People are choosing sunroom additions now more than ever. Read here to see which design fits you!

Sunroom Designs

Is there anything that brightens up a home, and lets you enjoy the outdoors year round, like a sunroom? People are choosing to add sunrooms to their homes more so now than ever. The addition of a sunroom allows natural sunlight to come into your home, regardless of the season. They are a perfect way to enjoy the scenery of your back yard, while avoiding the heat and bugs of the summer, the cold chill of the winter, the wet rain in the fall or the allergy season in spring.

There are many fabulous sunroom designs to choose from. In fact, the choices are such that you can find a room in almost any shape and dimension. Therefore, your new sunroom will easily fit into any space you choose, cleverly blending in with the rest of your home.

One of the most popular sunroom designs is the studio sunroom. People like this design because it easily adapts to complex or simple home styles, offering a natural extension to most existing roof designs. The studio is one open room, with a flat roof design.

Another favorite is the cathedral design. This style adds height and appeal to the sunroom, while offering a stunning vaulted ceiling for increased spacing and design features, such as front trapezoid transoms.

The California sunroom offers a unique design. With this sunroom, the roof is at an angle with one side peaking higher than the other side, thus allowing additional light to enter.

For all out exposure to the outdoors, the Solarium is the way to go. With the solarium, total sunlight is allowed in. The roof has curved eaves, and is totally transparent (windows on top), thus allowing for full sun as well as beautiful star filled night views.

When considering a sunroom for your remodeling project, choose the style that best matches your current home and roof design. Then choose how you wish to use your sunroom, since the use may indicate which style may fit best. For example, many use sunrooms as a family room, with couches and televisions. Others use them as an enclosure for a hot tub or pool table. Still others will use them as a studio with an art easel, or a comfortable chair for reading, or simply having a comfortable couch and soft music playing. Because this room is so full of light year round, it is the perfect place for live plants to thrive. Whatever your interests, the addition of a sunroom is one that will always be useful to any family situation. Work with an experienced sunroom contractor to help you make your decisions and construct your sunroom with expertise, giving your home years of outdoor comfort, indoors

For more information on this topic, visit the source of the article at http://www.homeimprovementcorner.com/sunroom_designs.php

Do Your Windows Need Some Sprucing Up? Here Are Some Window Treatment Ideas!

Shades and drapes

Shades make for a fresh-looking companion to drapes. Roman shades offer a second layer of color or pattern. With any drapes, hanging the rod higher than the top of the window makes for longer drapery, creating additional height in the room.

Café curtains

This room's most striking feature is the window treatments, which run along three walls and extend all the way to the floor. Hung from a continuous iron rail, the sunny, yellow-checked drapery is an inventive cross between café curtains and wainscoting. Not only does it make for a unique look, but the horizontality of this treatment balances out the height of the room.

Loose roman shades

A loose roman shade makes these French doors feel more window-like and adds another note of softness to the cozily upholstered room.

Café blinds

Café curtains aren't the only way to leave the upper reaches of windows open; blinds—such as these in bamboo—can also be hung lower in the frame. This works best with blinds that have a plain upper edge rather than a flap or valence built in.

Roller shades

Roman shades come in a variety of styles and can be fashioned from any fabric to complement any room. Here basic roman shades help maintain the sleek lines of a chic, modern bedroom.

Patterned sheers

Floor-to-ceiling sheers, patterned with chenille dots, filter the sunlight ; the light, in turn, makes an art piece of the drapes.

Billowing curtains

The dining room's focal point is not the chandelier, as is often the case, but the window treatment. Ivory over a charcoal stripe, with a charcoal ribbon dividing the two, the curtains are so heavily gathered that they resemble a billowing gown.

Bamboo blinds

Bamboo blinds are paired perfectly with a palm print in marine blue in this boy's room. Bamboo blinds provide texture to any room and allow for the greatest control of light and privacy.

Casual café curtains

Café curtains are a good solution where full-length curtains are either impossible or impractical, or where the upper part of the window—and the view—are especially appealing. This extra-short version consists of a single panel of fabric, with the rod threaded through a series of grommets.

Valence and café curtains

This little girl's room is decorated the way little girls like to dress—in a riot of colors and patterns. The polka dot valence has a beaded fringe detail, and the café curtains feature pinks, greens, and yellows in a fun floral print.

Ruffled valence

Classic window-length curtains, with a ruffled valance, are perfectly suited to this sunny laundry room. The combination makes the room feel as if it's straight out of the 1950s.


