GIFT YOUR YARD A GAZEBO

If you are looking to add charm and elegance to your backyard landscape, a gazebo may be the perfect addition. A gazebo is an aesthetically pleasing covered open structure that is the foremost place to relax and enjoy the scenery and peacefulness of your yard. The extended outdoor living space is also an excellent place to entertain guest, have a BBQ, take family photos or host a wedding. The shade and shelter from the outdoor elements a gazebo provides makes it a choice area to put cushioned furniture and/ or a hot tub. Parlay lights, fans and a walkway of pavers to enhance the functionality of your recreational area. Furthermore, decorating with planters and flowers will add character to your gazebo and are a splendid finishing touch to make it your own personal oasis.

Because a gazebo highlights a yard and has multifunctional uses, it is an excellent selling point if you are looking to put your home on the market. So, an attractive gazebo not only improves the appearance of the property but improves the home’s value.

Realm of Design can customize an enjoyable gazebo that will bring a sense of calm and serenity to you –and your backyard. A tranquil gazebo will create your own personal parkland that is sure to become your new favorite spot.  Visit http://www.REALMofDesign.com for more gazebo and other landscape architectural accents.

DECORATING WITH COLUMNS / PILLARS

Throughout history, extensive use of columns on the interior and exterior of a building was the most characteristic feature of classic architecture. In fact, Columns and Pillars have been a component of architecture as early as 2600BC when they were used by the ancient Egyptians primarily as decorative support structures. Fast track to 2013 where these fundamental pieces of architecture are being used mostly for embellishment rather than engineering.

Designers and architects looking to make a space more interesting and not just cover a structural support  incorporate decorative columns (or pillars as some may call them). Whether it be ceiling-to-floor columns or smaller free-standing pillars, these architectural accents provide a variety of looks and are a smart choice for someone wanting to add sophistication and elegance to a dwelling. Decorative Interior Columns are used frequently as room dividers to add balance, create accents and add rustic flair —especially when combined with architectural arches and an Old World style fireplace mantel. If an area of a room needs shielding due to exposed wiring or plumbing, a free-standing column can be a great concealer while serving as a functional pedestal for flowers, statues and vases.

Outdoor Exterior columns are visually compelling and enhances a home’s architecture and landscape.  They can boost curb appeal and refine a home’s entryway and/or patio. These aesthetically pleasing Columns can be customized by Realm of Design with an assortment shapes, colors and/or textures to compliment the structure’s architecture and transcend the home’s beauty. They also provide a perfectly classy transition from the patio to the landscape. Columns / Pillars are one of the few architectural elements that can also be decorated. They are commonly graced with garland, lights, foliage and/ or ivy. This can give the columns additional character and a unique presence.

All of the Custom Architectural Columns / Pillars by Realm of Design are manufactured at our Las Vegas facility.  For more decorating with columns ideas, visit http://www.REALMofDesign.com.

MY GRANDPA LIVED TO 108—THESE WERE HIS SECRETS TO LONGEVITY

Actually he was my Great Grandfather but he wanted everyone to call him Grandpa.  His name was Charlie Vincent and he lived till a few days shy of his 108^th birthday a couple years back. (I will get into how he died later.) I have never met anyone else like him.  He was not one of these frail, frigid senior citizens.  He was strong, quick, and other than a common cold, he had never been ill.  He also had a sharp memory that allowed him to remember dates and days of the week events took place. No Alzheimers. No dementia.

So how did Grandpa live so long without ever being sick?  He attributed his health to a few things.  For starters, he believed one should never drink water from the tap.  For as long as I remember, he had his water delivered in big GLASS jugs.  Not the plastic jugs or bottles that water usually comes in which is known to have a link to cancer.  He also took about 30 vitamins a day.  I think he took every vitamin that was on the market at the time. I remember he always believed that Choline and Panothetic Acid helped his memory.  He used vinegar on his salads and would drink some afterward.  Since he had a big yard at his home in Ohio, he had a garden and would eat many of the fruits and vegetables that he grew.  I can still see him taking a bite out of the rhubarb that he just broken off.  He also refused to eat anything that was cooked in a microwave. Now Grandpa wasn’t exactly what I would call a health-nut because he also liked his cigars, brandy and an occasional swig of whiskey.

