sweet home

Large Private Lovina Villa - Bali

2008-05-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

more visit http://www.bali-information.com/BaliPropertyListing.php/Item/110

Bali in Galery 3

2008-05-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

more visit http://www.bali-information.com/BaliPropertyListing.php/Item/110

Bali in Galery 2

2008-05-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Baly in Galery 1

2008-05-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

vila in bali

2008-05-23T11:56:00.001-07:00

VILLA accommodations in Bali have become famous with the traveler seeking something special and exclusive. Known for providing secluded luxury, villa accommodations are generally small and familiar with their own character and ambiance. These are the perfect places where you and your family enliven the fresh atmosphere with first class service, and enjoy the holiday in the deep soul of Bali with a charming view.

Many foreign visitors to Bali have built their own dream villas which they use only a few weeks a year. The minimum rental period for a private villa is usually one week, although you are free to make your reservation for any period as long as it surpasses the minimum of seven nights. For travelers who plan a stay of less than one week, many villa providers praise villa-like accommodation offered by some resorts.

Advantages of renting a villa will be yours if you rent a private villa in Bali instead of staying at a prestigious hotel or resort. However, when you compare the cost of renting a privately owned villa with the total cost of staying at a hotel, the "luxury" of renting a beautiful villa with all amenities will turn out to be much cheaper.

You can get pleasure from a beautiful private villa with personal swimming pool, a lush tropical garden, enormous and fully furnished living room, fully equipped kitchen and trained staffs to take care of everything that all your requirement during stay at villa. You can have fun Balinese lifestyle, and you'll find all the residential comforts you'd assume at a private home. Also you will find a tranquility and privacy.

Possibly you have a big family or travel together with friends, even traveling alone or as a couple, you'll probably like better one of the much smaller villas with a nice simplicity and local style, but even these are set in beautiful private gardens and surrounded by plenty of tropical plants and flowers.

Lexury vila

2008-05-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

LUXURY LIVING IN THE HEART OF NATURE
This brand-new luxury 350 m^3 Villa is located just 5 min from Taman Ayun on an outstanding location of 1,840 m^3 on the slope of a beautiful river valley from where you enjoy a 360 degrees view of over untouched nature. Set-up is on two levels in order to be able to enjoy the stunning view from almost every room.
The villa's design is a charming fusion between modern functional Western and contemporary tropical Asian architecture. It has a large living room, 4 air-conditioned bed rooms, oversized en-suite bath rooms and a fully equipped kitchen. A large private swimming pool and a Gazebo are set in its own beautiful landscaped tropical garden.
FACILITIES
- private entrance to the villa
- large private tropical garden
- extensive living and dining area with bar & guest toilet
- fully equipped kitchen incl. build-in gas stove, oven hood & refrigerator/freezer
- 4 bed rooms, air-conditioned with individual temperature control
- en-suite bath rooms with built-in wardrobes, spacious dressing area
- 3 storage rooms
- private swimming pool 4.3 x 8.1 m
- sun bed, sun bathing chairs & umbrella
- TV, CD-VCD-DVD Player
- built-in electronic safe deposit boxes in each bed/bath room
- attached maid room, laundry and maid bath room
PRICE USD 249,000

visit us at www.oryzabali.com

Traditional bali

2008-05-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Balinese temples are divided into three parts. One inevitably passes through a split gate or Candi Bentar to enter the first courtyard. Then a second gate rising high with the grinning face of a guardian demon leads to the second division. Inside there are numerous pavilions used for various purposes. In the final courtyard one may find the meru pagoda which may have as many as eleven roofs if the owner or temple is important enough. The black thatch is from the sugar palm and can only be used in temples. There will also be numerous sanggah or spirit houses, and pedestals which will be full of offerings on ritual days. All around you, carving in brick, volcanic stone and wood will be apparent. All are ringed by walls. The Balinese have always spent a great deal of energy and money on their temples for it is their duty to repay the ancestors for their prosperity.

Balinese royalty has always felt it imperative that they demonstrate their prosperity and standing by building magnificent palaces. The carved wooden doors of these palaces are especially famous for their beauty. The teak doors of the main palace of Denpasar were so large that they required forty porters to carry them. In the palaces bright colours and gold leaf abound for the display of opulence and even the smallest and most insignificant of details is deemed proof of nobility. Unlike Europe, Balinese palaces are not single huge buildings but rather a collection of numerous structures each with a special function such as the bale gede, an open pavilion of 12 columns, where the oldest male of the family sleeps. During important ceremonies such as tooth filing, this will serve as a place to commune with the ancestors and gods who descend from the heavens to partake of the many offerings placed on the beds. As in the temples, the four directions of the Balinese compass are critical in determining the lay-out and positioning of buildings.

Another large and important structure is the wantilan or cock fighting arena. It is called this because at one time cock-fights were frequently held here. It is found near the palace and central market in every traditional village. Nearby stands a kulkul or slit drum tower to call the members of the village together for meetings. The wantilan is also commonly used for performances. Once built entirely of wood, most are made of re-enforced concrete today. The traditional wantilan has also inspired the shapes and forms of many hotels and houses, such as the Amandari.

By using such natural materials as thatch roofing, bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, mud and stone, complete harmony with the environment is maintained. The Balinese have always been particularly adept at using bamboo and behind every Balinese house one can find at least one stand of bamboo.

The introduction of cement and other modern materials and the rapid growth of hotels, galleries and new homes has produced mixed results. The opulence and ornamentation of many new hotels are often breath-taking. Nowhere else in the world would such wood carvings and stone work be possible. Still the line between kitsch and good taste is narrow and too often people have failed to appreciate the essence of Balinese architecture that in many cases has become an amazing parody of itself. One hopes that in the future more attention will be paid to resorts like the Amandari and Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran, who have modified traditional Balinese architecture without tainting its integrity.

For those truly interested in Balinese architecture, a visit to the Bali Museum in Denpasar is a must. There you will not only find many old traditional buildings but also information as to the local styles, of which there are many.

Trovical design

2008-05-23T11:32:00.001-07:00

Tropical Design is a way of looking at habitat when you live in tropical climate. What are the elements that are conducive in making environment and climate tolerable, pleasant and integrated? It's the development of systems and products that work well naturally address the variety of climate conditions and lend durability and style to the tropical experience.

Basic elements of tropical design are: high pitched roofs, so rain gets off fast as hot air rises and escapes to keep you cool; retractable doors and windows to rise the air flow-to the ventilations and allow you open the house on the great lazy days; outdoor gardens for bathing and showers; simple details and finishes that are compatible with the environment. All are just a part of a tropical lifestyle. Tropical clothing, food, drink, relaxation and the activities and experiences all lend to the cohesive compliment, to ensure a true one lifestyle.

more info visit http://www.designbali.com/tropical_design_architecture.htm

bali design

2008-05-11T23:14:00.001-07:00




Land Size approx. 750 sqm, bulding size approx. 330 sqm. Two storey villa with shingle roof on the delightful location of Seminyak, a mix between modern and tropical design. The villa design comprises of 3 ensuite bedrooms, roof terrace that face to rice field views covered by pergola, a comfortable studio / office room, living and dining space overlooking to the swimming pool and garden. Equipped with modern kitchen, separate servant quarter and service area. The design focussing on "How to give a home comfort" to people that stay in the villa.

welcome to my home

2008-05-10T21:06:00.001-07:00

Tips for Utilizing Trellises and Arbors in Your Garden

2008-05-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

by
GI Designs

"Garden design expert offers advice on planting trellises and arbors to help you make sure that the trellises, arbors and gazebos you buy now, not only fit your landscape design, but that they also fulfill the future needs of your plantings while also enhancing the style and value of your home."

