Author: Home Design

Lawn Landscaping

Lawn Landscaping

Your Front Lawn

Don’t you love driving down a suburban street and drool over a house with front lawn landscaping that must be the envy of the neighbours? According to the turf experts some people being able to do that to their front yard is a labour of love, and they find it easy to do. But there are those amongst us who just don’t have that eye for design nor do they have a green thumb.  It’s really not that hard if you can grasp a few fundamentals of landscaping design. Let’s look at some ideas that might help get you started.

The Layout

Having a layout plan in your head or at least drawn is a great start. It’s really the first step in the project. You can’t really plan what you are doing if you don’t have a concept or a layout at least. When you design your landscape, the main thing is to ensure you balance all the elements. For example, a symmetrical design will be like a mirror. Split the yard area down the middle and what you plan for the left side should be balanced by what you plan for the right as well.

If you are going for asymmetrical that is also okay as it tends to offer a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere which is nice to have in a front garden design.

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10 Benefits Of Installing Solar Panels For Your Home

10 Benefits Of Installing Solar Panels For Your Home

Solar panels are an increasingly popular option for homeowners, not just in Australia but across the world. With energy prices on what seems to be a never-ending upward trajectory and with people’s awareness of environmental issues increasing, solar energy presents a viable opportunity to address both of these genuine concerns.

Whilst energy prices and the environment might be regarded as the headline makers as to why solar energy’s popularity with homeowners is increasing, we would like to point out that there are many more reasons why installations of solar systems are occurring in ever greater numbers. The benefits that such installations create for homeowners are plentiful, and if you read on, you will discover ten of the most significant benefits of solar panels being installed for your home.

Benefit #1 – Lower Energy Bills: We will start with the benefit which is at the forefront of everyone’s mind when they decide to opt for solar panels at home, and that is reduced electricity bills. By generating your own electricity from solar energy, you can reduce your energy bills by as much as 70%, depending on your usage.

Benefit #2 – Long-Term ROI: Many people erroneously see solar panel installations as a cost. Whilst there is an obvious outlay to have solar panels installed for your home at the outset, in the longer term, due to the aforementioned savings, which will accrue month after month and the potential increase in the value of your property (see below), your return on investment will undoubtedly be positive.

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10 Ways To Identify A Storage Facility For Your Home Furniture

10 Ways To Identify A Storage Facility For Your Home Furniture

For any business owner looking for a reputable commercial storage facility, if you have never used one before, it can be somewhat daunting not knowing how to start looking, or more specifically, how to judge whether one storage company or another suits your business’s requirements.

Thankfully, it is not as difficult a process as some might think, and to make it even easier, we have outlined the ten most important points you should assess regarding any commercial storage units you are considering to determine their suitability.

#1 – Research the Company’s History: Research the storage unit company’s history and reputation in the industry. Look for how long they have been in business, any legal issues, and if they have any accolades or awards. Consider the company’s reputation within and its impact on, your local community.

#2 – Look For A Storage Facility With Positive Online Reviews: When choosing a commercial storage facility, one of your early tasks should be reading reviews from other customers who have used their services. Check various websites such as Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot or their website to see what people have to say about their experiences. Look for patterns of positive reviews that outweigh the negative ones, and take note of any recurring comments, good or bad.

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Mowing Your Lawn: Pro Tips to Get the Job Done Right

Mowing Your Lawn: Pro Tips to Get the Job Done Right

Mowing your lawn can be tedious, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and knowledge, you can get your property looking its best with minimal effort. From choosing the right mower to understanding the correct cutting pattern, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions to make lawn maintenance a breeze. Hiring lawn mowing services is always a great option if you need more time. They can cut your grass for you.

Check blade condition

Before you begin mowing, check the blade condition and mower oil levels. Dull blades tear and shred the grass, making it more prone to disease and browning. Low oil levels can lead to engine overheating and damage to the mower. If you need clarification on the blade condition or oil levels, consult your owner’s manual or take your mower to a certified technician for a checkup.

Test soil moisture before mowing

Before starting any mowing job, it is essential to test the soil moisture. Mowing a lawn when the soil is too dry can cause damage to the grass and can even kill it. The trick to a green, healthy lawn is knowing the proper moisture content of your soil. Use a moisture meter or probe to test your soil moisture; this will indicate the hydration, and you can decide whether to add water before mowing.

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Why The Direction A Garden Faces Is A Critical Factor In Landscaping

Why The Direction A Garden Faces Is A Critical Factor In Landscaping

When asked to design landscaped gardens, there are many variables that landscapers must take into account. The list of variables is a long one, and can include:

  • Client’s budget
  • Uses for the garden
  • Size of the garden
  • Garden pots or no pots?
  • Lawn or no lawn?
  • Real lawn or artificial lawn?
  • Types of plants such as shrubs, flowers, or trees
  • Limestone blocks or tiles?
  • Decking and pathways
  • Fixed features such as seating and retaining walls
  • Water features, pools, ponds
  • Timescale for completion

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Why Frameless Glass Balustrading Is One Of Your Safest Options For Poolside Fencing

Stainless Steel Pool Fence Fittings

There is no denying that the addition of frameless glass balustrading fencing around your pool area significantly enhances the appearance of the outdoors of your property, but an even more important factor to consider is how it augments the safety of your pool area too, if installed by professional glaziers. Hopefully, you already have ensured that your pool area is safe and that anyone who uses it, especially children, are aware of what precautions should be taken.

Whilst personal responsibility is key to pool safety, other safety features help, and that is why the addition of pool fencing in the form of frameless glass balustrading is a huge step forward. If you are unsure why that would be the case, especially if you are considering frameless glass balustrading for your pool, here are some reasons why it is regarded by many to be the best option.

It Creates A Secure Barrier Around The Pool

The most obvious reason frameless glass balustrading enhances pool safety is that it prevents children, especially very young children, from being able to access the pool without supervision. There are no gaps or edges for them to squeeze through, which excited children who love playing in the pool will invariably try to do. No gaps also mean that there is no risk of them injuring themselves trying to get through the gaps and getting stuck, for example.

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Things to Consider When Upgrading Your Bathroom

Things to Consider When Upgrading Your Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the first things many people upgrade when they purchase a doer-upper property. It holds some of the most value in your home, and bathroom renovations can sometimes be necessary just to use the space comfortably.

Although, before you start hauling out the tools and putting the plumber’s number on speed dial, here are a few things you may like to consider first.

Plumbing
Will you be leaving the plumbing where it is? Will you be upgrading the pipes? These are factors to consider while you’re in the middle of removing showers, toilets, and sinks. Sometimes, upgrading standard 1.5-inch pipes to a larger size can be an ideal way to prevent blockages in the future.

You may also like to reconsider the positioning of your piping if you are adding new appliances or taking some out.

Lighting
Lighting is far easier to adjust during bathroom renovations than it is after the upgrades. Consider your lighting needs and factor them into the entire renovation process. Some people like functional lighting that’s both simplistic and easy to install. Others prefer recessed lighting, dimmer switches, and even shower lighting to reduce shadows.

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How to Spot Low-Quality Kitchen Cabinets

How to Spot Low-Quality Kitchen Cabinets

A new kitchen is possibly one of the most significant decisions you’ll make regarding your home. It requires you to talk to experts like cabinet makers, look at different materials and colours, and consider the most desirable option for your home.

But a hurdle you may also encounter as you navigate this new and exciting world of renovations is determining quality. How are you supposed to know whether or not a kitchen you are thinking about installing is low-quality and, therefore, not worthy of your time? You’re about to find out.

The Construction Materials

Ask any cabinet maker, and they will tell you that one of the most dramatic differences between a custom-made kitchen and one you can purchase off the shelf is the construction materials. Many cabinets for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are made with plywood. However, some also feature MDF and particleboard, which are not as strong.

The best material type for cabinets is one that’s strong enough to handle daily wear and tear and will be resistant to heat and moisture. When you are having your cabinetry custom-made, a cabinet maker can walk you through the best options.

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Does Your Design Firm Need Digital Marketing?

Does Your Design Firm Need Digital Marketing?

As the owner or manager of a design firm, you already know that gaining new clients is essential to the success of that business. Knowing that is the easy part, but what is not so easy is knowing how to gain those clients, which is why marketing professionals recommend to all the businesses they consult with that digital marketing must be at the core of their client acquisition strategy.

Digital marketing has many benefits some of which we have listed here:

  • Improved brand awareness
  • Better targeting of prospects
  • Enhanced trust and reputation
  • More clients
  • Increased revenue
  • Outsell your competition
  • Huge ROI
  • Greater ability to adapt to trends
  • Long term results

There are additional benefits of digital marketing, so which business would not want to take advantage of them? Well, in truth there are indeed some business owners that remain unsure whether or not their business is one that should adopt digital marketing as a strategy, and that includes design firms.

So, if you remain on the fence, here are some ways in which you can assess your business and whether your design firm is one of the millions of businesses that will benefit from digital marketing.

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How To Avoid Carpet Cleaning Bait And Switch Scams

Carpet Cleaning Bait And Switch Scams

The word ‘scams’ in the title might have alarmed some of you so let us start by clarifying that the overwhelming majority of carpet cleaning companies – like Brilliance Carpet Cleaning – are honest, legitimate, and will provide a service that is professional and excellent value for money. Now that we have the disclaimer out of the way let us turn now to operators for whom we use the words carpet cleaning company very loosely.

They may have carpet cleaning equipment, and to an extent, they will clean carpets for you, but it is the way that they operate and sell you their services that is the problem. One of the most common is what is known as a bait and switch scam. If you have never heard of this term before, let us explain what it means.

First, bait and switch is not unique nor specifically an issue relating to carpet cleaning, and in fact, we are sad to say that it is a tactic used in just about every business sector and industry you could imagine. The way it is used is the ‘bait’ comes in the form of an offer or a promotion that you might think seems too good to be true. The simple fact is you would be right.

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