Victorian Style Home Design and Its Remarkable Exterior
As you can probably guess, the term ‘Victorian architecture’ comes from the reign of Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom from mid-1837 until the beginning of 1901. During that time the British used to name the architectural styles after the monarch ruling in this period. So this tendency in architecture originates from Britain but it was spread in other countries, even other continents. In the past royalty was very fond of art and different influences from unfamiliar and therefore interesting cultures. This is why this particular style combines elements from the Middle East and Asia. It is believed that the Victorian style was conveyed in other countries by English architects who emigrated to the four cardinal points of the world taking their knowledge of what’s in trend at home to the new destination they wend their way to. That’s the reason why Victorian homes can be seen in Australia, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, etc. At that time, the communication and transportation industry were already developed to such an extent that information could travel faster so as news for what’s fashionable in other remote locations.
The Victorian period overlaps the Industrial Revolution, meaning technology development. This surely contributed to the more complex elements of home design at the time. There are very typical traits of a house that is built on this style which are strongly distinctive. The first thing that might draw your attention when seeing such a home is the sort of tower-looking part of the roof, which is often present. Another part of the roof is steeply pitched and built as different parts and not as a whole, so it doesn’t have a regular shape. Usually, the gable faces the front of a house, not the sides of it. But as the roof is divided to many parts, some gables might be turned sideways. The walls are intended not to have a smooth effect, so they are built of textured shingles. Asymmetry was probably honored during the period since the whole house is constructed with such an idea in mind. Starting from the front, the porch might spread along one side of the house and have detailed ornaments on the railing. Dormers are also very typical. Bay windows that lay outward of the main level of the construction are also quite common. Such houses are usually built of wood and have two stores. The exterior of a Victorian home as above described is very easy to recognizable.
Believe it or not, Victorian style home design is still found interesting and appealing by many. There are houses that are constructed to look that way with a few modern touches here and there. They actually have a kind of romantic appearance and can turn into the pride of any neighborhood. Nowadays, the very existence of them preserves the spirit of the past, making the property unique and remarkable. From the outside it may look like taken out of a history book, but from the inside they can be decorated according to the contemporary tendency if that’s how you prefer it. If you want to be a proud owner to such a home, you have to know that you can change the interior and take it compliant with your particular needs and preferences. One room can be converted into a walk-in closet, for example. The kitchen may be transformed in such a way so that today’s appliances can fit in. A garage can be also added without differing from the rest of the house.
Top 5 Things to Consider in Your House Floor Plan
Introduction
As a homeowner, it’s very important to come up with the best house floor plan to build your dream house.
You must consider these five important things and discuss them in detail with the architect while drawing the floor plan.
#1 – Assess Your Lifestyle
You must note down the physical strengths and weaknesses of your family members.
Do you have an old mother who will not be able to walk the stairs and might need an elevator? If yes, then you need to consider space for an elevator.
You must consider the size of the kitchen based on the number of present and future members so that you or your wife/other members can cook food in a hassle free manner.
If you are going to have a house on a closed street, it is important to consider the importance of air and sunlight visibility.
You must opt for an open floor plan. However, if you have a large family, you must include a multi-story home plan with individual rooms to maintain privacy.
#2 – Safety Must Be Your Top Priority
The stairs and glass showers must have railings and sealed enclosures respectively to keep your children safe and sound.
You must keep proper spaces for CCTV cameras and video monitors to see a 24×7 live footage of the entrance and other important areas.
#3 – Consider The Locality
If the locality is too quiet, you must keep space for a secret room enclosure inside the house.
It is a smart way to keep your family members safe and sound during an emergency threat.
#4 – Browse The Internet For Similar Floor Plans
You can easily search and find floor plans of the houses matching with your requirements online.
You must carefully note the design aesthetics, the size of the rooms, kitchen, bathrooms, garage, and also calculate the free space where the family members can easily pass from one section to another.
It is highly important to properly utilize the space with minimum congestion inside the house.
#5 – Show The Plan To Your Family Members For Suggestion
All the family members must give their suggestions regarding the house floor plan. You will get great recommendations like including a home office for the future OR a separate lounge area on the rooftop for party purposes.
The suggestions will play an important part in improving the functionality of the floor plan. If the living room is on the other side of the dining room/kitchen, it will be very frustrating for the family members to carry meals from one end to another. Similarly, if the bathrooms are far from bedrooms, it will really irritate senior family members.
