Tag Archives: modern

Mar14

Modernize Your Home With These Tips

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Modernize Your Home With These Tips

Do you have a smaller home and feel like it doesn’t look as stylish as it could? A lot of this could come down to your lack of floor space. Interior designers are always looking to turn petite homes into stylish spaces, and there are a number of tricks that you can adopt to try and make a positive change. Want to find out more? Let’s get started:

Draw a Scale Plan:

Even if you have a large home, you still need to make sure that you plan everything out before you start the design process. You have to know what space you are working with so you can then sketch out every room. This will help you to see the size and the shape of what you have before you go ahead and make changes. You don’t want to find out the couch you ordered is way too big when it’s being installed!

Use Earthy Tones in Smaller Rooms:

Neutral earth tones tend to have a knack for making a small space look way bigger than it is. The great thing about earth tones is that they are contemporary and they can make your room look modern too. If you want to do something about the space you have, then it is helpful to make sure that the ceiling and the trim are lighter than the walls. You can also replace the windows in the room if you want to let way more natural light in. Look up local energy efficient windows if you want to know more.

Vivid Colors Are Great for Adding Personality:

Modern homes are not just about neutral colors. If you want to add a lot of style and personality to your smaller home, then make sure that you are incorporating bright and vivid shades. This will help to draw the eye; if people are looking at a chair that is bright blue, then they probably won’t be paying much attention to how big or how small the room is.

Indoor Garden:

Indoor gardens are very popular and you would be surprised at how much you can use them to your advantage. You only need a very small amount of space to work with, such as under your stairs. You can then transform this and make a contemporary statement as a result.

Don’t Overlook the Kitchen:

The kitchen is the heart of the home. If you want your home to be more modern, pay special attention to this room. Brushed metal and even industrial tones work well together and they are ideal if you want to get that functional look. If you aren’t quite sure how to get the result you want out of your kitchen, look up inspiration online. When you are good and inspired, you will soon find that it is easier to work with the space you have.

Whether your home is big or small, it is only as stylish as you make it. Use the tips above to get started today!

Featured Image By: Pexels

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Mar1

Six Reasons To Buy A Newly Built Home

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Six Reasons To Buy A Newly Built Home

It can be hard to decide whether to buy a newly built home or an existing one. The decision will depend a lot on your personal tastes and needs for amenities, features, and location. If you’re considering a newly built home, here are some of the best reasons to go for it:

1 – It’s brand new:

When you buy a new property from someone like Harvest Curve Rockford Homes, nobody will have lived there before. Nobody will have ever used the appliances or the shower, left stains on the carpets, or made small holes in the walls. There won’t be anything to clean when you move in, as everything is brand new.

It’s also an empty, blank canvas. You can start from scratch when you decide on decorating or choosing where to put your furniture. Nothing will have been left behind that you need to arrange and there’s nobody’s hideous wallpaper left behind for you to cover up. Because everything is new, you can also just choose to do nothing. All you need to do is unpack.

2 – You can help design the look:

Some builders will offer bespoke packages for upgrades when you buy a new build, which will allow you to choose some of the fixtures and fittings, such as your kitchen cabinets, your appliances, or the bathroom tiles.

3 – Peace of mind:

Most new builds will come with a standard structural guarantee with a house building insurance company, so if anything does go wrong in your first few years of owning your new build, you can get help to put it right at no cost to you. Check if you have a guarantee before making any decisions.

The latest standards will apply too so your security and fire system will be as up to date as possible, and so will your appliances. This is another source of peace of mind in your new home.

4 – The green choice:

A new build is usually more environmentally friendly than an older property and is often much cheaper to run too. Modern houses tend to be better insulated and should have more efficient appliances and boilers. There shouldn’t be any drafts around doors and windows yet, and the heating should be easy to use and efficient. This is all good for your wallet and the planet.

5 – Support for buyers:

Schemes to help first time buyers often apply to new builds, so if you’re buying your first home, it’s well worth seeing what help could be available to you if you choose a newly built property.

6 – Designed for modern living:

New homes tend to have more than one bathroom, often have a basement, and open plan layouts, which work much better for families. They’re also built with modern demands in mind, so should have plenty of power points for all those devices you need to keep charged.

Living in the modern world means that you deserve a modern home too, which is what you will get with a freshly built property!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb24

The Busy Life Of A Modern Woman: Health Risks & Self Care Tips

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The Busy Life Of A Modern Woman: Health Risks & Self Care Tips

Right now, modern living essentially means busy living, particularly for women. Being busy may mean making money, thriving to get ahead of your career, fulfilling ambitions, keeping in touch with friends, raising a family, exercising, and so much more. Jam packed schedules force them to put their physical and mental health at the bottom of their priorities. In general, two things hinder women from maintaining a healthy lifestyle: not prioritizing themselves and the lack of time.

