Kitchen Design

I designed this room for a decent size family that spends an average amount of time in the kitchen on a daily basis. The layout of this kitchen is designed in a triangle shape that connects all the appliances together well. The dishwasher, sink, and refrigerator all go well with each other and complete the room as a whole.

Home Styler Bedroom

Design to Sell

As many people know it takes a lot of work, time, and money to build a house. So why build when you can just buy? There are many ways you can sell a house so someone else has an opportunity to live there. Selling a house can be hard if you don't follow basic steps to make it successful. I have come up with seven different ways to make it easier on a homeowner to sell their house fast and without a hassle.

7 Tips To Help You Sell Your Home

1. Leave some good things in the house. Your home can be distinguished better by leaving some of your personal property within it. They should ideally be items that the person buying the home couldn't usually afford. They might be things such as kitchen appliances, a TV, or computer.

2. Be able to beat the competition with the condition of the home. Consider having inspections done before putting your home on the market as well as any repairs that are needed. Also, make sure that everything works properly and all the little scratches are covered.

3. Make sure the exterior of your house is nice too. Apply fresh paint and set up furniture on the patio. Many buyers like a nice landscape around the house as well.

4. Have showings of the house. If you don't show your home it won't get sold. Many foreclosed homes are empty so they can be shown whenever and you have to be able to one-up them. Also, don't have a very restrictive time frame for when buyers would like to come to view the home.

5. De-personalize your home. Pretend your about to move out and take all of your personal belongings out of the rooms including family pictures. Buyers want to be able to see themselves living in the home and it's hard to do when all of your personal items are around.

6. De-clutter your home. Put away anything that causes the home to be too crowded and hard to walk through. Anything that is rarely used can be put away or given to others that could use it.

7. Pick a reasonable price. If the house is way out of the price range for it's size and architecture no one will buy it. You have to be able to compete against the other sellers while trying to get what you deserve for the house you currently own and have put your money into.

By reading through these simple steps, one should be more comfortable in selling their home. The less stress you put on yourself, the easier the process will be. Also, the process will probably be faster than most sellers expect as well. Something as little as seven basic things can make a big difference in selling one's home. Good luck!

Housing Styles Accessories

Roof Styles:
1. Gable Roof:

Most common residential roof. 2 sloping sides meet to form a ridge.

2. Gambrel Roof:

Typical "Barn" style roof. Lower level is a steeper pitch while higher level is slightly less. Only on 2 sides.

3. Hip Roof

Similar to gable roof but with 4 surfaces. Intersecting surfaces are called hips.

4. Saltbox:

A long, pitched roof that slopes down to the back. Generally a wooden frame house.

5. Mansard:

Same as gambrel but lower and upper levels are on all four sides.

Housing Characteristics:
1. Bay Window:

A generic term for all protruding window constructions. They are most commonly polygonal or square in plan but may also be curved.

2. Casement Window:

A window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges.

3. Clapboard:

Is the cladding or siding of a house consisting of long thin wooden boards that overlap one another horizontally on the outside of the wall.

4. Dormer:

A structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface.

5. Eaves:

The edge of a roof.

6. Fanlight:

A window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan.

7. Palladian Window:

Three-part window composed of a large, arched central section flanked by two narrower, shorter sections having square tops.

8. Pediment:

A classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure, typically supported by columns.

9. Portico:

A porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls.

10. Rafter:

One of a series of sloped structural beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate, down slope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.

11. Sidelights:

A window, usually with a vertical emphasis, that flanks a door.

12. Turret:
 
A small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle.

Housing Styles

Tudor Home:

This is classified as a Tudor home because it is half timber with a chimney.  It is an upper class suburbian home that feratures wood, stucco, and brick.

Neo-Classical Home:

This is a Neo-Classical home because it has pillars and is symmetrical.  It also has some white on it which is a common color for this type of home.

Queen Anne Home:

This is a Queen Anne home because it has a long sweeping porch and painted shingles.  It also has a gingerbread look to it to better distinguish it.

Bungalow Home:

This is a Bungalow home because something pops out in it, which in this case is the pillars.  The wood on this type of home is to be stained lightly or left alone.

Ranch Home:

This is a Ranch home because it has a garage and a less public rear patio. They are single story houses influenced by adobe designs.

Prairie Home:

This is a Prairie style home because there are organic structures that grow out of their sites and harmonize with the land.  Horizontal lines make up prairie style homes and windows are grouped together.

Colonial Revival Home:

This is a Colonial Revival home because ideas were borrowed from houses built in the Colonial times.  There are many different types of Colonial homes depending on the area you live in.

International School:

This is an International school because it is influenced by commerical buildings.  Its imprint can be seen in the glass towers that dominate large city skylines.

Cape Cod Home:

This is a Cape Cod home because it has a central chimney and has a broad frame building.  It has very little ornamentation because it is a simple style home.

Colonial Revival (Dutch) Home:

This is a Colonial Revival home because it has brick siding and shutters.  It is rectangular with shutters as well.

Neo-Eclectic Home:

This is a Neo-Eclectic home because it is a modern residential type of house that was built after the 1960's.  It has brick, stone, and composite materials combined. 

Harmony

The theme I chose was flowers. I used radiation throughtout the Olioboard because it is part of all the flowers. The Olioboard is an A-symmetrical design. There is a soft texture on the couch, chair, and pillows. There is an audible texture on the flowers. It all relates because flowers are part of nature and so is the outdoor area behind the main focal point of the room.

Proportion & Scale

I achieved poor proportion and scale many times throughout this Olioboard.  The bed is way too large for the room and takes up a majority of the space.  The night stand is very small compared to the lamp sitting on it.  The mirror is short and not very easy for someone to use.  The garbage can is not meant for a room of this size.  Also, the light fixture is too small and would not provide enough light for the whole room.

