The first big rule

When decluttering the first rule is use the Swiss Cheese approach. Don’t look at the overwhelming entirety of decluttering your house.  Look at it one area at a time. Make a mental list.  For example the linen press, the kitchen, the boy’s room.

Let’s use the boys room as an example, my personal nightmare area.

Manageable chunks

Break the areas up into manageable chunks once again, for example clothes, toys and furniture. Look at these areas separately keeping in mind: will it fit them next season, does the furniture layout work efficiently with their maturing requirements and what needs to be on show and what does not.

Sort into 4 groups

Once you have reorganized the furniture and put aside what is no longer required you are ready to sort into four groups.

1.    Garage sales/car boot sale items
2.    Sell online
3.    Family or friends
4.    Charity store

Car boot sales

These are a great way to sell your items and is generally more successful than a stand-alone garage sale.  Many communities have these events regularly, and they‘re great if you want a little cash for the things you might have given away.

Masses of people tend to converge on car boot sales so as a seller you get more bang for your buck compared to a private garage sale.  Having experienced both garage sales and car boot sales, you stand to make about $200-$300 for a few hours work. The fact that someone else will be getting great use out of your pre-loved items is also satisfying.

Selling online is another way to get good money for your unwanted items, but be warned unless you have something that will sell for at least $200 it isn’t worth doing.  Out of a $200 sale you will need to take out postage ($20) and online sale fees($20), so your profit will be more like $160.  Also factor into this the time spent taking photos and watching the online auction, and then preparing the item for postage.

If you haven’t managed to sell your pre-loved items sort them into two groups: family/friends and charity store.

Friends and family are a great resource when you’re decluttering.  Drop in and have a coffee and chat about what you have that they may like.

The charity store is my last stop and it is reassuring that they will take most of want you haven’t been able to get rid of at this point.  Make sure that you take these items directly to a charity store, as clothing bins for example are owned by rag wholesalers, non-fabric items usually end up in landfill.  Most charity stores cannot resell electrical items, for safety reasons, and even brand new items will not be accepted.

As outlined  above decluttering and organizing doesn’t need to be an overwhelming undertaking.  It can provide you with extra mental clarity in an otherwise overwhelming day. To be able to open a cupboard that is organized, without items falling out everywhere, is a great gift to yourself that you will appreciate every time you open that cupboard.

However, if you haven’t planned for 2010 you haven’t missed the boat, just yet.  Here are three golden rules on how to gain new clients and build your business.

Internet Advertising

One of the best ways to get your company noticed by potential clients is through the Internet.  Internet advertising in some form is now seen as the best way to advertise a business and is essential if you want to remain competitive in your industry.

Below are four essential points that will help make your Internet advertising a success.

1.    Make a list of all the words your company is synonymous with eg. Builder, Gold Coast, new homes.
2.    Type these words into Google or any another search engine - make sure you pick Australian sites.
3.    See what sites come up on the first page results and then get affiliated with one, or a few of these sites.
4.    Affiliation can be free or paid advertising through a directory, banner ads, text links or editorials.

Update your website

Search engine optimisation company

Once people have found your advertising they will want to see more of your work or know more about your company.  Every year The Australian Home Design Directory sees increasing numbers of Australians searching the internet for services and our own website has seen a 400% growth since this time last year!  Update your website and if you don’t have one, see if the website you are advertising with can host a mini-website for you.

Here are a few essential tips when preparing your website.

1.    Image size - ensure any images on your website are under 400 pixels wide.  When images are larger than this they take too long to load and potential clients get frustrated and move on.
2.    Have good photos.  People are more likely to call if your work looks good.
3.    Ensure your website is simple and quick to navigate.
4.    Your website should be easy to read.  Don’t use too much industry jargon, readers like to be informed and feel as though they have learnt something. If you make a reader feel ignorant and confused they will try someone else.
5.    Have up-to-date information.

