Manutti Outdoor Furniture

modern outdoor furniture


The Phoenix collection of outdoor furniture by Belgian furniture company Manutti brings exquisite shapes, designs and style to any modern outdoor furniture area.

Modern verandas- A new Australian species hits the market

Modern Verandas

When you use the word “veranda”, there’s a natural mental association and vision of the old style verandas of yesteryear. That image is rapidly becoming out of date as a new breed of designs rolls out. Verandas these days are true architectural achievements, extremely stylish, and far more importantly, fully functional extensions of the living space of the home. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Australia, where the veranda has been a design icon for over a century.



The reason for Australia’s “veranda-consciousness” is simple enough. The old Australian homes used to have all round verandas as a defence against the glare and heat of the Australian sun. Verandas have remained a preferred architectural option ever since the mid-1800s, and a combination of a booming housing market, CAD design and consumer demand has generated a vast new range of veranda concepts.



Designs galore



It has to be said in all fairness that the Australian designs do include some real innovations. The modern Australian version of the veranda can be quite spectacular, and these things are big. They may not be quite ballroom size, but they’re pretty close, and the sheer amount of covered space they create can be quite a surprise.



Design and materials quality are extremely high, and there’s an obvious element of true craftsmanship in both. What may stun some viewers is the versatility of the designs. There are thousands of possibilities, all of this standard, and some designs include excellent lighting through the roof of the verandas, a design innovation in itself. These “skylights” come in a range of options of tinting and shading, and are designed to deal with the sun while ensuring proper lighting.



Lifestyle and functionality



Anyone who knows anything about the Aussie preference for an outdoor lifestyle built on to big homes will appreciate the cultural values, too. If you were deliberately looking for an expression of the “parties, barbecues and good living” motif of Australian folklore, you couldn’t go past the new veranda styles as an expression of that culture.



These new verandas really are something special in lifestyle design, and they include a very high level of functionality as well. The materials are tough, weather-resistant, and top quality. If you’re living in a place like Queensland, for example, with its unpredictable weather and tropical heat, you need something big and tough as a veranda, able to stand coastal winds, the occasional deluge, and hot, strong sunlight during summer. The Australian climate can literally bleach and desiccate most external structures. Top quality materials and good designs have allowed these sometimes huge structures to do their job and survive the toughest conditions.



Verandas on the market



The Australian verandas have another aspect which might surprise some foreigners. You can simply pick up a phone or get online and choose a veranda for your home like shopping for groceries. They’re easily available to be installed directly. This is a consultative process, and the main issue is the sheer number of choices. After you’ve made up your mind, the installers will build a veranda for you, and you’ll find yourself with a whole new home lifestyle on your hands.

Wonderful Design for Small Coutyard by MyLandscapes

backyard/court yard with outdoor kicthen

Landscape is one of the best part of our house that located in around the house, a good landscape design can improve the value of our exterior value of the house. If you have the modern house design, you exactly need the modern courtyard design, because it will make our home looking more modern and also make our home become so wonderful. This courtyard really the most natural design, because it not only use the tress for make this place feel so natural, but this courtyard also use the great floor design which it use the wooden material to make it feel more natural. Palm, bamboo and other plants arranged with tropical forest style, look dense and look natural. Side of it, outdoor dining and relaxing space create with minimalist elegant look. 

Wonderful Design for Small Coutyard

 The hardwood continues the lines of the flooring. The granite in the waterfall increases in size while alternating texture and alignment, producing a captivating flow. That all innovation really the greatest ways to make our home looking so fresh and natural, because it really the wonderful ways. This place also equipped by the BBQ place which it will make us feel more interesting to spend our time in this place with our family. The small pound on this courtyard really make this place feel more beautiful and make it looking so special

Wonderful Design for Small Coutyard

Funky Outdoor Lighting – Pistillo suspension lamps by Martinelli Luce

Liven up your garden with this funky outdoor lighting by Martinelli Luce. The long, oval form of these Pistillo suspension lamps lends a sculptural feel to the lighting scheme, the illumination an integral part of the overall design. Not for the fainthearted, hidden way within the branches of a tree, but out in the open and proud, statement lighting at its best – bold and art-like. From a practical point of view Pistillo is ideal for outdoor dinner parties and entertaining, its fluorescent lamps bathing the surrounding areas in useful light – not intrusively strong but not so weak as to be ineffective. From an aesthetic point of view – with their black lacquered metal supports and distinctive orange cables – these funky suspension lamps are wonderfully minimalist, industrial in their design, unfussy and unpretentious. What’s not to like? For further information visit Martinelli Luce.

