One of my favorite posts from the past

I ran into a former coworker yesterday and she said she thought of me the other day when she saw someone helping an elderly person across the street. She was referencing this story that I shared on my blog over 2 years ago. What I experienced that day changed my life forever. I learned that when you help someone in need you actually get more out of it than the person that needed the help.

Structural Insulated Panels

If you are interested in building an energy efficient home, insulation is your top consideration and probably the most important component of the home. The design of the home, and in particular the kind and amount of insulation specified, can have a dramatic effect on the energy efficiency of a home by reducing or eliminating the need for heating and cooling.

For this reason, our architectural firm prefers to design homes with Structural Insulated Panels (SIP panels). SIPs, sometimes known as stress skin panels, are made of an insulating foam core with OSB (oriented strand board) bonded to either side. There are two popular types of foam cores – EPS (expanded polystyrene - photo, right), XPS (extruded polystyrene) -- ranging in R-Values from 13 to 40 (R-value refers to a materials ability to resist transferring heat), far above what conventional wall construction with fiberglass or cellulose insulation can deliver.

SIP panels address the efficiency of the home and can be used in any climate. The structural insulated panel enclosure system creates an energy efficient building envelope, keeping your home warm in the dead of winter and cool in the hot summer months. (SIPs were even supplied for the International Science Station at the South Pole, where summer temperatures average minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit!)

A SIP building envelope provides high levels of insulation and is extremely airtight, meaning the amount of energy used to heat and cool a home can be cut by up to 50 percent (visit the Structural Insulated Panel Association website at http://www.sips.org/).
Do you have questions about using SIP panels in your project? Let us know!
For information on the importance of ventilation in a SIP panel home, check out these blogs:
Structural Insulated Panel blogs found on the Post and Beam & Timber Frame Blog.

Spring

Spring and Summer, originally uploaded by Romantic Home.I've been so busy lately and thought about taking a blog break for a few days but rather than do that I'm going to just repost some things I've shared before. This is a mosaic I made from flickr favorites 3 years ago. Since it's Easter week I thought it would be great to share it again.

Work in Progress...

I've been wanting to paint my bedroom for years. That blue paint I had in there previously photographed a lot better than it actually looked in person. I never did like it and I'm not sure what took me so long but it's finally gone! And I'm so happy!It looks rather boring in here now because I'm not finished. I'll be adding light blue drapes on the window and I'm going to cover the mirrored

Blogger Problems today

There is problems uploading photos on Blogger today. I painted my bedroom this weekend and wanted to show you but it will have to wait until I can upload the photos!

Best Home Design series of Modern Room Flooring at a Penthouse

wood flooring for modern living room design

Wood flooring is one of the best flooring design, here is the sample of the use of wood material on flooring, cabinetry, kitchen cabinet, and another storage system of this penthouse unit. This beautiful penthouse is located in Boston, Just enjoy and see these beautiful home furnishing and it's wooden flooring.

wood flooring and cabinetry for modern room design

Show and Tell

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday! This week I'm sharing my old pitcher I bought on eBay about this time last year. Sorry...I'm actually using those old photos from last year too because I didn't get a chance to take new ones. I fell in love with this the minute I saw it and the timing was perfect because I had just gotten a tax refund. Unfortunately this year there isn't any tax refund to spend

Sittin' on the dock of the bay...

Remember that song by Otis Redding "The Dock of the Bay"? Well, I was sittin' on a deck above a dock of the San Francisco Bay last weekend with my friends Kim and Natasha and that song came to mind. To me, there is nothing better than sitting at an outside restaurant and it's even better if the restaurant happens to be on the water...and it's even better when you're with friends that make you

The sweet scent of lilacs...

This is one of the bouquets of lilacs I picked last weekend...I took another one about this same size to work. When I got to work I sat it on my counter and when I heard my friend Natasha at her desk I went to pick up the vase to show her the flowers and I knocked over a candy dish and as I tried to catch the candy dish I knocked over the lilacs. I knocked the whole vase right on top of the

It's Lilac Time!

