Three Tips for Choosing a Cupola for Your Home

Indoor Tips, Outdoor Tips, Helpful Tips

Cupolas have been decorating the big forts to churches, homes in high tech societies, town hall buildings, and barns for many centuries. A cupola is an architectural addition to the home installed at the rooftop. It is an enclosed dome-shaped structure with openings.

Earlier, the cupola was installed for ventilation and illumination of the area beneath it. However, as the time passes, it also starts serving decorative purposes. Nowadays, cupolas are more famous for its artistic looks than functional use. A large variety of shapes and designs of cupola are out in the market, so many so that one can get confused easily which one will suit best for his or her home.

Choosing the right size and shape of the cupola is very important because if you don’t get right, then cupola might not serve the desired purpose. Therefore, we have laid down the three tips which you can follow for choosing cupola for your home.

Here are the tips:

Size

Too large or too small cupola, in either way, can disturb the looks of home. Therefore, choosing the right size of the cupola is very important. The general guideline to choose the size of the base of the cupola is that it should be minimum one inch of the cupola to every one foot of the unbroken roofline. This thumb rule holds good for a barn and small structures.

For multi-story building, the base of cupola should be 1.5 inches of cupola per foot of the unbroken roofline. However, if your rooftop is large, you can double the width of the cupola base for every foot of the uninterrupted roofline. Also, there is no hard and fast rule of installing one cupola for the rooftop. You can also choose the two smaller cupolas than one large cupola.

Shape

The shape of cupola has a great impact on its visual effects. Most popular shapes of cupola include round, hexagonal, square, and octagonal. Cupola has three parts- Base, Mid-section, and Roof.

Base and mid-section of the cupola generally follow the same shape pattern. However, the design of the roof of the cupola can vary a bit. It can be in the shape of a dome, pyramid, or bell. Louvers or glass windows make the mid-section of the cupola. It allows light and air to pass to the area beneath it.

Material

Cupolas are exposed directly to the harsh climatic conditions. You do not want to climb up to the rooftop for repairing the cupola every now and then. Therefore, choosing a right material of cupola is very necessary. Fortunately, you have a lot of options available to choose from. Cupola made of metal, vinyl, marble, and wood is the most popular one.

Metal Cupolas

Cupola made of aluminum and copper looks very attractive. Copper cupola looks just elegant, traditional, and authentic. It is strong, durable, and requires little maintenance, and lasts for years. Aluminum cupolas also have the same properties and can be polished to any desired color.

Vinyl Cupolas

Vinyl cupola gives the metallic finish but not made of the metals. It is impervious to water and can easily withstand harsh weather easily. It does not need any maintenance work and less expensive than metal cupola.

Wood Cupolas      

Nothing can replace the natural charm and finishing of the wood cupola. It is made of cedar wood and needs to be treated with chemical solutions to make it water resistant and pest resistant. Wood cupola requires little maintenance and care, but its charming looks compensate for that.

Marble Cupolas       

These are made of marble and almost maintenance free and last for a lifetime. Marble cupolas are the perfect choice for adding an element of elegance to your rooftop.

These are the three tips for choosing right cupola for your home.

The Bottom Line

The cupola is the center of attraction of the rooftop. It can make or break the looks of home. And once installed, lasts for years. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the right cupola for your home.

How to Choose the Right Upholstery Fabric for Your Home

Indoor Tips

Kravet Upholstery Fabrics

The brand name ‘Kravet’ is a household name almost everywhere. This hundred-year-old company offers a wide range of top-quality fabrics, which will suit both adults and children. You can also find trimmings, and diverse types of interior decoration items such as cushioning materials for all sorts of furniture, carpets, wall coverings, etc. The drapery hardware items are also very much popular. The rich finished look is the special trait of this brand fabric, and that is why there is a whole great rush for the same. All of the different varieties of Kravet upholstery fabrics will be available at the professionally managed online stores run by enthusiastic individuals.

As regards the shopping of Kravet upholstery fabric, if your vote is for the traditional stores or the typical vendors who usually handle only brands, then, you will have to keep your fingers crossed. Because, chances are very rare that you will find the fitting fabric, which will go well with your specific need. On the other hand, it’s practically prudent to buy the same through the web portals of fabric agencies run by private individuals. Here, you will get the luxury of choice. You will be able to shop by brand name, color, and style. Above all, you will get personal attention. This is the reason why the bulk of the present-generation opts for such online sites, especially, for buying popular fabrics like the Kravet upholstery fabric.