Many women lead high pressured lives as they struggle to balance their careers and personal lives. However, health is essential, not just for yourself but for the well being of your family and the people around you. Let’s delve into this a bit more:

The discrimination against women in the global society typically puts them at a higher health risk than men. Unfortunately, access to health services and health care are intertwined with socioeconomic and sociocultural factors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the health risks for modern women occur due to the following:

  • Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse
  • The lack of access to education and equal employment opportunities
  • Society’s exclusive perception that women are meant to reproduce
  • Inequality in relationships between men and women
  • Poverty, involving malnutrition and an unhealthy environment

The Jean Hailes’ Women’s Health Survey has also emphasized the relationship between women and health, stating that at least one in six women experienced discrimination in having access to healthcare.

Health Risks for Modern Women:

Health problems may affect women in various ways. Some may experience physical health issues, while some women may suffer mental health problems or a combination of the two. These problems go undiagnosed most of the time, causing them to worsen. Health risks in busy and modern women often include depression, anxiety, breast cancer, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases.

Leading a Healthy Life:

A healthy lifestyle can help prevent health risks, improve quality of life, and prolong life expectancy. Keep the following reminders in mind to keep yourself healthy and happy:

Practice Self Care:

Self care comes in different forms. But as long as it involves maintaining your health and attaining a great sense of happiness and fulfillment, you are doing it right. It could be as simple as exercising regularly, having a nice warm bath at night using your vitamin C whitening and moisturizing soap, or watching a movie to relieve stress. Self care may also involve pampering yourself at the salon, visiting your doctor for a routine checkup, or enjoying healthy snacks. It’s all about having routines that promote a better quality of life.

Manage Stress With Healthy Habits:

Stress is the common root cause of many health problems and, unfortunately, many people tend to rely on unhealthy habits to reduce stress but doing so only makes things worse. For example – smoking cigarettes, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, or engaging in dangerous activities, which only puts them more at risk of health problems.

Learn how to manage stress with healthy habits. You can go hiking with your friends, finish a book while drinking tea, get a massage, or do meditation. There are various ways to manage stress without compromising your health and safety so always choose what’s best for you.

Think of Your Future:

You may be young and full of energy, but that will not stay that way forever. Think of the future you will have if you keep neglecting your health. What do you think your future will be like if you keep practicing unhealthy habits? You need to invest in your health while you’re still young and reap the benefits once you reach old age. If you want to live a long and happy life, you need to start making changes in your lifestyle as early as now.

Women need to focus more on their health because they have so much on their plates. The good news is that womanhood involves a supportive community that encourages them to uplift each other. Talk to your family and friends about the importance of health, share tips, and build goals so all of you can lead a healthier lifestyle together.

Jan11

6 Features You Need In A Modern Apartment   

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6 Features You Need In A Modern Apartment   

If you’re looking for a new modern apartment, there are some features that you shouldn’t skimp out on to make your place the ultimate place to be. Modern means comfort as well as aesthetic so look out for the following during your apartment hunt:

Built-In Closets:

When you live in an apartment, built-in closets are important. Not only are they space-saving, but they also help to declutter your home. What’s more, you don’t have to go to the expense of buying your own shelving and chests of drawers – it’s all done for you. The best built-in closets have sliding doors for extra space-saving and mirrored surfaces for extra primping.

Ice Maker Refrigerator:

Most apartments come with kitchen appliances as standard. However, the vast majority of them do not have ice makers. While having an ice maker might not sound like an essential feature, you’d be surprised how often you need it. Whenever you entertain or make yourself a cold drink in the summer months, it comes in handy. Don’t overlook it.

A Balcony:

Most apartments near me, especially the new ones, have balconies. These days, they’re almost standard. The reason for this is simple: people want outdoor spaces where they can lounge in the summer and enjoy themselves. They don’t want to feel claustrophobic while looking at the fine weather through the window passing them by.

In some situations, you may also be able to make do with a Juliet balcony. Just make sure that it is safe, particularly if you have kids.

A Walk-In Shower:

When it comes to shower facilities, modern apartments can be quite appealing. That’s because many of them are now offering buyers walk-in showers. These get rid of the shower cubicles of old and replace them with a more natural, functional design. They’re particularly helpful for anyone living with a disability.

The way they work is pretty simple too. Instead of using a cubicle to create a drain for the water, walk-in showers use the entire floor of the room. The whole thing is graded downwards towards a central drain that scoots all of the wastewater off into the plumbing. Most come with non-slip flooring too, helping you to keep your balance.

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^^^ Unsplash Image

Programmable Lighting:

If you’re buying a modern apartment, it will almost certainly come with programmable lighting. This feature allows you to change the color and intensity of the light with the press of a button. Programmable lighting can also be a lot of fun. You can create sequences that dance through different types of light or react to the music you’re playing.

Hard Floors:

While carpeted apartments can be nice, you’re often better off with hard floors. They’re easier to clean and far less prone to damage which could affect your deposit. Of course, if you want it to feel soft under foot, you can always put down rugs. Just remember to attach sticky tacks to the back so that they don’t slip and slide across the floor.

