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.

Modern Staircase-10 Reasons to Use Glass Railings/Balustrades

May 7, 2016 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post from an Australian writer on the subject of glass railings; balustrades as they are referred to across the pond.

Ensure the Safety of your home with the Designer Glass Balustrades/Railings

If you have started with a new home construction, or of you want to renovate your home, or else, if you are the owner of a shopping mall, spa or parlor, then you can include glass balustrading as part of your interior decoration, as these make your staircase look attractive, sleek and contemporary. There are numerous designs available in the market, and you can search from the online portals to get your glass balustrading done in the perfect manner. Balustrades that are usually made with toughened glass last long, and they are scratch and corrosion-proof:

Initially balustrades used to be manufactured of stone or wood, but now, these traditional and archaic materials are no longer in use, and glass stands for the luxury and superiority when it comes to using your balustrades for a long term purpose, or for enhancing the aesthetic and the retail value of your property.
When it comes to make a sustainable and eco-friendly landscape in your home, glass balustrades have no other alternative, as they are not heavy as marble or stone balustrades and they do not rust like the steel or the metal balustrades.

Know about the top 10 benefits of glass balustrading:

Glass balustrading looks sleek and stylish and it adds to the charm of any existing building or a new construction. If you are the owner of a corporate set-up, you can impress your clients with the décor and functionality of the glass balustrades. These also enhance the resale value of your home.
Glass balustrading does not block the entry of sunlight into your rooms, as it filters the light and lets it enter, so that the interior remains warm during winters. If you have a swimming pool, you can easily install the frameless or the semi-frameless glass balustrades to ensure that the view of the space is not blocked.
Glass balustrading involves no hassles while cleaning and maintaining these. It is very easy to clean the glass balustrades all by yourself, and you do not require any professional help for maintaining your balustrades. You can use a quality glass cleaner, or else, if there are scratches and dents over the balustrades, then you can simply use the polishing methods to bring back the balustrades into the original form.
Glass gives the illusion of a larger space. This cannot be achieved with metallic, iron or stone balustrades.
Glass is a versatile option, when it comes to choose from a large number of designs, shapes and layouts. You can customize the designs depending on your needs, or else, you can go through home design catalogues to get an idea about how to install the balustrades. You can also choose from different frames, or go for the frameless options.
Toughened glass is not brittle, but it shows an excellent durability even when you compare it to stone or metal balustrades. There is minimum aging related to glass, so if you use good quality glass balustrading, it will not chip, wear out or break off. In case you have children, aged parents or pets at home, you can install these tough balustrades without worrying about any accidents.
Glass balustrading costs less than the traditional stone or marble balustrading, and these are also quite easy to install.
Glass balustrading is strong and safe, and made of unbreakable glass, so that these can withstand huge pressure.
Glass is an eco-friendly option, when it comes to choosing the best interior layout for your home.
They are the best safety providers which do not let people fall down from stairs or balconies.

So now, you can call to the glass balustrading companies and get a quote from them and install the best glass balustrades in your home.

A Handy Guide to House Restoration Projects

January 27, 2016 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post on the subject of remodel/restoration of your home. Undergoing a reno/remodel is not something one should begin without some good upfront planning.

Get your team of experts together including if needed an architect, general contractor/builder, and an interior designer. Remember- ‘measure twice, cut once’.

An infographic by the team at Chic Furniture and Gift

What Every Home Buyer Wants

October 21, 2015 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post that discusses what a new home buyer may be looking for in terms of features or upgrades. S Interior Design has added commentary (shown in italics ) throughout the posting.

What Every Home Buyer Wants

Every new home buyer, has some wishes that he/she looks for before making a step towards buying or owning a home. Different features and factors which include home location, the size of the home and also interior features are mostly common in any buyers wish lists. This determines how willing/interested a buyer will be when it comes to purchasing the home.

Many buyers are willing to spend more money above the price of the home to have certain interior and exterior features put in place. Some of the wishes that every home buyer will look for when buying a home (and something you might want to consider when remodeling or doing home improvements) will include the following:

Stainless steel appliances
Most home buyers prefer having stainless appliances fitted in their homes ranging from doors and other indoor appliances. This is because stainless steel is more attractive and makes the house have an elegant view.

While stainless steel appliances are still desirable, black, slate and even white appliances are becoming more popular.

Security

A well secured home with quality doors and locks will be mostly preferred by home buyers. Good quality and affordable doors can be found with barn door hardware. The hardware offers better quality doors in different designs. They also offer track systems and other door accessories to make sure that your home is well guarded against break-ins. In some homes, break-ins are inevitable and home buyers are looking for homes where a warranty is given in cases of break-ins or wear out. A home warranty is considered as a major component before buying a home.

Key pad entry pads and even wireless entry is now available .

More Bedrooms

Privacy is key in any bedroom and home buyers will prefer a home with more bedrooms which can accommodate more people in case there are visitors. Anyone should feel comfortable sleeping in a bedroom in which there is privacy. A walk-in closet in the bedroom is also a status symbol since most people want to have more clothes, be more organized and on top of that, look presentable.

You can add privacy door sets to any room in which you desire extra privacy. Every home buyer/home owner has distinct needs. More is not always better!

More Bathrooms
It’s no doubt that washrooms are a very sensitive area of the house. To maintain hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, washrooms should not be shared among every person who lives in a house. Therefore, most home buyers will prefer having more bathrooms in their house to maintain hygiene.

