Author: Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Making Traditional Furniture Fit in a Modern Home

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Moving into a new home presents many challenges. Just the move on its own is one of the most stressful things people go through in their life, and that’s without all the complications which come with it!

Photo By: Noz Design

One thing it’s important to think about when moving into a new home is how your existing furniture is going to work in this new environment. Not only getting used to a new layout but understanding that your furniture will look different in a new space is important. As more modern houses are built the number of traditional homes available reduces and this may be a concern for you if you have a lot of traditional furniture. There are, however, several ways you can incorporate traditional furniture into a modern home. By doing this, not only can you create a style that you love, but it can save you money replacing furniture for no reason.

Think About Your Colours

One of the most important areas to consider when trying to incorporate any furniture into a room is the colour balance. When mixing modern and traditional styles, this becomes even more important. If you have a traditional sofa, it may have a patterned finish which could clash with other bright colours in your room. Similarly, something like a Chesterfield sofa which is a real statement piece of furniture can dominate a room. Keeping a minimalist colour style for the rest of the room will help avoid any clashes of colour.

Trying to match the colour of your traditional furniture to the modern pieces you may have can also help the furniture fit together. If you have a traditional chair that you love, finding a sofa in a similar colour is an excellent way of stopping the chair sticking out and feeling out of place. This can also work with the accessories you choose for the room.

Photo By: Life Well Lived

Use them as accent pieces

The nice thing about traditional furniture is that when used as accent furniture dotted around the room, it often goes unnoticed as something out of place. Traditional side tables or chests of draws work brilliantly as accent pieces and can really help give modern homes some character without dominating the room or standing out too much. It can also be a nice surprise when looking around a room, and suddenly your eye catches a glimpse of the side table in the corner. This also helps to keep your home from looking too perfect and unlived-in.

Let them have their own space

While incorporating traditional furniture into busy rooms can be tricky, setting aside their own space is often the better way to go. This can be easier said than done, depending on the amount of space your home has available. One of the best examples of giving traditional furniture room to itself if often found in dining rooms. In a modern home, you can place simple art elements on the walls and then allow a traditional dining table and chair to fill the rest of the room. Traditional tables are always fashionable and sought after so if you own one you and can dedicate a room to that table, it can look fantastic.

Photo By: Katy Bell Hamnes

Overall, adding traditional furniture to a modern home can be a great way of expressing your personal style and matching furniture that you love. While some people may tell you that you should keep modern and traditional furniture apart, this is your home, and you make the rules. It is possible to integrate modern and traditional, and often the results look fantastic.

Introduction to Lawn Mower Spark Plugs

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

If you own a lawn mower, you likely know that you have spark plugs in the engine. These spark plugs need to be changed occasionally as routine maintenance!

However, if you find yourself asking what a spark plug actually is, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. A lot of people know very little about their vehicles. The good news is that, since you are reading this, you are seeking to learn more.

What Is a Spark Plug? What Does It Do?

As you may know, your engine moves the wheels by igniting fuel in cylinders. The pistons in these cylinders are moved by the burning fuel and turn a crankshaft. This rotational movement is transferred to your wheels to move the vehicle. To ignite the fuel, your engine needs a spark. Every time a piston goes through its cycle, the spark plug sets off a small electrical spark to light the fuel/air mixture and continue the process. Although small and humble, spark plugs are really important. Without them, your engine wouldn’t start, and you wouldn’t get anywhere.

Types of Spark Plugs

There are several types of spark plugs. These are primarily differentiated by the type of metal used in the electrode. There are copper/nickel, platinum, double platinum, iridium and double iridium spark plugs. When you want to buy new spark plugs for your lawn mower, you need to be careful to get the right type. The simplest way to check this is by looking in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Your manufacturer included details on the spark plugs you need in there. Another option is to use a VIN lookup free tool at your favorite auto parts store. This will help you find the right spark plugs for your make and model.

Changing Spark Plugs

Although it may seem intimidating, changing spark plugs is a relatively easy process. You’ll be back to mowing your lawn in no-time! It is a great starting point for anyone who is interested in working on vehicles. All you need to do is disconnect the wire, remove the spark plug, gap your new spark plug, then install and connect the new one. The most complicated part of this process is gapping. Fortunately, this is also easy if you take the time to learn what you are doing. Gapping is changing the distance (or gap) between the two electrodes to match the voltage and amperage of the engine. You may wonder what happens when plugs aren’t gapped properly? It could damage your engine and cause misfires. With a feeler tool and a little patience, all you need to do is slowly adjust the electrode to be the same distance apart as those on your old spark plug. Again, with a little patience, this is hard to mess up. The feeler gauge does most of your work for you.

Get Started

Now that you know a little bit about spark plugs, you are ready to change them in your vehicle. This is a quick and easy process. Just head to your favorite auto parts store to find the right plugs and pick up some tools. You could be a DIY mechanic in no time.

Protecting Your Home From Water Damage

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Whether you’re caring for a home or renovating a business, your mind’s probably on interior decor, not the building’s foundation. If you want to keep all of your hard work as pristine as possible, though, you’ll need to keep your building’s roots in mind.

