Nine Top Architectural Styles

Understanding various architectural styles helps foster a general appreciation of the built world. And the built world is all around us. So, whether you’re looking to buy, you are in the midst of a remodel, or you’re simply eager to know a little more about that beautiful house up the street, this rundown of top architectural styles will help you experience and understand prominent architectural styles on a deeper level. 

Art Deco

Art Deco style was born in early-20th-century France and became a force in American architecture by the 30s. It’s a style that strives to catch your eye. As the Pennsylvania Architectural Field Guide notes, Art Deco “... was an intentional break with past precedents in an effort to embody the ideas of the modern age. It was the first American architectural style to look forward rather than back.”  Art Deco public buildings often feature smooth facades and elaborate tile designs. When do-it-yourselfers are remodeling their homes in Art Deco style, they often break out their tile tools and throw down some funky penny round tile. 

Cape Cod 

Puritan craftsmen brought the Cape Cod style to America; hence, the relatively spare original incarnation of the design. They were small one-story homes. And, of course, they became all but ubiquitous in New England—they’re named for Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Over time, the style gradually became more elaborate. They were among the most popular styles during the boom in American construction after World War II. 

Victorian 

Victorian style homes are generally large, asymmetrical, and imposing, with ornate gables and steep roofs. The ornate exterior generally extends to the interior as well. It’s a showy style that was widely popular during the six-plus decade reign of Queen Victoria from 1837-1901; hence, its name. The style is often thought of as grim in popular culture, but the homes in San Francisco’s famous row of jubilantly colored “painted ladies” are also Victorian. 

American Craftsman 

The warm craftsman style was a response to the showiness and industrialism of Victorian design. It focused on simple celebration of “craft” and functionality over the unnecessarily intricate, ornamental presentation rampant in Victorian architecture. A craftsman home is a display of no-frills, yet expertly built sturdiness. It’s a home for the everyman, unlike the Victorian homes and their air of haughty regality. That was the idea, at least, originally put forth by William Morris, champion of craftsman style.  

Tudor

In popular culture, Victorian homes are often the backdrop for stories about hauntings and other ghoulish things. Tudor style, though, quite the opposite. Tudor is the stuff of Old World romance and children’s fairy tales. Generally featuring stucco, half-timbered exteriors, and steep, gabled roofs, Tudor style originated in 15th-century Europe and flourished in the United States from the early-to-mid 20th century. As Southern Living notes, the style fell out of favor after World War II during a shift to more affordable housing that needed to go up quickly to accommodate the post-war baby boom. 

Neoclassical

Neoclassical style conveys a certain strength and splendor. The movement was born in 18th-century Europe and epitomizes Western architecture. The style is common in government buildings, banks, churches, and other structures that seek to inspire and exude fortitude. The United States Capitol and Supreme Court buildings are prominent examples of the style. And, with their massive columned porches and air of sophistication, antebellum plantations are generally good examples of homes built in the neoclassical tradition. 

Brutalist

The hallmark of brutalist design is spare concrete. It’s often seen in large public housing structures and government buildings. The style, which exploded after World War II, allows for relatively quick and inexpensive construction. There is renewed interest among homeowners in the brutalist style, but architects whose work could be classified as brutalist tend to flee from the distinction. 

The term itself isn’t exactly charming, and the style can come off as cold and uninviting, but, nonetheless, it does seem as though brutalism may be making something of a comeback. 

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century modern design is a sleek, sophisticated look that generally features open spaces and large windows. The houses are often built to complement their surroundings, the design and large windows creating a sense of openness and transparency, typified by the Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut. 

Contemporary

Contemporary architecture is something of a catch-all term that describes new construction that doesn’t quite conform to traditional styles. Whether they are trendy tiny houses that maximize livability in small spaces or buildings focused on sustainability, if you see a building that looks wildly out of place among its neighbors, you’ve probably happened upon a contemporary structure. 

This collection of prominent architectural styles will give you a better sense of the buildings around you. Keep in mind that styles change and adapt. There is absolutely variation within traditional architectural approaches, but a basic framework of style will give depth to your appreciation.   

Guest Post - Tips you need to know about wall paints before going through painting on your own

Putting a fresh coat of paint on the wall is a great way to refresh your living space and bring a little extra charm to it. While anyone can repaint their walls, it takes a bit of skill and know-how to do it properly and avoid making a mess. Many Australian homeowners start moving furniture or hanging photos on the wall before the paint is dry, which leaves stains and ruins the paint job. 

It's crucial that you get the timing right before you start decorating your room again. Since the process may require multiple coats and primers, you have to figure out when each layer is dry before you can apply the next one. 