Broad Range at One’s Disposal

The availability of various types of material makes the brand even more accepted. Kravet upholstery fabric comes in a variety of materials such as rayon, poly rayon, linen, cotton, etc. You can find a range of patterns from which you can select the most suitable ones for your specific need. Again, you can see a wide range of designs such as geometric, floral, ethnic, foliage, leaves, medallion, paisley, embroidered, and so many other types. You can see the same broad spectrum as far as the shades also are concerned. The available color choices include aqua, beige, blue, brown, green, metallic, red, silver, yellow, and many more. You can visit the website of a leading seller to get a comprehensive idea as regards the complete details and availability of Kravet upholstery fabric. However, you must make sure that the seller is professional in dealings, to the core.

How to Choose the Right Upholstery Fabric for Your Home?

All furniture items need a fresh look after some years, because, there will be wear and tear due to the constant use. Only by proper reupholstering, one will be able to make them fresh again. Of course, the practical requirements must be the leading factor. You must consider the following points.

Durability: The fabric must be hard-wearing; no damage must occur to the fabric, even when somebody (for instance, your children or pets) does some mischief on it. There are some primary points that you must note here. Printed fabric will not be that much tough as the woven ones. Similarly, the thread counts must be higher and the weaving must be firm; this means that there must be more threads.

Plush Look:  The furniture items that you place in the main areas such as the living room, bedrooms, and dining room must have a luxurious luster. Hence, you must choose the fabric accordingly. The design and the overall style must match the other settings.

Color: Fabric color should go well with the other items that stay within the space.

Pricing: The pricing must not be exorbitant.

Kravet Upholstery Fabric and Online Discount Fabric Store

If you can do a short search using the internet, you will come across the websites of the various online discount fabric stores who sell Kravet upholstery fabric. There will be so many, and so you must be careful while selecting one. It’s always better to deal with a privately managed agency, because, you will get good personal attention. Even so, there is a close practical connection between Kravet upholstery fabric and online discount fabric stores. It is possible to get all models of Kravet upholstery, at discounted rates from such online portals.

Decorative Lanterns to Enhance the Beauty at Outdoors

Outdoor Tips

Among new generation decorative lighting accessories, the use of lanterns is all the rage among homeowners for illumining their outdoor and indoor. Most irresistibly, the subtle rustic appearance of lantern has been a glamour symbol for almost all occasions, be it weeding reception, new year party, a romantic candlelight dinner or simply to bring in a relaxing ambiance in your exterior. Available in wide variety of styles, shapes, colors and finishing, the feature oriented lanterns for sale are available online to boast your home during festive or add to year-round charm.

Choosing the Right Set of Lanterns

With increasing popularity of the lighting tool, the industry has been swarmed with infinite range of patterns, whereas being a potential buyer you need to imagine the best matching lanterns for sale while opting for. When it comes to your exterior, you should think right from the top i.e. using lanterns especially designed for cupolas to the entrance compassing staircases, balconies, roof railings, terrace garden to backyard, lawn and so on. There are plenty of functional to simple lantern lighting patterns which can be used as regular illuminating fixture to elaborate the decorative look of your outdoor. Points to consider while buying lanterns include:

Designs: To name a few among the most popular design approaches include Victorian, Moroccan, Asian sets and others. With modernization, nowadays they are designed exclusively to illuminate yards, staircase railings, open terrace, entryway, or cupolas.

Sizes and Shapes: Lanterns for sale are available in comprehensive shapes and designs including rectangular, round, square, cylindrical, octagonal, and oval. Equally, from small to big sizes of lanterns for gateway or patio are widely available.

Materials: Materials used in lanterns are of various types and qualities. Obviously the best bargain is choosing accessories that are having copper finished structure while bronze, nickel or glass finished fireproof items are also good choices. Since the lighting tools to be used mainly for outdoor, consider they’re protected with all necessary feature making them resistive to all weather conditions.

Why Buy Lantern?