Networking

This form of business building can seem boring and time consuming if you’ve never tried it, but you’ll be surprised who you meet, who they know and how willing they are to help you make your business a success.  Here are a few pointers on networking to get you on your way.

1.    Talk to people. It sounds really simple but it really works.  Anyone you meet like the dentist next door or a mum from school - just talk to them a little longer than you normally might do, and tell them a little more than you usually would.  Ask them what they do or how is business.  It’s amazing what leads you get from just chatting with people.
2.    Call the professional body associated with your business - they will have regular gatherings where you can meet other professionals.
3.    Do a few Internet searches on networking for your industry and see what comes up.  Usually networking groups charge for membership but you can usually try them all out for a reduced cost.  The choose one to stick with and go every month. Think of it as a nice lunch where you can build long-term business relationships.

So if you want to get competitive and stay on top, embrace 2010 and get your business in a good position to make this year truly prosperous. Try putting in place these solid forms of business development to see your client base grow solidly throughout this year.

Lovers of colour will embrace this trend and even those of us who would normally prefer a simple understated colour scheme cannot help but be seduced by the stunning range of colourful designs that are emerging from the fabric houses around the globe.  With a jumble of exotic colours there seem to be very few rules, however the easiest way to ensure that a scheme like this works is to select three colours that are equidistant on the colour wheel and make one of those colours the dominant part of the scheme.

No Chintz in Sydney stocks a stunning range of textiles and exclusive trims.  They are passionate about colour and this is demonstrated in the wonderful range of fabrics on offer.  Choose from a range of ready made cushions or let your imagination run riot and select fabrics for custom made items.  Complement these beautiful textiles with traditionally made paints from Murobond. Their Pentimento Limewash combines the best of centuries old traditions and modern technology to create a great rich, velvet textured finish.  Pentimento Limewash creates an understated mottled finish as the lime content makes the paint bloom.  This is more noticeable in the stronger, brighter colours and this subtle finish softens the colour which is ideal for these vivid hues.  Murobond Glisten, Carmine, Lime and Citron are wonderful brights that come in the Pentimento Limewash finish.  The really adventurous amongst us can paint all their walls in this finish but for those who want to exercise some restraint, a feature wall in one of these bright hues will create a fabulous uplifting mood.

murobond - 81 Dickson Aven, Artarmon, Tel 9906 7299

nochintz - 153 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra Tel 9386 4800 or 509 Willoughby Road, Willoughby Tel 9958 0257

]]> http://www.homedesigndirectory.com.au/blog/archives/summer-brights/feed http://www.homedesigndirectory.com.au/blog/archives/be-asbestos-alert-when-you-renovate http://www.homedesigndirectory.com.au/blog/archives/be-asbestos-alert-when-you-renovate#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:01:03 +0000 angela http://www.homedesigndirectory.com.au/blog/?p=507 Many people think asbestos is only a problem in houses built before the mid 1950s. But, the reality is, you’ll find significant amounts of asbestos in homes built right up until the early 1980s. And this makes this once lauded, now loathed, building material a real cause for caution for nearly all home renovators.

Why is asbestos so prevalent?

The word ‘asbestos’ means inextinguishable, an attribute that was discovered and exploited by the Finns as far back as 3000 BC. In modern times, asbestos was used worldwide in more than 3000 different products for the building industry between the early 1900s and the 1980s. Asbestos was popular because of its fire resistance and durability, its thermal, acoustic and anti-rot qualities, and its resistance to vermin and termites.

Locally, about 90 per cent of all asbestos production was to make asbestos cement sheeting. This was for flat sheets (for walls, ceilings and floors), corrugated sheets (for roofing) and decorative finishes. Other asbestos-based products that were used to build homes included water, drainage and flue pipes, roofing shingles, guttering, some vinyl floor coverings, bitumen-based waterproofing membranes, insulation, textured paint and the list goes on.

The manufacture and use of asbestos products was officially banned in Australia in 2003.

Why is it harmful?

