The Outdoors Blog

Patio Doors Play a Huge Role in Interior Design

December 30, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

Patio-Doors-Play-a-Huge-Role-in-Interior-DesignHomeowners like to focus on the front of their house. Well, can you blame them? Your visitors are going to enter through the front a majority of the time, which is why an eye-catching front yard is crucial for curb appeal. But, if you are one of the many homeowners that are looking for a way to spruce up their patio doors, then this article is perfect for you.

Patio Door Materials

If you’re looking to install a brand new patio door, where should you start? One approach that you can take is to decide on the material that you want your patio door to consist of. This can be wood, metal, aluminum, glass-based, or even vinyl. With so many options, you can be quickly overwhelmed witch choices. Get a rough idea of how each type of material looks first, then move on to selecting a proper style.

Style

Patio doors differ from the front doors because they are an underrated piece of the whole puzzle. The right patio door will keep your home’s style in a nice, flowing manner and bring a whole new element of style to your interior as well. Take a look online at the various styles, with a budget of course, and narrow your options down. Three of the most common patio doors, not in order, are: wood, aluminum, and steel. Each of them offer a fresh take on style, but differ from each other in many ways. You’re also going to have to worry about the maintenance of each style of door also. Fiberglass or vinyl patio doors have the least amount of maintenance and are inexpensive. Wood patio doors offer a bold and rich look, but are on the higher end of the price charts.

Bio: ETO Doors, a high-end seller of custom doors, wants to make sure you get the perfect door for your house. With products being tested in labs for months, ETO Doors guarantees exceptional performance. With plenty of positive ETO Doors reviews, make sure you browse their vast inventory online.

Why French Doors Are So Relevant in Today’s Interior Designs

December 4, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

Written by: ETO Doors

Within a home, French doors remain an extremely popular choice for connecting rooms together. This creates a visually stunning appearance and can make your home look more “open”. When areas need to be separated, French doors work well as their flexibility allows them to close off a space as well. This is what makes these types of doors so useful – and it doesn’t hurt that they look gorgeous as well.

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Doorways

Use them as a doorway out to your patio or even replace them to be your main exterior double doors. French doors are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. They can also be installed as a single door, in a matching pair, or even as part of a complete series. Constructed with a door frame called “lights”, they’re held together by these transparent panels which allow them to connect with ease.

“Lights”

These “lights” are typically made out of glass but it isn’t a rare occurrence to find them made out of other materials as well. Initially, when exterior French doors are fitted, you’re going to notice that they’re hinged at either side so that there isn’t a division between the windows. This is an appealing look and a recommendation to enjoy more natural light is to choose doors with thinner window joinery. Your house will be lit up by the warmth of the outdoors.

Patios or Balconies

French doors are often used for patios or for balconies. If you want to get the most out of your French doors, install them to lead out to that location. Even if you don’t get a chance to go outside due to the cold weather, you’ll still be left with a gorgeous view to the outside of your home.

Versatility

You can’t put enough emphasis on the flexibility of a French door. If you have an outdoor front patio, you can place them specifically in the corners to lead outside, while also providing a nice, stylish décor to it. If your interior has a design flaw that causes two rooms to be shut off from each other, replace them with French doors. One room could have more natural light coming in and by installing French doors it’ll be able to shine through to both rooms to give you a more spacious look and feel.

The Bottom Line

If you’re considering French doors for your household, then it’s important that you take a look at all of the different styles that are available. Being that they are solid choice for anyone that wants to remodel their home, you’ll appreciate the extravagant look that it’ll add to your household.

The Po Lin Monastery: Hong Kong’s Immersive Garden Temple

December 2, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

By Phineas Upham

The Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong was once a hidden paradise in the mountains of Hong Kong. The world first caught its glimpse of this incredible place in 1993, when the Tian Tan Buddha statue was erected. The 100 foot tall statue towers over the people of China, watching over and blessing them with a single raised hand.

The statue itself took 12 years to complete, but it’s not the only remarkable thing about this place. If you happen to find yourself in Hong Kong, this beautiful garden temple is definitely worth the detour.

The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks. The monks were visiting from the neighboring province of Jiangsu, when they decided to create a place for themselves. Initially, the temple was called The Big Hut, a reference to its size and how it was built, but the name that we know today was given in 1924.

The monastery is widely considered to be one of the most important structures in the Buddhist world. It’s home to many devout monks seeking the spiritual path to enlightenment, and the structure itself has a wealth of Buddhist imagery and iconography.

The garden is one of the most popular attractions for tourists. Its fragrance and constant birdsong are easy to feel at peace. The immersive space also features a vegetarian restaurant. If you happen to find yourself there, grab a handmade wooden bracelet as a keepsake. They are only made near the Tian Tan Buddha statue, so you won’t find anything else like them anywhere in the world.


About the Author: Phineas Upham is an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Phineas Upham website or Twitter page.