Keeping the bathroom warm this Winter

It’s probably fair to say that nobody likes to experience that cold chill from stepping out of a hot shower into a frosty bathroom. Fortunately, there are various options to warm up your bathroom so you can keep that fuzzy feeling. Here we will look at different ideas to keep you warm and comfortable in your bathroom this Winter.

Underfloor Heating

An energy efficient and effective method of heating your bathroom is to use underfloor heating. There are different systems, namely slab heating and thin film heating, which use either electric cables or hot water pipes, and are suitable for small or large spaces. Slab heating uses off peak electricity or natural gas, while thin film heating uses peak electricity but is more efficient than other electric heaters. Underfloor heating not only heats the floor but also warms the entire room, leaving a balmy temperature. Using a timer, you can save more energy by having the floors heated only when needed. This subtle heating mechanism will leave a lasting impression on users and you will find it hard to walk bare foot on cold tiles again!

Heat Lamps

Heat lamps are the most common type of heating as they are immediately hot when switched on. You will find them mounted on the ceiling combined with lights and an exhaust fan, usually in small bathrooms because of the centralisation of heat around its location. To overcome this problem, additional heat lamps can be installed. Greater efficiency can be achieved by models with temperature controls.

Permanent Heaters

This heating system, also known as strip, bar or radiator heaters, is mounted on the walls. They heat up quickly and produce sufficient heating for a room. Ideal for bigger bathrooms, the electrical wires can be linked to light switches to keep all the controls together. While radiator heaters work safely lower down, bar heaters should be fitted higher up as they emit plenty of heat and consequently, comes a risk of burns.

Heated Towel Rails

What is better than using a dry towel? A warm, dry towel! Heated towel rails are powered by electricity and are designed to dry and warm your towels. The key to maximising the warmth from your heated towel rail is positioning as they release enough heat to pass through the towels to warm the air temperature of your bathroom. Unfortunately this is a slow process, so this product is best suited for smaller bathrooms.

Positive Temperature Coefficient Bathroom Heaters

Looking for a more energy efficient option? A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may be for you. The heat is generated by small ceramic stones that once a certain temperature is reached, it will sustain that level of heating – making PTC heaters energy efficient and safe. You can also purchase these heaters combined with energy efficient lights and an exhaust fan.

Tips to run your bathroom heating efficiently

Whether you are heating up a personal bathroom, you can keep it efficient. The foundation is to choose a heater that is an appropriate size for the space. This will prevent the heater from working harder than necessary to produce sufficient or oversupplying heat. Secondly, only have the heating system on when needed – this can be supported by installing a timer to program the required hours. 

There are plenty of options available to heat your bathroom safely and efficiently. To make the experience more pleasant, use soft hand towels or a warm hand dryer, consider a set of aroma reeds for a lasting scent. A bathroom or restroom should be a comfortable environment for users and this can be achieved with ease. 

 

Granny Flats aren’t just for Grandparents

Have you ever thought about expanding your home, but not sure of the requirements or value in doing so?

Having a secondary dwelling on your property is becoming increasingly popular across Australia. Whether it’s a solution for our growing and ageing population and rising rental prices or an escape to a parents’ retreat, granny flats are an affordable way to expand the living space on your property. Not only do they improve the value of your home, but also accommodate for more private living.

Granny flats as self-contained extensions can be constructed in three ways – within the house, attached to the house, or separate from the house. NSW Government outlines that granny flats must be on the same lot of land as the principal house and not on a separate lot, in a strata plan or in a community title scheme. There is only to be one house and one granny flat existing on the property – not on a subdivision.

There are particular standards and regulations that come into play when designing and building a granny flat. The legal maximum size for granny flats is 60 square metres, and they must be built in line with the Building Code of Australia. Furthermore, the combined total floor space of the two structures needs to comply with local council standards. Planning controls must also be met, including building height and setbacks, floor space ratios, and open space.

Designing a granny flat comes with endless possibilities – from an open-plan studio space to spacious two-bedroom apartment set-ups. The opportunities for different layouts and styles enable home-owners to use the space for a variety of uses, depending on their spatial needs. Some suggestions are a home office, rumpus room, parents’ retreat, design studio or home gym.

The flexibility of and range of functions for granny flats is what drives their attractiveness to home owners. As long as adequate backyard space is maintained, the addition of a granny flat on unused space can successfully improve your property value – particularly as you can rent out the space for some extra income.

So, if your teenagers are driving you crazy, or you need the extra room for another person, a granny flat could be your solution. The diversity in design choices will allow you to create a space that will meet your needs and improve the value of your home. 