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^^^ Unsplash Image

A modern apartment should include all of the extra touches that make your living experience more enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to shop around until you find the place perfect for you!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jan25

Helpful Hints To Decorate A Wood Paneled House

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Helpful Hints To Decorate A Wood Paneled House

Wood paneling is coming back in a big way. It’s rustic and very cozy, for one. Plus, because of its popularity, wood can add value to a house. Anyone looking to sell up soon could take a calculated risk to increase the price of their home. However, it’s not all picnics and rainbows. Firstly, paneling can be hard to decorate as it’s stubborn. It isn’t as if you can transform the style because wood is wood. And, ripping it out and starting again isn’t a smart idea because it’s a waste of time and money.

The realization might make you think “what am I going to do?!” To begin with, don’t panic. Secondly, you might want to have a glance at the advice below. Here are the helpful hints which should lend a hand when it comes to decorating a wood-paneled property:

Hide It:

For those of you who just can’t stand the panels, it’s time to take away its pop. Walls seem as if they are impossible to change barring a splash of paint due to their size. However, don’t forget that you can easily hide them with large, bulky furniture. A bookcase is a fantastic piece that will take the focus from the wood. You and your guests will be too busy leafing through the novels on the shelf to realize there are panels behind the books. Cases of dead trees aren’t the only things which can help, either. On a bookshelf, antiques and traditional home ware can be as effective at obscuring the wall. Never stack as many bits and pieces on a shelf as books, though, because it looks cluttered. The best option is to choose five or six items and space them out along the rack.

Splash Of Paint:

Wood has a deep, warm feel to it which can be troublesome. Not only is it dark, but some homeowners find totally unappealing. Gutting the house isn’t an option as it’s costly and time-consuming. The good news is that paint can be a wonderful way to transform paneling, and it doesn’t break the bank. All you have to do is choose a color of your choice and start brushing. For example, a white or cream is a fantastic option for anyone who wants to add light to their property. Even better, wood soaks up paint so the walls take on a textured look after the fact. An overlay can also change the style. White panels make a house feel as if it is now a comfy little cottage on the edge of town.

Alter The Direction

Lots of homes have panels which run one way: vertically. The readers who double as fashionistas will know that the direction of a shape can impact the style. It’s the worst kept secret in the world that horizontal stripes make a person seem fat. In the home, across running lines are not putters on of pounds but a source of contrast. To begin with, it’s hard not to notice the fact that they lie flat and don’t run up and down. Although you may not realize it now, your mind subconsciously thinks of stripes as moving in one direction. Secondly, everything in the room will run the other way. Drapes, blinds, light fixtures, and lampshades – they all stand vertically tall. As the panels go the other way, the contrast should be striking. Hopefully, the wood boards are just glued on so that you can prize them off and modify the style. If not, you will have to be very careful not to ruin the panels.

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So pretty!!

Embrace It:

Let’s not pretend like wood panels don’t look amazing. Everyone has been to a house that used boards and thought “I wish my house were this pretty”. The issue is embracing the style and making it work. Although it looks fantastic, wood paneling can be a tricky statement to get just right. One useful hack is to concentrate on a single room. The bedroom, for instance, might have boards running across the walls. If so, use it as a guinea pig before you attempt to revolutionize the entire house. On your bedroom shopping list, you will want hardwood or faux floors, a lumber dresser, and timber wardrobes. That way, the furniture fits in with the rest of the room perfectly. Also, resist the urge to cover up the panels when possible. Instead, stain them and let the wood stand out as the focal point of your boudoir.

Make A Statement:

Along the same lines is the idea of sectioning off an area of a room. For instance, you use a corner of the living room rather than use panels throughout. It’s a straightforward task as long as you find the ultimate location. Lots of homeowners like to squirrel wood away in the corner, which is a smart plan. Wood is a strong material, so it won’t blend in to the point that no one notices its existence. However, it won’t overpower the rest of the pieces, either. A lumber cabinet is a fantastic addition because it looks beautiful while taking up hard to reach space. What’s more, using wood in this way makes it seem special because it has a novelty value. Like the tip above, making a statement tries to find a delicate balance between differing trends.

Choose Soft Accessories:

Because wood dominates, it’s vital to soften the look with accessories. These can range from window dressing to furniture. The pieces don’t matter too much, but their colors do as they add light contrast and texture. As always, white is a fantastic addition to a dark room, as are creams. However, don’t forget about the effectiveness of light blues and yellows. One way to make sure the balance is just right is to use light colors little and often. For instance, homes which pull off the look tend to incorporate light furniture as it’s bulky. Therefore, the pieces stand out more than, say, a coffee table. Drapes are another great choice as they are long and billowy. As a result, it makes the room feel cool and airy as well as light.

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PxHere Image

Time To Tile:

One of the excellent traits of paneling is that it doesn’t clash with alternative trends. Usually, a strong material like wood would be the only texture in the room, but it isn’t the case here. Due to its flexibility, you can use numerous fashions in one space. Wallpaper is a fine example as it’s coming back in a big way. Tile, however, has to be the most wonderful companion. Tiles add a sense of modernity to a room due to the fact that they are sleek and clean. Also, their thickness adds a new texture which boosts the contrast. When they are put together, the two styles look amazing, especially with a roll or two of wallpaper.

Wood paneling can be something which you want to ditch ASAP. That’s fine because it may not be your bag, baby. But, just know it is possible to incorporate it into any dream house, even your own!

Featured Image By: Pixabay