Tag: flooring

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Design Expert Tips Styling

Darren Palmer’s top 2019 design trends & flooring tips

When Darren Palmer lets us in on his favourite design trends we sit up and take notice and his top picks for this year, ‘Moroccan’ and ‘Botanical,’ are as disparate as they are inviting. “The Moroccan look is exotic and luxurious while the botanical look is all about bringing nature inside,” says Darren.

Moroccan look
The Moroccan look

Moroccan
“Think bold brights, clashing patterns and earthy, rugged textures. With its bohemian edge, this look brings a sense of energy yet warmth to a space,” says Darren.

Moroccan look
Darren has used Carpet Court’s Dreamtime carpet in clay to create this Moroccan inspired scheme

“When you’re decorating a room, it’s always a good idea to start with the floor. It’s one of the largest expanses of space in a home and will set the tone for the rest of your furnishings. The Moroccan look has warm, spicy undertones and an earthy feel, so seek out flooring in a warm neutral shade with plenty of texture,” says Darren who is also a Carpet Court Ambassador.

Moroccan look

“Timber flooring works equally well in a Moroccan scheme – again, opt for timber with warm undertones and extra-wide boards are trending right now and will add a contemporary touch to your exotic scheme,” says Darren who says that layers of accessories are key to finishing the look. “Complete the look with a medley of bright, patterned rugs and cushions, buffed leather accessories, decorative pendants and woven wall hangings,” says Darren.

Botanical
“We’re passionate about indoor-outdoor living in Australia, and this trend is all about bringing nature inside. The result is a fresh, relaxed look that’s easy to love,” says Darren.

Botanical look
Darren recommends Carpet Court’s Premium Oak flooring  in Arctic White (above) – the pale, cool-toned timber contrasts with the botanical look’s rich greens.

“The key to making this look work is not to overfill the space – you want it to feel light and airy. Choose one or two statement features, such as an oversized leaf-print wallpaper across one wall or a forest-green velvet sofa. Then, add in shelves and accessories in woven rattan and blonde timber, white plantation shutters and plenty of greenery. Finish off with touches of gold for a modern-luxe feel,” says Darren.

“If you haven’t shopped for flooring in a while, you’ll be amazed at what’s available now – there really is something for every style, budget and home set-up,” says Darren who says it’s important to consider how you’ll use the space in the first instance. “Do you need something hardwearing, easy to clean, ultra-luxurious, or able to cope with the demands of children and pets? Once you’ve narrowed down your requirements, it’s time for the fun part – choosing a flooring style that will completely transform the look of your room and home,” says Darren.

Botanical look


Darren’s flooring style tips

Textured appeal: To add texture to your interior, consider a chunky felted loop pile carpet in this season’s on-trend colours – charcoal, silvery-grey or sand.

Family friendly: If you have children or pets, a level loop-pile carpet in a mid-tone neutral with some flecks of colour will be the most hardwearing and forgiving.

Fibre smarts: Wool carpet has a luxurious, natural appeal, but solution-dyed nylon is a great choice if you’re looking for a soft carpet with superior fade and stain-resistance for a sunny room or a home with kids.

Grab a sample: Carpet and hard flooring colours will look different from the showroom once you get them home. To work out whether a colour or timber finish is right for your interior, take a sample home and look at it at different times of day and under various light conditions.

Consider your options: Love the look of timber but want something low-maintenance and more affordable? Why not consider timber-look vinyl planks or laminate, which give you the appearance of real wood for less and can often be used in wet rooms such as bathrooms and laundries.

The touch test: To assess how soft a carpet will feel underfoot, don’t just feel it with your hands – slip off your shoes and walk on it.

For more | Step inside Darren Palmer’s latest kitchen

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RENO ADDICT

3 ways to take your reno from ordinary to extra special

Who can go past the ever popular Hamptons look? These Intrim products are best sellers.

Sponsored by Intrim Mouldings

As someone currently renovating a very dated sixties house which was lacking in any architectural features or pretty character, I’ve been learning a few lessons about how to add these things and what makes the biggest difference. I wanted to share my top tips and products for adding some extra va-va-voom to your reno. It’s all about the details!

Architectural mouldings

I’m talking skirting, cornice, paneling and architraves. These are things you may not have given a second thought if you’ve never renovated yourself or have always lived in a new build. It is absolutely amazing how much difference putting a little thought and budget into these finishing touches can make. The addition (or replacement) of these trims can add some serious wow factor!

Paneling in particular is definitely having a moment. Indeed I have used VJ paneling extensively in my recent kitchen and dining reno and I love it. I now want it everywhere. How much is too much?!

I used painted MDF VJ paneling to create wainscoting and add visual interest in my dining area

Intrim Mouldings have some amazing products available and I seriously recommend a visit to their website for inspiration. Recently used by Three Birds Renovations in ‘Bonnie’s Dream Home,’ they certainly have the seal of approval of Australia’s most stylish female renovating trio!

Hamptons style skirting from Intrim packs a punch in Bonnie’s dream home
Shadowline skirting is a great choice for modern or Art Deco homes

We recently did a Facebook Live with Intrim, where they answered a lot of your questions on how and when to use mouldings. You can watch it here if you missed it. And if you’re not one of those visual people, check out their online room styler tool.

Who can go past the ever popular Hamptons look? These Intrim products are best sellers.

Flooring

While our kitchen re-do is probably my favourite thing about our part-renovated home, it’s the flooring that has made the biggest difference and I still can’t get over how much it modernised, brightened and added consistency and flow to our home. We also get a crazy amount of comments and questions about it! Months later, I still have all the heart eyes for our Impressive Ultra laminate from Quick-Step. I haven’t spotted a single scratch or dent and believe me, it’s seen a lot of kids running (and riding trikes) around, furniture being moved and tradie boots. It’s a dream to clean and I know I’ll never tire of it.

You may remember that our old floors were a patchwork quilt of cork, dark parquetry and pine boards. Never did a house feel so chopped up!

I really believe you should put a lot of thought into your flooring and buy the best you can afford. Buy well and buy once, as they say. Real timber is beautiful but it isn’t the most practical choice for every home. Do your homework, save up, and your new floor can really transform your home. Read more about why I chose the floor I did.

