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The basic role of curtains has shifted over the years. They are still used in part for their original purposes, privacy, insulation, soundproofing and light control. However, with the advances made in glazing technology, these functions are no longer so important and all window coverings have taken on a more decorative role.

Although the words are often used interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between curtains and drapes. Drapes tend to be more formal, floor length affairs...

It is estimated that buildings, their construction, operation and disposal, account for over 40% of the total energy consumption. This causes the depletion of natural resources and for the production of pollution leading to problems such as global warming and acid rain.

EMBODIED ENERGY
Buildings take energy to construct them. This is called 'embodied' energy, which is all the energy required to extract, manufacture and transport a building's materials as well as that required to co...

Log home designs can be divided in several ways. Understanding log home designs and basic concepts can help you select the design that is best for you. As you are getting involved in the design process, consider these basic concepts as they apply to your design:

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Around the world, homes have signaled to visitors that this region is unique in some way. From the sturdy English Tudor style homes to the unique grass-hut look that says Polynesia, homes have a way of telegraphing to people exactly where in the world they are.

The United States itself has a myriad of home styles and variations that make each interesting and distinctive. However, none is more pronounced than the increasingly popular Southwestern Style Home.

Southwestern h...

Where do you start when choosing a house plan? Most people are inspired by the new home designs shown in their local advertising media, or they start to go looking for house plans on the internet. Builders use floor plans in their advertising as a great marketing ploy to get you to contact them. Often you will see a pretty plan, and some overall dimensions - enough information to get you interested - but not too much detail. So then you...

Interior decorating is that medium which can make your closed spaces convey to the observer a lot about you and your lifestyle through strategic use of elements which range from the visual (color, lighting, form) to the tactile (surface, shape, texture) to the auditory (noise, echo).

The more alluring the result, the more the aesthetic, practical and technical appreciation for these elements the designer must have. He or she must understand how people use and respond to these elements, ...

The entryway of your home is the first impression visitors get of the interior. Even those not invited further in judge your home based on what they see immediately inside the front door.

Because of our climate, most Canadian homes have an enclosed vestibule, or entryway, with nothing but the front door, an interior door leading in to the home, and sometimes a closet. Being small spaces, these areas are often almost neglected in terms of design and decor. Home builders seem to have a ha...

In log home interiors and log home interior design, the shape and color of the log wood selected is most important since the log wood used will reflect a range of moods, complexities and emotions. In general, the logs in log home interiors will be the most visual and dynamic element around which all else will revolve.

How much log wood is used in log home interiors is a major decision. Log home interior design today seldom uses logs for every wall in the home. Here are ideas to consi...