The functionality of lighting a room has transformed well beyond its original purpose of letting us do things inside the home once the sun sets. Your lighting choice is as much of an expression within your home as it is a functional accessory and necessity. Lighting now has so many more strings attached; it’s not just about making sure you can see one step ahead, lighting is chosen based on energy efficiency, the mood and ambiance you’re after and can even become a statement of design within your home.
Why is the right Lighting Important?
Lighting in homes consumes 8–15% of the average household electricity budget, but the more efficient and well-designed light choices can result in savings, a definite bonus. It’s important to take advantage of both artificial and natural light. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and choosing the right one for the right space is a little choice that can make a big difference within your home.
Different types of light
Wherever possible, maximise the amount of natural light filtering through windows. If the window has curtains, make sure these can be fully opened and not sitting over the window itself when supposedly open to capacity. I often suggest extra-long curtain rails (and extra wide curtains) which means they can sit outside the window frame when they are open.
Can you install a skylight somewhere? This can be an expensive exercise, but if natural light is lacking this could be a god-send. Maybe you could add a window or two – or even increase the size of some you already have. Again, this can be expensive, but I would rather someone spend a bit of their budget on drawing in more natural light than beautifully renovating a dark and dingy space!
Use reflective surfaces and lighter colours in your interior design to bounce the light and add to the feeling of space. However, you can always have too much of a good thing and it’s not advised to go too bright on white; it could end up a little stark.
With regards to artificial lighting; Find a balance of ceiling lighting and free-standing lighting; the latter being especially effective in creating mood and ambiance within a space.
Don’t distress if you’re in the dark on what lighting to choose for your home, understandably different rooms need different light. The incandescent bulb is being phased out, with quality LEDs and fluorescents an excellent and efficient choice. Halogens typically use between 4 to 20 times more energy than alternatives.
Renovating the facade of a two-storey home is entirely different to renovating the facade of a one-storey home. Use these top tips to make sure your two-storey home reno looks the best it possibly can…
Create a visual anchor
If you were to stand on the road and look along the driveway towards your house, you should be able to get an idea of how your property presents, and how much ‘visual anchoring’ it needs. To visually anchor a property is to give it a sense that the house is anchored in place. It is quite a subtle thing but when done well, it makes an enormous difference to the overall aesthetic of the entire property.
If you are having difficulty grasping the concept of visual anchors, imagine the difference between a house with brick on the bottom and timber on the top. This style of house looks more anchored than a house with timber on the bottom and brick on the top.
A great and easy way to visually anchor a house is to use landscaping and/or pot plants;
• Choose dark coloured plants with thick, heavy leaves.
• Plant densely and aim for a solid effect.
• Steer away from dainty plants like roses.
• Mondo grass is a bit too delicate but can be used if blended with heavier plants.
• If planting is not an option, use planter boxes and large pot plants around the base of the house.
Update the balustrades
• Many older style houses have illegal balustrades and/or handrails. Update these to not only to modernise the house but also ensure it is legally compliant.
• Ensure your balustrade matches the ‘visual weight’ of the house. For example, if you have a brick home, ensure your balustrade is also made from a visually heavy looking material (ie chunky or substantial style that ‘holds its own’ against the brick).
• Contrast the colour so the balustrade doesn’t fade into the background of the house (unless this is your objective – which it could be)
• Tension wire and other lightweight materials often don’t work with brick houses as they are visually too light.
• Lightweight materials like timber (fine designs), some powder coated metal or tension wire will work on timber houses
• Mix and match to create the right effect. Try a metal balustrade with a timber handrail or vice versa.
• Ensure you choose a balustrade design that works with the architectural style of your house.
Breaking up the plane
If the façade of your double-storey house is all on one plane, the house can look flat and uninteresting. Many double-storeys with the front facing windows all on the same face have this problem because there is nothing to break the tedium of the block-like surface.
• Add a portico to create a defined entrance, create shape, interrupt uniformity and give front-to-back depth. Pay attention to the architecture of your house when choosing materials and style.
• If a new portico is not in the budget, consider adding awnings to break up the regularity of the facade. Choose from canvas, timber or corrugated iron. Ensure the materials match the style of your house. Cool and funky, or sedate and traditional? Again, let the style of your house be your guide.
Fencing
A front fence or prominent boundary can go a long way towards improving your house. It frames, defines and demarcates the property.
• Make sure the style works with your house.
• Match the visual weight of the house by choosing materials that are of similar visual weight.
• If you don’t want a fence, consider a hedge, a low wall, or even a small garden in line with the letterbox.
These concepts of visual weight, anchoring and cohesion may sound foreign to you, but they are critical for a well designed home. They’re the difference between a designer looking house and a DIY hail-mary (pray that it looks alright when it’s done!) design, so definitely worth getting right.