Doors

Doors (and their hardware) can really date a home. Replacing them can make a huge difference and doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We recently replaced all our internal doors and our front door with beautiful panelled ones from Corinthian’s MODA range (photoshoot coming soon).

The barn door our carpenter created for our laundry is again one of the most commented-on features of our home, and our recent wardrobe door upgrades by Sydney Doors were the icing on the cake of our bedrooms, really finishing them off.

Our carpenter created this barn door from the kitchen to the laundry
Our new wardrobe doors

Don’t forget doors and windows! Our windows aren’t the prettiest but you’d never know because the plantation shutters we have throughout do a great job of disguising them!

I hope this article has given you some reno inspo. What would be your top tips for adding some wow factor to your reno?

Our Reno Addict section

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DIY Expert Tips RENO ADDICT Shopping

How to: choose the perfect flooring for every room

Sponsored by Quick-Step

Although my recent re-flooring project at home was aimed at creating consistency and flow throughout rooms, that’s not the case for everyone, as some homes require different flooring solutions for different areas.

So, here are a few things to consider when picking flooring for each room of your home.

Bathroom

Renovating your bathroom is a big, messy and expensive job and it’s almost guaranteed you will need (and of course want) to replace your floor. In the past, the choice was obvious: tiles. But these days, there are other options which suit this high-traffic and wet area while giving a very different look and feel. If I’ve seen one bathroom trend continue to rise, it’s the idea of this room as a sanctuary where we can enjoy a spa-like recharge at the end of the day. So we’ve become more interested in the look and feel of the bathroom as well as the many practicalities (you can’t get around the fact that not all materials mix well with water, especially when you want them to last a decade!).

So, what does a bathroom floor need to be? Waterproof, easy maintenance (hygiene is important!), good-looking, nice-feeling under bare feet and non-slip within reason. While tiles look beautiful, they are cold underfoot, so I love that there are other options out there now to avoid this on winter mornings.

Quick-Step’s best bathroom floor options: luxury click vinyl for a warm feel underfoot, and Impressive Ultra laminate (which I have in my home) with its water-repellent HydroSeal technology. When I finally renovate our bathrooms I’ll definitely have the latter at the top of my list.

Living room

Let’s face it, the living room is probably the room most visitors see in your house, so you want to make a good impression. We all tend to put a lot of effort into the look of this room and floors are a huge part of that. You also want it to feel warm and cosy (it’s amazing how much time we spend sitting on the floor despite being surrounded by comfy sofas and chairs!). It’s another high traffic area so durability is important too.

Because of the above, you may want to spend a little bit more money in here too. Timber floors are beautiful, but make sure to have one with a high quality lacquered finish (unlike many of the cheap Chinese products on the market today). The ideal is the look of an oiled floor (the softest, most natural look and feel) but with the protection of the most advanced lacquer that doesn’t compromise that.

If you have space in this often larger room, extra large boards are a great option too, like the Quick-Step Majestic Laminate.

Top tip: Did you know flooring is graded in classes? So a class 33 like Impressive Ultra is so strong it can even be used for commercial applications. A class 32 is more than enough for residential use, but do not go lower!

Quick-Step’s best living room floor options: everything from real timber to laminate and vinyl, depending on the look you’re going for. They all come with the peace of mind of at least 20-year warranties.

Nursery

As a mum, I know little kids make mess. We’re talking sticky fingers, spills, “energetic” nappy changes and spilt milk! As soon as Sebastian started to crawl I became obsessed with hygiene and what he might put in his mouth! And there’s also the concerns about dust, pet hair and other allergens which can get stuck in carpets. A hardwearing, easy-to-clean (with non-toxic products) floor with a closed surface is a winner. Little ones spend a lot of time on the floor so it’s nice if it can feel warm, even though it’s not soft carpet. And I’ll say it again: easy to clean!

Quick-Step’s best nursery floor options: Luxury click vinyl, Eligna or Impressive Ultra laminates.

Kitchen

Kitchen floors get some serious wear and tear; back and forth from that sink to fridge to oven! A tired floor can really date and let down your kitchen, so replacing it can give this room a much-needed lift as well as taking advantage of today’s more advanced floor technology. Real timber will damage if things are dropped on it, whereas alternatives like laminate will not. They’ll also resist stains, from soy sauce and ketchup to kids’ drawing on the floor, much better.

Things get spilled and dropped and loads of feet do a lot of walking across these square metres! And if hygiene was important in the nursery, it’s really important here! And because most kitchens these days have a dishwasher, the last thing you want is a leak which sends your floor buckling out of shape and needing to be replaced. Non-water-resistant solutions like timber and cheap laminate might swell and stain. So, waterproof it is!

Impressive Ultra in classic oak beige in my own kitchen

The best thing about having a timber-look floor suitable for your kitchen is that you can have the same floor in your dining or living, creating a seamless flow in today’s increasingly open-plan homes.

Quick-Step’s best kitchen floor options: Majestic, Colonial Plus and Impressive Ultra laminate floors.

Find out more about all the Quick-Step flooring options and your local stockist.

Read why I chose Quick-Step’s Impressive Ultra for my own home.

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Expert Tips Jen's reno RENO ADDICT

Why I chose Quick-Step Impressive Ultra for our new floors

Sponsored by Quick-Step

There has been a lot of interest in our new floors and as choosing which option to go with can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, I thought I’d share what we learned from the experience and how we came up with our final choice. I hope it helps others facing the same dilemma!

I always knew I wanted an engineered floor rather than solid timber for practical reasons: easy to clean and water and scratch resistant. Although I love real timber and it looks beautiful, it doesn’t mix well with water and I knew I wanted this flooring in our kitchen (and potentially our future renovated bathrooms too). I also know, with a small and boisterous child riding trikes and goodness knows what else around the house, I couldn’t be precious about our new floors so they needed to be able to cop a lot of wear (not to mention any potential dishwasher leaks, dropped drinks and toilet, well, accidents!).

 

The next big decision was whether to go for premium vinyl plank (which seemed to be increasingly on my radar) or quality laminate. What’s the difference you may ask? I’ll try and explain it in layman’s terms!