Asbestos is comprised of microscopic, separable fibres which, if inhaled in high numbers over an extended period, can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. And as the symptoms of these deadly diseases don’t usually appear until 20-30 years after initial exposure, there is a real danger for repeat home renovators and their families.

A typical Aussie fibro, or 'Fibrolite', cottage such as this poses no risk to your health provided the asbestos products are stable and in good condition.

What are the risks for renovators?

Just because your home contains materials made with asbestos, it doesn’t mean your health is automatically at risk. Occupational health and safety experts like Philip Hibbs from Hibbs & Associates Pty Ltd, a NSW firm specialising in environmental risk management, say the health threat occurs when people mishandle asbestos products and in doing so disturb and release the harmful fibres. One example is the use of power tools to cut through or drill into asbestos cement sheeting.

According to Mr Hibbs, if asbestos materials are stable and in good condition, they pose very little risk to health, and more so for bonded materials. The term ‘bonded’ means the asbestos fibres are firmly bound into the matrix of the material, such as cement sheet, for example. If undamaged, these products do not release fibres readily.

Weathered materials, however, especially asbestos roofing materials, can pose a real risk. Weathering eats away at the cement surface of the roofing and the result is a thin friable surface which easily releases asbestos fibres.

TIP: If you have an asbestos sheet roof, never clean it with a water blaster, keep gutters and downpipes in good condition and ensure they are plumbed into the municipal storm-water system. Downpipes must not be allowed to run into garden beds.

If a Hazardous Materials Survey finds asbestos in your project area, you will need to call in a licensed asbestos removal contractor to ensure its safe removal and disposal.

How can I be sure I’ll be renovating safely?

For home renovations requiring Development Application (DA) approval, most councils require a Hazardous Materials Survey to be conducted. This means you’ll be made aware of the location of any asbestos products you have in the area to be renovated. It also means you’ll have to hire a licensed asbestos removal contractor to ensure the material’s safe removal and disposal.  You will need to factor in costs of asbestos removal into you budget.

For home improvements that don’t require a DA, however, the onus will be on you to have your project area tested if you suspect asbestos might be present. You will also need to hire an asbestos disposal contractor if the area of asbestos sheeting to be removed is over 10sqm. In NSW, the removal of asbestos materials must be conducted by an asbestos removal contractor licensed by the WorkCover Authority NSW. And although it seems obvious, it’s worth mentioning that it is illegal to put asbestos waste in domestic garbage bins when removing.

To find a local asbestos disposal contractor, visit your state or territory’s WorkSafe Australia website and check out the service provider directory.

Tips for handling asbestos sheeting yourself

When doing work around your home, it is okay to handle bonded asbestos products yourself, provided the total area of asbestos sheeting does not exceed 10sqm. But as even this amount can pose health risks, you need to protect yourself, your family and your neighbours by following these simple guidelines.

1. Never use power tools on asbestos sheeting
2. Wear a suitable Australian Standards approved respirator (Class P1) and disposable overalls
3. Wet sheets down to limit dust
4. Where practical, minimise the breakage and remove sheets whole
5. Wrap and seal sheets in 200-micron-thick plastic sheeting
6. Wrap your overalls and mask in a bag for disposal too
7. Contact your local council for an authorised disposal site in your area
8. Remove asbestos as soon as possible

If you suspect an asbestos contamination

If you think your home or an area of your garden is contaminated with asbestos fibres, you need to take these initial precautions to minimise everybody’s risk of exposure.

1. Don’t disturb the area by sweeping, vacuuming or raking
2. Spray the area gently with water to keep dust particles down
3. Cover with a plastic sheet or tarpaulin
4. Keep pets and children away
5. Contact your local council or a qualified occupational hygiene consultant. The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygeinists, Inc. www.aioh.org.au is also a great reference source.

The costs of asbestos removal can be expensive, so shop around, you’ll be amazed at the price differences.

