Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

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• Stylish Mosaic Flooring with a Traditional, Royal Touch
• How to Purchase the Right House Plans
• Mixture of Eastern and Western Traditions : Texas Hill Road Residence
• Practical Emergecy Exit Redesign for Easy Building Evacuations
• Small and Cozy Contemporary Garden Studios for a Comfy Retreat
• 10 Reasons to Invest in a Home Alarm System

Stylish Mosaic Flooring with a Traditional, Royal Touch Posted: 03 Nov 2010 05:46 AM PDT It’s been a while since we featured some cool flooring products on Freshome. These interesting mosaic models come from Parchettificio and originally combine contrasting elements like wood, steel and stone. The overall result of mixing traditional ideas (the art of mosaic making) with modern materials is quite appealing. Floors taking you back to the royal ages, while in the same time being perfectly adapted to the contemporary design “requirements”. From the photos, it seems that the floor mosaics give a 3D illusion, but we’re not certain this also happens in reality. We consider these artful flooring ideas would go great in private modern guest saloons, with back to back waltz balls, high heels and fancy dresses. Or in a high-level conference room. Would you integrate these mosaic floorings in your own home? – via Trendir Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Mosaic House by TNA Arch Royal Bathroom Cabinet and Mirror, Milan 2010 Enignum Canopy Bed for Royal Dreaming Mosaic Tiles : A Fresh Bathroom Look Pixilated Bathroom Design Made with Mosaic Bathroom Tiles Stylish Combination of Wood&Porcelain: Plera Pendant Lamp Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How to Purchase the Right House Plans Posted: 03 Nov 2010 04:35 AM PDT Are you ready to start building a new home and are not sure where to start in choosing a floor plan? There are countless resources for purchasing house plans that will fit your budget, lifestyle and style of architecture. From house plan magazines to online home manufacturer websites, the resources are abundant for purchasing a house plan.  Before you go and choose a floor plan for the beautiful room layout, have you: chosen your property, consulted with your local building department or looked into construction costs? Before you buy the house plans, here is what you should consider first. Know where you will build: Before choosing a floor plan, ensure you have a piece of property to build it on first. This may seem obvious, but many home buyers think the floor plan should be considered first and they forget certain plans can only fit on certain sized lots.  If you are buying 10 acres of land, than this factor may not apply to you.  For those with a smaller budget and property size to work with, buy your property first. Know your budget: When shopping for homes with developers, you have the advantage of having the floor plan, and builder chosen and the 'price tag' is already predetermined.  When you purchase house plans you are going through a catalog of plans and will need to add up the components on your own.  While a house plan may seem reasonably priced, remember you will still need a contractor to build and their fees must be taken into account, along with the property price. Before purchasing floor plans, know what your overall budget would entail. Research local building codes: Before you purchase plans, seek the advice of a building department official in your local jurisdiction of where your property is located.  They can provide you guidelines on the height, size, and how far away from the street it can sit, etc… These guidelines are important if you plan on building a home in an urban environment and the plan you chose is too large and will not work with the local building codes.  If you need help visit your local building department and they can walk you through the information you need. Ensure the floor plans meet your needs: After you have confirmed the site, your budget, and local building codes look through floor plans that will fit your family's needs. Size is important, but the way your floor plan flows and whether it's open or closed can make a huge difference depending on your lifestyle.  Review the Freshome Article – 5 Tips to Choosing the Right Floor Plan when choosing the right layout for you. Consider hiring consultants: Consultants such as an architect or mechanical/electrical/structural/plumbing may be needed for advice on making your floor plan a reality.  Seek advice on how much heating and cooling systems will cost, a civil engineer may be needed if your property site is uneven, and other consultants should be referred to before you buy your floor plans. Building a home is exciting, and purchasing a floor plan can be hectic and take planning before you choose.  After you have followed the above tips, the process will seem easier and you'll be less stressed out when your home is being built. Relax; your home will be perfect! Freshome reader's do you have experience with purchasing floor plans? What are the pros and cons? We'd love to hear your comments. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Beautiful Countreyside Home in The Czech Republic Amazing $13,500,000 Residence in Malibu, California Leaf House, Incredible Design and Original Architecture 55 Blair Road- Interior Design At Its Best Modular Eco House in Malaysia by Broadway Malyan Wilson House, an Eye-Catching Design Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Mixture of Eastern and Western Traditions : Texas Hill Road Residence Posted: 03 Nov 2010 02:25 AM PDT New York based firm  Incorporated Architecture & Design created this beautiful home for a young New York couple who wanted to escape from the big city. Located in Craryville, New York, USA, the Texas Hill Road Residence embodies the inhabitant`s extensive travelling to China, Japan, Europe and South America and their background: one is a born New Yorker, while the other is a Costa Rican national of Asian descent. So the house was built taking into account several traditional Chinese construction features that were combined with a modern interior and exterior design. To protect the privacy of the family, the entrance is facing northeast but all the rooms are oriented to the southwest to get as much sun as possible. The main entrance is low and mainly closed so that the road can be reached without sharing any of the intimate details of the life inside the home. A beautiful grey slope forms the roof with a ten foot high front facade made from big windows that ensure sun warmth but protects the home from overheating during the hot summer days but also the incredible view of the forest that filters the light. The materials used for the roof and the sides of the house is a recyclable Zalmag (a galvanized coating on steel made of 95% recycled material consisting of 11% aluminium, 3% magnesium and 86% zinc). The house rests on a wooden frame that ensures its durability. Contemporary engineering and traditional design basics created this amazing home on the forest`s edge. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Modern Renovation at 101 Russel Hill Road in Toronto When the Western Can Met the Eastern Cup North Bay Road Residence by Touzet Studio 1960 Canna Road Residence Turned Modern Exceptional Green Home in the Forest Phenomenal Villa Built From a Solid Cliff Rock Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Practical Emergecy Exit Redesign for Easy Building Evacuations Posted: 03 Nov 2010 01:09 AM PDT Nowadays most of the building evacuation doors are not so easy to reach in case of an emergency. This was probably what triggered the idea to redesign the handle of the emergency exit door. Chen Guan-Yuan thought about the current situation: in case of a fire for example, the children and the people with disabilities have trouble when it comes to accessing an exit door. Moreover, in the smoke would make it hard for the persons trapped inside to see clearly. This is why the designer created a door handle that can be grabbed at a lower level also. This simple method makes emergency exit doors accessible to anyone, which means this design is likely to prevent future accidents. We salute this idea and we find it amazing that people did not think of it before.- via Yanko Design Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! White Side Table – Max Servetto Xel Bookcase by Luca Nichetto Furniture for Flat TV’s Practical Wooden Home Desk with Extra Storage for Files “Easy Click” Panels for Bathroom Furniture Innovative Design: Nestle headquarters in Queretaro Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Small and Cozy Contemporary Garden Studios for a Comfy Retreat Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:53 AM PDT When we first saw these images, we were sure they were the pictures of a private small home and we instantly fell for the simple design and location. But it turns out the project is actually a garden studio. Designed by in.it studios in UK, these cozy places of retreat are eco-friendly and highly customizable. Here is more information from the architects: “The high-end contemporary design is unrivaled through its unique frameless windows and doors and carefully considered structure.  Cedar clad Bi-folding doors glide to the side of the studio to open up the front elevation and bring the outside in.  Above the doors sits an attractive overhanging cantilevered roof which features eco-friendly Green Sedum 'living' plants.  A Sedum Blanket is more attractive than a typical felt roof and helps to introduce greenery into what is typically a Garden environment. Sustainably sourced FSC and PEFC timber ensures that the building's materials are from well managed forests.” We really like the idea of having your own private getaway right in your back yard. Tell us if you feel the same. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Garden Design by Andy Sturgeon The H House, a Daft Living Space in the Garden Dreamy Bedroom Furniture from Hulsta Viteo Garden Shower – Upside Down Shower Small Apartment Ideas by Tori Golub Contemporary Bedrooms Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