From a look perspective, there is not a huge difference and if you’re comparing quality examples of each, you may not find one. You’ll also find lots of design and colour options which convincingly resemble real timber. Both are easy to clean (yay!). On price, there’s not a big difference between good quality versions of both.

Laminate is typically more scratch-resistant and made from HFD or high-density fiberboard (made up of recycled hardwood, which for obvious reasons, doesn’t tend to be waterproof). Vinyl is a flexible, waterproof material. However, the new generation of quality laminate floors (like Quick-Step’s Impressive Ultra which we chose, and their latest, Majestic) come with a waterproof surface and are therefore suitable for use even in bathrooms.

Laminate is harder and noisier to walk on, but with the right underlay, you get a quieter and more cushioned feel. And you may prefer a harder feel underfoot, more like the real thing.

Impressive Ultra floors are extra durable and have a superior authentic colour, design and structure – including a super realistic bevel that mimics a genuine timber floor finish.

For me, a lot of the choice came down to aesthetics, as well as quality and brand confidence. I am across all the major flooring brands and suppliers as part of my job and had always heard great things about Quick-Step and been impressed with their innovation. I also loved the samples I saw in showrooms and was hugely reassured by the 25-year guarantee. There is no way I’m going to live in this house that long, but it’s great to know the floors are covered for that period, as well as 10 years for water resistance.

I borrowed multiple samples from the local showroom and I’d advise you to do the same as they’ll look really different under normal residential lighting and in natural light, as well as in different parts of your home. At the end of the day, the look of Impressive Ultra in Classic Oak Beige was just perfect for us. I had no hesitation in picking it, even though it is a really big decision and one you don’t want to get wrong and regret later!

On that note, all flooring is not created equal, and having had other brands’ samples in my home for comparison, I would just say that this in one area in your home where you should spend as much as you can afford. Having floors laid is a major hassle. You have to move everything and there’s a certain amount of upheaval. It’s also an investment, and you really don’t want to have to make it twice if you buy something which doesn’t wear well. And nothing gets wear and tear like floors!

We absolutely wanted something light to brighten up our home, which doesn’t have great natural light everywhere. We did consider Quick-Step’s Majestic product too, which has the same waterproof qualities and some amazing designs, but we felt the extra-long planks were just too long for some of the smaller rooms in our place.

Although you can DIY the click system, we fully admit we are not handy, and because our subfloor needed a lot of levelling, we used the professionals recommended by Floating Floors Direct in Hornsby. Owner Bill Grogan was also great for expert advice, with many years’ experience, and he helped us decide Majestic wouldn’t work for us.

We are over the moon with our floors! I mean, just look at these picture! The floors and the kitchen have changed our home so much and I’m still pinching myself it’s the same “Nanna house” to be honest! Months of trike-riding later and it’s as good as new.

If you have any other questions about choosing your floor, please write them in the comments and I’ll try and help!

For more information about Quick-Step and to find your nearest stockist.

Photography by Jacqui Turk

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Jen's reno

Jen’s new floor before and after

AFTER living room

In partnership with Latitude Financial Services

As regular readers will know, we have been doing up our “nanna house” (so named after the lady who lived here for 30 years before us and whose decor was decidedly, well, nanna!) since April. While this house was well loved and looked after, it was added to over the years, many times, and this left it with a look which was often more patchwork quilt than consistent!

The best (worst) example of this was the flooring. We had dark (red-toned) parquetry in the entry, living room and front bedroom, cork in the playroom and dining room and pine boards in the hallway and other three bedrooms. And then of course tiles in the bathrooms. Not only did it ruin the flow of the house aesthetically but it really made it clear where the first of two extensions had happened. I was desperate for the house to feel like one consistent home.

AFTER living room
BEFORE living room

I’m not against parquetry per se, it can be beautiful. And this wasn’t exactly offensive, but it had been faded by light over the years, and it was really obvious where a huge rug had been because of a change in colour. Not to mention dull patches and scratches. If we’d had the same parquetry throughout I’m sure I would have attempted to have it sanded back and re-stained lighter if possible. But as we were really only talking about a quarter of the house, and it still wouldn’t match the rest, it wasn’t really going to achieve our goal.

BEFORE Here is the worst example of the different flooring cutting our long house in two. Note the brown scotia against the yellow pine boards and the gold bar just making the two floors even more obvious!
AFTER Can you hear angels singing?!
BEFORE Dining cork floor meets kitchen pine floorboards
AFTER dining and kitchen

We carpeted three of the bedrooms (the fourth is my office and has a door to the garden so I didn’t want to carpet that) and the playroom as soon as we moved in.

So, I had to decide what kind of flooring and then which brand and colour, and it is a big decision which really affects the look of your home massively. No pressure!

Once we painted the living room, added shutters and wall-mounted shelving, new lighting and our own furniture, and replaced the doors between it and the playroom, it was one of the easiest rooms to finish. But the floor just never quite worked with everything else and really dated the room. It’s not the brightest room (the best light is in the kitchen and dining room) and the dark floor really didn’t help. We knew we needed something lighter and more modern.

Another thing that really bugged me was the lack of proper skirting in most of the house. There was a mismatch of scotias of different colours. Oh, how I longed for plain white skirting boards!

So, it was time to decide on what kind of floor, which brand and which colour; decisions not to be taken lightly. In this house, I was choosing between laminate and vinyl plank flooring. I must admit, I found the differences between the two quite confusing, and I kept hearing that the difference in quality and price wasn’t that big these days, and it was more a case of what kind of floor you wanted/needed.

Laminate flooring is a layered floor built around a watertight, glued High Density Fibre (HDF) board. Luxury vinyl flooring consists of several layers. This not only results in a waterproof floor with sound-reducing properties, it also gives your feet a very warm and soft surface to walk on.

But there is a new generation of laminate flooring that is super durable, and as a mum of a toddler who rides a trike around the house, this appealed! I landed on the Quickstep Impressive Ultra product for several reasons. The first was the look (no surprises there!) because it is so like timber, it feels like timber and it has a great matte finish (Because everyone assumes they now have to take their shoes off on our new floors, our friends have all been commenting on how nice and timber-like it feels underfoot!). I also knew the brand by reputation as high quality and I believe in doing things well and doing them once! I think this is an important point because there are much cheaper products out there but they are not going to last you. Replacing a floor is a major hassle so I don’t want to do it again in a few years. This flooring comes with a very reassuring 25-year warranty!

