Floating Shelves – Creative Storage Solutions
Are you looking for a way to improve your storage space but don’t want the look of ordinary shelves? Arguably, the most elegant storage is also the simplest – horizontal shelves without visible brackets; in other words, floating shelves. It is called such because the support brackets holding the shelf to the wall are hidden behind the shelf itself. The brackets either runs the entire length of the shelf and slides into slots drilled into the surface that meets the wall, or the shelf has built-in brackets that are anchored with screws and then fastened to the wall studs. Whatever method used in the installation, the end result is a unique design that creates the impression that the shelf is hanging in mid-air. This particular effect alone will draw attention, add considerable value to the contents displayed on it, and enhance any wall in your home.
Recently gaining in popularity, floating wall shelves are much preferred over regular ones. For one reason, it gives your home a sense of sophistication and refinement that cannot be achieved with run-of-the-mill shelves; especially when used to display items such as vases, framed photographs, and other breakables. It can also handle heavy ornaments or large décors quite admirably. Despite its fragile appearance, a floating ledge is as strong as any other type of shelf. But of course, you must first check its load bearing capacity just to be safe. Typically, it is a bit thicker in order to conceal the mounting hardware. However, there are also other shelves that have tapered edges for a more modern and sleek look.
Floating ledges are not only ideal for showcasing artwork or pictures. Its primary function, after all is for storage. So you can install it anyplace where space is needed and/or clutter is apparent. Whether in the kids’ bedroom to organize toys, in the bathroom to hold toiletries, or the study for easy access to books – this type of wall shelving are excellent space savers that combine functionality and aesthetics.
Floating shelving comes in an extensive range of design, shape and size to suit your decorative and storage needs. There is also a wide variety of materials (wood, glass, plastic, metal, resin, fiber glass, and etc.) available if you want the shelves to blend in with your existing furniture or interior design. With so many options in terms of color and style to choose from, the decorating choices are limitless.
In conclusion, floating shelves are a great and creative way to take advantage of space. Beautiful and strong at the same time, this type of floating wall storage gives you a decorative means to keep clutter at a minimum. It also doesn’t cost at all that much more compared with other shelves of good quality.
10 Work At Home Business Ideas
In my first article, we talked about how you can take control of your life financially by becoming your own boss.
So as promised, I have compiled a list of work at home business ideas that can eventually help you escape the rat race. Do not think of this list though as something that could earn you lots of money overnight, or something that would make you quit your current job by next week.
An internet business, just like real world business, needs careful planning, and a patient and dedicated person to manage it in order for it to work. Do not be fooled by the promise of individuals telling you that they can help you get rich in just a few easy steps. There is no such thing!
If you want to be rich, YOU need to work for it!
Work At Home Business Idea #1: Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the promotion of products or services of another company with the end purpose of getting a sale. Once a sale is made, you get a percentage of the total sale.
Affiliate marketing offers a minimal cost of entry for an internet based home business, given that a person can get started without even having to purchase any kind of product or even own a website.
Skills Needed
PPC (Pay Per Click marketing), sales copy-writing, web marketing
Work At Home Business Idea #2: Blogging
What is Blogging?
Think of blogging as your online journal. By operating a blog, you can sell advertising space, and engage in affiliate marketing. The use of blogging to start your own internet home based business is fairly easy and inexpensive since most blogging platforms are for free.
To make the most out of your blog, you must target a specific niche. Think of what you are good at, and write about it. The first thing you must consider is readership. How to get traffic to your blog, and how to convert that traffic to loyal readers. So make sure the content you put up is engaging, as well as informative to the reader.
Skills Needed
Copy-writing, social networking, affiliate marketing, web marketing and some web design
Work At Home Business Idea #3: eBay & Auction Selling
What is EBay & Auction Selling?
This is the selling, or reselling of products via a virtual marketplace like Amazon, eBay, or Craiglist.