Denver, Colo. (PRWEB) -- Landscaping elements can enhance the style of your home and also serve as a smart investment. A recent study by Michigan State University shows that a good landscape design can add 6 percent to 12 percent to the base value of a home.

"Choose your garden structures wisely," said Wayne Lewis, president and head designer of GI Designs. "Make sure that the trellises, arbors and gazebos you buy now, not only fit your landscape design, they also should fulfill the future needs of your plantings."

"Study the entire landscape before you begin your project," said Lewis. "This helps to ensure harmony and flow."

Lewis knows about metal garden accessories. Through GI Designs he has provided sculptures, arbors, tripods and the entryway to the Children's Garden in the Denver Botanic Gardens, arbors for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., and tuteurs to the Chicago Botanic Garden.

"Garden structures like arbors or trellises must complement your home's exterior and landscape design as well as fit the growth requirements of the vines or plants you are planning to use," said Greg Isabel, vice president and founding partner of GI Designs.

Keep your plant materials in mind when choosing landscape elements. Many arbors and gazebos simply aren't strong enough to support the weight and abuse that a mature wisteria or grape vine can bring, said Isabel. Structures that look great the first year or so after planting are later overwhelmed by the heavy, woody vines.

"It's a shame that a favorite plant may have to be severely cut back or even removed because the gardener didn't plan ahead and pick the right trellis or arbor to fit the future needs of the plant," said Isabel.

"Think of your garden structures like furniture," said Isabel. "Spend a little more on the big pieces to guarantee many years of enjoyment. Then spend less on accessories such as garden stakes and yard art to easily update the look of your garden."

Isabel recommends selecting metal garden structures that are easy to assemble, yet have strong welds and a substantial feel to the supports and cross-members.

When deciding on an arbor, look for one that serves more than one purpose. Some newer arbor designs feature integrated side planter boxes for easy planting and can be placed on decks or patios without having to be permanently mounted, as well as used in the landscape.

Combining a garden trellis with a planter box is one of the new trends in products for landscape design. Some units feature casters to allow easy movement around the porch or patio. Hotels and restaurants can use these planters and their trellis screens to separate parties and areas, or create a temporary wall and move it back as the party grows.

"Few items of home or garden decor are as versatile as this all-in-one planter and trellis. Use indoors or out for large house plants or climbing, flowering vines," said Isabel. "You can also utilize arbors with integrated side planter boxes for easy planting on decks, patios or in the landscaping."

To find examples of metal garden structures and landscape décor, visit the GIDesigns web site.

Traditional Tustin Hills home transformed into Asian Zen

2008-05-10T20:38:00.001-07:00

A short bridge arches over a dry creek bed to Laurie Resnick's front door – wood and stone, nature in harmony, all clues to where her mind traveled as she transformed this sprawling '60s ranch house into something entirely new.

It's a style she eventually decided to call Asian Zen, a nod to the way the house, landscaping, furnishings and décor all balance and blend with each other.

"Everything here's ranch housing, traditional," Resnick says of this street in the Tustin Hills, an area where she has bought and remodeled four homes over the past two decades. "And this look is so unusual for the area. It's the most interesting house I've ever had, and I did the most work to this one, too."

Nestled on a gentle hillside slightly below street level, the 4,600-square-foot house seems smaller than that big number would suggest. But as you step down from the entrance into the great room Resnick created by removing a wall between the family room and kitchen, the grand scale of the home begins to reveal itself.

Beneath high vaulted ceilings the floors gleam darkly. Resnick used bamboo – an environmentally friendly flooring choice – and stained it the same dark chocolate as the cherry wood used for the kitchen cabinets and the built-in bookcases in the family room.

The long sides of the house are mostly wall-to-wall glass – french doors and windows run almost floor-to-ceiling, creating soft natural light in every room.

Much of the décor is done in a style she describes as Asian modern. One of her two companies, Rolling Greens Nursery in Culver City, is a Roger's Gardens-style landscape and design center, stocked with furnishings from home shows in Europe, antique fairs in Texas and all points in between, she says.

"There's stuff from everywhere in the house – from India, China, Paris," Resnick says.

In the formal living room, there are large imported Chinese pots and an antique Chinese coffee table arranged in front of a Restoration Hardware couch and a woven leather Chair. A wall-length mirror-and-glass cabinet – one of the few original elements she kept – displays a collection of crystal vases and decanters.

In the dining room, Resnick kept the three lights suspended over her recycled teak dining table – their '70s look appealed to her, she says. She covered the rest of the room with celadon green wallpaper made of raw silk grass.

Each bathroom – from the powder room off the kitchen to the guest bathroom and two master baths – is done in a different kind of stone. A slate counter top in one, a pebbled tile in another, all tied together with vessel basins and Hans Grohe fixtures.

The bedrooms are clustered on one end of the home, though not as many as existed when Resnick bought the home two years ago. "I sort of took a five-bedroom and turned it into a three-bedroom," she says.

For her daughter Sasha, who graduated high school this year, she removed a wall between two bedrooms to create a second master suite, which has French doors and windows that open onto the pool and yard.

For her own living quarters, she took down a hall wall, opening up another bedroom for use as an office and allowing it to flow into her own master suite. Here, it feels almost like a separate apartment. The vaulted ceilings leave open the top of her walk-in closet, ridding it of the claustrophobia typical of closets. A stainless steel stand-alone fireplace sits in a corner near the door to the back yard.

"Everybody says, 'Wow, this is great!' " Resnick says. "It has a real pleasing feel to it."

Outside, partners from her other business – the Associated Group of Santa Ana, which does commercial landscape design projects among other things – helped redo the grounds, keeping many of the existing pines and fruit trees but adding drought-tolerant plants like the 400-some feet of bamboo that lines the back fence.

A pebbly stone patio deck surrounds the curvaceous pool which was redone with custom dark tones of green and blue.

"The thing that I love most in the world is renovating houses. It's like an art project, it's like painting."

When she looks at this, she's pleased with what she's made, something that reminds her somewhat of the midcentury modern style mixed with something Asian, with the result something entirely fresh and new.

"I guess I made that real modern Hollywood Hills thing," Resnick says. "It's not moderne, it's not the atomic age. It's Asian Zen."

Wallpaper that Kids Can Make Their Own ...No Kidding!

2008-05-10T20:35:00.001-07:00

Whether you’re raising a Little Leaguer or a pint-sized princess, wallpapers help children surround themselves with things they love.

Wallpaper that Kids Can Make Their Own ...No Kidding!
Personalized Wallpaper for the Pint Sized

(ARA) - "Mural, mural on the wall -- Mine's the coolest room of all!" Want to guarantee your kids will say that? Let them personalize their space (don't worry; you'll love it too).

