Interior Design Guide

Is It Cheaper To Tile Or Stained Concrete ? Both concrete and tile flooring are suitable for indoor and outdoor construction. With the introduction of staining and stamping techniques that mimic the appearance of luxurious tile, concrete flooring has expanded from industrial and commercial applications to the heart of the home.  Its versatility as countertops and back splashes make many people wonder if stained concrete or tile is the better choice for their home. Appearance With the help of an experienced professional, stained concrete can look like marble, slate, travertine or terra cotta.  The process of staining concrete, as well as its increasing popularity, has led to the development of a rainbow of concrete stains and paints, giving you the same versatility as ceramic or porcelain tiles.  By adding scoring or stamped designs, stained concrete replicates the exact appearance of tile work.  By adding grout to the scoring lines, the illus...

Using Dyes On Concrete ? What Are They, And How Do They Differ From Chemical Stains ? What is better concrete dye or stain? Dyes are the latest buzz in the decorative concrete community.  Their ease of use, extensive palette, and vibrancy of color (which can be more intense than chemical stains) are creating a wave of popularity that is gaining momentum. Unlike stains, which react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete, dyes are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete or other porous cementitious surfaces.  Dyes are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains or acrylic stains, thus allowing for easier penetration and color saturation while leaving less residue on the surface.  A good analogy for comparing the color intensity and penetration of dyes to stains is that you can fit a lot more marbles than bowling balls into the same size container.  The small dye particles fill the pores of the concrete and are ...

Why do people choose stained concrete? Stained concrete appeals to many people who want to achieve unique decorative effects for a reasonable cost.  For as little as $2 per square foot, you can use stains to create an infinite array of colors and special effects on both interior and exterior surfaces.  Concrete stain does more than simply add color. Rather than produce a solid, opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, stains permeate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, translucent tones.  Some stain manufacturers use adjectives such as "antiqued," "variegated," or "mottled" to describe the distinctive look.  Even when treated with the same staining product in the same shade, no two concrete floors, walls, or countertops will look alike due to factors such as the composition and age of the concrete and surface porosity. Can I stain concrete myself? When applying stain, using the proper tools and application techniques ...

There are so many different ways you can style a canopy bed — here are our top 5 picks. 1. Curtains -  Curtains are the most obvious way to style a canopy bed. There are so many ways to customize your canopy bed curtains, from the color to the material and texture. You can tie the curtains to bed posts, leave them flowing freely, or pull them closed.  You can also use drapery on the top of your canopy bed or where the headboard would be.  The ability to change the drapery gives you more options to customize your bed to your personal tastes, and you can update these linens as your style (and trends!) changes and evolves.  Updating your linens is a much more flexible and hassle-free way to switch up your canopy bed, as opposed to reupholstering a standard bed frame. 2. Fairy Lights - Fairy lights are a huge fan favorite among people of all ages. Decorate the beams of your canopy bed with fairy lights to instantly create a romantic ambiance....

Pros and Cons of Canopy Beds Pros :- Style :  The most obvious appeal of canopy beds is their undeniable style. Canopy beds create a huge impact and completely transform the look of your bedroom. Versatility :  As previously mentioned, canopy beds are a versatile design piece with many different styles to choose from.  Plus, all of the different ways you can style a canopy bed with curtains, linens, and other accessories makes this bed frame all the more versatile. Temperature regulation :  The linens used to drape over a canopy bed can be used for heat retention during the winter and for cooling during the summer.  Fun fact:  canopy beds were first developed centuries ago for this very purpose! With the warmth that they provide, canopy beds truly live up to their cozy reputation. Blocking out light and sound :  Similarly, the linens used to drape over a canopy bed can be used to block out light and muffle...

When buying a new awning, there are a few things you need to take into consideration to ensure the awning fits your caravan and your requirements. Types of awning -    Inflatable awnings Porch awnings Lightweight awnings Full awnings Awning features -  Depending on the model chosen, a caravan awning may include any of the following features: • Mosquito net windows • Window Blinds • Roof light strips • Curtains • Ventilation slits • Harlequin strips • Draught skirts • Veranda poles • Lacquered roof (for snow protection) • Spiked feet • Lightweight pole options What size awning do I need ? 1. Full awnings    Awning size is calculated in relation to the length in centimetres from the ground, up around the awning rail, and back down to the ground. This is called a ground to ground measurement, and it is usually quoted in the product description. 2. Porch awnings  When you are buying a porch awning,...

