4 Reasons to Choose Decorative Mailboxes

For some people the mailbox is an afterthought, but for others it matters. For those customers we always recommend a decorative mailbox. Decorative mailboxes have many virtues but it’s important to know

they’re not just for the style conscious. Here are four reasons to consider decorative mailboxes for your home in Orlando or the surrounding area.
 

1.       The look. Without a doubt the biggest reason to use decorative mailboxes is simply to create the perfect look. Decorative mailboxes range from traditional to modern styles, built of the highest quality materials and always made to stand out. They come in a wide variety of metal finishes with decorative elements including the address numbers/name letters, the posts, the boxes themselves and the fine details. Decorative mailboxes are available for single residences, duplexes, and apartments or office buildings with dozens of slots. The point with all of these choices is to give a mailbox that does more than just hold the mail—it adds to the overall look of a high class operation and adds to curb appeal. The mailbox is one of the first things you see as you approach, and investing in a nice one is worthwhile.

2.       To make your place easier to find. How much does your home or office stand out from the others around it? How clear and visible are the address numbers? A decorative mailbox can solve both these problems. Decorative mailboxes always stand out and can make a home easier to find or a business more noticeable. Many feature large, tasteful address numbers or separate, matching address plaques that can be mounted on the door or wall. People will definitely spot you.

3.       To match the surroundings. What do you do if your business is in a historic neighborhood? What if your home used to have a beautiful vintage mailbox, that’s no longer usable? What if you simply want to match your mailbox to a classic aesthetic or to area streetlamps and benches? While not all decorative mailboxes are in antique styles, many are and they allow you to put a brand new, secure mailbox in an area that features historic elements. You will match your surroundings and uphold the image you want while still getting a great modern mailbox.

4.       Quality. Decorative mailboxes are generally high end mailboxes made to last. The locks and doors are secure, the entire mailbox is welded to be water-resistant, and the finish will outlast the cheap paintjobs of big box store mailboxes. A high quality mailbox will last longer without the problems of fading, rust, leaking or water damage that lower quality mailboxes will experience. 

What kind of mailbox style are you looking for?

Everything Street Signs

There's a lot more to street signs than we realize.  We pass them every day from the time we are little kids till the end of our lives.  Many of us take their existence for granted and we most likely understand what most of them mean by the time we are driving or within a few years.  There was a point in time though when traffic signs weren't very common or even nonexistent.  This led to a lot of accidents and avoidable deaths.  Even with traffic signs today though, people still miss them and have accidents; so is there a way to make our signs pop out more to drivers?

Before cars came along, there were traffic signs here and there, mostly for cyclists and horse drawn carriages, but there was no uniformity to them.  After cars began to grow more common across the U.S. from 1900-1920, drivers clubs began making signs and maintaining them to help make roads safer for themselves and other driver enthusiasts.  This worked in the beginning, but as cars continued to grow in popularity a need to matching uniform signs became necessary.  Thus in 1922 representatives from Minnesota, Indiana and Wisconsin came together to decide upon unique shapes which equated to specific messages.   

Rectangle – Speed Limit or Mileage Signs

Round – Railroad Crossing

Square – Caution or Attention

Diamond – Curve Ahead

Octagon – Stop Sign

The logic behind this was to help drivers in the dark know the meaning of a sign when approaching it without being able to read it.  These signs all had black text on a white background.  These signs would be presented and adopted as the earliest national standardization in 1935.  This meant Orlando decorative street signs and other non-conforming signs needed to be updated.  In 1948 after some years of confusion, the government made some changes to help with standardization.  Interesting fact, stop signs only became red with white lettering after the invention of fade resistant materials in 1954.  Other changes eventually led to the signs we have now for warning people about danger by having the background yellow with black text.  Speed limit signs still resemble their original progenitors.

One issue that has always existed with traffic signs and continues to plague our roads today; are drivers not noticing them.  A recent study done by scientists sat a group of participants in front of two different sets of signs.  Each set had four signs with the same meanings, but the second set had signs with more dynamic images.  The participants said the more dynamic signs were more eye-catching and increased their awareness of their surroundings.  While this was one test and this was the first time seeing these signs, previous research shows more dynamic signs are more likely to catch and hold a driver's attention.

Incorporating Your Mailbox

Welcome to March, the time to be preparing for April because the warm weather will have definitely arrived by then and it will be Lawn & Garden month.  While people are always focusing on their flowers and flower beds there is a part of many people's landscapes that unfortunately goes overlooked or which people get stumped by.  This common item which exists on many people's properties is the good old mailbox.  Many people sadly don't do anything with their mailbox and let it stick out like a sore thumb which takes away from the rest of their landscaping efforts.  The reality is there are numerous ways to make your mailbox far more attractive than it is and make it work with the rest of your property so that it isn't an eye-sore.

If you have your mailbox on a post then there are several ways to make it more attractive.  First one you can do is turn the surrounding area into a flower bed.  Then plant a flower in front of it which when fully grown will be almost up to the bottom of the container.  On the back plant an attractive climber which can cover the post from the rear.  Now instead of having an unattractive mailbox sitting alone it is surrounded with flowers and looks far better.  You can also install a decorative mailbox that goes with the flowers or your overall landscaping theme. 