Reliability is a key issue in if you wish to employ this method. You must be sure of the person you’re getting your product from, and must be sure of the person you’re selling your product too. There are many scam sites, and scammers out there. Do a little research first before engaging in this type of business.
Skills Needed
Merchandising, sales copy-writing, customer service
Work At Home Idea #4: E-Commerce
What is E-Commerce?
Think of your site as a display window of a real store.
E-commerce entails the purchase and sale of goods as well as services through the net by means of an electronic transaction processor. You have the choice to either sell a product or service from your own site, or through an E-commerce store provider.
Think of your site as a display window of a real store. Your products are listed with the pages of your site, and can be purchased through the use of shopping carts provided by a third party merchant account. Payment processing goes through a secure encrypted service which protects the private information of the customer.
Skills Needed
Copy-writing, social networking, Search Engine Optimization ( SEO), web marketing, Pay-Per-Click, merchandising and customer service.
Work At Home Business Idea #5: Arts & Crafts
This is nothing more than just selling products made by you.
Skills Needed
Creativity, sales, e-commerce, web marketing, customer service.
Work At Home Business Idea#6: Internet Research Business
Internet Research Business is the handling of onlineresearchforcompanies, law firms and various small businesses.
If you want to become an Internet researcher you should be good at locating, sifting, and organizing, massive amounts of information in a short period of time.
Skills Needed
Librarian-style research skills, social networking, website marketing, organizational skills and customer service.
Work At Home Idea #7: Freelance & Consulting Services
Freelance/Consulting services is the offering of skills, and several specific services to a client. Services offered ranges from bookkeeping, copy writing, design, to business development.
This si the most common of all work at home jobs. The key to success in this line of work is your contact list, and understanding of how this process works.
Skills Needed
Sales, customer service, trade-specific knowledge.
Work At Home Idea #8: E-Zine & Email Marketing
E-Zine/Email marketing is the method of using highly targeted niche emails/newsletters to your subscribers. The purpose of this is to drive traffic to sites offering services and products related to your targeted market. The content of your email/newsletter can be interviews, articles, and even contests, which can push your reader to make a sale.
Another purpose of this model is brand awareness and building a relationship with your contact list.
Skills Needed
Copy-writing, email marketing, list building, article writing
Work At Home Business Idea #9: Coaching
What is Coaching?
Professional coaches operate with individuals as well as targeted sectors in order to assist their clients recognize in addition to achieving objectives,acquire knowledge, and also conquer personal and professional problems. Professionalcoachingisjoining upwithhis or her clienteleonathought-provoking andimaginativeprocedurewhichcan inspirethemtotake full advantage oftheirpersonalandprofessionalpotential.
Professional coaches charge by session. These sessions can be in the form of seminars, tele-classes, motivational speaking, and one on one coaching though phone.
Skills Needed
Website marketing, blogging, social networking, strong people skills, industry specific knowledge and customer service.
Work At Home Business Idea #10: VA (Virtual Assistant)
Being a virtual assistant, your main job is to provide business and administration support to other businesses. You become an extension of your clients business, and tasks can vary depending on the need of your employer.
This is the fastest growing of all the work at home business idea I presented. Although a bit tedious compared to others, being a VA can land you a much higher hourly salary compared to that of a traditional employee.
Skills Needed
Customer service, organizational skills, telephone skills, word, excell, general business administration skills, some website marketing, social networking
I do hope these 10 tips will help you figure out what home business to consider. Just remember that there are no get rich easy methods. If you want real financial freedom, you need to put in a little elbow grease.
I would love to hear you! Do send me a message through Facebook, Twitter, or visit my blog AlovaMedia, and speak your mind.
