With the decline in manufacturing in the 1950’s and 60’s, empty warehouses, schools, factories, and office and retail spaces opened up the opportunity for cheap rentals. These spaces allowed for the first true urban pioneers to establish an imaginative and trendy style that is still alive and growing. By keeping the exposed brick walls, and wood or concrete floors, as well as the duct work and pipes that were left in the buildings, people began creating useful and inviting spaces. Since many of the building were equipped with large windows and lots of them, there was no shortage of light to flood the rooms, which was just another added bonus, in some cases.

Although renovating an old building can be daunting and expensive nowadays, it can be well worth the effort. Breathing new life into formerly unused buildings is not only good for the building, it brings a sense of uplifting pleasure to those who live and visit the home or business. It renews the neighborhood and the people who live there, adding beauty and style. It allows the owner and designer to keep a bit of historical architecture while using new processes to preserve them. It can even add new revenue to the neighborhood by adding a bar, nightclub, restaurant, or even rental venue for weddings and such. The opportunities are endless for these vacant buildings. Of course, planning and design are an important first step. You should know ahead of time just where any wall or plumbing will have to be placed for kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and you’ll want to try to keep as much of the existing details and elements of the original building to stay true to the industrial/urban feel.

The style has led to the manufacturing and reproduction of industrial pieces that were popular in this bygone era. From lighting, to seating, to dining tables and accessories, there are a plethora of products that will look great with almost any decorating style. You can find fun pieces to incorporate into your home by looking for reproductions or shop the salvage and junk yards, garage sales, and flea markets for a special piece. An aged and worn look is what makes these pieces stand out and adds character and charm to any home when placed in just the right spot. Searching is half the fun, but the finished look of the room is what will grab the eyes, so search for pieces that speak to you about the industrial times.

In today’s internet world, you can find people who will refurbish old finds or create new pieces to match old ones such as wall or ceiling tiles. Metal staircases, doors and pulley systems left in old buildings make a great addition to these spaces. Keeping everyone safe by removing lead paint and asbestos is certainly a priority and you should always have the property checked before making a purchase or renting one out. Needless to say, you will also have to apply for permission to change it to residential use if need be.

We understand that the industrial style is not for everyone. The fact is, most people like the look and feel of something new. Personally, I love holding on to a special aged treasure that reminds me of times gone by. I also really enjoy shopping for creative and imaginative items designed for today’s spaces. Whatever your style, I hope you stay open enough to open your home to a bit of the past by seeking out a few urban elements or industrial furniture pieces.

First of all, what are blackout curtains? A lot of people are under the false impression that blackout curtains are completely black, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Blackout curtain linings are actually usually made of white fabric. They are made with tightly woven material that blocks all kind of outside light from entering the room.

This can have all types of benefits. Per example, I use to work as a night guard at a local hospital, and I had a lot of issues getting some quality sleep when I came back home because my curtains weren’t blocking the light properly. A lot of people work night shifts these days and finding blinds that can do the job can be really difficult, since most blinds are made for aesthetic reasons, not efficiency.

Another reason why you should consider getting blackout curtains is because of their amazing energy saving properties. Blackout curtains can help you save on energy bills in all kinds of ways. Per example, they can help you save on air conditioning by preventing sunrays from entering the room during hot summer days, hence keeping the room cooler naturally.

During the winter days, blackout curtains can help you keep the heat in and the cold out, further helping you lower your energy expenses. Another great advantage of these kinds of curtains is that they prevent outside noise from entering the room, which is a great thing if you have to sleep at unusual times during the day.

But to take advantage of blackout curtains, you have to make sure that they are installed properly, or you’ll lose all benefits. You have to make sure that your curtains cover the entire window and are installed higher than the curtain rod so they can effectively block the light from entering.

To make sure that you save energy during the colder fall and winter months, you have to make sure that you only open your blinds when the outside temperature exceeds your room’s temperature and when there’s enough sunlight outside to heat up the room.

All in all, this is great for people with a hectic schedule who are trying to enjoy a good night’s sleep, and they can also help you save a great deal on your energy bill. Just make sure that you install them properly and use them wisely if you want to take advantage of all their benefits.

Light control would be one important factor that would decide upon the mood and the temperature maintained by any a space. If an open space or window fall anywhere to the east or west, simply means facing the sun at the time of rising or set, sure you need to bring in accessories that would help you control the sun, thereby control temperature and lighting.

Lighting for any space is important to be maintained to keep up with the mood of the room, few designed spaces need less external lighting and they carry internal lighting on their own, or that it is like the interior works of the room will only have an elevated view if the lighting is proper of control.

And of course, any space comes with windows or glasses that just adds life to space, to get control over light, no one really stacks bricks all around the space, construct with no windows. That just means that windows are required, but the light that comes in needs to be controlled according to the mood.

Blackout curtains are one good way to control the light and maintain the lighting mood of a space. It is not the lighting alone that it controls, you have an efficient control of temperature as well. So would like to let you know the right curtains can save you a lot of money, at least 25% of your space temperature maintenance cost.

The plaster is often revered for its timeless aesthetic beauty, as well as its durability and resistance. Not only is the ancient application incredibly hard-wearing, it also has low resistance to vapour diffusion, making it breathable and safe for every environment. It also has superior insulating properties due to its high micro-porosity.

Many builders and decorators will wax lyrical about the application’s many qualities – particularly its flame resistance, anti-bacterial properties and highly durability. It is also incredibly flexible and easier to apply than traditional decorating materials. But what actually is Venetian plaster and how is it made?

The process is lengthy and relies on a number of precise variables in order to end up with the perfect make-up. The product is made from lime – an ancient, renewable and highly resistant material that originates from pebbles. These pebbles (which are rich in calcium carbonate) are slowly transformed into a slaked lime product using a carefully orchestrated balance of tradition and technology.

The pebbles are baked in a wood kiln, as they would have been in more primitive times. It’s important to interject here, as the most environmentally responsible companies won’t chop down trees in order to make their kilns. The best manufacturers will use recycled wood sourced from carpenters and other sources.

Sawdust (usually collected in large amounts of scrap from local tradesmen) is then blown into the oven to burn the pebbles, rather than incorporating harmful chemicals such as gas or petroleum. This also prevents the need for electricity, saving once again on ecological consumption.

The pebbles are baked for over a week in the kiln, with an automatic control system monitoring the temperature and process. An innovative filtering system is then used to dampen the emissions into the atmosphere, making the process safer, and more environmentally friendly, still.

At this stage, the pebbles have usually crumbled into a quicklime substance. They are then immerged in water, where they will dissolve into liquid form, ready for the next stage of the process.

The substance is filtered once again in order to remove any unbaked lime that could potentially jeopardise the quality of the product. The slaked lime is then poured into a maturation tank, where it rests for approximately six months. This is typically the minimum time needed for it to mature into a chemical structure – so the process cannot be hurried.

One it has been left to rest, the lime is chemically balanced to make sure it is of the best possible quality and meets all safety requirements. Before it enters the manufacturing process, it is micro-filtered again to ensure the removal of even the smallest impurities, and create the creamy texture we now recognise as plaster.

If you’re looking to source Venetian plaster for your decorating project, it’s important that you use a good-quality, environmentally responsible supplier. If in doubt, it’s best to consult the company about how the product has been made. You can also look for customer reviews online to inform you of the quality of their materials.