Friday 29 August 2014

Bathroom Renovations Tips and Tricks in Melbourne


Renovating a bathroom can be difficult due to how often bathrooms are usually the smallest room in a house.Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne can be difficult as they are usually the smallest room in the house. Furthermore, the bathroom is also one of the most frequently used rooms by families. This is why it is very important to place essential items that are needed in the small space in strategic and clever positions, whilst also maintaining the best possible aesthetic. Many things have to come into consideration, for example the size of the bath and shower, the placing and position of the hand rail, as well as appropriate spots for power switches. 
 
These many decisions can throw up even more questions that need to be answered: What kind of tap would I like to use? What which materials are most durable, but also fit my desired design? What kind of bath will I use? Do I even want a bath? The questions can be endless and leave you feeling stressed. The key, however, is not to become overwhelmed and to instead take a step-by-step approach to your bathroom renovation. You want to make sure that your Adelaide home has a consistent feel throughout each room, as well as being functional, so keeping a logical and level head whilst renovating and designing the bathroom is important. 
 
Keeping this logical mindset can be difficult, however, as getting advice on decoration and design can often be biased to an individual’s own sense of style. Not only this but visiting shops can be a task as they are often trying to sell you products, which at the end of the day you may find yourself asking, “why did I choose that?” This is why it is important to set yourself goals and guidelines. Here is a list of a few things you can begin with:
 
Write down all the appliances that you would like in your bathroom. 
Think about where you would like them placed. This includes light switches and power points, toilet roll holders, towel racks. The smaller the detail you consider, the better.
Think about what kind of look you are going for. Are you hoping to add a sleeker look to your Adelaide home, or are you looking to continue you on with an art deco or period home feel that is seen through the rest of your house? 
 
If you need some help or inspiration with this step, a good place to start is by looking at magazines, or even at other people’s homes, or visit show rooms or houses. This is a great way to gain a clear and tangible vision of what you would like. This is where it can become especially tricky however, as executing your desired style can be difficult. This is where designing your bathroom really becomes your own personal choice. Once you have a clear idea of your design after taking these individual and essential steps, it is time to take on a professional and efficient bathroom renovating team. 
 
The friendly team at Alkira Renovations located locally in Melbourne can help you out. The friendly team have a great work ethic to get your bathroom functional whilst also meeting your design hopes and dreams.  Don’t let the renovation of a bathroom stress you out, with Alkira Renovations you’ll be in good hands. If you live in Melbourne and need some help with your bathroom renovation, look no further than Alkira. Find out more by visiting their website at http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/.

Thursday 21 August 2014

What Ever Happened To The Double-Oven in Melbourne Kitchen Renovations?

Kitchen Renovations in Melbourne are proving increasingly efficient as architects and designers undertake user-generated research in order to improve household efficiency and consumer satisfaction. Custom and survey based design is the way forward.

The main idea in kitchen and household design is multifunction. Optimising the time and energy you expend in your home is of paramount importance. Most families are double income and therefore do not have time to spend hours preparing meals. The luxury of a stay at home partner is archaic. If you are considering a kitchen renovation, look first at the kinds of appliances you use most. Is the oven of great importance, do you need a large or a smaller fridge and do you even need a separate freezer. These types of questions are all important so that you can maximise the use of your kitchen and save some much needed cash. Instead of putting energy into devices you will never use, invest what you can in those that you will.

For greater flexibility in your kitchen the double oven is the combination-cooking appliance for you. Typically, double ovens have been marketed suitable for larger households. Little do many of us realise that a multifunction device could be the difference between a perfectly timed roast dinner for two and a melange of burnt potatoes and gravy. If you are a two-person family, the double oven can service you and your guests. Whether you’re catering a party yourself or hiring someone in, the double oven will ensure you can prepare several dishes at a time.

If your oven is powered by electricity, consider the benefits listed below of gas-powered ovens.  

