Tips to Get the Best Out of your Home Remodel

When remodeling your home, there can be a lot of factors to think about besides the design. There are many things that are based on cost, safety, permits, etc. It is important to be aware of all these factors before you start the work.
Consider the tips below to make sure you have an affordable and hassle-free home remodel that you can be really proud of!

 

Bang for your Buck

If you don’t have the budget to remodel the entire house. Consider doing one big fabulous change to your home. Deciding to open a room by removing a wall, or getting rid of the attic to build a well-lit atrium can really make a difference to your design. Although this will be a bit expensive it will add great value to the house! Primarily cost is a decisive factor and can sometimes be a real spanner in the works.

 

Kitchen Savings

A kitchen remodeling is one of the most expensive affairs. However, if you plan it well you can get some nifty places to save money. The important aspect of the kitchen is the countertop. A well picked countertop can add aesthetic and efficiency to the kitchen.

Although it is a home-owners dream to have a beautiful granite or marble counter, this may not always suit the budget. In our previous blog, we spoke of engineered stone that is available in a variety of colors and give you durability at a good price.

In case your budgets don’t accommodate engineered stone, you can also install ones in the laminate. Laminate tops are also easy to clean and can be even found in stone textures.

 

Get a Designer!

Never underestimate the architect’s expertise. It is a reasonable and smart investment to consider paying a designer for a basic consultation on space management, they will be able to suggest well designed and suitable cabinets for your budget and space requirements. On occasion, designers are also comfortable sharing the details of contractors and distributors directly so you can save costs. The designer can also provide you with 3D drawings of your space, this will allow for you to check out various color and texture option with ease and give you the confidence to finalise on your decisions.

“Kitchens consistently top home renovation project lists on Houzz, with most people hiring a professional to assist,” says Jason Chuck, managing director of Houzz Australia and New Zealand.

The Houzz survey show:

• The majority of those renovating their kitchen are upgrading appliances.
• When replacing flooring, 40 per cent of homeowners use hardwood in their upgraded kitchens.
• Engineered quartz is the favoured choice when replacing benchtops, followed by wood, stainless steel and concrete.

Source: Houzz.com.au

 

Bathroom on a Budget

It is certain that a bathroom can make a bold statement in the home. Often, a beautifully designed bathroom is a homeowner’s pride and joy. It gives the house an aspect of luxury that no other room can!

It is good to remember that when renovating the bathroom on a budget, the devil is in the details. Construction related issues like leaky shower alcoves, excess water pooling, and bad tiling work can cause structural damage to your house. It also encourages mould growth which can be a serious health hazard to your family members.

While it is easy to swayed by the latest design trends in magazines, ensure that you pick a design that you are able to live with for some years. Choose the storage and vanity wisely, be certain you can appreciate the look for years and the storage supports all your needs. Ascertain with your contractor or supplier that the materials are moisture resistant.

Don’t skimp on proper waterproofing and plumbing – this is will pay-off in the long run. Bathrooms usually look great with ceramic or porcelain tiles, these also water-resistant, pick neutral colors and balance your patterns so you can live with for a long period of time.

Read the Complete Blog Here >>

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/budgeting-tips-for-home-renovations/

Top Design Trends for Home Remodelling

Are you considering remodeling your home? Have you been going through blogs and magazines looking for ideas. Before you put the shovel to the ground, go through our top trends lists for home remodelling.

 

1. Colour Palettes

There is nothing better than adding a bit of colour. Of course, the spectrum of colours is really wide and this makes the task of choosing quite difficult. Sometimes, it helps just to know the latest trends and incorporate that as an inspiration. This year Pantone’s colour of the year is Greenery. It has been an instant hit for those looking for a revitalizing, back-to-nature hue that brings zest while still managing to work with warm wood tones.

