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Electrical Safety in the home
Electricity is a wonderful part of our lives, clearly enabling us to do so many of the things we take for granted. Food preparation, entertainment, communication, and so much more are all dependent upon the delivery of electricity. And yet,...
Finding web resources on home repair
These days, since you have the 'net at hand, it's simple to
discover all you ask for in regards to home repair. Do you
recall the time as you had to buy some books if you wanted to
come across anything appropriate to home repair? Do you want...
For Sale By Owner - Prepare For Success
So you want to sell your home without a real estate agent. Like hundreds of thousands of other homeowners, you've chosen this option because you don't want to pay those large commissions to an agent. Many people who have tried it in the past will...
Protecting Yourself and Your Home When You Sign a Home Improvement Contract
A Home Improvement Project can be filled with a variety of problems and headaches. Most people are very trusting individuals and are not aware of the many problems that occur when one attempts a home improvement project. If you choose to embark...
Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices
A man's home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don't normally feature ramparts, drawbridges, moats and six-foot thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house alarm, and preferably a managed home security system,...
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Add a Dynamic Design Accent to Your Home with the Right Staircase
Stairways are a wonderful thing. They suggest a path to things
unseen, hidden destinations, secret lives. If you have a
multistory home or are planning to build one, take a few minutes
to think about the stairs. By choosing to include a beautiful
stairway instead of a mundane one, you can change your home
atmosphere from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you choose
filigreed iron, steel, glass, or traditional hardwood, the right
stairway for your home can serve as a compelling design accent,
the focal point of a room, at once utilitarian and beautiful.
If you have an urban industrial loft, you may be thinking of
taking one large, high-ceiling room and creating a number of
living environments on different levels. If so, you'll be
incorporating a bunch of staircases. You may even be lucky
enough to have an existing industrial staircase made of rugged
steel. If so, you have a decision to make. Are you aiming for a
high-tech industrial look, with stainless steel commercial
kitchen appliances and exposed electrical and plumbing elements
on the ceiling? Then your steel staircase fits right in. If
you're looking to emphasis natural colors and textures, however,
a sort of Zen retreat, you might want to incorporate the natural
beauty of hardwood stairs into your design. A straight, sturdy
staircase leading to the upper levels can make a powerful
statement; a curving stairway winding around the center of your
loft adds elegance and a feeling of flow to your
environment.
Historical homes, particularly in the eastern U.S., almost
demand the inclusion of hardwood stairs. Your antique home may
have a staircase in need of repair, or the existing staircase
may need replacing. Either way, you'll need the services of a
company specializing in custom-designed staircases. In fact,
whether you're creating your own unique home or restoring an
antique home, custom designed and built staircases are a must
because of the exacting nature of the measurements required.
When you go looking for a company to build your staircase for you, make sure you choose a firm with an experienced
staff of designers. A designer should be willing to visit the
site, take the appropriate measurements, and present you with
design suggestions and advice on materials and costs, as well as
troubleshoot the site and the design for possible problems.
They also should be willing to supply you with detailed
photographs of their work for other clients. Who knows? You may
find inspiration in these photos and use them as a jumping off
point for your own creative ideas.
About the author:
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern
New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and
Topics. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.
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