House Design

How To Evaluate The Financial Feasibility Of A Solar Energy System

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
How To Evaluate The Financial Feasibility Of A Solar Energy System For Your Business

As Australia, and the world as a whole, moves towards a more sustainable future, many businesses are considering solar energy as a viable option for powering their operations and are therefore installing a solar system to generate electricity for them. Whilst there are certainly environmental benefits to making the switch to solar, it is also important for businesses to consider the financial factors that apply to such a move which we will explore in some detail in this blog post.

Upfront Costs

Firstly, businesses need to consider the upfront costs associated with installing a solar energy system. Whilst the cost of solar panels has come down significantly in recent years, the initial investment required can still be substantial, especially for larger businesses that operate within large commercial premises. Some incentives may apply, and special commercial loans specifically for environmental projects might be available.

Your Location

If you are considering solar panels,  the location of your business is another important factor to consider when evaluating the financial feasibility of proceeding. In general, if you are located in an area with higher levels of sunlight it will generate more solar power, making solar more cost-effective. However, factors such as shading from nearby buildings or trees can also impact the amount of solar power your system can generate.

Energy Consumption

To get a sense of whether a solar energy system is financially feasible for your business, you will need to consider your current energy consumption. This includes not only your current energy usage but also any expected changes in the near future. One point to consider is whether the amount of electricity your business uses is significant enough to create bills that are large enough so the savings realised from solar energy would justify the cost of having a solar system installed.

Continue Reading

Garden Design, House Design, Pool Design

5 Reasons Why Homeowners Absolutely Love Glass Balustrading

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
5 Reasons Why Homeowners Absolutely Love Glass Balustrading

If you were to carry out a survey of homeowners and ask them what their favourite improvement to their home has been, we are certain that many of them would reply that it was the installation of glass balustrading. It is also true that if you were to ask several homeowners about glass balustrading there will be some who have no idea what it is or may know it by another name

Just in case you fall into that second group, we should explain that you are more than likely to have seen glass balustrading in your office building, in public buildings you have visited or even in the homes of your friends, probably without releasing what it was called. In short, glass balustrading is a barrier system that consists of a series of glass panels, which are held in place by supports called balustrades.

Uses of glass balustrading include fencing, demarcation of interior and exterior areas, swimming pool barriers, sidings for stairs, and balcony surrounds, to name but a few. Whilst they have many commercial uses, the use of glass balustrading for the improvement of the interior and exterior of homes has grown enormously popular. Read on and you will discover why glass balustrading is loved by so many homeowners.

Continue Reading

House Design

Using A Digital Agency To Employ Your Web Design Team

| Peter Brittain | No Comments
Digital Agency

One of the mistakes that a new business owner often makes when employing someone to design their first website is they believe that the only person they need to hire is a ‘web designer’. It is true that you will need a designer but they are just part of the team of people you will need. The fact that you need a team of people rather than just one is why the smartest solution is to employ a digital agency like SEO Perth that specialises in services such as SEO and AdWords management.

The issue with only having a designer is that whilst they may be great at picking colours for your site, selecting images, and making it all look fantastic, you must remember they are designers, and not programmers, coders, or copywriters. These other skills will in most cases also be needed to create a great website for your business, and it is unlikely your designer will have them all to the degree that is required.

Be wary of anyone who says they are a designer, a programmer and a copywriter all rolled into one. These ‘jack of all trades’ may be better than most of us at these jobs, but they are unlikely to be expert at them. Ask yourself if you want an average or a first-class website and consider that it’s the same principle as whether you’d want a trained carpenter, electrician and plumber  to each help fit your new kitchen or one handyman who does a little bit of each but is no expert.

Continue Reading

House Design

Why Upgrade to a Glass Frameless Shower Screen?

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
Glass Frameless Shower Screen

The most crucial parts of your home to renovate are your bathroom and kitchen. They are the areas you spend a lot of time in, and the ones that need to be both practical and easy-care. When the time comes to add value to your home, then start with the bathroom renovations and, more specifically, your shower.

You would be amazed at how beneficial something as simple as shower screens can be. Read on to learn why a glass frameless shower screen may be the right investment for your bathroom.

