Outdoor Living

Creating Privacy at Home

June 23, 2020 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Currently, we are all experiencing a little lack of privacy! Your home should be a place of comfort and privacy, a place where you are at ease. Let us consider the layout of your home and some things you can potentially update to add privacy.

Outdoors

Your backyard can be an oasis from the busyness going on inside your home. Backyards are an escape to tranquility when you can’t take that glamorous beach getaway.

Fences are a great solution towards adding privacy in your backyard. Fences are fantastic if you have small children or pets that will be playing in your yard.

Line your yard with bushes, trees, shrubs, etc. Plants will bring life to your yard while incorporating a sense of privacy from any unwanted eyes. Planting can also be very calming and therapeutic!

Outdoor deck curtains allow homeowners to choose when they desire their privacy. These curtains will also provide an aesthetic appeal to your deck. They can provide an opportunity to add color where you did not think was possible. If your deck needs shelter from the sun, curtains or sails can provide some relief from the heat.

Indoors

If you are fighting for privacy in a space, a room divider can be a method for creating privacy. Whether you are blocking off an office from a bedroom or two siblings who share a room together, adding a room divider can be an inexpensive way to add privacy.

Curtains are an easy solution for privacy. You can actually use curtains throughout your home and not just on your windows.

Sometimes the arch design of a doorway makes it difficult to put on an actual door. Barn Doors are great for oddly shaped arches that need a touch of privacy.

Privacy may be an extremely important factor for you in your home. How are you currently creating privacy in your home? Share your thoughts with us!

The Right Tile for Home Exteriors and Patios

March 18, 2020 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Tile is a timeless and beautiful floor and wall covering. It has been being used in homes for centuries and continues to stay a staple in home improvement. Plus, there are hundreds of options available when it comes to shopping for tile. Different constructs of tiles will work best in different environments. However, no atmosphere is more demanding than your home’s exterior. In fact, the outside your home will experience extreme temperature changes and water exposure. These factors can make choosing the right tile a little more challenging. That being said, have no fear. This versatile flooring option can work in almost any environment! If you are looking to tile a patio, walkway, driveway, or anywhere else outside your home, here is what you should know:

Best Tile Option

When it comes to choosing tile for outside, you need a more durable option. While ceramic is excellent, it is not as durable as porcelain. For instance, when you install it over concrete outside, moisture is a considerable concern. Moisture can travel up through the concrete and underneath your tiles; therefore, you need to invest in a polymer-modified mortar to waterproof your concrete. This factor will give you porcelain tiles much longer longevity.

Slip-Proof

When looking for slip-resistant tiles, natural stone is your best bet. This factor makes sense because natural stone already endures nature daily. However, porcelain is still another great option yet, quarried marble, granite, or limestone are all excellent options. Do remember that some of these options will need to be sealed to protect their natural-looking finish. There is no completely slip-proof tile option, though. Remember, just because a type of flooring may be extremely slip-resistant to your bare feet, does not mean it will react the same if you are wearing heels or nonslip resistant shoes!

Grout Reminders

When choosing your outdoor grout, it is best to go with a sanded grout! Your grout lines will be traditionally larger visually with this option. It would help if you also looked into getting a grout sealer to help protect your grout from the harsh outdoor conditions.

Picking tile for outside comes down to its longevity and durability. Natural stone and porcelain are excellent options to explore. Just make sure you do not neglect your grout when preparing to invest in your patio tile or outside tile projects. For more insight on flooring, make sure to subscribe!

Three Weekend Projects to Increase Your Curb Appeal

February 7, 2020 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

In today’s chaotic and busy society, it can be challenging to set aside time for home projects. We avoid starting projects that we cannot finish. However, not all home projects take months to complete. In fact, we put together some easy-to-complete weekend projects. With the right task and a focused mindset, you can spruce up your home simply over the weekend. Here are our top picks to tackle this weekend on your home:

Painting Your Front Door

Your front door’s appearance can make or break your curb appeal. Painting your front door can take a couple of hours, but the bold statement it can make is well worth it. Consider applying primary colors to make a strong statement like blue, yellow, or red. These can really stand out and transform the look of your home.

Build a Fire Pit

This outdoor remedy is cost-friendly and can be very rewarding. Simply add a fire pit to your yard. Dig an area and build a stone pit around it. This cozy area can make your yard feel more welcoming. With a couple of bench seats or chairs, you can turn an empty area in your yard to a summer night hang out for you and your friends and family!