The Simple Guide to Extending Your Home
We are all well aware of the reasons as to why many individuals consider extending their home. This choice may be instead of moving or just a decision made in isolation of any other alternatives. There are many reasons as to why extensions make more economic sense in comparison to moving. The costs attributed to this process can include stamp duty, legal fees and other associated fees and costings. This is all money simply lost in the process. When calculations of such costs are made there is often a clear alternative to avoid these and to still gain the extra living space needed. Where do you start?
A good starting point is the consideration that you want to make sure that whatever you build offers a return on your investment. While it may simply be that you family are out growing the space, it is always sensible to ensure that the space you are adding offers a return. What else should you consider?
It is good to always think practically. If you are adding more bedrooms to your property, then you should also consider additional bathrooms. If you are planning a double-storey extension, then you also need to consider access to the additional space upstairs. Are you increasing the size of your property so much that you should also consider additional parking? These are all elements that will need to be carefully thought out prior to requesting planning.
The cost of your extension is going to increase as the size does. There are guidelines on the average cost per/m2. These may range between £1000 to £2000, depending on the preparatory work required and standard of finish. The higher the standard of specification, the more you will pay. It is also important to remember that if you are considering a double-storey extension it will not cost that much more per square meter. Why is this? The cost of the foundations and roof are required whatever for a single-storey extension. Adding another storey means the addition of walls and floor joists but a proportion of the additional costs can already be attributed to those already agreed for a single-storey project.
Planning permissions may not always be needed for your extension project. However, it is always prudent to seek advice in relation to this. You may feel that your plans fit under the permitted development rights umbrella, but it is important at this stage not to make assumptions. It may delay the process slightly but the peace of mind that you will get from going through the correct channels is well worth it. There may be individual stipulations on your property or neighboring properties that you are not aware of.
Further down the line you also need support with meeting building regulations. These form a separate process to planning permissions and are required for building projects. These rules, put simply, have been formally agreed to ensure that minimum design and construction standards are met. Local authority representatives will visit the property regularly to ensure that the work completed meets these standards.
Rest assured that your chosen builder will be in a position to help and support you through each stage of the preparatory work and beyond. Time invested in finding a reputable local builder will pay dividends as much of the worry will be taken away. This guide has been put together to provide a starting point for your building project. There are many elements to consider, however, a well-informed approach is always advisable and will inevitably produce a better standard of finish.
4 Reasons The Study Of Organizational Behavior Is Imperative
The managers or entrepreneurs are the leaders who can shape the success of their organization. For a successful run, a leader needs to ensure that the business carries out its internal and core operations Organizational Behavior plays a vital role in any enterprise’s success. It outlines the system in which the company will run, where it’ll fit in the industry and it also decides the future of the company. It defines the vision, mission, and goals of the company and outlines a way in which the members of the company will interact with each other. Thus, every manager or entrepreneur should learn the core principles of Organizational Behavior for the success of the business. Here are a few more reasons that exemplify the significance of the study of organizational behavior:
1. It helps in understanding the mission of the enterprise
Every organization has its quintessence or its purpose of carrying out the intended operations. Organizational behavior aids the entrepreneurs in defining the task of the organization- what a company will do and how it’ll do it. It defines an infrastructure that will be followed by the company throughout its run. It also emphasizes on establishing a mission statement that the company wants to achieve through its operations. The mission is not only monetary but it speaks of the company’s culture and aims at bringing a change in the lives of the customers, stakeholders and all the people involved with the company. The mission statement tells everyone about the goals of the organization and can be used to gauge the effectiveness of its operations.
2. It aids in establishing clear expectations
The organizational behavior not only helps in establishing a mission, but it also helps the managers or entrepreneurs in setting expectations for the employees, stakeholders as well as the customers. It helps in formulating the chain of command performed by each employee and also decides the kinds of vendors and customers the company should expect.
3. It helps in better decision making
The organizational behavior paves way for uniformity in the company and its core values. The establishment of the uniform mission, actions and messages facilitate the managers to make better decisions that are fruitful for the company. Organizational Behavior entails an identity to the organization so the managers can make their decision aligning with the nature of operations of the organization.
4. It ensures that managers hire the right person
The employees are the main pillars of organizational behavior. The people that bring new ideas and passion to the organization are considered as the perfect employees for the organization. If the organizational behavior is clearly defined, the newly employed candidates can easily understand their duties and it also makes easy for the managers to hire the right people and communicate with them effectively.