Landscape Design Service Benefits

Friday, April 15, 2011

When you step outside of your home, are you instantly swept into a garden space that makes you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the world, or do you suddenly find yourself facing a bed of weeds that adds to your stress? Landscaping design service carries many benefits, and will remove some of this stress by giving you a beautiful yard to look at each morning as you leave your home.

Become the Envy of Your Neighborhood

Having the nicest house on the block doesn't just mean having the biggest house or the newest outdoor paint job. Landscape design service makes your home the envy of your street, allowing it to stand out among the rest of the homes in your neighborhood. With the right plan, plants, and decor, you can turn a boring front yard into one that people stop and take notice of when they drive by.

Better Maintenance Options

A properly landscaped home makes your seasonal maintenance easier. The right plan incorporates ideas for snow removal, leaf raking, and other seasonal outdoor chores. Quality designs also plan for the water that will be running through your yard when it rains, giving it a place to flow freely without creating divots and gullies in your yard.

A More Functional Space

A landscape design service doesn't just look at the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor living space. It also focuses on making it more functional. You can add seating, lighting, and entertaining areas to make your outdoor space an offshoot of your home, giving you a place to relax with your family in comfort or entertain your guests in style. Swimming pools, ponds, and fire pits are often incorporated into outdoor designs to add a functional space to a beautiful garden. In commercial lots, sidewalks, paths, and parking areas can be incorporated into the overall designs to create a more aesthetically pleasing while still functional space.

An Emotional Benefit

A beautiful outdoor space gives you a calm place to go to relax and unwind after a busy day at work. Contrasting colors resonate with your emotions, lifting your spirits and helping stress melt away. The trickling water from a waterfall in your outdoor pond adds a tranquil sound to your outdoor space. The right landscape design service creates a look that can have a very real emotional benefit.

Hiring a Designer

If you are ready to benefit from these things, then you need to find the right designer for your outdoor living space. Designers know what plants grow well in your area and in your lighting conditions, how the plants should be spaced to best complement one another, and what elements should be added to create a beautiful yet functional outdoor living space. Check portfolio pictures for the companies on your radar, and choose one that has done spaces similar to what you are looking for. You will quickly find a landscape design service that has tastes similar to yours and an idea for your outdoor space that matches what you are dreaming about. With their help, you will be able to create the ideal garden or entertaining space for your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5313317

Modern Exterior Front Doors For Homes

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The most popular front doors people could be buying today have to be modern style exterior front doors.
Some people likes old French doors, while others like this the old fashioned entry ways. However since early 2010 more modern style doors could be being shipped each day in contrast To vintage style doors.

A modern style glass exterior door with modern entry ways in particular, digital keypads should be becoming more accepted. A few homestead owners have to be looking as more modern replacement front doors as an excuse how to usage new fancy electronic devices.

Home security is a new fad going on due to the increase in crime rates during the economy collapse.
Believe it or never the price as to a newer fiberglass door design is economical compared to vintage and also old style french and mahogany exterior doors. With the economy slowly rising the purchases of fiberglass doors are increasing.

When choosing particular features for Your New front entry way there's many that you may attain. From fancy door locks, keypads, glass and emblems an entry way can be fitted by Many types of exterior hardware.

Distributors and contractors alike must be doing things a bit less expensive this season as well as this is a great time To buy. This summer exterior household improvements have risen near about 50%.
It's the next best thing these days. While most are remodeling the interiors of their home, many are going for curb appeal with new front entry way improvements

It's no surprise that people should be upgrading their homes using brand new features. Now is the time To modernize a new home while prices probably are still down. A year from now the value on an exterior front door will certainly be higher than today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4821495

Planning for Moving House

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

If you have just bought or are considering buying a new home, then you will also need to plan the process of moving home. While there are many things that you have to remember, planning them in advance will make the whole move easier and less traumatic. So it is a good idea that, as soon as you know the completion date for your move, that you start planning.

There are certain things that take quite a bit of time and should be arranged at least a month in advance. You will want to inform your landlord or any flatmates, if you have any, of the date that you are leaving. This can mean the difference between getting your deposit back or not, if you are renting, so it's a good idea to let everyone know your plans as soon as you know them yourself.

You should probably also inform the gas and electricity companies of your knew property that you are the new owner. By doing this, it can avoid mix-ups later on. This would also include calling your telephone company and arranging to have your phone number transferred.

You can start packing up your things or getting boxes together. There are some things like books and photos that can be packed in advance and will save you hassle later on when the move gets closer. You may want to book some time of work, especially if you don't think you're going to be able to arrange the move in a weekend. Another good idea is to have a clearout and get rid of some old things that have been gathering dust. In fact, moving is the perfect chance to get rid of some of the belongings that accumulate over the years.

As the move gets closer you should book the removal company and arrange for transit insurance if you decide you need it. You can tell the post office to redirect your mail and you can also notify the local authority of the change in address for council tax purposes.

