The Environment and Your Home

Global warming is a pretty commonly used term in our modern society. I think majority of people these days have a general idea of the concept. Excess greenhouse gases produced from burning fossil fuels are trapped in the earth's atmosphere and creates a warming effect. Although this may seem like a potentially fantastic endless summer, in reality global warming is having catastrophic effects. The people of low lying island nations are slowly loosing their home to the sea, as are the animals living on the poles who's survival is dependent on the melting ice and there has been an undeniable increase in weather disasters in recent years. Global warming is a global issue and we all have to do our part to help reduce its effects.

Now I'm not suggesting revolutionary stuff here. I'm not saying throw out your phones, sell your cars and start using candles, but I thought I'd share some tips to get your home environmentally friendly. Not only will it help save the environment, in the long run it will help save you money.

Lights

Install energy saving light globes. They provide great lighting without using as much energy.

Separate your lighting. This way you can switch on only the lights you need, saving power.

Buy and use lamps. If you only need a small amount of light lamps are ideal as they use much less energy than lighting up a whole room.

Switch your outdoor lights over to solar power. This way you can light up your backyard using only the power of the sun.

Water

Install water saving shower heads. This reduces the amount of water you use per shower, therefore also reducing the amount of energy used per shower to heat the water.

Buy and use a dishwasher. A full dishwasher uses much less water than filling the sink and washing dishes by hand. Not only will you save water, but you will save time.

Heating/cooling

Invest in a good air con/heating system and ensure all doors are closed when using it.

Installing curtains will also keep your house cooler in summer and warmer in winter through insulation. A very good investment!

Bathroom Ideas to get your Heart Racing

Even though this years Melbourne Cup Carnival is nearly over, it does not mean that you can't have the sophisticated fashion emanating throughout your home for the rest of the year. This week I thought I'd take inspiration from the fashionable Melbourne ladies and share some bathroom ideas that fit with each of the major races dress code. Enjoy!

Derby Day kicks off the carnival with the classic black and white style. This is also a classic look for your bathroom. It is timeless and elegant and can have just as much of an impact as its colourful counterpart. 

Melbourne Cup is the biggest and brightest race the season. It's all about pops colour, which looks fantastic in any bathroom. You'll be surprised what a little splash of colour can do.

Oaks Day, also known ladies day, is about feminine hues, so think soft pinks and pastels. This colour scheme gives your bathroom a soft, relaxing feel.

Stakes Day has a casual dress code. So think dressed down and homely.

 

Photo credit: homeadore.com

Beautiful Bedrooms

These days I feel like our bedroom is more than a bedroom. I study there, play on my computer there, catch up on TV there. Essentially I do anything but sleep there!  However, in these busy modern times I think it’s more important than ever to have a sanctuary in your home, somewhere where you can relax and unwind. It’s time to convert our bedrooms back into cosy sleepy hollows and I have a plan!

Photo credit: Simon Whitmore for Ideal Home

1. Make friends with plants. Introducing a plant into your bedroom can purify air and reduce stress. A house plant is a perfect bedroom companion.

2. Invest in a beautiful bedspread. Go out and buy that ridiculously expensive bedspread you’ve fallen in love with. There is nothing more satisfying at the end of the day than collapsing into a soft bed you love.

3. Fill the room with wonderful scents. Lavender, vanilla, jasmine and rose all have calming effects which is exactly what you want in your new sanctuary. Try spraying your linen or burning a candle with these oils, you’ll be surprised of how the mood of your room changes.

4. Opt for candles or fairy lights. Not only do these types of lighting look beautiful they are less harsh and more calming than switching on an ordinary light. It will make it so much easier for you to get to sleep.

5. Make it your own. Your bedroom does not have to look like an Ikea catalogue room. The more you make it your own with pictures and holiday mementos, the more safe and calm

ing your room will feel. I know I love coming into my room and seeing the pictures of my best friends and family, it brings a sense of happiness to my room. Just don’t go crazy and clutter your space! Clutter equals stress, the opposite of what we’re going for here.

Photo credit: Katya De Grunwald for House to Home

So together let’s go back to when the bedroom was for sleeping and relaxing. We will all be better rested for it!

Summers nearly here, bring on the barbeques!

With the AFL Grand Final weekend been and gone, Australia can truly say goodbye to winter and hello to summer. With the arrival of summer I’m predicting a lot of cricket, sun-burnt noses and the constant smell of barbeques. On this note I wanted to write this week about creating the perfect, low maintenance outdoor entertaining area.

In Australia the barbeque has become something of a spiritual ritual, where whoever holds the barbeque tongs truly holds the power. Consequently, us Aussies seem to take a lot of pride in the condition of our backyard, however, hardly any of us have the time to maintain our backyard regularly. This is where some of my handy hints come in.

1. Opt for tiles or pavers. Of course we’re going to opt for tiles in any case, we sell them. However, for a low maintenance area tiles and pavers make sense. Typical decking, being wood, requires constant maintaining to retain its condition. Tiles won’t rot and maintain their good looks. If it’s the decking look you’re after there are now tiles that replicate the wood look, so it’s win-win.

 2.  Keep the grass to a minimum. Although grass looks and feels great it requires consent mowing in spring and watering to stay alive in summer. If you’re not sure you have time to maintain a lawn don’t plant one! 

 3.  Choose native plants. Our climate is not a very welcoming one and those water loving foreign plants won’t love it. Australian natives were born and breed here, they are made for our weather, and with such a wide variety of plants to choose from why wouldn't you go native? 

4.  Make it your own. You’re not going to love entertaining out there if it’s not you! So flick through magazines, scroll through the web and find your own style. Don’t conform, be you!

Hopefully this helped you with your outdoor entertaining area or at least got you thinking about it. Now I’m back to counting down the days until summer (and fingers crossed warm weather) kicks in. Only 60 days now I think...

Global Tiles: Mexico

When I think of Mexico, I wouldn't necessarily think of tiles. In fact, you wouldn't find tiles anywhere near my list of “things that remind me of Mexico”, which consists entirely of tacos, sombreros and the little girl on the ‘Old El Paso’ ad. However, if you put tiles and Mexico into the same search bar on Google you will not be disappointed!

(photo credit: http://www.sunset.com/home/before-after/oakland-home-remodel/tiled-stairs)

Mexico is actually famous for their beautiful hand crafted ceramics tiles known as Talavera. Talavera is white, tin-glazed type of ceramic, first introduced to Mexico by Spaniards in the sixteenth century. The city of Puebla is home to these stunning tiles where, due to the city being founded nestled between volcanoes, an abundant supply of quality clay can be found. The prevalence of art in Puebla means Talavera is achieved to such quality and beauty that it is exported to the rest of the American continent.

And Talavera is not limited to tiles! You can find an array of Talavera pottery that feature the same vibrant colours and hand crafted mastery. The craftsmen of Puebla make everything from a simple urn to a magnificent toilet with Talavera.

(photo credit: http://virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/puertovallarta/behind-the-scenes-at-a-ta.shtml)

A craft that has not changed since the sixteenth century Talavera is a true tile treasure of the world.