Browsing Category: "Home Improvement"

What Is Venetian Plaster?

To achieve an Italian building exterior, the first question you need to ask yourself is this. When you buy Venetian plaster, can it be applied to the exterior of your house, and is it composed with lime, and aged over a period of time? To get true Venetian Plaster, you will not be able to just go buy it off of some store shelf. You will be able to get what the stores sell, but they don’t sell the high quality product that comes out of Italy. To get true Venetian plaster, you will need to hire a company that specializes in applying the intricate plastering technique.

Understanding Venetian Plastering Techniques

Venetian plaster is a stunning historical product that goes back many years. It has been used in several countries for centuries. This product is sometimes referred to by its Italian name, which is Marmorino. This word means “little marble”.  The plaster often contains a marble called “carrara” marble. This comes in the form of small chips, and Venetian plaster is often applied in a way so that it resembles the fine appearance of finely polished marble or sometimes even honed limestone.

Venetian Plastering

[Image not mine]

Historical Use of Venetian Plaster

The recipe used in historic usage is slaked lime, finely ground marble, and a small portion of raw linseed oil. In some cases soap was even applied. Modern variations of Venetian plaster sometimes include silica, rheologic modifiers, and binders to give it a more pliable and smooth texture. Authentic Venetian Plaster is not a tinted compound, so beware of plaster containing the label “Tinted”, as this is not true authentic plaster. It is merely a replica that does not come close to the end result of true Venetian plaster. Never buy this plaster. You shouldn’t even be buying your own plaster anyway. If you want a true Venetian wall, then you will need a skilled plasterer that uses only the finest materials.

Knowing the Difference between True Venetian Plaster and Replications

Many people have claimed to have Venetian plaster on their walls. However, in many cases it is just replicated to look like Venetian plaster. Most people don’t know the difference, but if you compare a real Venetian plastered wall to one that is replicated, you can definitely see the difference in quality. The only way to truly know that your wall is authentic Venetian is to have the product installed by a trusted plasterer in your local area.  For example, John Anthony Plastering is a company that has done Venetian plastering for many 5 star hotels in London.  If you use a reputable company it may be more expensive but you will be able to guarantee the quality of work, materials used and that it will last longer than cheaper alternatives.

[ Tagged In ] , ,

4 Must Have Items for a Futuristic Home

For the technologically discerning homeowner, there is an extensive range of innovative ways to ensure that your home is as modern as possible. With the current advancements in technology, it’s becoming easier to fit out your home with amazing gadgets that once existed purely the realm of science fiction. Here are 4 of the must have items for a truly futuristic yet functional home.

Intuitive Lighting Solutions

Lighting is one of the most influential aspects in our day to day life, and it can have a huge impact on the appearance of your home. Sophisticated and intuitive lighting solutions are one of the biggest ways to modernise your living space. With everything from motion activated lights to dimmer switches and eco bulbs, there’s a lighting solution for every style and budget.

For a truly technological edge, consider the Master Plan light switch. This innovative design features a switch which resembles your floor plans, and you can control all of the lighting in your home at the touch of a button. It also shows you which lights are currently illuminated so you can control everything from one central location.

Door Bot Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera

The Door Bot is a great design due for release in mid-2013 which allows the user to see who is at their door at any time. The Door Bot uses a camera to capture footage and audio of who is waiting, and sends it to the smartphone of the registered user. The advantage of this system is that you could be at work or away from home and still able to monitor any activity at the door. The appearance is much like a phone call, with an image of who is at the door and an answer or decline option. A great example of the use of the Door Bot is to communicate with couriers or postal workers about the delivery of packages and other items.

3D Smart TV

The hub of every futuristic home is undoubtedly the smart TV. Integrating full internet access, 3D capability and crystal clear display, smart TV’s are the defining step towards an all in one entertainment system to suit every need. Leading brands such as the smart LG 3D TV include access to over 600 applications, from live weather and social media to movie streaming and more. It can also be controlled using voice commands for a truly technological touch.

Solar Window Charger

As electricity prices continue to increase, every little bit counts when it comes to saving energy. A great idea is to make sure that everyone in the family has a solar window charger. These fantastic little devices simply attach onto any glass surface, and use solar power to charge any device with a USB cable. You can even charge it while travelling in the car or attach it at work. No matter where you go, this sleek design will charge your devices without ever touching an electrical socket.

For the latest and most functional in technological design, you can’t go past these top items. Create a truly futuristic home by incorporating them into your house and discovering all the ways in which technology not only enriches your life, but simplifies it as well. From smart TV’s to solar power, these great gadgets won’t fail to impress.

[ Tagged In ] , , , ,

House Plan and Perspective Design

Finally I am able to see our house plan and perspective design of hour house. My mother and sister went online yesterday and they sent me the scan copy of our house perspective plan. It was design by our distant uncle, the house looks great and stylish.

House Plan

We decided to have a second floor house because the area designated to us is quite small and two rooms might not fit. This is going to be expensive but we are going to build our house little by little.

A house plan is of major importance, a structure cannot be built without a plan that’s why an outline is  needed in every construction. A house without a plan will not be as beautiful as you plan.

[ Tagged In ] , , ,

Creating More Space in the Apartment

Our new apartment is smaller than our previous one so we requested that TV should be removed to make new space. When we moved we didn’t find the TV anymore but we are thankful that they didn’t remove the small cabinet where the TV was placed because it was useful for the printer and for some books.

We moved the small refrigerator near the sink to use the small space and make more room for other stuff we had.