I liked several of the colours but I loved classic oak beige. It was perfect! Secondly, it’s waterproof, which means it can even be used in bathrooms. And it means if the dishwasher leaks, no drama! Likewise should Seb have the odd accident when we get to toilet training…

I love solid timber floors too but the durability and water resistance of this kind of laminate really made it the winner for me. It’s also cheaper than solid timber, easier to clean and less likely to scratch. And, if you’re interested, it’s compatible with underfloor heating.

I could not be more thrilled with or proud of our new floors. I keep saying I don’t need a Christmas present this year because these floors and my new kitchen have been such a dream to get finished!

Actually getting the floors in was no mean feat and it took four days because there were so many different levels in the house, caused by not only the differences between the different original floorings (which we went over the top of) but also the fact the house shifted many years ago (it’s ok, the structural engineer says it’s sound!). The hallway in particular had a quite obvious slope to it. And even in the living room, which we thought was quite level, some parts were 2.5cm lower than others! This called for a lot of Ardit levelling compound. That stuff ended up having to go everywhere and I did question my decision to not move out during the process! But we managed! After the Ardit, a Quickstep underlay went down and let me tell you, these floors are so much quieter then the old ones and feel solid underfoot.

DURING Cement city!

So, while you can click these floors together yourself, if you have a wonky house like mine or you aren’t confident, I’d recommend you call in the professional flooring experts. Your local Quickstep stockist would be able to help you. Despite the utter chaos of furniture being piled up in unaffected rooms and having to live around the install, it wasn’t actually stressful because the guys doing the job knew exactly what they were doing and had a solution for every curve ball my wonky house threw at them. And there were many!

The house looks so much fresher, brighter and lighter and the best thing about the new floors (and our new white skirting) is they’ve pulled the house together and made it feel like one cohesive whole! This was exactly what I wanted to achieve and I’m not exaggerating when I say the results have actually exceeded my expectations.

AFTER kitchen

In summary, I think laminate has come a really long way. It’s no longer the shiny-looking, cheaper option you may have known in the past. For families, its durability and water resistance are perfect and as appealing as the lower cost (compared to timber).

Next job: new doors!

For more information about Quick-Step.

All posts about Jen’s reno

More on why I chose Quick-Step Impressive Ultra.

Want to get your own reno plans happening? Speak to our partners at Latitude Financial Services about your finance options.

Considered sales finance for your reno? Find out more in this video with Jess Aloi from Latitude Financial Services and I:

After photos by Jacqui Turk

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Expert Tips Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to make a big impact on a small budget in your home

In partnership with Latitude Financial Services

As you know, we recently finished a couple of major jobs in our own reno: a new kitchen and a new floor. The photoshoots for these are imminent so I look forward to sharing the before and afters soon!

Kitchens and floors are pretty major investments but there are lots of other things you can achieve in your home for a few thousand dollars which make a huge impact. Here are some of my top suggestions:

Lighting: When we moved into our nanna house we changed all our lighting, swapping old and very dated pendants for gorgeous new brass chandeliers with LED filament-style bulbs as well as rattan pendants from Beacon Lighting. Total cost including the electrician was less than $3,000 and the difference it made was priceless!

New lights and shutters in our living room (before we changed the floors)

Window treatments: We went for plantation shutters from DIY Online Blinds which aren’t the cheapest option but they make a huge difference (in our case, hiding some old and yellowing window frames which is a lot cheaper than replacing all the windows and the window treatments!). You could probably do all new matching blinds in your home for less than a couple of grand.

Paint: We had our whole house painted internally before we moved in (so much easier than moving furniture!). It cost a few thousand but it made the world of difference. We did most of our home in Haymes Greyology 4. We are now saving up to have the red brick exterior painted. This is a more expensive job but it really will be the icing on the cake! And then there’s the driveway (it never ends when you buy an older home!).

Walls painted in Haymes Greyology 4 in our bedroom

Doors: The last job on my list before Christmas is replacing all my internal doors, and my front door, with some new ones from Corinthian Doors. I’ve found the more we update things around here, the more the older/cheaper things stand out! It’s time for some quality doors and I’m confident they will make a huge difference. I can’t wait to share them with you.

Bathroom on a budget: With all the work we’ve been doing, we sadly can’t afford a full bathroom reno (or two!) just yet. But after Christmas we’ll be embarking on a family bathroom refresh on a budget which I hope you’ll all love. The idea is to have the bath and tiles professionally sprayed, paint the walls, replace the vanity and possibly tile over the floor, all for well under $5,000.

I talk more about these ideas in this latest video with Jess Aloi from our partners Latitude Financial Services.

For help achieving your reno dreams, speak to Latitude about your best borrowing options.

Photography by Jacqui Turk.

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

How to: Achieve consistent style across the home

Image: onekingslane.com

By Naomi Findlay

Whether perusing Pinterest or devouring the latest interior design magazine, you’ll note the most stylish homes have one thing in common–consistency. From paint to flooring, window treatments and hardware, there are plenty of ways to achieve aesthetic unity throughout the home.

Paint

If there’s one single renovation product that can truly unify a home, it’s paint. From warm whites to cool grey shades, running the same hue throughout an abode creates a fabulous sense of visual continuity.

Image: t01.com.au

Flooring

Whether it’s carpet, timber or tiles, it’s wise to use the same floor covering throughout your entire home for maximum consistency, flow and to make it feel more spacious too. Conversely, if you really want to combine carpet with tiles or timber, choose complementary shades to connect the spaces.

Hardware

From door handles and pulls to tapware, matching hardware is key to creating consistent style across the home. And while you may not choose the exact same shape of handle for instance, choosing the same finish will ensure a unified look throughout.

Image: onekingslane.com

Window treatments

A prominent feature in any home, running the same window treatment throughout is a great way to give a sense of cohesion and connect all the rooms. Whether it’s plantation shutters, sheer curtains or roman blinds, try to stick to one style of window treatment for maximum consistency.

Lighting

Aside from a smattering of fun feature pendant lights, try to ensure the rest of the lighting in your home is consistent. Fabulous lighting should be unobtrusive but create ambience and warmth the home.