Plan, Design, and Operate Sustainably

Companies both large and small are learning that sustainable business practices not only help the environment but can also improve profitability by supporting greater efficiency, less waste and better community and employee relations.

When creating a sustainable workplace, you should consider the following aspects:

1.  Planning 

2. Design and build

3. Operations

Each of which brings considerable savings to your bottom line.

Let’s take a look at each aspect.

1. Workplace Planning

Planning enables you to develop a workplace ideal to your expectations, while being viable and resourceful for your business and towards the environment.

When looking for premises, consider retrofitting an older style property instead of occupying new office blocks. An architect can help you think outside the square on how space can be best utilised for your needs.

If it’s a new build, select offices with plenty of natural sunlight so you can work longer before turning on lights. You can create more sources of natural light via large windows and atriums in your building design.

2. Design and Build

A number of design principles can be applied to produce a space that is unique and efficient.

A new trend emerging recently is in re-purpose shipping containers. This concept is particularly great if you have vacant space on your property and need to build an extension or more storage space. It is also a suitable idea if you need to build a home office in your backyard.

Take a look at a recent Starbucks store that was constructed from recycled shipping containers. 

    Image: Starbucks in Tukwila, Washington     

You may consider using old, discarded or pre-loved furniture and fixtures. Restored or recycled furniture and fixtures create not only environmental benefits, but restored pieces can be a real focal point in design.

3. Operational

When it comes to operating your business, there are a number of simple things you can do to create cost efficiencies through sustainable practices.

Ensure switches are labelled, so employees understand which are relevant to minimise excess lighting and appliance use.

Install dimmers on your lights where possible, so you can adjust for varying levels of natural light in the room.

Display lighting should only be installed for spot lighting selected displays and not as general illumination.  If you are in retail or hospitality, keep lighting on a reduced level and only switch on display lighting just before opening time or put them on a timer.

Energy light bulbs – invest in LED light bulbs to capitalise substantial long-term financial savings that should compensate for their higher prices.

Install motion sensor lighting, especially for storage cupboards, plant room lighting and other rarely used rooms, which are switched off by default.

Creating a sustainable workplace in design and operations is highly recommended as the benefits significantly exceed the monetary investment. 

The Great Energy Debate – Gas, Electric or Solar

Keeping your home cosy through the chill of winter and cool in the hot summer is a challenge for many – especially while trying to avoid high energy bills. It’s a balancing act that raises the question of whether to choose gas, electric or solar power. 

Given that heating and cooling amounts to approximately 23 per cent of Australian household energy use, homeowners need to consider their home heating requirements and choose a system that delivers the right amount of warmth and coolness to avoid energy wastage and bill shock. 

If you are building or renovating, you have a number of energy options and therefore different options for your heating and cooling. Depending on where you live, you will generally be able to choose from:  

▪     Electricity – traditional heaters, air conditioning, fans

▪     Gas – widely available in capital cities, though limited supply of piped or main gas in regional and rural areas, generally used for heating

▪     Solar – widely available, however, the benefits of installing solar panels will vary depending on a number of environmental factors. Usually used to supplement the electricity grid and reduce energy costs for heating and cooling

    

    Gas heating        

Advantages and Disadvantages

All three energy sources – electricity, gas and solar – have advantages and disadvantages.

Electricity is the most widely available energy source and can run all household appliances, but can be a more expensive source of energy.

Mains gas can be less expensive than electricity and kinder to the environment than electricity, generating around one-third of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. It is frequently used for heating water and room heating. It easily copes with heating large spaces quickly. Mains gas, however, is not as widely available as electricity.

Solar     

Solar energy is a renewable energy source and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during the generation of energy. It can be used to either supplement or replace gas and electricity. Although, solar energy systems require a significant upfront investment and cannot be installed at all premises.

Effective heating and cooling can be custom designed to suit every house and getting your requirements right the first time is essential if you want it to be cost effective.

 

     Electric heating and cooling

    

Key Office Trends for 2014

New office trends are taking the emphasis off the items found in offices and catering more for the needs of people.

Collaboration and Accessibility
The corner office is no longer the pinnacle achievement.  Employees find it out of touch and isolating, and the same concept applies to cubicles. How your workspace is designed says a lot about your business, how your team works, and is also an extension of your brand. Choosing an open-plan, more accessible office style gives greater potential to collaboration and ‘open minds.’

Flexibility and Sustainability
Flexibility is a crucial element in office space, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Consideration should be given to striking a balance between complete openness and the option of using use a more intimate area for one-to-one meetings.  This will create a more sustainable office space for your business.

