Category Archives: Tips

stone floors

Frequent mistakes in laying stone floors

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Stone floors look very impressive, but their proper execution requires appropriate knowledge, experience and equipment. Unfortunately, the lack of any of the above factors often leads to making mistakes, which may cost us dearly. Those that happen most often during the installation of stone tiles are discussed in the further part of the article. Are you interested in them? We invite you to read more!

  1. The use of equipment adapted to the cutting of ceramics, while it is necessary to use saws and diamond blades, which allow smooth and even stone cutting. They are expensive and their type should be chosen according to the type of stone used, because only then can the intended effect be achieved..
  2. Application of adhesive and joint mortars with cement slurry in a set with a stone made of acidic rock. Their contact may cause an indifference reaction and lead to unsightly stains on the surface of the stone, which cannot be removed in any way. Therefore, a person who specialises in flooring should know the acidity of stones and choose adhesives and grouts to match them.
  3. Laying stone tiles on dry concrete ground, which significantly prolongs the whole drying process.
  4. Hurry during work, accompanied by the lack of control over the equality of the floor with the use of a spirit level and easy two-metre long. Neglecting to do so can make the floor look bad.
  5. Too fast jointing, which should be done only after the adhesive has dried well. It is best to wait a week, but in the meantime care for the floor by pouring water on it when the joints are not filled.
  6. Failure to verify that the tile adheres to the ground with its entire surface (this can be checked by tapping – when the tile makes a deafening sound, it means that there is a free space between the tile and the ground). Of course, not adhering to a tile does not have to result in it cracking or falling off right away, but this problem should be eliminated as far as possible.
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Natural light – light up your rooms

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Natural light and design

Home interior design and space arrangement are really important things. They can make our lives much easier of much more troublesome. Everything in reality depends on the fact how we choose to arrange available to us spaces, what colours we choose, what furniture etc. let’s not forget about the inner power of details – they can make all the difference as well. There’s actually no surprise in the fact that spaces play such a  huge role in our lives – after all we’re the creatures of senses and body , we experience the world through our surroundings, and space is one of the most important things in it.

Spatial dimensions aren’t uniform. they are composed of multiplicity of factors that shape them and as result shape our perception of the world as well. Natural light is one o the most interesting aspects of spaces. Although, it’s an actual physical barrier or a limit that creates boundaries for our physical bodies it can heavily influence the way we feel and live our lives. Natural light has the power to optically change spaces and our impressions of them. Think for example of poorly lit interiors where we actually start feeling claustrophobic and crammed. Than, consider brightly lit rooms of the same size as the former ones and they definitely make completely different impressions. Keeping in mind this inner power of natural light let’s think of home design.

Bright interiors

Home interior design is pretty well aware of the fact how a given light can change our perspective of rooms and spaces. Natural light is particularly valued here – after all it’s natural and as such the most comfortable for our eyes. It’s not too bright, yet it gives off plenty of light. It’s not too dull, and it doesn’t make things smaller. Natural light is a blessing for our eyes and home interior designer know it. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that modern interiors are very often brightly coloured and have huge windows. Panoramic windows allow natural light to come in and light up the spaces. Contemporary home design makes perfect use of the advantages of such natural light.

Modern homes and flats are therefore very spacious, there’s no place that’s crammed or chaotically organised. Huge windows let in sunny light and make everything look simply great. Modern designs are really stunning. They definitely draw attention and people who’re living there feel at home and at ease. It’s really comfortable and convenient to live there. Therefore, it’s best to make full use of such spaces and enjoy the natural beauty of our world.

Plywood ideas

Plywood ideas – refresh your home

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Plywood ideas – sample plywood objects

Plywood is an all-purpose building material, which can have various types and applications. Depending on the qualities of particular plywood you can find a lot things made of plywood. You can have softwood or hardwood plywood (here the differences are obvious, they are more or less hard), aircraft plywood, flexible plywood or purely decorative plywood. Consequently, you can find plywood in multiplicity of places, for example – in roofing or subflooring, planes interiors, in all kinds of cabinetry, furniture or fixtures, and as kinds of decorations and everyday use objects. There are many advantages of using plywood as your building material. No matter the kind of plywood, it’s known for its high durability and strength (especially the flexible one can bend easily and withstand a lot of forces), it’s relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to boards made of full wood and it’s easy to mold and design.

