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Monthly Archives: September 2013
Inspire office productivity with the right paint colour
If you've been charged with designing a new office space or are responsible for renovations, you may want to carefully consider your choice of paint.
Studies suggest that different colours of paint evoke certain feelings which can impact on your work. Keep your office environment positive and inspire productivity by selecting from the following colours:
Green
Green is a fantastic colour choice for spaces where balance and serenity are encouraged, according to colour psychologist Angela Wright in an interview with A Year of Productivity.
Prepare for summer with a fresh coat of colour
If you're considering doing renovations in the near future, let the sunny season guide your choice of paint.
Summer palettes usually consist of cool blues and greens, and avoid anything too bright or 'hot'. You could opt for subtle paint colours and keep decorating understated to let the sunshine speak for itself, especially if your home has a lot of indoor-outdoor flow.
Turquoise is a quintessential summer colour but it can be quite bright. Consider painting a feature wall in the hue (try Resene Windfall) and pair it with crisp white to keep the colour from becoming overwhelming.
Keep your home cool with insulated curtains
Daylight saving is around the corner and it's finally time to get excited about summer.
Before you start digging through your wardrobe for your jandals and togs, have a think about how you're going to keep your home cool through the sunny season.
Curtains have long been heralded as an inexpensive and energy-efficient way to retain heat in the winter months. What's less publicised is their ability to keep the sun out of homes, helping rooms stay cool in summer.
Are you insured?
No matter how carefully you do your work, there’s always a chance that something may go wrong, so before you start working it’s best to make sure you’re well protected.
There is a range of insurance options available for professional decorators and painters, and a number of insurance providers to choose from.
Two of the most important types of insurance cover you can organise are public liability and professional indemnity.
The former will cover you in the event that you are held responsible for causing damage or injury to a third party.
Australia and New Zealand’s eco-friendly building sector
The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) 2013 Report has just been released, and it reveals that Australia and New Zealand are leading the way when it comes to eco-friendly building practices.
According to the Property Council of Australia, more than 49,000 properties around the world contributed data to this survey. Australia and New Zealand beat North America, Asia and Europe to take out the top spot.
This year, the region's score is 64 – an improvement on last year's 62. The report also reveals that Australia and New Zealand are the only countries to have received a "Green Star" status.
Paint your garage door
If you're thinking about selling your house and want to give it some curb appeal, you may want to give your garage door a splash of paint.
This will make your house stand out from the crowd, inject it with character and encourage prospective buyers to stop and take a look.
You'll want to choose a nice, sunny day to paint, and preferably one with as little wind as possible. This means you'll be working in a safer environment, as well as a much more comfortable one.
Spare a thought for striped wallpaper
If you're choosing wallpaper for your home, you've probably come across striped wallpaper.
There are many types of striped wallpaper, and a multitude of ways to use it to awe-inspiring effect.
It can be an especially handy option if you would like some sort of pattern in a room and have a penchant for the symmetrical!
Bold or Subtle
You can opt for bold or subtle stripes, depending on your preference.
Fifty Shades of Grey
You've probably heard of, or even read (though you might not want to admit it), 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by EL James.
This best-selling novel isn't about paint, but it appears to have inspired a trend amongst home decorators.
The internet is overflowing with images of gorgeous rooms that have been brought to life by this versatile colour.
When it comes to interior design, you can't really go wrong with grey.
Are you thinking about renovations?
Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related disease in the world, according to the Asbestos Education Committee. New Zealand, too, is affected by this dangerous and prevalent home-building material.
That's why National Asbestos Awareness Month, which will take place from November 1 to 30, has been organised. It aims to inform and educate people about the dangers of asbestos.
This is especially pertinent if you're planning on renovating your home in the coming weeks and months.
A few sign-painting tips
If you're looking for some sign-painting inspiration, you might want to check out which businesses won the NZ Sign & Display Awards (NZSDA) 2013.
It seems that bright, bold colours are the way of the future.
The businesses who came out on top in the 'Self Promotion' category used vibrant orange, green and red paint to great effect.
These shades really grab your attention, which is exactly what you want from a sign that's advertising your company!
