Charming Details Exhibited by Original Fairytale Sauna in Russia

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• Charming Details Exhibited by Original Fairytale Sauna in Russia
• Minimalist Staircase Design Enriching Century-Old House in Milan
• Shabby Hunting Cabin Turned Into Impressive L-Shaped Contemporary Residence
• 10 Things You Should Know Before Painting A Room

Charming Details Exhibited by Original Fairytale Sauna in Russia Posted: 29 Oct 2014 05:41 AM PDT Building separate little houses for bath procedures is very common in Russia. However, architectural studio Artecology (led by Russian architect Andrey Bugaev) created a fairytale sauna on a seemingly fairytale land. According to the designers, the walls of this unusual dwelling are made of larch logs which are 280 mm in diameter. Larch wood is extremely resistant to moisture, strong and very pleasant to look at. In order to protect this material in the decades to come, all the treatments used in the process of building the hut (or as the Russians would say "Izbushka"), are natural and totally harmless. The roof of the original bath-house hut immediately attracts attention. Soft and fabulous-looking, it not only protects from rain, but also from the cold. The izbushka-banya is heated by a wood burning stove built of brick, which opens to the steam bath section. Water is poured on the stones inside the stove and it transforms into a hot steam. On the second floor there is a small break area, where visitors can rest after a steam bath. In addition to this cozy bath-house, there is also a summerhouse built on the plot, in the same fairytale style. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by studio Artecology] The post Charming Details Exhibited by Original Fairytale Sauna in Russia appeared first on Freshome.com.

Minimalist Staircase Design Enriching Century-Old House in Milan Posted: 29 Oct 2014 03:15 AM PDT What can you add to a simple home to make it unique? Italian architects Francesco Librizzi and Matilde Cassani came up with a minimalist staircase design to enrich the overall look of an old dwelling: “An original 1900 house where windows, doors and tiled floors survived to modernity. The only possible intervention was an almost-2D frame, able to double the space in height and create new possibilities on other layers.” This unconventional staircase project is part of Casa C, a recently renovated house in Milan. This thin metallic ladder was the perfect option for connecting two spaces in a tall and narrow house, thus linking the bottom level with a sleeping area above. The stairway was the main intervention of the project: “We thought it was only necessary to reveal the hidden potential of the space, leaving the rest of the house almost untouched. Nothing gloomy and nothing obsessed with the contemporary”, explained the architects. We are certain lovers of minimalism will enjoy this fresh approach; as usual, we would love to hear you comments regarding this unconventional renovation in Milan! The post Minimalist Staircase Design Enriching Century-Old House in Milan appeared first on Freshome.com.

Shabby Hunting Cabin Turned Into Impressive L-Shaped Contemporary Residence Posted: 28 Oct 2014 02:56 PM PDT Shands Studio Architects converted a shabby hunting cabin and summer guest house in San Anselmo, CA, USA into an impressive contemporary residence. The main purpose of the planning stage was to connect the project to its rich landscape. In the building process, framing lumber found on the site was reused and the 100 year old rock walls that traverse the property were preserved. The result is striking: “The house creates an L shape as two perpendicular volumes step down the hill integrating with the existing trees and rock walls. The materials selected–board formed concrete walls, painted steel and stained western red cedar–were inspired by the natural setting and rugged nature of the site.” Sliding glass doors create an optimum indoor-outdoor connection throughout the main level, opening up the key social areas to the mesmerizing hillside environment. Sustainable features of the project include passive heating and cooling systems, solar panels, window frames to shade the South glazing in the summer while allowing direct sunlight in the winter, salvaged and re-used framing lumber, salvaged rocks on site and high efficiency water heater supplies. [Photo credits: Paul Dyer Photography] The post Shabby Hunting Cabin Turned Into Impressive L-Shaped Contemporary Residence appeared first on Freshome.com.

