4 Homes That Feature Green Spaces Inside, With Courtyards & Terrariums

These four beautiful homes each feature a different take on an interior garden space. One has a border of greenery along its lounge, which includes a vertical planting wall and hanging vines; a second border flourishes behind the dining room too, so that living green decor can be enjoyed throughout the entire open plan living space. The second home has a courtyard garden in the entryway that runs into the living room, where a tree grows up to the second floor. Number three is a massive luxury home with low level planting, and our last stop is a visualisation of an apartment with a dominant terrarium room at its very core.

Visualizer: Trần Vấn  

Kicking off with a lush courtyard design in home number one, vines rain down from a second storey, above a border of lawn and mature plants.

The adjacent lounge setup is stony in colour, with natural wooden accents. The lounge stands open to a dining area that runs around to the kitchen in an L-shaped layout.

Orange dining chairs contrast warmly against another bed of greenery that grows against a textured wall.

A tree grows directly out of the indoor plant bed, next to patio slabs where a garden chair can be placed below the boughs.

Plants bed down in concrete planters under the tree, whilst smaller specimens grow directly from the grass. The soft sections of grey sofa upholstery echo the linear design of the patio slabs.

Extruded planks provide a layered backdrop for the planting.

Natural light streams down through the lightwell of the courtyard, causing highlights and shadows over the undulating panels.

A bank of wine storage units glow from the side of the dining room, throwing light over timber flooring. Plants reach up toward natural light from an overhead window. A barrel basin fills the corner of the plant bed.

A modern chandelier stretches out over the wooden dining table. Chrome light shades hang along a breakfast bar in the adjacent walnut kitchen.

Beneath the unique kitchen pendant lights, the central kitchen island is wrapped with smooth white marble. Orange kitchen bar stools match the set of six orange chairs in the dining area.

The opposite side of the kitchen island is equipped with a row of cabinets underneath. A glass fruit bowl dresses the countertop.

The small dining room courtyard continues up to the side of the kitchen, which visually connects the two areas.

Visualizer: Tung Le  

Moving on to home interior number two, the walls have been given a jade green treatment to honor the other green jewel in the room that is a majestic courtyard garden. A unique floor lamp stands by a tan sofa that complements the natural wood tone in the room. A grey modern accent chair teamed with a small side table has been angled to observe the beauty of the indoor garden. See more modern accent chairs.

Trellis-like pattern covers the wall behind the interior garden.

Above a set of nesting coffee tables, a wood ceiling fan creates a cool breeze. A large fish tank occupies the space next to the tan sofa, bringing in its own splash of greenery.

A decorative shoal of fish swim by on the dining room wall.

Wood accents warm a white bathroom.

Visualizer: Sunil Patil & Associates  

Home number three is shaped by the sections of a lengthy modern sofa design.

A walkway between the sofa sections gives exit to a garden.

Wooden artwork towers up through the centre of the house. A small courtyard keeps a low profile on the ground floor.

A contemplation bench sits by the side of the courtyard. The leg supports of the bench slot into a cement frame that contains a bed of pebbles.

The pebble courtyard creates the perfect vista for the dining area. The lights here are Tom Dixon Beat style pendant lights.

Visualizer: Lukasz Brzozowski  

Our last tour is a visualisation that explores two colourways for the same interior space – one very dark, and one ethereally light.

Shelf lighting provides dramatic effect in the black living room option, shining from recessed nooks that appear as crude cutaways in a traditional decoratively panelled wall. Deep blue sofas appear moody in the dark setting. A dominant terrarium room forms a bold core in the open plan space.

In an alternative visualisation, the blue velvety sofas take on a whole new character when the room is transformed into a predominantly white space.

In this white living room option, the recessed shelving cubbies are left as dark cutaway features inside a white boiserie wall. The kitchen cabinets at the back of the room remain black to contrast with the light surroundings.

Natural light pours down into the cuboid terrarium. Between the living room and the bedroom, a dividing wall of glass doors have black framework that mimics the terrarium outline.

A gnarled tree trunk twists toward the skylight, pushing up from a rocky bed. Smaller plants sprout at its roots.

Natural timber sets a herringbone pattern across the floor of the living room, whilst spongy mosses carpet the terrarium block.