Your local wallpaper store is bursting with clever new concepts for kids, like themed wall murals with your child's name, posters, cut-outs, wall appliques, growth charts, and borders from NASCAR, Major League Baseball, National Football League and Sesame Street. Whether you're raising a Little Leaguer or a pint-sized princess, you can surround your little ones with their very favorite things.

All these wallpapers help children make a statement about the things they love the most. "In childhood, we're not shy about showing off our favorite things at every opportunity," says John Loecke, a New York City-based interior designer and the former home furnishings editor of Parents magazine. "It's important to let children proudly express their passions, especially in their bedrooms, the safest comfort zone of all."

New this month, Completely Kids and Kidding Around with Murals wallpaper books from Village have everything you and your child could want for their walls. Murals that are small or large, poster-size or window-size are offered in themes for infants, toddlers, teensâ€¦and everyone in between. Skateboards and race cars, trucks and tree houses, dinosaurs and dollhouses, touchdowns and Tickle Me Elmo -- it's all here, and more.

Personalizing the many murals in these books (a huge hit with the kids) couldn't be easier. Just choose your murals, your preferred size, your desired name or phrase, and in a matter of weeks you've treated your child to a dream come true. Custom sizes are available, too.

If you're looking to delight and inspire your child, these wallpapers are ideal. Borders for young girls are both adorable and empowering, with teddy bears dressed as doctors, chefs and soccer players. Boy bears are turned out as construction workers, football players and firemen. But these award-winning wallpapers are more than wise and witty. "Our murals, posters and appliques are instantly removable, and custom-sizing means you can use them in even the most awkward spaces," says Deb Zadnik, design director for Village Wallpaper. "Kids can change their minds quickly, so we've made it easy to redecorate without giving it a second thought."

For a list of local retailers nationwide, call (800) 988-7775 or visit www.villagehome.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Pamper Yourself with a Luxurious Bath (Room)

2008-05-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

ARA) - The median age of America's homes is 25, making most American bathrooms relics. No room has changed more dramatically in the past few years. It has moved from a utilitarian necessity to the absolute center of personal relaxation and pampering, while a powder room, now considered a necessity, is often the quintessential showcase of a homeowner's distinctive decorating style.

While pedestal sinks add elegance to powder rooms, they sacrifice storage. New alternatives -- sinks that resemble beautiful bowls and vessels -- set atop real furniture, become the star centerpieces of even a tiny room. We mated a square-shape porcelain sink bowl with an ornate, French traditional vanity that we fitted with a black marble top and finished off with a French reproduction faucet and handles. Above it, we placed a gilded, ornately framed mirror, and beside it, an equally ornate sconce. We surrounded them all in rich Oriental scenic wallpaper from Sarong, a Jaima Brown Home Collection, to add one more scene-stealing measure of elegance to this treasure of a room, always ready to greet guests in style.

In another powder room, we hung a mirror in a wood-carved frame above an antique linen cabinet that we fitted with a drop-down marble top and inset sink. Vintage linens with crocheted edges grace the front of the cabinet, and a sconce from the same period, installed beside the mirror at eye-level, puts primping guests in a most-flattering light. All baths call for a mix of ambient and task lighting. The former should be set to cast a warming glow. All baths also cry out for a background that abolishes any vestige of the institutional look once associated with this room. The beautiful -- and restful -- Willow pattern from Sarong imparts just the right touch of elegance.

The master bath is all about providing comfort for adults. Consider raising the sink counter above the standard 30- to 34-inch cabinet height to as high as 42 inches from the floor. This accommodates a more comfortable, upright stance for shaving, performing dental hygiene, and applying makeup. While it's easier on the back, it also allows for more cabinet storage space below. More and handier storage adds convenience and diminishes clutter.

Granite countertops come in a variety of colorations, and they are both handsome and easy to clean, especially when they either contain integrated, molded sinks or rimless ones that mount underneath the countertop. Both eliminate seams that trap dirt, making clean-ups quick and easy.

Those old metal-rimmed medicine cabinets are destined for the trash heap. Yes, everyone needs a bathroom mirror and a place to store medicine, but, when it comes to accommodating these needs, it's time to think outside --way outside -- the old box. In one bath re-do, we shifted the sink to below a window and extended the window frame to the right in order to create a mirrored cabinet of the same size. This creates the look of a windowed wall, offering the pleasure of an outdoor view at the beginning and end of each day while still providing ample storage and a generous mirror.

Nordic Stripe wallpaper from the Sheridan Road collection by Jaima Brown Home gives the room a fresh, sunshine look. Crown molding and raised panel cabinets, white like the window frame, tie together all the elements of this cheerful room. Not least, a granite countertop spans the full length of the window and mirror, providing ample space for toiletries, hand towels and the never-to-be-forgotten vase of fresh flowers. A natural cream-tone grass-cloth patterned wallpaper on the ceiling comes from the same Sheridan Road collection and picks up the colors of the granite.

Bringing your bathroom up to today's real-room status not only pampers you and your guests, but also carries a highly practical bonus. It ranks with kitchen renovation as an improvement that returns more than your investment when it comes time to sell your home.

To see more of the fine fabric and wallpaper patterns in Sarong and other Jaima Brown Home collections, suitable for every room in the house, call (888) 865-0200 or visit www.jaimabrownhome.com. Jaima Brown Home collections are available through interior designers and select designer showrooms.

Courtesy of ARA Content

(Why) Not Your Mother's Wallpaper?

2008-05-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - One of the more exciting trends today in interior design is mid 20 century modern, but, retro with a twist. Modification of this motif is necessary because today’s new homes are, according to The National Association of Homebuilders, more than twice as large as they were in the 1950s, and 50 percent larger than they were in the 1970s.

Modern houses call for open floor plans with the spaces flowing into one another, instead of having smaller, separate rooms. The standard eight-foot ceiling has been raised to nine, ten, often, twelve feet. This is true even in the “traditional” style home that most buyers prefer. Kitchens are open to family rooms or breakfast rooms or homework/computer areas. Bedrooms flow to sitting areas or dressing rooms, even mini breakfast bars. Bathrooms may have his and her compartments, dressing or exercise areas.

The homeowner is left in a quandary as to how to decorate these spaces. Can the spaces be unified, yet defined? In order to keep the open, spacious feeling, and still have it feel welcoming, designers and home owners are looking again to wallpaper to warm large spaces. This is an option that your mother may have chosen, but this is not your mother’s wallpaper.

Wallpaper, like all design tools, is cyclical in nature; that is, for one reason or another it falls in and out of fashion. In the 1950s, minimalism played down vertical surfaces to emphasize interior space, often small rooms with low ceiling heights. During the 1970s bold modern wallpaper designs began showing up as rooms became larger and more open. But in the 1990s decorators began using paint and faux finishes because wallpaper was no longer user-friendly, either to apply or remove.

Today’s wallpaper is made of a breathable paper material, Easy-Wall, that is washable, easy to hang and easy to remove. It doesn’t trap moisture, is environmentally friendly, and it is beautiful. This new wallpaper from Chesapeake Wallcoverings needs only a latex-painted wall, no special primer, and does not tear or wrinkle during installation. Because it is completely removable, it will not damage the wall.