10 Things You Should Know Before Painting A Room Posted: 28 Oct 2014 09:02 AM PDT Painting can actually be fun when you know how to do it properly. We share the many steps to make your painting project turn out perfectly! Image Source: Gace K Design Are you living with boring white walls, but hate the thought of painting? Painting is often a task that homeowners dread. However, it is one of the most inexpensive ways to improve the look of your home without too much effort. Paint colors can dramatically change the mood and interior design of your home. Paint can make a statement with splashes of  bold color, or it can be a soft backdrop to a more muted interior. Either way, painting is one of the easiest and least expensive tools in the interior design world. However, there are a few things you should know before you paint—things that will make your job much easier. You never know, you may actually enjoy painting after reading this. Here, you will discover 10 things you should know before you paint, that can turn dread into success quickly: Learning how to properly paint can make your projects turn out beautifully. Follow the preparatory steps—don’t skip the details! Image Source: Pearl Design 4 U 1) Prepping a Room Does Make a Difference It is a known fact that painting is much easier when there is nothing in your way. This means empty out the room, or at least as much as possible. If you are painting your living room, move large furniture pieces to the center and cover them up with old sheets or drop cloths. Although it seems like an unnecessary step to wipe the walls down, it is a very important step. Whether you can see it or not, there is buildup on the walls of dirt, dust, and oils from your hands. Removing this debris prior to painting will allow the paint to adhere to the walls. You should also fill in any nail holes or cracks with spackling, as well as tape off adjacent walls, window trim, and light switch or outlet covers. Use drop cloths, newspapers, or a roll of paper to cover the floor. It’s very important to prep a room before you paint. This includes movie all the furniture/covering it, and filling in nail holes. Image Source: Miller Design 2) Test the Paint Color It is very difficult to determine how a particular color will look on your walls, and with your lighting. If you have a color in mind, it is a good idea to buy a sample. Allow the paint to dry, observing its color in both daytime and night. This will give you a true idea of what the color will look like on your walls. If you are unsure of the color, purchase a few samples and do the same. You might be surprised at what colors you actually like, and even more surprised at how what you thought was your favorite color on the swatch looks terrible in your home. Be sure to test out the color swatches before you commit to a paint color. Image Source: Terra Telms 3) Painting a Room – Allow Color Into Your Life Color can be overwhelming for some. However, do not let a fear of color make you choose white, off white, or beige. Trying a few different colors will allow you to create a specific feeling in the room. For instance, dark colors add texture and depth to the space. This is particularly true if the room is very large with high ceilings.  On the other hand, if you have a small room, such as a guest bath with no natural light, brighter, lighter colors can really open up the space and make it feel much larger. Essentially, don’t be afraid of color—experiment to see what works—you may be surprised! Color can be fun, so don’t be scared to add some to your home. Even if you only paint one accent wall in a bold hue. Image Source: Irvin Serrano 4) Pay Attention to the Finish You Choose Surprisingly, not only does the color matter, but the finish, or sheen, does as well. High gloss paint finishes are very durable and easier to clean, but the downside is they often highlight imperfections in your walls. On the other hand, a flat paint finish will hide these imperfections. However, flat paint is more susceptible to damage. In most instances, an eggshell finish is the best option. It provides some gloss, is still easy to clean, does not highlight imperfections, and is not as easily prone to damage as flat paint. Be careful to choose the correct sheen of paint. Bathrooms and hallways tend to need a more scrubbable, glossier sheen. Image Source: D Space Studio  5) Paint Can Be Changed After painting a square on the wall and observing it in different light you choose a color. However, you may discover that what looked great in a small section is too overwhelming once the walls are finished. Fortunately, paint is an inexpensive option for making over a room and it can be easily changed. If you find that you do not like a color, you can easily paint over it. In addition, if the color seems too overwhelming for all four of your walls, consider leaving one wall painted that color as an accent. You may find that a ‘pop’ of color is all you needed. Maybe the paint color didn’t turn out the way you hoped. Don’t stress it can be changed. Image Source: Sara Story Design 6) Determining How Much Paint You Need There is nothing more frustrating during a painting project than running out of paint halfway through the project. Likewise, you don’t want to have too much paint either. Here is a handy paint calculator that may help. There are a few things that will help you determine the right amount of paint. First, you need to know the square footage of your room. Secondly, think about how many coats of paint you want to do. If you are priming the walls first, one coat might be enough, whereas two coats are often needed if walls are not primed. Before you go to the store to buy the paint, be sure to measure the square footage of the room—you don’t want to buy too little or too much. Image Source: Nestarch  7) Priming Saves on Paint Speaking of priming, this is an important step in the preparation process. Primer seals the walls providing you with a base for the paint to adhere to. After you fill in all the holes and cracks, primer becomes even more important. The primer will prevent flashing or a shiny spot on the wall, which occurs when paint is placed directly on spackling. Primer does not, however, help you skip the step of cleaning the walls. Cleaning the walls is still a very important step, primer or not. You should always prime before you paint. It guarantees a great finish and allows you to use less paint. Image Source: Space Crafting 8) Brush Before Rolling For many, the concept of brushing the corners before or after rolling the walls can be confusing. However, you must remember to brush before rolling. Carefully use a high-quality brush to paint about an inch out from corners, the ceiling, and the baseboard. These are areas that a roller cannot reach. Use the roller after brushing in order to flatten out any brush marks that have gone further out than the depths of the corner. This will leave you with a smooth flat surface. Brushing the edges and corners may be tedious but it is necessary when painting. Image Source: Becca Interiors 9) Prep Your Roller and Paint Brushes Rollers are made from fuzzy material that puts more than paint on your walls. It is important that you remove any debris, such as loose fibers, from the roller. You can use painters tape wrapped backward around your hand to do this. Press your taped hand onto the roller, and it will work in a similar manner as a lint roller. You should also rub the dry paint brushes up against your hand and gently tug on the fibers. This will ensure that no loose fibers end up in your paint from the brush. Always be sure to prep your roller and brushes before painting. You don’t want brush lint or bristles on your walls. And don’t forget to tape! Image Source: JH Interior Design 10) Spend Money on Proper Supplies Aside from a good quality paint brush, you want to make sure you have all the supplies you need prior to getting started. This will include roller extenders and a sturdy step ladder. Roller extenders will help you reach higher walls without stretching your arms too high or standing on your tiptoes. A sturdy step ladder will help you easily reach the top corners of you walls when brushing. Both of these items will keep you from overextending your body causing injury. Don’t skimp on the painting supplies. You need high-quality brushes, rollers, tape and a ladder. Image Source: Remodel With Saz These are just a few tips that will making your painting experience much better than you could have expected! Follow these 10 steps and you will end up with walls that are painted to perfection! Remember to take your time doing the tedious prep work—it pays off by making your painting project run more smoothly and results in a better paint job. What room are you currently painting? The post 10 Things You Should Know Before Painting A Room appeared first on Freshome.com.

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