 

2. Smart Homes

With the boom of Internet of Things devices, connected devices now transcends to connected homes. Products like Amazon’s Echo and Echo Dot provide as a voice-activated interface for many smart home devices. Google Home or Apple’s Homepod will also be a great device with a design to suit any home.

Besides basic commands like news, calendar updates and the weather, these devices will connect to your lights, power ports and other electronic devices. The devices have now opened up to third parties so companies like Philips Hue, Wemo, Nest, Honeywell and more. This means from your morning pot of coffee to your last activity of the day can all be controlled simply by your smartphone or just your voice!
Satin finish brass can add a wonderful golden accent to your interiors

 

3. Satin Finish Brass

It is always exciting to pair the straight and simple elements of modern design with antique finishes. Brass finishes have been making a comeback in recent years, preferred for their ability to bring shiny golden tones to space without the high price tag.

For the latest look in your home consider selecting satin or brush finished brass which gives a warm and muted look but adds that wonderful golden accent to your interiors. Satin brass finishes create pleasing breaks in the design and can complement a number of styles.

 

4. Kitchen Storage Walls

Kitchens are the most used space of the home, and home owners are always struggling for space for gadgets, appliances and other kitchen equipment. When looking to free up more space in the home, one cannot keep adding cabinets and cupboards in every nook and cranny. Consider letting go of the expanses of upper cabinets and re-space all that storage onto a single hard working wall. This will become a one-stop hub that frees up the rest of the space to create a breezy look.
Laundry room makeover ideas that would completely transform this work space

 

5. The Organised Laundry Rooms

There is great value in re-doing your laundry room. While this area is not in typical view for guests an organised laundry room can bring great ease to the daily activities of the family. Opening up the area with better natural light, modular and well designed storage systems and systematic areas for functional work of the space can give homeowners a great feel good factor when doing laundry and other chores.

According to the 2016 Houzz & Home Report, people remodeling their laundry rooms of 150 square feet or more will spend an average of US $2,700. Take away appliances, and that’s a sizable budget to splurge on tile and other details.

 

6. Splurging on Entryways

Add beauty to your home’s entryway with simple features like a wallpaper, a mirror or a creative shoe rackThe compact space of the entryway can be a great space to get creative with the design without burning through your cash. A simple feature like wallpaper, a statement mirror or a creative shoe rack can lift this welcome zone of your home.

 

7. Outdoor-feeling Indoor Showers

There is nothing that says luxury more than an outdoor shower. Of course, these are expensive and not always practical in terms of privacy. Designers have now been able to create strategic locations and are looking at designing intimate courtyards to create this luxurious bath experiencing while maintaining privacy and still achieving that great connection with the outdoors and a real luxurious feel.

 

8. Counter-depth Fridges

For homes in the big city remodelling is all about placement and one is often fighting for the inches. Counter-depth refrigerators are a great innovation in this regard, they sit flush with adjacent cabinetry and countertops, freeing up just a bit more space while creating a streamlined look.
Kitchen remodelling ideas and trends

 

9. Kitchen Conversation

Kitchens are the heart of the home. Kitchens are important but they’re also expensive. Few things to remember when considering a fresh look for your kitchen. Understand your needs and manage your storage well – every inch of the kitchen may not need drawers. Ventilation is key, while there is no way of doing away with chimneys and fans, it is important to choose the right one for your cooking needs and the safety of your loved ones.

Stainless steel and granite are synonymous with high-end kitchens, but why not think out of the box. Granite, once considered a premium material is now considered old-fashioned and over-used. Engineered stone and other countertop options can add a touch of class and originality to your home kitchen, they are available in varied colours and textures and add great accents to your kitchen decor.

Consider glass finished counters in different colours, these are also easy to clean and keep things hygienic. Imagine how great the glass counters will look with the tasteful tile and plumbing fixtures you’ve so carefully chosen.