VINYL FABRICS -  Vinyl fabrics come in two different types: laminated and coated. Laminated vinyl is considered the standard awning fabric. It is strong, waterproof, and durable for medium to large awnings. Coated vinyl is higher quality and is the most durable of the vinyl fabrics. It is also strong, waterproof, and durable for any size project. But coated vinyl is also stain resistant, which could come in handy during the spring and fall months. Vinyl fabrics are easily maintained. There are some downfalls to choosing vinyl fabrics. Although this fabric is durable, it is also not breathable as other fabric choices. It is also not as flexible as others, which could result in tears if you live in a windy area. This fabric also doesn’t come in as many color and pattern choices as other fabrics.  Many vinyl fabrics come with a five, eight, or 10 year warranty. ACRYLIC FABRICS -  This fabric is extremely durable and repels water effectively. There is a wi...

1. Energy Savings -  The benefits of an Awning go far beyond aesthetic appeal.  It’s true that awnings can enhance the look of your place of residence, but the real gem is that awnings save energy and protect furniture, floors and carpets from fading. 2. Weather Protection -  Awnings and Canopies can offer protection from the sun, rain, snow, sleet and hail.  The will direct rain away from the brick or siding surrounding your windows and doors.  This will extend the life of the sealant around your windows thus protecting you from expensive repairs in the future. 3. Architectural Aesthetics -  Creative designers and architects can develop useful and intriguing designs for modern awning and canopy systems that incorporate shape, light, color, texture, graphics and structure, at modest cost. 4. Extend Your Living Space -  Awnings or canopies built off a patio or deck provide a cool and relaxing extension of your li...

Whether you own a restaurant, coffee shop, library or home, controlling the acoustics in your space is essential to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment. Improving sound absorption can help to reduce stress, increase productivity and even improve people's overall experience in the space. With absorbing bamboo panels, the acoustics in your space can be significantly improved. Quality and clarity of sound can be improved, while noise, echoing and reverberation can be reduced. Contrary to popular belief, sound-absorbing panels will not soundproof a room. It will, however, boost the quality of the acoustics and reduce noise in the space where they are installed. For example, sound-absorbing panels are commonly found in home theaters. Oftentimes, people spend top dollar on high-definition televisions, surround sound speaker systems and theater-style furniture, but they forget about the acoustics of the room itself, which is just as crucial to the overall expe...

1. Use Furniture you already own -  The best pieces of furniture to use when soundproofing a room are : Sofas and armchairs – the softer and squishier the better Wardrobes, armoires, and dressers Bookcases – books are a great source of sound-absorbing mass Tables – these will help with soundproofing the floor and stop sounds from echoing. 2. Put Down Carpets and Rugs on the Floor -  Putting down heavy carpets or rugs is another inexpensive option because they are easy to buy if you’re working on a budget. 3. Door Seals -  Whatever the reason, the gap underneath a door allows quite a lot of noise pollution both in and out of the room. Sealant tape is ideal for blocking small gaps, and you can use it on the bottom, sides, and top of the door. 4. Acoustic Sealant for Windows and Walls -  Along with doors, windows are another common source of noise pollution. Acoustic sealant is designed to stay permanently flexible and rubbery. 5. ...

1. Acoustic Foam - Acoustic foam is one of the most commonly used materials due to its easy installation and its affordability as well as its effective absorption of a sound. 2. Acoustic Fabric Panels - Acoustic Fabric Panels are made of wood frame wrapped in fabric with some other sound absorber, such as high-density fiberglass, or foam. 3. Sound Absorbing Underlayment - Sound Absorbing Underlayment materials could be foam, vinyl, rubber. They are dense and they can provide sound absorption but also soundproofing. 4. Acoustic Partitions - Acoustic partitions could serve for different purposes, and they could be lightweight or heavyweight, which are usually made of 100% polyester. 5. Acoustic Cotton Batts - Acoustic cotton batts are made of natural cotton fibers which makes it softer and with a less chance for germ infection. Also, it may be made of a high percentage of recycled cotton. 6. Acoustic Mineral Wool - Acoustic mineral wool is of doubl...

Sound waves bounce off surfaces and can interfere with your ability to record music. Luckily, acoustic panels can minimize this and make a room less echoey. To hang acoustic foam, you'll want to find the optimal area on the wall to place the panels. Then, you'll take measurements and adhere them to the wall with Command strips. If you follow the proper steps, you can effectively install acoustic foam without damaging the wall that you're applying it to. 1. Install the acoustic foam behind your recording equipment. Sound bouncing off the walls can affect your recordings and create unwanted effects. If you create music at a mixer or desk, consider putting acoustic foam behind it. Covering an entire wall will significantly reduce sound reflection, however, you only need a single panel to notice a difference when you record. Position the foam so that it's in between both of your studio monitors or speakers. Acoustic foam will not soundproof a room. A...