Gas ovens heat up very quickly, making your cooking time constraints easier to manage  
Natural gas cooks food more evenly than electricity and doesn’t dry the food out like electricity  
Gas ovens are energy efficient, the on-off process consumes far less energy than an electric oven  
If you are a frequent cook in the kitchen, gas costs less than electricity so is a cheaper option in the long run  
Gas ovens are long lasting and manageable. In the instance of power outages certain parts of the oven may suffer damages and your cooking could end up a catastrophe.  
Gas line installation is a guarantee with almost no risk of wear and tear.   

This humble cooking device has come a long way. France holds the oldest record of the oven from 1490. Made from brick and tile, these primitive versions were a mission to operate compared with the modern day appliances we so value today. In 1735 Françoise Cuvillieés invented the Castrol stove, a wood-burning device designed to improve the containment of smoke. By the early 1800s, the iron stove, invented by Count Rumford, could heat multiple pots at the same time and at different temperatures. Electric ovens were invented between 1880 and 1900 but it was not until the 1920s that electric technologies had improved. In the 1940s, Percy Spencer invented the microwave, completely revolutionising the use of the oven. Today, whether we own a beautiful double wall oven, an electric range or simply a microwave, cooking has never been this easy.

If you are looking for advice on your kitchen renovation in Melbourne, contact Alkira Homes on 0415 345 144 for all your home renovation needs. Alternatively you can visit their website http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/.

A Kitchen Renovation is Every Melbourne Mum’s Dream

Mother’s day has been and gone for the year but our mums are still here. Kitchen renovation, small or large, is a must for mum at some point in her life in Melbourne. You don’t have to offer to renovate the entire kitchen. Instead, you could suggest a tiny overhaul of any one particular area. It may be that the mixer needs replacing, the oven a renewing, or the pantry redressed for size and functionality.

Below are just some of the great kitchen ideas that you could try at home.

Be dramatic by replacing dated or faded looking cabinetry with new stark coloured cupboards and draws. Black and creams work well to create an elegant effect.

If you are considering the cabinetry, why not consider the bench tops as well. The most common and durable bench material is granite. The suggestion here is to incorporate granite, marble and even a touch of wood or copper into your kitchen. This may sound crazy, but a marble kitchen island with granite bench tops looks stunning. Copper is a great eye catching material and can be utilised in shelving and on taps and sinks.

If you are one to hide all your kitchen crockery and appliances behind doors and in tiny nooks, consider putting your very best items on display. Open up one of your cupboard areas by removing the doors and hinges and celebrate a special tea set or matching corning wear collection. To further enhance the display, paint the area behind the shelving your favourite colour or cover it with wallpaper. You can also install down lights to highlight each item.

Spice racks and tea and coffee cupboards are such an added bonus for any kitchen owner. If these areas do not exist in the kitchen it is time to cut out a series of holes in easy to reach places on the walls. Spice rack next to the oven and tea and coffee next to the kettle. One way to integrate these additions is to have painted, murals on the cupboard doors.

Commission someone or get creative yourself and add a bit of artistic flair to otherwise boarding cupboard doors.  To optimise storage space, install specialised corner cupboard doors so that hard to reach places become easily accessible ones.

The chalkboard from our childhood is coming back into fashion. Sticky-back chalkboard materials and chalkboard paints are showing up in many kitchen renovations. If it’s not a chalkboard then why not a pin board. These can be easily installed on the inside of doors or pantries.

There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to stock all your grocery shopping in the pantry. This is where a walk in food store comes in handy. The luxury of being able to clearly identify every item is something we would all just die for. You will never double up on an item or forget one altogether ever again.  

From your walls to the floor, you could use a whole range of mediums to finish the look of your kitchen. Wall to floor tiles or linear wooden beams are a great way to create continuity. Splashbacks are increasingly popular with a wide range of uses and colours. 

For many of us the kitchen is the heart of the home, where our families and friends come together to eat, drink and be merry. If you would like some advice on a Kitchen Renovation in Melbourne, contact Alkira Homes on 0415 345 144. Alternatively you can visit their website http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/ for a comprehensive look at what a renovation specialist can achieve in your home.