The Gen Y Workforce
It is predicted by 2020, employment will be dominated by Generation Y, who will comprise 42 per cent of the workforce. As a cohort that excels in multi-tasking and multi-channeling, organisations will need to re-think how they communicate and connect with these employees.
Gen Y workers value authenticity and resonate with work environments that place greater significance on people as opposed to furniture. With the predicted high employer turnover for Gen Y, and associated costs for companies, it’s worth investing time into designing your office to reflect your values. In turn, this will attract the right team and increase the likelihood of longer service. With younger staff, expect a trend toward activity-based working, which allows movement between types of spaces.

The Dynamic Office
Today’s work culture is becoming increasingly diverse, as employees no longer have to be in the office to get the job done. Consequently, there will be a trend toward a workplace that can be configured to specific work needs. The worker who only sometimes comes into the office will be able to work comfortably using a pop-up work desk, which can be stored with their personal files and belongings in their absence. There will be an improved sense of belonging for all staff as they can share the workspace according to their needs.
Office trends are changing considerably to suit the worker demographic. To maximise workplace efficiency and retain quality staff, organisations need to remain aware of these changes to retain high quality staff.

Decoration and Design - Sydney 2014

We recently attended the Decoration and Design Expo in Sydney.  This was a great industry event and here we share the latest in interior products and furnishings.

Main colour trends seen across retailers was the continuing strong presence of mustard, yellow turquoise and teal in textiles , ceramics and glassware. Upholstery and cushioning were more textured , with embroidery and embellishment major themes.

MRD Home stand

              

Pad Home Concept stand  - 

Furniture fitted into three main categories , translated across retailers in varying styles.

1. Urban industrial
2. Cultural/tribal
3. Opulence

 Loft Stand 

1. Urban industrial

Seen in metal furniture and salvaged /recycled materials with colour twists, seen to best effect at Loft Furniture.

2. Cultural /Tribal

This trend was very prevalent in furniture, furnishings , artworks and accessories , none more so than Craft Enterprises, specialising in horn and skull accessories and tribal textiles.

Flooring also caught on to this trend with Armadillo launching their new Latitude Collection of rugs and runners inspired by travel and exotic cultures. Their new range sees three distinct designs made with Argentinian wool in bold colourways.

Armadillo’s representative indicated that this was an evolving homeware trend with people no longer afraid to add colour in their furnishings, but core neutrals in wool and hemp were still popular.

Armadillo @ Co  - 

 Craft Enterprises  

3. Opulence

Oversized furniture and extravagant use of mirrors and mirrored furniture was seen at several stands, particularly with a monochrome / dark palette.

 Café Lighting and Furniture

Natural materials in timber and rattan also appeared en masse with detailing and craftsmanship more in evidence.

We loved the outdoor wall art from Zarzie which is treated for UV and can withstand the Australian elements. Images range from outdoor scenes, nature and food and come both singularly and in triptych format.

Zarzie

Removeable wallpapers and decals  are a great idea for rental properties and come in many design categories, city landscapes , childrens , timber grain and nature finishes and also can be customised from your own digital photographs.

PVA and BPA  free the manufacturer indicates that the prints are fully moveable and reusable and can also be wiped clean with a damp cloth. The prints are applied to any clean flat surface so can also be applied to furniture such as fridges or mirrors.

The Wallpaper Company   

For more information on the event, please visit youtube.

Trends in Residential Architecture and Design in 2014

A number of trends evolved in late 2013 which we expect to continue in 2014.  I’d like to share a few of these trends with you.

1.    Special place to unwind

Increasingly, homeowners are investing in their property to create a sanctuary where they can get away from it all.  Specifically, designating a specific space for tranquil design, a space to relax and unwind.  This is being seen in bathroom design with spa bathrooms to transformations of areas once considered ‘dead space’ like under stairways.

2. Kitchen focus

In 2014 we’ll see the kitchen as the focal point of the house.  Homeowners often want the position of their kitchen in the centre of an open floor plan, especially as they start to use their kitchen space as a multi-tasking room.  By having the kitchen centred and open with dedicated IT areas, parents can help children with homework, talk or pay bills — all while making meals.

3.    Sustainable designs  

As we continue to see a rise in the cost of living, housing affordability and unpredictable climate conditions, long-term sustainable designs are increasingly desirable. Considerations to best minimise energy consumption such as windows positioned to attract winter sun to heat the home and appropriate eaves and awning design to keep the harsh summer sun out of the house should definitely be considered in your design. A well designed home can considerably reduce energy consumption.

Ruth Newman Architect specialises in Residential design.  We create inspired buildings and environments that bring your design vision to life while being respectful to your budget.  We work with you to explore new boundaries to ensure you get the most from your environment with designs that promote efficiency and solve the problems of space and function.