Things to consider when building a pool

Having made the decision to install a swimming pool in your backyard there are still plenty of things to think about and plenty of steps to take before you can take your first refreshing dip. Before you even contact a pool builder it is a good idea to research a little about design and construction options. You also need to think about how you will maintain your pool. Without the right pool pump and cleaner, your lovely crystal clear oasis will soon be less than appealing. Here are a few of the things you need to consider when planning your backyard pool.

Pool type

There are a number of different types of swimming pool available, each one with its own pros and cons. Above ground pools are cheap and simple to install, but are less aesthetically pleasing than other options. Fibreglass pools are good for complex designs, but are expensive to install and have limitations in terms of size and depth. Concrete pools are another potentially pricey option, but they are hard wearing and offer flexibility in terms of design. Vinyl lined pools are not as long lasting but they are cost effective solution and are very easy to maintain. No one type of pool is better than another. The key is to work out your priorities and match them to the right pool option.

Pool design

With the variety of pool types and materials available these days comes increasing flexibility in terms of design. You may decide that you want to opt for a simple conventional rectangular pool, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However if the shape of your backyard, or your creative vision, dictates something different you will almost certainly be able to find a pool builder to bring your design to life. This is a very important step in the process that will dictate the appearance of your pool, and most likely your entire backyard.

Additional features

Do you want to include any additional features in your pool, such as a water feature or spa. This kind of decision needs to be made at the same time as the overall pool design and it will impact significantly on the type of pool you choose.

Saltwater or traditional chlorine

In recent years saltwater pools have become more popular and they certainly do have some advantages over traditional chlorine pools. Many people find the relative lack of chlorine (saltwater pools are not completely chlorine free) makes for a more pleasant swimming experience that is gentler on the skin. On the other hand maintaining a saltwater pool can be expensive and the salt can cause damage over time to the lining of your pool, as well as cement, masonry and underwater lights.

Pool maintenance

Once your pool is ready for use you will want to keep it in good condition and make sure that the water is clean and clear. Therefore you need to choose the right pool cleaner, cover and pump for your swimming pool. 

Landscaping

Will you be integrating the pool into a wider landscaping project? If you are planning to landscape your backyard, it is a very good idea to put the pool in at the earliest stage, as it is a very disruptive process. You can take the opportunity to incorporate your pool design into a wider design aesthetic, so that it blends in effortlessly with the landscape in your backyard.

Innovative Outdoor Designs, The Company Belggia

Unique design of tables and benches, desks and chairs into one. Unique and innovative furniture that looks simple.

Here is a highly practical table design that could be of help when planning a picnic. The Hopper Table and Seat comes from Extremis, a Belgian company specialized in outdoor furniture. It is an original product, with a simple, yet very captivating look. Its uniqueness is given by the fact that the table and the two benches are united, making the product easy to move around. The innovative table was built using highly resistant wood which contrasts pleasantly with the white finish of the metal. We like the overall appearance of the design, as it makes us instantly think at a rich outdoor picnic. Do you find this type of table appealing, or do you prefer the more classic three-pieces product?

7 Reasons Why You Should Update your Pool's Filtration and Cleaning System

 

Thinking about replacing your pool's filtration and cleaning system? If you haven't considered it then it's time to start thinking about just how old your current filter and pump is. Letting this one slide may not be the best idea. Here's a few good reasons to think about replacing your current system:

1. Your pool filter and pool pump work hard to keep your pool shining and fresh almost year-round. Having something running for that long over such a large period of years is cause enough to replace it. Think about the appliances in your house that you've recently replaced and how much life they had left in them at the time. Not much? A pool's filtration system needs to be in top working order. If not, then it's likely to be not cleaning your pool as efficiently as it needs to be cleaned.
2. It's expected that one day they'll give up the ghost and you'll have to replace them. There's a danger that they'll both go at the same time, when you'll have no funds behind you to sort out the mess. Your pool pump, filtration and cleaning system are the reason it looks so sparkling clean. As a pool owner, you may well have let your duties slide a little bit from time to time. Imagine if you had no choice but to wait for a replacement, and all the while your pool is descending into something resembling a green primordial soup.
3. New technologies are constantly being created and developed specifically to make your life a lot easier. If you're using an old-fashion vacuum that you have to push around the bottom of a pool with a pole then it's definitely time to move on. Newer models of automated pool vacuums are efficient and more hands-free than ever before.
4. The time you spend on your pool maintenance is only going to grow the more you put off replacing your system. With innovations such as leaf eater attachments for your vacuum and salt water chlorinators, the time you spend on pool cleaning and maintenance can be cut down to a fraction.
5. As with all new technologies, the pool maintenance industry is creating more environmentally friendly products. A new cleaner and filtration system uses less energy (saving you money) and is more efficient at its job.
6. If your pool pump is old and cranky, it's likely that it's making a lot of noise. You could simply replace the motor, but it's only a matter of time before the rest of the pump begins to perish.
7. If you're replacing one part of your pool's system, perhaps installing a salt chlorinator or new vacuum, think about its compatibility with your current system. Old and new technologies will not necessarily mix well. Replacing the whole system may seem costly at the time, but it will ensure that all parts of your system are running smoothly and at their best.

