Plants, Hard Scape and LIGHTING!

September 5, 2020 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest posting on you guessed it….OUTDOOR LIGHTING. Just like the interior of your home, a well thought out lighting plan for the exterior of your home is very important to successful design. I like to take cues for fun outside lighting ideas from restaurant patios and hotel/resort outside spaces. S Interior Design will often work with their clients to design the patio areas of their homes which essentially are extended living and entertaining spaces. Colors and even material selections are chosen to create visual flow from inside to outside. Here in Scottsdale, Arizona we want to use our outdoor ‘rooms’ year round.

All layers of lighting should be considered.

Functional – light the walk ways to the front door, light the address at the front of your home, the garage entry.

Accent lights- up lighting on trees and planting areas, lighting to define a specific area of the yard, wall sconces on back patio areas.

Fun design lighting elements such as the string lights shown below.

Outdoor table and floor lamps powered by solar and batteries also can be used when designing an outdoor living space.

Cool Outdoor DIY Lighting Tips and Ideas

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Ever cruised or walked through a well-lit neighborhood at night and saw how outdoor lighting adds beauty to homes?

With outdoor lighting, you can create and enjoy a relaxed, well-lit space, which is especially handy when summer rolls in. Think barbecues with friends, star-gazing with your kids or significant other, backyard events. Night-time outdoor events create fond and lasting memories, especially when your outdoors is well illuminated.

DIY lighting tips

While it appears to be a daunting task, outdoor lighting can be done without any specialized knowledge or experience. You only need some ideas and creativity. So, here are some tips, advice, and ideas to get you going..

1. Use solar lights

Unless you don’t mind spending a significant amount of your monthly income on electricity bills, consider installing solar powered lights. Besides, they are easier to install and are good for the planet.

Solar lighting systems convert sunlight into energy that is stored in batteries for use at night. However, you need to consider your geographic location before installing outdoor solar lights – without enough sunlight, there won’t be energy to light up the bulbs at night.

2. Balance security and aesthetics

Whatever your reasons for outdoor lighting, they all revolve around security and aesthetics.

It is possible to achieve a balance between the two; lights that look good and provide enough illumination.

For starters, take a flashlight and take a walk around your home at night. Identify the dark areas that need to be illuminated for security reasons. Think about the type of lighting you need. Consider the types of light and the specific areas to place the light, such as pathways, patios, garage doors, among others.

3. Consider your neighbors

Like any good neighbor, there are two things you need to consider when placing outdoor lighting at your home.

First, the position of the lighting is essential. Please do not put the lights facing directly into your neighbor’s windows as this may create too much light at night, making it difficult to sleep.

Secondly, the brightness of the light should be taken into account. No one wants blazing spotlights facing their home. Fear not, there are some solutions. For example, installing epoxy flooring on your deck removes the need for high wattage lights as it is shiny and thus reflects light.

Remember, very bright lights consume a lot of energy, which only adds to your electricity bills.

4. Consider longevity

It will be costly to replace your outdoor lights every now and then. Don’t just go to the market and pick any bulb, no. Check the quality. Even if it costs more, you will save in the long run.

Go for outdoor lighting systems that require little or no maintenance – solar lights score high on this.

Outdoor lighting is exposed to harsh climatic conditions like rain, snow and harsh sunlight. So, look for solutions that are weather resistant. Alternatively, you can shield your lights using various materials.

What’s more, the bulbs can be stolen or destroyed by someone at night while you are asleep. Ensure that the lights are secured and protected against such conditions.

5. Color, style, and size

The color, size, and style of your lights come into play, especially if you are looking to decorate your home with outdoor lighting.

You can choose a single color or mix the colors to make your home more attractive. If you plan on using only a few bulbs, go for the larger ones. And again, the size will depend on the use of the light.

You can create different patterns or styles in different parts of your home. You can use outdoor lighting to direct your visitors/guests within your compound.

Best outdoor lighting ideas

Spotlights

These are lights that only point in one direction. If you want to illuminate your plants, patios, driveway, and statues, this is the best outdoor lighting solution for you. They come with an iris and a manual device, enabling you to change the intensity of the light and also adjust the angle of the beam.

Floodlights

Floodlights are very bright and can be used to illuminate a larger area. They are mostly placed above facing downwards to light up your patios, driveway, among other essential places in your home. These are great when you have a larger event happening in your backyard to lit up all corners.

Step lights

Tired of guessing which step to make on your deck? Step lights are usually placed on the sides of each step to help you traverse safely.

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String lights

String lights are pretty, especially when you are hosting a party or wedding at night. They are easy to install and are placed on poles or trees to create a picturesque scene. Most of them are weather-proof and can serve you for quite some time.

Bottomline

The above tips and ideas will help you light up your outdoors based on your needs. Whether you want to enhance the security of your home or to add some decor to your home, outdoor lighting makes it possible. And with the many variations of lighting solutions, there is no excuse to stay in the dark.

Tips To Improve Curb Appeal With Your Garage Door

October 10, 2019 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest posting on how to improve your home’s curb appeal by the look and design of your garage door. Here in Phoenix many homes have front facing garages and they can sometimes distinctly define the look of a home; for better or for worse. This makes it very important to have a garage door design that compliments and enhances your home’s elevation design.

First impressions are absolutely important, especially when we’re talking about your home. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when people stop, stare, and marvel at the way your house looks. More importantly, that first impression matters when you’re thinking about putting your house on the market. House-hunters will surely want to call your real estate agent with just one look at the front of your home.

That impressive look, of course, can be achieved when you make an effort to enhance the curb appeal of your home. There are many ways of improving curb appeal, but did you know that your garage door can play an instrumental role in bringing fresh excitement to your home’s façade?

