Category: Architectural Product Blog – Design Tips, Inspiration, Industry Trends

Save Money on Your Next Faux Wood Beam Purchase

Posted on by Volterra

faux wood beam manufacturer

While many big box stores are starting to carry a small selection of faux wood products these days, the truth is that there are much better ways to get your hands on premium faux wood products for your home. The best way is to go straight to your local faux wood beam manufacturer and choose your products directly from their catalog. Why? Because they can save you money and open up a whole world of possibilities that aren’t available off the shelf.

 

Custom Faux Wood Beams

 

In general, big box stores are only able to accommodate space for the most popular colors and textures. If they do offer a wider selection, it usually requires placing a specialized order that can take weeks to arrive, and likely comes with additional shipping costs. By contrast, when you contact a faux wood beam manufacturer directly, you will find a much larger selection of colors, styles and finishes to match your home. This means that you can get exactly what you’re looking for and won’t have to worry about any additional work when it comes to making your faux wood blend into the rest of your decor. In addition, a faux wood beam manufacturer can help you order custom lengths and sizes of beams, as well as providing you with all of the information you need to properly mount and install your beams.

 

Saving You Money

 

Everybody knows that big box stores mark up their products significantly so that they can turn a profit. Oftentimes, the prices they display are much higher than what you would pay if you ordered directly from the manufacturer. This is because you won’t be paying the big box store’s shipping and handling fees, plus you won’t have to overbuy based on the limited selection of products they have in store. Instead, you can order the right quantity the first time, and have them sent straight to you without any extra fees. You can also find all the right mounting hardware already in stock, so it can be delivered alongside your beams for seamless installation. Check out our video below to see the installation process.  

 

 

As faux wood beams grow in popularity, you are sure to see them popping up in your local hardware stores. However, it pays to do your own research and contact a faux wood beam manufacturer directly if you want to save time and money, and get the right product every time. Don’t forget to visit Volterra online to shop our new online store!

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The Secret of Truss Design

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truss designWhen you look up and see a beautiful truss system gracing the ceiling of a structure, how much thought do you give to the design? For most of us, the visual effect of the design draws us in, but we never stop to appreciate how or why a truss works. Let’s break down some of the secrets behind truss design so you can fully appreciate how each truss adds to a structure.

The Science of Triangles

Early in human history, it was discovered that the triangle is an especially stable shape. The triangle form allows us to distribute weight over a great distance by creating a solid base with two supporting legs. This is why you see bridges and buildings relying so heavily on triangle trusses to hold them up. Today, we still rely on this discovery to hold our roofs over our heads, but we also find ways to incorporate triangles into our aesthetics as well.

More Triangles or Less?

One thing you’ll notice about modern truss design is that they typically feature a variety of cross braces and beams added to the basic triangular structure. This is important because it creates a bold visual effect, but it can also affect the strength of a particular truss. Adding additional beams that create smaller triangles within the main structure can have a profound influence on the amount of weight that a truss is able to bear. For decorative purposes, you may choose to add more beams to create a distinguished look, even if your trusses will not actually be supporting additional weight. The invention of early trusses made a big impact on how humans could build. Triangle truss design is still a staple of the construction industry today, and we have become so used to seeing these triangles all around us that we often feel drawn to add them to high ceilings after the fact. If you are looking for creative decorative truss designs to add to your room, visit Volterra online.]]>

Mounting a Custom Mantel

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custom mantelA fireplace mantel is the finishing touch that really creates a cozy look to any living room. Mantels serve as conversation pieces, providing a place to display images, artwork and more. They also create a clean visual line above a fireplace opening. If you are thinking of having a custom mantel made for your fireplace, there are a few things you need to know about proper mounting.

Mounting Height

In order to prevent damage to your custom mantel and minimize possible fire hazards, it is crucial to make sure you know how high to mount your mantel. Most local fire codes indicate that a mantel should be mounted at least twelve inches or one foot above the top of the fireplace opening. This will help dissipate heat so that your mantel is safe. However, the further your mantel protrudes out from the wall, the higher you will want to mount it. This is because heat rises, and a deeper mantel will catch more of the hot air. Add an extra inch or two of height to your mantel if it sticks out more than six inches from the wall.