For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.sunset.com/home/decorating/window-treatment-ideas-curtains-drapes-valences-and-blinds-00418000072537/page14.html

The Scoop On Solar Screens

How Solar Screens Work
Solar screens replace conventional window screens and like the conventional kind, they don't block out the view and they allow air to come in the room. Unlike conventional screens, they block out the sun's harmful rays. Most solar screens keep out 80 to 90 percent of the sun's heat. Solar screens also come in a variety of colors and can be pet-proofed for patio doors and windows.

Health Benefits
There are numerous health benefits to having solar screens. They protect people from the sun's energy and shield eyes from its harmful glare. Moreover, they help keep homes cool. These shades also block out ultraviolet rays.

Economic Benefits
Solar screens also help homeowners save money. Though traditionally more expensive than traditional blinds or shades, these pay for themselves with the money they save the homeowner on electric bills. By keeping homes cooler, people save money by not having to use their air conditioning systems or fans as often, thus reducing energy costs. In the winter, they keep houses warmer so homeowners don't have to set their heating systems as high.

Other Money-Saving Benefits
Along with helping people save on energy bills, solar screens also help people save money on having to replace furniture. By blocking the sun's rays, the screens keep furniture from fading. Solar screen companies suggest people install these screens in rooms people use the most and in rooms with valuable furniture.

Additional Benefits
These screens can be custom-fit for any window or door. In addition to all the benefits noted, these screens also keep insects out and, depending on the color, provide increased privacy.



Read more: Solar Screen Benefits | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5118106_solar-screen-benefits.html#ixzz2N9atWmp6

How Window Awnings Help You Save Energy

A hundred years ago, window awnings were common on hotels, office buildings, and the grandest of houses, for a very good reason: they shaded the window and kept the heat of the sun out. There is nothing complicated about window awnings; the principle is really quite simple – shade keeps things cooler.

The energy savings from using window awnings are significant. And today most awnings are retractable, which means you can allow the sun in during the winter months when you welcome the sun’s warmth in your home.

Retractable window Awnings save energy by reducing direct solar heat gain through windows. Heat gain through windows and sliding glass doors is the primary reason your home gets so hot in the summer. You can reduce your need for air conditioning if you install window awnings to block the sun coming in through the glass in your home. Your house is simply cooler without the sunlight pouring in – some sources say that your house will be anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees cooler.

According to James Dulley, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist who writes about ways to save energy, “Awnings are very effective for blocking the sun’s heat from coming in through your windows and doors. Not only will your air-conditioning costs be lower, but your carpeting, drapes and furniture will fade less.”

The strongest rays of the day occur between 10 AM and 4 PM. As more people use awnings, the overall energy use of a community is decreased. This saves the utility companies money; which in turn means savings for consumers.

Window awnings fell out of favor when the preferred method of dealing with too much solar energy became the application of electrical energy through air conditioning. But what about today, when air conditioning is costly and long lasting mechanical awnings are available? The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association funded a study covering cities such as Minneapolis, Boston, Seattle, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. It found that window awnings can reduce household cooling energy by as much as 26 percent in hot climates, and 33 percent in cold climates.

Awnings used to be high-maintenance item, according to Andy Stone, president of Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company in Souderton PA, where Aristocrat Retractable Window Awnings are made. “It probably took quite a few workers to put them up every spring on some of the bigger installations. But with the lateral arm retractable awnings manufactured today, there are no removal or storage costs. The awning retracts up flat against the house, and there are no unsightly poles to look at.”




Visit the source of this article at http://www.aristocratawnings.com/blog/home-energy-savings/how-do-window-awnings-help-you-save-energy/212/

Storing Your Awnings For Winter

Awning Storage

Proper awning storage is just as important as regular cleaning and maintenance.

• To maximize the life of your awnings, consider removing them in the winter, particularly if you live in an area that receives a lot of snow.
• Before storing your awnings, be sure to clean them thoroughly. Any dirt left on them will encourage mildew growth.
• Store your awnings in a dry location to further protect them from mildew.

With regular care and maintenance, your awnings will serve you for many years, and it's easy to make awning care a regular part of your yearly home care schedule. Develop a maintenance schedule that you can handle, then sit back and enjoy your awnings.

Here are instructions on how to clean your awning before storage.

Cleaning Your Awnings

Awning care starts with regular cleanings.