Image: homestolove.com.au

—Australia’s rapid renovation expert, Naomi Findlay is an internationally renowned renovator, award-winning property stylist and speaker. She’s an industry leader in creating healthy wealthy spaces and creating wealth and profit from renovating property. Learn more about Naomi.

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Design Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Tips and tricks for making sure your timber lasts the distance

Photo credit: Peter Campbell-Lloyd, Deck-Max QLD

Sydney just had its hottest September day on record! So on this side of the world, it sure feels like winter is over. During those dreary, cold months it’s safe to say your outdoor space had a bit of a beating, which means now is the time to bring your timber back to life and ensure your garden is ready for the change in temperature and all the entertaining that goes on in the warmer months.

Photo credit: Peter Campbell-Lloyd, Deck-Max QLD

The Australasian Timber Flooring Association share their tips and tricks for maintaining or building with timber this season:

  • Make sure your timber is properly maintained so that it can withstand the exposure to the sun during the warmer weather.
  • Check to ensure you deck is free from termite activity, decay and that fixings are not corroded. Any loose decking boards should also be refixed.
  • If you’re thinking of installing a deck in your backyard there’s a few things for you to know.  Firstly, it’s important that you choose the right timber, based on your design and location to ensure a lasting performance.
  • If you’re planning on an elevated deck ensure that the area is cleared of vegetation, proper foundations are provided and that appropriate drainage is also provided. In addition, it is important for your deck to be structurally strong enough to carry people walking across it.
Photo credit: Peter Campbell-Lloyd, Deck-Max QLD
  • If you are wanting a deck close to the ground it’s important to ensure that the deck still has adequate ventilation and drainage.
  • To protect the timber against decay and termites it is necessary to choose the appropriate timber species and appropriate preservative treatment.
  • If your timber deck is near your pool or ocean be cautious of potential corrosion that may occur with the fixings due to the increase of salt in the air. It is recommended that stainless steel or silicon bronze fixings are used to prevent corrosion.
  • Unfortunately, if you live in some areas of the countryside with summer comes the risk of bush fires, check if your area is prone to fires before installing your deck as this will affect the type of timber you may be able to use.
  • Lastly, it is important to maintain your outdoor decking all year round, and simple steps like the ones listed above will ensure your decking lasts for many summers to come.

For further advice visit the Australasian Timber Flooring Association’s website.

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RENO ADDICT Shopping

A new standard in laminate flooring

A new standard in laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is not all cut from the same cloth. Take the new ‘Majestic’ range from Quick Step.  Using the same ground-breaking technology, functionality and water resistance that Quick Step is known for, paired with a new aesthetic for a timeless but trendy finish.

A new standard in laminate flooring

Architectural inspiration

Quick-Step’s design team has been keeping a keen eye on the latest and most diverse trends in architecture, fashion and interiors. The resulting floor is both timeless and trendy, as well as seamlessly fitting in with consumer demands. “We have noticed the start of a backlash against the Scandinavian trend, with dark colours such as brown now reappearing”, explains Oke Nollet, Design Director of Quick-Step. “The combination of oak and long, wide floor planks lend a luxurious touch to any interior. Majestic is Quick-Step’s grandest, most opulent laminate floor ever!”

The Majestic range is comprised of extra-wide, extra-
long planks (2050 x 240mm in fact), which is a perfect and luxurious to your home. Quick-Step’s latest laminate collection will not only introduce a warm glow into your home, but also lend it a touch of royal glamour. Majestic combines a matchless wooden look with ease of maintenance.

A new standard in laminate flooring

Just like the real thing

It’s fair to describe Majestic as an innovative floor par excellence: it is an unprecedented combination
of the best of both worlds. On the one hand, the oak floor’s authentic appearance is unrivalled. Thanks
to the designers’ detailed research and advanced technologies, the floor not only looks natural, but also genuinely feels natural. On the other hand, its technical characteristics are quite simply outstanding, and Majestic offers all the advantages of the latest generation of laminate floors. The planks are highly water and scratch resistant, which also makes this flooring perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. You could describe it as luxury 2.0: from now on, expect an unprecedented combination of innovation and luxury.

Brand new colour range

A generous range of eight colours offers a wealth of possibilities: from a vintage or rustic look, to trendy or
contemporary. The accompanying textures and the way in which the grooves are perfectly balanced to match the character of the floor mean that the wood effect created by the Majestic collection is absolutely true to nature. One striking option in this collection is Desert Oak Brushed in Dark Brown. The warm brown, which promises to be a true eye-catcher this season, is a reaction to Scandinavian design where white and light pastel shades play a central role. The dark colour brings a touch of class to your home, creating a cosy, intimate mood. The distinctive, classic oak design is characterised by its flower-like graining, fissures and knots. Particularly when combined with other dark shades (black would be a good choice), the floor adds a touch of luxury to the interior as a whole. The other seven breathtaking decors include Desert Oak Warm Natural, Desert Oak Brushed Grey, Woodland Oak Brown, Valley Oak Light Beige, Woodland Oak Beige, Valley Oak Light Brown, Desert Oak Light Natural. Whatever style fits your personality, you will be spoilt for choice.

A new standard in laminate flooring

Water resistance and durability

Majestic is extremely water resistant thanks to the Hydroseal coating on the bevels. This makes your
new floor not only easy to clean, but also suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and other wet areas. To top it all off, Majestic boasts a 10-year warranty in wet areas and 25 years general warranty for domestic use.
With Majestic, it is a true celebration of smart and beautiful flooring, boasting the latest water-resistant technology, coupled with a suite of lavish tones and hues.

For more information visit www.quick-step.com.au

 

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RENO ADDICT Shopping

Quality timber flooring in a flash (and on budget)

Quality timber flooring in a flash

A new generation of timber flooring has entered the Aussie market, with the launch of the all-new Quick-Step Compact Timber Range. Compact by name and compact by nature, the new range showcases a new timber flooring option that is both quality assured and affordable. Measuring in at 12.5 mm per plank, which includes a 2.5 mm of timber top layer, the Quick-Step Compact range pairs real timber with a High Density Fibre core which creates a strong and durable flooring option.

Quality timber flooring in a flash

Colour choice and finish

Available in eight different hues and designs, Quick-Step Compact packs a punch with texture, design and smart flooring. From Blackbutt and Spotted Gum, to a wide variety of oak designs such as Pure Oak, Cliff Grey Oak, Creamy White Oak, Slate Grey Oak, Wintry Forest Oak and Natural Oak, Compact is a true celebration of nature with a splashing of contemporary design and elegance. Quick-Step Compact also boasts an extra matt finish, giving each floorboard a luscious natural look and feel of timber flooring in its finest form. The best of both worlds: The protection of 7 layers of lacquer with the natural look and feel of an oiled floor.

Ease of installation

Compact also inherits Quick-Steps practical and innovative Uniclic® Mulitfit click system. Unlike traditional timber flooring, Quick-Step Compact can be glued down or installed floating. A floating installation is a breeze using one of the three methods: angling, horizontal or the drop-down method. With the drop-down method, installation time is 30 percent faster and perfect for DIY.

High density core for versatility

Compact boasts a top quality high density fibre board, steering away from a hevea or spruce core, which usually is used. With very low thermal resistance, floor heating and cooling is showcased at its best.

Sustainability

Raw materials are meticulously screened to create Compact, using world-standard energy efficient production and sourcing from sustainable forestry. Like all Quick-Step timber products, Compact complies with the strictest of norms and regulations.

For more information, visit www.quickstep.com.au

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RENO ADDICT

Is your timber floor up to scratch?

If you’ve decided to go with timber as your flooring option for your reno, you’ll know just how important laying it correctly is for a perfect end result. Up until recently, there was no regulatory control over timber flooring products sold on the Aussie market, meaning that below par products (and results) were a constant concern for both DIY and professional renovators and builders.

Thankfully, that has all changed thanks to the Australasian Timber Flooring Association or ATFA. ATFA was established to improve effectiveness, quality and competitiveness in the timber flooring industry. It is working to eradicate shoddy products and workmanship and ensure regulation within the industry.

Is your timber floor up to scratch?

Before the creation of ATFA,products were arriving in Australia and being sold without any regulatory control, often then failing in the home or commercial space. Product failure often results in drawn out court cases or even more likely the company who supplied the product going broke and not being able to provide any compensation to the consumer. This effect snowballs into family issues with budget blow-outs and stress as

There’s also the issue of safety. Often, these non-conforming products have additional unsafe qualities, some being high in dangerous toxins, formaldehydes or produced by poor manufacturing procedures that creates a danger to home and business owners.

Precisely what you don’t want happening to your floor!

Now, thanks to AFTA, a robust compliance program that assesses products, materials and equipment to ensure they comply with standards, industry requirements and consumer expectations exists. Under the ATFA program, timber floor producers will be required to provide independent certification and/or reports that substantiate and support the validity of the producers claimed compliance and where relevant meet the minimum requirements set by the ATFA and the industry.

When choosing your timber floor products, look for the ATFA compliant logo which means that the product has passed the compliance program and should be safe to use and install, giving you greater peace of mind and an assurance that the product you’ve chosen is a good one!

For more information, to become a member or if you require any advice please call ATFA on 1300 361693 or visit www.atfa.com.au

 

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RENO ADDICT Shopping

Carpet Court unveils brand new flooring category

new flooring category

If you’re tossing up flooring options for your reno and haven’t yet made up your mind what you’ll be going with, hold the decision making for a little while longer!  The country’s largest flooring retailer, Carpet Court, has just introduced a new flooring category to the Australian market, with the launch of Multilayer Hybrid – an exclusive collection of flooring options designed for use throughout the entire home.

Where flooring for wet areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, has traditionally been limited to vinyl or tiles, Multilayer Hybrid opens up endless new design possibilities for DIY enthusiasts, by combining the waterproof properties of vinyl, the durability of laminate and the look of timber.

new flooring category

Available in an exclusive mix of quality timber finishes, including traditional oak and contemporary Australian species, the new Multilayer Hybrid collections can be used to achieve the full spectrum of interior styles, from classic Scandi to contemporary industrial. And thanks to its 100 per cent waterproof rating, along with a tough protective wear layer offering unrivalled resistance to the heavy foot traffic encountered in living areas, kitchens and entranceways, Multilayer Hybrid now allows renovators to extend their desired look into every room of the home.

“Flooring is the basis for any room and any interior style,” says Darren Palmer, Carpet Court Ambassador. “So the fact Multilayer Hybrid can fulfil the functionality requirements across every space will give renovators the freedom to create a cohesive style that flows seamlessly from one room to the next.”

According to National Product Manager for Carpet Court, Anthony Carter, another of the category’s key appeals for Australian homes lies in its unmatched stability in hot, cold and humid conditions. “Australian homes experience everything from freezing cold to extreme heat and direct sunlight, all of which can cause damage to certain flooring options over time. Multilayer Hybrid, however, remains stable in any environment, giving renovators the peace of mind their investment will perform all-year round and well into the future,” says Anthony. “Multilayer Hybrid is truly the next generation in flooring innovation, so we’re extremely excited to be first to launch the category.”

Alongside its unique blend of design and durability, Multilayer Hybrid also provides the simplest installation process to date. With no sub-floor preparation or acclimatisation period required, and with pre-adhered underlay and the same simple click locking system as laminate, Hybrid options are ideal for those looking to give their interiors a quick and stylish refresh. And for those tackling a full-scale renovation project, there’s now a single flooring option capable of coping with the full suite of home applications.

For more information on Multilayer Hybrid, or to view the full range online, please visit www.carpetcourt.com.au

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RENO ADDICT Shopping

Can tiled floors really work for Winter?

Can tiled floors really work for Winter?

Can tiled floors really work for winter? Yes, if you know a few tricks of the trade! When you’re considering floor covering for our temperate Aussie climate, tiles are often on the table as a consideration. The cooler months however can pose a challenge for tiled floor enthusiasts, especially in the southern states. Cold Autumn and Winter temperatures however don’t have to be a problem with an under tile heating system.

Can tiled floors really work for Winter?

Image source: Snow Temp

Under-tile heating is the perfect winter warmer right throughout the house. It keeps a tiled room warmer for longer than other heating solutions, and while it used to be considered a luxury add on, it’s now a budget friendly option with running costs about a quarter of a heat lamp over a year.[i]

“Under-tile heating a large family room will have an upfront cost of about $1200 to $1600 – but the system will pay for itself in energy savings,” says Darcy Shaw, National Buyer, Bathroom ware from Beaumont Tiles. “Not only is it good for the hip pocket, but is a good option for reducing household energy consumption. “It also creates a drier environment by radiating heat to all solid objects and the air is warmed by convection. This means a room stays warm long after the system is turned it off unlike regular heaters where the heat dissipates quickly. “The system is child-safe with no exposed heaters so little fingers won’t get burnt, and for the many families who suffer allergies, under-tile heating is a saviour because it actually prevents mould from building up,” Mr Shaw said.

Concerned about the noise factor? Under-tile heating is silent and there’s no wall space or roof cavity required which means minimal impact on a room design.  A touch screen wall thermostat makes it simple to use and enables programming 24/7. Each installation is specifically configured  for a particular room so there’s no cold spots, and on average the running costs are as little as 2c an hour per square metre.[ii] A bathroom kit is around $499, and for a large family room it’s about $1200-$1600.

Beaumont sells the Hotwire system, a 3mm thick, spooled electric heating element installed directly under tiles, granite, marble or slate, not in the slab, and with no need to lay any extra expansion joints.“The system heats a room to a cozy 22 degrees and doesn’t need maintenance. In the unlikely event of a cable fault, the damage is easy to find and fixing it doesn’t require ripping up the floor,” Mr Shaw said.

If you’re considering taking the plunge with your reno, check out Beaumont Tiles at www.tile.com.au

[i] The comparisons are based on a 4 bulb Heat Lamp unit at 375 watts per bulb. Hotwire costs based on a 600 watt element heating at full capacity for I hour and then cycling at 50% capacity for the next 2 hours. Running costs are an estimate only and will vary due to site conditions.

[ii] Running costs will be effected by electricity tariffs.

Categories
Bathrooms RENO ADDICT

Timber floors in the bathroom? It can be done!

timber floors

If you thought that timber flooring for your bathroom was only a possibility for renovations shows or high end new builds, we’ve got good news! Timber can be a feature of your bathroom reno if you know what to look for.

timber floors

Mafi timber flooring has a unique design structure which allows the timber to process moisture in wet-areas, unlike other timber floors, and ensures the timber does not warp or cup. With over 30 years experience using timber in bathrooms, Mafi utilises an all natural oil finish, which allows the pores of the timber to remain open and breathe. This means the flooring regulates water rather than repelling it, preventing any liquid becoming trapped and causing long term issues.
timber floors
The stability of Mafi boards is largely due to the three-layer solid construction. The boards are perfectly balanced with the same timber on the top and bottom layers and a softwood in the middle. This symmetrical construction means that the timber can expand and contract as timber does without any damage to the floor itself. The upkeep of Mafi timber is also designed to continually re-oil and finish the floor. Cleaning the floor involves a bucket of warm water and Mafi oil soap. This special soap cleans and re-oils the floor with every wash.
For more information about Mafi timber, visit www.mafi.com.au
Categories
Competitions Styling

Win a $2,000 Choices Flooring voucher with March 7 Vignettes!

I told you we had a great prize coming up for the next round of 7 Vignettes and I’m excited to share it, and the themes, with you today. Thanks to our sponsor Choices Flooring, the winner will receive $2,000 to spend on flooring, be that timber, laminate, carpet, bamboo, luxury vinyl, tiles or, if you’re renting, rugs! That’s enough to cover (pardon the pun) at least one room in your home and give it a much needed facelift. I always say you can never underestimate the transformation of a new floor or a fresh coat of paint!

Temuka Langdale carpet in Bistro

The fun starts on Wednesday 1 March 2017 over on Instagram and to take part, you need to post a photo a day for seven days corresponding to the themes below:

Our usual guidelines can be found here. You’ll need to tag @choicesflooring and @interiorsaddict and use the hashtag #7vignettes The prize is only open to Australian residents but anyone can take part for fun.

In the meantime, you can check out the flooring range you could win from Choices Flooring and while you are there order a copy of their FREE Inspiring Choices Magazine which is full of home décor and flooring inspiration.

Plantino Engineered Oak Flooring in Natural

 

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Homewares

Get sent the ultimate flooring guide for free!

Sponsored by Choices Flooring

Whether you’re renovating, building or just looking for pure inspiration for a new decorating project, the new Inspiring Choices Magazine 2017 has more than 100 pages of the latest in carpet, timber, luxury vinyl, laminate, bamboo, tiles and rugs. Choices Flooring produce this free magazine, which also features interior design and decorating articles, to help you navigate the many choices out there and the practical and style considerations.

(Genero Design Platinum – Luxury Vinyl Plank, Aged Walnut) Just like the activities they host, these spaces have a lot to juggle; technology, writing, materials, style and practicality. Yet, they do so seamlessly.

You can choose to read it online or have the hard copy sent to your home free of charge!

From greeting to completing a room, whether your style’s modern, coastal, or something in-between, you’ll find it in Inspiring Choices 2017. A really great feature this year is that a variety of rooms will be shown with two different flooring options, allowing you compare like with like and really see the effect of different choices. Helpfully, the magazine is broken down into 10 sections: greet, eat, create, sleep, meet, soak, study, escape, grow and complete. They reflect different rooms and guide on the best flooring for each room. 

(Temuka Coronet – Wool Twist, colour Nelson) As a sanctuary from the rest of the home, the true beauty of these spaces come down to feeling.

Let’s face it, the right flooring can really make or break a home, which is why it is so often the first thing we want to change when buying a home, especially an older one. Using the same flooring choice, for example, throughout an an entire apartment can give the feeling of more space. Replacing daggy old carpets with fresh ones in the latest colours, can make the world of difference.

There are so many considerations though, depending on your lifestyle and home, that it can become overwhelming! I, for example, would never ever in a million years have carpet in my dining room when I have a toddler who constantly drops food from his high chair (sometimes deliberately, sometimes not!). While I love the look and practicality of laminate flooring, I do like tiles in the kitchen as a more hardwearing, practical choice. And when it comes to bedrooms, which get less traffic and hopefully no shoes, there’s nothing better than a soft carpet to sink your tootsies into when you get out of bed in the morning!

(Plantino Engineered Oak – Timber 1 Strip (190mm), Species: Veneto) From feeding little ones to hosting dinner parties, these spaces set the scene upon which many memories with loved ones are created.

Bamboo flooring is definitely an option I don’t know as much about and I’d find it really helpful to see it in the context of some styled rooms. It’s all very well seeing planks in store, but you can’t beat seeing a whole room of something. Choices Flooring’s in-store digital technology can also help you get a better idea of how the options will work in your home.

(Eclipse White Matt, Yura Lead & Eclipse Zenith Sardinia Grigio, Tiles) In order to escape an increasingly busy world, these tranquil retreats perfectly balance luxury with the practicality required for everyday living.

If you’re renovating to sell, you may have totally different considerations, based more on price (and your final profit) and your target market.

(Plantino Laminate Deluxe – Laminate 1 Strip, Manhattan Loft) Often considered the heart of the home, these spaces perfectly balance style and practicality.

So what do you have to lose? Order your free copy of the magazine today and browse the options at your leisure for your next decorating project.

–Choices Flooring is Australia’s leading flooring retailer boasting over 140 stores across the country. They understand that purchasing flooring is a big decision based on lifestyle, budget, and individual style and their in-store and online experience is second to none. Their flooring range is ‘on trend’ with the latest designs and colours in carpet, timber, laminate, bamboo, luxury vinyl, tiles and rugs. They even offer digital technology in-store to help customers find the floor they’ve been searching for.

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RENO ADDICT Shopping

Carpet Court launches new range of eco-friendly timber flooring

eco friendly timber flooring

Love the look of timber flooring but wary about its environmental impact? Carpet Court has got you covered. The new Stockmans Ridge collection released by the flooring giant is both sustainably sourced and FSC certified which means that the timber has been sourced from well managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. It’s the ideal eco-friendly timber flooring choice.

eco-friendly timber flooring

 Timber flooring is becoming a hugely popular choice with home buyers and renovators and with good reason. “Timber is increasingly popular with customers who are looking for a flooring solution that combines durability with a luxe look,” says Darren Palmer, Carpet Court Ambassador and interior design guru. “The Stockmans Ridge range launches at a time when demand for this look hits an all-time high, as people prepare to ready their home for the year ahead.”

eco-friendly timber flooring

The Stockmans Ridge production process yields up to five times more finished product than traditional engineered floors from the same amount of Australian Hardwood, making it the ideal flooring option for the environmentally conscious.

There are six styles available within the range, each offering a different grain and gradient to tone. Sydney Blue Gum, Spotted Gum, Jarrah, Grey Ironbark, Blackbutt and Brush Box timber species all feature giving those on the hunt for timber floors, a variety of options.

With 14 acrylic coats offering exceptional dent and scratch resistance, the Stockmans Ridge is the ideal choice for high traffic areas or families with children, while the patented Välinge click-locking system and micro-bevelled finish offers easy installation and a seamless finish for those with an eye for detail.

For more information, visit Carpet Court

Looking for expert tips on choosing timber flooring? Check out our top 3 tips on Reno Addict.

 

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Design Kitchens RENO ADDICT

Where to spend and where to save on your kitchen renovation

Have a tired kitchen and not sure where to start? Well, if you know one thing for sure, it’s that your kitchen needs improvement and you have a limited budget to make your dollars count.  This brief guide will help you work out where to save and where to splurge, so your kitchen can be updated and fit your expectations in no time.

Make sure you plan ahead

With the average cost of an Australian kitchen renovation being between $12,000 and $19,000, it’s important to dissect the details and get the most bang for your buck.

Over the past few months you’ve likely been thinking about how your kitchen might look and have collated numerous sources of inspiration, but have you spent the time organising everything and working out what’s really going to work for your space and lifestyle? You should.

Putting time into planning will:

  • Help you avoid making expensive mistakes
  • Give you the power to budget your kitchen renovation accordingly, and
  • Assist you in working out a realistic schedule to work to

Think about what’s practical

7

While we might all want a kitchen fit for a celebrity chef, sometimes all the trimmings just aren’t practical.

Is a double sink and a huge kitchen island really necessary? Think about how practical these items are for you in the long-term. If you’re a person who likes to entertain and has a large and busy family then this might be a necessity. And if not, you could be wasting your money.

It’s important to think about your lifestyle as this can help to dictate whether you spend more on items and areas that support your day-to-day movements and priorities. So hey, if you’re a budding cook, a high-end appliance range may be worth the investment.

Consider faux or lookalike materials

 

There a plenty of high quality look-alike materials on offer, and choosing to use them doesn’t mean you’re going to reduce the quality or functionality of your kitchen. Many of these materials are just as aesthetically pleasing than their more expensive counterparts with amazing durability to boot.

Consider:

  • Vinyl or laminate flooring — these materials can look just as fantastic as timber or tiles and cost a fraction of the price
  • Acrylic splashbacks — these cost little to buy and install and can give you the sleek and expensive appearance you desire
  • Laminate benchtops — there’s a reason why laminate is so popular in Australian homes. It’s durable, stain resistant and available in a huge range of styles and colours that successfully mimic more expensive benchtop materials

Mix and match your materials

 

You might not be able to budge on having that natural stone benchtop on your kitchen island, and that’s fine, because there are ways to make this work for a limited budget. You can splash out on expensive materials for one component of your kitchen and then choose complementary materials in other working areas.

For example:

  • Install a natural stone benchtop for your kitchen island and use laminate materials in other areas
  • Use melamine for cabinet, drawer and door fronts and splash out on more expensive brass fixtures
  • Choose a cheaper flooring option and spend big on a modern tiled splashback or dramatic lighting

In these cases it can pay off to make a compromise with more expensive fixtures, materials and items taking centre stage. You can have a kitchen full of middle-range materials, or you can truly elevate it by choosing wisely.

Only you can work out and choose what needs replacing and how much you can afford to allocate to different components. While you might have to make some compromises, remember you can do so without sacrificing quality and style.

– Samantha Thorne is a content marketer at hipages.com.au, Australia’s number one site to hire tradies and the perfect place to find a kitchen specialist in your local area.