25 June 2011

UK Interior Design For Seaside Cottages

UK is an island country situated off the northwestern coast of Europe. It is a sovereign state and an exotic place to visit. It mainly comprises of four nations: Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Every year a huge number of tourists visit this place to experience the serenity and class of this country.
Holiday cottages in UK are the most common type of accommodation options here. Especially, seaside cottages are very popular and if you are planning to gift a seaside cottage to your family, then there are a number of options available for you. The cottages which you are looking to gift to your loved ones should be up to the mark in terms of interior designing and furnishings.
There are a number of tips for the interior design of your seaside cottage in UK. Basically, these decorations provide you with a relaxing and soothing atmosphere and are perfect for all kinds of families. The first thing you need to think about is the color of your cottage. For seaside cottages light colors usually white is in fashion. Then you need to purchase matching curtains and furniture for your home. You can then think about purchasing the various accessories for your home décor.
There are a number of ways to make your cottage look like heaven on the seaside. You need to work upon each and every room step by step. Just make sure you choose the right things for right places. You can place pictures of cartoons in your kids' room to make them feel happy. Get the best of deals from the market on different home décor items. Deal with every part of your cottage separately. While designing the interior of your seaside cottage make sure that you always keep in mind the likes and dislikes of your family members.
Do not always try and give a sophisticated look to your cottage, instead try and keep it as simple as possible and trust me it would look very beautiful. Every small detail contributes a small bit to the interiors of the cottage. The interiors should be such that as soon as your family enters the cottage they simply do adore the house.
Interior designing for seaside cottages is not that a difficult task than it looks. You just need to go step by step and follow the norms and surely you will land up with a beautiful home décor. These are some of the important information related to interior design. Make sure you go through this article before deigning the décor of your own cottage in UK.
Looking for Holiday Cottages? Find out more about Holiday Cottages Scotland
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Perez

Customizing Your New House Plan

You decided to build your new dream home and right from the start began searching for the perfect stock plan. However, after searching for many hours you have yet to fall in love with any certain plan. You can't afford to invest in entirely custom drawn home plans and you are just about to give up hope that this dream home is out there but don't quit yet! The solution is right in front of you and it won't break your budget.
Somewhere in those hours of reviewing stock plans, you probably came across a plan or two that was almost exactly what you were looking for, whether it be small cottage home plans or Spanish mission houseplans. Perhaps you want a slightly different exterior or you need one room to be slightly larger. Maybe you wish the garage entry was placed differently or the master bath had a larger shower and smaller linen closet. All of these changes are options when it comes to customizing stock plans to fit your particular needs. Many home design designers and architects that develop stock home plans have modifications available for their house plans. Taking advantage of these options allows you to turn an "almost-perfect" plan into the dream home you absolutely love - and at a much more affordable cost than entirely customizing your dream home and starting from scratch!
Modifications to stock plans typically change some structure of the plan - from moving an interior wall, altering the exterior facade, or swapping out one foundation for another. To take advantage of these customizations, you need to be aware of your dream home's needs. Keep in mind the following limitations:
Know your lot - Before setting your heart on a specific stock plan with modifications, be familiar with your lot. Is it sloping or will it be leveled out? What is the water table? Is a finished basement practical or should you look for a plan with a second floor bonus room? Can you build a house plans ranch walkout basement?
Look ahead - Right now your family of three is perfectly comfortable in a two-bedroom house. However, what about a year or even five years from now? New additions to the family will need their own space, from children's nurseries to elderly parents who may need to move in with you. You cannot always perfectly anticipate your family's needs, but preparing now by finding a plan with an extra bathroom or a multifunctional bonus room is a terrific idea. In addition to space, look for plans that will allow easy incorporation of technological advances as well as good future resale value.
Know your weather - The weather and climate not only affects the way you dress but also the way you outfit your home. New England homes have peaked roofs so heavy snow will fall off the roof rather than cave it in. Coastal homes that face tornado and hurricane assaults have flat roofs that help avoid detrimental wind damage. Be aware of what your dream home will need to avoid unnecessary work and expensive repair in the future.
"Almost" does not cut it - The most important thing is to love the plan you choose and the modifications you've decided to make to it. If something still isn't right, do not ignore that feeling. Take time to look over the plan carefully. Look at a few more stock plans and see if modifying a different plan would be easier. Remember that customizations are being done to get exactly what you want, not just as-close-as possible.
Once you have determined the modifications you desire, it's time to get them started! Depending on the stock plan you choose, the process may differ. Be prepared to submit a modification request form that should include detailed explanations of the modifications desired. And referring to the rooms as they are on the stock plan will make it a quicker and easier process. A quote will be returned to you within days. Accepting this quote will lead to approving drafts, and sooner rather than later you will be ready to start building.
At times the process to get the dream home you imagine may seem daunting. But, with a little patience and attention to detail, it is surely not impossible. Remember that designers and architects also benefit from your modification requests. By hearing directly from the customer what does and does not work for them, entirely new plans are often designed. And in the end, these enhanced plans turn your dream home into a reality for others looking for the perfect home. If your looking for small cottage home plans, spanish mission houseplans or even house plans ranch walkout basement, visit House Plans and More Today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane

14 June 2011

An English Country Garden

Just say ' An English Country Garden.' To most people, the words conjure thoughts of a colorful, scented, peaceful place, but in days of old nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact the English Country Garden was born, half from necessity and the other half by accident.
In feudal England a peasants life was harsh, they were almost slaves and the greater part of what they could grow went to their feudal lord and 10% of all they grew went as a 'tithe', for the upkeep of the church and the priesthood. The rest, such as it was, they could keep for themselves.
In 1348 - 1350 The Black Death ravaged England and the surviving peasants demanded higher wages, fewer working hours and even their freedom. As there was a serious shortage of workers the lords of the manor often gave in. Thirty years later a 'poll' or head tax was levied resulting in the Peasants Revolt. A slightly better lifestyle followed, and the lords of the manor often gave their serfs a two roomed 'tied' cottage with a patch of ground around it.
This small piece of land had to keep the family in as much food as possible, they would have a chicken coop for eggs and the occasional chicken, a goat for milk, and perhaps a pig to slaughter and salt as well as the 'cess pit' for waste.
The lady or 'good wife' as she was called would plant herbs for medicinal purposes such as chesty coughs, headaches, children's complaints and of course to cook with. What was left of the 'garden' was taken up with vegetables such as onions, peas, beans, as well as greens and small fruit trees. There was no room for flowers. But hollyhocks, delphiniums, red-hot pokers, lupins, love- in- a- mist and many other self seeders all found a place for themselves, no planning or designing, just Mother Nature at her best.
Later, when the peasant farmers realized that adding flowers and herbs to their vegetable plot would help to attract bees to pollinate their crops, the traditional English Country Garden evolved with its deep borders and vibrant mix of scented flowers and herbs, meandering pathways and a rustic bench tucked away in a quiet corner. A bird bath to encourage songbirds, a sundial, even a small water feature would add to the gardens peaceful ambiance, but please, no ruined temples, or Chinese Pagodas, think dry stone walls, chaotic, colorful flowers and thatched roofs for the authentic English country look.
Some plants for the Perfect English Country Garden.
Old fashioned roses, Cornflowers, Hydrangeas, Forget-me-nots, Red Hot Pokers
Hollyhocks, Syringa, Tulips, Pansies, Geraniums
Lupins, Iris, Poppies, Lilacs, Lavender
Climbers
Wisteria, Honeysuckle, Sweet Peas, Clematis, Ivy, Hops
Herbs
Chives, Feverfew, Chamomile, Basil, Artemisia
Lemon Balm, Yarrow, Thyme, Rosemary,Lemon Grass
Dill, Mint, Sage, Garlic, Tarragon
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