We all spend a lot of time at home and our living space is very much tailored to suit our lifestyle, yet every few years, we have a desire to make some changes, as familiarity dulls our senses. If you would like to revamp your house or apartment, here are a few cool ideas that might be just the thing.
- Marble Kitchen Tops – Yes, they are a little costly, but will last you a lifetime, and with stunning finishes and colours, you can transform your kitchen. If you would like to see an extensive range of marble and granite worktops, an online search will bring up a list of local suppliers, and you can browse until you find the ideal finish, and the cost would include installation.
- Decking Tiles – The latest range of outdoor tiling is simply stunning, with natural stone, clay or concrete pavers, all available from the affordable Australian supplier, Amber Tiles, who stock tiles for all environments and other quality materials. Tiles do not require maintenance, unlike timber decking, and they are very easy to keep clean, with a mop every so often, plus you can seal the floor, which adds another level of protection.
- Made to Measure Blinds – If those old curtains are past their best, why not call in a bespoke blinds company? There are so many styles and designs, you are sure to find a winning combination, with Venetian, vertical, Roman and roller blinds, to name but a few of the many styles that you see in Australian homes. Avoid these cheap blinds kits that are self-installed, as the quality simply isn’t there, and with bespoke solutions, you have quality that will stand the test of time.
- Bespoke Wardrobes – We’re not talking flat-pack furniture here, rather finding a joiner and commissioning built-in wardrobes in your choice of timber, and if you’d rather invest in a kitchen revamp, the joiner can hand-craft new kitchen cabinet doors. Real timber is timeless and it isn’t as expensive as you might think to have furniture built by a carpenter & joiner, and as the units are being made by hand, you get to design them.
- Custom-Built Staircase – The master joiner is the person to talk to if you would like a custom designed staircase. Some people mistakenly think that the staircase is a permanent feature of the home that cannot be changed, when in fact, a good joiner can design and build a new staircase to your specifications. Talk to a local joiner and he can show you some fine examples of what can be achieved with a new staircase.
- Outdoor Kitchen – If you love entertaining and you have fair-sized terrace, why not build an outdoor kitchen? Custom-made stainless-steel cabinets are ideal and look for a BBQ unit that fits in with your plan, and with your own kitchen on the terrace, entertaining takes on a whole new level.
- Red Brick Cladding – This comes in 8’x4’ sheets and really does look like small red bricks, there are even mortar layers, and if you clad your living room in this, it will look like a period property. This also comes in York stone design, which looks very distinguished, and like vinyl, the sheets are very durable and easy to clean.
- Hardwood Flooring – If you love the look and feel of solid wood floor, why not look into engineered flooring? This amazing product is a combination of an inner core made from compressed sawdust and coconut husks, and the outer layer is actually real timber, and the big plus for engineered timer is its affordability. If you would like to know more about engineered flooring, search for a local flooring specialist who would certainly be able to quote you for any room, or even the whole house.
- Block Paving Driveway – There are so many colour and design options, you can create something unique, which would be a major feature of the property, and block paving stands the test of time, unlike asphalt. When you are driving around the Sydney suburbs, take note of block paving driveways, of which you will see many fine examples, plus this type of driveway is very easy to clean, a power-wash is all it takes to restore the surface to its original, new look.
- Loft Conversion – Certainly a major project, yet converting the loft into a room is a great investment, as this conversion really does boost the value of the property. A lot depends on the size of your home, and your local builder could tell you the scope of what you can do, and if you have a growing family, converting the loft is the cheapest way to gain that much-needed extra space.
All of the above are cost-effective ways to improve your living space, and with the Internet, you can easily get in touch with the right services to quote for any project.