Do the right thing

Removing asbestos may sound like a whole lot of hassle, but the inescapable fact is asbestos is a well documented killer of people who have had high levels of exposure to its deadly fibres. But if you follow the laws and safe procedures for working with asbestos, your chance of inhaling the fibres and risking your health and your family’s health is extremely low.

No matter how keen you are to get started, plan, prioritise and then plan and prioritise some more.

Unfortunately, it’s not so easy when you want to buy land and build a new home. I liken it to buying a computer. Even though your needs may be quite conservative, you’re so easily sucked in to buying the model with all the bells and whistles, even though you know you’ll never use them.

Going through project and spec homes is interesting. Sometimes you really have to stretch your imagination to envisage how all the odd little nooks and crannies could be used. And what about those places that have three or four separate sitting areas plus a parents’ retreat? All that open floorspace might look impressive at first but, be honest, do you really need it? And just think about the heating and cooling costs.

When I design a new home for a client, I constantly keep them up-to-date with the  costs because it’s so easy to overspend. I’ll ask if the project is in keeping with their original priorities and their budget. For instance, travertine tiles in the bathroom would be stunning but are they really needed? And how essential is that $6500 cooking range from Melbourne? My aim is to avoid disappointment when the tender prices come in.

If you want to get a really good idea of what it costs to build a new home, go to the easy-to-use construction cost calculator. It just might save you a heap of time and heartache.

Of course, when building from scratch, or even when renovating, you have to find a compromise between what you need and want and what the marketplace will need and want when it comes time to sell. But there are some steadfast basics that will always ring true. You’ll find them all outlined in Seven deadly sins of home design. Each one of the sins is equally deadly in terms of the success of your project and the impact upon your pocket.

But if I had to choose one piece of advice above all others, it would be don’t rush in. Take plenty of time to draw up and mull over your list of priorities and don’t be afraid to make change upon change. Then, when you’re really sure, the house you build should truly be the house of your dreams.

A competent DIYer can make plenty of savings without crossing into territory reserved for licensed professionals.

Last week I had coffee with an interior designer friend who was telling me about a kitchen renovation she is overseeing for a relative. My friend has selected and advised on the whitegoods, appliances, fittings and finishes – all of which is okay and well within her jurisdiction as a designer. To keep the cost down, another relative – an avid DIYer – has volunteered to pull out the old kitchen, install the new flat-pack model, Gyprock the walls and do the tiling and the painting – again, all okay. Well it will be okay if he stops there. Now, it seems, the DIY cousin is so enthusiastic about the project he wants to take on the electrical installations too.  Is he a qualified electrician? No. Is he a registered electrical contractor? No. So, in other words, this part of the proceedings is not okay. Not okay at all.

So why is it you give some people a set of tools and instead of being content with doing a great job within the scope of their legal limitations, they think they can do it all? What part of AGAINST THE LAW don’t they understand? What part of ELECTRICITY CAN KILL is a grey area?

Despite the fact that messing around with live wires is illegal in all parts of Australia, research by state governments shows there are plenty of DIYers who just can’t resist the urge. How is this known? Because every year people get killed or seriously injured attempting their own electrical installation and maintenance work. When people get caught they say things like they didn’t realise what they were doing was dangerous; they didn’t realise it was illegal; they couldn’t afford an electrician. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

If you're not licensed or registered, working with live wires is strictly out of bounds.

The simple fact is tinkering with live wires is extremely dangerous, not only for you but also for others if something goes wrong because you made a mistake. The result of your poor wiring could be a fatality, electric shock or a major house fire. Imagine having any of those on your conscience.

So, for the record: No matter where you live in Australia, if you are not a registered electrical contractor or a licensed electrician, electrical safety regulations prohibit you from doing any kind of electrical installation. It really can’t be any clearer, can it?

My advice to anyone is, instead of risking life and property in the name of saving a few hundred bucks, read the article DIY Kitchen Design which outlines the best approach to take when embarking on a kitchen renovation. I also suggest you check your contractors are industry qualified, licensed and insured.

