5 Soothing Paint Colour Palettes for Quiet Spots

When life gets stressful, the urge to retreat and recharge becomes greater than ever – and the idea of crawling under a cosy duvet or soaking in a hot bath never sounded so appealing. Senior Writer for Houzz Australia, Georgia Madden, spoke to five paint experts who revealed the colours that will turn your bedroom, study or bathroom into a tranquil haven.

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Cristy Houghton
12 Sustainable Ideas From International Landscapers

In addition to creating inspiring outdoor spaces and dream-worthy gardens, landscape designers and architects also make our yards more sustainable and earth-friendly. Writer Lauren Dunec Hoang from Houzz spoke with 12 landscape designers around the world – and looked at gardens they’ve designed – who describe how installing rain gardens, converting lawns to native landscapes, planting low-water gardens and utilising other practices can result in beautiful gardens with environmental benefits. Which ones could you adopt for a greener gardening approach at home?

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Cristy Houghton
How To Choose A Fireplace For Your Home

When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing quite like relaxing around a warm, cosy fire. A fabulous fireplace also creates a natural focal point in a room, drawing people together for those special moments of connection and conversation. Wood-burning and gas log fires are the most popular options, providing both efficient home heating and the charm of a flickering flame. Considering putting in a new fireplace? Houzz spoke with the experts are Barbeques Galore to learn about the latest looks and what to consider when it comes to selecting the right style.

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Cristy Houghton
Dos & Don’ts of Designing Your Butlers Pantry

If you’re building a new home, I’m 99.99% sure your including a butlers/walk-in pantry. Senior Writer Georgia Madden from Houzz Australia spoke to three experts about how to design a well-functioning butlers pantry. See below for their do’s and don’ts for a little help behind the scenes.

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Cristy Houghton
2021’s Biggest Exterior Colour Palettes

If you are building a new home, you will definitely have a painted element on the exterior of your home. Whether its render, cladding or simply the front door. You need to make sure the colours of all the different materials marry together by choosing a particular colour palette for your home and continuing it from the outside in. Senior Write Georgia Madden from Houzz Australia asked three paint experts about the exterior colours we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2021. Here’s what they said.

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Cristy Houghton
7 Bathroom Upgrades You Should Consider

If you’re building a new home the chances are your budget isn’t endless. You need to think carefully about where to spend extra money and where to save it. So which upgrades are worth the extra expense and will make a significant difference to the look and functionality of the space? It’s a question Senior Write Georgia Madden from Houzz Australia asked three bathroom experts. Here’s what they said.

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Cristy Houghton
WHY THE KITCHEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOUSE

As well as food preparation, the kitchen is where we gather and talk about our day. It’s where we work from, sit and sip a coffee or wine with friends and where we celebrate special occasions. It’s also one of the places in a new home where buyers can express their own personal tastes (literally!) and add flavours of their own identity.

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Cristy Houghton
9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SKYLIGHTS

If you are building a new home and are thinking about incorporating as much natural light as possible, there are some key things to consider. Today’s glass technology makes for an incredibly strong and durable material – it’s an essential building component – although it does have its limitations. It’s also had some incredible engineering behind it and, for a price, all sorts of styles and functions are available. Here are nine things to consider before you go ahead and factor in a skylight.

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Cristy Houghton
DOS & DON’TS OF DESIGNING YOUR ENSUITE

Whether you’re upgrading your ensuite or starting from scratch, it’s worth spending the time to get it right. After all, this is one space in the home that’s all about you – somewhere to relax, refresh and put your game face on for the day ahead. Here, three bathroom-design experts share their dos and don’ts for designing your dream ensuite.

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Cristy Houghton
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE CHOOSING A CONCEALED CISTERN TOILET?

Today’s residential home owners are more style-savvy than ever before, so it’s no surprise that many homeowners are putting concealed cistern toilets on their must-have list for their new bathrooms. Concealed cisterns offer big benefits for homeowners in terms of their improved hygiene, good looks and space-saving ability. When choosing a suitable design that will stand the test of time, space and style are not the only factors – a deep dive into the specifics will reveal the best brand and model for your project.

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Cristy Houghton
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT KITCHEN APPLIANCES FOR YOUR HOME

Few of us know how many choices need to be made when building a home, until we reach the task at hand. From size to style, functionality and budget, there are several steps involved in picking the best appliances for your kitchen – it can be hard to figure out where exactly to start. It all starts with asking yourself these five important questions.

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Cristy Houghton
PLANNING TO EFFICIENTLY COOL YOUR HOME

During stifling summers, it can often feel like you’re fighting a losing battle trying to keep your house cool. And with a summer of restricted travel opportunities fast approaching, now might be the time to up your cooling game. Installing an air conditioner can be an expensive decision, so it’s important to understand how you can maximise the benefits from the money you spend. Half the battle of choosing a new air conditioning system is picking the right product for your home and needs. If your brand-new cooling system is not paired with an otherwise efficiently operated dwelling, you could wind up sinking money into bills while cool air escapes right out your door. Here are some tips to help you with your selections to ensure efficiency.

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Cristy Houghton
HOW TO BUDGET FOR LANDSCAPING IN YOUR BUILD

If you are in the process of designing your home and inclusions, then I’m sure you’ve heard people tell you “don’t forget to budget in landscaping”. Planning for the outdoor part of your build is a key step and landscaping is equally as important as the interiors in a home.Here are some quick tips to help you create the perfect outdoor space.

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Cristy Houghton
HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR STONE BENCHTOPS

Natural stone is a very robust material, but to keep it looking beautiful it does need to be treated with a little care. Just like any other material, a natural stone kitchen benchtop, bathroom vanity, floor or wall cladding will be subject to wear from physical and environmental conditions, or be exposed to substances that could alter its appearance. For many, these visible signs of wear or patina are welcomed as they bring character, but for those who would prefer their stone finish to appear unblemished, a more stringent care program is recommended.

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Cristy Houghton
FIVE NEW LAUNDRY TRENDS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Like all interior trends, laundry design evolves at a rapid rate. No longer a place homeowners expect to keep hidden away, the focus is now on stylish good looks and efficient appliances. Discover the latest trends below you need to know about in order to create a design-forward practical laundry.

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Cristy Houghton