Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Small-Space Home Offices

from: http://www.bhg.com

Hoover: Having a home office nowadays is becoming a necessity. Spare bedrooms aren't the only spaces that make great home offices. A closet, a corner, a hallway, or even the kitchen island can become the perfect work area both in small or big spaces.

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Small But Efficient

Simplicity is key in small spaces. A cozy nook like this needs only the essentials. This built-indesk has one large drawer for files and smallerdrawers for office supplies. Semicustomcabinetry options are an affordable way to get exactly what you want. Consult your local cabinetry store or home center to explore design options. Or measure your nook and hunt down a ready-made desk that will fit your space.

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Rearranged Furniture

Move your sofa to the center of your living room or family and use the space behind it as a home office. An elegant glass-top desk and narrow credenza occupy the space behind the sofa. With this arrangement, if your TV is centered in front of your sofa, your desk will be too, providing entertainment while you work.

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Along the Wall

A wall of solid shelves can sometimes dominate a room, so change it up a bit by adding a desk between shelving units, or in this case, between a bookcase and armoire. To unify the elements and achieve the look of a built-in, keep everything the same color.

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Kitchen Niche

Pay bills and cook a casserole without ever leaving the kitchen. All this is possible with adesk conveniently located in a kitchen nook. Let the spaces flow into one another by using the same material and hardware for yourcabinetry. Here, a simple surface extension provides the perfect amount of space for a single workstation in the heart of your home.

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Smooth Transition

Utilize spare kitchen space by adding adjustable wire shelving to bare walls. Create a seamless transition by continuing the kitchencolor scheme in the underdesk storage area.

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Island Hideaway

Add office space to the list of many functions a kitchen island provides. A drop-leaf table slides out from under this island, an ideal spot for doing homework, using a laptop, or paying bills. Storage drawers above the table are handy for storing bills, paper, pens, stamps, and more. When not in use, the table slides back into the island and is concealed behindcabinet doors that match the island's style.

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Rethink Your Space

Put an extra closet to use by converting it into a clever and inexpensive workstation. Remove the doors and any extra shelving, paint the interior of the closet, and simply add a desk. To polish off the new nook, install baseboards to match the rest of the room and add task lighting, like these pendant lamps, to illuminate the space.

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From Nook to Office

The spare bedroom shouldn't be just for guests. Make the most of a seldom-used space by adding a home office. A sleek, narrow deskand simple furniture increases its functionality without being too distracting. When guests arrive, this room can accommodate work and relaxation in a stylish setting.

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Space with a View

Turn your window area into a small office. Install a built-in desk and shelves under a large window for a work area with a view. Here, a wooden ledge mounted under the windowsill serves as a countertop, supported by a shelving unit that ties into its surroundings.

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All-in-One Space

With spaces to work, sleep, and relax, there's hardly a reason to leave this master suite. Thisdesk is tucked into the short hall between the master bath and bedroom. The stained pineflooring ties the office space to the other areas of the master suite.

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Hallway Hideout

Hallways provide lots of opportunities for multifunctional spaces. This desk is tucked into the end of an upstairs hallway. The windowabove the built-in desk provides a nice view of the neighborhood. The library ladder makes it easy to reach stored books and office supplies.

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Double Take

A two-sided desk doubles the workspace, but not the used floor space. This desk is assembled from an unfinished bookcase and a laminate-covered piece of medium-density fiberboard structured by two pairs of legs. The whole structure is just 5 feet long.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Smart Ideas for Small Spaces

from http://www.bhg.com

Hoover: here are some design tips for small spaces, awkward angles, room colors and storage solutions for your home.

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Fabulous Hang-Ups

Turn a closet or nook into a work zone. In this space, drapery panels slide along a curtain rod to make it easy to conceal the clutter. Even without an architectural niche or bay, you can duplicate this effect by curtaining off an area across the width of a room -- just hang thedrapes from a rod or thin wire suspended from the ceiling.