My lilacs are blooming and I've picked two huge bouquets....one for home and one for work! Ahhh...I wish you could smell them! I had such a wonderful weekend! I went to Sausalito and Tiburon (cute little towns on the San Francisco Bay) for lunch and shopping with friends. Of course I brought my camera so I'll have photos later in the week!

Stylish & Practical Shower Drain Designs

FOUND: Shower drains that are not only beautiful, but smart, as well.

If you haven’t seen the new StyleDrain collection by California Faucets, take a look at these innovative, stylish designs!

As residential architects, we love the square shape design which makes installation much easier than traditional round-shaped drains. Plus, its flush grill features smooth edges and no visible screws, ensuring foot comfort.

A functionality benefit is that the drains have a fast-draining capacity that handles water flow at the highest level of efficiency, even when using simultaneous body sprays, rain bars, and multiple showerheads!

Check out more on these patent-pending designs at California Faucets.

Contemporary Interior Design

Contemporary Interior

Contemporary Interior Design
Contemporary interior design has added excitement to homes and offices worldwide. Designers working on these projects are new and specific challenges when working with clients. Advanced features in the homes need to accommodate massive computers and entertainment centers. Contemporary interior designs must also pay attention to other office equipment and facilities for special events, such as video conferencing.

Contemporary Interior Design
There are good examples which show that those who meet contemporary interior design has created some wonderful examples in homes and offices worldwide. Designers who are responsible for modern interior design are included in the project because they are built, and these designers are also involved in the renovation of properties that have been around for centuries. Different types of properties present serious challenges at times for specialists in contemporary interior design. These designers are also involved in working with clients to produce the next generation of grand estate living and working in the modern world. The globalization of world society and poses a significant challenge for those working in contemporary interior design.

Contemporary Interior

Designers face challenges even implied by their predecessors during the last century. There is a new emphasis on environmental protection. Projects completed by designers today could have an impact on communities for years to come. Contemporary interior design must show sensitivity to environmental issues. Using beautiful wooden one contemporary design can be an important factor for those who work to interior design beautiful properties.Contemporary interior designers can now shop for toiletries and pay special attention to the amount of water used by different models in the market.

Contemporary Interior Design
A designer may want to create an exotic atrium with fountain, resulting in soothing sound of water. This creativity must assess the proper use of water involved in this endeavor. The interior designers of the past are unlikely to have the same problems. Contemporary interior design has some new challenges, but this area has some new benefits. New products such as granite countertops, which add texture and sheen of contemporary cuisine. Paints come in colors that were not available several years ago. Interior designers work in a dynamic world filled with exciting tools and overcome obstacles.

Contemporary Interior Design
Interior Design Ideas
Modern Interior Decoration
Home Interior Decorating
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Home Colors Interior
Home Decorating in Minimalism
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Modern Interior Design
Home Interior Decorations

Contemporary Interior Design
Interior Design Ideas
Modern Interior Decoration
Home Interior Decorating
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Home Colors Interior
Home Decorating in Minimalism
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Modern Interior Design
Home Interior Decorations

Contemporary Interior Design
Interior Design Ideas
Modern Interior Decoration
Home Interior Decorating
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Home Colors Interior
Home Decorating in Minimalism
Contemporary Home Interior Design
Modern Interior Design
Home Interior Decorations

Boys Bedroom Furniture

Boys Bedrooms

Boys Bedroom Furniture
Buying a boys bedroom furniture and deciding on a plan for decorating his room can be an exciting event. Once their interest is known, it is not difficult to follow through with appropriate products that will help carry out the chosen theme.Boys bedroom furniture on the market today for this very purpose.

Boys Bedroom Furniture
Whether you choose Harry Potter, sports, outer space or some other theme, decorating a bedroom and fills it with appropriate furniture can give the boy a sense of really living in this situation. As appropriate posters and other items, plus brightly colored walls will assist in the illusion. Banners and flags are also suitable for boys bedroom furniture.