Resale Value

Most real estate agents will tell you that you shouldn’t spend more than two percent of your property’s worth on renovating a big-ticket room such as a bathroom. Therefore, you have to make whatever renovations you do make, count. Start with a glass frameless shower screen. Such an item can add a touch of contemporary elegance to even the most dated bathroom.

Before you know it, you’ve found the perfect buyer who is willing to pay extra based on those two magical words in the realtor description: updated bathroom.

Continue Reading

House Design

Security Technologies Designed For Your New Home

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
security door design

According to the experts, the need for security technology is also increasing with the increasing crime rate. Installing protective doors, windows, fencing, and screens is a rational decision in such instances, especially when you are investing highly in a new home. If you live in areas where crimes occur every other day, install the needed security equipment and protect your home, family, and yourself from harmful incidents.

Security Doors

When the security question arises, people focus a lot on the doors, as they are one of the outlets from which the burglar can enter the house. This is why security doors play a significant role in reducing breaking and entering scenarios and guarding you against such harm. The security door’s material can range from wood and glass to steel and aluminium.

With different materials, there are also different styles of security doors. These comprise sliding security doors, bi-fold security door, hinged security doors and many more. Some doors come with triple lock systems, whereas others protect you from kick-breaking and shoulder-slamming entries. See-thru doors allow fresh air to enter your house without compromising on security.

Continue Reading

House Design

Home Design for the Smart Home

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

3

Home design for the Smart Home starts right at the planning stage, however it can be installed after the home is built if necessary.  The main thing is to have the wiring in place so that all the latest technology can be installed as the home is built – or even added afterwards. Once the wiring is in place, adding components after the building stage is easy.

Having what is called a Smart Home is not only about entertainment and convenience; it is also about safety. For instance, you can have an alarm for the other end of your driveway that will alert you when any car or person enters the drive. This is good for those homes with long driveways that may not all be visible from the house. Your house alarm can be automatically de-activated as you drive in yourself and reactivated when you leave. The same goes for lights, heating and cooling which can all be automatically switched on or off as you enter and leave.

Smart Lighting and Sound

In fact, Electrician Perth Experts advise that lights can not only be turned on and off remotely, they can be dimmed for an evening or even change colour at the flick of a switch. LED lights can now integrate with this kind of technology.

Smart home design also encompasses things like being able to turn sound on and off and also adjust it and being able to monitor the baby visually and with audio from any room in the house. If you work from home, and are designing your home office, you can have a screen to monitor who is knocking on the door and speak to them without opening it. And of course, you can unlock the door remotely as well.

Continue Reading

House Design, Yacht Design

Why Full Gyms are a Great Design Idea for the Home

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

Full gymnasiums have been part of up-market home designs for a while now, but the trend has now spread to luxury yacht design as seen in the yacht Nirvana, designed by Sam Sorgiovanni. Having a gym on board is a great way to get some exercise to stay fit and shed the kilos from those luxury meals, given that the space is limited.

Of course, in a yacht of over 88 metres in length it may not be quite as limited as you first thought. And there are usually one or two swimming pools that can be used for exercise, but what if the weather is too cold for swimming? Head for the gym and get a great workout on all that fine equipment.

Continue Reading

House Design

5 Different Kinds of Outdoor Spaces

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
outdoor-spaces

An outdoor space is meant for the whole family to enjoy, giving them a chance to get out in the fresh air after being at work, or at school – or just inside – all day. When work starts early and finishes late you are likely to get mining syndrome; feel like you never see the sun or even the light of day. This is not good for you, but can easily be fixed by creating an outdoor space with comfortable outdoor furniture so you can enjoy being outside in the late evenings or at the weekend.

gazebo

If you come home from work and have to start getting the evening meal almost straight away, your time outside will be minimised. That is why an outdoor area should include a barbecue, a pizza oven or some other means of cooking along with some beautiful decking from Decking Sydney. You can then get everyone outside to enjoy what’s left of the day while dinner is cooking and you can keep an eye on it and the children as well.