Till next time,
Sasha
What is:
-SEO
-Link Building
-Article Writing
-Copywriting
-Social Networking
-Social Bookmarking
Related Creative Home Designs Articles
Home Staging & Selling ? Exploring Shangri-la Expectations
What is your favorite moment when you arrive at a destination for vacation? Is it the calm and refreshing feeling of being welcomed into the thoughtfully-appointed hotel lobby? Surrounded by warm colors and manicured greenery, are you lured into relaxing? Possibly it is the mere inhalation of the sweet-smelling air from a clean room? Perhaps it is the attention to details which you casually note. Somehow, you felt embraced by the overall wonderful feelings of your first impressions and you relaxed into your own private Shangri-La.
Isn’t this how we all want to happily relax after our day is completed?
Each one of us pretty much has the same desires and needs when it comes to the relaxing feelings we crave while living in the place we call…Home.
When we are looking to purchase a new home, we search and hope to find that perfect opportunity to discover our new Shangri-La.
So here is the dilemma. How do you activate your home’s Shangri-La to welcome new owners?
Because we all have different tastes and styles of living, it is often a challenge to envision our personal home in a different light. Home Staging professionals have the discerning eye which benefits every home seller. Staging will help guide your potential buyer to the ‘I can see myself and family living here’ feeling which every home-buyer is seeking.
Ahhh….this is where the magic begins. HOME STAGING. A professional Home Stager has the creativity needed to bring out the personality of a home. Stagers are a homeowner’s ally because they want to help you create more home value and improve your selling position. These talented professionals will fashion more universal and inviting spaces within your home! (Pssst…and by you trusting the professional’s direction on recommended improvements, your home will more likely display the necessary appeal to attract serious potential buyers!)
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It is imperative to think about the impact of HGTV on our lives. Home buyers today have much higher expectations than in the past! The fabulous and creative home programs have shown us in less than 30 minutes, how to identify and organize cleaner spaces, increase curb appeal, redecorate using your grandmother’s vintage china….the shows are endless. They are fun and intriguing to watch aren’t they? The general public has changed and improved their knowledge when it comes to expectations of home living.
So what does this change of viewpoint mean for the home SELLER? You can no longer be complacent when you are competing in today’s real estate market. It’s SHOW TIME!
Yes, you read that correctly. It is a fierce competition out there in the home seller’s market and you need to be prepared to run in this race if you want to reach the finish line faster. Hiring the expertise of a professional Home Stager in your area will more than pay for itself when your home sells. 90% of buyers can not easily picture themselves living in your home. They need help to visualize your home as their Shangri-La. There is no question as to what the smart seller must do – Hire a Home Stager!
There are many, many small details which make a huge difference when preparing your home to sell. That pile of old papers and magazines in the bedroom corner, which is barely noticed by you, becomes a stand-out distraction to a potential buyer when they walk through your home. Perhaps too many framed photos of the children growing up can unintentionally cause the buyer to feel as though they are invading your family’s sanctuary. It can be a challenge for many prospective buyers to picture themselves living their Shangri-La in your most private rooms and spaces. There are countless benefits to you when hiring a professional Home Stager. They can assist not only with the most important details of preparing a home for sale, they will also provide great suggestions for ways to increase your home’s value. When you choose to work with a Home Stager, you will improve your chances of selling your home for more money in your pocket.
Let’s face it, times have changed. The Real Estate marketplace is ever-evolving in many areas and our expectations as homebuyers have reached new levels. Television home shows have increased our awareness and desire to reach for new heights in home design and decor. What should you do if you want to sell your home? Your best choice is to consult with a professional Home Stager and let them help you. You will then have a better advantage over the many other homes on the market in your area. Plus, it is likely you will increase the selling value of your home as well!
Now think back to the inviting feelings at the beginning of this article….smell the freshness of the arranged cut-flowers in the reception lobby, your nerves are calmed by the clean living and sleeping quarters, and your sense of relaxation and general well-being feels good. You cherish these feelings and you want to remain there longer. In fact, you make a vow to return because those nice feelings are ones to remember.
Ah-ha! That’s the result you desire from buyers after staging your home to sell – you want the interested buyers to return and offer a great contract to purchase your home.
