Residential houses have been using exterior window shutters for quite some time. They were a common element in traditional homes in many tropical and subtropical regions. Shutters on exterior windows can be extremely functional in a tropical home. However, these have lost their popularity in our Caribbean region over the past decades. They are seen […]

The kitchen has become one of the main showpieces of a home. We always look for new kitchen design ideas to make our home pop for our guests and ourselves. The days when kitchens were strictly utilitarian seem to have dwindled. A large part of our décor budget goes towards the kitchen design to acquire

In tropical regions, having a patio and other covered outdoor living spaces as part of your home is a must…right? After all, we have this amazing climate, awesome weather and stunning views. However, it sometimes seems that though many homes have a patio or some sort of covered outdoor space, they are not used very

A garage is one of those items that often appear as a need on your list of required spaces. But living in the tropics, is it a necessity? Functions and Benefits of a Garage A garage is a place to house your vehicle. Usually it is mostly or completely enclosed. In situations where it is

Exterior doors are an integral part of your home’s character and function. Their style, colour and material influence the overall aesthetic of your home. However, exterior doors perform several important functions beyond their appearance. They are a critical part of a building’s envelope, offering security and protection from the weather. They are many factors to

Natural or passive ventilation is one of the primary concerns of a tropical home. How good the passive ventilation in your home is, will determine the level of reliance on mechanical ventilation systems in tropical climates. What Is Passive Ventilation? Passive ventilation is the process of naturally moving air through an indoor space. It involves

A courtyard in a house can have many benefits. Courtyards are a great way to improve the functionality of a home. The benefits of a courtyard in a house are significant in the tropics. This situation is because of the function they perform in cooling a house. They are, however, suitable for any home in

Vernacular architecture and the chattel house are familiar to us in Barbados. The chattel house is our most identifiable example of vernacular architecture. Many of us may have heard the term “vernacular architecture” before. The words can sometimes conjure in us a primitive style of building. We may think about small, old-fashioned houses that lacked