Archive for the ‘Sunrooms’ Category

Make Your Entertaining Easy- Pool House Ideas

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

One of the nicest things about having a pool means you can entertain friends and family.  You can look forward to summers gathered poolside escaping from the heat and relaxing.  However, if you plan on being the perfect host or hostess, you might think about  pool house ideas to complete your summer retreat.  Before you start looking into construction though, there are some things you need to think about first.

One of the very first aspects of building a new pool house you have to consider is where you want to place your structure.  Naturally, there aren’t too many places you can go.  It has to be close to the pool, but you will want to decide in terms of things like sun exposure, accessibility to water and electrical needs, and visual interest.  You don’t want to have your pool house built in a position that isn’t pleasing to the eye or doesn’t look like fits in with your home and pool.  In this situation, your contractor will be able to help with those aspects of construction.

Pool House Ideas

The next thing you will want to decide on is the size of your pool house.  Pool house ideas and designs can be as simple as you like or as ornate as you please.  Once you have a rough idea of the size of your designed structure, you can make the decision to include a bathroom, wet bar, or other any other extras you want that might come in handy while you are using your pool. 

One more thing you can’t forget about while putting your pool house ideas into reality is zoning.  Of course, your local government will want to give you the final okay in terms of permits.  Some communities also reserve the right to make the final decision on things like the style of the structure and where it is placed, so be sure to double check those elements before you make a costly mistake. 

For more information on pool house ideas

Creating an Escape: Sunroom Planning Ideas

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Are you looking for a way to upgrade your house?  Does it need a fresh, new perspective?  Maybe you’ve been daydreaming of a sunroom and now is the time to put your plan into action.  Just because you have decided you want to build on a sunroom however doesn’t mean you don’t have to think about some things first.  Jumping into a project like this without the proper sunroom planning ideas is just setting you up for disaster and to be disappointed.  Be sure to take things slowly and get ready to ask yourself the important questions to prepare properly.  In the end, you will be very glad that you did. 

You can expect to enjoy more space, natural lighting, and a unique twist on an old theme with a sunroom if it is built as you want.  You have to ask yourself what you are planning to do with your sunroom.  Some people see the sunroom as a year round porch, while others picture a garden room with tons of flowers and plants.  For others, the sunroom is where they plan to entertain friends and plan an indoor/outdoor dining room type of layout.  Before you can get started, you really need to decide what you plan to do with your newfound space. 

Sunroom Planning Ideas

The next thing you need to decide is where the sunroom is going to go.  Some sunroom planning ideas have the new space attached to the house through an existing back or side door, while others add a special entryway.  You can also make the decision to have your sunroom located separately from the house as an individual structure like a pool house or solarium.   

There are other factors to keep in mind with the sunroom planning ideas.  Set a specific, realistic budget.  Very few of us can just add to our homes without worrying about the cost.  Decide if the sunroom is going to add to the value of the house.  If it doesn’t, you might want to rethink your decision. 

For more information on sunroom planning ideas

Treading Lightly: Green Sunroom Designs

Monday, April 21st, 2008

You can’t turn on the TV or radio, not to mention open a newspaper or magazine without seeing or hearing something about the environment.  It’s pretty clear society needs to really invest some time and effort in the reuse and recycle way of life.  Even with the concerns about green living and doing your part, it doesn’t mean you can’t have some of the things in life you want.  Let’s take your home for example.  If you are among the number of homeowners that would love to build to a sunroom, you can do so with little to no harm to the earth if you keep some green sunroom designs ideas in mind. 

There isn’t a building material sold that isn’t rated for energy efficiency and low environmental risk.  When you are planning your sunroom, look for the best materials to use.  You can find all kinds of information about these products online or by asking the knowledgeable home improvement store staff.  Include features like solar panels to reduce energy consumption and use materials that reproduce quickly like bamboo.  Not only are you doing your part for the earth, you are also ensuring that your sunroom will be built to last.

Green Sunroom Designs

It’s basic science that plants make oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide.  You can continue to do your part for the earth with an emphasis on flowers and plants placed both inside and around the outside of your sunroom.  You could be even more self sufficient and use some of your sunroom containers for herbs or mini vegetable plants. They are all very pretty and the herbs have the added bonus of smelling fantastic as well.

If you put your mind to it, there is no doubt you can come up with all kinds of ways to include more green sunroom designs into your plans.  With the manufacturers of just about everything offering earth friendly options, you can’t help but do the right thing with your sunroom addition, especially when you consider as well that there are green contractors out there who can help you accomplish your dream goals. 

For more information on green sunroom designs