Every piece of real estate property can be strategically and creatively enhanced through hiring a professional Home Stager. All properties are unique and want to be noticed…and every Buyer desires to own a piece of Shangri-La.
Related Creative Home Designs Articles
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Expectations, Exploring, Home, Selling, Shangrila, Staging | 
Leave a commentWeb design and graphic designs chennai
Dmax Creative offers high-quality custom website design and development at the most affordable prices. Our package includes 3 unique layout options from which you can choose the final design.
If you are looking to build a simple website for your business, then our standard web package will suite you better. Though every website is custom designed to the client’s specifications, we have given below the standard package to help you get started.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines. We are sure that we’ll list your website on first page in search engine like Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
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A website grade of means that of the hundreds of thousands of websites that have previously been evaluated, our algorithm has calculated that this site scores higher than 3% of them in terms of its marketing effectiveness.
Meta Tags Optimization, Website Validation, Sitemap, URL Submission, Directory Submission, Webmaster Tools, Analytics, Grader, Landing Page, Image Optimization, RSS Feed, Blog, Increasing Inbound links, Email campaign, Bookmarking, Page Rank, Map Submission, PPC Management, Ad words, Exchange Links, Press Release Distribution, Website indexing and tracking, Building Traffic and SEO Performance Report.
Home page + 5 additional pages Creative web design About Us / Corporate Profile Product pages Enquiry / Contact form
Duration: Mininum – 1 Week
1. The websites we design require custom prices when they have requirements that are not included in our standard packages.
2. Not all websites are created equal. Every website varies in size, design complexity, features, programming and functionality. Please let us know your feasibility to take things further.
You Want With Your Home base Business
Do you know what you really want to do for your job?
Some people dream about starting their own business and know what type of business they want to create immediately. Then there are the rest of us…
Knowing we want to have a business is only the first step in starting. Many of us then struggle deciding the type of business we would like to start. We might brain storm the Internet for ideas but no idea seems to be what we really want. Does this sound like something you have gone through at least once in your life?
Actually liking the type of business you choose is the key to success with your home based business venture. Be sure to pick a home business that you’ll enjoy waking up for every morning and can’t wait to come back to day after day. Don’t pick something which you might have trouble being motivated to keep on doing in the future.
Here are a few ideas which can ease the process in the beginning of starting your home based business.
From selling e-books on the Internet, to making soaps for sale at various specialty stores or boutiques, profits are out there to be made by filing the NEED for a specific NICHE. You can literally choose from hundreds of lucrative home business ideas for every type of personality and start up costs desired.
One simple type of business to start is a Franchise based business. Franchises offer a solid money making business which has already been established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company’s goods or services in a particular area.
Franchises usually are a simple pre-packaged money making ideas, but usually call for large start up costs. Many franchises such as McDonalds charge over a million dollars to get in the door. With those type of large start up costs, very few people have that type of money to start their own company.
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Once you have agreed to all of the franchise guidelines, you must follow many different rules and regulations set out by the franchised company prohibiting you from branching out on your own.
For those who want to branch out on their own, you might want to start a home based business which is already a hobby you enjoy. For example, if you are a fitness guru, a home training consultant service just might be the ideal home business for you to start.
Perhaps traveling is your passion and you’d like to start your own home based traveling service or travel agency. Take something that might be a hobby for you and turn that into a creative home based business. Both of the above examples can be successfully run from the comfort of your own home.
When brainstorming new ideas for your future home business, keep in mind any successful endeavor must provide a product or service that others will actually purchase and keep coming back for more. Your home based business will be well on its way to success by satisfying the needs of your target market.
Here are some suggestions for home business ideas that might help you decide on a suitable home based business.