[ Tagged In ] , , , ,

House Layouting was Postponed

My mother informed me that they already bought 100 sacks of cements, steel bars, braces, hollow blocks and other building materials that could be use in lay-outing the plan of our house. Lay-outing was about to be done yesterday but there’s a problem in the area, it turns out the family land was over the border after the surveyor measure the area.

So lay-outing was postponed until every thing is fine, I have already asked my sister to look for the old coins we used to see in the altar if they started to turn down our house  because I can’t find them anymore it turns out they are long gone and probably scattered by the flood already I thought they could find coins like american eagle coins which could be a good souvenir. I don’t know the value of those coins until now, didn’t know that they could be part of a collection.

[ Tagged In ] , ,

New Blinds for the Balcony

Our new apartment was too bright during the day and even at night.  So we requested blinds to be installed to my husband’s director, a week ago a guy came to our apartment to measure the door and afterwards we didn’t hear from him anymore and it turns out he return to install the blinds few days ago but I was not at home, that was the time I renew my passport in Seoul and my husband was at work.

[Door Blinds]

Anyway early in the morning, we heard some knocks and it was the guy who measured the blinds. Finally the blinds were installed, and my husband was able to sleep well during the day.

Blinds are very helpful for home use, they could help to block the sun rays from entering your home. They also give ease of comfort to homeowners.

[ Tagged In ] , , ,

Clothes Drying Rack

We have more spacious balcony in our new apartment  but the thing though there’s no clothes drying rack attached on the ceiling unlike in our old apartment that there was, so what we did is we bought a drying rack in the nearby Lotte Super, there are different sizes and type. We choose the medium size because the large one is quite heavy to carry.

This type of clothes rack is very helpful on hanging your clothes after laundry especially if there’s no space for you to hang your clothes outside with the use of rope tied in a two poles or tree like what is usually done in rural areas, clothesline. This drying rack is also suitable for outdoor use with  plastic layer with UV protection reduces the risk of cracks and moisture.

[ Tagged In ] , , , , ,

White Kitchen Designs

My mother and sister told me that they already requested a distant relative to made a house sketch for our house. We are all excited so we talked about what design we want and what kitchen we like. I have requested them that I want the kitchen stove to have exhaust fan and light so it won’t stench inside our house when cooking and to avoid smoke as well.

Good kitchen design is very important because having a good layout can provide pleasant and efficient area to cook and prepare meals, a well equipped kitchen can function well for a wide variety of tasks.  When planning the look of your new kitchen you should consider the kitchen design ideas that suits your taste, like the theme, colors, lay-out and arrangement of your kitchen appliances.

Our new apartment has a white kitchen designs, it is spacious than our old apartment. This one has a built-in stove and the exhaust fan works better than our previous kitchen.

[ Tagged In ] , , ,

A New House

Our grandmother is living alone to her own house after she had misunderstanding with our aunt whom they doubt as her favorite daughter.  It was my aunts and uncles who built her a shuck beside our house because she don’t want to stay in someone else house again.

Years passed and our grandmother’s house started to get old and cranky.  So her kids (my father, aunts and uncles) decided to collect money from each other so they can built new house for her. Below is our grandmother’s new house, it was small but it was a lot better than the old house above.

Some of my male cousins slept to our grandma’s house when they can’t go home anymore after attending a drinking party with friends, or sometimes my older female cousin made our grandma’s house as retreat house after misunderstanding with her husband.

[ Tagged In ] , ,

5 Tips for Maintaining your Wooden Decking

Wooden decking requires a lot of time and care to put up but it’s worth it. Having outdoor decking means that you can enjoy the great outdoors comfortably, providing a solid surface for furniture and sun loungers.

Our decking allows us the luxury of an extra room outside where we can socialize with friends or enjoy then sunshine, and for those with families it provides a space where parents can keep a watchful eye over kids whilst they play in the garden.

However, many people forget to maintain their decking. Here are 5 simple tips to help you keep your decking well maintained so that you can enjoy it for years to come.

Don’t put potted plants on your deck

A lot of people put decorative plants on their decking. However these plants collect and drain water onto the deck. This allows moisture to gather at the base of the pot which can cause mold, rot and also wears away at any wood stain or treatment that you may have applied to your deck. So tip number one is to avoid putting potted plants on your decking.

Check for damp areas

Leading on from the first point – If you notice that there’s an area on your decking that seems to gather moisture and dampness then check it out. Damp areas can lead to mold. If you find any mold then use decking cleaner to remove it. You can also find mold resistant decking paint that will help with this problem.

Porch, Deck, Wood, Table, Bench, Stool, Trees, Hills

[Image courtesy of Unsplash/pixabay.com]

Don’t let bugs live in your decking

Your wooden decking may seem like the perfect home for a range of insects, many of which will be harmless. But still, check your wood every now and then to see if there are signs of insects eating away at the wood. If you do suspect that insects are eating your decking then contact a professional.

Replace damaged boards

Decking naturally acquires damage with repeated use. Maybe someone had one too many drinks at your last party and drop something heavy which split your decking. In that case you should replace the damaged board. This will mean that your decking will look pristine condition, as well as being much safer than having a split piece of wood. Replacing a single piece of wood board is easier than you think.

Clean Your Decking

This may seem obvious but a lot of people fail to do this. Clean your decking a few times a year using specialist decking cleaner, and power wash it too If you have the facilities. This will blast away and dirt and blemishes on your deck.

We hope you found these 5 tips helpful, keep them in mind throughout the year and you can potentially add years on to your decking’s lifespan.

[ Tagged In ] , , , , ,