Outdoor Kitchens

By Alyssa Davis

It can be argued that a living room is the heart of a family home. More awake time is spent in the living room than in most other rooms. Installing molding to add interest to a living room is a great way to enhance the space and make it more visually pleasing. It is not difficult to install molding, but it does require the appropriate tools, time, energy and patience.

Measuring

When considering whether to add molding to a living room, the first step should be to measure the amount of molding that would be needed. Measure around the perimeter of the room, as close to the ceiling as possible. This is especially important in older homes where the walls may not be square and can even be wider at the ceiling height than they are at the base. To get the proper measurements, the job may require two people, so have help available before beginning.

Purchasing Molding

Molding comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. There are intricate and elaborate moldings that would accent the fanciest of living rooms. There are also relatively simple moldings that might do better in a Craftsman style home from the turn of the century. Choose the look that will complement the home and the room the best. Also decide which type of molding material will be the most cost effective and easiest to install. For some homeowners only solid wood molding will do. This, of course, raises the cost of the project and guarantees that an assistant or two will be necessary to have on hand during installation. Other homeowners are not as concerned with having traditional solid wood moldings and opt instead for moldings made from MDF, or a wood fiber that is combined with a synthetic resin material. MDF has distinct advantages. It is lighter in weight and much easier to cut than traditional molding. The drawback to MDF is that it almost always needs to be painted. Wood molding can simply be stained to match other woods in the room, but MDF requires a coat or two of traditional paint. Again, choosing the best material for the job will make the project run smoother.

Installation

Installing crown molding is a relatively easy task. The challenge comes from making the correct cuts at the corners and transitions. Many professional installers suggest that the homeowner lay out the pieces of molding around the room and think of the room as a giant frame that is being looked down on from above. The cuts to the molding then become clearer. When hanging it, place it flush against the ceiling if the walls and ceiling are square. If that is not the case, slide the molding down about 1/4″ from the ceiling and nail it in place there; mark a level guide line first with a pencil to keep things straight. Most gaps of 1/4″ will not be visible, but if they are, apply a line of caulking to the space. It is helpful to have an assistant available who can hold the molding in place while it is being hammered into the wall.

Installing molding in a living room is not a difficult task. With patience, an assistant, and the right tools, the molding installation can be completed in an afternoon. The addition of the molding will draw the eye up and add interest to the living room that may have otherwise been lacking. Molding also adds charm and increases the resale value of a home, so it is a wise home improvement project that is worth the effort and expense.

About the Author: Alyssa Davis, writes exclusively for Metal-Wall-Art.com, and specifically about designing with

butterflies metal wall decor

and

outdoor metal wall hangings

.

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By Jeff Halper

In the first millennium, a wealthy Roman family would most likely have had a garden surrounding their home. In it, you might find an open-air palazzo, pergola-style structures dripping with vines and blooming flowers, a dining area with couches for relaxation, water features such as an outdoor water fountain or wall fountain, and walkways that led out into the garden proper, perhaps to a prized rosebush or into an olive grove. These are some of the elements characterizing what is now called classical landscape design, also known as traditional landscape design.

Classical landscape design is a subset of formal landscape design that uses linear, clean lines to develop an uncluttered look. These lines can be drawn with rows of trees and well-trimmed hedges, perfect plantings for the classical landscape design. Or perhaps a seat wall made of regimented terra cotta tiles can do double-duty. Here and there, vines, such as ivy or wisteria, can soften any harshness. In this regard, this style is similar to the Mediterranean landscape design with its Roman and Greek influences.

The History of Classical Landscape Design

Borrowing influences from previous civilizations, classical landscape design solidified in Rome and the surrounding countryside. Villas were built with comfortable courtyards, sparkling with the sound of water, shaded by large trees, fragrant with rosemary and citrus fruits. It was from this setting that we got the term pleasure garden.

In England of the late 1700s, property owners started looking backwards, past the Baroque period and the Renaissance, to the beginnings of western civilization. There, they found classical landscapes making use of woods, water, indigenous plants and small temples. These elements were incorporated into the gardens of that day, further defining the principles of traditional landscape design.

By the way, when Rome fell to the barbarians, the gardens had become so exquisite that the barbarians chose not to ransack them. Instead they kept them up and learned from them. This development is one of the early examples of how we, as humans, learned that beauty can change the world: it can stop violence. This principle is now being used to good effect in gardens started as rehabilitation projects in prisons, inner cities and ghettos.

Choices in Classical Landscape Design

As with all landscape design, the architecture of the house needs to be considered when using a traditional landscape design. For this style, the home and landscape can be tied together through the subtle placement of a hardscape feature, such as the use of tumbled travertine for the courtyard flooring.

Because of the formal principles inherent in this style, you want to strike a balance when choosing materials between boring blandness and baroque lavishness. Think instead in terms of interesting variety. For instance, well-contained decorative gravel can provide color and texture. Courtyards, pool decking and patios should use materials that are symmetrical, in keeping with the formal style. Stone, terra cotta tiles and flagstone are appropriate choices. Granite benches, concrete grottoes and marble urns add sturdiness and reference antiquities.

Your preference for classical landscape design can also be demonstrated in the plants you choose. Your residential garden will be enhanced by fruit trees and other dwarf treesor perhaps a stand of cypress, mulberry or fig trees. The cheery colors of marigolds, hyacinths and roses are well suited for the classical landscape design. Herbs planted in terra cotta pots scent the air and provide fresh flavor in your outdoor kitchen cooking.

Hardscapes in Classical Landscape Design

Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.

Hardscapes to include:

Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are important to the traditional landscape design.

Outdoor water fountains. If you remember your ancient world history classes, you know that the Romans perfected the aqueduct. So water is prized within classical landscape design and nothing showcases it like a picture-perfect outdoor water fountain. Look for fountains in formal, Romanesque, Italianate, Mediterranean and rustic styles. Those made of tile, cast stone, cast iron and concrete work particularly well with this style.

Swimming pools. When placed within a classical landscape design, the shape of your swimming pool should tend towards basic geometric shapes like rectangles and ovals. Thus, the shape of the pool frames the water and turns it into a classical design element of the landscape. It is often efficient to combine the pool with an outdoor water fountain to eliminate some maintenance redundancies.

Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another important element of traditional landscape design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy the outdoors, night and day.

Classical Landscape Design: A Houston Setting

We implemented a classical landscape design for one of our Houston clients, whose home was French Country. For the garden, we chose a design that closely resembles a famous garden in Florence, says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. The landscape design makes good use of gravel and limestone, which looks very natural in a Houston garden. And we planted boxwoods, which we trim and shape regularly as part of a well-thought-out residential landscape maintenance plan. It is a lovely and relaxing space.

About the Author:

Classic Landsape Designexterior worlds

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