Are Granite Countertops Right for You?

There is something elegant about the look and feel of granite countertops! This elegance alone, is enough reason for many home and business owners to decide to use it their space. After all, it adds an air of opulence while still being usable and, some might even say, practical. But, are granite countertops right for every space? The answer to that depends greatly on who will be using the space and be responsible for any maintenance needs.

So, if you find yourself faced with choosing whether to use granite, marble or perhaps some other natural material as a countertop, you will want to be sure you understand the positives and negatives of the beautiful stone known as granite.

• Granite countertops come in over 3,000 colors and do not fade with time. Also, each slab has its own unique pattern and movement, so no matter your style of color scheme, you are certain to find something that works for your space.
• There are dozens of custom edges and finishes from which to choose, thus allowing you to create a totally custom look.
• Granite countertops, when properly sealed and maintained, are virtually scratch, stain and chip resistant; of course, that doesn't mean you should throw out your kitchen cutting boards and do your prep work directly on the countertop!
• If you love to bake, then it is a great choice as it is perfect for making cookies, candies, bread dough and other foods that are best prepared on a cool surface.
• It is heat resistant. If you forget to grab a heat pad for that 400-degree pizza pan, it won't matter-granite is created by heat, so setting something hot on it, isn't going to hurt it!
• The only surface that is harder than granite is a diamond.
• Granite countertops add a minimum of 10% to the re-sale value to your home.
• It will last for years. This is both a positive and a negative as that means your investment is well worth it; however, should you have granite installed and later decide you don't like it then removal can be costly and chances are, you will need new cabinets, too.
• Granite is not overly porous (unlike marble) making it chemical and acid resistant.

Negative Characteristics of Granite

• Cost-granite is expensive because of labor for its removal from the quarry, the work involved in cutting it and then installation.
• It does not have a uniform pattern or color and contains natural cracks or pits. These "imperfections" are actually, what lends to its beauty and "movement" but if one likes things completely uniform, then this may not be the best choice.
• It cannot be used as a cutting board because it will dull your knives.
• Granite countertops should be installed by a qualified professional-it is not a do it yourself project!
• Granite countertops need to have the sealant re-applied a least once every two years to prevent staining or fading.
• Seams are visible, regardless of how good the installer is. Ideally, an installer will endeavor to have seams in areas where they least likely to be noticed

Granite is a beautiful choice in countertop covering. It can make a drab or basic space look elegant and rich.

15 Tricks To Make A Small Room Appear Bigger

Small apartments are practical and give an appealing sense of intimacy, but no one likes to feel cramped and overwhelmed with stuff. Here’s how you can trick the eye and make your space seem much bigger than it really is.
Some choose to live on limited square footage because they don’t want to deal with too much cleaning and maintenance. Others simply have no choice. Whatever your situation, a sense of spaciousness and comfort is always welcome – and that’s what small apartment dwellers are often challenged with.

Small is cute and cozy, but there are a couple of downsides, too. Rooms that lack space tend to be confining by their very nature, and there are still all those personal belongings accumulated over the years and household goods that you have to find place for.

When decorated at random, small living spaces can really feel cluttered, chaotic and cramped, but luckily, there are some easy fixes that you can use to make a small room look more airy.  Color techniques, clever choice of furniture, proper arrangement and some other easy fixes will help you create the illusion of extra space in your home.


Lighten it up
This one is really a no-brainer. Just like with clothes, dark colors make things seem smaller and slimmer, but this is not what we’re trying to achieve here. If you want to make a small living area appear bigger than it really is, don’t paint the walls chocolate brown or polo blue.
Light colors, on the other hand, are fabulous space expanders. They make the room feel open and airy as they are more reflective and enhance the effect created and by natural light. Some of the colors that will instantly turn a compact interior into a seemingly bigger space are icy blues, creams, pale gray and light greens . Also, lightening up the floor can add to the optical illusion. If you cannot redo flooring, a large are rug is a good alternative that will give your apartment a few extra square inches of space.

{Source: Danielle Oakey Interiors}

                                                   

Forget bold prints
One or two throw pillows with large geometric patterns will not do harm, of course, but too many bold prints in a tiny interior can make the room feel busy and cluttered, especially if they appear on a large surface. If you really want to have a decorative wallpaper, choose small, delicate prints in pastel colors. The same applies to rugs. If you need a strong accent, it is better to make a statement with modern wall art and keep the rest of the room solid. The more unified the elements of décor, the bigger your room will appear.

