Whether remodeling your home for decorative purposes or hoping to increase the market value of your home, remodeling with columns is an excellent choice. Providing an impressive estate-like feel, columns are excellent for both indoor and outdoor remodeling.
Indoor Remodeling with Columns
The development and popularity of the “open living” concept for new homes has led to broad expanses of living area, particularly in the family-centered rooms like the kitchen, den, living, and dining rooms. This “line-of-sight” contact between various common living areas contributes to a warmer, more intimate living atmosphere. Architects have turned to a number of devices to help break up these open areas without destroying their continuity. The use of decorative columns is one of those methods.
Many new homes with open living plans have dining areas that have been cordoned off with decorative columns. These columns provide separation from adjacent living areas yet leave the visual depth of the space intact. Columns are often used in large bathrooms, as well, supporting waist-high countertops for sinks or vanities. They can also be employed to separate the shower and bath area from a dressing room.
Indoor Column Materials
Depending upon your taste and the decorative motif, your indoor columns may be manufactured from wood, marble or stone or a fiberglass or vinyl composite made to resemble a natural material. In most cases, decorative columns are made from fiberglass, or perhaps a fiberglass and stone composite, coated aluminum or pre-cast plaster.
Decorative columns are by definition non load-bearing columns, and so can be made from whatever material is appropriate to match the surrounding decorative style and keep maintenance to a minimum. However, if you choose to a drastic remodel and include columns in a load-bearing capacity then the material you use for construction will have to reflect that need.
Outdoor Remodeling with Columns
The choices for outdoor remodeling with columns is just as varied as it is indoors. For example, to break up a large yard or partition off an area just for pets or for children, you may choose columns. Create an entryway or portico in the front drive or use them as fence posts in the fencing around your property or a pool. Use columns as a porch railing or as the four corners of a gazebo or separate storage area or garage. You can also use the parts of a column or different sized columns to create an interesting garden with plant landings, bird baths, seats, tables and more.
Outdoor columns may echo the choices made indoors with similar designs and materials or contrast with more detail or brighter colors. Depending upon the usage, outdoor columns may be load bearing, purely decorative or both. Any choice for your columns will increase the overall value of the home both indoors and out.
Outdoor Column Materials
The materials used for outdoor remodeling should reflect the fact that weather will be an issue. Low maintenance materials like polymer vinyl or fiberglass or a composite of materials can significantly decrease the need to replace or repaint your columns. Insects, too, have no effect on synthetic materials and you can still enjoy the look and texture provided by stone or wood.