Watching paint dry won't do you any good, which is why we're going to cover the basics of applying paint and how to tell if the process is complete. 

How long does it take for wall paint to fully dry?

There's no simple answer to this question, as it depends on the primer or paint involved, as well as the conditions of the room. 

If you use an oil-based paint, the wall will be dry to the touch within six to eight hours. However, you can only recoat it after a full day has passed. Latex paints set faster, becoming dry to the touch within an hour or so. You can safely recoat this type of paint within four hours. 

Since there are many different brands and types of paint out there, your safest bet would be to read the instructions on the can itself. It should give you a rough timeline for how long it takes to dry and when you can add another coat. 

Does paint dry better in heat or cold?

Using instructions on the paint can won't give you a definitive answer for drying time, as it also depends on the conditions in the room. The temperature and humidity will influence how long it takes and how well the paint will dry.

The temperature of the room has to be at least 10 degrees Celsius for the paint to dry properly. If it drops below this threshold, there's a chance that the paint will start cracking and that the layer will be compromised. If the temperature is well above 30 degrees Celsius, the paint won't bind to the surface well, leading to flaking and cracks within a few months.  

Make sure that you avoid rainy days when applying a coat of paint, or try to keep the windows closed during this process. The optimal humidity for painting a wall is between 40 and 70 per cent. 

How can I make my wall paint dry faster? 

If you want to speed up the process, there are several ways to make the paint dry faster.

Don't apply heavy coats of paint on the wall immediately. Instead, use multiple light coats to cover the wall. Each individual light coat will dry faster than a single heavy coating.

Try to paint your room one wall at a time. Once you've finished the last wall, the first one will already be ready for a second coat, especially if you've only used light coats. 

You can also use a hairdryer to take care of areas of the wall that seem to be setting too slow. As long as you set the dryer on a cold setting and keep it at least two inches away from the wall, it will speed up the process significantly.

What happens if you recoat paint too soon?

Plenty of Australian homeowners make the mistake of recoating paint before the previous layer has dried completely. If you're in a rush or aren't paying attention, the coat will become sticky once you apply another layer. In these cases, the layer below won't dry and you'll have what is known as “blocking.”

If both layers aren't too thick, you can wait a few weeks to see if the paint will dry properly on its own. Should the paint remain sticky after this time, you might have to start over. Instead of waiting it out and hoping for the best, you should consult professional house painters in Sydney to get the job done quickly. Those with experience will complete the paint job within days and make sure that the walls are fresh and ready for decoration as soon as possible.

Why is my paint not drying?

There are lots of reasons why your paint might not dry correctly. You might have added a few too many layers to the wall or used coats that were too thick and created a sticky layer. If the weather isn't optimal and you opened the windows too soon, the humidity or temperature might have affected the drying process. In Sydney, you have to watch out for weather changes before you start your paint job.

If the wall stays sticky or mushy after you've completed the paint job, you should probably start over anew. There's no reason to wait for the wall to crack or lose its colour over the next few months if you know that the paint hasn't set correctly. 

When you start painting the wall again, make sure you follow the exact instructions on the can and work with a little more patience. Rushing the job will only increase the risk of mistakes while taking your time will guarantee that you'll create the perfect paint job. 

Conclusion

While painting a wall might seem like a simple and straightforward task, the reality is far from it. You have to pay attention to a myriad of factors that can make or break your paint job. If you aren't careful, you can end up with a mushy layer of paint that will crack after only a few months. It's a job that you might be able to DIY with some care and luck, but it's recommended that you hire professionals. They can complete the process without hassle and produce near-perfect results every time. To save yourself the trouble of worrying about ruining your furniture or walls, consider using professional painters for your home. 

Author Bio

My name is Grace Wilson. I’m a 27-year-old biotechnologist and kind of a bookish girl. Surfing the Internet is my favorite, that’s why I’ve turned into blogging. Following the healthy mindset and lifestyle is what I consider as my life principle. If interested, follow my twitter.

Home Improvement Projects: When to DIY and When to Hire a Pro

Home improvement shows often make it easy to believe that anyone can turn their home into a designer’s dream with a couple of weeks of work, a tool belt, and a video or two. However, the reality of the situation is that even with committing to blood, sweat, and tears, sometimes doing it yourself is just not worth it. The last thing you want to do is pour all that time and effort into a project only to find you have to call a professional to fix a job that you botched. 

Considerations Before Making Your Choice

Before you decide to take on the next project yourself, let’s take a look at some factors that will help you decide if this is a true DIY project or whether you’re better off hiring a professional. 