Curb Appeal 

A well-lit abode looks inviting, loved and being cared for. Illuminated homes in the neighborhood draw special attention of the people while featured lighting boosts its curb appeal to a great extent. Apart from changing the mood of the ambiance, lanterns for sale illuminate the setting including walkways across the pool, driveways, decks, staircases with their delicate lighting flame and make them appealing. Cupola lantern lighting not only accentuates your astonishing cupola however, keeps the dwelling from looking it shaded, and makes it striking. By changing the colors of the bulbs in different seasons especially during festive times, you can add flair and make it whimsical.

Safety

With a series of great looking lanterns you can ensure safety of your guests, visitors, as well as family members from sudden falling at night with well lit entryways, walkways surrounding the lawn as well as stairs. Equipped with one or more bulbs and led lighting with diffusing features, lanterns for sales are available in all purpose lighting varieties.

Security

Security is a major concern not only for your property, family members as well for visitors to your home. Outdoor lighting tools makes your home and loved ones secure by discouraging burglars to enter into the property, which has become essential nowadays. A great option to have security plus eliminating your electricity bills is to use sensor lighting and timers which get activated or turn on/off on arrival or as per schedule.

Lawn Featuring

For those outfitted with impressive landscapes with water courses, flower beds, mulch as well as flower baskets, and planters on the walkways fenced with rambling vines can wonderfully boost the look of the lovely lawn with various outdoor lighting accessories. No denying, outdoor sculptures, terraced gardens, and lawn water features widen opportunity to boost their magnificence with various lanterns for sale. Equally, with cupola lighting that often appears like a beacon, you can help your guests to spot your farmhouse in countryside which has been prepared for a grand celebration party.

Reasons to Pick Minka Lavery Pendants for Your Home

Helpful Tips

Pendants have somehow conquered the home décor arena in terms of lighting in a remarkable way. These small to large light fixtures can be used just about anywhere in the house. Use of pendant lighting can definitely take your home décor to a new level of design achievement; provided the choice of fixtures is top class – like Minka Lavery pendants.

Consider these reasons to select Minka Lavery pendants for your home.

The Choice of Different Sizes

Minka Lavery pendants are available in different sizes – mini, medium, and large. Depending on the dimensions of a room, the use of a light fixture can differ from its traditional placement. For example, for a small dining room, a chandelier is simply not the right light fixture. But a large or medium pendant can fit into the place really well. The same applies to a house with low ceilings. In such houses, pendants are ideal to use while chandeliers will simply look out of place. In that case, you can still use different-sized Minka Lavery pendants throughout your house. You can use similar styles for a seamless look or choose different designs but in the same color scheme.

For example, the Nanti series of pendants are available in both medium and mini sizes – making them perfect to use for different settings around the kitchen or the dining room. Similarly, the Raiden series comes in both large and mini sizes.

The mini and medium pendants are also ideal to use in the bathrooms. Providing perfect brightness in the bathrooms is most often challenging for designers. There are different focus areas, the need for task lighting, and the bathroom dimensions to consider. A combination of different sizes of pendants (along with other light fixtures) can offer the optimal lighting solution for bathrooms.

You have a lot of options when choosing pendant lights from Minka Lavery.

The Superb Range of Attractive Designs

You can find a suitable Minka Lavery pendant for your home irrespective of the décor. For contemporary or industrial décors, use the Downtown Edison large pendant to enhance your home with metallic illumination. The mini pendants in the same range can be used in the gallery or to light up a corner. You can then use the Edison range of island pendants to provide perfect lighting in the kitchen and complement the fixtures from the same range in the dining area.

Choose Paradox range of pendants for a more traditional setup. For an elegant but eye-catching light fixture, choose a large pendant from the Clarte range to use over the dining table, in the center of a bedroom, or to highlight a nook in a huge living room.

You can choose Minka Lavery pendants in silver, bronze, and many soft shades. The options for finishes are also quite varied – chrome, iron oxide, brushed nickel, and more. The shades are also available in linen, glass, and other materials. You can even marvel at the diversity of shapes of the Minka Lavery pendants when browsing through the brand’s collection of light fixtures.

One of the best things about Minka Lavery pendants is that the lights do not look bulky – even the large pendants. The clean lines and simple designs used in crafting Minka Lavery pendants make them the perfect light fixtures for adding an elegant touch to any home décor. The designs do not overwhelm a space but rather offer cohesiveness to the décor.