Use wise contrasts
The fact that it’s best to go pale and monochromatic doesn’t mean there is no place for contrasts at all. A clever trick used by interior decorators is painting the walls, trim, and molding in different shades of one color, the walls always being slightly darker. If you paint the walls icy blue or beige and have the moldings and trim bright white, the walls will appear further back and thus the room will seem somewhat bigger than in reality. A similar effect can be achieved if you pair a pastel wall with bright white furniture.

{Source: Cococozy}

                                                         

Blend and link
It has already been pointed out – the more unified the décor of a tiny apartment, the greater the illusion of space will be. If you have a kitchen that opens to the living room (or any other adjacent spaces with little or no clear division), link them with the same flooring and wall color. Keeping to one color will give an impression of a larger living area. Also, consider having at least some of the bigger furniture pieces like chests of drawers or armories the same color as the walls, so they can blend together and visually widen out the room.

{Source: Danielle Oakey Interiors}

                                           
Let light in
Natural light is an unfailing space expander, so if you have large windows, make full use of them and keep window treatment to minimum. By leaving your windows uncovered and allowing plenty of natural light to flow freely inside the room, you will connect the room with the outdoors and create the illusion of depth. Elaborate window treatments draw too much attention, visually divide the room (they provide undesired contrast) and make it feel enclosed. If you don’t want to leave your windows completely bare, use simple sheer panels that blend with the color of the walls or are slightly lighter and keep them pulled back.

{Source: graciepi}

                                                          

Use multi-function furniture
This one is not about fooling the eye – it is about making you space physically less cluttered. Double duty furniture pieces are priceless additions to any apartment, but if you’re particularly short on space, make them your holy grail of decorating. A comfy ottoman can transforms into a serving table (and don’t forget there’s plenty of storage space inside), a wall-hugging console can be opened to create a dining table suitable for many guests, a dresser can pulls its weight as a nightstand, and even what seems to be a desk for office work, can be turned into a twin bed with one easy motion.

Be transparent
Even furniture pieces that are moderate in size can make a small room feel cramped, but limited square footage doesn’t mean you have to live like in a squat, with just a mattress and a camping stove. Acrylic furniture is a great way out if you want to have a fully furnished apartment (with dining chairs, desk chair, console, etc.), but fear that it might make the space look cluttered.
Transparent furniture pieces blend seamlessly with the interior and look as if they weren't there at all. At the same time, they stand out enough to make a powerful style statement and give an instant upgrade to any decorating scheme – the so-called ghost chairs are one of the most sought after furniture items in the world.

{Source: Houzz}

                                                               

To be continued......
Article source: Decorlove

Corian Worktops: A Detailed Review of the Pros and Cons of Installing Them in Your Kitchen

Corian worktops are probably the best known of all of the solid surface in the market. When the name is mentioned, people usually picture a high-quality product with a hefty price tag.

In this post I want to explore the degree to which these assumptions are true. What do Corian worktops offer in terms of functionality and visual appeal? Do they have any negative aspects that a buyer should be aware of? Are they as expensive as people think they are and, if so, does the product have enough upside to justify the price tag?

I’m going to mention everything I think a buyer will need to know in order to decide whether or not Corian is good choice of worktop for their individual situation. However, if I’ve overlooked anything, please ask your questions in the comments below.
Let’s start by looking at the advantages and benefits of having a Corian solid surface installed in your kitchen.

Corian Worktops – the Pros
Unlike lots of the other solid surfaces, Corian worktops do not have a chipboard core. They are formed entirely from an acrylic resin combined with natural minerals. This provides almost limitless design flexibility, as Corian can be fabricated in just about any shape you require.

The worktops can be shaped just like a hardwood and the joints between different worktop sections and other kitchen elements (such as splashbacks) can be made to look seamless. When done properly, this creates a beautiful, smooth finish which looks stunning. Several of my friends have Corian worktops in their houses and I’m always impressed by the visual impact of this material.

Corian is available in a massive (100+) range of different colours and patterns, so you are definitely going to find something that works for you. If for some reason you can’t, DuPont do offer some colour customisation options, but these can prove to be exceedingly expensive if you only need a small amount of worktop. Some of the Corian decors are more hard-wearing than others. We’ll discuss how colour choice can affect durability later on in the post.

Corian isn’t just about the aesthetics. The solid surface also offers quite a bit in terms of its performance. According to the official DuPoint literature, Corian has proved itself to be a “remarkably durable material that is easy to live with”. It goes on to claim that Corian “cannot delaminate and stands up well to daily wear and tear, resisting “most of the impacts, nicks and cuts that occur in heavy traffic areas”. We look in a bit more detail at these claims below.
Corian is non-porous and this helps to keep it hygienic. Dirt and bacteria can’t penetrate into the counter and there are no joints to act as germ and grime traps.