You should make sure that all your utility bills are paid up by the date of the move. You don't want the new owners to be hounding you for unpaid bills once you've moved and now is the time to make sure they are accurate. If you have services like milk deliveries, newspaper deliveries and the like you should have these cancelled.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/127086

Landscaping Ideas For Your Home

Monday, April 11, 2011

Lately, it seems that everyone is conscious of being "green" both inside and out. Everyone wants to do their part in helping the environment. In Austin and Central Texas, conserving water and water-wise landscaping has become quite popular among homeowners. For the past few years, Central Texas has gone through one of the worst droughts on record. Many established trees and plants have suffered during several weeks of 100+ degree temps and little rain; however, with the proper planning and the right selection of materials, a landscape can beat the heat and survive in even the toughest of summers.

Now that Spring is closing in upon us, it is a good idea to take a minute and learn about the best ways to be green before digging into those new flower beds. Here are a few landscaping ideas that will help you in your gardening success.

First, make sure you have a plan before you start buying plants and trees. You need to know the right sun & shade requirements for plants on your property. It's also very important to know the mature size of plants. While some plants may begin small in a 1 gallon bucket, they can quickly out grow a space if not properly planned. Contact a landscape architect or landscape designer before starting out to get a plan implemented for your property--you'll save time and money in the long run.

The garden should be prepared with the right amendments. Depending on the plant, some shrubs require a lot of changes in the soil for success. Like the Hydrangea for example, the Ph of the soil needs to be higher or lower depending on flower color. To match your plant needs, it is important to know your soil type. Check with your local Ag Extension office or go online to Texas A&M Soil Testing to get a FREE test of your soil.They will provide you with a thorough analysis of your soil type.

While a lush green lawn can be very inviting, it can also soak up a lot of water in summer months. It is important to choose the right type of grass variety. In Austin, if your property is full sun, you may want to select Buffalo, Bermuda or Zoysia Grass. For shaded areas, go with either a St. Augustine or Zoysia variety.Also, think about using ground covers and landscape beds to reduce the amount of lawn for optimal water use.

In addition to choosing the right turf grass, use plants that are well adapted to thrive in your area. This includes sun/shade, soil conditions and deer resistance. I recommend visiting the City of Austin Grow Green website for suggested plants. Their website will give you plenty of information about growth habits, soil requirements, bloom cycles and deer resistance.

Now that a design is created for the landscape and your plants are selected, installing the right sprinkler system is a valuable asset for plant survival. An automatic irrigation system could save you hundreds of dollars from your water bill. It will also help give your new plants and trees the right amount of water they need to survive, then the watering can be adjusted as they become more established.

Finally, it is important to provide some upkeep in the garden. For example, to suppress weeds and keep the plants cool, apply at least 1" of organic mulch to flower beds. It's also good to trim perennials, trees and roses in late winter when plants are dormant. This prepares the plants for the upcoming Spring. Keeping turf at its optimal height, periodically checking the irrigation system, and other basic maintenance saves time and water while providing a more beautiful landscape.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3736642

Composite Front Door Styles

Friday, April 8, 2011

Composite doors are the innovative introduction to homes from the door industry. Where other front doors and back doors fail, composite doors not only do the job, but they exceed expectations in virtually every way. Affordable, functional and stylish, these new doors are expected to raise the industry's standards as they gain more and more popularity. This article is going to cover some of the designs on offer.

Firstly, the Westminster composite door is a classic design. It features four rectangular panels with two smaller square panels at the top of the door. With this design, you can have an entirely solid door for maximum privacy, glazing on the top two square panels to allow light in but maintain the majority of privacy or the top two square panels and the top two rectangular panels glazed to allow a larger amount of light to pass.

The Kensington composite door is a simple but smart design featuring four rectangular panels. The door is available with entirely solid panels or with the top two rectangle panels glazed. The traditional appearance of the Kensington would compliment the style of any home as a front door.

The Chigwell design is very similar to the Kensington design. Instead of four rectangular panels, the top two panels have an elegant curved design and are only available glazed. This simple addition to the design can make a big difference to the overall look of the door.

The Dalston composite door is again a design much like the Kensington and the Chigwell. The variation of this design is that the top two glazed panels are arched. The lower two rectangular panels remain solid. Another simple but highly effective style for you to choose from.

The Mayfair door is available in three different options. The first Mayfair features four rectangular panels with a glazed 'wheel' at the top of the door. Much like the Westminster, this offers privacy whilst still allowing light into the room. The wheel is a very attractive design option. For those looking for something a bit simpler, the second Mayfair design features four rectangular panels with a glazed semi-circle at the top. The final Mayfair door is perfect for a bright and airy hallway - featuring two solid lower rectangular panels, two upper glazed rectangular panels and a glazed semi-circle at the top.

The Trafalgar composite door is a charming style, perfect for back doors. The two options both come with two solid lower rectangular panels. The first features a large grid window with nine panes of glazing. The second is a simpler design, with one large glazed window. The large windows allow a lot of light to pass through, perfect for darker rooms.

The Finsbury is a very attractive door. The first style combines design elements from the Mayfair Wheel and the Trafalgar Grid - with two solid lower panels, a glazed grid in the centre and a glazed wheel at the top of the door. The second Finsbury features a large arched window.

Each composite door comes with further options to customize your door and really make it your own. There 
is a choice of seven external colours to compliment your house and three hardware finishes to brighten your door. Finally, there are a large range of glass designs, from simple to stylish, for glazed doors and a range of backing glasses that allow you to choose the level of privacy you would like, regardless of the size, position or design of your window.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3435644