• Treat stains as soon as possible. Dirt, bird droppings and any other stains that appear on your awnings will be easier to clean if you treat them right away.
• Regularly brush dirt and debris off of your awnings. This can be accomplished with a stiff brush or a broom.
• Wash your awnings anytime you notice a buildup of dirt. If left in place, this dirt can lead to mildew.
• When washing your awnings use only water, mild soap and a brush. If your awnings came with a manual, consult it to see if they recommend a particular cleaning solution.
• Use only cold or lukewarm water to clean your awnings. Air dry your awnings after washing; heat may cause awnings to shrink.
• For easy cleaning, leave your awnings on their frames. After a vigorous cleaning, you may need to treat them with fabric guard. Consult your owner's manual to see what product is recommended.
• In between deep cleanings, it's a good idea to periodically rinse awnings with clear water.
• If you live in a warm, humid environment, you'll need to clean your awnings more frequently. Develop a cleaning schedule based on the requirements of your locale.

Benefits of Home Additions

Home addition presents many advantages. It adds space to your house; it increases the value of your house; you can design the room addition yourself; you can choose between custom-made or prefabricated room addition.

It adds space to your house

Unlike simply remodeling your house or trying to find means to utilize some rooms in your house, a room addition practically adds more space to your house. It helps avoid overcrowding and inefficient arrangement of household furniture and items.

It increases the value of your house

Because something new is added to your house, it follows an increase in your home value. If you’re planning to sell your house, the selling price would be considerably higher than your original place. It does not, however, guarantee you from recovering the costs in adding your room.

You can design the room addition yourself

The good thing about room addition is that you can design the room yourself according to your specifications, with the help of your home designer or architect. The room addition will be able to meet the needs and desires you specify. This is especially rewarding when the house you live in is already built when you bought it.

You can choose between custom-made or prefabricated room addition

Unlike building a new home, you can either choose between custom-made or prefabricated room addition. Aside from giving you more freedom to choose among different designs and styles, a room addition is more friendly to your budget. If you want a more economical room addition, you can resort to prefabricated room additions. 

A room addition is practically the best option if your current house is still sturdy, but limited in space. Make sure you know the conditions of adding a new room to your house to fully enjoy the new look and feel of your house.

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.croaxis.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-a-home-addition.html

Halloween Deck-orating!

Halloween Deck Decorating Ideas

By Laura Leiva, eHow Contributor

Decorate the deck for Halloween.

When trick-or-treaters come up to the door during Halloween, the first thing they see is the deck or front porch. The deck can be transformed into anything you want it to be, from a silly pumpkin patch to a scary graveyard. The decor on the deck can set the mood for the holiday, and going the extra mile in creating a fun experience is sure to be appreciated by kids and adults alike as they arrive at your front door. Does this Spark an idea?

Graveyard

• Turn your deck into a spooky graveyard by placing store-bought headstones randomly around the deck. Prop up the headstones by placing miniature uncarved pumpkins behind and in front of them, making sure that the decorations are not in the path to the door. On Halloween night, set up a strobe light to mimic the look of lightning and add a fog machine, if desired. Increase the spooky factor by playing a CD of Halloween-themed organ music.

Pumpkin Patch

• Display your family's carved pumpkins around the deck to create the look of a pumpkin patch. If you don't have many carved pumpkins, fill up the space with inexpensive miniature pumpkins and gourds to go along with the carved pumpkins. Scatter straw or dry leaves along the surface of the deck, and place pumpkins on top in a random arrangement leading up to the door. Purchase a scarecrow and prop it up against the wall or deck railing. Create a sitting area on the deck by placing a hay bale up against the wall.

Hanging Decor

• Hang bats and ghosts from the deck ceiling to create a scary ambiance for those coming to the front door. Purchase the ghosts and bats from a craft or retail store and hang them on hooks screwed into the ceiling. Make your own ghosts by draping and gluing small squares of cheesecloth over foam balls and shredding the ends. Add two black dots for eyes with a marker and use fabric glue to attach fishing line to the center of the ghost's head in order to hang from the ceiling. Before trick-or-treaters arrive, place a small floor fan inconspicuously on the deck floor and point it up toward the ghosts and bats. The air will gently blow the decor around to give it a lifelike feeling. Play a Halloween music CD to finish off the experience.

Haunted House

• Transform your deck and entryway into the front of a haunted house. Save any flower cuttings the week before Halloween so you can use them in the deck decor, especially if they've become wilted and dead. Place the dead flowers in inexpensive pots leading up to the front door. String spider webbing across deck rails, over the doors and windows and on the ceiling corners and then secure store-bought spiders into the webbing. Change out deck lighting with blacklight bulbs and finish off with spooky organ music.

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at: Halloween Deck Decorating Ideas | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8190779_halloween-deck-decorating-ideas.html#ixzz2A4AOu9Cd