1. Turn your hobby in a lucrative business.
2. Use open markets and flea markets to sell your goods.
3. Sell your crafts and jewelry, soaps or gift baskets.
4. Provide a delivery service for laundry or groceries.
5. Provide a dog walking and kennel vacation service.
6. Pet grooming service and dog sitting.
7. Provide a shuttle service for non-drivers.
8. Creative a service or company for your neighborhood or community.
9. Join a multi-level marketing business.
10. Floral services for hospitals.
11. Vending machine service.
12. Selling video game machines.
13. Making gift baskets for special occasions.
14. Windshield repair service.
15. Business card designer.
16. Website design services.
17. Web hosting services.
18. Pool cleaning service.
19. Translator/typing service for documents.
20. Interior designer and decorator.
21. Gourmet catering service.
22. Cosmetic consultant.
23. Extreme sports enthusiast.
24. Personal fitness trainer.
25. Travel guide.
26. Dating/companion service.
27. Affiliate program marketer.
28. Disaster relief forum.
And the list goes on….
Any home based business has the potential to explode into a profitable business. The demand for your home business niche determines whether or not your business will be slow and steady or heavy hit with clients.
Whether or not your business is slow or thriving, you will have to make the necessary choices in order to keep up with the demand. Make sure you enlist the necessary tools to make your business a profitable one as well as one that keeps you coming back for more day after day.
Office Design Concepts and Needs – What Creative Marketing Agencies Wants
Creative marketing agencies that look to move to new offices or refurbishing their old ones should do so in style. After all they are usually in marketing and looking good plays a big part. Creative agencies should look for an office design company to give them an office that becomes more than just a place of work.
There are plenty of office design companies out there who offer modern, creatively designed offices for marketing companies who want their place of work to have a little more vitality than the norm. The concepts need to reflect the client’s personality, have modern, co-ordinated, quality materials, colours and finishes.
Inside a creative marketing agency many hours of employees’ time is spent discussing creative ideas, developing concepts or meeting with new and or prospective clients. So not only do they need an office space that will impress current and potential clients, they also need an office space where employees can interact easily and in comfort – which is especially important for the marketing industry where creativity is Key!
Some of the many challenges an office design company face during the office design process of a creative marketing agency is to capture the dynamic and flexible nature of working at such an agency, to enhance the creativity and to use it in the office interior design.
Set out to master the creative human side of a marketing agency.
Marketing agencies who nowadays want to have their office designed or have their old one refurbished desperately need office spaces that eliminates barriers to team working, with personal design boards that can be alternated into a client-facing space plus the variety of brain-storming, workshop, presentation and meeting areas.
Creative marketing agencies look for office work desks that can be fully customised to suit the user, by having desks and chairs to fully suit the user’s size and sitting position. In summary, creative agencies want to have office furniture which is completely user-controlled, meaning that the office layout can be adapted totally by employees.
Away from their desks, employees want to enjoy office breakout areas – designed especially to encourage interaction and collaboration. These breakout areas, typically non-working areas, give employees stimulation by being away from their usual environment – ideal for employees such as graphic designers who need to be at their most creative. Similarly, in meeting rooms, glass partitions, light furniture and maximum daylight make meetings feel more relaxed and informal. All these office design aspects are meant to boost creativity.
A creative marketing agency wants complete control over how their office will operate and how it will feel as a place of work. The office need to fit in with the way they want to work. The challenge is in finding an office design company to give you the flexibility and freedom to work the way you wish. Finding an office design company to give you an office you are always proud to show current and prospective clients.
Posted in Creative Home Designs | Agencies, Concepts, Creative, Design, Marketing, Needs, Office, Wants | Leave a commentPart Time Work From Home Jobs in Non-Health Care
Part time jobs for the work from home involving non-medical or non-health care are briefly described. Along with descriptions are required skills, personal attributes and experience. It should be noted that some careers may carry different responsibilities depending on the employment industry and the size of the business or organization.