Principles of Design: Rhythm

Repetition is shown through the pillows and wallpaper.
Radiation is shown through the chandelier, rug, and mirror.
Gradation is shown through the pillar candles.

Emphasis: Wallpaper

Balance

A-Symmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance

Element of Design: Exam

SPACE: The space of this room is used wisely and is basically the whole reception area because it is very open.
LINE: This office area is mostly horizontal lines that are found in the couch, pictures, desk, and toy box.
FORM: The form in this office is mainly due to the furniture. There are many large items that are sturdy like the couch, desk, and toy box.
TEXTURE: The texture of this room in somewhat hard and solid. The floor, table, desk, toy box, and pictures are all very durable items, but the couch and pillows are soft and squishy. Audible textures include different sounds in each individual item.
MOOD: Since the room is so open it gives off a sense of freedom and seems to be calm and quiet. The lines cause the room to be relaxing. All of the furniture makes the room feel secure and comfortable. The different textures throughout the room add a variety of different feelings based on the person within it.

Element of Design: Texture

Texture is visual, tactile, and audible. Everything has some sort of texture whether it be one of them or all three of them. The couch, pillows, and dog bed all have a soft and squishy texture. The floor and furniture have a rough and solid texture. The little knick-knacks and things on the walls are hard and have a hollow sound if you were to tap on them. There are a variety of different textures for the same object and many of the ones in this room relate well with one another. Texture is very important and gives any type of room a certain feel. This room is modern looking and also has an adult-like feeling to it.

Elements of Design: Line

Horizontal Line:


A horizontal line has a feeling of rest and it's used to create a room that is relaxing.  You get a positive effect from this type of line because it is calm and soothing. The line is placed across the room to add different elements.

Vertical Line:


A vertical line has a feeling of action, but you get an effect of height and formality from it.  The area where a vertical line is placed is where your eye is drawn to.  The line is placed in the middle of the room to add a variety of objects on either side.

Diagonal Line:


A diagonal line has a feeling of movement.  The effect you get from these lines is positive energy or motivation.  The line is place across the room so there is a different type of energy throughout the space.

Curved Line:


A curved line has a feeling of gracefulness.  The effect you get from these lines is peaceful and calm.  The line is placed randomly in the room so it's relaxing and care free.

2013 Color Forecast

     The 2013 color forecast article explains what the popular colors are for designing rooms right now. They talk about all of the colors that go well with each other and how they complement one another. Black and white is the most popular color combinations because they are neutral and add to any color tone easily. A color forecaster is a designer, sociologist, and predictor all in one. They bring much information from industries, manufacturers, and the runway. Many color forecasters are inspired by new trends and ideas within the economy. I used the color red and different tones of it for my Olio board. The brown is kind of a neutral color so there isn't too much of one solid color. I used the monochromatic color scheme to make my Olio board look as neat and organized as possible.

Color Schemes

Monochromatic Color Scheme
 

This is a monochromatic color scheme that uses a variety of different shades of one color.  The color I chose was green because it goes very well with the background and it all blends together.  The space is used wisely and there is still room for movement. 

Analogous Color Scheme

This is an analogous color scheme that uses a few colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.  The colors I chose to use were green, blue, purple, and pink.  All of the colors match with one another very well and the space for the room is used wisely.

Complementary Color Scheme

This is a complementary color scheme that uses colors directly across from each other on the color wheel.  The colors I chose to use were orange and blue because orange pops out and blue is calm so they even one another out.  The colors work very nice together because of this and everything in the room is very proportioned to the space.

    Triadic Color Scheme

   This is a triadic color scheme that uses three colors that form into a triangle on the color wheel.  The colors I chose were red, blue, and yellow because they are complementary colors.  The kitchen is very well organized and everything is spaced out so it is easy to get to.

Job Search: Landscaper

The job I researched was a landscaper, which is someone who arranges features of the landscape attractively.  A landscaper maintains the ground by planting trees and bushes.  They fertilize plants and mow the lawn as well.  A landscaper works outside at people's homes or at business areas.  Since they work outside they never know what the weather is going to be like and the conditions can get kind of bad.  A landscaper's work can be very difficult and requires a lot of heavy lifting and bending multiple times a day.

There are no formal education requirements for most positions in the landscaping field, and most of them are just trained in on the job.  A landscaper that works in residential areas normally goes through a quick training session where they learn the basics before performing a task.  Other places of work require additional skills and knowledge before being put on the job.

If a landscaper decides to use pesticides they usually have to have a license and to become licensed you are required to complete an exam that explains how to safely use and dispose of insecticides.  This training can be done through a class or done on the job.

A landscaper should be physically fit and able to move around for long periods of time due to the conditions of their job. Currently, on average, a landscapers makes around $30,000.  The are about 1,200,000 landscapers in the United States and the amount of job openings a year is a little over 35,000.  A landscaping job is not excepted to see a lot of growth within the next 10 years.

I would personally not mind being a landscaper because I like the outdoors a lot and I also like designing yard projects. It wouldn't be my first choice for a job though because you have to work long hours and you get very tired.

Future Interior Design Bio

Kleinsteuber Kollection is a design blog run by Pittsburgh-based interior designer, Trista Kleinsteuber.  It was launched in September of 2005.  Kleinsteuber attended school at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.  She has a four year bachelor degree and was an intern for two years.  She likes to work on projects with many colors and patterns involved.  Kleinsteuber Kollection attracts a diverse group of devoted interior designers.  The Kollection founder Trista Kleinsteuber has a unique angle on the industry, having worked with many different types of design projects.