There are multiple reasons to replace your current system, but it boils down to the simple idea that a new, more efficient cleaning and filtration system will do the job far better than your old one, leaving you with more time and energy to enjoy your pool.

Modern Prefab House Residence by Progetto Arquitetura & Interiores, Brazil

I love modern home design, It usually designed in prefab house style, this is my favorite residence design, located in Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil. this stunning residence has been designed by Progetto Arquitetura & Interiores. The idea of this project was to combine both the indoor and the outdoor areas using a contemporary architecture, and the result is an expanded area for different activities that feels part of the entire residence. This residence has three main levels: the kitchen, living and dining areas on the bottom floor and the bedrooms and private areas on the top.

Verandas and landscapes- How to create a beautiful exterior and a great living space

Landscaping has become one of the favorite DIY and design trends in recent years, and it’s also become an area of design which is considered somehow unaffordable. That’s way off the mark. You can add a lot to your home environment, with just simple but versatile verandas or pergolas. You can also do your design in affordable stages, and reduce outlays to suit your budget.

Landscaping and verandas
Landscaping is actually based on features. The elements of design will be relatively simple.
For example:
• Lawn
• Garden beds
• Rockeries
• Fountain
• Border features and fencing
The idea is that a veranda will complement these features, and provide a transitional environment from the house to the garden landscaping. The designs are naturally interlinked.
If you’ve seen those fabulous old style verandas which seem to create another part of the garden, all decked out with hanging pots, the faithful old family table and bric a brac, you’ll know the design mix a veranda can achieve. It’s not as difficult as it looks. Modern verandas have morphed into a design feature of much the same kind, just slightly more complex.
The modern veranda is now part veranda, part living space, and often enclosed to some degree. This is the “sunroom effect”, based on the fact that many sunrooms usually started as verandas, and people liked them so much they evolved into home extensions.
Design structure
Whatever sort of veranda you have, you can reinvent it into any form, and scape around it as you wish. Forget the mythology of massive expense and unspeakably fashionable bruises to your house budget. The design structure for mixing landscaping and verandas is extremely simple and you can do it at your own speed and on any budget.
You need:
A concept and a look to work with. Pro landscapers work with a plan from the start, and they just develop it into a landscape design.
For example:
The veranda faces south with a nice view. It’s a solid timber design, aged treated pine. It gets heat in one season and cold in another. The basic concept is to provide screening while keeping the view. The homeowner starts by installing some box frame covers with adjustable screens, very cheap, made to measure.
The screens also shield the house from hot and cold. The landscaping, external, now uses plantings to create further cover, like an ivy trellis, a few Chinese pines (small trees which as so beautiful they fit any design and are absolutely zero maintenance.)and some trees outside the view which also function as flower beds while blocking out the hot glare and sun angles and the cold blasts.
Net cost? Some time, but not a lot of money. The result is a beautiful landscape, made to personal tastes, and an upgraded, all-weather veranda.

One of the most loved landscaping icons, pergolas are an additional cover feature, and you can produce the most beautiful covered paths with a pergola, using roses, bougainvilleas, and other climbers.
If you want your place landscaped your way, start with your veranda, and consider what you’d like. The rest is incredible fun

Tips on Designing a Landscape Garden with Planting Grass Seed

Like any other plant, grass seed must be properly planted in order to grow. Although nothing can guarantee a perfect lawn, here are some tips that will stack the odds in your favor.

Picking the Seed 

For most places, you will want to use a mix that will thrive in both sun and shade. Read the bags carefully and choose a seed that will grow well in the conditions you have. For instance, while Kentucky Bluegrass is beautiful, it is high maintenance and a challenge to grow in some areas of the country.

Preparing the Soil 

Get a large quantity of fresh topsoil and spread it evenly over the area. Make sure it is at least 3 or 4 inches deep. Break up any sizable clumps. Although it’s easier if the soil remains relatively dry while you plant, don’t worry if you are interrupted by rain.    