Take Your Own Safety Into Consideration

Can you perform the task safely? This question isn’t specific to skills — you need to make sure you have the proper equipment, as well. Before you begin to take on a home improvement adventure, you should always determine the possible liabilities involved so you can take whatever safeguards are needed to make certain that no one’s health may be compromised. If you can’t be 100% sure that you and your helpers can tackle the project safely, then hiring a professional is definitely the right plan of action.

Be Realistic About Your Skill Level

It is great to be able to save cash on home renovations by doing it yourself! If you don’t know what you are doing, however, it can end up costing more than it would to hire a contractor to do it for you. Before you commit to handling a project, do some research to see what skills are needed to get the job done to its completion. Then ask yourself if this project is really something you have the skill to do on your own. If you don’t have the expertise to take it on, then hiring someone who is experienced at the task is a smarter idea.

Investing Your Time and Money

When you hire a professional, you can sit back and do something else instead of using your own time. The trade-off is that instead of costing you time, it will cost you money. If you have the skill to do the job, then the next question is to ask yourself what you’d rather spend: time or money? 

Many are motivated to try their hand at DIY home improvement in the hopes of saving money. While you can save money doing many projects yourself and buying second-hand tools or supplies, it doesn’t always end up that way. Contractors are often able to get better deals on materials and they probably have all of the tools already on-hand. If you have the time and skill but lack the tools, find out how much it will cost you in tools and materials to see if you’ll really save on cash. 

If it turns out to be cheaper to do it yourself and you decide to do the task yourself, consider putting the project on your calendar. This will help you plan and manage your time so you don’t put it off or let it slip through the cracks.

Choosing the DIY Approach

If you have considered all the important factors and decided a DIY approach is a reasonable option, there are many reasons to make it your final choice! Perhaps it’s not about the time or money and you just want to learn a new skill. A DIY home improvement project may require you to watch videos about how to install a tile backsplash, or read about the different types of stain for your deck. If you are willing to learn how to execute a task properly, doing it yourself might be the right choice.

Another time that it makes sense to DIY is if you truly enjoy the type of work that needs to be done. For example, if woodworking and painting your recreation room are pleasurable activities for you, it seems appropriate to handle similar jobs around your house. You may even find the process of doing the job itself is as enjoyable as seeing the final result.

When is it Better to Hire a Professional?

Sometimes, it doesn’t make sense to DIY a project. Let professionals do jobs that would be expensive to fix if they aren’t done correctly. When you work with a reputable contractor, they warranty their work so you are protected from any property damage if they make a mistake. You should also leave it to the professionals if your home renovation requires a permit or it might impact the structure of your home.

Are you planning on selling your home immediately or in the next few years? This is another time when you should be cautious about DIY projects. Buyers expect that they’ll need to paint, but fixing a botched floor installation may be enough to keep them away. This is a time when you want new projects to look professional rather than “good enough.”

4 Simple Ways You Can Renovate Your Home When Looking for a Change

While you of course love your home, you may have started to grow weary looking at the same old things day after day. Whether it's the inside of your home or the outside, you may have concluded it's time to make some changes. However, you don't want to break your budget doing so, and you also want whatever changes you make to be simple ones. If you're ready to renovate, here are four suggestions for some fun and easy projects.

Refresh with Paint

For just a little more than $100, you can add new life to your home by giving walls and other spots a fresh coat of paint. The most popular DIY project for homeowners, a new paint job can make an old room feel like new again.

Lay New Flooring

Over the years, more and more styles of flooring have become common in homes old and new. If you're tired of walking on flooring that looks like it needs some serious TLC, look around for some new flooring to lay down in your kitchen, bedroom, or elsewhere. For many of today's homeowners, vinyl plank flooring is a popular option, since it's easy to install and makes an old floor look brand new.

Install a Stair Runner

Should you have wooden stairs in your home that always seem a bit slippery, installing a stair runner can eliminate the chances of you or someone else falling, while also creating a whole new look for what may be worn-out steps. While you could purchase carpeting and have it installed by professionals, you would spend thousands of dollars to do so. By choosing to buy one or two runners and doing it yourself, you'll tackle an easy project and save plenty of money as well.

Revive Your Deck

If your home contains a deck that's been neglected for awhile, revive it by pressure-washing and then sealing it with an attractive stain. A great weekend project for the whole family, this can make a deck that is a decade or so old look like one that was just built.

While each of these projects will make your home look like new, they will also add significant value to it as well. Whether you are planning to stay in your home for many more years or thinking about selling in the near future, doing a few simple renovations will pay off for you in many ways.