DIY Dutch Door

This project is a great home renovation for families with young pets or children. A Dutch door is a door that is horizontally cut in half. You will need to relocate your hinges and buy another set to secure the top. First, make sure your door is solid wood. Cutting hollow doors can leave unfinished, awkward seam points. Be very accurate with your cut. This project can be great to allow you to keep an eye on your children or pets in a room while they cannot escape.

These simple weekend projects are affordable and time friendly. Try doing some of these this weekend. There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than a fun DIY project in your own home. We would love to hear from you. Comment below what are weekend projects you suggest.

Exterior Stone Siding Options

October 8, 2019 By Broadlume 1 Comment

If you are looking for a more luxurious siding option for your home, consider adding stone. This is more durable than traditional wood or vinyl siding and is quite elegant. There are several different stone sidings to consider adding to your home. Here are the most commonly used and some expectations that come along with them.

Solid Stone Siding

Utilizing solid stone siding is a way to keep your siding the most authentic. This siding is not manufactured or compressed and is delivered in its most legitimate form. The drawback homeowners typically face with this product is its weight. While these stones can create an absolutely stunning appearance, the weight of the rocks can affect the cost of product, labor, and delivery. However, if you are interested in this product, it is an extremely durable and beautiful exterior investment for your home.

Cultured Stone Siding

On the other side of the spectrum is cultured stone siding. This is a much more common option for homeowners due to the manufacturing process, eliminating some of the negative effects of solid stone. You can save money on weight and delivery as well as an installation with this option. These stones are created with cement replicas of stones that are still very durable but significantly lighter.

Polyurethane Faux Stone Panels

Do not let the word “faux” push you away from this look. Polyurethane faux stone paneling comes in very realistic replicas. Though not real stone, this process of composing polyurethane creates a very sturdy and dense mimicking stone. Being much lighter, it is easier to install and less expensive for delivery. These come in panels, which makes installation less costly as well. If you are considering stone, look into this fantastic alternative to create the look at a more affordable cost.

There are many different options to consider when siding your home. Stone is truly an eye-catcher that can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal. If you are considering this option, look into the many different styles, kinds, and variations to see which is best tailored for your home and budget. For more exterior home insight, make sure to subscribe!

Which Driveway Is for You?

September 11, 2019 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Your curb appeal is made up of a complex formula containing many intricate details. Your siding, windows, plants, lawn, and driveway all can influence your home’s exterior. Functionality and aesthetics can both play a significant role in what driveway you choose. Your driveway is the first interaction most people will come in contact with when visiting your home, and not all driveways are created equal. Selecting from some of the many options available may seem like a daunting task at first because most homeowners do not replace their driveways very often. However, when the time comes, you may need to refinish or replace your driveway. Discover the pros and cons of different driveway options so you can best choose a selection that is best suited for you.

Asphalt

PROS

Asphalt is a more durable compound than stamped concrete or gravel. Many homeowners use asphalt in colder regions. This is because it is highly salt resistant, easy to remove snow, and slip-resistant.

CONS

Asphalt is a very common driveway material, and because of its frequency, it has a low curb appeal feel. It is not resistant to oil stains, yet its dark nature can hide some stains. While being durable, when it breaks down, it is no easy task to repair.

Stamped Concrete

PROS

Stamped concrete is very attractive and will help enhance the exterior look of your home. It is very durable as well. By switching from poured concrete to stamped concrete, your driveway will also be oil-resistant. While not as convenient as asphalt, you will still be able to remove snow fairly easily from your driveway.

CONS

If your stamped concrete driveway does crack; however, it is not an easy repair. It is one of the least slip-resistant driveway options as well. Also, to be noted, if you live in an area that treats driveways with salt, it can damage your driveway in the long run.

Gravel

PROS

Gravel will be your most cost-effective route to creating your driveway. It is extremely easy to repair, and you will not have to be concerned with slipping. Also, if you salt your driveway, you should have no concern.

CONS

While salting your driveway is easy, plowing and shoveling will not be. The driveway is one of the least durable options and lowest on curb appeal.

When selecting a driveway material, weigh out the pros and cons. If you are looking to get your driveway done at the most affordable price, gravel is your best option; however, if you are looking to get more durability and longevity from a driveway, consider stamped concrete or asphalt as an alternative method. For more insight on home improvements, make sure to subscribe.

Creating Privacy at Home