One of the most common open spaces in today’s home is the Great Room, which often sports a lofty ceiling and combines living/family and dining areas. If the ceiling height is to be emphasized, soft vertical geometric patterns with large circles or diamonds are easy on the eyes and will blend with any decor. If the homeowner wants to “lower” the ceiling, horizontal patterns, crossing both living and dining areas with long drop lights from above can be used. FYI, wallpaper can be applied horizontally.

Cheasapeake Wallcoverings new book “Open Spaces” has many of these softer geometric designs to offer the D-I-Yer. Instead of a large oval or rectangular dining table in the center of the dining space, consider a square or round table that can be expanded for guests, but placed in one corner of the room. Here you can stack books, using book covers uniformly made of the same material, a lamp, and either a painting or a photo in a simple frame. To pull this area together, use pieces of the wallpaper for one of the following: the book covers, the lamp shade or the frame. With a couple of arm chairs around the front, or on either side, you have created a peaceful place to read, write a letter or do homework. A bench or a loveseat placed in the opposite corner could give the space the air of a quiet library. Use a buffet/hutch or bookcase to showcase a few art objects with uncomplicated forms to keep the space simple and relaxing.

At the other end of the Great Room, usually where the fireplace and or television are located, the continued, subtle pattern should again act as a complementing background. The fireplace, furniture or the television need to come forward. Using two love seats instead of a sofa and two chairs, lessens the “clutter” of furniture and using an ottoman with a unadorned tray instead of a cocktail table serves as extra seating, a footrest as well as a coffee table. The new televisions, once hidden in bulky armoires, can now be either hung on the wall or can sit on a table, using less visual space. Use small, area rugs to define the spaces; a large rug will look too busy.

Bedrooms and bathrooms are taking on a new Zen quality, having evolved into private living rooms or sanctuaries. Here again the walls need to give only a subtle presence. The idea is to move away from overall, busy, patterns to a more neutral palette that is calming and soothing. A painted wall in a large bedroom can appear flat and expansive, while a tone-on-tone paper can add texture and depth.

Many of the papers today offer beautiful textures and faux patterns that are easier to apply than the multi-stepped finishes shown on the networks. We are also seeing less high tech and steel and more wood, with clean, unadorned lines. The bed, usually the focal point of the room, is presented without a skirt and only a couple of pillows. A soft paper treatment behind the bed subtly defines the space; it is not necessary to wallpaper every wall to achieve an enveloping feeling. The windows can be left untreated if privacy isn’t an issue or blinds or shutters are used. A sitting area in the room could have comfortable, but not large, settee or arm chair, table and lamp. This area, too, could be defined with a single papered wall of a soft, coordinating pattern.

In the bathroom, paper the wall opposite simple framed mirrors and have the delicate pattern gently reflected. Or paper the area surrounding the bath/soaking tub to define this relaxing spot. By defining areas, large “Open Spaces” are no longer daunting, but friendly and inviting.

For more information about “Open Spaces” and the new porous wallpaper, Easy-Wall, visit Chesapeake Wallcoverings online at www.ChesapeakeWallcoverings.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Book It: Find the Perfect Wallpaper on Your Lunch Hour

2008-05-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - It's a fact of life: the more choices, the more decisions there are to make. And when it comes to selecting wallpaper from the wide assortment of patterns in every imaginable color available today, it can be a little daunting. There are patterns to fit every decorating style, every type of room and every interest and hobby. So if you don't have any idea of what you like before you go to the wallpaper store, you may find yourself both distracted by beauty and frustrated by too much of a good thing.

Yet, with a little planning, you can select a pattern you love on your lunch hour. Here are some tried-and-true tips to help keep you on track:

Do your homework: For inspiration, look to decorating magazines and clip the pages of rooms you like. When you review all these clippings, you'll notice recurring themes, which will help guide you in your wallpaper selection. Bring your favorites among these pages with you to the store.

Look around the room you plan to wallpaper for visual clues that can help you make your choice. Since many wallpaper collections are available online, you may also want to begin your search there.

Bring props: A fabric swatch, bath towel, pillow or decorative accessory in colors and patterns you want to coordinate with will help in honing in on your choices. Unlike paint, the color you see in a wallpaper sample book will be the true color on your walls, making it very easy to match colors.

Come prepared: Before you go shopping, know how much wallpaper you'll need, so you're ready to order the paper when you make your selection. For help with measuring, visit www.wallcoverings.org. Don't forget to bring pen and paper to jot down the sample book name and pattern numbers. You may also want to carry a pack of Post-its so you can tag the patterns you like; this will help you quickly narrow your choices of tagged pages from the assortment of books.

Wallpaper books at a glance: A retailer's wallpaper library is often organized by design style, so grab the books with spines marked "contemporary," "traditional" or other words that speak directly to your preferences. Then take a close look at the cover; if you are attracted to the colors and patterns there, chances are you'll like what's inside. Pull about six books, but don't go through them as you pull them; it'll slow you down. Well-worn books are always a safe bet. Throw in a wild card -- a book with an intriguing cover -- but one that may seem a little far afield.

Selection strategy: Typically the collection's more "statement" patterns are in the front of the book. If you tend to gravitate toward the more subtle styles, start from the back. When a pattern stops you in your tracks, tag it with a Post-it and move through the book and on to the next. Once you can compare them back-to-back, you should be able to select a favorite.

If you can't decide on a pattern, borrow your favorite books to bring home with you or order samples of your top patterns, which should only take a few days. The samples give you the advantage of being able to tape them to your walls and move them around the room to appreciate in different lights and angles. Second opinions from family members can also help. Then you can place your order on your next lunch hour.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Seven Secrets to Shopping for Lighting

2008-05-10T20:26:00.002-07:00

(ARA) - The secret is out -- lighting is the single most important element in decorating, dramatically improving the look and feel of any room. But with so many options out there, finding that right light may be a little easier said than done. Chances are, you’ve probably wondered, do I have the right sized fixture? How do I install it? How low do I hang it? Will it be too bright or just right?

No question about it, shopping for lighting can be an overwhelming and frustrating experience, and if you start the process before doing your homework, you’ll quickly find yourself in the dark. The good news is, whether you’re giving an old space a makeover or putting the finishing touches on a new one, there are a few simple tricks that can take interior gloom to glow without giving you a major headache.

“Before homeowners even step foot in a showroom, they should first know their budget and come prepared with information about their home and their style, says Bob Doernberg, senior product manager for Kichler Lighting. “Look for pictures in magazines that reflect your taste. Bring in fabric swatches or color chips for areas you’re redecorating, and take a few quick measurements before leaving your home.”

1. How can I achieve the proper illumination in a room?

There’s actually a proven formula for calculating the proper amount of light you’ll need, and it’s not difficult -- just some basic arithmetic.

Formula: Room Length x Room Width x 1.5 = Proper Amount of Watts to Light a Room

For example, let’s say, you have a 12x16-foot living room: 12x16x1.5 = 288 watts of lighting. Therefore, a five-light chandelier using 60-watt bulbs will provide sufficient light for the room. For more concentrated lighting over a task or work area such as a kitchen island, simply multiply the dimensions of the island by 2.5.