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Distinctive Details

Add storage as well as architectural heft with a built-in. Incorporating a recessed daybed into this cabinet's design maximized limited floor space and eliminated the need to buy a sofa. Cushions covered with fabric remnants make this alcove cushy and inviting.

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Hidden Assets

Don't let the awkward angles of a dormerdissuade you from taking advantage of square footage -- the light-filled alcoves are often the perfect spot to squeeze in a desk. Two 1 x 4s painted white and mounted on shelving brackets create a handy work zone in this second-story cubby. Built-in benches boost the cozy quotient and allow the space to double as a dining table for two.

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Step It Up

Reclaim wasted space under a staircase as storage. Wide-trim molding turns these staggered shelves into a strong architectural feature. Baskets add eye-pleasing texture as they keep linens and other kitchen odds and ends corralled.

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Nesting Instincts

Nesting tables are perfect for squeezing a lot of storage out of minimum space. Pull out the lower table when you need an extra surface for holding drinks or reading material, then tuck it away when you're done. Here, a stylishfabric-covered bin keeps DVDs accessible but contained.

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Landing Zone

Transform the often-unused space at the top of the stairs into a destination. Built-in bench seating capitalizes on the sunny window on this second-floor landing, creating a cozy reading retreat. Flip-up lids under the bench cushions provide access to hidden storage.

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Ceiling Savvy

Most people slap a coat of white paint onto their ceiling and call it quits, but creative use of the space can reap room-enlarging results. A tray ceiling lined with beaded board takes this room to new heights.

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Hanging Around

Storage in a play area is a must, and a gridwall unit is a simple way to keep things off the floor but in plain sight. Here, colorful soft-sided bins are secured to the wall between the grid's crossbars, providing instant storage for toys and books. Matching bins below handle the toy overflow.

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Art Imitating Life

Home offices are natural candidates for multifunctional spaces. This dining room was too small for entertaining, so it was converted into an artist's garret, complete with a draftingtable and a rolling set of drawers. To expand the room's usefulness, the built-ins hold special-occasion dishes, and extra floor space is home to a vintage bike that doubles as sculptural art.

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Keep It Airy

Get big style from a small space through careful design. This kitchen is just 9 feet square, yet careful choices resulted in both beauty and function. Tall cabinets stretch to the ceiling in a mixture of light woods and reflective stainless steel that keeps the space clean and open.

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Look Under the Bed

This bedroom uses the space under the bed forstorage. But rather than allowing that space to become a tangle of stuff, well-made drawerskeep things neat.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tilt and Turn Windows

Hoover: While on a recent trip, we were amazed at the windows in our hotel that open two ways. You can tilt it or turn it outwards using the same handle. It was even double glazed for noise reduction. Read on.

from: http://www.innotech-windows.com and http://www.swissshade.com

Tilt + Turn Windows achieve exceptional energy efficiency, air tightness, water resistance and sound control. Innovative European style Tilt + Turn Windows also provide excellent draft free ventilation and high levels of security. They are also easy to operate and are conveniently easy to clean.

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Closed Position

A multi point locking mechanism with up to 7 cam locks for the (A 3) burglarproof security level keeps the sash tightly locked into it's frame. Wind & Rain resitance: tested and certified for loads of up to 25 lb per sq.ft and short loads (7 sec.) of up to 63 lb per sq.ft. This translates to 100 mi/hr respectively 145 mi/hr wind.

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Tilt Position

Tilted inwards on top for optimal, draft-free ventilation. This opening position is still secured against intruders, leaving you and your property safely protected. You can leave the windows tilted open even in rain, (tilted approximately 150 mm (5.9") inwards).
For Ventilation: A traditional open window often causes a draft due to the direct path of the outside wind into the room. With a turn & tilt window, the outside air is channeled through the sides of the window, while hotter air escapes through the top. This process allows efficient air circulation without the draft.

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Turn Position

Turn completely open, left or right, for egress/regress or for easy claning. Depending on the position of the window in relationship to the the inside wall, they can be opened up to 180 degree, completely against the inside wall.
For Ease of Cleaning: By swinging the window inward into the room, a homeowner can easily and safely clean both glass surfaces.