in the concrete walls. The huge formal entrance comprising of the central staircase is well lit with the natural light that finds its way in through the glass floor on the top floor.

The formal entrance leads to all the formal rooms. The rooms are made warm and welcoming with the use of textures, tiles, fabrics and lighting.

Source : Hofmandujardin

This fantastic design offers compact apartments each with their own outdoor space. The apartments are between 47mt to 95mt. Each of these apartments are divided into two parts: an introvert zone and an extrovert zone. The introvert zone encompasses the entrance, bathroom(s), bedroom(s) and the stairs. The kitchen along with the living room is situated near the royal outdoor spaces. The elevation is transparent to add to the outdoor feel.

Each of these apartments is blessed with a 12mt garden which is about 80 cm deep and is constructed in concrete. The gardens and terraces have been designed such that each of them receives plenty of sunshine and one garden doesn’t obscure the view for another. They are designed in a way where each of them can be easily flaunted. The garden drainage is combined into the steel structure.

The apartments have a spectacular design in a successful effort to combine the great outdoors with urban living.

Source: Hofmandujardin