2. What size chandelier would best suit a foyer?

Always keep in mind that the bottom of the chandelier should be at least 7-feet from the floor. If there is a window above the front door, center the chandelier so it can be seen from outside. If the foyer is extra large, you may also want to include wall sconces for additional light.

To determine the chandelier’s width, simply add the dimensions together. For example, let’s say you have a 12x16-foot foyer: 12+16=28. Therefore, the foyer chandelier’s diameter should be approximately 28-inches in width.

3. What’s the best way to light a hallway?

There should be a light every 8 to10-feet. Either flush-mounts or semi-flush fixtures can be used depending on ceiling height.

4. What size chandelier should hang over my dining room table?

It’s best to choose one with a diameter equal to one half the width of the table. Here, as in the foyer, room dimensions dictate the width of the chandelier. Also, keep in mind that the bottom of the chandelier should be at least 2 1/2 feet above the table.

5. How do I light a dinette area?

Normally, a decorative pendant or a fixture like Kichler’s Chandelette with a down light will do the job. Use a dimmer to soften the light when entertaining and brighten the area for homework or hobby-related tasks. Again, the bottom of the pendant should be at least 2 1/2 feet above the table. Normally 100 watts of light is sufficient for these areas.

6. What’s the best way to light a bathroom?

Most bathrooms only have a light fixture above the mirror because that is where the single outlet box is usually placed. The problem: top-mounted lighting casts shadows down on the face, harshly accentuating flaws and making lines look deeper. If you want to see your true self, then you also need lighting on each side of your face. Use a fixture such as Kichler Beauty Wraps, a top-mounted lighting fixture that comes with matching mini pendant lights on each side and only needs a single outlet box to work.

7. When do I need portable lighting?

Besides adding a focal point, portable lights can provide extra light for tasks such as reading, homework and crafts and should be used when additional task light is needed. If you’re using a floor or desk lamp, the bottom of the lampshade should be approximately 42-inches from the floor’s surface. Desk lamps should be 16-inches above the work surface, and torchieres, used to light dark corners, should be 66 to 72-inches from the floor. Corners by Westwood Collections can provide similar light but won’t take up floor space as the fixtures easily mount in a room’s corners.

Feel a little more prepared? By using these tips as a guide, purchasing lighting should be a little easier. And, if you still have questions, Kichler’s guide to “Selecting Lighting for Your Home” is available free of charge at Kichler showrooms across the country.

So go ahead, take out that home improvement list and get ready to cross a few things off.

For more bright ideas on lighting or to find a Kichler showroom near you, visit www.kichler.com or call (800) 659-9000.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Lighting Design Tips You Can Use to Feng Shui Your Home

2008-05-10T20:26:00.001-07:00

(ARA) - Traditional Feng Shui utilizes the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water as remedies to energetic issues in a house or building. The basic concepts are simple: use common sense in furniture placement, keep it free of clutter and make sure the room's flow or arrangement allows for conversation.

Feng Shui works in every facility: residential, commercial, healthcare, or restaurant.

Lights are powerful feng shui cures. Light itself is considered an important feng shui asset in any environment.

The experts at YLighting share a few easy-to-grasp fundamentals on feng shui and lighting design:

* Soften sharp corners of a room using accent lighting. This increases the energy flow and creates a relaxed atmosphere.

Chandeliers should not hang above a chair. In fact, a person should never be expected to sit directly below a hanging object.

* Floor lamps can be used in any number of ways. They are practical for illuminating a dark section of the room and can be feng shui "fixes," shining upward to lift a sunken room or stimulating chi flow in a wealth corner.

* The living room is a yang room. The yang quality is embodied by the activity and brightness, which are ideal for a family or entertaining.

* Mirrors should be used behind the stove when our back is to the kitchen entrance while cooking, on the wall in front of you upon entering the main doorway, or at the bottom of a steep stairs to slow down the Chi going downstairs. (Chi is the nonbiological self - our spirit or essence).

For more lighting design tips, log on to www.ylighting.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Home Decor Takes A Cue From Menswear

2008-05-10T20:24:00.001-07:00

(ARA) – If you’re looking for the latest trend in home design, take a look around the men’s department next time you’re at the mall. “Menswear trends are making the transition to home styles this year,” says Chris Tennyson, director of visual merchandising for Bombay.

Classic, masculine looks bring a very clean, traditional style to the home. “This trend incorporates bigger, more substantial furniture pieces as well as new finishes like dark black rubbed surfaces,” says Tennyson. These looks are perfect as we move into the fall and winter months and people are looking for comfort and warmth in their homes.

A good example of the substantial pieces Tennyson is talking about is Bombay’s D'Orsay coffee table. With clean, solid lines and a deep espresso finish, this table can anchor a room and is at home in either contemporary or traditional settings.

This season’s look also relies on traditional menswear fabrics to add texture and pattern to a room. “Look for patterns like argyle, herringbone, tweed and plaid in everything from window treatments to pillows to upholstery,” says Tennyson. He recommends layering these fabrics to create a rich, textured feel in your room.

To achieve this look in the bedroom, start with Bombay’s wingback bed. Large and dramatic, the headboard of this bed is covered in sumptuous chocolate brown microfiber that looks and feels like suede for added tactile interest. Layer on a beautiful bedspread and add a collection of throw pillows in tweed and herringbone and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a London flat.

“We’re seeing a move away from the more casual look toward a room that is inspired by tailored fashions – simplified design that is more traditional, but not boring” says Tennyson. Even this season’s accessories take their cue from men’s’ fashions. Look for materials like tortoiseshell and bone that you would typically find in cufflinks. Bombay’s horn umbrella stand is a good example. Beautifully crafted of alternating squares of black and white naturally harvested water buffalo horn, the stand adds panache to a room while being very practical.

Leather is another important trend this season, both in upholstery and in accessories. The Heathrow leather chair from Bombay is upholstered in top-grain cattlehide and accented with brass nailhead trim. The java-colored leather coordinates with any décor.

“It’s almost a British men’s club feel, but not at all stuffy,” says Tennyson. And to keep your room from feeling like a private club, throw in something unexpected to liven it up – a red pillow or a striking piece of blue and white porcelain. “Every room should have a ‘wow’ piece,” says Tennyson. “Something unexpected that draws your attention and makes you smile.” These “wow” pieces also help define a room as yours – it’s way to express your personality.

So while you can incorporate the newest home fashions into your decorating scheme, your home will never look like a furniture catalog or a showroom – it will always look like it belongs to you and your family.

To see more home fashions, visit www.bombaycompany.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Decorating your House for Cheap

2008-05-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

by Leah Gliniewicz, Staff Reporter

Dressing up your digs on a budget doesn't have to mean using a milk crate for a coffee table. If you can't afford to give your home a posh decorating makeover, there are ways to cut corners and still give your place a fresh look.

The hardest part can be deciding how to begin. Experts recommend keeping a file of eye-catching ideas clipped from magazines. Once you have some ideas, experts stress the importance of bringing in your own personality.