Now, I am a designer, but, for the average person, choosing colours for a home is the simplest of all matters. I say this because colour and colour combinations are everywhere and we are all influenced by them every day, whether we realise it or not.

It's easy to imagine how these delicate colours would create a restful and romantic bedroom.

Here’s an example. Imagine that on a day you’re feeling a little down a friend presents you with a beautiful bunch of flowers. Just by looking at those flowers you feel loved and nurtured. So imagine what colour those flowers would be? For me, they’d be soft pinks and creamy whites. Suddenly there’s the inspiration for a colour scheme in, say, my bedroom – a place where rest, emotional security and nurturing are all important.

Similarly, think about colours that make you feel happy then use those colours in your home’s communal areas to encourage fun, laughter and feelings of togetherness. Also think about colours you don’t like. If red aggravates you, don’t use it in a place of rest, or better still, just don’t use it. And if beige and brown make you feel bored and dull, simply cull them from your decorating palette. A great way to start thinking about colours and how they make you feel is to grab a box of coloured pencils and some paper and then ask some basic questions like: What’s my favourite colour? What colour do I loathe? What colour makes me laugh? What colour makes me feel cold? What colour makes me feel peaceful? You get the idea.

These are wonderful examples of how you could use vivid accent colours in your home.

The next place I go to for colour inspiration is nature and the outside world. Nature is like a living design palette and you’ll find colour inspiration for your home decor at every turn. A perfect example is the beach. What designer could better nature’s combination of sand and sea? Or, pick any flower and study the way the colours are graduated and combined. Look at the coat of an animal, see the colours at play and create a modified version of that scheme for your home. There are so many examples I could go on with, but I’m hoping the concept explains itself and you’ll soon be finding your own inspirations.

Of course, if you’d prefer to take a more technical and traditional approach to colour, you’ll find plenty of expert know-how and loads of advice on how to get it right in the articles Picking colours for your home and Colour selection rules for your home.  But whichever way you decide to go, I do hope you enjoy the process of bringing colour into your home as much as I do.

When switching from incandescent bulbs to energy savers you'll have to experiment a little until you find just the right level of ambient light to suit your taste.

I am an eternal home decorator and there’s nothing I hold more sacred than lighting. For me it’s what makes a house a home, regardless of colour schemes, furnishings or accessories. So you can imagine my concern about a year ago when I heard these new energy-saving light bulbs would soon be the only sort on the market. My thoughts immediately ran to garish-green fluorescent lamps of the sort you see in medical centre waiting rooms and cheap takeaways. In my panic, I hit every supermarket and hardware store in my area to stockpile as many of the old bulbs as I could. Trouble was, by the time I started raiding the stores, much of the stock had been sold only to be replaced by the new energy-smart versions. The other problem was my conscience was starting to get to me and I began to feel like an environmental vandal. So, now, rather than continuing to swim against the tide, I’ve decided to do the right thing and get to know more about these energy-efficient light bulbs to see if they’re as doleful as I’ve made them out to be. And it seems I may have been a little hasty in my concern.

By reading your article Energy efficient lighting and quality of light I’ve learned that not all energy-saving bulbs are the same in terms of the type of light they emit. For instance, there are LEDs and warm-white compact fluorescent lamps that will do a fine job in lots of places around my house. And for the lovely ambient light that I love, it’s okay to use a few incandescent bulbs here and there. I’ve also checked out the Energy Australia Energy Usage Guide and seen how much money I can save by making a significant switch to these new bulbs. And then, of course,  there’s the reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions we’d make if we all worked together and used energy savers as the bigger percentage in our lighting equations - and I do love that.

I have always been a big fan of the local op shop.  Keep an eye on this space I think i’ll do a bit of research on recycled building supplies and post it for all.

Here’s another great interior styling article that was sent to us the other day from a Central Coast based company - Kerrys Interior Solutions - 0415 668 691.  Have fun!!

Where do you start?