Grandpa moved around like someone less than half his age.  Hell, a quarter his age!  He always had a spring in his step. No hunch and no arthritis. He was always active– But not by going to a gym.  He rather believed in physical labor. He felt “Hard Work Never Hurt Anyone.”  Charlie had a couple acres of grass on his property and refused to use a riding mower.  Instead, he used a push mower with NO motor—just blades.  He also had a very long driveway.  Up till he was 107, he would shovel the snow out of his driveway, then go shovel his 60-year old neighbor’s driveway because Grandpa was worried his neighbor may have a heart attack.  He was always chopping wood or doing some kind of yardwork.  At 99 years old, he re-roofed his house… By himself.

Grandpa had a certain way of thinking.  He firmly believed that one shouldn’t get depressed or stressed.  In fact, these states of mind were foreign to him.  He couldn’t fathom the idea of how someone would/ could get depressed…he didn’t understand it.  And this was a man that outlived a couple of wives.  He was genuinely happy and enjoyed the simple things in life. For instance, he would get a huge smile on his face and his eyes would light up when my stepdad would channel surf and land on the Playboy channel.  My family always cracked up watching him.

So how did Charlie die?  It was the strangest thing.  He woke up one day (107 yrs old at the time) and just decided that he had lived long enough and it was his time to go.  It was as if a switch got turned on—or off—in his head and he was done.  Since he wasn’t sick or dying of any health problems, he decided to stop eating.  Because he was of sound mind the doctors wouldn’t interfere.  His children, which he still referred to as the “kids” even though they were in their 70’s and 80’s, pleaded with him to reconsider, eat and live.  He didn’t. He died on the heels of his 108^th Birthday.  In Grandpa fashion, even without eating, he lived longer than the normal person would.  My mom and I started joking that he must be part alien because he still looked good.  My mom was one to point out that he had beautiful legs—no varicose veins.  We were both quite jealous of that.

I don’t know if Grandpa’s way of life would prove longevity for someone else but it certainly worked for him.  Or he really was part alien.

CROSS-OVER TO A CONCRETE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

The most popular trend in kitchen countertops is the ever so versatile concrete countertop. Concrete countertops have become all the rage for many different reasons. For starters, they are customizable to any shape or size. So if you have or need an unusually shaped countertop—concrete is definitely the way to go. The concrete can also be personalized with the color and finish of your choice. Because each concrete countertop from Realm of Design is custom made and precast in our Las Vegas facility, inlays of metal or other decorative pieces, can be embedded to tailor-make your luxurious countertop even more unique.

Being versatile, concrete countertops compliment any home décor style. The sleek concrete facade reflects an industrial look appearing chic within a contemporary/modern setting. To exemplify a fashionable kitchen, combine a concrete countertop with stainless steel appliances and modern fixtures. These diverse countertops can transition beautifully into a classic or traditional décor setting because of the concrete’s natural stone — especially when paired with rustic wood cabinets and bronze accents. For the Green of heart, Concrete Countertops have an added benefit of having a sustainable eco-friendly option when GreenStone, our patented material that uses recycled glass and flyash, is utilized in the aggregate.

So if you are looking for an attractive, durable, high-quality countertop, crossover to a Realm of Design Custom Concrete Countertop. Your kitchen will thank you.  Visit http://www.RealmofDesign.com for more information.

ADD INSTANT HOME VALUE–REMODEL YOUR FRONT ENTRYWAY

Home remodeling projects are typically done to improve a home’s aesthetic appearance and/ or to improve a home’s value. And although most projects are done hoping to get a good cost-to-value ratio or at least break even, there really is only one renovation that seems to have the strongest factor for adding the highest value to the home…and that is the remodeling of the exterior front entryway.

The dramatic improvement of a home’s front entryway not only offers the the benefit of having the highest cost-to-value ratio, but the visible benefit of giving the home a facelift. A beautifully remodeled front entry way provides character to the home by adding style and sophistication.. This creates instant property value by adding curb appeal. The more impressive the front entry way—the higher the value. Realm of Design architectural accents certainly help add curb appeal. Our custom trim, moldings, columns and other exterior elements can really make a front entryway look striking.

So if you’ve caught the home remodeling bug, consider renovating your front entryway if you want to improve the property’s value and make the home stand out. Remember… Renovate to Appreciate.  Check out more beautiful front entryways at http://www.RealmofDesign.com.