Boys Bedroom Furniture
Perfect bedroom furniture for a boy is called loft bed. He is great in a frame unit with a bunk bed up high and a study unit. A ladder is on the side to gain access to the bed with a desk and study area underneath.Privacy is a serious problem with the boys. They should have a place that is their own. This is achieved by purchasing a full metal locker with a small lock and key. They can be bought or painted in colors as desired. On his television and games console media is decorative and necessary element in boys bedroom.

Boys Bedroom Furniture

When considering a mere dressers large it becomes difficult to move and often does not fit in very well. Selection of two or three smaller units, often works very well. They can be moved on and are available in different colors.Boys bedroom furniture is now available in every shape and color imaginable. There is no end to how a room can be decorated and furnished to fit even the wildest imagination. Pick what is appropriate for the boy's age and wishes to have a keynote of bedroom furniture that will be used for some time to come.

Boys Bedroom Furniture

Kids Room Furniture
Kids Room Design
Modern Kids Room Furniture
Organization of the Kids Room
Interior of the Kids Room
Modern Child Bedroom
Children Bedroom Furniture
Bedrooms for Boys

Modern Girls Bedroom

Girls Bedroom Furniture

Girls Bedroom Furniture
A girls bedroom is a place of peace and inspiration. For this reason, many things must be done to achieve this. A girls bedroom furniture is one of the rooms you will find attentive. This is natural, because girls are more artistic than men. Therefore, in the bedroom will never be disappointed. It really does not matter what age the girl is, all rooms need extra attention. If you are a parent or a girl who is planning to decorate your bedroom, there are several things to consider so that you can make girls bedroom furniture , it should be. The first thing I consider is the type of topic you want in your bedroom furniture.

Girls Bedroom Furniture
Girls love to be artistic and must be subject to your bedroom so that it can ensure that your personality is on. So you should ask the girl what she would have preferred in this regard. The theme can be anything and everything you need to do is make sure that we will be happy to see it every night.Once you have it, you'll go to the next factor. Another thing that should be considered in conjunction with the girls bedroom decor curtains, bed linen and other things. If you have any dressers, which are attached, you can add them to become part of the bedroom furniture. Girls bedroom furniture tend to recycle things and this is usually very helpful, as they turn old things into beautiful and attractive things.

Girls Bedroom Furniture
Girls like to include things like painting the walls and in magazines. Therefore you will need to look for all the photos you like most and add them to the background. Another thing to consider is storage. Girls have a lot of things, and it is no secret that the future will also mean many other things. Also, there are people who have the space, but never realize.Because of poor agreement, will not enjoy the bedroom. If you plan to make place to place, or rest, must have a functional girls bedroom furniture plan in which to store your clothes, accessories and other things in an efficient manner.

Girls Bedroom Furniture
Another thing you can do is make sure you look changes from time to time. This is because life is dynamic and at times must feel a sense of progress. Different girls bedroom furniture styles ensure that you always achieve this. Create the girls bedroom of your dreams should not be an expensive affair. You can do much by itself changes. If you do not have very good imagination, you can get inspiration from other girls bedrooms and you can view them online. There is so much to see and will not be disappointed about it. Come and start work on making your bedroom furniture a safe place to rest, you actually want.

Girls Bedroom Furniture

Kids Room Furniture
Kids Room Design
Modern Kids Room Furniture
Girls Bedroom Design
Organization of the Kids Room
Interior of the Kids Room
Modern Child Bedroom
Children Bedroom Furniture

Girls Bedroom Furniture

Kids Room Furniture
Kids Room Design
Modern Kids Room Furniture
Girls Bedroom Design
Organization of the Kids Room
Interior of the Kids Room
Modern Child Bedroom
Children Bedroom Furniture

Home Office Furniture Ideas

Home Office Furniture

Home Office Furniture
There are various factors to consider when choosing a home office furniture pieces. Must identify the type of individuals who will visit your home office to know the style of furniture to purchase. It is also important to determine the overall office space and your preferred style. You also need to decide on your budget, so as to have an easier task in the selection of furniture design. It is best to have a plan before shopping for furniture for your home office. Thus, no wasting time, money and energy looking for items that do not really need.

