Some houses are just . . . mean. Sure, your home design looks great, but there may be so many roadblocks to controlling the HVAC in the house, you wonder if you must choose between an aesthetically pleasing room, or something that’s comfortable. Truth is, you can obviously get the best of both worlds, but it can be challenging (unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money on monthly energy bills).
Continue reading Design a Home that Stays Comfortable Year-Round
With the onset of warmer (read: hot) weather, everyone wants to be outside, and that includes doing more outdoor entertaining. Adding a feature like a pergola might be something you want to consider, if you have a nice, spacious backyard or garden. A pergola is a structure built in an outdoor space, which comprises vertical posts that support a cross-beam roof grid, allowing it to be open but also provide a little bit of shade, depending on the roof covering you choose.
A pergola adds a lovely, comfortable passage and a place to sit and spend time, even during summer, as there will be a balance of sunlight and shade. There are many designs for pergola covers and sun shades (which provide complete sun protection). When designing outdoor spaces, understanding the differences in structure and purpose between a pergola vs arbor can help create the perfect garden aesthetic. Let’s look at a few of the more popular pergola cover styles.
Continue reading Summer Backyard Upgrades: Consider Adding a Pergola