Home Design Ideas
Double Brick Insulation Techniques
Insulation is a heat-flow barrier that keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Installing insulation reduces heating and cooling costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Insulation also improves soundproofing and weatherproofing.
Retrofitting a home is easier if you are going to add siding or remodel interior walls, because the insulation can be installed during the renovation project. Working around doors and windows can also be difficult for interior and exterior insulation applications.
Exterior Siding
If your brick is not in show condition or you do not care if it shows, you can install your insulation on the exterior of your home. Line the walls with a reflective vapor barrier. Tape all joints so the barrier is air-tight. Install R-10 polystyrene boards that have a weather-resistant finish over the vapor barrier. Cover the insulation with a house wrap and install your siding over the house wrap. Seal all joints in the insulation using tape or caulking.
Internal Walls
If you are insulating inside the interior walls, you must remove the plaster or drywall completely until the brick is exposed. Add a building paper and then two inches of foam insulation rated R-10. Add a vapor retarder or barrier on the interior side of the insulation where it will get warm from the house. Installing styrofoam insulation requires you caulk the joints between the insulation. Seal the vapor barrier so that it is air tight and cover the insulation with drywall.
Cavities
If you have cavities between your bricks and wall that have no insulation in them, fill these cavities with blown-in insulation. You must drill an access hole in each stud to gain access to the entire space. These holes must be about four feet apart. If your exterior is finished and does not need renovation, blow your insulation in from the inside directly into all of the wall cavities.
You can also blow insulation up from the basement or attic if both the interior and exterior walls are in good condition. Insert your hose all the way to the top, or bottom if you are in the attic, of your stud and slowly retract the hose 12 inches at a time after the space is filled. Install reflective insulation on the inside of the exterior wall prior to blowing your insulation in, and your insulation will not get wet from weeping bricks. Read the rest of this entry »
Interior Design Suggestions for a Small Condo
Small condos are ideal first homes, retirement homes or even summer homes if they are in an ideal location that has your choice of sunny weather and recreational activities. A challenge with small condo living is always merging style with function. Creating a style that is in line with your taste but also maximizes space is a goal of condo living.
Storage
Build storage into your small condo so you can keep it clutter-free. Regardless of the style of your condo, built-in storage that is hidden lets you capitalize on your space and focus on the overall design, tone and theme of the home.
Add shoe racks to all closets and invest in storage units for under the beds. Find an ottoman that has built-in storage and add shelving to spaces that collect clutter such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Add a vertical floor-to-ceiling shelving unit with attractive doors, or if you are on a budget, use a cost-effective yet stylish piece of fabric instead of cabinet doors. This helps keep clutter hidden while adding a personalized sense of style to your space.
Paint Colors
Brighter and light colors, as well as white, are ideal paint choices in a small condo. Darker colors can make small spaces seem even smaller while lighter, brighter hues and classic white open up a small condo. If you love a particular dark color, use it for an accent wall: a single wall contrasting with the primary color of the room.
Furnishings
Keep furnishings minimal in a small condo, especially if you entertain frequently, as you want your family and friends to have room to move freely throughout the space. A couch that converts to a sofa bed, a set of coffee and end tables and a set of club chairs are sufficient furniture for a small living room. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Furnishings minimal in a small condo, Interior Design, Small condos, Small living room | 
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