Spreading the Seed 

Don’t spread the seed by hand. You won’t get the proper distribution and your grass will grow in clumps. For a small lawn, you can use a hand crank broadcast spreader. For larger lawns, a push spreader is ideal.
To improve the distribution, if you have enough seed, repeat the application over 2 or 3 consecutive days.

  

Cultivating

Once spread, use a rake to work all the seed into the soil. Keep in mind that any that remains visible will likely become birdseed.
Tamp the soil to 'lock' the seed underneath, and level as much as possible. Then water the entire area liberally. Continue watering generously on a daily basis until the grass sprouts evenly. In most cases this is 1 to 2 weeks.
Water at a time of day when the water drops on the new grass won’t burn it—generally late in the afternoon or early in the evening is the best time to water. If it rains significantly, of course, you should avoid over-watering.

When to Mow and Treat 

You don’t want to mow the new grass until it is well-established. Wait 2 to 3 weeks after the sprouts appear or until the blades are over 3 inches high.
Also avoid applying weed killer or fertilizer to newly planted grass until it is established. These chemicals can actually burn tender new plants.  

Brown Patch Repair

In an established lawn with bare or brown spots, start by digging up the browned areas. Apply more soil if needed. Treat the bare spots as if they were little patches of new lawn, and follow the above steps for seeding a lawn.
You could also purchase grass patch—a dry green foam infused with seed and fertilizer—to place over the bare patches. Simply apply and keep moist until grass sprouts.


Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-plant-grass-seed#ixzz0yQidORk6

Guides on Planning an Outdoor Lighting Layout

Outdoor lighting projects such as garden lighting, park, landscape lighting need a serious planing. A successful outdoor lighting plan requires selecting the right fixtures, then placing and wiring them correctly. The first thing before planing an outdoor lighting is Selecting the right design and components, Walk into any home center or garden center this spring and you’re guaranteed to run into a towering display of low-voltage lighting. You’ll find $69 prepackaged sets and $100 individual lights; plastic fixtures and metal ones; lights you can shine down from trees and up from ponds.

Use waterproof pond lights for illuminating pools, fountains and other water features; offset path lights for lighting walkways; cone lights for highlighting both walkways and the surrounding plants; tree-mounted spotlights for simulating moonlight; and flood lights for illuminating trees, buildings and other large elements.

Consider that a Special lights need special effects too, A MOON LIGHT should be installed 15 to 30 ft. high and have one or more branches between it and the ground to simulate moon shadows. Provide at least 24 in. between the light and branches to prevent “hot spots.”

Here are another tips on designing an outdoor lighting plan:

• If your lights come with press-on fittings—the type that bite through the insulation and into the wire to make their connection—cut them off and use the wire connectors shown in Photo 4. 
• The farther a light is from the transformer (and the more lights installed between it and the transformer), the less light it will put out.  
• Always leave a little extra wire as you hook up the lights. This will give you the freedom to move a light after you’ve hooked it up for testing or after you’ve installed it.
• Burying the wires should be your last step. Lay everything out, hook up your lights, test your voltage, and look at your results at night before burying the lines.
• Purchase a transformer with a built-in photocell and timer. Orient the photocell with some western (sunset) orientation so it doesn’t turn lights on too early.

more information: rd.com

Outdoor Lighting System of Confort Myojindai with EYE CERA ARC lamps

The outdoor  lighting system for this housing complex was revamped along with exterior improvements of the housing development. Pole lights and approach lights of human scale and height have been set up along the pathways for the development. Here is an outdoor lighting system of Confort Myojindai, located in Yokohama City, Japan.

By combining wide-span light distributing Cerca fixtures and highly efficient EYE CERA ARC lamps, a lighting environment was created, which contributes to energy conservation while ensuring sufficient illuminant for safety. Environmentally-friendly lighting system that controls light pollution gently illuminates the garden.

The solar LED blocks are set up along the roads, for creating a visual guidance effect and therapeutic space, so it make a romantic and safety road to use the roads. [eye]

Choosing Area and Type of Outdoor Lighting for Garden

Outdoor lighting type and design should considering several lighting effects, by placing the light at the base of a wall or hedge the light 'cover' over the surface creating a soft glow effect. However this can also be achieved by 'lifting' the light at certain angles to cover the desired area eg. garden area. Good areas and features to concentrate on:- Dining and seating areas, walkways, sculptures, water features, pots, specimen planting, trees, architectural features, garden features, buildings, etc can all be highlighted in a garden to create wonderful, varied ‘textures’ of light.

