Kitchen Storage Option

Kitchen features and design decisions can last for twenty years or more, so they are important to get right first time. Taking time to consider the best fit for your family and in terms of how you use the space – do you have young children you want to raise in the home, do you entertain friends and family often, do you end tend to spend more time in the kitchen than other room in the house? Take a look at these kitchen design ideas for ecological options.

Counter tops

Granite counter tops are trendy, but most are made from rock mined in ecologically devastating ways and shipped across the world. They also tend to have cracks and fissures that are prone to contamination from bacteria. Instead consider:

• Concrete (made with fly ash or recycled waste products)
• Recycled paper
• Recycled glass
• Wood

Cabinets

Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) certification helps consumers find cabinet manufacturers that use recycled materials and limit formaldehyde emissions. Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) stamp of approval for wood harvested in a sustainable way.

Flooring

Kitchen floors get lots of wear and tear, so durability is of primary importance. Options to consider:

• Linoleum
• Tile made from recycled materials
• Salvaged or reclaimed wood
• Domestic hardwood (Domestic trees are often milled in Asia; look for products grown and milled in the U.S.)
• Bamboo (Many products are FSC-certified and low-VOC. Research thoroughly; depending on how it’s manufactured, bamboo can be prone to dents and scratches. Also, bamboo is imported from China, so it often has a higher carbon footprint than other options.)

Lighting

Natural daylight should be optimized in the design. For evening lighting, install task lighting in key work areas to prevent the need for lighting an entire space all the time. Consider occupancy sensors, timers, and dimmers to make energy saving automatic. And look for Energy Star-rated, shatter-resistant, compact fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs.

Paint

Conventional latex and oil-based paints are known to cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches, and be carcinogenic. Moreover, conventional paint is a hazardous waste product that must be disposed of properly. Low- and zero- VOC paints are readily available and a better alternative than conventional paint. Biodegradable natural paints free of chemical ingredients are best.

For more info on completing your kitchen design, contact us here

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Some of CAST’s notable collections include:

• Helika Lux
• Helika Inox
• Helika Trend Iron
• Helika Fashion
• Helika Concept

CAST believe in innovative and fun designs with each of their staircases. Considerable investments are made to their research and development of new solutions. At CAST the “custom made” is standard. Their products are, in fact, completely realised on a made-to-measure basis and they are able to guarantee a high level of personalization, versatility, performances and durability.

CAST recently announced new colours that are available to choose from when designing your staircases and will be present at the Habitat Jardin – Expo Beaulieu Lausanna this March 2015.

To contact us in relation to our work with CAST, or advice on installing a staircase in your home, contact us here.

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It is a result of wood or timber repeatedly becoming wet and then partially drying out. Over a period of time under the same conditions, Dry Rot will grow very successfully until treated.

If not treated, dry rot can result in structural damage in your home, requiring extensive work and costs. The fungus cause wood and timber to shrink and crack, destroying the integrity of the wood, and can even travel through building materials.

If you suspect that you may have this pesky fungus in your home, there are a identifying Dry Rot is simple enough to do. Just follow these guidelines:

• Dry Rot tends to be grey, with yellow and lilac patches
• Depending on the stage of the fungus, it may also have strands coming from the surface, or a pancake-like fruiting body, typically ochre in colour.
• Dry Rot also has a distinctive smell – typically damp and musty

For more info on identifying, treating and preventing Dry Rot, download our free ebook here!

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Dry Rot, which can also be known as Serpula lacrymans is a fungus, which destroys wood, using it for food. Found almost globally, dry rot is famous for eating away at wood and timber in ships and buildings.

If not treated, dry rot can result in structural damage in your home, requiring extensive work and costs. The fungus cause wood and timber to shrink, and crack, destroying the integrity of the wood, and can even travel through building materials.

What cause Dry Rot? 

Dry Rot is caused by damp conditions in wood making the perfect environment for the fungus. Typically wood with a moisture content of 20% will result in dry rot. Dry rot cannot flourish in very wet wood.

If caught at an early stage, dry rot can be prevented by thoroughly drying out the wood and removing the source of damp – such as a leak from a washing machine or shower/bath. For external sources of damp such as a leaking roof, rising damp or damp walls reciting the source of damp should also prevent dry rot – but again, only if the rot is caught at an early stage, and completely dried out.

To find out more about preventing and repairing Dry Rot, you can download our free ebook here!

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To help you identify Dry Rot and repair the damage, we’ve put together a fact sheet on the five top things you need to know about Dry Rot.

1. Dry Rot is a fungus – It grows in wood that is repeatedly exposed to water, then partially dried. In homes, window frames are most affected due to wet weather conditions. However, leaks dripping on to wooden floors or furniture will also become subject to the fungus.

2. Dry Rot grows in wood which has a moisture content of 20 – 40%. This means that it will not grow in wood with a high moisture content. If you find rot in very wet wood, it is more likely to be Wet Rot.