"Don't be afraid to trust your likes and dislikes because that's the key. Don't be afraid to be yourself in both color and accessories," says Melanie Wood, vice president of design for Mannington Mills in Salem, N.J.

And remember that it can be an ongoing project that doesn't have to be tackled all at once. If you let the room develop slowly, you're going to save yourself quite a bit of money. After you've lived in the room you know what you want and need, and you can avoid making a purchase unnecessarily, says Susan Welch Heeney, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and owner of decoratingstudio.com.

"You're never really finished with a room," she says. "It always changes."

Color is key

Use colors that make your dollar go further. When it comes to higher ticket items that aren't going to be replaced often, choose a neutral color, Heeney says. A muted gray-green may be more versatile than a vivid grass green.

"Color is important. It sets the stage and can limit choices in the future" she says. Reserve the more daring or trendy colors for your accessories, such as rugs, pillows and art, because these can be changed cheaply.

If you don't know what colors to go with, Heeney suggests going to a fabric store and picking out fabric with colors you like and then carrying it with you when you shop. Or look in your closet and define the colors you feel you look good in, Wood says.

Deck the walls

When it comes to sprucing up a wall, paint is a cheap way to change a room. If you want to try a new color, Heeney suggests buying a pint of paint and brushing two coats on a section of the wall. That way you can buy more if you like the color, or just paint over it if you don't.

"Faux paint techniques," such as ragging, sponging or marbleizing, will give a room an expensive look without a lot of expense. It "gives the walls a lot of depth and interest," Heeney says.

Wallpaper costs more than paint, but it's generally inexpensive if it is used as a border in combination with paint, she says. Borders can easily be changed later.

"If someone has a living room with no interesting architectural elements, it's a good chance to invest in wallpaper," Heeney says. For other wall ideas, she suggests putting up synthetic molding, which can cost less than wood molding. Embossed wall covering is another option that can be painted to look like an expensive tin ceiling.

Inexpensive wall accessories can be a good way to get creative. Wood suggests looking at what you already have in your cupboard and closets. Neat cups, plates and family pictures can add a lot of flavor to a wall.

Taking old frames or old windows and putting mirrors in them is a wall decorating technique suggested by Mary Anne Young, author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Home Decorating.

Also, try making a collage of small inexpensive framed prints or hanging a quilt or old shutters above the head of a bed that doesn't have a headboard.

Making furniture treasures

When buying furniture for your home, you may want to think about versatility.

"Look at items that have more than one purpose," Heeney says. If you don't like the look of your TV, she suggests getting an armoire or entertainment center that can hold the TV and act as a storage area.

Shopping for secondhand items and putting them to new purposes can be a cheap way to put a spin on an ordinary room. Young says you don't always have to have a coffee table in front of the couch. She suggests a trunk, a cobbler's bench or children's furniture, or adding a piece of glass to an interesting base. For a bathroom, consider buying an old dresser and using it as a vanity with the sink installed in the top of it.

Secondhand furniture -- or your existing furniture -- can be updated with painting or a refinishing.

Experts suggest revitalizing an old sofa or chair with fabric slipcovers. They give you the flexibility of mixing and matching colors from time to time, perhaps when the seasons change. A chenille throw over the back of the sofa can make a big difference.

Heeney says using do-it-yourself paint crackle kits or lettering foreign graffiti on furniture are trendy ways to dress up things.

Area rugs and plants can also change the feel of a room. Heeney suggests a no-maintenance silk plant placed in a nice pot and lit from beneath so the light can bounce up off the leaves.

If you have a large window, Heeney says it can be expensive to buy enough fabric to create operable drapes. She suggests that you simply frame the window with cloth rather than buying an expanse of sheers and drapes. But if you're strictly a drapery person, go ahead and spend the money.

"A lot of people have second thoughts. They will order something and second guess themselves and think they're picking the wrong thing," Heeney says. "Try to relax about it. Go with your gut feeling."

An Avid Cook Gets Her Kitchen

2008-05-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

Skylights, a wall of glass and four kitchen islands are the highlights of this kitchen addition.

While Judy McDonald was planning her dream kitchen, she sometimes felt tempted to dilute, cut down and hold back on her dreams.

But each time, her husband, Mac, stepped in to set her straight. "Do it right," he said.

Of course, his advice was spot-on. The original kitchen in the McDonalds' home in St. Paul, Minnesota, was little more than a narrow, windowless 15-foot-long alley with a seven-foot ceiling.

The couple had endured the kitchen for 20 years before they decided in 1997 to do something about it.

At first, the couple focused on redoing the original space. But in the back of Judy's mind was the thought that: "We'll still have a small, dark kitchen.

Before: Twenty years in this dark, corridor-like kitchen was enough.

And because she and Mac, both in their early 60s, plan on living out their lives in the house, the thought of several more decades in a small, dark kitchen was not appetizing.

The turning point came when their architect, Rich Wolfgram, made this suggestion: "Why don't you add a kitchen?" The old kitchen could become a bar and pantry area.

After: This is the same room as above. Now, it is a bar and pantry area.

From that moment, Judy's dreams started to come true, first on paper, and later in wood, granite and tile.

The biggest issue for Judy was the layout of the kitchen. An avid cook and entertainer, she liked the idea of a U-shaped kitchen that would wrap around her. But while a U-shape is cozy to work in, such a layout would make it awkward to reach both the breakfast area she planned for one end of the kitchen, and the home's existing dining room on the other end.

Grabbing some paper, she started sketching out ideas. While trained as an attorney rather than an interior designer, she has one important asset. "I know what I want."

Her salvation came when she thought of having four central islands set in a square formation in the middle of the room, surrounded with a perimeter of storage cabinets and counters. The islands would contain all the critical elements for cooking: cooktop, oven, sinks and refrigerators in the form of pullout drawers.

The new expansive kitchen has become a family-room of sorts – a natural gathering place.

Throughout yearlong process of designing the kitchen, Judy and Mac kept their minds off the subject of money, both the dollars to be spent on the remodel and the expected return on investment.

"We didn't care about the resale value of the house, but about how much we were going to enjoy the kitchen," says Judy, admitting that the final price tag was more than $250,000.

Once the idea of the four islands was set, Judy worked out the details with the architect and later with Judy Kurtz, a project designer with Sylvestre Construction in Minneapolis, who built the kitchen.

The new room is 22 feet wide and 26 feet long, covered with a vaulted pine ceiling and two rows of skylights. One entire end wall, in the eating area, is glass, and several more windows line the sides of the kitchen.

Upscale Canac cabinets make up the islands and perimeter cabinets, which and are topped with blue/gray granite. One island contains a massive Aga Cooker from England, which took two workers two days to assemble. Another island contains a salad sink large enough for four colanders to drain at once, and a nearby Sub-Zero two-drawer refrigerator holds fruits and vegetables. In another island, a second Sub-Zero two-drawer setup holds frozen foods, and a full-sized model is positioned along the perimeter.

Once the shiny white cabinets went in and were covered with the shiny granite, Judy decided "that's a lot of shine." And so for the floor she chose stone tiles in soft blue and tan tones that she found at Home Depot.