For cabinets, think about some of the lighter woods or more natural-colored walnuts, or go bold with some matte lacquers. Trends mention a big comeback for white kitchens.
Trendy flooring options to bring natural beauty to your home decor

 

10. Natural Selections

Dark wood floors are now a thing of the past. You can choose from a selection of engineered woods with lighter, more natural finishes. research suggest that white, gray and washed wood finishes are really in trendy right now. Talk to your designer about getting bleached, limed, or fumed woods with matte finishes or sealed-only floors.

Although engineered woods are not the cheapest option in the market they can give great appeal to the decor and also come with a certain durability that your home requires.

Fun Fact: To get the look of steel windows, ask the contractor to match wood on the inside of the window to the colour of the outside of the window. Steel versus wood could be a huge difference in price!

 

11. Energy Efficient Homes

Energy efficient remodelling idea for your homeThe biggest and most decision when remodelling is to consider energy efficiency. Not only will this help you in the long run with your bills, with cities like Sydney aiming for Carbon negative by 2030, your house can be a model example for many to follow. If your budgets and space permit, discuss solar energy panels for your roof going off the electric grid could save you thousands in the long run.

Rain water harvesting is now a must do for many environmentally conscious folk, consider roofing fixtures and outdoor piping that allow you to collect rain water.

For those with a green thumb, there is nothing smarter than composting. Many community led organisations will help you install composters and how to manage them.

Imagine yourself building a home that is self sufficient in food, water and energy!

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/home-remodelling-design-trends/

Mining Health and Safety Solutions

Many people are aware that mining is a dangerous business. In addition to traditional risk factors, the mining sector now faces a wide range of risks and challenges. Therefore, modern mining techniques and equipment are important when it comes to protecting the health and safety of workers. This infographic should be of value to companies involved in this high risk industry.

To reduce the hassle of choosing an appropriate safety solution for the mining sites, ProjectLink has listed out the top safety equipment from its online database of Australia’s leading suppliers. These safety products will help executives make mining workplace safer and better.

Intrigued?

Go ahead and integrate them into your safety practices.

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/mining-health-and-safety/

Emerging Design Trends that will Shape the Future of Education Facilities

Education plays an integral part in shaping the personality and future of a child. Education is not always in books. A child is influenced equally by his or her surroundings. Children do what they see and if we are exposing our children to the surroundings that are not as creative and such that develop a sense of curiosity, then we cannot expect them to deliver their best effort either.

The education system and institutes these days are laying emphasis on education design trends in order to provide the best learning experiences to children. Schools and other educational institutes follow the latest design trends. These trends are developed based on the requirement of an average present generation child.

These design trends can be seen in the activities that are developed for the children to the products, equipment and school furniture being utilised by the children. Interior design is another aspect that utilises these trends and translates it into the layout of the interior space.

Three Aspects of Design Trends:

A. Colour

Colour is an important aspect of our perception and behaviour. Different colour brings out different emotions in each one of us. While we can show a resistance to such an expression of moods, children often easily exhibit it openly. In any kind of design, colour plays a major role.

Colour changes the mood of the place. The use of colour also gives an illusion of the space being smaller or larger. In school architecture, the emphasis is laid on the use of the space as per the requirement of the activities. In this space, the use of various colours can enhance the learning experience considerably.

The interior design of the educational buildings makes use of such play of colour in order to influence the mood of the students. For example, the use of yellow colour in schools can trigger the creativity and enthusiasm of the children. It will make them feel positive and happy. The colour blue helps to increase concentration by lowering the heart rate, hence this colour will work wonders in a math or science classroom.

B. Minimalism

On of the most used design trends is minimalism. Minimalist design detailing is not only a safe play but at the same time, it makes space look elegant. The less use of objects will make the place look larger. Though many times functionality of the space requires the use of more and more objects like school furniture etc. The interior design of the schools can be based on minimalism but in certain areas, one needs to add objects that are essential for use in various activities of the children.