In addition to planting flowers around your mailbox you can try painting it different colors.  The best way to do this is find flowers with colors that will complement your mailbox's colors.  These flowers don't even need to cover the post, the aim with this approach is to create a color design that is appealing to the eye and not make the mailbox feel alone and out of place.  If you're looking for an older more rustic style you can search for a wooden mailbox.  A wooden mailbox can be allowed to age and then have vines growing up its post which will give the feeling of being slowly reclaimed by nature.  Just make sure you're mail stays protected.

Another way to incorporate your mailbox is by moving away from the traditional post.  Plenty of people have found success by having the pillars at the end of their driveway which match the house's architecture work as locations for their mailboxes.  They can be embedded in the pillars or hang off the front of it.   This removes the need of the mailbox being its own entity and it blends right in with your existing landscape.  There are many more variations for implementing your mailbox into your landscape, so share pictures with us of what you've done!

Congratulations You’re a Homeowner!

Many are saying 2015 is going to be quite the big year, especially in the housing market.  There are a lot of expected new first time home buyers coming to the market.  Perhaps you’re one of them, or perhaps you’re finally moving into that house you’ve been gazing at longingly for a while.  Well, the market appears to be in an excellent position this year for buyers!  There’s so much to think about, now that you’re moving into your house.

One of the greatest parts of home ownership is the freedom to decorate and landscape your property in the manner you so desire.  There’s a lot you can do, so let’s start with some of the basic necessities.  You’re probably going to need a mailbox, and you may be wondering what kind.  Well picking out a decorative mailbox can actually be more engaging and thought-provoking than you realize.  There are a lot of designs out there, and lot of ways to truly customize it to fit with your property and give it a style that is unique.  Buying a proper mailbox is important for several reasons; it’s made of better material and therefore endures weather better, it’ll be stronger and more secure which means your mail will be safe and you can make it fit your property’s appearance.

The next thing you need to consider is how you’re doing the front yard and backyard.  Do you want a seasonal landscape, an evergreen landscape or just grass with a simple pathway to your front door?  A seasonal setup lets you plant flowers for each season and lets you really show off your green thumb skills, but it can be time consuming.  If that’s not the niche for you then going with some evergreen shrubbery may be the answer.  The most you’ll need to do is some trimming to keep them maintained, healthy and good looking.  Or perhaps you’d rather just have grass for the kids to run around on.   Be sure to consider your time, and what will look good.

The backyard also brings with it a set of questions.  If the house already has a patio and some design going on then perhaps there isn’t too much to think about.  However, if your house doesn’t you may want to consider creating a place in the back where you can sit and enjoy the nice weather.  If you do build a patio, do you want it to be open or covered?  Do you want it to be useable during cold weather?  Hopefully you’ve already been thinking, and if not hopefully reading this has helped stimulate your thinking!  Either way, be sure to enjoy your new home and make sure you explore all the fun aspects of being a homeowner!

4 Simple Ways to Touch Up Your Home's Exterior This Fall

The exterior of your home makes a daily and lasting impression on neighbors, friends, and family. It's the first thing people see, so maintaining its appearance is important. Since the fall season brings cooler temperatures, making outdoor work more pleasant, what better time to update your home's exterior than now? And all it takes is a few small projects to effect a big change on your outdoor space.

Below are four simple ways to touch up on the outside of your home this fall.

1. Brush up the paint

A quick touch up on paint can do wonders for the exterior of your home. Take a careful look at your house and the outside elements like your garage and work on selected spots. A fresh coat of paint can improve your home immensely, without the cost of a serious remodel. It may even be time for a completely different color to really give your home new life. Whichever you decide to do, a new coat of paint can be aesthetically transformative. Early fall is an especially smart time to paint, since you'll be less likely to get heat stroke and it'll brighten your home during the darker fall and winter months.

2. Do some landscaping

As we all know, fall means a lot of leaves. Although clearing your lawn of leaves, twigs, and other debris is tedious work, it not only makes your lawn look nice but also keeps it healthy. And despite the approaching winter season, you should continue to improve the health of your grass. Remove any weeds and feed your grass with nutrients.

3. Check up on your mailbox

Because the winter weather can be rough, autumn is a good time to make sure your mailbox is in good shape and can withstand whatever the colder temperatures may bring. Check to see if any hinges on the door need to be tightened or replaced, ensure that the mailbox is correctly mounted and not loose, and replace or add house numbers if need be. It may be time for a completely new mailbox. We carry a large selection of decorative mailboxes for you to choose from, which can be personalized to meet your specific requirements.

4. Improve your Lighting

As the colder months approach, the sun will set sooner and the nights will be longer. Make sure your outdoor lighting works properly and be sure to replace any dim or broken bulbs. Also, since the wet winter weather has the potential to cause problems in lighting systems, fixtures may not be avoidable. If you want to add some charm to your home, consider installing garden lights along your pathway or front door.