renovation planning

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Bathtub you don't want to be caught naked in

Now that's the kind of bathtub that looks gorgeous ... but I wouldn't want anyone to catch me soaking within those see-through walls.

Make your bathroom appear larger

Step-by-step bathroom upgrades

Pictures: Bagnasso

Friday, August 21, 2009

Quote of the week

"I want a house that has got over all its troubles; I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house,"Jerome K. Jerome

Pictures: GramercyParkHotel

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Appliances: the colourful fridge range

Those same designers that brought us the iPod fridge have made these eye-poppingly cute colourful retro fridges. They'll be on display at Berlin's fancy appliance fair from September 4. They'll also be unveiling something NEW from designer Karim Rashid, the same man who made method's cute handsoap bottles and a few other fancy things I've written about on this blog. Stay tuned ...

Related stories:

Make your fridge kind to the planet

Grow your own groceries

Kitchen renovation ideas

Pictures: Gorenje

RENOVATION FIX: Beware of sarking and insulation problems

I applaud ceiling insulation as one of the easiest ways homeowners can reduce their energy bills and make their home a more comfortable temperature all year round. BUT there is a problem with high levels of insulation and what's known as sarking - a reflective foil installed underneath roofing material like tiles or colorbond. You see, if a roof cavity isn't well ventilated and ceiling batts are laid on the floor of that roof cavity then the entire space can turn into a condensation chamber. See that image above? Well, sarking acts like the edge of the glass and if it doesn't breathe or ventilate to the outdoors then the temperature differences can create condensation within the roof cavity. This picture shows some of the droplets along the roofing timbers that can be seen in most homes that have insulation and sarking.

The big problems with condensation often don't make themselves obvious, but include:

1. The water creates a mould-growing environment

2. Moisture appears on the ceiling below, but many think it is a roof leak

3. The south-eastern corner of the house (the least ventilated with little sunlight) can become mouldy

4. The mould can lead to sick building syndrome, where the home occupants are breathing in bad air which can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma.

So what's the solution?

- ensure the roof cavity is ventilated, perhaps with a whirly bird

- if building from new, use breathable sarking rather than solid sarking which allows the moist air to escape

- if the insulation has become soaked and is mouldy, it must be removed and replaced.

With the governments $1600 insulation rebate happening, it's the perfect time for people to be reminded that this CAN be a problem ... but don't let it stop you installing the wondrous insulation material. Any insulation is better than none.

Related stories:

5 must-know insulation tips

Why insulation pays you back

Home repair checklist

Pictures: Diagram by Kieding,

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Kitchen confusion: bedroom-style kitchens are cooking

My, these Italian kitchens look like they belong in a boudoir rather than a humble home. What do you think of the grandiose styles?
Related stories:
Installing a kitchen the easy way
Ideal kitchen heights
Working room renovations
Pictures: MustItalia

Sunday, August 16, 2009

NEWS: PVC shower curtains release toxins in your bathroom

I already knew that shower curtains have Psycho-like ways ... what with trying to stick to you while you shower and all.
Now I KNOW those wafty, mouldy curtains are up to no good -- especially if made from PVC. They are poisonous. Truly.
United States research shows " Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic shower curtains purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart all contain avoidable toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, organotins and metals. Some of these chemicals are volatile, so they are released into the air inside our homes."
As many as 108 chemicals, in fact - some of which can damage the liver, central nervous, reproductive and respiratory system. Gah!
"This investigation shows that PVC shower curtains are significant contributors to indoor air pollution," the 2008 research says. It also found:

* Chemicals with names scarier than my bed-hair were detected in the greatest concentrations in the first 28 days of installing the shower curtain. These chemicals include toluene, cyclohexanone, methyl isobutyl, some of which are banned in America but not Australia.

* Heat and humidity increases the release of chemicals from shower curtains.

* We should buy cotton or PVC-free shower curtains. Better still, stick to a shower cubicle and avoid the manky things all together.

Green clean the bathroom for toxin-free air

Don't let the bathroom sink your reno budget

Pictures: Shelterrific

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A garden gadget worth knowing about

This is what I need for my oh-so-large vegie garden. I can fill it with a tea made from garlic cloves to keep ALL THOSE ANNOYING PLANT-MUNCHING BUGS at bay and douse my herbs and vegies with a garlicky flavour. This sprayer is made from recycled plastics and doesn’t rely on batteries or chemical propellants to pump the spray -- it's a good old-fashioned hand-pump. Make your own vegie garden sprays utilising everything from chillies, eucalyptus oil and quassia chips to garlic, pyrethrum, eco-oils and soap to control aphids, white fly, thrips, mites, mealy bugs and scale insects. The sprayer is available at Bunnings. For some cute ideas on growing food, head to YouGrowGirl, a great gardening blog (albeit from the northern hemisphere).