The old tree stands like an artifact in its glass case. Sofas in the lounge have been arranged to seat an audience at the spectacle.

The massive display acts as a picturesque room divider, obscuring the kitchen diner from connecting directly with the lounge.

In the kitchen diner, the indoor garden creates an al fresco effect at the dinner table.

Recommended Reading:  51 Captivating Courtyard Designs That Make Us Go Wow

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from Interior Design Ideas http://www.home-designing.com/4-homes-that-feature-green-spaces-inside-with-courtyards-terrariums

What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels?

Solar panels are a great way of making our homes more eco-friendly and sustainable. They can generate clean energy to cut down on bills and reduce our overall carbon footprint, but do you need a particular type of roof to install solar panels?

In this article, we’re looking at what factors might make some roofs more suitable than others for effective solar panel installation.

Key factors

There are some notable key factors which will influence your suitability for solar panels. These include:

• Ownership of the roof
• The direction your roof faces
• Age of the roof
• Material of the roof
• Roof size

More factors will likely come into play, but for the most part, these are the most decisive and easiest to consider. Let’s look at how these might affect your decision.

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Ownership

If you’re in a rental property, you’ll need to obtain the owner’s permission before making significant structural changes — such as the addition of solar panels. If you’re the sole owner of the roof, then you’re okay to proceed.

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Roof orientation

In the UK, a south-facing roof is a prime candidate for solar panels, as it will maximise the amount of solar energy you can generate. If your roof is north facing, then solar panels won’t be worth installing — although ground-mounted options could provide an alternative.

If your roof is east or west facing, then you’ll still be able to benefit from the power of solar panels. In fact, east/west-facing solar panels provide a better distribution of energy overall. This is because, when most people install south-facing panels, demand peaks at around midday and the grid can find it difficult to cope. By opting for east/west-facing panels, you can still generate an impressive amount of energy while also reducing demand on the grid.

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Age of the roof

When planning your panel installation, you need to think about the age and lifespan of your roof. Ideally, you’ll want to install your panels on a roof that’s in good condition and has more than a couple of decades’ life left to give. It might be that you’ll need to make sweeping repairs or even a full replacement if you have an older, traditional roofing system — such as slate or asphalt.

If you have a metal roof, then you’re already in a strong position. With their long-lasting lifespan and durability, a metal roof will likely outlast your solar panels.

This is a key element to think about if you’re planning to build a new roof alongside your solar array; you’ll want to install a roofing system that will outlive your panels. Metal roofing is an ideal choice for this type of installation.

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Size of the roof

The bigger your roof, the more panels you can install and the more energy you can produce. In domestic terms, the roof space of a small terraced house is definitely on the small side, and likely won’t be worth having panels installed. A three-bed semi-detached house, however, is a much healthier proposition.

When you think of size, you also need to factor in the ease of installation. Standing seam metal roofs offer a clean and easy installation surface for solar panels, without needing to drill any holes. This allows you to maximise space and create an unimpeded installation that draws as much energy as your roof size allows.

Finally, you’ll also need to take into account any obstacles on the roof — chimneys, vents etc. — as well as ensuring you have enough internal space for the string inverter.

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Material of the roof

While solar panels can be installed on a range of roofing materials, an ideal choice would be a standing seam metal roof. As mentioned above, age and condition of the roof is important and this is intrinsically linked with the material. A metal roof is a sturdy and efficient platform for solar panels, and one that will last for many years to come without needing to be repaired or replaced.

Standing seam roofs also make it easy to install solar panels without any kind of restructuring or additional work, and some solar panel installers have dedicated metal roofing rails to accommodate simple installation on these kinds of roofs. If you have a metal roof — or are thinking of installing one — it’s the ideal companion for solar panels.

The post What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels? appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/what-is-the-best-type-of-roof-for-solar-panels/

Minimalist Modern Home With A Hint Of Mondrian Flair

Primary colours and strong black lines, reminiscent of De Stijl/Mondrian style, shape this modern home interior. The bold scheme fills the living room of a 88.1 square metre apartment in Minsk, Belarus, visualised by Zrobym Architects. The master bedroom decor shows the same strong black linework, but in this space colour has been drained out to leave a monochrome aesthetic. The bathroom and shower room are visions of black and white too, but we see a return of some colour when we find the kids’ bedroom. In here, navy, yellow and a blush toned pink accentuate a predominantly white scheme for a fresh and playful look.