After the skylights were in place, covering nearly the whole ceiling, it became obvious that lighting the space would be difficult. The problem was solved when Judy and Mac hired lighting specialist Rolf Sullivan to create an elaborate cable system involving dozens of separate fixtures and a complex control panel.

Now that the kitchen is done, Judy and Mac find that all their guests end up congregating in there.

2008-05-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

From Marie Iannotti,
Your Guide to Gardening.

Overview: Phormium is also called New Zealand Flax, because the Maoris actually used it for making a type of linen clothing, as well as for ropes and baskets. Gardeners know it as a large and often colorful spiky plant that makes an arresting focal point in the garden or in containers. It has sword-like leaves that shoot up from the base of the plant and new hybrids are now available in shades of yellow, pink, red and bronze.

Latin Name: Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum

Common Name(s): New Zealand Flax

USDA Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 8/9 - 10

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Size: Depends on variety and growing conditions. Many plants in containers grow 1 - 4'. Phormium tenax, the taller species, can reach 10 feet, under ideal conditions. Most phormium plants average out between 2 and 5'.

Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Bloom Period: Mid-summer. But predominately grown for its foliage.

Description:: Phormium is a spiky, sword-leafed evergreen perennial that is used as a garden focal point or specimen plant. Some are small enough to use in containers, others can reach several feet in diameter and 7+ feet tall.

On mature plants, the flower stalks shoot up above the leaves and produce curving, tubular red or yellow blossoms that are very high in nectar and a hummingbird favorite. Seed pods form after the flowers bloom. Deadhead, if self-seeding is not desired.

Design Tips: Use phormium in place of Dracena or spiky Vinca in containers and in place of grasses in garden beds. Contrast Phormiums dramatic leaves with low growing, delicate foliage, such as perennial geraniums and coreopsis. Phormium can even be grown successfully in bog areas.

Leaves can also be cut in the fall, for use in flower arrangements.

Log Home Restoration

2008-05-10T20:13:00.001-07:00

You really want to restore that old log home that you found on the property you just bought? Or you might have had a chance to “steal” the home at a low price because it was in need of repair, whatever the reason, log homes are beautiful, and if they have not suffered from total neglect for too long, you can restore them back to their pristine charm and beauty.

Log home restoration, although not a real easy job, it is very rewarding to see the fruits of your efforts when the home is finished. So, what do you look for when preparing to start restoration? First of all, most of the structural integrity of a log building comes from the corners. A thorough inspection of the corners to determine the level of degradation will offer a lot of insight as to how well the restoration will go. Minor rotting and the presence of mold or mildew can be dealt with very effectively, and should not deter you from taking the project on. The next place to look at is the roof structure, collar ties inside the home and the upper two thirds of the walls, especially in the case of two story homes, or homes with a loft. Look at the plumb line of the upper sections, compared with the lower wall sections. Often times, especially during the early 1900s collar ties were cut short, and with the constant weight of the roof pushing down, they lacked the strength to keep the upper three or four courses of logs from being pushed out.

You also need to check the roof for “swags” or other indications of improper settling. As older homes settled, quite often the roof was held up by the interior supporting beams that run from the floor to the roof. In essence the walls, and most of the roof settled around the supports. In severe cases, it may become necessary to replace the entire roof structure. And while you have the roof off, you might as well pull the walls back in line before you start to replace the roof.

Another place to check for improper settling is the doors and windows. If the windows show signs of being out of level, or unable to open and close freely, then you may have to rework the jambs and replace the doors and windows, as the home has probably settled on the windows or doors, and over a period of time has made them difficult to use.

While you’re inside the home, pay special attention to any telltale stains that indicate water infiltration at some point in time. Some of the places that will be the most evident are any support beam that passes through the log wall to the outside. If not properly sealed, water can enter the home easily and lead to rot, decay, and insect infestation. Any suspected areas can be probed with an ice pick to determine the damage. Also, check around fireplaces, and mantels. Remember, logs can move, masonry cannot, so the propensity for leaks is present in these areas, once the settling process has finished.

Check the inside corners for air, or light that may allow for heat or cool to escape. It is very difficult to get a “perfect” corner cut, especially back when no one had the proper tools. Consequently, it’s very common to have corners that don’t fit exactly, especially in older homes.

As the tendency always goes, the desire to make the inside look good often outweighs the real need to start on the exterior. In reality, you should think of what you need to do to stop the inclement weather from doing whatever it has been doing for the past few years. So, fight that urge to start ripping the inside apart, and concentrate on the exterior first, especially if the weather permits.

For more information contact Tony Huddleston at tony@permachink.com or call 1-800-548-3554

Log Home Maintenance Basics

2008-05-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

What happened to my logs?
If you ever visit a log home restoration company website and read their frequently-asked-questions, you will quickly see that there are many log home owners asking the same question, "What happened to my logs?"

These owners are often concerned with blackened logs, failed finish, bug damage, UV damage and the list goes on. Many log home owners are concerned with how to restore and maintain their log home. With so many log home owners searching for answers, they wonder “Is log home maintenance really this confusing?”

It can be confusing
The answer is yes, it can be very confusing, due to conflicting information and advertising claims. There are manufacturers claiming that their logs are chinkless, and coatings companies stating that no logs are chinkless. One coatings company believes an oil-based deep-penetrating stain is best and another claims a water-based film-forming stain is best. Some professionals prefer to caulk upward facing checks (cracks) and others say never caulk checks. To remove your existing finish some restoration companies only corn cob blast and say you should never power wash a log home. Other companies believe corn cob blasting is messy and leaves the wood pitted and prefer to power wash after using a chemical stripper. Why can’t anyone agree on what is best for my logs?

Understanding why
There are two answers to this question. One is that the industry is competing for your business and promoting their products. Even the most inferior product on the market will sound great after reading their marketing materials. The second reason is that there are several ways to achieve the same result. For example, there are several ways to remove an existing finish. Corn cob blasting, power washing or chemical stripping. So what do you do?

What to do
You should contact an experienced, reputable log restoration company that has many years of experience working with products specifically designed for log homes. These companies see the results of a poorly designed log home or an inferior coating.

Restoration companies may differ on corn cob blasting versus power washing and other issues, but the end result will be clean logs ready to effectively accept a stain. Even though there may be differences of opinion between companies, there are some industry-wide standards that most will agree on.

• For best log stain performance, proper log surface cleaning and preparation are the most important factors.

• Apply Borate to logs after they are cleaned, to prevent mold, mildew and insects.

• Having wide overhangs, good drainage systems, adequate ground clearance, and keeping shrubs away from logs are very important for protecting logs from water damage.

• Use high quality products for best results.

• Use only coatings that are specifically designed for log homes -- coatings that repel water, protect wood from sunlight, and allow logs to breathe.

Simple steps
So, if you are wondering how to take care of your older log home or want to know how to maintain your new log home, there is a way. The coatings industry, log home manufacturers, and log restoration companies are beginning to work together on what is best for you and your log home.

They understand that a 20 year old log home that looks like a 50 year old log home is not good for the log home industry. It starts with a log home manufacturer's design that includes proven log protection features such as wide overhangs. Then, with proper preparation of the log surface, a high quality log stain must be applied. This should be followed up with maintenance inspections on a regular basis (once or twice a year) to address any potential problems. If these simple steps are followed, you and your family will enjoy many years of problem-free log home living.