Mounting Hardware

Another important factor is what type of mounting hardware you are using. If you are replacing an old mantel, there may be some existing hardware or brackets that you can use. If not, you will need to decide on new brackets or hidden hardware that can support the full weight of your custom mantel. Fortunately, if you are using modern faux wood mantels, your mantel will be much lighter than a traditional hardwood mantel. Volterra is home to many custom mantel designs. If you want to update your old fireplace with a new look, visit us online to learn about our custom designs and how to properly install your new mantel at home.]]>

Quick and Easy Foyer Design Ideas

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foyer design ideasYour foyer plays an important part in welcoming guests to your home and creating a first impression, but it must also serve a functional purpose during your day to day life. Designing a beautiful foyer that makes your life simpler doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Less is More

You don’t want your foyer to look like a dumping ground for bags, shoes, and coats at the end of the day. Instead, adding some lowkey storage to your foyer can help keep things clean and presents an image of everything having a proper place. You can do this with a simple coat rack, a small shoe rack or even a miniature desk with a tray on top for keys and phones.

Proper Lighting

Another pitfall of many foyer designs is the lighting. Dark foyers without proper lighting make it hard for people to navigate the narrow space. Instead, stick to light colors and make sure that you have plenty of bright light so that everyone can see where they are going and where to put their things.

Add Drama

Even with light colored walls, you can add drama to your foyer with the right trim selections. Dark colored trim that leads visitors through your house is a great choice. Dark trim looks great against the light backdrop and you can even find matching partial trusses or accents to create a uniform look from top to bottom. In addition, using colored trim to frame pictures or artwork in your foyer makes a bold impression. Don’t let your foyer suffer from dingy lighting and cluttered furniture. Instead, open things up with light colors, and use your trim to effectively tie your foyer into the rest of your home’s decor. To see a gallery of brilliant foyer design ideas, visit Volterra online and check out our gallery.]]>

Incorporating Mediterranean Design in Any Home

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mediterranean designMediterranean design is popular throughout the world, but too often we feel like we can’t pull it off in our own homes because of its complexity. The truth is that the Mediterranean region is quite large and encompasses a wide range of lifestyles. As such, there are many ways to incorporate the concepts of Mediterranean design in your home without having to go way overboard.

Aquatic Colors

One of the major staples of Mediterranean design is rich aquatic color schemes that feature blues, greens and purples. These are also accented by bold gold and some deep browns and light beiges. An easy way to do this in your home is to pick an accent wall and splash it with bold color, while leaving your trim a natural wood color that will tie the whole room together.

Complex Textures

The Mediterranean is home to some of the world’s most extravagant construction featuring natural materials. Much of Mediterranean design features rough cut stones and naturally textured woods. With faux wood beams, you can mimic the look of these beautiful elements easily. There are also a number of faux stone options that can give you the perfect hue for your room. Texture can also be added to your home with unique plaster finishes that infuse your home with traditional-looking natural warmth. Browse our Italian Lime plaster gallery to get some ideas. As you can see, Mediterranean design is all about creating a space that takes advantage of the seaside appeal of the region. You can replicate this by bringing in bold colors mixed with strong natural elements. Volterra has a wide selection of faux wood and stone products to help you recreate the rooms in the magazines.]]>

How to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

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kitchen remodelKitchen remodels can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars if you are doing a complete overhaul. However, not every kitchen needs a complete remodel. In fact, there are many ways to save money on a kitchen remodel when you invest in a few small items that will make the biggest impact. Here are a few tips.

Save Your Cabinets

Cabinets are one of the most costly parts of a kitchen remodel. Not only are the cabinets themselves quite expensive, but paying for installation can run up your renovation costs very quickly. The good news is that you can probably save yourself a ton of money by simply reimagining your cabinets. Start by removing the cabinet doors, selecting a trim, and learning how to apply the trim to the doors to give them a more decorative look. Then all you have to do is repaint and remount the doors.

Change Up the Moulding

If your kitchen is lacking finesse, it may be time to add a little bit of moulding to create a more refined look. For instance, base mouldings and crown mouldings that introduce texture to the transition between walls, floors and ceilings can drastically change the look of a room. Moulding also gives you the chance to add a pop of contrasting color that draws the eye. With these two simple projects you can reimagine your kitchen without spending a fortune. Volterra offers a number of trim options from very simple to very intricate, which are perfect for updating your cabinets or finishing out a room with moulding. To learn more, visit our online catalog today.]]>

How Durable Are Faux Beams?

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faux beamsWhether you’re planning on adding faux beams to the interior of your house, or you want to use them to build a gazebo or other structure outside, understanding durability is an important part of your planning. You don’t want to invest in products that will not stand up to the test of time, so it’s important that you know your faux beams are virtually maintenance free.

Heavy Duty Construction

Faux beams are made of a high density foam product that is both lightweight and extremely hard. This allows it to mimic the look and feel of real wood beams while making it significantly easier to work with in construction. High density foam is poured into a master mold and when extracted is very dense.