Having designed your new home or renovations the next step is to make the right choices of colour, texture and design.   Selecting your finishes prior to building commencement will provide clear guidelines for the builder, permit greater accuracy of quotations,  accelerate the building process, and ensure time labour and cost effectiveness of tradesmen.

1. Choose your profile selections. Determine the style of the plans eg:contemporary, traditional, country etc.
2. The next thing to consider are the shapes used in the design - round, arch, square, rectangle or angled. It may be the shapes are contrasting ie: utilizing both rounded and squared shapes.  Whatever the style and design, stay consistent to the plan with your further profile selections for the remainder of the home eg; gutters, front door, facade materials, bathroom tiles, PC items, kitchen bench tops and cupboard profiles.  The use of contrasting shapes to feature areas only accentuate feature areas and should be used minimally within the home.
3. Select practical applications. Determine your lifestyle requirements to the purpose of each individual room so furniture layout, flooring, lighting, electrical needs, easy cleaning and low maintenance replicate your needs. This will bring functionality and maximum enjoyment from your home.
4. Choose  your  ambiance. Determine  the  ambiance  you  want  eg:relaxing/harmonious, uplifting/friendly, opulent/rich, or romantic/luring.  Next choose the tonal values and colour scheme that relates to your choice of ambiance eg: related, mono chromatic, contrasting or triadic colour schemes, primary, secondary, or tertiary colours.  See our ‘Picking colours for your home’ article.  Also keep in mind that textures to walls, soft furnishings and lighting are all equally important when considering ambiance.
5. Selections should flow. Determine colour and profile selections for the ceiling, cornice, architrave and doors and keep these selections consistent.  These items flow from one room to the next, keeping the home united, breaking the consistency of these items would cause baulking and stop starting within the home.   For the same rationale floor coverings should also be kept to a minimum preferably of two - three.
6. Choose your space. Determine your open plan living space.  Open plan living areas can loose their sense of purpose within a home.  Its wise to have subliminal definitions created by tonal/colour changes, drop lighting or a rug under a dining or coffee table.  See ‘Seven deadly sins of home design’
7. Don’t forget window dressings and awnings. Determine your window dressings and awnings prior to construction as some selections require addressing at the construction level eg: motorised blinds, plantation shutters and their housing etc.

Checklist - prior to building commencement

Prior to building commencement you will need to run through the following list with your builder, it will help to ascertain a budget and a common goal, to achieve the desired results for your home.

Exterior colour and profile selections required for:

• Roof -Tile/ Colour Bond
• Fascia
• Guttering
• Eaves
• Down Pipes
• Walls - Brick/ Render/ Colour Bond/ Hardy Plank/ Other
• Feature Walls
• Front Door
• Windows Frames/Glass
• Railings/Balustrades
• Decking
• Paving/Tiles/Concrete
• Driveway
• Letter Box
• Landscaping
• Fencing
• Courtyard
• Exterior Furniture/ Decor

Interior colour and profile selections required for :

General

• Landscaping
• Doors
• Door Furniture
• Cornice/Architrave
• Feature Walls
• Furniture Layout
• Lighting & Electrical Requirements
• Floor Coverings
• Paintwork
• Window Dressings
• Decor

Kitchen

• Kitchen
• Bench Top
• Bench Under
• Splash Back
• Door Profile
• Handles
• Appliances
• Kick Boards
• Tap Ware
• Sink

Bathroom

• Wall Tiles
• Feature Tiles & Application
• Floor Tiles
• PC Items/ Bath/ Toilet Suite/ Shower Screen/ Vanity/ Basin
• Accessories/ Mirror/ Towel Racks/ Toilet Roll Holder
• Tap ware

Laundry

• Cupboards
• Handles
• Bench Tops
• Tub
• Tap Ware
• Splash Back
• Kick Boards
• Appliances
• Floor Tiles

There’s nothing like information.  This article gives you not only a guide to styling but a checklist so you are ‘ahead of the game’ and have all your finishes and colours selected early so you are not running around trying to make things work too late in the construction process.