Orientation Matters, Windows Tips For Renovators

Windows are more than just a way to look at the outside world – these days, there are windows that insulate, windows that shade, windows that dampen noise or resist the attack of fire, or even clean themselves.

Yes folks, there are even windows I’ve seen that can be opaque and then instantly transform to clear at the flick of a switch. I’ve seen them in a glass wall for a home office – one minute you can check on the kids and the next you can block them out.

It sounds like science fiction. But glazing technology is now amazing. Performance glass, as it tends to be known, comprises a range of technologically sophisticated glasses. There are laminated glasses that have a thin layer of plastic sandwiched between two panels of clear glass. There are toned glasses with a colour tint worked through the material. And there are coated glasses, in which ultra-thin films of a secondary material create certain useful reactions :: Read the full article »»»»

5 Cheap Chic Ways to Makeover Your Home

Ingenious ideas, simple solutions to elevate ordinary homes to inspired spaces.

Our homes are clearly more than the bricks and mortar that make up a house. Our homes are inspired by what we see, our interpretation on the world, our likes and loves all gathered in this one wonderfilled place :: Read the full article »»»»

When To Repair, When To Replace

It’s the perennial dilemma of home ownership – when is it wiser to replace something that’s not performing at its peak? :: Read the full article »»»»

Banks Rush to Service Offshore Property Investors

Despite the plight facing banks whose overexposure to property has forced them to write-down billions in losses, Australia’s four largest banks have increased their exposure to commercial property by $3.8 billion in the last six months, according to a report by The Australian Financial Review.

The sharp increase comes as the banks seek to meet growing interest in Australia’s property market from offshore investors at a time when several major global banks, including the Bank of Scotland International and Royal Bank of Scotland, have withdrawn billions from Australia’s property market.

“There has been a big uptick by offshore investors here and a lot of that is being funded by us and the large banks,” CBA head of property Peter Barnes said, according to the AFR. CBRE senior managing director for international investment properties Richard Butler said banks have rushed to capitalise on foreign interest :: Read the full article »»»»

How to Buy The Right Bath Tub For Your Bathroom Renovation

Buying a bathtub for your bathroom renovation can be tricky, will you buy something cheap so you can splurge more on the tiles? Or should you splash out and buy a fantastic bath tub to turn your bathroom into a relaxing sanctuary. Bathtubs are available in four different styles: recessed, corner, drop-in, and freestanding and they come in an array of shapes, sizes, materials, and colours. What’s more, every tub will have different places for taps (a centre tap, left and right taps) and have variations on where the drain hole goes.Before you buy a bathtub, you need to understand the space constraints and know the plumbing specs of taps and drains :: Read the full article »»»»

Don’t Do Anything You Can’t Undo

There are two certainties in this world: the first is that people have bad taste, the second is that bad taste takes time to diagnose.

Let’s take shabby chic. I’m betting that in five years, shabby chic will just look plain old shabby and be as embarrassing as the sunshine yellow and sky blue colour combination of the early 1990s.

Good renovation requires choosing new fixtures and fittings that will outlast trends. Things such as light fittings, doors and windows, flooring and kitchens and bathrooms can easily become the fashion equivalent of the tulip skirt and footless tights – a must-have right now, but something to hide in two years.

So how do you prevent fatal renovation crimes you may regret? What is a renovation crime?

More than just a misjudgement of taste – a renovation crime is something that permanently destroys the fabric of a house. Crimes include ripping out cast iron fireplaces and boarding them up. Or knocking out walls to create a brick archway support more suited to a pizza shop. It’s pebblecrete on the front veranda. It’s aluminium windows in a gorgeous old Federation house. In short, a renovation crime is something a property owner thinks is a great idea at the time, but ends up costing the house lost amenity in the future :: Read the full article »»»»

REBLOG! How to Repair Australia’s Property Sector

The ever clever Harry Triguboff has a neat piece in Business Spectator this week ‘How o Repair Australia’s Property Sector‘. Mr Triguboff angles on politics, immigration policy, the property and construction industries, as well as the woes that local council likes to inflict, always a colour-filled read.

On new developments Mr Triguboff says that until councils become more responsible and approve viable projects on time it will be very difficult. The pressure is on apartments in central areas. It is irrelevant that many blocks are zoned for cottage building. The movement is away from them to apartments. And much land is already zoned for cottages.

He goes on to say that councils think that people care whether there are tall buildings or lower buildings. People who buy the apartments prefer taller buildings because they allow more light and afford views and are cheaper to run than lower ones – which require more lofts, more stairwells, and more security, all adding to the upkeep.

We see many empty stores. But councils insist that we often include shops and offices to create work. In fact because there is already a glut of offices new ones should not be forced on developers. At best all that will happen is that older shops and offices will become vacant.