As the temperature starts to cool off, now is the perfect time to get outside and improve your home’s curb side appeal. Simple but effective changes to your property can make a world of difference to the ‘street appeal’ factor; and these types of Bang-For-Your-Buck renovations are absolutely one of our strong suits here at Hotspace (have a look at some awesome before and after photos here). Here are five ideas you can tackle to improve the visual appearance of your home this weekend.
Lick of Paint
The weathered look is not in and your tired exterior paint is an easy fix. Update this element of your home to make it stand out; whether by repainting the same colour again or a new colour entirely. Neutral tones for your home’s exterior are usually the general consensus, but if you’re really after something bold, think about adding a pop of colour to your trim instead. Doing so will mean you can add a personal touch without going overboard, as well as being the perfect option if you’re time poor and want to give the home a quick spruce up.
Get Scrubbing
There’s not much a little sugar soap and elbow grease can’t make look as good as new again. Better yet; if you’ve got a Gurney, spend the weekend getting rid of the build-up of dirt and grime on your driveway and front footpaths. Your driveway is a dominant feature of your home and by brightening this up, it will immediately lift the on-street presence of your home.
Plant Some New Life into Your Yard
An untidy or neglected yard speaks volumes about the inside of your home and the weekly mow might not be enough. Landscaping can transform your home in a weekend of work, think about planting some new shrubs and flowers, pruning anything overgrown or even just adding a new layer of mulch and fertiliser.
It’s all in the Detail
The smallest detail can sometimes change the whole look of a home; consider upgrading the little detailed features of your home this weekend to really boost that curb side appeal. Your letterbox and street numbers can really pack a punch design wise if given a little time and effort, after all it’s what people see first when they look for your home.
A Little TLC
Of course, maintenance of your property is essential and if you have time for anything this weekend it should be the maintenance. Maintaining your property will not only help it look great but will end up saving you time and money in the long run by ensuring everything has longevity. Overflowing gutters, cobwebs, dirty windows or roof can all detract from your overall street appeal and they don’t take much time or cost to rectify. A little TLC definitely goes a long way for your home.
Usually one of the smaller rooms in your home, the laundry is often overlooked when renovating but it gets so much use it’s worth making it as attractive as it is practical. Here are a few things to keep in mind when giving it a make-over.
Budget
Before you begin, look at your budget and decide how much you can spend. Consider whether you are going to go with a simple update or a more involved renovation which includes gutting the laundry and starting over.
Layout
Plan your layout. Many older houses have laundries that include a large sink, an area for a top loader and a tiny bit of bench space. However, the way we use our laundry has changed over the years, and so I like to incorporate the sink into the bench. You can free up some bench space by opting for a small sink. Many people use a bucket to soak clothes, so a large sink may not be necessary anyway.
The laundry frequently ends up as the area where umbrellas, schoolbags, shoes and other odds and ends are dumped, so it’s a good chance to include some purpose-built storage areas when planning your layout. If some things can get stored elsewhere, clear them out and then decide what cabinetry or shelving you need. For example, you may want to include space for a laundry hamper in a cupboard or put some hooks on the walls for school bags, or designate an area for gumboots and shoes.
You could include some open feature shelves in your design. Pop some trendy baskets on them to store laundry products, spray bottles, cloths etc and the shelves become pretty and practical.
Cabinetry
If you are gutting the laundry or replacing the cupboards, you will need to decide if you want to get the cabinetry made to order, or buy some off-the-shelf flat packs. You can get some great flat packs these days that can easily be jazzed up to make them unique.
Don’t be deterred by people who say they don’t last; generally, the product itself is fine but the installation has not been perfect. If you’re not so handy with the tools, consider getting a professional to install it for you.
Lighting
A lot of laundries have fluorescent lighting in them, but if you know an electrician or you have room in your budget, another option is to put strip lighting underneath overhead cupboards. It adds a bit of ambience and keeps the bench well lit.
Colour
Although white is a common choice in laundries, there’s no reason you can’t have a bit of colour in there. I like to link to the rest of the house by matching the colour of the laundry cabinetry to the kitchen cabinetry.
You might decide to do something similar, or you could choose a colour you’ve used elsewhere in the house. You could also mix and match colours a bit by having a darker colour on overheads and a lighter colour on the base cabinets, or vice versa.
Splash-backs
I always try to incorporate a cool splash-back in the laundrys I design. Because the square meterage of the splash-back is minimal, it doesn’t add a great deal to the cost to go for a more expensive and funky tile rather than a cheaper, plainer tile. It’s another way to jazz up what might be a fairly boring looking room and you will always be glad you spent the extra money.
The laundry is a place that gets a lot of use, so it’s nice to make it a place that is functional and visually appealing. How are you going to update your laundry? If you need any help with planning your changes, give us a call. We’d love to help you out.
In my business, I help home owners work out the look, feel and overall design of their renovation rather than the physical implementation. Lucky me – for the most part, my clients manage their own renovations; including navigating the ins and outs of renovating with their children in the picture. If this is you too, I’ve come up with a list of things that should make the process easier.
