The last few years saw a surge in home interior design, and that transitioned gracefully into an interest in designing a backyard with the same thoughtfulness and attention to comfort. Outdoor designs enhance the earthiness and roughness of nature, with the comfort and detail of indoors. This blend is integral to creating a polished, usable environment: the influence of indoor design brings structure and unity to the outdoor space.
Structure defines the space through construction like fences, patios, or gazebos, or through vegetation, like borders or shrubs. Modern retractable awnings are an uncomplicated and inexpensive method to introduce definition to an outdoor space without the high cost of construction or the high maintenance of complicated landscaping.
Define the Space with Retractable Awnings Design is based on cohesion between decorating elements. For outdoor spaces, cohesion is predicated on structure, an outline for the area. With retractable awnings, the natural flow between the interior space and the new exterior space depends on the size and location of the retractable awnings: • Outdoor access, such as sliding doors • Shade needs for interior rooms; retractable awnings block heat, UV rays, glare, and sunlight, which makes them an asset for overly bright rooms or rooms with UV-susceptible elements, like paintings and photographs. • Sun orientation; retractable awnings which shade west and south facing rooms can reduce indoor temperature gains by 77%, so they are ideal for passive energy efficiency in sunny rooms • Size. The width of retractable awnings can be custom-sized by the inch, so it is possible to scale the retractable awning perfectly to match the desired location.
Incorporate drop screens to provide a natural fluidity to the area. Drop screens are mounted vertically and are lowered down. In areas around pools or for existing gazebos, stairways, or decks, drop screens mark pathways and create an enclosed feeling. Drop screens also have functional benefits, such as rain, UV, glare, pollen, and bug protection for exposed sitting areas.
Basic Design Ideas Outdoor design is tied to the senses, and the primary sense is visual. First, retractable awnings provide a visual structure to the unordered outdoors. Second, retractable awnings create a color patter; the fabric and colors in the retractable awning define the overarching palette for the rest of the space and diffuse the ambient light, creating a subtle pervasive color.
This makes selecting the retractable awning fabric vitally important. Decide the mood or the natural element to emphasize. • Bright greens for lush vegetation. • Subtle patterns in dark greens and browns or woodlands. • Light blues, turquoises, and golds for waters and beaches. • Bright oranges, reds, and yellows for tropical or desert colors.
Subtle retractable awning features, like different colored frames, tie into the overall theme and contrast with the retractable awning fabric for visual depth. Valances for traditional lateral arm (flat extension) retractable awnings can have a dozen different patterns. For smooth and fluid environments, like beach themes, look for valances with movement to them, like scallops, with sharp angles to echo the rigidity of woods. Other distinct styles can be used throughout the space, such as fluttery sheets of fabric called butterfly awnings or fan-shaped awnings which can fit in corners.
The rest of the backyard space fall into place according to the core elements defined in the retractable awnings. The key is to pay attention to the details: • Seating, particularly with coordinating colors, luxurious pillows and throw blankets. The style of furniture is important, depending on the size of the area delineated by the retractable awning and the functional flow of traffic. • Plants. Retractable awnings cool temperatures as much as 20 degrees and provide protection from the harshest light, so it is possible to fill in the outdoor area with potted plants or types of plants which are prone to drying and heat damage in full sunlight, including ferns, some kinds of palms, flowers, and fresh herbs. • Lighting. Solar lights, strings of lights, and side lamps all provide safe and mild outdoor lighting, which can make the outdoor space enjoyable even after twilight. The retractable awning itself can support very light objects, like Chinese paper lanterns or Christmas lights, but it's generally a bad idea to hang things from the retractable awning since that impedes its ability to retract. • Heating and fans. Free standing fans or outdoor heaters carry the seasonal life of the outdoor space from early spring well into early winter. Other heating options, like chimeneas, should be placed slightly outside the retractable awning, to prevent damage to the fabric from the smoke.
Retractable awnings are an interesting alternative for interesting spaces. Retractable awnings make a huge visual impact and provide the core structure and definition for planning an outdoor living space, while being a relatively inexpensive do-it-yourself project. Retractable awnings turn any outdoor space into a canvas for expression.
About the Author
Retractable Awnings offers quality awnings and patio covers, which are affordable and easy to install.http://www.retractableawnings.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sunday, November 9, 2008
How to Create a Harmonious Garden
Creating a garden on your patio or in your backyard brings beauty to a home that landscaping alone cannot obtain. A well-cared for garden will give back for years to come by providing beauty and a peaceful place to relax.