This article was written by Tom Tydeman, Certified Log Inspector and owner of Log Options, LLC www.logoptions.com

Planning Your Home

2008-05-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

Choosing the log home producer is only the beginning in planning for your new log home. Who is going to build it? How much will it cost? And, where can I get mortgage and construction financing? These are just some of the questions that you will need to answer in the process of making your log home a reality.

The following information is provided in outline form to quickly give you ideas to use in the planning of your home. We know that not all questions or steps are addressed here, but this will get you started. Contact your Barna Log Homes representative for more specific answers to your individual needs.

I. Five Major Considerations in Getting a Log Home Built

A. Land - finding the piece you want and selling what you've got
B. Design - deciding what you need, how it will work and what it will look like
C. Financing - finding both mortgage and construction money
D. Construction - do yourself, be your own general contractor, or hire all done
E. The Budget

II. The Budget

Close your eyes and picture the home that you want to build. Keep focusing until you get a clear picture of your home. Look at it in as much detail as you can imagine. Good. Now, open your eyes....get out your wallet.....! REALITY CHECK!
Nobody's dream is to be in heavy debt for the rest of their life. To really be what you want it to be, your home must be affordable, comfortable to maintain. The budget - how much money you are able or willing to spend on the project - will be the most limiting factor and will have a bearing on the following considerations.

III. Land Considerations

A. Use a professional Realtor so that hidden problems can be uncovered.
B. Is land buildable?
Septic permit - percolation or soil evaluation tests
Ingress and egress; encroachments and easements
Covenants or restrictions on size, building materials, style, etc.
Planned or proposed construction around property
C. View, privacy, convenience, location, etc.
D. Final house design will adjust to fit property
E. Land should represent 15%-20% of total budget in most cases
F. Mortgage companies like small building tracts rather than large acreage.

IV. Design Considerations

When you closed your eyes and pictured you home, did you see it from the outside or inside. Most see the outside. But we live inside. Therefore, the residence should be designed, first of all, to function the way we want - to get the proper flow and to work to meet the needs of our family and lifestyle. That means designing from the inside out. Don't worry about the outside, we can make it look like your vision, and I guaranty the neighbors will be impressed!
To begin, make a prioritized list of the following:
A. Actual needs: Number of bedrooms, baths, floors, etc.
B. Priorities: Master suite, big kitchen, dining room, family room, porches, etc.
C. Foundation: slab, crawl space, basement, walk-out (adjust to site)
D. Placement of rooms: Children's bedrooms in relation to master, utilities
E. Amenities: garage, spa, mud room, etc.
F. Assign room sizes and space requirements for each room
G. Make sure plan fits lot or that lot fits plan.
Compare list to budget. Ouch! Start separating "Gotta have's" from "Nice-to-have's"
Refine until all needed elements are included in an acceptable affordable plan. Barna Log Homes sales representatives are experts at helping you to arrive at the right design solution.

V. Financing

A.Mortgage Financing
Most banks and mortgage lenders have little experience in log home financing. As a result, there are some very popular myths that exist within the lending market. Some feel that log homes are appreciably different from conventional construction so that the general financing guidelines exclude them. This is not the case. First, though, let's explain how mortgage financing works:
Nearly all mortgage lenders lend money according to a set of standards established by the Federal National Mortgage Association - acronymed "Fannie Mae". Fannie Mae's guidelines to appraise the value of a property tell the appraiser to find three homes of similar style and construction that have been built and sold in the same area as the house in question within the last 12 months. The sale price of these would be compared to the proposed home to establish the home's market value. These homes are referred to as "comparables" or, shortened, "comps." This has at times been interpreted to mean that the appraiser has to find three log homes within a certain radius or county that have been sold in the last year. That's nearly impossible in most areas, and would seem to make log homes un-financeable! Fannie Mae, though, sees log homes as being "rustic construction and style", just like a rustic wood frame home with cedar siding, as an example. Therefore, any rustic style home can be used as a comp. The appraiser or mortgage loan officer just needs to contact FNMA to get their clarification. A mortgage can then be issued, based on the appraised value of the home and property, the construction costs and the customer's credit and ability to repay the loan.
Barna Log Homes can make available to you a list of mortgage companies that will issue mortgages on our homes nationally, provided that a General Contractor is used in the construction of the home. See your sales representative for details.
B. Construction Financing
The mortgage, or long term financing, will only be issued on an existing structure. A construction loan must be arranged to get the home built. Many banks can issue both types of loans, rolling them together into what are called "Convertible" or "Permanent" Construction loans.
In the event that your mortgage is coming from a different source than your construction loan, which can be written by a local bank, the mortgage company can issue an Irrevocable Letter of Credit, or L.C., to the bank guarantying that the construction loan will be paid off by the mortgage company upon completion of the home. The construction loan can then be written by the bank with the assurance that they will be repaid according to the terms of the L.C.
Construction loans are generally written as 90 day or 120 day notes. Funds are made available either at set intervals as different stages of construction are completed, called "draws", or as receipts are turned in as proof that work has been performed. Each bank will have its own method of payment and inspection.
Note: Most lenders will only loan money on homes that are constructed by professional builders or where a General Contractor is in control of the job.

VI. The Construction Process

A. Decide who will build your home.
Do it all yourself
General contract it yourself
Hire a general contractor to do it all
B. Limiting Factors in deciding who will build
Time
Knowledge and skills
Money
Lenders standards
C. If you decide to build it yourself or be your own G.C.:
Describe exactly what you want in minute detail
Count the cost to build

a. Time it will take to build
b. Cost of materials
c. Cost of tools, interest on loan, etc.

Plan the sequence of events - the 'Flow Chart'
Get three bids for each item or service to be purchased

Be specific in your requests

Allow a safety net in time and money - overruns can reach 20%!
Carry Builders Risk and Workers Compensation insurance!!!
Attend the Barna Log Home Institute for specific training.
D. If you decide to act as your own General Contractor:
Convey exactly what you want to each subcontractor.
Get three written bids for each item or service
Make sure all bids reflect exactly what you want
As important as price is how well the sub understands and communicates with you. Build a good rapport.
Understand the sequence of events and schedule appropriately.

a. Let all subs know you are working to a schedule
b. Institute bonus/penalty program to stick to schedule

Get certificate of Workers Compensation insurance from each sub!!!
Be prepared for cost overruns of 15-20%
Attend the Barna Institute for specific training.
E. If you decide to hire a General Contractor to build your home:
Choose one that you can trust to build it your way.

a. Make sure that you understand each other explicitly.
b. Get references and check them out thoroughly.

Be very specific on ever detail of the project in written agreement.
Make sure that Contractor is financially able to commit to your project.

a. Check bank references
b. Is Contractor bonded?

Get Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance.
Bring Contractor with you to the Barna Institute.
Let him do his job.

a. Don't interfere with work in progress unless a problem arises.
b. Always address problems with the Contractor, never a worker.
Keep the lines of communication open at all times, and be patient.