Home Office Furniture
In the modern world many people are starting to work from home and many more would like to start working from home. The trouble is that many people who work from a home office see the quality and amount of work they are being done from home drop from what they achieved at their old office. Many people will believe that this is due to the number of distractions at home and the lack of discipline at home. These factors may play a part but the type of office furniture and the way that you have your home office furniture up can be as much of a factor as distractions or the lack of discipline when working from home.

Home Office Furniture
One of the most important decisions to make is choosing the right piece of computer home office furniture. This actually can make or break the overall efficiency of your working environment. Most people work in front of their computers for long hours in their home office and there are included various health risks, which must be taken into account.

Home Office Furniture
With all these in mind that it is important to think about the health benefits of each piece before buying home office furniture. However, style and budget are the main reasons you may need to give a little style and spend a little more about their health.If you're willing to sit in his home office furniture for long hours, you need an office chair that can provide support for your body height. Its height should be adjusted for different sizes and can store and support the back properly to prevent muscle strain.

Home Office Furniture
Moreover, it is also important to choose the right kind of office for your home office. Aside from style, it is also necessary to consider the workplace and prevent health risks. Select an office desk, there is an appropriate height so your keyboard and your monitor will be at the levelIt is useful for research on the internet when looking for home office furniture. With most options and choices for home office furniture market is important to be careful when shopping. Make sure that your time in evaluating the various options and consider their health risks.

Check also:
Modern Office Furniture
Glass Office Desk Design
Modern Office Chairs

Lighting Fixtures Ideas

Lighting Fixtures

Lighting Fixtures
Many times the house you just can not seem like home until you've got those perfect details that you have always dreamed of. Some of the data are easy to add, like sofa pillows in the right shade, or curtains that complete the look of the home. But did you know that is not the right lighting fixtures can really hurt the look of your home? It is true, so you can be sure that you are simply adding a regular, so that you can have perfect room with lighting fixtures.

Lighting Fixtures
Firstly, you need to think about the room that you have lights that are currently there. For example, if you have the baby's room, is there a large, bright fluorescent lighting fixtures bulbs on the ceiling? Is this really the type of lamp that is best for this room? Typically, only the locations where fluorescent light bulbs are really working jobs such as kitchens or garages. For any other room you'll want to do to get the tone and lighting fixture that really eye with the rest of the room.

Lighting Fixtures
The best way to ascertain that good light fixtures in your room is to first think about the room and what you'd like to illustrate it. Want to be a room that is lit and pleasantly formal, or would like to be a room that is more exciting and vivid sense? All these things are important to you to think about while looking for those perfect lighting fixtures or wall hangings. You want to think about the style of the room first.

Lighting Fixtures
Then I think about the kind of light that you will need. For example, you need lights that you can work with, for example in the kitchen? Do you need lighting fixtures that are bright enough to read by, in one day or another area? And Do you need lights that will accent certain things, like hanging art or specific areas of the room? These are all questions that you would want to answer until the start to shop for lighting fixtures. If you need a bright light for a place to work, you'll want to mount ceiling lighting fixtures, and they may even be fluorescent. If you need a reading lamp, you want to be with lamps, but you want to make sure that they are bright enough to read the still not very clever.

Lighting Fixtures
If you want to accent things like art or other fields, you can always go with track lighting, because this way you can manually focus each bulb in the right place you'd like it.If first figure out what type of room you have the light, then think about what type of lighting fixtures will work best in this room, you can find the perfect lamps and lighting fixtures for your every need, and you will be able to install them at home.

Pendant Lighting Fixtures
Adjustable pendant lighting fixtures, available in many colors, shapes and sizes, are designed to fit all needs and tastes. Pendant lights fixtures can provide just the right amount of lighting for every room at the same time enhance decor. For adjustable pendant lighting fixtures can be adjusted means that they can adapt to a particular individual rooms.