Plywood on a kitchen countertop

Plywood can make really interesting homeware. Due to its qualities it can be fitted in all kinds of possible designs and be bent and molded into various shapes. Imagine for example kitchen clock fitted into plywood frame, or plywood memo board that can be hanged over the kitchen table, steam bent hanger for coats and jackets made into unusual protruding shapes or plywood frames for pictures or mirrors. The possibilities here are endless. Plywood applications are many and more. All depends on designers ideas and imagination. What’s particularly interesting, is the fact that plywood homeware can add your home a touch of warm welcome. Wooden appearance gives and air of cosines and warmth. It’s particularly good for sterile and sleek modern day kitchens. To warm them a little bit and add life it’s best to set plywood decorative elements against clean cut granite countertop.

Only imagine heavy granite countertop, dark and solid in the center of your kitchen. Standing there alone it’s just too overwhelming and bold. To minimize its stunning power just set a few items of plywood on the very top. In this way you can make it less overpowering and more inviting. Small things can really make a difference.

Quartz jewellery

Quartz jewellery – enjoy the beauty

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Quartz qualities

Quartz is a mineral that is made of silicon and oxygen. Usually it takes the form of quartz crystal. However, it isn’t its only form. It takes many shapes and kinds depending on the formation process. It is very popular mineral, which can be easily found. It’s second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s layers. What are its qualities? First of all, quartz comes in a variety of colours, common colours are crystal white, grey, purple or yellow. Second important quartz feature is its relative hardness. It’s not the most hard mineral but still it’s in the upper range. It’s also completely non-porous which means it doesn’t absorb liquids. Quartz comes in a variety of forms and shapes.

Quartz applications

Quartz due to its distinctive qualities has many uses. Its applications are for example glass making, gemstones, quartz based watches and computer parts. Other very typical quartz applications are quartz worktops and countertops. Quartz is an easy mineral to engineer. Engineered surfaces are gaining momentum now and find a lot of uses. They are highly popular because they use both natural strengths and inherent qualities of quartz and through careful engineering these natural qualities are enhanced and visibly strengthened. Quartz jewellery is another interesting application.

Quartz jewellery

Quartz crystals are truly beautiful. Their translucent colours and veining make them perfect for jewellery applications. Their inherent beauty and uniqueness for ages have inspired artists around the globe to make beautiful things. Quartz was especially popular in Eurasia during the ancient times, where it was frequently used for making bracelets, pendants and other pieces of jewellery. In today’s world it also frequently appears in earrings, necklaces and other pieces of decorative art. Thanks to quartz durability it’s an easy material to work on. It comes in a variety of cuts and forms. What you need to do is to simply cherish its stunning beauty.

Gneiss

Gneiss

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Gneiss – the building stone

When we decide to choose gneiss as a building stone, it is important to consider aspects such as resistance to changing temperatures, non-slip surface, variety of thicknesses and sizes, universality of use and high resistance to wear. Gneiss has all these qualities and therefore it is perfect for both interiors and exteriors.

Windowsills made of gneiss

Resistance to changing temperatures and atmospheric conditions makes gneiss a perfect material for making windowsills. Temperature amplitudes or frequent rain can do it no harm. Moreover, gneiss is resistant to cracking and breaking. It is sold in the form of big slabs. Their shape is unique, irregular and so are their colours.

Gneiss – properties

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock and its composition is similar to that of granite. Its characteristic feature is directional texture, and most often sandy granulation. Gneiss is characteristic because of its hardness and unique, shiny surface. Gneiss slabs can be broken, cut and formatted. Compositions made of this stone produce inimitable and original mosaics. Availability and resistance of this stone allow for obtaining it in the form of big slabs. This makes installing it on big surfaces (such as worktops or driveways) easier. Moreover its qualities make it perfect for different compositions.