Photo By: Kurt Baum Architects

Foundation leaks can have a serious impact on your renovation schedule, not to mention on the changes you’ve already initiated. What can you do, then, to ensure that your renovation goes smoothly if you have a foundation leak on your hands?

What Causes Foundation Damage?

A home or building’s foundation doesn’t crack after one traumatic event – unless, of course, it’s in an area that sees frequent and violent natural disasters. If you have a foundation crack on your hands, it’s more likely that your foundation’s been under severe stress for an extended period of time. Sources of that stress can include but are not limited to:

  • Heavy rain
  • Shifting soil
  • Your foundation’s response to the weather
  • Your foundation materials
  • The nearby trees

Signs of a Foundation Leak

That said, the signs that indicate a leaking foundation are similar to the signs that indicate a leaking basement. How can you tell the two apart? Foundation leaks and cracks tend to have more of an impact on the structural supports keeping a building upright. If you suspect that your foundation may be leaking, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the following signs inside of your home:

  • Bowing walls
  • Shifting floors
  • Gaps at the joints of your foundation
  • Sticking doors
  • Foggy windows
  • Water-damaged belongings or furniture
  • Mold

That said, if you let a foundation leak go unattended for too long, the outside of your building or home will start to show signs of extensive water damage. These signs include:

  • Vertical cracks in your walls
  • A cracked chimney
  • Cracks running horizontally across your foundation
  • Signs of sinking

Do note that while you may be able to detect some of these signs on your home, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to a local professional for a free assessment. Professional foundation repair contractors will be able to better distinguish between a basement leak and a foundation leak and, in turn, offer you the best solutions for your unique situation.

Treating a Foundation Leak

Once you’ve identified a leak, you’ll need to decide how you want to treat it. In this era of DIY, it’s tempting to take on the project yourself. This, however, is a bad idea. If you try and fill a foundation crack on your own, you may end up making matters worse and delaying your renovation even further. A professional foundation repair contractor will be able to help you decide which of the many solutions you have available to you is the best for your building. These solutions include but are not limited to:

  • Piering
  • Underpinning
  • Leveling and slabjacking
  • Sealing
  • Subfloor drainage

Note that these repairs can cost between $500 and $6,000, so you may need to reallocate some of your renovation budget accordingly. That said, it’s far better to have a foundation problem treated as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive repairs are going to be.

Reaching Out for Professional Help

If you think you’re dealing with a foundation crack, don’t try to DIY a solution. Reach out to one of the professional foundation repair contractors in your area for a free inspection. After the inspection, a contractor will be able to propose the cost-effective solutions that’ll keep your renovation on-schedule and your interior design choices free from water damage.

Restaurant Decor: How to Transform Your Restaurant without Renovating

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

We can definitely learn a thing or two about commercial decorating! Keep reading to find out how restaurants decorate their interiors!

 

There are some undeniable determining factors of what makes a restaurant great, and that is the food and the ambiance. As a patron, when you visit a restaurant, the first impression you have could be based on either one. Maybe you decided to visit based on the menu, or maybe you were walking past and chose it based on how it looked inside. Regardless of what gets you in the door, the food and the atmosphere are what will stick in your mind once you’ve left. The food is the heart of the restaurant, but the decor is the feeling of it. If your restaurant feels like it’s stagnated and you’re looking for a change, these are the two aspects you should consider revamping. Arguably, your menu should always be changing in order to offer a variety of foods and still keep it interesting for your visitors. As for your decor, it should have a classic element that makes it timeless, but also adds a little something extra to make it have some personality.

If you’re looking to do a complete menu overhaul, there are a few considerations to make, like the cost of the new menu for your restaurant and your customers, and the versatility. However, if you’re looking to update the decor of your restaurant and give the whole place a refresh without breaking the bank on costly renovations, these suggestions will help you get started.

Paint the walls

A coat of paint can go a long way, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Maybe all your restaurant needs is a fresh color to liven up the walls and bring in some personality. If you don’t want to change any of the other decor, do your best to find a color that will match your current furnishings and restaurant theme. Otherwise, you could end up with a mismatched interior that confuses guests when they arrive.

Update your furniture

Revamp your restaurant by upgrading the furniture, or replace older furniture with something new and more comfortable for your guests. Of course, you want your visitors to enjoy their time at your venue, and the furniture you have is surprisingly important to achieving this goal. New restaurant chairs and tables can completely change the vibe of your establishment, but make sure the style of the furniture fits in with your restaurant’s theme and concept.

Update the lighting

Different lighting fixtures have different effects on the mood of a room, so how you light your restaurant can totally change how your guests feel while they’re visiting. Restaurant lighting typically isn’t noticeable unless it’s done poorly, so be sure to ask an expert if you aren’t sure how to properly light your venue. Good lighting can be inviting to guests, while poor lighting can be a deterrent and make them feel uncomfortable.

Get new dishware

Old, scratched and worn out plates, bowls, glasses, and cutlery can be a big turn off to guests looking for a finer dining experience. Your dishware contributes greatly to the presentation of your food. If you want to upgrade your dining experience without spending a lot, new dishware is the way to go. It’s also a good idea to consider what kind of dishware you’ll be using if you’re revamping your menu, as these two changes go hand-in-hand.

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