Blue, yellow and red tones colour the black and white backdrop in the modern living room, which gives it the De Stijl/Mondrian flavour. A monochrome rug stripes the floor beneath ultra modern accent chairs. A semi-circular upholstered window seat provides alternative seating.

The chair upholstery is of a tone toward the lighter end of the red spectrum, which is complemented by a pink tube light in the home entryway. The pink light transfers colour onto glossy white wall and floor tiles.

Black trunking holds electrical wiring in a cubist layout on the ceiling, tracing the journey to a cross shaped pendant. A bar light is suspended from the electric track, over the peninsula of an inconspicuous kitchen.

The square black legs of the modern coffee table match the ceiling design.

A round flush fitting ceiling light is installed beside the first pendant, creating an ‘x o’ formation; like noughts & crosses, or a text representation of a kiss & hug.

Minimalist choices shape the room. A simplistic media unit underlines a wall hung tv against a plain white wall. A basic black floor lamp with no shade provides task lighting by a chair.

The home entryway has a tall mirror by the door, which reflects the pink glow of the tube light, and plays with the illusion of space. Black wall hooks have been mounted to accept coats. A soft upholstered stool provides a comfy spot on which to sit and deal with shoes.

Three blue box stools sit at the kitchen peninsula behind the lounge area. White cabinets conceal the kitchen appliances. A yellow storage volume stands out at one side.

Curtains pull closed across a closet in the hallway, which has chests of drawers installed in the base to accompany the usual hanging rails.

Solid white closet doors with black bar handles occupy one side of the connecting hallway, whilst obscure glass doors and panels run the length of the opposite side.

One of those glass doors leads into the master bedroom. All of the colour has been drained from the modern decor in this space; black, white a grey provide crisp contrast.

The minimalist bedroom is set over a split level floor, with the higher floor utilised as a vanity area and ensuite bathroom. A bespoke bed bridges the two levels, with the base of the headboard cut short to accommodate the change in floor height.

The raised vanity area consists of a makeup table under the window, and an adjacent wash basin.

The ensuite bathroom runs directly off the vanity area, though a privacy curtain can be drawn across to create a more solid divide. Mirrored tiles cover the splash zone around the bathtub, and add a shiny decadent touch. The reflection in the tiles doubles up the effect of a modern chandelier.

A monochrome geometric floor runner adds bold panache to the vanity area.

A large vanity mirror equips the basin, and shines light from around its circular edge. Natural light and nature views come into the bedroom via a tall window. A balcony awaits beyond the glass, which runs on as the living room balcony too.

Moving on to the kids’ bedroom, we find a playful decor scheme. Kids’ beds are coloured with flashes of primary yellow inside white built-in bunks.

Double workspaces occupy the window area of the kids’ room, with bookshelves built into each side. The playful kids chair seen here is the Magis puppy.

More bookshelves are built into a recess by a glass door. This library area has been painted completely grey over the walls, shelves and ceiling to define it as a separate zone. On the other side of the grey zone there is a set of climbing bars that continue across the ceiling – so the kids can climb up, swing across and grab a book!

A blush colour sofa bed is teamed with a coral side table and a white wall sconce to make a small lounge area in the kids’ room.

The wardrobe is a copy of the hallway closet, with chests of drawers in the base and a curtain ‘door’.

A round rug softens the look and feel of a hard glossy white floor.

The shower room sees a return of thick black linework around the shower screen, and in black fittings.

Another cross shaped light fixture appears in the white bathroom.

The backsplash behind the basin is a frosted white design, which features a clear mirrored area with a diffused edge.

In the shower, a black linear toiletries holder conceals a towel hook underneath.

Home plan revealing the curved outline of the home and balcony areas.

Furnished floor plan.

Recommended Reading: Mondrian inspired interior design

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from Interior Design Ideas http://www.home-designing.com/minimalist-modern-home-with-a-hint-of-mondrian-flair