How 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.
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Biggest tile trends of 2016
Welcome to the future! Tile trends this year have been heavily influenced by increased capabilities in manufacturing and technology, creating new types of tiles with amazing potential. Designers are being inspired to use tiles in new places, such as bedrooms and feature walls. The same material on both floors and walls is a huge trend which enlarges the look of rooms and creates a modern, streamline appearance. Below you’ll find a rundown on the most popular trends in tiles this year.
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Shade Sails
Shade Sails (also known as Sail Shades) and awnings are a great solution for providing protection from sun, rain and wind in outdoor areas. There are many commercial properties such as cafes, pubs, clubs, schools, day care centres, hospitals and nursing homes utilizing their outdoor areas with overhead coverings and private companies providing outdoor space for their staff to use for coffee and lunch breaks. They are now also more and more homes and private residences with shade sails and awnings.
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Driveways make a statement
Everyone wants the front of their home to look fantastic. The driveway of the average Australian suburban house block takes up a big chunk of real estate. Your driveway needs to compliment the style of your home and landscaping. A driveway needs not only look great but has to be able to stand up to the rigors of having the ton or so of family car traversing it constantly. Other than the kids bedrooms it will take more abuse than any other part of your home
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Widely-used terminology in window industry
There is some widely used terminology in the window industry. Knowing what these terms mean is a great help when it comes to understanding the industry jargon associated with insulation, energy issues and climatic zones. Here’s a quick guide to some commonly used terms - and what they actually mean!
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The secrets to stress-free renovating
Renovating your home can be fun, exciting and extremely rewarding, but regardless of what you have in mind for your place, plan to keep it stress free.
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Help Your Pond Beat the Summer Heat
Record high temperatures across the nation create a number of challenges for people, pets, plants, and yes, even your water garden. You’ll want to keep a close eye on your pond, especially when the water temperature reaches 26 degrees or higher.
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Exterior Painting: Why, When, and How
Painting the exterior of your home is an affordable way to make a big positive change in how it is perceived. When completed by professionals it will look great and protect your home from the elements for years to come.
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A 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.
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How to dress your home with curtains
Curtains are not just simply used for window dressing - they can create the foundation of a room’s entire atmosphere. These tips will help you to revive and refurnish your living space - using curtains!
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How to have a clever clothes line
The Hills Hoist was arguably the most recognized iconic symbol of a typical Australian back yard. There was and still is, nothing like a rotary clothes hoist loaded with washing and spinning in the breeze providing an environmentally safe and cost effective way to dry the washing.
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What 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.
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What statement does your door make?
As they say first impressions are lasting ones. Make a statement with your front entry door and create an immediate impression for your visitors. However it’s not only your front entry door that can create an impression, internal doors are the entry to each room in the house and are important as well.
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Consultants for Residential Building work
Basix: Environmental Consultant Basix Certificate (environmental performance evaluation) is required for all development applications. This certificate has been required with all development since 2006. This details the energy and water use and storage and recycling on site. The certificate is tied to the title and has to be certified as completed by the building inspector when the project is complete and before you can move in.
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Setting up a home gym
If you have ever thought about a home gym you’ve probably weighed up the cost against the benefit of having your own space and equipment. But you don’t have to go all-out to create the perfect home gym, and with the money that you save on membership fees, it doesn’t have to hurt your bank balance either.
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4 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:
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5 tips for choosing a good home air conditioning unit
There are lots of air conditioners to choose from on the market, and lots of different factors to take into consideration when purchasing an air conditioning unit. This article includes tips from an electrician to ensure you make the right choices when purchasing an air conditioner.
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Maintaining your Stone floors
Natural stone floors are an investment that can last a life time if cared for properly. Stone floors add a wow factor to any home and should be maintained regularly
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Revive your roof
Most Australians are house proud. Regardless of the size and style of our homes we like to keep them well maintained, clean, neat and tidy. But sometimes our roofs get overlooked. Particularly if the house is two or more stories, or has a flat roof. It could be a case of out of sight out of mind. It only takes rain and wind to create leaks into our ceiling to make us realise that it’s time for some much needed roof maintenance.
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Beat 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.
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