Recommended finishes for solid timber entrance doors
There have been numerous articles or recommendations on the types of finish for exterior doors, some of which are disputable. It is important to select an exterior finish that allows for movement of the timber as well as maintenance and preservation.
Read moreThe homeowner’s guide to purchasing a water heater
The water heater is an essential part of most houses. Without it, daily routines like doing the dishes, showering, and powering appliances would become very difficult. Thus, these sturdy, dependable devices need the right amount of care and attention. If you want to ensure that yours continues to run smoothly, carry out regular maintenance and check its condition.
Read moreHow to source furniture for your home
Often when people think about sourcing furniture, they imagine going to a shop and picking some out. It’s a convenient way to buy, and even easier if you take advantage of online retailers. However, if you don’t have an eye for interior design, it can be hard to tell what sort of furniture would suit your space. Or maybe you have a vision which requires furniture which you can’t find in mainstream stores. In any case, there are other avenues through which to purchase furniture which is unique, stylish, and suited perfectly to your space.
Read moreWhy should you get an inspection?
When purchasing an existing property it is important to understand that you are buying the property in an as-is condition. What this means is that the condition of the property at the time of the inspection is what you are purchasing. This article explains why a property inspection is important and what these inspectors are looking for.
Read moreUnderfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is a beautiful way to heat your home, obviously not from a visual sense as it is invisible, but because of the comfort and ambience it creates. It is unobtrusive, providing warmth for an entire room with no noise and no risk of being burnt by radiators or oil heaters. Perfect particularly for small children and the elderly.
Read moreHome renovation costs: when to save, when to splurge
Undertaking a major home renovation and extension is a large investment in your family home, and in your family’s future. There is a myriad of decisions and selections that need to be made, and overarching it all is a budget that you are determined to work within. This advice will help you decide if you should spend or splurge.
Read moreMaking the most of your pool area
Swimming pools are often the focal points of modern landscape designs. However the areas around them are often overlooked and neglected when it comes to maximising the potential of our backyards.
Read moreA homeowner’s guide to cleaning the fireplace
There are few things guaranteed to warm the heart (and the limbs) faster than a beautiful open fireplace. As a design feature, it is delightfully sophisticated and wonderfully stylish. While many of the traditional Georgian and Victorian fireplaces have now made way for more contemporary shapes and forms, Australian homeowners still love the crackle and heat of real wood fires.
Read moreGreen plumbing tips
Water is the world’s most precious commodity. We can be blasé about our usage and consumption of water during the wet months or when there are no apparent shortages and our dams are at a decent level.
Read morePros and cons of some of the common home security alarm systems
We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes and to know that our property is protected, so for many, a home security alarm system is the answer. There are both positives and negatives to installing some of the common home security alarm systems available, which are outlined below. Before looking at the pros and cons, read this article to understand how the two basic types of home security alarm systems work.
Read moreHow to stop your shower screen exploding
You may not know that if you have a glass shower screen that it’s at risk of exploding at any time. This article explores why shower screens explode and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
Read moreBuying sustainably and how to do it effectively
Do you wish you knew how to shop for pieces that veer towards the sustainable side of things? Buying environmentally friendly items can be hard to spot without asking a million questions, and although these types of questions are always welcome it’s nice to have some knowledge before hitting the shops. Let’s look at some of the criteria to spot an eco-friendly choice.
Read moreTop 5 Indoor Floor Lamps for Contemporary Interiors
When function is perhaps secondary to design, decorative indoor floor lamps allow you to add illumination that is heavily influenced by your personal aesthetic. A decorative floor lamp is a feature that should look wonderful whether the light is turned on or off – something to consider when floor lamps can be larger in size and have the potential to dominate an area of your room. Use your lamp to create a mood to reflect your décor and treat your floor lamp like a work of contemporary art.
Read moreBlinds on the inside
Considering blinds for your windows? Well you will be bowled over by choice. Here is some information to get you started.
Read moreHow to create kerb appeal
We have all admired other people’s homes. Regardless of the period, style, size and location there are many homes you look at and just say “wow”, “I could live there in a heartbeat” , “that’s my dream home” , “if I won Lotto that’s where I would want to live” and so on. We can be equally critical about the homes we don’t like. The ones we look at and say “what were they thinking?” “look how untidy that yard is”, “I don’t like the colour scheme” or “it looks very ramshackle”, “maybe its abandoned”.
Read moreHow to clean soap scum from your glass shower screens
Glass shower screens add style and beauty to any bathroom; but if you don’t maintain and clean them regularly, eventually they can build up a film of unsightly soap scum. This article explores the maintenance of your glass shower screen doors.
Read moreThe Evolution of the Backyard Garden Shed
Remember the backyard garden shed your parents, grandparents or neighbours had to house their gardening equipment and tools, the kid’s bikes or the boat?
Read moreBathroom ideas and trends
After kitchens, bathrooms are the most important room in the house and perhaps the next most expensive. There are no hard and fast rules to building a brand new bathroom or renovating an existing one, other than the importance of the highest standard of workmanship in waterproofing and plumbing.
Read moreBeat the Melbourne climate install air conditioning
Australia is a country of climate extremes and while traditionally we embrace the summer months it can be exhausting and debilitating when the temperatures and the humidity rise. Our houses heat up during the day making it very uncomfortable to sleep at night. It can be just as uncomfortable trying to stay warm during the chilly winter months and if you live in Melbourne you could well experience all four seasons in one day. The perfect solution to this changing and sometimes unpredictable weather is air conditioning.
Read moreElectricians can help you make the most of your renovation
If you’re planning on renovating you may know that you need to have a professional electrician check your home for safety and compliance, as well as undertake all of the necessary work. This is a great time to consider exactly what an electrician can bring to your renovation, and how to make the most of having a capable professional in your home.
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