Before you begin – planning and prep
To save as much time as possible, right from the outset, come up with a detailed plan of the renovation. Decide what you’re going to change, remove, alter and leave alone. Write down every single colour, product and finish you’re going to use – for the entire reno (this is going to be a looooong list – but it needs to be done).
If you’re renovating your entire house, work out which areas will be renovated and in what order. Decide where your living quarters will be while each room or section is renovated. You can minimise space needed by letting the kids sleep in the master bedroom in portacots or camp beds.
Next, put as much furniture in storage as possible, and pack up excess objects like photos, trinkets etc. Dust will get into everything, so cover items you must leave in the house with large drop cloths, blankets and plastic sheets.
You won’t want to eat takeaway every night, so cook and freeze as many meals as possible in advance. Avoid washing up by investing in disposable plates and cutlery. Set up a temporary mini-kitchen with a toaster, kettle, fridge, microwave and a camp oven. To ensure tradies don’t pull the fridge plug from the wall, tape the plug to the electrical outlet. Oh yes, I learnt the hard way!
Tradies
Get the best tradie for the job. This is one time you want to put quality before cost. When asking for a quote, be explicit about what you expect of them. If you want them to clean up as they go, state that up front. If you want them to start after a certain time and not to smoke or swear on site, tell them before you engage their services.
Create a schedule of all the trades you will need. You want as little downtime as possible, so schedule one trade after another. If you don’t feel confident doing this, engage a project manager or builder, or hire a company like Hotspace to do it for you.
Catering for the kids
Buy some brand new games and DVDs. If your reno is mainly outdoors, buy indoor games and movies. If you’re doing up the inside of the house, invest in outdoor play equipment.
There will be times when you have a lot of building work taking place; when this happens arrange for the kids to be taken out for the day.
Ensure little ones come to no harm by having one area that is a no-go zone for kids. You can store appliances, chemicals and paint here. Seal it off with plastic sheeting velcro’d to the doorway and put up a kiddie gate as a reminder that it is off limits.
If you’re renovating your bathroom, you might need to get a bit creative with bathing. Small children can be bathed in a laundry tub or, if it’s summer, put them in swimmers and let them play under the garden hose. Alternatively, use a friend or family member’s house, or take them to the local pool where they usually have shower facilities. If you go to the gym, consider using the facilities there.
Staying sane during your reno
Reduce hazards and keep your space as clear as possible by putting a skip bin out the front. Throw all the old appliances and materials in there as you renovate.
Give yourself some downtime by taking a break between each stage of the reno. It will help you to stay fresh and retain energy levels.
Be mentally prepared for it to take longer than you had hoped. It is rare for a renovation to go completely to plan and there are bound to be delays along the way. If you keep this at the back of your mind, you can avoid getting frustrated.
Finally, take lots of before, during and after pics so you can share the memories with the kids!
Making a good first impression is important when you’re welcoming visitors to your home – whether they are friends, family, potential buyers or tenants. Whether you’re doing a major renovation or just carrying out some minor improvements on your nest, working on creating an entry with visual impact will pay dividends.
Firstly, give the entrance curb appeal. Offer visitors clear access from the gate to the doorway by keeping plants or trees pruned back and removing any obstacles. For night-time entry, install an effective overhead light for the doorway, and use solar-powered lights to mark the pathway.
You can make the view of your entrance impressive from the street by using a striking colour and/or high-gloss paint to highlight the door. Matching of existing steps and railings to the colour of the door creates a visual pathway leading straight to the entrance.
Install shiny new door fittings such as handle/lock, knocker and security screen. If the street number is located near the entry, make it large and readable from a distance.
Add a bit of practical comfort with a well-designed bench seat, or small outdoor setting. This shouldn’t detract or block the entrance-way but serve as an aside feature that is functional while complimenting the façade.
Frame the entrance with tight hedging, or a group of pot-plants. Dark-coloured foliage and bright flowers look great against a neutral-coloured façade, or add nicely to a coastal, country, traditional or Mediterranean themed décor. Alternatively, use fragrant plants such as Daphne, Jasmine, Lavender, herbs or roses, to create a subtly perfumed welcome.
For those with an interest in feng shui, the front door directs energy to the rest of the house. The health and strength of the front door rely on a clear flow of energy, regular care and maintenance, a feng shui colour, and a structure consistent with the rest of the house.
Finally, make sure the approach to your entrance is visually impressive. Cement pavers amongst light coloured gravel, weathered stonework, hardwood decking, tiles or patterned brickwork may be the material that matches your outer décor. Choose a base and colour that complement the façade and offer a safe and stable surface.
When working on improving the entrance to your home, what you’re really trying to evoke is emotional appeal. This area is reasonably simple with few elements to install and maintain. Get the combination right, and you’ll be smiling every time you walk towards the door.