3. It has distinctive features – Dry Rot tends to be grey, with yellow and lilac patches. Depending on the stage of the fungus, it may also have strands coming from the surface, or a pancake-like fruiting body, typically ochre in colour. Dry Rot also has a distinctive smell – typically damp and musty.

4. Dry Rot can cause structural damage if left unchecked – If left to grow the fungus will eventually soften and destroy the wood it has affected.

5. DIY Repair is possible – If the Dry Rot has not extended far, it can be repaired using a chisel, wood hardener and paint. (See instructions in free ebook)

For more information, you’re welcome to download on free ebook on Dry Rot in Your Windows.

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Since Dry Rot is actually a result of water leaking regularly on to wood, wooden frames of windows tend to be the most commonly affected by the fungus. Learning how to preventing Dry Rot is one key factor in keeping your home healthy and safe.

We’ve put together a few tips for keeping Dry Rot at bay from your windows.

Be Vigilant
This is essential in preventing Dry Rot from getting a foot hold in your windows. Climate is a large factor in creating the perfect conditions for Dry Rot (and most other kinds of Rot). This fungus grows where wood tends to become wet, and then dry again, repeatedly.

So, if you’re unlucky enough to live where the weather is variable from rain to sun, be watchful for:
• discoloration of wood (grey, yellow, lilac, depending on climate)
• Strands of mycelium or fruiting bodies
• A musty damp odour

Be Active
If you do spot any of the signs above, try to deal with the problem straight away. Strip away any of the affected wood. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may be able to repair your windows yourself. (Download our ebook on spotting and preventing Dry Rot below).

Invest in your windows
Again, depending on the climate conditions of your area, investing in windows that are specifically designed to prevent Dry Rot from occurring, may be the best option for your home.
Hurds Windows have been tested in the Hawaiian Rainforest for the last five years, with no sign of Dry Rot occurring. Their CoreGuard technology actively prevents Dry Rot and protects from decay.

If you need to know more about identifying, repairing or preventing Dry Rot in your Windows, you can download our free ebook here:

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The post Wood and Glass Internal Doors appeared first on Architectural World.

Covering
Keeping a hold of the privacy in your home essential, and why window covering is such an essential element of your home design. Whether you live in cold climate, or are lucky enough to live in sunshine, your windows will need some kind of covering to maintain privacy. Whatever you choose should complement the rest of the room, or indeed the house’s layout – natural material can take a sharp edge from a room with very modern features for example.
Patterned covering, whether you choose curtains or blinds, can begin to look dated very quickly. Is best to stay with a neutral design and play with colour than pattern. Venetian blinds are wonderful for controlling the light you let into a room, and are easy to maintain, while curtains will need regular washing and dusting.

Maintaining
Wood windows, while they come in a range of finishes and styles, are susceptible to wear and tear – particularly dry rot. (In fact this is true of wooden framed houses and furniture). Dry rot is actually a result of trapped or leaking water, so it’s important to check for damage every few months, as structural damage can result. We recommend Hurds Coreguard Windows to for proven protection against dry rot. Rot can happen anywhere, and identifying it early will save much time and resources.

For more information on Window Coverings, get in touch with us here.

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Here’s a rundown of our top five home decorating and interior design blogs:

Apartment Therapy

Here you’ll see great upcycling tips, profiles of beautiful spaces and fantastic new pieces to add to your home. Search for topics by category, look for items under colour and have fun exploring this creative and quirky blog.

Emerald Interior Design

Karen Hughes’s blog is packed full of personality. Fun seasonal tips for your home are mixed with new trends and materials for use in interior design that makes for an enthusiastic and absorbing mix.

Abigail Ahern

A wonderfully visual blog, Abigail specialises in high end design. This is the one for you if you want to be surrounded by luxury as you’ll discover new tips to create an opulent atmosphere in your home.

Print and Pattern

If you’re crazy about fabric and you need this blog in your life. Design beautiful designs in creative and fun patterns everyday.

Design Milk

Fall in love with design all over again with furniture, tech and art pieces feature in this innovative blog. This highly acclaimed blog will definitely have you coming back for more.

As always, you can contact us here with any queries on Interior Design in your home.

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Glass Internal Doors
Glass Internal Doors are best suited to the kitchen/dining or living areas in the home. They provide the option of opening up or dividing your space, depending on your needs. This is a very useful option for families with children, allowing parents to supervise play while preparing dinner, or for entertaining, as they open up space.

See our recent blog on glass vs glazed internal doors here. 

Wood Internal Doors
Wood internal double doors are more suitable for home offices and music offices. Providing a degree of soundproofing and privacy, wood internal doors create a comforting atmosphere. Choices are in the type of wood and varnishing. When choosing your materials, keep in mind the function of the room, and overall layout.

For more information and advice on internal doors, contact us here.

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