Category / Ideas and Advice

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  • magazine spread from original Windows article

    Windows and Glazed Doors – Design Tips

    A balancing act Windows have so many jobs to perform that their importance cannot be understated. They contribute to the house external aesthetic, bring daylight, view and passive solar gains to the…

  • magazine spread from original Walls article

    Walls – Design Tips

    The lightweight pine wall frame Pine wall frames are nowadays factory-made and erected in a day or two on a building site. They are inexpensive, made of plantation timber, a renewable, bio-degradable…

  • magazine spread from original Ventilation article

    Ventilation – Design Tips

    Tip 1 – Build in passive ventilation There are three reasons you want ventilation in your home: cooling, drying and stale air flushing. We are all aware that a good breeze inside…

  • magazine spread from original Timber article

    Timber – Design Tips

    The pros and cons of timber Timber is a traditional and well-loved material which is aesthetically pleasing too. Indeed, whether it is used in exposed or concealed applications, timber has many advantages.…

  • magazine spread from original Thermal Mass article

    Thermal Mass – Design Tips

    Note: This article appeared originally in Green Magazine as in the image above. The text below may differ slightly from the original. Thermal mass is a critical component of passive solar design,…

  • magazine spread from original the sun article

    The Sun and its Impact on Home Design – Design Tips

    Looking for North It is no rocket science that the sun rises in the east, moves towards the north in the southern hemisphere and sets in the west. Yet, a surprising number…

  • magazine spread from original Rainwater Harvesting article

    Rainwater Harvesting – Design Tips

    Tip 1 – Why collect rainwater? Although the drought has broken, we all know that Australia is a most arid continent and we remain uncertain about the impact of climate change on…

  • magazine spread from original Kitchen article

    Kitchen – Design Tips

    Optimize your kitchen layout Unless the kitchen is small, the best layout for ease of traffic is the L-shaped kitchen. Teamed with an island, this makes bottlenecks a thing of the past.…

  • magazine spread from original Cooling article

    Cooling – Design Tips

    Tip 1 – The rationale for a naturally cool house Clients in my Melbourne practice are often more worried about heat than cold, in spite of living in a so-called heating climate,…

  • magazine spread from original Heating article

    Heating Options – Design Tips

    As we move into the colder months, now is the time to consider your heating options and their pros and cons. Tip 1 – Consider the climate you live in If you…