Tuesday 12 August 2014

Bathroom Renovations Tips and Tricks in Melbourne

Renovating a bathroom can be difficult due to how often bathrooms are usually the smallest room in a house.Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne can be difficult as they are usually the smallest room in the house. Furthermore, the bathroom is also one of the most frequently used rooms by families. This is why it is very important to place essential items that are needed in the small space in strategic and clever positions, whilst also maintaining the best possible aesthetic. Many things have to come into consideration, for example the size of the bath and shower, the placing and position of the hand rail, as well as appropriate spots for power switches.

These many decisions can throw up even more questions that need to be answered: What kind of tap would I like to use? What which materials are most durable, but also fit my desired design? What kind of bath will I use? Do I even want a bath? The questions can be endless and leave you feeling stressed. The key, however, is not to become overwhelmed and to instead take a step-by-step approach to your bathroom renovation. You want to make sure that your Adelaide home has a consistent feel throughout each room, as well as being functional, so keeping a logical and level head whilst renovating and designing the bathroom is important. 

Keeping this logical mindset can be difficult, however, as getting advice on decoration and design can often be biased to an individual’s own sense of style. Not only this but visiting shops can be a task as they are often trying to sell you products, which at the end of the day you may find yourself asking, “why did I choose that?” This is why it is important to set yourself goals and guidelines. Here is a list of a few things you can begin with: 

Write down all the appliances that you would like in your bathroom. 
Think about where you would like them placed. This includes light switches and power points, toilet roll holders, towel racks. The smaller the detail you consider, the better. 
Think about what kind of look you are going for. Are you hoping to add a sleeker look to your Adelaide home, or are you looking to continue you on with an art deco or period home feel that is seen through the rest of your house? 

If you need some help or inspiration with this step, a good place to start is by looking at magazines, or even at other people’s homes, or visit show rooms or houses. This is a great way to gain a clear and tangible vision of what you would like. This is where it can become especially tricky however, as executing your desired style can be difficult. This is where designing your bathroom really becomes your own personal choice. Once you have a clear idea of your design after taking these individual and essential steps, it is time to take on a professional and efficient bathroom renovating team. 

The friendly team at Alkira Renovations located locally in Melbourne can help you out. The friendly team have a great work ethic to get your bathroom functional whilst also meeting your design hopes and dreams.  Don’t let the renovation of a bathroom stress you out, with Alkira Renovations you’ll be in good hands. If you live in Melbourne and need some help with your bathroom renovation, look no further than Alkira. Find out more by visiting their website at http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/.

Saturday 19 July 2014

Slash Your Water Bills by Investing in ECO-Friendly Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne

Melbourne is currently enjoying a welcome break from its long endured drought. Despite this reprieve, Australia is a hot country and one that will suffer the consequences when global temperatures rise. Water efficient products are a must for Melbourne householders, especially when investing in bathroom renovations.

When undertaking Bathroom Renovation in Your Melbourne Home, planning for the future is directly linked to the kind of products you choose to install. To help conserve water in your home and reduce the costs that surface each financial quarter, you can fix leaks, purchase energy-efficient washing machines and install low-flow basin and shower fixtures. Melbourne’s water companies, City West Water and Yarra Valley Water, are rewarding residents for their conscientious efforts to promote smart water usage in their homes. They have introduced a swap scheme to help your renovation save you money straight away and in the long run. You can now exchange the old showerheads in your home for free, by simply swapping them with new 3-star rating showerheads. If you are unsure what type of showerheads are in your home simply check whether they predate 1992. This is because these older showerheads have a wasteful flow rate of 20.9 litres per minute. It’s important to note that water-efficient bathroom products may not be compatible with gravity fed or some older instantaneous hot water systems.

The WELS Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme is an Australian initiative that launched in 2005. WELS requires certain products to be registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. Water rating labels help you choose water efficient products, conserving Australia’s water supply and reducing your bills. According to WELS projections and estimates, over one third of water savings will come from more efficient showers, about 34 per cent from washing machines and 23 per cent from toilets and urinals.

Showers generate approximately 25 per cent of water savings when using a WELS scheme. By installing a water-efficient showerhead, residents can save up to 14, 500 litres per household each year. The average showerhead releases nine litres of water per minute, while a low flow showerhead can release as little as five litres per minute. A gas hot water system used in conjunction with a standard showerhead can cost $1, 500 over ten years. When considering a water-efficient device, your cost is dramatically reduced to $790 over a ten-year period. This is a 47 per cent saving with a good WELS model.