Uplighting, down lighting, mid-level lighting, step lighting, etc?

You may want to take into consideration how the garden will be used and how the garden will be viewed from the house. Also, consider security aspects, lighting can deter unwanted intruders! Consider how the lights are going to be ‘switched on’ – exteior switch or interior switch? How many lights are required to be switched on at any one time? If you require some areas of the lighting to be separate from others you will require different lighting ‘circuits’. You may want to consider ‘remote control’ lighting, whereby the lighting can be operated with a small keyfob, as opposed to using a switch. Do you require ‘sensors’? [greenways]

Outdoor Lighting Basics for Designing Garden and Landscape

Several garden and landscape designer forgot to designing the outdoor lights elements, Outdoor lighting is an often over looked, but crucial element to creating great outdoor spaces. Outdoor lighting extends the function of outdoor spaces into the evening, and helps define a warm and inviting living space. A variety of lighting effects are possible through proper use of outdoor lighting.

Uplighting: Uplighting can be used to highlight a vertical object in your outdoor space such as a specimen tree, an interesting façade, or landscape structure such as trellises and arbors. In order to prevent glare, fixtures should be aimed away from viewer. For objects viewed multiple sides, well lights with louvers should be used, and located as close to the base of the object as possible.

Spotlighting: Special landscape features such as sculptures, specimen shrubs or benches can be lighted from above utilizing shielded spot lamps. Lights should be concealed in adjacent trees or structures, and should be used judiciously in the landscape.

Path Lighting: Patch Lighting is accomplished by utilizing low mounted spread lights along one edge of a path. Path lighting is available in an endless array of styles, and often becomes a feature of your outdoor space.

Moonlighting: By strategically locating small ‘up and down’ fixtures inside of large trees, it is possible to replicate the effect of moonlight filtering through the branches. It is crucial the fixtures are specially designed for this purpose.

The key to all these affects is to not over due it. Nothing is more tacky than washing your property with gigantic flood lights. Remember, part of what makes a beautiful outdoor space at night, is the fact that it’s dark out!

Outdoor Lighting Ideas with Energy-Efficient Technology

Before designing an outdoor lighting, anyone who plan a new home or refurbishing an existing one should give early thought to lighting. Timely planning of electrics pays off: it enables comfortable, energy-efficient outdoor lighting solutions to be taken into account in the design phase.

There are four types of outdoor lights, with varying energy efficiency.

LED Outdoor Ligths are energy efficient. Look for multiple bulbs and higher wattage for garden beds and sculptures. A low-voltage LED (light-emitting diode) has a transformer to convert 240-volt household power into a safer 12 volts.

Low-Voltage Halogen Lights are brighter than LED but use more electricity. They’re best used for accent lighting around the deck area, and they also have transformers to convert power to 12 volts.

Solar Lights have rechargeable batteries powered by solar panels. They’re inexpensive to run, with the occasional battery replacement needed, but aren’t as bright as other types. They don’t require wiring and are good for lighting pathways.

240-Volt Halogen Lights are the most powerful and good for lighting trees, but require installation by a qualified electrician. They consume the most electricity so consider using with a timer for energy efficiency.

Dining under the Stars Extend the outdoor dining and entertainment area with lights for function and ambience. Always check if the lights are suited to being used outside and use just one long outdoor extension cord for mulTIP:le lights rather than piggybacking lots of cords into one power outlet.

Task Lighting should be unobtrusive and focused over the dining area. Set up a spotlight with a soft glow rather than harsher white light to brighten the dining table.

Accent Lighting adds texture and a decorative element. Highlight planters or position lights for dramatic effect with shadows. Connect outdoor lights to automatic sunset timers that sense dusk and dawn to operate more efficiently.

Ambient Lighting can be used on the table with candles or overhead with soft light from a chandelier.

Heavy Duty Lighting Minimise glare from floodlights by focusing them away from the direct line of view or diffusing the brightness by positioning rocks and foliage around them.

On the deck
Position matching downlights under the eaves for even light distribution onto the deck, and drape LED fairy lights along tree branches for year-round entertaining.

Outdoor Lights for Garden and Landscape

Outdoor Lights for Garden and Landscape

Outdoor lighting become important since it used not only for making-over the garden and landscape, here are several beautiful outdoor lights system that installed on garden or landscape. There's much more to lighting than meets the eye, and considering how to light your garden can drastically change the look, feel, and ambiance of any outdoor lights system.

Outdoor lighting has some general, obvious uses: it helps you do things easily, makes you feel safe, and makes your home comfortable. But it can do much more when used to its full potential.