Durable Finish

Beams are available in a variety of textures that mimic natural wood. Once the beam has been formed, a finish coat is applied to the outside, or the beam can be left primed for a custom faux finish application. Faux beams are a great option for updating your home’s interior and exterior without having to worry about future maintenance. These beams are made to last, and they come in many varieties so you can order exactly what you want the first time. To see more options, visit Volterra online today and check out our gallery of colors and designs.]]>

Fresh New Ceiling Design Ideas

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ceiling design ideasOne of the biggest trends in interior design these days is using faux wood beams and trim to create patterns on an otherwise bland ceiling. Most often, this is done with straight beams, or in a crosshatch pattern. But if you’re looking for something really flashy, here are a few new design ideas.

Geometric Shapes

Instead of using perfectly symmetric boxes on your ceiling, consider changing things up with geometric shapes. You can do this by creating individual boxes of varying sizes, along with rectangles, triangles and even open ended Ls. Then, you can secure these shapes to the ceiling by rotating them at different angles to create a pattern that is unique to you. Alternatively, you can start with one central shape, and attach your geometric designs in an outward pattern to form a snowflake.

Herringbone

If you are not sure that the texture of beams and geometric shapes is right for you, consider using faux wood planks for your ceiling design instead. However, instead of running your planks in long straight lines, cut the ends at opposing 45° angles so you can generate a herringbone pattern across the links of your entire ceiling. This will add dimension while keeping the installation simple and straightforward. These are just a few ways that you can change up the ceiling designs that are already becoming popular, and add something fresh to your room. To learn more about these products, contact Volterra Architectural Products online. ]]>

What Is Curb Appeal Really Worth?

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A lot of times, when you’re talking about a major renovation to a home, you will hear something about the added curb appeal of the completed project. This is usually in reference to your return on investment when you’re considering how much to spend. Unfortunately, curb appeal is hardly measurable in real numbers, so it’s important to know what it’s really worth if you plan on selling your home. 

 

What Is Curb Appeal? 

 

Curb appeal is the rather subjective measure of how attractive your home appears to passersby from the street level. In the past, this was an important metric when it came to photo books full of houses for sale. Today, curb appeal plays a slightly different role in the real estate market, and its definition has expanded to include more of a “first impression” whether viewing the house from the street or from an initial photograph. Either way, curb appeal is definitely something you want to have.

 

Why It’s Important

 

When you’re in a competitive housing market, curb appeal can be a major factor in getting more potential buyers into your home. If there are tons of houses on the market, it stands to reason that buyers will look at the most attention-grabbing ones first, which typically means the ones that look best on the outside. Of course, if the outside of your home is lacking, your agent may opt for a magazine-worthy image of your glistening kitchen instead to create that first visual impact. The more buyers you get looking at your home, the more likely you are to get a good offer, and the sooner you can go under contract. If you’re waiting to close on another house this can be a lifesaver. 

 

Increasing Curb Appeal

 

There are many ways to increase curb appeal on your house. A fresh exterior with neatly painted trim is a good start. It makes your home look modern, and ensures that it stands out from all the other pictures on the web. In addition, clean landscaping and a beautifully accented entryway can also do the trick. You can even dress up your home’s exterior with ornamental trim, corbels, or shutters from Volterra Architectural Products. These inexpensive changes can not only increase the beauty of your home, but increase its value to potential buyers.

 

 

For more creative ways to add curb appeal to your house, visit Volterra online. We are happy to help you find products that will match your trim and fit the style of your home for added curb appeal. 

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How to Achieve Luxury Design on a Budget

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luxury designAchieving luxury design in your home does not mean you have to spend an arm and a leg. Luxury design is about more than what the raw materials cost. Instead, it’s about how you make the materials work together, side-by-side. The fact is: you can spend a fortune on luxury materials that don’t work together, and end up with a mess, or you can take a budget-conscious approach and end up with a beautiful luxury design that could trick the best designers in the business. Here are a few tips to get luxury design on a budget:

Less is More

Today’s design aesthetic features open concepts, light and airy rooms, and no more clutter. Simply subtracting excess furniture and junk from a room can put you closer to the luxury design you envision. Do away with busy, complex cabinets and fixtures, and go for something sleek and modern.

Update the Trim

Sometimes, the only difference between a standard design and a luxury design is the type of trim that was used. In many cases, this can be easily fixed by adding some crown moulding or panel moulding on your own. It costs a fraction of buying the luxury brand, and it’s easy to do in a weekend. Whatever you do, just remember that luxury design doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here at Volterra Architectural Products, we specialize in beautiful trim work and other materials to give you the home of your dreams. Visit our gallery to see more today.]]>