Gneiss – other applications

The properties of gneiss presented above make it a material of choice for building terraces and housings of concrete fireplaces. Resistance to heavy weight makes it a recommended product for driveways and floorings. It is also used for building stairs, especially outside the buildings. This type of gneiss is called elevation gneiss. Gneiss for making walls and fences is called wall gneiss. Owners of houses can use gneiss for the driveway and use the same stone for the fence. Those who have smaller budget or prefer minimalism, can consider choosing gneiss for the interior, for instance for the living room. A fireplace housing made of gneiss provides elegance and style. Each fireplace owner will confirm, that the fireplace is only half of the story and that it is the housing that gives the fireplace its ultimate look. Gneiss too will be perfect for this purpose.

Stregovia granite

Stregovia granite

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Stregovia granite – the favourite stone of urban architects

Not many of us know, that the Palace of Science and culture as well as Sigismund’s column have been made of granite. These heritage sites were built mainly of Stregovia granite.

Stregovia granite – the treasure of Sudety

Stregovia granite is mined from Sudety block, precisely from Strzegom-Sobótka massif. We can say that Sudetian Foreland has a hidden treasure, which is characterized by a light grey colour and phaneritic structure. The holocrystalline and non-directional texture is made mainly of quartz, plagioclase and biotite. The exceptional charm of the stone is the effect of pegmatite bodies and streaks made of dark materials. Stregovia granite is known as pegmatite and its derivatives. The foundation of western part of Poland is made of this rock, precisely Sudetian Foreland, Równina Świdnicka and Wzgórze Strzegomskie. This stone was mined for many years in the quarries. It is estimated, that this stone is approximately 280-290 milions of years old. Stregovia granite had been formed during the Variscan orogeny.

Cities made of granite

In Poland numerous buildings, pavements and train stations had been made of Stregovia granite. Apart from the earlier mentioned heritage sites, this material can be found in the architecture of train stations of Polish State Railways in numerous cities, for instance in Zabrze or Katowice. Central Railway Station in Warsaw was also built of granite and the Warsaw underground too. The size of these objects demonstrates wide availability and relatively small price of Stregovia granite. It is important to add, that the majority of monuments have been erected from this material. The Monument of the Aviator and the Monument of Liberty have been made of it. In Kraków we can also find numerous proofs for a wide use of this type of granite. The Monuments of Władysław Jagiełło, Wyspiański, as well as Pomnik Grunwaldzki are artworks of sculptors, who have decided to use this material. Old towns in Poland are also full of Stregovia granite – this pertains to Kalisz, Legnica, Wrocław or the aforementioned Kraków. Other well-known and admired architectural landmarks made of this stone are Port Północny in Gdańsk and Piłsudski Square in the capital. In Warsaw the big residential complex: Marszałkowska Dzielnica Mieszkaniowa is characterized by a wide use of granite.

Flat equipment

Flat equipment

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Purchasing flat equipment

Creating a flat that has both esthetic value and is of high quality allows the owners to avoid additional renovations for short time after finishing it. Creating a flat one can decide to go for more classic and at the same time modern style. Currently, it is much more popular to choose modern style which is a result of a fact that this style lets one to gain much more freedom in the aspect of free space and is popular among modern architectural designs regarding the utility space.

While arranging the flat, choosing a modern style may lead to reduced time spent on buying building materials for this style does not require a great deal of decorative elements. On the other hand, choosing a classic style will result in more cozy interiors.

Proper materials

Because of their quality and durability, in different rooms different kinds of materials are to be chosen. In case of both kitchen and bathroom the materials have to be selected to cope with conditions present in these rooms like water and especially in the form of steam. To such noteworthy materials belong stone worktops.

Materials like granite worktops work well both in classic and in modern interior and therefore one can gain an interior that is more esthetic or is more convenient to clean. On the other hand keeping the kitchen clean is especially important since it is a place where the food is kept and meals are prepared.

Adjusting equipment to kitchen

In kitchen it is essential to use materials that are not only highly resistant to water but also to chemical substances that are used for cleaning and keeping the kitchen pure. As a consequence it is possible to obtain kitchen equipment that will last for much longer and therefore will lead to saving up some money that would normally be spent on replacing certain kitchen elements during renovations.

While purchasing kitchen equipment it is imperative to look for high – quality products that are at the same time affordable. In this aspect it is recommended to choose items of optimal quality that are available at good prices. Do not forget that in case of kitchen it is advised to buy furniture sets for the sake of making it easier to keep the unity of style. A good solution is to buy in large stores or during sales that happen from time to time.