10 Reasons to Invest in a Home Alarm System Posted: 02 Nov 2010 07:39 AM PDT The safety of your home and family should be your number one concern when you're at home and away. Home alarm systems have come a long way from 10 years ago. Today they do more than just ward off intruders. From calling emergency personnel to controlling the lights from your smart phone, home alarm systems should be in every home.  Here are 10 reasons to invest in a home alarm system today. 1.) Alarm systems are for apartments too: Whether you live in a house or an apartment, safety is a concern for everyone. If you're an apartment dweller home alarms can help you and your family stay safe and have peace of mind. 2.) Your home is protected continuously: Home owners often forget that they can't watch their homes around the clock. When you leave to go to work, or store, in 15 minutes, anything can happen! A home alarm system watches your home all the time. 3.) Monitoring available: Depending on your locality, home alarm systems can offer many services. Monitoring will listen for alarms, but some have an enunciator panel or speaker put into your home to listen for an emergency, once the alarm goes off. This prevents false police calls and increases the safety for your home. Locked your key in your house? Your home alarm system can be called to disarm the system, without you tampering with the door! 4.) One touch emergency personnel: Many alarm systems come with a one touch button for fire, ambulance, or police. This can be invaluable if you must leave your home quickly or you need to tend to a sick or injured individual in your home.  Most alarm companies will respond with emergency personnel after a few minutes of non-response after home alarm has been sounded. 5.) Lower home owner insurance policy rate: If you own a home you may receive a discount from your home owner's insurance company. Homes that have an alarm system are looked at as a lower liability than those without by your insurance company.  Check with your company to see if they offer a discount. 6.) Alarm systems now offer remote control of systems: Did you forget to turn your air conditioning up before you left the house? Did you stay later at the office than expected and the lights aren't on at your home? Check to see if your alarm company offers home system monitoring. From your air conditioning/heating systems to interior and exterior lighting control. 7.) Ward off intruders: Often times just the presence of an alarm sign in your yard or sticker on your door or front window will ward off intruders.  These visual signs will make an intruder think twice before entering. 8.) Small home based business write off: If you are a small home business you may be able to write off the alarm system expense for that portion of your home on your income taxes. Check with your local/federal government tax rules to see if it applies to your home and business. 9.) Internet & smart phone access: Several alarm companies are giving the option to have access to your home alarm system through the internet or smart phone. This would enable you to turn on/off your alarm remotely as well as monitor when your children come home and other conveniences. 10.) Home alarms systems can help the neighbors: Many neighborhoods, including apartments don't know when you come and go in your home. If you install an alarm system, the neighbors will know instantly when there is an emergency. This is crucial for your safety and for your neighbors to keep alerted of intruders in your building or neighborhood. Having a home alarm system is an excellent idea for any home. Use these 10 tips and do research on your own, to see if a home alarm system is your family.  The majority of home owners that have one will tell you it is well worth the money.  After all, you can't put a price on your home and family's safety. Freshome reader's do you have a home alarm system on your home? Tell us what the pros and cons are? We'd love to hear your comments. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! TeleSpy – Phone Alarm System Mounting Protection: How to install a Home Security System Wake Up and Walk Alarm Clock Sony RHT-S10 Soundbar Wall Home Theater System Mp3 Alarm Clock – YOM Home Theater Wall System – TROLL Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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