Accounting Jobs
In accountancy, there are usually two types of accountants, public and management accountants. Public accountants maybe self-employed or may work for a public accounting firm, while management accountants work inside the company as a permanent employee.
Accountants should be able to analyze, interpret facts and figures fast and accurately. Most companies require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, others with a master’s degree like MBA. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are licensed and state regulated. Attesting one’s professional competence is a plus factor.
Computer Programming Jobs
Programmers write, update and maintain instructions called programs or softwares that computers use. They can be applications programmers who write software programs for engineering, business and science, orsystems programmers who maintain the software that controls the computer system operation. In smaller organizations, both types can be performed by the same programmer.
Programmers must be able to think logically and capable of working with concepts. Foremost, they should possess the virtues of persistence and patience, and accuracy even under pressure. A certificated in Computer Programming is an indication of experience and competence. They should continuously update their knowledge in keeping with rapid technology changes.
Designing Jobs
Designers bring a visually creative and pleasing appearance to products. The types include industrial, fashion, floral, graphic andinterior designers. Many designers use sophisticated designing drawing tools and programs. The sometimes supervise production artists or crafts persons.
Imagination and creativity and the ability to communicate ideas, both visually and verbally are qualities of all good designers. Every type of designer has his/her own education or training. For example graphic designers can learn skills in art school or graphic design programs, while an interior designer need to be licensed as regulated.
Jobs as Editors and Writers
Writers create fictions and nonfictions for books, magazines, journals, newsletters, screen, television, and all other kinds of media. They gather information and generate ideas through observation, library research, interviews, practically anywhere and everywhere.
Aside from writing in different genres, there are different kinds of writers: columnists, copywriters, editorial writers, news writers and technical writers. Writers also write in different genres. Freelance writers can be proficient in different genres at the same time. Writers must be able to express ideas clearly and concisely. They are intellectually curious and very self-motivated. Preferred writers are often those with a bachelor’s degree in communication, English and journalism. Usually, technical writers have a degree in their specialized fields or an equivalent technical experience.
Employment Interviewers Jobs
Employment interviewers are also known as human resource or career consultants, and headhunters. They help job seekers find employment and provide employers with qualified staff. They work with job-related information like resumes from job-seekers. They should be good communicators with both employers and job-seekers. They should have enough training and experience in this field.
Paralegal Jobs
Paralegals perform many of the same functions that lawyers do but do them “behind the scenes.” For instance, they help prepare a case for trial, may draft pleadings to be filed in court. They must be able to think logically and communicate effective their findings and opinions, in writing and orally. Aside from their investigative skills and good research abilities, they must have a thorough understanding of legal terminologies.
Employers often prefer those with formal training in a specialized law area while other potential employers may already be satisfied with on-the-job training.
Jobs as Photographers
Photographers can becommercial, editorial, industrial andscientific. The first three take photographs of products, building and do photographs for advertisements and catalogs. Scientific photographers document their images for textbooks, reports and related documentary materials. Another kind of photographer is the photojournalist. He/she records events, places and people for journals, newspapers, and magazines.
They should have a strong imagination and creativity, aside from perfect eyesight, manual and technical expertise. Those who prefer to be self-employed need good business acumen to find clients, and the need to know financial records keeping.
Some professional photographers can manage little formal education. Many learn on the job, like photographers in commercial industry that include fashion.
Public Relations Specialists Jobs
These specialists, often referred to as PR, build and maintain relationships with the public as advocates for business and all kinds of organizations including the government. They help formulate a sound public relations policy.
Public relations specialists or PRs should be organized, able to communicate very well, written and verbal. An excellent preparation would be a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications and journalism. This should be combined with internship or some experience in related areas like sales, finance and marketing.
Real Estate Agents or Brokers Jobs
Real estate agents or brokers help clients in home buying and financing that matches needs and budgets. They help buyers ensure that terms and conditions are clear before the deal is closed.