Another key benefit of a Corian worktop is the fact that most damage to the surface can be overcome. Minor scratches and marks can be removed with everyday cleaning products and areas of the worktop with more major damage can usually be renewed on site (but the work will need to be carried out by a professional).
Now that we’ve looked into the positive aspects of Corian worktops, let’s weigh these against the negative aspects.

Corian Worktops – the Cons

There are several negatives that need to be discussed – however, it should be noted that most of these are not only associated with Corian worktops, but apply equally to all of the different types of solid surfaces.
Firstly, as the manufacturer readily acknowledges, some shades and colours of Corian are less hard-wearing than others. Taken directly from the Corian literature:

Dark, heavily pigmented colours will show scratches, dust and ordinary wear and tear more readily than lighter, textured colours.

It’s also worth noting that, over time, all Corian worktops will collect small scratches and abrasions, altering the satin finish which is present on installation. This is also acknowledged in the official literature. They recommend sticking to a cleaning plan in order to ensure that the luster develops evenly.

Here are the official guidlines for cleaning a Corian worktop:


As is the case with other solid surfaces, don’t place hot pans and utensils directly onto the worktop . Use a trivet (with rubber feet) to protect the counter from the heat. Also, never cut directly onto the Corian. Use a chopping board or worktop saver to avoid scoring or marking the surface.

Perhaps the biggest factor which stops many people purchasing Corian worktops is the price. It’s true that Corian worktops are more expensive than most of the other solid surfaces on the market, but it could also be suggested that Corian is a superior product, especially in terms of its design flexibility. Corian is more expensive than all laminate worktops and lots of types of wood worktops. Its price is more in line with granite and some of the quartz options.

The overall price of Corian worktops will depend upon your individual design specifications and requirements, but whatever you have opted for, it’s not going to be cheap. Yet, anyone with Corian worktops would argue that it has been money well spent. The old addage that you get what you pay for, seems to be true in the case of Corian.

Today @ Work #010814 (Hotel Room Design)

Hello everyone, Happy New Month!

Below are few of my designs this week. They are designs for hotel rooms, reception counter and lounge.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Reception Counter

Mini Bar/Smoking lounge

I Thought You Knew (Does it really matter?.....) Part 2

In this weeks edition of 'I Thought You Knew' i will be concluding the series i started last week. Which is  about some stories in the Bible that were usually misread or retold to make it perfect.Over history, people have developed strange misconceptions about the Bible and the tales it tells. This list hopes to put down some of the more obvious misconceptions people have about the Bible.

If you missed the previous edition click here

• Adam and Eve’s Fruit

Contrary to popular belief, Adam and Eve did not eat an Apple in the book of Genesis. The fruit is not actually named at all – it is referred to only as the fruit of “the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”. The reason this misconception has come about is most likely due to the fact that in Middle English, the word “apple” was used to refer to all fruit and nuts (except berries). Over the centuries, this word has stuck in reference to the Genesis fruit. [Genesis 2:17]

Does it really matter......?

• Devilish Serpent

The serpent that convinced Eve to take the fruit from the tree of Knowledge and Evil is not referred to as Satan in Genesis. He is known only as the serpent who was “more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth”.  [Genesis 3]
Additionally, the term “Lucifer” used in reference to Satan comes from the Vulgate (Latin version of the Bible) translation of Isaiah 14:12 – at no point in the Bible is Satan directly referred to by the name Lucifer. But we all know Isaiah was referring to Satan, right?

Does it really matter......?

• Noah’s Ark

We all know that the “animals went in two by two”… right? Wrong! In fact, all clean animals went in in groups of seven, and unclean animals in groups of two. According to Jewish dietary law, there are far more clean animals than unclean, so the majority of creatures entering the ark went in as a group of 7. [Genesis 7:2-3]

Does it really matter......?

• Mary Magdalene’s Career

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. In fact, she is barely mentioned at all. Aside from her presence at the resurrection, the only other thing that the Bible does say is that she was possessed by seven demons. [Luke 8:2]

Does it really matter......?

• The Prodigal Son

Contrary to popular belief, “Prodigal” means “characterized by a profuse or wasteful expenditure” – it is not a reference to leaving or returning. [Luke 15:11-32]

Does it really matter......?

• The wall of Jericho

The children of Israel marched around the city of Jericho "seven times for seven days right"? Wrong!
God simply told Joshua to have the people to march silently around Jericho for six days, and then after seven circuits on the seventh day to shout. (Joshua 6:1-27) This meant that they marched around the city for thirteen times!

Does it really matter......?

Thanks for stopping by today. See you next week Friday for another edition of I Thought You Knew!