Read Mr Triguboff’s full article at Business Spectator, if your not already subscribed, SUBSCRIBE!

10 Easy Tips To Add Value

The property market will have ups and downs but houses will always hold their value as shelter, sanctuary and the place to kickback and relax.

There are still plenty of smart ways to improve your home’s value, too. Whether it’s adding more space, tactically upgrading rooms or simply lowering a home’s energy and water bills, we’ve uncovered some of the smartest low-cost investments to add value to your house.

In this economic climate, it doesn’t matter if you plan on selling now or years into the future, all of these improvements will increase the quality of your day-to-day home life as well as buyer appeal. And isn’t that what really counts? :: Read the full article »»»»

Five Tips To Picking The Right Property to Renovate

Renovating a residential home or investment property is never a risk-free proposition.

Renovating is like opening a can of worms — you can tear down a ricketty old ceiling just to discover disasters like termites or plumbing leaks that eat into your budget and home equity.

Splashing out on a renovation can be less risky when you choose a quality property. It’s often easy to let the emotions guide your purchase – even when your fighting against them.

Keeping a steady head about buying a property can be pretty simple if you follow a few basic rules. Here’s five tips to guide you :: Read the full article »»»»

Five Things to Know About Home Insulation

All Insulation is Not Created Equal!

Batts are the easiest form of insulation to retrofit into any home, with older-style Federation, bungalows and Victorian homes benefitting the most from ceiling insulation. It’s easy enough to carry the batts into a ceiling cavity and fit them neatly between the timbers. What’s not so easy is to work out which insulation material to choose – there are fibreglass batts, rockwool batts, wool batts, concertina batts and polyester batts. My preference would be for a natural material because fibreglass batts can cause problems in the future as the material breaks down and requires careful handling. You can also install loose insulation, such as paper, which can be pumped in to difficult-to-access roof areas. There are also air-cell materials which are easier to handle and extremely cost-effective and are great under timber floors :: Read the full article »»»»

WANT! Jeni Oye – Kenda Kwick Roller Sport Bike Tyre Bracelet

We love clever, adore even more clever design, Jeni Oye has a super-neat range of jewellery at oyemodern.com. She describes this range as being for the passionate and discerning carbon-neutral cyclist.

It’s not just transport, it’s an obsession. And now they can have the perfect biking accessory. Handmade with an aluminium base - just like a bike rim – this one-of-a-kind cuff features a recycled Kenda Kwick Roller Sport tire imprinted with the memories of roads once travelled. By Jeni Oye. More Jewellery for Cyclists.

Priced at $AU125

CHECK: www.oyemodern.com

Common Quirky Notions

One of the wonderfilled treats about being people is the quirky, offbeat notions we share as Likes. That in mind I quote one of my favourite Houzz contributors Annie Thornton.

“I’m not even going to attempt to conceal the reverence and adoration I have for the Australian tea Tree – Leptospermum laevigatum. Wind blown and architectural, these trees appear to be molded by hand rather than grown.”

Easy to see why Ms Thornton is one of my favourite writers, she spills a word well. And the tree is no slouch either, the specimen below resides in our neighbours front garden.

The common name Tea Tree or Tea-tree, derives from the practice of early Australian settlers soaking the leaves of several species in boiling water to make a tea substitute. Most Leptospermum species make desirable garden plants. Flowers are mostly large, up to 3 cm in diameter, and they are hardy in most soils and aspects.

For me the Tea tree screams relax, coastal summer holidays and windy winter breaks along the stunning Victorian coastline, from the surf beaches at Bells, Jan Juc and Torquay to the rainforest and dunes of Cape Otway, what a grand tree. Even on a still day the Australian Tea Tree looks wind swept, stoically bent to a purpose filled shape :: Read the full article »»»»

Picture of the Week

via VICE

Let’s be honest. All any woman under 30 has to do to make any man throw away his wife, his kids, his job and his AA promises is open her mouth.

Hughies Wondrous Water-Saving Sink Idea

You’ve gotta love Aussie ingenuity. This sink insert has been designed to help capture excess water before letting it go down the drain. While the water-conscious amongst us have been using a wash basin in the sink for years, it’s been too hard for the elderly or water-challenged to bother with :: Read the full article »»»»

Big Ideas! Small Bathrooms

Just like our office cubicles, cars and economy, our bathrooms are shrinking. But how do you make a tiny room work all that bit harder? Try these tips :: Read the full article »»»»

9th Wonder INFINISKI!

NOT BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE…

BUT BECAUSE I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE FOOD ON MY PLATE!

James & Mau Architecture + Infiniski = WOW! James & Mau have teamed up with eco builders Infiniski to create the most outlandishly superb dwellings. The Manifesto House in Curacavi, Chile hides a dark past, a former life that one would never pick :: Read the full article »»»»