Through the Roof

The eating place located in my husband's hometown looks common in the front. But when you enter, you’ll notice a tree that grows inside and it’s already high beyond the roof.

 Monday Mellow Yellows

Flower and Fruit

A flower and a fruit side by side in an apple tree. Taken at the Kusuma Agrowisata the fruit garden (Batu Malang, East Java, Indonesia) last year.

 The Weekend in Black and White

How to Add Comfort to Your Outdoor Area?

Summers have dawned upon us and with the crack of dawn our musings impulsively spin to living outdoors. Don’t we covet for this season of fireflies, cocktails with comrades, casual grilling and partisan holiday festivities? Luckily refurbishing your patio or deck for relaxing times with friends and family is simpler than you might have thought. Take into account these easy elbow-greases, simpler plans and ideas to make your outdoor area comfortable:

 1.   Initiate with hygienic crackdown: Instigate giving everything in your outdoors a novel shade with paint. It calls for good scrubbing and a new paint color, even the furniture kept outside. You don’t have to worry if your deck is discolored or the slab is dingy. You can conveniently rent a power washer and get away with the filth. Refurbish the entire area with a deck sealer and fill in the patio cracks and furnish the entire area with tangible-stain. You can give it an instant glam boost with a slight coat of the heat resistant spray enamel.

2.   Subsequently, categorize your favorite picks: Up next, agree on what you want to establish with the outdoor space. It depends on the space that you have. For instance, a small balcony might just have space for a coffee table for two. Amplify the environs by adding plants or a small electric grill to serve snacks and create a comfortable outdoor coffee-snack area. You can demarcate larger outdoor areas with a wise intellect. If you want a serene place for yoga, delineate that and if your spouse wants a comfy garden bed, make way for that as well. So, try to categorize your favorite picks.

3.   Formulate a pleasing sight: You might not be blessed with a pleasing view around the environs of your house that doesn’t account for a sulking feeling. You can formulate a pleasing view on your own by creating central visual pints with well-placed accessories. Like you can conceal an imposing block-wall or a cascading water feature as well; it all depends on your imagination and what you want.

4.   Go beneath the wrap: A wise component to create a comfortable outdoor area is to proffer shade from the natural elements. You don’t really have to wrap everything and bring it under cover; instead try wrapping the most important areas. Like where you sit or those areas that provide entertainment and comfort to you. You can buy large umbrellas to cover your seating during the day and also for the rainy days or choose other options as well.

5.   Fetch the indoor comfort outdoors: If you are confused about the furnishing when it comes to outdoors, it is simpler than you can imagine. Sense the space in the outdoors and start pulling in. You can place two sofas under the shade or a coffee table to create an intimate and comfortable seating area. You will be needing side tables when you pull-in the coffee set, bring it on. Place contrasting throws and accent pillows by uplifting the outdoors with a classy and comfy vibe. You can also place stylish and chic floor lamps or candles. Create a visual separation by adding textures and contrasting rugs in the outdoors. You can get all this stuff from any furniture seller like Cosh Outdoor Furniture.

The aforementioned points can be of assistance in adding comfort to your outdoor areas.

5 Things You Need To Know About Building a Shed

When you decide to build a shed you probably—mistakenly—believe that it will be a simple task. Toss up four walls and a roof and you’re ready for a game room, storage shed or utility shed, right? Well it’s not quite that simple, but it can be if you take a few things into consideration before you pick up that hammer. A great place to start is Adam Smith’s “How to build a shed” website called 3dshedplans.com, where he shares top tips, provides general information about everything related to shed building.

But before you do anything you need to consider where your shed will be erected. This must be done before you choose a design, style or layout. Plus you want to make sure you’re building a shed that will fit in the space you designated. So here are a few things you should know before you start building a shed. 

You Can Buy It Pre-Assembled 

If you don’t have the time and energy to learn all you need to know about building a shed from scratch you can always buy one pre- or partially assembled. Your favorite home improvement stores offer a wide variety of sheds that simply need to be hammered or snapped into place.

Of course these sheds don’t come in quite as many varieties as the sheds you can build from scratch, but you do have plenty of options. This is the perfect option for people who don’t know anything about building a shed, but are in dire need of additional storage space.

Wood Isn’t Your Only Option 

Perhaps one of the most important things you should know about building a shed is that you have other materials than wood from which you could choose. Wood is a solid option because it is inexpensive and you can make any color you want. But wood is also very susceptible to falling prey to the elements.

This is why many shed builders opt for metal or plastic. They may be loud when the rain is falling heavy, but they stand up better in the bad weather and have pretty low maintenance. If you don’t want to dedicate a lot of time and effort cleaning and weather-proofing your shed, look to an option other than wood.

You Might Need A Pro 

The one thing that many of those self-help shed building guides won’t tell you is that you might need to hire a pro to help build your shed. Why? One of the most difficult things about building a shed is the foundation. Sure you can pour the foundation on your own. But if your ground is uneven you may have to put posts into the ground. If that happens, depending on what is under your building spot, you may need to hire a contractor.

If your experience level is limited this is something you’ll need help with, particularly from someone with experience. If your goal is to build a large shed or one with multiple floors, you want to make sure your foundation is stable.

 

There Are Plenty Of Designs 

When you think about building a shed do you think of those carbon-copy structures that look exactly like the bigger house next to it? Or do you think of those cheesy miniature cabins? It doesn’t matter because chances are good that whatever you have in mind for your shed, you can find building plans to match.

Whether you are a fan of classical, modern or rustic architecture, you can find shed plans to fit your goals. Then all you have to do is build it!

 

You and Your Buddies Can Do It 

The thing about building a basic storage shed is that it is something you and your friends can do in a few days. If you’re surrounded by a few people handy with power tools you can pour the foundation and get everything erected in a long weekend.

It is not only a fun way to spend a weekend outdoors, but it is a cheap way to the shed you need.

The Importance of Home Alarm Systems

Your home is the most valuable asset you have. Because of this, you need to take the necessary steps to safeguard it from criminals or disasters. One of the best ways to do this is to have a security system installed in your home. This can allow you to live your life and go about your daily activities with the knowledge that your large investment is protected. If you have a family, a security system is even more important for you to install. It can protect your loved ones from fires, along with alerting them that there is an intruder in the house. Alarm systems have a multitude of benefits. Here is why security systems are a good idea.

image:plegroup.com

1. It is a great deterrent for crime

By simply placing a sign in your yard saying that your home is protected by a security system, you are letting criminals know that they should proceed at their own risk. In the vast majority of cases, a burglar will see the sign and keep right on walking. After all, why would a burglar take a chance of breaking into your house when there are plenty of other houses that are unprotected?

2. You can monitor your home from any location

Along with providing alarms for burglaries and disasters, security systems also have many other features. One of the most important of these is the ability to monitor your home from any location. Cameras can be installed outside your home and in strategic locations inside your home. All you need to do is log into your account with your security company. You will then be able to see the interior and exterior of your home in real time. This is a good feature if you have young children who will be unsupervised when they come home from school. You will also be able to spot any suspicious people or vehicles outside your home.

3. Protection from disasters

Fires can destroy your home in a matter of minutes. Security systems have smoke detectors and heat sensors that can notify your local fire department of a potential fire in your home. Having this feature will protect your home and the people who are living in it. There are also carbon monoxide detectors which can alert you to the presence of this deadly gas that is colorless and odorless. This is a feature that can literally save your life.