Pendant Lighting Fixtures
Since the pendant light fixtures have certain requirements, it is always important to take time and read what direction to lighting. You might have problems with weight, with ropes, chains or other material that would not be aware if you do not read the instructions first. Be sure and measure the electrical hole where you plan to use the lamp, regulate the pendant lighting fixtures have either narrow or wide top of them and possibly your choice can not contact the roof cover.

Check also:
Wall Lighting Fixtures
Home Interior Lighting
Ceiling Lighting

Furniture for Dining Room

Dining Room Ideas

Dining Room Decor
A nice and good for your dining room decor is as important as this room has a vital role in the family. Meals and sharing some quality moments with all family members at least once every day is possible for this room. And it must be said that in December this room with appropriate furniture is needed and should be done with care and love. Each room is empty, as if in its interior, if the dining room table and chairs did not fit in the room. You must be very careful and enhance their imagination of dinign decor, if you look this good warm beautiful place of eating and sharing some light moments.

Dining Room Furniture
Making your breakfast and any special diet you must select a dining set that compliments your taste and reflects your taste. Want praised in every situation. And your dining tables and chairs should lead it. Your dining room furniture is a place where proper accessories should be placed. Disarrangements furniture may be harmful and spoil the look you want to be your perfect dining room. There are many designer dining table and chairs that will solve your problem and give a room a stunning new look. Your needs and budget that you can choose a perfect one.

Dining Table and Chairs
There are several key factors which are very important to look at before deciding. The first factor is location and size of the dining room. If the room is smaller in size then you should choose according to a table and chairs for dining room, meeting place. If you want to decorate their large dining room located then you need to have a table and dining chairs, which is a big and beautiful in the outside. It's like furniture to be comfortable, yet elegant and very modern. For the comfort factor there are so many opportunities to indulge in the structure of the chair, the feet of chairs, etc., but remember that these are not made to harm the style factor of the dining set.

Dining Table and Chairs
For style and convenience you can simply select leather dining chairs, which fits so perfectly. This is a complex and classic look and complement any dining table. There are many online stores where you can find all these types of dining tables and chairs to maintain the balance of comfort and style. All types of dining facilities, ranging from metallic fabric you can find in stores. Online furniture stores are very convenient and useful to present his dining room and bedroom and living room.

Check also:
Dining Tables
Dining Furniture Ideas
Outdoor Dining Furniture Design

Unique Kitchen Designs

Unique Kitchens

Unique Kitchen Design
Kitchens are the focal point of each house. This is where people gather. As if drawn by a magnet, people always seem to end up in the cooking room. Therefore, unique kitchen design seeks to make the room useful and beautiful. There are many ways to achieve this look with newly built or if you just updated. Here are some key unique kitchen design ideas to help you optimize your area and sleek modern look as well:

Unique Kitchen Design
This unique design, kitchen design is not new, but it is still a standard that architects and builders are using. In the cooking area of the 50's and 60's was closed. It was like a hidden room that will come and live in a door with a plate of food. Today the area is more about establishing a collection site, free under field that moves seamlessly from one room to another.

Unique Kitchen

Unique kitchen design is to increase the all-literally. Cabinets are higher to use that empty space between cabinets and ceilings. There is usually a mix of all things matching decorative kitchen elements.It was further alleged to obtain easier access. Indeed, the plots are in the process of designing different heights for optimal use. Deep pull out drawers, pull out shelves for cabinets and built-in wine racks and glass holders are also finding their place in unique kitchen. Efficiency is essential in the unique home, so storage is important.

Unique Kitchen Design
Unique kitchen design means that the cooking area is not filled with ornate cornice or complex design. Lines of the cabinets are nice and clean. Stainless steel appliances add to the pure form and categorically stated date.The question is if there are no real rules for unique design. You can mix and match from different styles depending on your personality and taste. This is, after all, the unique kitchen and have to be happy and comfortable in it. Show off your personality and make it a room that attracts people to it. When I look back through photos from parties and other gatherings, your unique unique kitchen will likely be the background for most of them!

Unique Kitchen Design
Contemporary Kitchen Design
Unique Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design Ideas
Modern Kitchen Design Ideas
Luxury Kitchen Design