Continue Reading

House Design

The Importance of Good Lighting in the Bedroom

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
Bedroom-Lighting

These days when space is often at a premium in the home, the bedroom can be used for more than just sleeping, so long as there is good lighting in there.  With the addition of a simple easy chair or sofa and a small side table, you can use it for doing craft, reading or just relaxing. It would also be a good place from which to make private phone calls.

So what kind of lighting do you need? It all depends on what you want to do and what is there already.  You may have plenty of natural lighting, but this won’t help in the night time when you want to read. At the very least you’ll need bedside lamps, but these may not cast enough light for doing fine work.  Here are some points to consider before you start changing the lighting.

Continue Reading

House Design

5 Different Gazebo Design Styles

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
Gazebo Design

A gazebo as opposed to an outdoor patio is a structure that stands apart from the house and is usually located somewhere in the garden to create a focal point. The idea of having a gazebo is that it gives you a place from which to enjoy the outdoors while still having some kind of comfort and shelter. Perhaps you want to recreate a holiday feel in your backyard similar to what you may have enjoyed at a luxury Bali villa or some other exotic location.

The roof is shelter from the hot sun and sudden shower, while the furniture inside – whether comfortable sofa or plain bench – offers a place to sit and rest for a while. It is up to you what kind of gazebo you have and what you have inside it.

Gazebo Design

Gazebo Design

Here are 5 different styles of gazebo you might like to choose from.

  • Octagonal or hexagonal. These are the two most popular shapes for gazebos, though they can be oval, square, rectangle or even round. The round one is not considered to be efficient in what you can fit into it for the size, however it may suit your purposes better than the others.
  • Another distinction between gazebos is what they are built from. You can choose almost any type of building material, with timber being one of the most common and popular. There is also powder coated aluminium, steel or even plastic. Metal gazebos are almost maintenance free which is why they are popular. Timber must be treated to prevent rot and warping, but it gives a timeless look in many different styles that is always popular.
Continue Reading

House Design

Limestone Products To Give An Ideal Design Touch

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

The dilemma facing most stylists, landscape architects, interior designers as well as interior decorators is what kind of finishing to suggest. This dilemma of old is solved with the current industry which in fact has diversified the incontestable limestone products in the perfect choice of material for luxury yet still covering affordability. Stone products can be seen in villas at www.luxury-villas-bali.net – on floors and especially used as stone wall cladding.

blank media collective

blank media collective

blank media collective

Limestone finishing could be in a variety of products:

  • Limestone tiles.
  • Polished limestone surface finishing.
  • Honed limestone surface finishing.
  • Brushed limestone surface finish.
  • Antique surface finish.
  • Bush-hammered surface finish.

blank media collective

blank media collective

Limestone tiles
Limestone tiles used as stone cladding are in a wide variety of shades to fit the customer’s specific taste. The wide variety of limestone tiles give you a sense of nature indoors. From the earthen shades of brown to lighter grey-white shades of shell, to cream-yellow shades which give a touch of yellow sand. All these to be enjoyed out of the limestone tile-finishing.

Continue Reading

House Design

Home Elevator Design – 4 Different Types

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
home lift design

Have you even thought of installing an elevator in your home? Having a home lift will make life much more convenient and pleasant for you, with access to the top floors just a step away. It is not only the frail elderly that need a lift in their home. Stairs take a great deal of energy to use and are actually quite dangerous, especially if you are carrying goods – or the baby.

Lifts these days have undergone a transformation; they don’t all look like a square box in the wall and they are certainly not something the home handyman should attempt to install. In fact, you can even get an octagonal or tubular lift for your home, depending on your needs.

However the main difference in lifts is the way they work.

Cable Winding Drum

This is one of the most affordable home elevators to install; unfortunately, the ongoing costs are fairly high because cables eventually stretch and wear, so have to be replaced. This can happen every 2/3 years, so you may not save as much as you thought. Another downside is that it does not give a smooth ride. You may not mind feeling the tremors; many people don’t. However, if you are not expecting it, you may think something is wrong with the lift. It is also fairly noisy, which could be a problem. Read more here

Continue Reading

House Design

5 Ways Your Home Design Can Save You Money

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

Most people are interested in ways to save money. If you are planning a new home, now is the time to start thinking along these lines as the design is an important factor in the costs of running the home.

