12 spring cleaning hacks that will forever change your life
Spring is well and truly here, and there’s a lightness in the air. More sun, the smell of jasmine and longer days. What’s not to love about this season?
Read moreGuide to Bathroom Lighting and IP Rating
Starting with the technical details, safety is key when choosing your bathroom lighting. To identify whether a light is safe for your bathroom, all lights are given an IP Rating (Ingress Protection rating) which measures how resistant the light is to both water and dust particles. IP Ratings can be determined by reading the first and second digits following the initial ‘IP’.
Read moreSelecting the best roller shutters for your home
When we think and see Roller Shutters we tend to immediately think of security for a home or business. Roller shutters are a great way to add security and are becoming a very popular method of securing your home against theft while providing you with complete privacy.
Read moreEnclosed elegance: 4 steps towards preparing your house for guests
With Christmas right around the corner, it won’t be long until you start making plans for the holiday and the most important meal of the year. In fact, you might already have begun. Some families like to get organised early and know exactly who is staying where and in which house to find the turkey.
Read moreBring your tired timber floors back to life
There is nothing like the natural beauty of a timber floor. For centuries all kinds of timbers have been used all over the world as a choice of flooring. If looked after properly, a timber floor will long outlast us and still look good.
Read moreDesigning your dream kitchen
If you like to cook, having your dream kitchen can make a huge difference to your quality of life. Keep the following tips in mind when designing kitchen you always dreamed of.
Read moreLight Up your Life with LED’s
Did you know that lighting is approximately 20% of a household energy bill?
Read moreWhat you need to know about kitchen designs
The kitchen is the focal point of any home. It is the heart and soul of the home and the central point for creativity and gathering of family and friends. The kitchen is the most important room in any home and therefore should be functional, light, airy and a pleasant space to work in. Most kitchens these days are part of an open plan area combining cooking, dining, living and entertaining spaces so you want it to not only work well but also look smart.
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 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 moreA balcony enclosure creates a warm winter retreat
A balcony enclosure using a frameless glass system could be just the thing to turn your outside area into a warm winter retreat. Balcony and outdoor entertainment areas have been enjoyed all summer long. But with winter on our doorstep, now is the perfect time to think about how this space will be used in the colder months ahead. And a balcony enclosure could be just the thing!
Read moreMaking the most of a spare room
If you are lucky enough to have a spare room at your place, be sure to make the most of it. Regardless of whether you use the extra space to support a hobby, get in shape or to supplement your income, don’t waste that precious space.
Read moreRenovating? Time to think about you outdoor additions
Australians traditionally love the outdoors. We love to take advantage of the abundant sunny days and warm evenings by entertaining outdoors. Outdoor rooms and outdoor kitchens along with verandahs, decks, pergolas, patios, cabanas and gazebos provide us with a space to extend our living into the outdoors. Relaxed, informal entertaining these days is a very popular way to catch up with family and friends. You would be hard pressed to find an Australian home that does not have some form of outdoor living space.
Read moreHow long does it take to paint a house?
When you paint a house, it's important to prime it first.It takes half a day for one coat. Then you can paint the walls with another coat.In the end, your painting job must look nice. One important thing to remember is that it's interior or exterior painting. So it's always best to try and do the prep work yourself if possible. It means filling holes in plasterboard, sanding down surfaces to be much more easily painted, and cleaning surfaces.
Read moreGarden irrigation systems in Queensland
Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast can be very hot and dry places. Often gardens in these areas of South East Queensland struggle to survive through periods of intense weather patterns. Most people love an inviting, thriving garden and have invested a lot of time and money into their lawns, plants and landscaping only to lose precious plants due to insufficient water.
Read moreWorking with building designers and interior designers
Building a house or an extension, or a planning a renovation requires extensive knowledge of building design, engineering, codes, regulations, and requirements. By starting your building or renovation with a clear plan, you can create a home which perfectly suits your style, needs, and ideas. Interior designers can work together with building designers if your plan requires it, and work with builders to fit out the house with appliances and permanent fixtures.
Read moreBuilding inspection - why do you need one?
What is a Building Inspection? A building inspection is an examination by qualified professionals which identifies faults and hazards in a property. These can include anything from maintenance and safety issues to serious structural faults or damage. Often the problems identified are not immediately visible or apparent to the untrained eye. Special equipment may be used to gather more information. After the inspection, a report is provided which details the issues. This allows home owners and potential buyers to make informed decisions.
Read more4 common house defects uncovered by property inspections
A property inspection report is a must have document when you’re deciding whether or not to buy a house. Many homes have defects which will be uncovered by property inspectors. Some are serious, and others, less so. The building inspection gives you the power to make an informed decision about whether it’s the right house for you. These are some common issues which may be uncovered in the report:
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 moreHow to design your perfect backyard
Designing the perfect outdoor area in Australia is often influenced by climate and lifestyle. Not only do you need to consider what kind of design will keep you feeling comfortable, but what design will allow your plants to survive, and to thrive. There is no perfect formula. Each garden is as unique as the land, house, and people who live there. However, it’s always a great idea to plan sustainably, and a water-saving garden is never a bad choice!
Read more