They enjoy selling, and are personable. They are tactful, have good memory for names, and able to motivate potential buyers with their honesty. Real estate agents and brokers are normally required to be licensed. Some states require a college degree or continuing education through the industry association. They should be up to date with the property and real estate situation, economic and financial.
Receptionists Jobs
Receptionists are found in practically all businesses. They are the first face-to-face contact a visitor sees. They keep a record of callers and perform clerical duties. They are required to be knowledgeable with word processors, emails and other personal computer programs, along with other office equipments.
They should have a pleasant personality, appearance, and voice. Proficiency in typing, telephone etiquette, data entry and other office skills are important.
Teacher Aides Jobs
They help supervise students in the classrooms, field trips, and other students’ related activities. They assist in preparing materials for instruction and may tutor children.
Teacher aides should enjoy working with children and should follow the teacher’s instruction. They are patient and fair in their dealings, they have good writing and verbal skills. Most employers prefer aides with experience working with children. They should at least have a high-school diploma or some college training with teaching exposure.
Travel Agents Jobs
Travel agents make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, sight-seeing tours, car rentals, and other specific activities the client wishes to include in the trip package. They can also suggest destinations and other side-tours.
Travel agents stay up-to-date with information about flights (departures and arrivals), hotel ratings and rates, and so on. They should have some travel experience, be pleasant and confident, and have patience. It’s a plus factor to have a bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism, with some courses in geography and languages. Some home study travel programs are also available. Experienced travel agents are certified by the industry institute.
A lot of improvements over v.1.1. It is 99.99% mob proof. Just some pressure plates I need to remove. Hope you guys like it. Save will be up in a few days. Just want to clean up the surrounding area. If you have an idea you would like implemented but don’t want everyone to know just send me a message on youtube. Original Video: www.youtube.com V.1.1 www.youtube.com Texture Pack: www.planetminecraft.com Piston House World Download: www.megaupload.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Posted in Creative Home Designs | Care, from, Home, Jobs, NonHealth, Part, Time, Work | Leave a commentThe Mudroom – It’s not your parents coat closet!
The Mudroom – it’s not your parents closet!
The mudroom has become an increasingly important space in home design. This space has transitioned over the years from nothing more than a small hallway with a coat closet into a zone that serves multiple needs. I now spend much time thinking about the function of the mudroom zone in our home designs.
Here are a few of the potentially important features of the mudroom zone:
A Bench - Where you can sit down and put on your boots.
Lockers - A place where you can quickly drop off your coat and hat.
Dump Desk - A storage space for dropping off the mail or briefcase.
Powder Room - The mudroom zone is a great place for the powder room because it is a more “discreet” location and convenient on your way in or out of the house.
Laundry Area - The mudroom zone is a great place for the laundry. This space is convenient to the activity areas of the house, but since it is “around the corner” it is a bit more acoustically separated. Hanging storage for the laundry can sometimes double to serve as a coat closet area.
Second Entry - The mudroom zone typically will function as the space you enter from the garage. If the plan layout allows it can also serve as the primary “family entry” from the outdoors. This way the kids don’t have to open the garage door to come inside, or worse yet use the front door.
Windows - The mudroom zone is an important space, so access to natural daylight here is as important as any other room.
Beauty - The mudroom does not to be a “utilitarian” space. It is an important space, so why shouldn’t it look as good as the rest of the house?
The image below illustrates a custom cabinet that provides lockers with bench and cubby storage on one side, and provides hanging storage for the laundry area on the other side.
The image below illustrates a typical new multi-functional mudroom. The bench area is outfitted with hooks above for coat hanging, storage drawers below and cubbies above. A taller cabinet serves as a “dump desk”. A powder room is discreetly located behind the storage area. Durable slate tile flooring is installed. The family entry door is just out of view to the right, also washing the mudroom with natural light. A separate stairway leads to a “private getaway” located above the garage. You can also see the kitchen is conveniently located around the corner.
simple, unique and creative house plans
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