If you intend to stay in your home for many years you really don’t want to choose design elements that are going to always be expensive. It is simpler than you may think to ensure you include cost-saving elements at the design stage, but many of the simpler ones can also be added after the home is built, so don’t feel dismayed if you are already in your home.

Here are 5 ways to save money with your home design.

  • Consider the climate. In a warm climate, large windows installed on opposite side of the home will enable cooling breezes to flow through. This means the air conditioner will not be needed so often. Find out which direction the prevailing breeze usually comes from and go from there. In cooler/cold climates, smaller windows may be better- or you could have double glazing. Larger windows on the sunny side of the home can often bring in natural warmth. They also increase natural light so you will not need to have lights on during the day.
  • Room placement. This is not always possible, but if you can have the living rooms on the sunny side of the home you will find life more pleasant and the need for heating/lighting reduced. Some floor plans can be reversed to facilitate this.
Continue Reading

House Design

How Colorbond Roofing can Enhance Your Home Design

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

If you are building a new home, you will be aware of the many choices you need to make regarding building materials and home design both inside and externally. One of the major considerations is the roof and roofing materials. There are several choices for roofing materials, from various types of tiles through to Colorbond roofing, which is made from steel and has the coloured finish baked on.

The actual design of the roof can make a great deal of difference to the look of the house, but sometimes you are limited by the capabilities of the material you build with. For instance, generally speaking tiles cannot be used on a flat roof – at least not without a lot of waterproofing underneath, because rainwater would run under the joins and leak into the ceiling cavity. This does not happen with steel sheeting.

Colorbond steel roofing can enhance your home design in several ways: –

  • Colorbond comes in 23 colours, most of which are suitable for the roof. There are light colours and darker colours that all reflect the natural environment of Australia. You will find a greater variety of colours in Colorbond than in any other kind of roofing material; creams, greys, greens, blues, ochre tones and even deep red and black.
  • The special way the colour is baked into the surface of the steel increases its insulation properties, giving you a home that is cool in the summer while still being warmer in the winter. While this aspect is not a visible home design enhancement, it certainly makes a difference to the comfort of the residents.
Continue Reading

House Design, Office Design

Home Design – Where to put Your Home Office

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
House Design

When people first started working from home their home office was usually a spot on the end of the dining room table. Or if they had a laptop, maybe it was on the most comfy seat in the living room. However, the home office has now evolved to become a dedicated space more suited to the user’s needs.  Where you put your home office will depend a lot on your lifestyle and stage of life as well as on what you use the office for.

If you have children at home that need to be supervised, your home office will need to be somewhere in the home from whence you can see them and tend to their needs, rather than a room you can go into and shut the door. A corner of the family room would be a good place. Here you can set up your desk and have some kind of storage. You may also want a box of toys to distract the children with so you can get on with what you are doing.

If your children are at the stage where they can amuse themselves or are going to school, you can still have your home office in the corner of the living room as there will be no distractions through the day. However, if you have a spare room you might consider converting it to a real office space, especially if you need to use it a lot. You can have a space that is all your own and be sure that there will be no disturbances.

Continue Reading

House Design

How Can Great Pool Design Add to your Already Exceptional House?

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

Do you think a pool adds beauty to a house? Does it increase the market value of your property? Investing in a pool is good for leisure; however its preference varies from country to country depending on the weather condition and lots of different factors. Let’s find out how a pool can prove to be beneficial for your upscale house.

Market Value: Up or Down?

Although there is an ongoing debate regarding pools adding value to the house; in upscale areas, pools are considered to be a necessity. The National Association of Realtors has published a study which shows the rise in home market value from 8% to 15% after the installation of swimming pools. Regionally, the Southeastern side depicts a growth range from 5% to 10%; whereas the Southwest region increment is from 8% to 13%.

It is better to install pools on big properties in rich neighborhoods as this investment will pay back in the end when you will put your property up for sale, because the buyer will want luxury in everything.