The Promise of Excellent Quality

When you choose Minka Lavery pendants, you actually invest in quality. The materials used in the pendants offer a rich look to the light fixtures. The lights look extravagant but in an elegant manner. There are no ‘excess’ or ‘overtly rich’ attributes attached to Minka Lavery lights.

The quality of pendants is perfect for opulence and leisure but with every bit of comfort. The shades provide the perfect brightness – nor too bright; neither too dim. The etching on glass shades ticks all the quality parameters. The finishes appear smooth, opulent, and gloriously attractive.

Whether you are looking for light fixtures for your new home or plan to redecorate your existing abode; Minka Lavery pendants can add just the right charm and allure to your personal space.

The Benefits of Using Wooden Bar Stools in Your Home

Indoor Tips

Wooden furniture pieces are timeless. It’s almost impossible for a home to exist without at least some kind of wooden furniture or the other. Beyond the sofas and tables in the living room, the beds and headboards in the bedroom, the cabinets in the bathroom etc. these articles can also be found as seating props – especially stools – for kitchens, bars, and the counters in them. Using wooden furniture for such needs has many benefits. Read on to know about a few of them.

Wooden bar stools are long-lasting

One of the biggest advantages of choosing stools and chairs made from timber is that they have a long life and are extremely durable. They are strong and very rarely dent or warp (usually the result of poor quality manufacturing than the wood itself). Whether you have tiny tots who love to play with anything and everything that they can lay their hands on or burlesque members who need sturdy seating, wooden bar stools are your go-to choice.

There exists an immense variety in wood

Wood encompasses a wide variety of timber such as beechwood, bamboo, oak wood, mahogany, cherry, teak, and so on. Each of these has distinct qualities and characters that make them different from one another. For e.g., teak wood tends to be heavy but is very rarely affected by insects or extreme climatic conditions. Bamboo is lighter in weight and color and lends a rustic, close-to-nature feel than many other kinds of timber.

They suit almost all kinds of interior themes

Because there exist so many kinds of timber, wooden bar stools, in their many colors and textures, can fit into almost any kind of home interior theme. The reddish-brown color of cherry or deep brown of oak is a great choice for traditional interiors that need a vintage touch. The lighter-hued beech wood complements contemporary, urbane, and minimalistic homes that are designed with paler colors and subdued textures. Reclaimed wood in any form is a great addition to rustic log cabins and weekend homes.

They can be modified easily

Your home, through time, may undergo remodeling and renovation to meet your needs of the hour. During such a process, it is natural that the furniture in your home too gets an overhaul. Having wooden furniture makes the task easier for you. Rather than discarding the wooden bar stools at home, you can give them a fresh lease of life with minor modifications- applying a fresh coat of polish or color, adding a unique finish, upholstering it with colorful cushions and covers, or simply wrapping it using ropes or threads. Voila! Your brand-new bar stools are ready.

Wooden bar stools offer better value

Quality wooden furniture typically costs more upfront, but last longer and saves you the money otherwise incurred in replacing broken or damaged furniture made from cheaper materials. Such stools, especially when handcrafted, display exceptional durability and hence get passed down from one generation to another (remember your grandma’s rocking chair?) as heirloom pieces. Wooden bar stools are also easier to maintain and need just a quick refresh with a soft microfiber cloth or a wooden polish to stay pristine. Also, wooden bar stools in good condition always fetch good prices upon resale.

They are comfortable to use

Bar stools can be designed in many different ways – with or without backs, armrests, support, or other features. Irrespective of its design, a wooden bar stool is always more comfortable to sit in than a stool made from other materials, including metal. For better seating, you could always add an extra cushion, or choose a design that comes pre-built with soft seating and upholstery.

They add beauty and character

Wood, being a natural material, has a character that enhances interior spaces. Unlike many other materials used to build bar stools, lumber adds a unique touch and warmth that elevate the look and feel of kitchens and bars.

Good quality wooden bar stools are a great investment in any home because they stand the test of time and are valuable. Beautifully crafted bar stools, when chosen carefully, can serve as an attractive focal point and get many conversations started with your friends, neighbors, and others who come visiting.