With schemes like the WELS initiative, the Australian Government hopes to save $1 billion on water and energy bills by 2021. Consider very seriously when undergoing bathroom renovations that you install fixtures and fittings that benefit you, your community and the environment. To find out more about comprehensive and step by step personalised bathroom renovations, call Alkira Homes on 0415 345 144 or alternatively, you can visit their website at http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/.

Thursday 17 July 2014

The Trouble Facing Bathroom Renovations Specialists in Heritage Listed Areas in Melbourne

The city of Melbourne is renowned for preserving a substantial amount of Victorian architecture. When you wander the streets, you’ll notice an extensive juxtaposition of old and new architecture that characterises the look and feel of the vibrant city. However, as beautiful as the old architecture is, it can create a challenge for those homeowners who want to undertake bathroom renovations in heritage-listed homes in Melbourne.

Before considering whether you can invest in bathroom renovations in your property, it is important to establish whether your home is heritage listed. The Heritage Council of Victoria determines places and objects that are of State significance, and lists them on the Victorian Heritage Register. If your property is identified on the Victorian Heritage Register, you must contact Heritage Victoria for permission to make changes to your site. While in this instance Heritage Victoria is the responsible authority for heritage matters, you may also be required to apply for planning permission from your local council. Your local council, through the application of Heritage Overlays, protects sites of local significance, like your home. You can view this information by checking the Victorian Heritage Database. It’s interesting to note that heritage listed sites can include buildings, trees, parks and gardens, streetscapes, archaeological sites and even cemeteries.

Renovating can be a very difficult time for homeowners that were unaware that their home was heritage listed. Melbourne Architect, Darren Naftal, can attest to how challenging a home renovation can be in his book, A Block in a Hard Place. However, while restoring and renovating heritage-listed homes is challenging, there are of course ways to get around this. When it comes to bathroom renovations, they can be very costly which is why it is vital that you identify whether law in fact protects your property before you begin. If this is the case, there are some key parameters to follow, which are outlined below.

Notify and liaise with your local council. They have access to heritage and ‘zoning’ information for your property and can assess any future renovations based on planning controls and the property’s heritage value.  

Ensure you are speaking with an architect or planner that is experienced with heritage properties. Experienced professionals are aware of the obstacles and difficulties faced with renovating heritage properties and will have a plan of action to overcome these problems.

During the renovations process keep in mind that you bought your property for a reason.  By ensuring your heritage-listed property is renovated correctly, you could end up having the most exquisite home in your suburb.

When deciding on how to renovate something as small as a bathroom, or as big as a house, be ‘sympathetic’ to the integrity of house and the characteristics of the suburb. Unsympathetic renovations tend to fetch up to $300, 000 less than houses that have kept their original features. 

With kitchens and bathrooms often considered the two rooms that require constant renewal, it’s important for homeowners to understand the heritage restrictions in place. One bathroom renovations company that is more than aware of the heritage laws is Alkira Homes. With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, they are suited to assist homeowners when they want to renovate or remodel their heritage-listed home. To learn more about their quality Bathroom Renovations in Melbourne heritage-listed homes, check out their website at http://alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au/.

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Kitchen Renovations Melbourne With The Latest Trend


Are you interested in getting beautiful, unique, latest and trendy kitchen? Of course, yes. I do not think that there is any person who does not want it. For this you have to hire any professional organization that can help you. Kitchen Renovations Melbourne is not so easy task to complete because there are a number of things about which you have to take care. According to me the Alkira renovations is the best option for you to choose.

We are basically available in Melbourne and providing our services domestically. We are an Australian company. We are having long experience in our field. This long experience has given us expertise in our work. So, you can get quality work from us without any problem. Even our charges are very reasonable so you do not need to worry for your budget. Log on to alkirarenovationsmelbourne.com.au and get more details about us. In short, hire us and get your Kitchen Renovations Melbourne with the latest trend.