Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Architectural Style, Architecture, DIY Projects, Houzz, Interior Design, Landscape Lighting
reblogged from Pencil Shavings – Design for Life. I have been meaning to write about this great resource since I found if a couple of weeks ago, but my wife beat me to it. She says it all better than I could. If you need any ideas or inspiration for a project or update at your home, please check out Houzz…
Have you heard about Houzz? When my wife got a birthday iPad a few weeks ago, I found the Houzz app and we were both immediately hooked. And fortunately, they have a pretty fantastic site in addition to the well-designed and easy to navigate app. Houzz is like Flickr but strictly for home design – both interior and exterior. Need inspiration for your kitchen? This might be the place. Interested in only eclectic-styled living rooms? Their multiple categories can help you narrow down what it is you’re looking for. I’m pretty impressed – there’s a lot of images that I’ve seen here or there, but dozens that I’ve never found anywhere else. All in all, a great reference.
A few of my faves -
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: DIY Projects, Home Tips, Landscape Lighting, Safety
In my opinion, adding landscape lighting to the exterior of your home gives some of the the biggest bang for your buck, with a low amount of maintenance, than any other home improvement project.
Relatively inexpensive fixtures, such as recessed soffit can lights and low voltage landscape lighting packages can turn your home into one of the most inviting on the block, welcoming guests and keeping intruders at bay.
Lighting up the exterior of your home increases safety, welcomes visitors, enhances the appearance of landscaping and makes it easy to enjoy a beautiful night in the comfort of your porch or patio. Timers activate lights when you’re not home to boost security and provide a pleasant, lighted environment to come home to. Installing exterior lights can be done in a relatively short period of time and with minimum fuss, making for a fulfilling home improvement project. You’ll need to make a few decisions about placement and the types of lighting and fixtures you want to use before you begin installation, so keep the following questions in mind as you shop:
- What is the primary purpose of the lighting?
- Where will you place lights? How frequently will they be used?
- Do you want to add sensors or timers?
- Which styles best suit the areas where they will be installed?
- What type of lighting is best suited to the area?
Do-it-yourself kits are available at any home improvement store, or y0u can refer to a professional to put together a complete lighting plan which might include tree lights, pathway lights, up & down lighting and architectural lighting. Check with local resources, neighbors, or sites like Angie’s List, for recommendations of quality/licensed contractors to complete your project.
Photos Courtesy: knselectric.net & quicktricity.com