Minimalism may give an elegant and graceful look to the school architecture but it is needless to say that this minimalism is very difficult to achieve. However, achieving the correct balance in this form of interior design comes with experience.

C. Eco-Friendly

The eco-friendly schools and the educational institute is a new wave in education design trends. With the rise in awareness about the carbon footprints, people are adopting environment-friendly ways.

The school architecture is integrated with spaces that have plants and trees.

There are spaces that are specifically designed to teach children about growing their own food. The use of recycled material for school furniture is also done.

The overall experience focuses on the social learning skills being inculcated in the children.

Why is School Architecture Important?

A. Space

The first thing that is considered in an educational building is the space. Space needs to be well managed for various activities that take place during the working hours. This lies in the hands of the architecture. School architectures require great planning. The school space has to be divided out for classrooms, playrooms and playgrounds, cafeteria, auditorium, specialised classrooms, gym and sports court, library, restrooms, outdoor space etc. For this segregation of space, one needs to chalk out the action plan for the school first.

B. Facilities for Various Types of Activities

Many types of activities take place in a school or an educational institute. Activities such as games and recreation, vocational training, science experiments, drama etc. are a usual part of the school routine. It becomes essential to have specific education interiors for such places.

Each place where a certain activity is being conducted will require related facilities. For example, a cafeteria will require a space to cook food and clean the utensils. Such facilities need in-depth planning and execution.

C. Recreational Areas

Every educational institute has recreational area. Recreation is a very important part of the physical, emotional and psychological development of a child. This is where the child inculcates within himself the social learning skills. Recreational areas require special forethought. With the emerging design trends, there are many options present to equip these areas with state-of-the-art recreational equipment.

D. Physical Health

The present lifestyle does not allow a child to have much time left for required physical activity. Therefore the new education design trends have introduced outdoor activity sections that provide recreation and physical workout for the children.

ProjectLink has an array of products and equipment that are based on the present education design trends. These products are of good quality and have been developed keeping in mind the end users. Let us take a look at some of the best school furniture and equipment:

1. RE-Fit

RE-Fit offers an affordable range of exercise and fitness equipment that are specifically developed for schools. These circuits have six parts that offer about twelve different exercise options.

Every component comes with instructional signage that is easy to understand for the children. Made using recycled plastic, the RE-Fit equipment is an ideal addition to the educational institute.

Click here to know more about Re-Fit »

2. School Kits

These user friendly exercise stations can be a part of a fitness trail or be spaced out as per requirement. The School Kits work best for a school with a large number of students.

The equipment are designed to deliver safe and healthy workout.

Click here to know more about School Kits »

3. Ezy-Drink

A good bubbler is essential for any public place. The Ezy-Drink drinking tapware and bubblers are a perfect solution to drinking water issue for the schools.

The Ezy-Drink bubblers are a 6 star WELS rated product. It comes with a bacteria resistant mouthguard. The self closing valve offers a controlled water flow These bubblers and taps are of three different types: lever action, cam action and push button. It offers many useful features.

Click here to know more about School Kits »

4. King Park Setting

Sports auditorium should be designed with a large seating space. For seating solutions, King Park Setting is what is required. This equipment offers seating for a large number of people. It delivers good performance and is durable.

Its design is robust and it is comfortable to use. It has been designed keeping in mind the safety aspects related to children. It is wheelchair accessible and requires low maintenance.

Click here to know more about King Park Setting here »

5. Yarning Circle

Apt for eco-friendly schools, the Yarning Circle provides a great alternative outdoor classroom. The children can not only study out in the open but also learn about their surroundings. It makes learning more fun. The Yarning Circle has been designed in a way that it provides large relaxed spaces.

Listening and talking, team work, bonding, sharing, trust and storytelling are some of the points that this circuit has been designed around. It comes with various parts. Shades and shelters are also given in order to get protection from the sunlight or rain.

Click here to know more about Yarning Circle »

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/latest-trends-in-school-design/