Admittedly, a garage door can look incredibly bland, which isn’t surprising since many homeowners just concern themselves with keeping it functional with maintenance and garage door repair. But with a little creativity from your end, your garage door can do so much more, especially when it comes to improving curb appeal. Here are some tips on doing just that.

Paint your garage door.

If the color of your garage door matches the paint of the exterior, then it’s time to do some repainting on it.

As it stands now, your garage door will tend to disappear into the walls. So pick a color that will contrast to the rest of the house in an attractive way. The best color for your garage door would be one that is a few shades darker than the paint on your home. A house painted a light tan, for example, would look great with a garage door with light brown paint. The point is to create a contrast that isn’t too stark.

Do some accessorizing.

If your garage door already came with handles, windows, patterns, or side arrows, then you’re all good on the accessorizing front. However, if your garage door is a little on the simple side, you can enhance the way it looks by adding accessories around it.

Consider placing potted plants on either side of your garage. For added flourish, you can have shrubs, tall plants, and other kinds of greenery close to the garage doors. If you can incorporate some decorative stonework on your driveway, then that would make your garage door pop nicely.

Add lighting fixtures.

When installed in the right spots, exterior light fixtures almost instantly make everything look great. Put up exterior lighting with the garage door as a focal point, and you can be sure that they will enhance curb appeal.

A wise choice is overhead and side lights. They provide much-needed illumination and security, and make the garage door look stunning at night as well. Of course, you have to make sure that the lights you install complement not only your home’s color tone but also its overall style to make the overall look of your home stand out.

If you have a big enough budget for more lighting, then you can go for ground lights that point upwards, preferably towards the trees and tall plants around your garage door.

Balance everything with the front door.

It would look odd if your garage door is all spruced up and your front door isn’t. So whatever enhancements you did with your garage door, it would be a great idea to do the same for your front door. It will make the look of your home more consistent and balanced.

Garage doors don’t have to look dull. Follow the tips above, and your garage door should be able to contribute significantly to the overall curb appeal of your home.

Let The Outside IN!

June 15, 2016 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post on the subject of sliding glass doors for homes. As an interior designer in Arizona, I place and re-place quite a few doors like this since one of the goals for those of us who live here is almost always to enable indoor / outdoor living environments both visually and physically.

That said, we live in a world where security is of concern so the glass doors need to have reliable locking mechanisms. No reason to compromise between beauty and security. So if you are in the market for new glass sliding doors, don’t forget the security component.

The author of this guest post from Australia is promoting secure sliding glass doors.

Top 6 Reasons for Getting Sliding Security Glass Doors for Homes

The popularity of sliding security doors is being realized by both homeowners and businesses. Sliding glass doors are mostly used by people as entrance to the garden or patio. Security doors prevent burglaries and protect homes from intruders. Besides security reasons and aesthetics, they are installed for greater visibility and air flow. When it comes to locking system, there are various options available. You can choose central lock system or side lock system. You can buy different varieties of sliding security doors from different online shops, but you must also buy a material that can be cleaned and maintained very easily.

6 main reasons for installing glass sliding security doors!

When compared to the traditional doors, sliding security glass doors offer an added security since they are swung open with the hinge. Sliding security doors are secured with the latch, making it difficult for intruders to meddle.
If you install sliding doors, you will enjoy more space inside the building premises and house. It increases the space available as it narrows down the obstruction both indoors and outdoors.
When it comes to sliding doors, there are various options available in the market. More and more manufacturers have embarked on the production of glass sliding doors in different styles and patterns. These doors are the ideal options to choose when you consider doing your office renovation, or of you want the perfect office fit-out at a reasonable price.
Sliding doors are much easier to clean and maintain. Do-it-yourself cleaning solutions are available to remedy the glass if anything happens to it. Glass cleaning solutions can be availed at budget friendly rates.
The sliding security doors comprise glass material can give the room an instant facelift. The door offers a chic and modern look to the interior. The once drab room can become elegant and beautiful in no time.
With glass doors, you can have a better look of your landscape area or patio. The home will also enjoy natural lighting. One can also use curtains and drapes to dim the light.

Get rid of the traditional doors!

Those who crave to get rid of old-fashioned and traditional look of their home; they can install glass sliding doors. Find the best sliding security doors to match up your needs. Check the internet or pay visit to a hardware store to see the variety of gates sold. It can add it to the curb appeal of the home while making it modern.

Traditional glass security doors and modern security doors!

Modern glass security doors have a huge advantage over the traditional ones. The major change in the glass panels is the reason for installing modern doors. When traditional doors used only a single panel, the modern security door has multiple panels of glazed glass. These doors are also the best for your garden area, as you can regulate the entry and exit into your garden, with these security sliding doors.

Enjoying the outdoor view!

You may be having a beautiful landscape area and willing to enjoy the outdoors from inside your home. If you want to see the outdoors from the interior, while not compromising on the safety of the family, then you should choose sliding security doors made up of glass to enjoy a clear view. Make sure nothing is visible from the outside.

At the big box hardware store, you can find hundreds of choices with respect to sliding security doors. Have a look at the frame of the door since that needs to be factory constructed in different styles. Choose an appropriate one for your needs.

The Entry Of Your Home-Set the Stage

March 5, 2015 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is an article from LUXE Interiors. It showcases 18 diverse and amazing front entry areas. While these are grand in scale, the reality that the front door area of your home defines your home and it style remains the same whether you have a $200,000 house or a $2,000,000 house. Get some inspiration!

18 Amazing Entries You Should Emulate

One of our personal favorites: