My House My Home Archives - Page 6 of 7

Dansons Will Make Renovations A Reality

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Dansons Kitchens & Joinery have been in business for over 26 years. “We are happy to carry out any kitchen, bathroom or wardrobe installations or renovations,” said Bruce. All cabinets, bench tops and built-in wardrobe doors are made to measure on the premises. One happy customer said: “I had a kitchen made. It was done to my plan
and specifications. Quality of workmanship is great.”

Visit the business at 3 Royal Street in Parkes or contact Bruce on 6862 5453 for a free measure and quote today!

The Early Bird Has A Stress Free Christmas

October 27, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The count down is on; it’s only eight weeks until Christmas! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but also one of the most stressful! As Christmas approaches life seems to get more hectic. The hustle and bustle can be overwhelming so make the season more enjoyable by stopping stress in its tracks and get organised.

Christmas parties are a great way to celebrate, so book it in now to save you the stress down the track. Christmas parties are a celebration of what all your staff and the business have achieved throughout the year. It is a time to unwind and enjoy the company of your fellow employees out of the work environment and to enjoy a nice meal and a cold beverage. Local businesses are taking bookings now so be sure to get in quick to secure your spot.

It is not too late to get feeling and looking great. Everybody wants to look their best on Christmas day so take action now. Sign up to a gym, walk to work or even just park further from the shops. Every little bit helps and it will not only help you drop those few winter kilograms, it will also make you feel great moving around again.

With days getting longer and warmer why not get some friends together and workout. Catching up with friends is a great way to burn more calories while you talk and walk. Get the kids active this summer too with lots of different classes available to sign up to. Eating well seems to always become much easier as summer approaches with so many delicious salads and BBQ recipes to try. Fruit comes into season and it’s easier to drink more water. A reminder to stay hydrated this summer season as water flushes out your body’s toxins and assists with all bodily functions.

Christmas shopping is next on the list and you either love it or hate it. So start thinking about gifts now to avoid the rush. There will be markets on in the coming months so be sure to go along as you might just find a bargain. This year try making some of your gifts, as they can be more personal and thoughtful that way. It can be as simple as
making gingerbread men to make a small gift or to accompany another. Homemade goods are always a hit so try your hand at baking or making. There are loads of ideas available on the internet.

The secret is to focus on what’s most important, remember to have fun and to do something that makes you happy.

Three Cheers To Karen’s New Book

October 27, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Last night was very exciting as we launched my latest book, Home Sweet Home, at a gala party at the Parkes RSL club with over 150 people in attendance to support and cheer us on. This book is very special to me for two main
reasons. Firstly after working with clients over the last few years I felt there was a real need for a handbook filled with simple to follow, step by step advice that would give you all the answers to the questions constantly asked of you while undertaking a renovating or decorating project. So hopefully with this handbook the next project you embark on won’t be nearly as scary or stressful.

And secondly, the book allowed me to collaborate with some amazing national brands, fantastic retail stores and a bevy of skilled tradesman and contractors from around the Parkes and Forbes region that are represented in the pages of the black book directory at the end of the book. Not only do you have the answers to many renovation questions, but you also have all the contact details of the people who can literally bring your building and renovating
dreams to life. I think this is what is going to make this publication very helpful.

Home Sweet Home has pages for notes as you go through each step of your project. I would love to think that it would become your best friend throughout your next project. It is available at newsagencies around the region, from my own store in Parkes Furniture One and online at www.karencreith.com.au with free shipping available.
I hope you grab your copy today and enjoy reading it!

Love Karen x

Tony Secures Parkes Position

August 25, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Well known Parkes resident Tony Ross is now making Parkes a safer place. Having recently completed extensive security training Tony is taking up a role with Macquarie Alarms & Security. Macquarie Alarms has been operating in Parkes for over five years and is a family owned business that has been built up on strong community and local connections combined with good old fashioned service.

Macquarie Alarms management are excited to have Tony representing the brand in Parkes as he has a caring and can do attitude that fits perfectly with their way of doing business. Being local, Tony understands the Parkes area, its people and their security concerns. Living in the town Tony will provide customers with quick access to a security professional when needed. Call Tony on 0438 628 665.

What Windows Should I Choose?

August 25, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Building or renovating a house involves many decisions. One is choosing the right windows. Here are some pointers to help you decide.
1) Which room is the window for? Different rooms require different types of windows. Room design, style and purpose should be considered prior to any final decision.
2) How will the room be used? Function and practicality are equally as important as style. Think about how you will use the space and what you want out of it.
3) What is your design style? Once you have considered the practical components, you can have fun choosing the design elements. Window design can compliment the overall design, while colour is an important element.
4) What type of material? Aluminium or Timber. Material choice often relates to design style.
5) How important is sustainability? Smart window and glass choices can fill rooms with light all year round, and assist with sustainable design and living that can even save you money in the long run.
6) What is the budget? Glassplace caters to budgets of all sizes. This allows both the budget mindful and those with a bit extra to customize window and door combination for their project.

Hopefully these points will help you decide. For more information on the options available visit the Glassplace Showroom at 4 Clarke Street, or visit their website.

Shades of Grey…

August 25, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

As with fashion, home decorating goes through interesting cycles of what’s in and what’s not. Key periods in styling will always be remembered through the colours and designs that were in vogue. Over the last few years decorating with neutral tones became trendy. This has allowed everyone more freedom to style and update their looks more frequently with a minimum of fuss and expense.

I feel the tides are changing again. After the recent launch of the new Haymes Paint colour collection, I think the new direction will be soft greys to deeper silver and more blue-grey tones. These new shades will combine beautifully with the move towards using black as an accent colour. The grey colour wheel also works perfectly with accents of red to make a retro inspired statement, it can look soft and feminine when paired with lilac, silver and a touch of bling, while yellow looks amazing when splashed in a room of grey, and I love it when orange is combined with grey to look vibrant, and seriously stylish and sophisticated.

I think it will not be long before there is a new must have colour. We will select this colour to make our homes a true vision of neutral beauty and it will allow us to unleash the decorator within as our possibilities of choice become limitless.

By Karen Creith

Pick A Shower Screen For Your Taste

July 21, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

At the traditional end of the market we have fully framed shower screens with either pivoting or sliding doors. Pivot shower doors are easily adjustable and need very little maintenance. With the latest design innovations they can fit in almost any bathroom. Sliding doors suit very restricted spaces, but do need maintenance.

Framed showers use 6.38mm laminated safety glass. Semi-frameless shower screens are becoming the most popular in our range. They are easier to clean and evoke a feeling of more open space in your bathroom. The aluminium frame is limited to the perimeter of the shower screen with no vertical frame components on the glass panels. Again, the pivot door option can be designed to fit most bathroom layouts and uses 6mm toughened safety glass.

At the designer end of the shower screen market are frameless shower screens, which use 10mm toughened safety glass. They are fitted directly to the wall and floor of a tiled shower area with chrome plated brass fittings. Available with either sliding door, pivot door or a door-less walk in design, frameless shower screens are generally fitted to larger bathrooms.

We also stock a range of glass shower shelves to match any shower. Come and see our large range at Glassplace in Clarke Street, Parkes or call Kath on 6862 2346 for a quote.

Cutting Edge Design

June 23, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

To me when I think of cutting edge design it conjures up images of a sleek and so-phisticated look that pushes the boundaries of design and style to a new level. It sets you apart from the rest and perhaps creates a space that has you featuring in your home the latest trends and choices available in the marketplace that may have not been fully adopted by the majority of the general public yet due to their newness in the world of design.

It is a constantly changing world with advances in products, building materials and styling finishes happening so often that it takes a keen student to stay in touch with these changes and to embrace them within their own home. I like to think of this approach to design and to including advancements into my work to make my life and my client’s life easier throughout our design process.

Make a style file or Moodboard when you start the process of beginning to style your home and at that point collect all the information about what products are available and how you would like to incorporate them into your design. This allows you to do all your research and evaluation early in the project and you will save valuable time in the long run as when the contractors need speedy decisions you will be ready to go.

So here are my favourite ways to incorporate great design into your world:
• Adopting a minimalistic approach to your design will always give you an amazing result that has cutting edge design all over it.
• Introducing different building materials into your mix will give a designer edge to your final style.
• Metallic finishes scream designer chic at the moment.
• Incorporating a true eco friendly element to your home’s design is a must in making your home cutting edge in design and proactive in saving the impact we have on the environment.
• Embrace the theory that true cutting edge design allows us to incorporate old with new seamlessly.

Decorating and styling your home can really give you an opportunity to express your own inner style in a really tactile way. And I think true cutting edge design is discovering and combining the things that you treasure into a home that you absolutely love.

What Makes a Splashback?

June 23, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Glass splashbacks are a sure way to enhance the appearance of your new kitchen layout. And not only do they look great, splashbacks also make the job of cleaning in the kitchen heaps easier and much faster.

When the staff at Glassplace measure a kitchen for a new splashback, we check the size of cupboards, benches, work areas and windows. Most splashbacks are made from Low Iron toughened 6mm glass or from special mirrored glass. It’s toughened to handle the heat from the cooktop. And we use low iron glass because ordinary glass has a very slight green tint, which is not noticeable until it is painted, but it can slightly change the appearance of the splashback when installed, especially if using light or white colours.

The colour choice is totally yours. Some customers want a very plain colour to blend in with walls and cupboards, while others like to have a bold colour to enhance the look of their new kitchen. So after we have the size and shape of the splashback pieces confirmed, it’s up to our glass supplier to cut the pieces to size and shape, polish the edges, do cut outs for power points and then toughen each piece in a furnace. When the glass has cooled it goes through a chemical wash, gets dried and has 3 coats of paint applied on the back surface.

When the glass comes to our workshop we unwrap it, check it for size and imperfections. Then we take it to your place and carefully fit each piece and seal it all to the wall with a sanitary grade silicone. That’s it – finished!

That’s when you get to see what you have planned and dreamed of for a few weeks and show your friends and neighbours and enjoy what is often the focal point of your new kitchen. Call Glassplace on 6862 2346 and we can advise, measure and quote a glass splashback for you.

By Col Lamrock

Be A Fire Starter With Parkes Landscaping

June 23, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

If you have a wood burner or stove in your house, you’ve probably started the perfect fire only to find it’s completely burned out a few minutes later. A few methods to burn wood efficiently can help you get a roaring fire crackling and keep you warm this winter. It’s essential that your wood heater is cleaned, particularly the flu that draws smoke form the fire. Pay close attention to the wood you burn too, there’s no point carefully stacking logs if they’re wet, green or rotted! Therefore it’s important to also have the right materials.

A combination of softwood and hardwood kindling and firelighters will provide your base. Conventional wisdom suggests you start burning underneath your logs however there’s good evidence that you should build your fire from the top down layering smaller pieces on top of a base made layer.

This way, the fire grows hotter and hotter, gradually working down to consume the wood. When being a fire starter many things can go wrong such as insufficiently seasoned wood that has been dampened by snow or rain. This sort of wood will keep on smoking until it becomes charcoal. Even good wood can be arranged so a fire never reaches its full potential so make sure you have the basics to get your fire started today with wood and kindling now in stock at Parkes Landscaping Supplies at Lot 1 Back Trundle Road.

Subscribe