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Upgrading your home's landscape is a great way to increase the value of your property and create outdoor spaces for relaxation and fun. Whether you just want to focus on your front or backyard, or an entire piece of land, there are several interesting options to consider. In the yard, you can create a fun space with friends and family with open kitchen, fireplace, pool and more, or you can create a lush garden that attracts wildlife and lets you relax and reflect. If you have never tackled a landscape idea before, you could be surprised by all the opportunities you can take. But the same principles that guide the setting of your indoor room should also guide your designs from the outside. Here are seven ideas for landscape design for beginners. 1. Make a list of needs and wishes. Do your kids need a playground? Would you like to grow vegetables? Will the family meet in the yard? Make some very rough sketches of the garden with your thoughts on where you want to put things; this is an excellent organizational principle for beginner landscape design. 2. Study of sun and wind pattern. You can set a garden on the west side of the house, but there will be a lot of sunshine in the afternoon, which means that the dinnertime during August will not be relaxing, only hot. And wind whistling in the corner will quickly extinguish a fire pit. 3. Live with it for a moment. Getting quick conclusions about your yard can lead to choices that do not work long-term. "In your yard, there are certain areas where you want to go and sit you wouldn't have thought of in the first place. 4. Start small. TV programs at home and in the garden are the masters in discovering the complete outdoor makeover change. Part of the creation of the landscape is to develop the plan and enjoy the process slowly. From your master plan, start with a small flower bed. 5. Work around a focal point. Every good garden design has a focal point or a series of focal points and is an easy implementation principle in the scenery for beginners. It can be a sculpture or a glittering plant, tree or shrub. The goal is to attract your attention and move it across the landscape. 6. Focus on measure and pacing. This is the most complex principle in landscape design for beginners, but scales and pacing give your yard a twisted look. There will be a variation of size, shape, and color, with large plants against the building or the back of the flowerbed and the ways that lead people through the space. 7. Be open to change. Unless you are very dedicated to something, be honest with what you love and what might benefit you. Remember that patience is the key to landscape design for beginners. If all this empty place is too much to look at, and the kids and dogs lie in the mud, then rely on temporary solutions: plants, fast-growing groundcovers that does not matter long-term, - cover the area as you figure out what you want.

Introduction Choosing the right countertop can be very confusing, especially if you can only choose from what is left. However, if you are exposed to all the different kitchen countertops available, your eyes will be open to the different styles we have and this will ultimately give you the best kitchen countertop shopping experience. What is a Kitchen Countertop to You? A countertop is one of the major components in a kitchen. It is surface where all the food preparation is done. Modern-day kitchen countertops are designed to allow customization by having space where other kitchen components and accessories like sinks, cookers, dispensers, cutting boards etc. can be installed. What Should You Consider in a Kitchen Countertop? In choosing a kitchen countertop the material, durability, aesthetic and cost are the typical criteria to consider. If you properly analyze the factors commonly considered, you will notice that the cost, aesthetics, and durability all depend on the material used. Hence, we thoroughly look at the different materials used in Countertops. Kitchen Countertop Materials As mentioned earlier, the material used in making a kitchen countertop determines if the countertop will be expensive, durable or add to the aesthetics of a kitchen. There are a plethora of materials for making kitchen countertops. For the purpose of this article, we will stick to the top popular materials for kitchen countertops. The materials are concrete, soapstone, marble, stainless steel, ceramic tile, laminates engineered stone, and solid surface. Concrete Most people who subscribe to concrete countertops do so because of its advantages: It is resistant to heat and scratches; with proper finishes, it will look decorative; it adds aesthetic to the kitchen and it is also durable. While the advantages appear very enticing, there are also some setbacks in using concrete countertops for example; there is a tendency of cracking and it will be porous if not properly sealed. Soapstone Soapstone is a rock and it is one of the best materials used in making countertops. This is because it is resistant to stain, has a smooth feel, adds to the beauty of the kitchen and it is also last very long. However, it requires the application of mineral oil from time to time and there is also a possibility of cracking. Marble If you want a countertop that is waterproof, heatproof and beautiful then a marble countertop is what you should go for. But keep in mind that the cost of installation is high besides being porous, non-resistant to scratches and getting stained easily. Stainless Steel With its durability and customization feature, stainless steel countertops have taken over the kitchens of contemporary homes. Hot pans can be placed on them, they are easy to clean and they are also very durable. The high cost of Installation and the noise it makes when something is dropped on it are a few hitches associated with it. Ceramic Tile The ceramic countertop is similar to the stainless steel countertop. It is durable, hot pans can be placed on it, it is easy to clean plus it comes in a plethora of color, design and texture. A few hitches associated with it are: possibility of cracking or chipping, and the surface are not even since tiles are joined at the edges. Laminates If you are looking to save money, then the laminate countertop is the best choice for you. Installation is cheap, it is easy to clean, it has a smooth surface, it is durable, and it also comes in a plethora of color. The disadvantages of laminate countertops are: It is not resistant to scratches and there is a possibility of chipping. Engineered Stone The engineered stone countertop is durable, resistant to acid and stains and very easy to maintain. However, it is expensive to install. Solid Surface Solid surface countertops resistant to stain and they also come in a plethora of colors. You always get to pick a color that suits you. The disadvantages of a solid surface countertop are that it is expensive to install and there is the possibility of being damaged by hot equipment. Conclusion You’ve gone through 8 different countertop styles and materials. Without a doubt, you are feeling more confident about how you can install one. If all these appear too overwhelming, contact a professional for solid advice.