Keep in mind more bathrooms mean more bathrooms to clean!

Laundry Room
A place where people can wash, fold clothes and store other laundry materials will be a key factor to anyone who wants to own a home. Laundry rooms help people to keep the mess out of their living room keeping it tidy and homey.

Older homes may have a laundry area or space versus an acutual room. You need to think about where you will fold your laundry and iron in the house if there is not a dedicated room for that purpose.

More Exterior Lighting

A well designed exterior lighting captures customers’ attention on the first sight. Be it wall lanterns and landscape lights above the ground provides a scenic view which attracts potential buyers before they even get inside a house. The light illuminates paths at night.

Good Kitchen Design (Eat-In Kitchens)
For home buyers, especially those with families, an eat-in kitchen is a must have. This helps people interact during breakfast or dinner since they congregate in the kitchen for their meals. The kitchen should be spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people.

Your specific lifestyle and family make up will help to determine your needs in terms of how large of a space and eating table / area is needed.

A Fireplace

One or more fireplaces may become more popular as speculated. This is because many people spend less time watching TV. A fireplace will be an ideal place where home owners can relax or just share highlights from their day with family or friends.

We have not witnessed this trend. Our clients are fully committed to having televisions in multiple rooms of their homes. Fireplaces in dining rooms and bedrooms are are great option along with the more standard living room or great room spaces.

Spacious Garage and Storage Room

The increase in resources results in home buyers looking for spacious storage to accommodate equipment used in homes. For buyers with families, a spacious garage is most likely to have an upper hand since a family may have a number of cars to accommodate in a garage. A seller should ensure garage and other storage rooms are spacious.

Good storage spaces are definitely a plus especially in areas such as Arizona where basements and storage areas in basements are less commonly available.

Floors /Design
Though carpets are considered to conserve energy and offer a comfortable feeling, they may be hard to clean. Most home buyers who host guests often, prefer hardwood floors, which are durable and easy to clean.

Other hard floor surfaces to consider are laminate, luxury vinyl planks, cork and porcelain tile.

Home Office

Most people take office work home so that they can work on it either in the evening or during weekends. Buyers may prefer to have a place in the house where work-related documents are kept (e.g. books, laptops and more). Home offices make your work more manageable.

Overwhelming desire for the majority of home owners! Most newly built homes will offer 1 or more options for home office space.
Though the list is endless depending on people’s tastes and preferences, most home buyers are willing to cough up extra money to have their homes customized. In this digital era, a good home should therefore contain modern facilities which are not only attractive, but also act as a status symbol to many.

Living Large In a Small Space

September 18, 2015 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post on the subject on how to live comfortably in a small or smaller space. Many of you have seen the uptick in interest in micro houses. Some of you may be down sizing now that the kids have left the nest. Regardless, the article below provides good information on how to declutter and get creative with storage even if you are not in a small space or down sizing scenerio.

Living Large in a Small Space

One of the latest trends in home or apartment living these days is in downsizing space. In fact, some people are building their dream homes to be fewer than 300 square feet. You may not be dealing with these kinds of spatial constraints, but there are a few simple rules to follow if you need to make the most any small space. From storage options to decorating tips that give the illusion of openness, you can easily make a cramped room feel more spacious.

Clean up the clutter.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to open up a cramped living or work space is to declutter the area. This isn’t just a matter of cleaning up; it’s a careful editing of what’s taking up precious space. For example, if you are de-cluttering a general area such as a living room, go through items on bookshelves, coffee or end tables and start the elimination process. These are areas that tend to collect a lot of extraneous stuff. Take a good, hard look at your decorations and choose only a few statement pieces to make the most impact. If you have several picture frames or artwork on your walls, consider taking some down to open up wall space. When you’re ready for a change of scenery, you can swap out some of your decorations with things you have stored and get a whole new look.

Get creative with storage.
Anyone who has lived in a small space can tell you that efficient organization is key. Take advantage of items such as storage ottomans that do double-duty as a piece of functional furniture that can keep things like extra blankets or linens out of sight. In your kitchen, office or bedroom, use drawer separators to both organize and make the most of every bit of space. And don’t forget the backside of cabinet or closet doors. Various over-the-door organizers can store everything from shoes to extra bottles of shampoo or cleaners. You can even create a small storage area of your own by adding a sliding door in front of a small alcove or cubby. Visit your local home improvement store to pick up a pre-fab door and sliding door hardware to construct a simple DIY storage space of your own design.

Bring in the light.
Once you’ve done your de-cluttering and have your storage options in hand, you can use some simple decorating tips to give the illusion of more space. Use mirrors to take advantage of the light in a room and visually enhance your space. You can even choose an area of the wall to create a wall of mirrors, giving the appearance of an extra room. Also, consider opting out of curtains on windows. This may not be practical in a bedroom, but your living room will feel more spacious if you don’t create any visual breaks around your windows. Finally, choose paint or wallpaper colors that won’t make you feel boxed in. Lighter colors and patterns will make any space feel more open and airy than dark colors. If you’re painting your walls one color, continue that same color on the ceiling. It will make give the room a sense of higher ceilings.

Living in a small space doesn’t have to put a cramp in your lifestyle. In fact, smaller spaces often include smaller utility bills and general upkeep, leaving you with extra money for the things you love to do. With a combination of space-saving storage options and simple decorating tips, you can feel like you’re living large in even the smallest of spaces.