The first thing to evaluate when creating a garden is deciding how much space you can dedicate to it. Once you've found a good space that has both light and shade and isn't in a place that could be easily ruined by children or pets, you are set to plant.
Next, you need to evaluate what plants will thrive and what garden ornaments will complement the space the best. Treat your garden like an extended room off your home. Choose themes, colors, patio fountains, and other accessories that will complement one another as a whole.
Flowers and plants will need the most research to see which ones require more attention and which will thrive in the environment that you are creating. Perennials such as violets and irises do well in the shade and annual flowers such as impatiens and begonias do well in partial shade. Flowers that thrive in full sunlight could include poppies, daisies or morning glories.
If you are deciding on whether to invest in large water features, consider the wide variety of options available to you. Water features can be indoor, outdoor, concrete, bamboo, marble, rotating, luxury, soothing or decorative and even solar-powered. Water features are used all over the world for aesthetic purposes in homes, gardens, parks and city courtyards, for entertainment like fountain shows, and for relaxation in spas.
Solar-powered water features have become more popular as more people decide to "go green" around the house. These water features have a low voltage water pump connected to a solar panel placed in the complete sunlight which allows them to charge. They are maintenance free and are more versatile because they can be placed anywhere as opposed to being near an electrical source.
Large water features also range in styles from all over the globe such as Asian, Indian, European African, and South American as well as contemporary and traditional and can match any décor.
Patio fountains are affordable water features that can dress up any home yard, or business as well as provide a relaxing and aesthetic mood to the space. Fountains are made of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete.
Other options that spice up landscaping and gardens and give a regal feel are garden statues. Statues have been used in gardens since the era of the ancient Egyptians, Grecians and Romans. Temples and the gardens within them were adorned with statues of the gods. Since then, statues can be found in virtually any form, to adorn every space imaginable.
The materials used to make statues are very versatile including, concrete, iron, steel, copper, bronze, lead, terracotta, ceramic and glass. Some popular themes include cherubs, animals, and mythical characters. Choosing one theme, instead of mixing many different statues together will help to create a more consistent and harmonious feel.
So get out there and start shopping! Soon you will be creating a garden that is unique, beautiful, and well worth the investment.
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in gardening, landscaping, and collecting garden statues and large water features. For a wide variety of patio fountains, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Martin
The first thing to evaluate when creating a garden is deciding how much space you can dedicate to it. Once you've found a good space that has both light and shade and isn't in a place that could be easily ruined by children or pets, you are set to plant.
Next, you need to evaluate what plants will thrive and what garden ornaments will complement the space the best. Treat your garden like an extended room off your home. Choose themes, colors, patio fountains, and other accessories that will complement one another as a whole.
Flowers and plants will need the most research to see which ones require more attention and which will thrive in the environment that you are creating. Perennials such as violets and irises do well in the shade and annual flowers such as impatiens and begonias do well in partial shade. Flowers that thrive in full sunlight could include poppies, daisies or morning glories.
If you are deciding on whether to invest in large water features, consider the wide variety of options available to you. Water features can be indoor, outdoor, concrete, bamboo, marble, rotating, luxury, soothing or decorative and even solar-powered. Water features are used all over the world for aesthetic purposes in homes, gardens, parks and city courtyards, for entertainment like fountain shows, and for relaxation in spas.
Solar-powered water features have become more popular as more people decide to "go green" around the house. These water features have a low voltage water pump connected to a solar panel placed in the complete sunlight which allows them to charge. They are maintenance free and are more versatile because they can be placed anywhere as opposed to being near an electrical source.
Large water features also range in styles from all over the globe such as Asian, Indian, European African, and South American as well as contemporary and traditional and can match any décor.
Patio fountains are affordable water features that can dress up any home yard, or business as well as provide a relaxing and aesthetic mood to the space. Fountains are made of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete.
Other options that spice up landscaping and gardens and give a regal feel are garden statues. Statues have been used in gardens since the era of the ancient Egyptians, Grecians and Romans. Temples and the gardens within them were adorned with statues of the gods. Since then, statues can be found in virtually any form, to adorn every space imaginable.
The materials used to make statues are very versatile including, concrete, iron, steel, copper, bronze, lead, terracotta, ceramic and glass. Some popular themes include cherubs, animals, and mythical characters. Choosing one theme, instead of mixing many different statues together will help to create a more consistent and harmonious feel.
So get out there and start shopping! Soon you will be creating a garden that is unique, beautiful, and well worth the investment.
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in gardening, landscaping, and collecting garden statues and large water features. For a wide variety of patio fountains, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Martin
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