People who live in a warmer climate benefit the most from the addition of pool. The size of the pool should also be according to your property. If your property is not of much worth, installing a pool won’t be a rational investment at the end of the day. So if your backyard is big enough, you can add a garden or play area to double the fun and value.

Continue Reading

House Design

Designing Your Move Interstate

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
blank media collective

4 Difficulties You May Encounter When Moving Interstate

Moving interstate is somewhat different from moving across town and not only because of the extra distance, although that is certainly a factor.  The longer a truck is on the road, the more likely it is that misadventure will affect it in some way. There can be bad weather, heavy traffic, accidents and breakdowns that are all likely to cause delay in arriving at the destination. It is essential to take this into account when planning times and dates.

  1. Keep in contact

It is also essential to give your professional removalists several ways to contact you in case of emergencies or hold-ups.  Otherwise you could be waiting at your new house wondering when your furniture will ever arrive. Your mobile phone, phone numbers of friends or family who can contact you and even an email address will all be very helpful for the removalists to stay in contact for whatever reason. And don’t forget to keep that mobile phone charged up and on at all times until you and your furniture are all reunited in your new home.

Continue Reading

House Design

Fence Design – How to Make Security Fencing Attractive

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
wood-secure-fence-design

Security fencing is often chosen by homeowners to ensure their homes are secure from harm and their lifestyle safe from intruders. It gives you peace of mind that no unpleasant things will happen and that your possessions are safe. However, if you have a nice property with attractive grounds the last thing you want is an ugly fence to spoil the look of it and to spoil your view, so what can you do? Choosing a fence design to suit the grounds and the home is a good start.

Choose the Style and Colour

While the options may be limited, there are still some. The main choice is between a chain link or mesh fence and one with steel posts and rails. The latter gives a higher level of security and can be powder-coated so there is some choice of colour. Choose the colour to blend with your grounds and landscaping. For instance, if there are a lot of trees with dark coloured trunks on your property, a dark brown fence would blend in with them well. If your grounds are more cleared with lots of lawn, green would be more suitable.

Continue Reading

House Design

Moving Your Design Firm

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments

Many people try to save on costs when moving into a new home or office by asking friends to help them move, or by hiring a truck, or asking someone who owns one to help them out for a small reward such as a 6-pack. You may think these options could save you money in the short term, but they are likely to  cost more in the long run. How?

  • You cannot really trust anyone other than professional removalists like Removalists Perth to get it right. For starters, they are not likely to know how to pack your goods into their truck in a way that will stop them from moving. Scrapes and dents on your favourite pieces of furniture are likely and fragile treasures may get broken beyond repair.
  • A non-removalist will not have the right insurance, so if anything gets broken you will have to pay the cost of repair or replacement yourself. And what happens if they are involved in an accident enroute to your new home? Most of your furniture will end up broken and you will have to pay for that, too. You may also have to pay for medical costs or truck repairs.
  • If they are doing a freebie for you and suddenly a paying job shows up, they may ‘forget’ your deal and leave you without a truck at the last minute. It is almost impossible to hire a professional removalist at short notice, so your moving day and organisation will be thrown into disarray.
  • A friend won’t be able to supply the correct packing boxes or offer extra services such as wrapping, carpet cleaning and packing like most professional removalists do.
Continue Reading

House Design

Designing Cleaning Products

| Blank Media Collective | No Comments
eco friendly carpet cleaning

For many years the only carpet cleaning products available were toxic chemicals. That was before people realised just how bad they were for the environment, not to mention the people who worked with them. It took longer for anyone to realise that such chemicals were also bad for those who used the room afterwards.

Unlike eco friendly carpet cleaning products, the fumes from chemical cleaners caused breathing problems, skin rashes and allergies. The ingredients in some chemicals are also known as carcinogenic, which means they are linked to causing cancer in some way. This in itself is a good reason to choose a professional carpet cleaner who uses environmentally friendly products to clean your carpet.

In the workplace it is important that staff can work in a room as soon as possible after it has been cleaned. If toxic fumes are rising from the cleaning products, their safety will be compromised and they will find it difficult to concentrate on their work. They could feel sick or even have problems breathing. Besides, no one wants to stay in a room that smells awful.

Continue Reading