Habitat 14 - Off the shelf

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Habitat 14 - Off the shelf

New products and ideas for the home.

energy efficient tapware
New Road’s Energysaving technology offers the ability to avoid energy and money waste, every day. When the tap’s handle is in the central position the mixer supplies only cold water, instead of mixed cold-hot: this process avoids the hot water supply ignition, reducing hot water consumption, saving money, gas and power. Available at leading bathroom showrooms nationwide. For more information, call 04 568 9898 or email sales@plumbline.co.nz.

no hang ups?
A fun addition to your hallway with the Twig coat stand, by renowned local designer Jamie McLennan. The stands are available in a range of Resene colours through the Antipodes Design Store, a new initiative to showcase local talent launched by Designers Collection. See www.designerscollection.co.nz.

quick painting lesson
You’ve chosen your colour and chosen your paint, but perhaps you’re not quite sure of the best way to apply them. Resene has created a series of videos to help get you started. Watch them on www.resene.com/videos.htm. The Resene website also has a series of project sheets so you can watch the video, then print the instructions as a handy reference for when you’re doing the job.

blackboard without the black
Want a blackboard but don’t want it to be black? No problem. You can either use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in any colour with normal chalk or try Resene Write-on Wall Paint (seen here over Resene Spotlight) with whiteboard marker or liquid chalk. There are thousands of colours to choose from so your coloured blackboard can suit your décor. Make sure you get a good contrast between the marker or chalk and paint colour for legibility. Available from Resene ColorShops and Resellers.

groovy baby
The retro look of Newtech’s Easy vanities, mirrors and tower units is inspired by the latest European collections. Finished here in Resene Clockwork Orange using Resene ArmourCat 823 Gloss but available in any Resene colour, the vanity comes in three sizes with offset basin options for an even quirkier look. See the Newtech brochure online at www.newtechproducts.co.nz or visit any bathroom retailer.

just an illusion
Real Fires sophisticated new fire will make you do a double-take. The Flameboyant Illusion has a long suspended flame that appears to float for a striking addition to your interiors. At 1800mm long, it comes in various configurations including corner, double-sided, fully open and fully closed. See www.realfires.co.nz.

elegant twist
Introduce a little traditional elegance with a contemporary twist into your home and open the door to exciting possibilities for your own interiors with the Bloomsbury House wallpaper collection (pictured is Lytton). Dress your walls with stunning accent features that co-ordinate perfectly with their companion papers. Available from Resene ColorShops.

design for all
After many years of international research Lifetime Design has developed a series of accessible and adaptable house design standards, called LifeStandards. These are designed in response to the diverse demands of today’s consumers – including young families, older people and people with disabilities. Simple design features include wider doorways, level entries, adaptable bathrooms and easy-to-use fixtures and fittings. Lifetime Design independently assesses house plans and designs against the relevant LifeStandard. Designs that are approved by Lifetime Design are eligible to apply to use the Lifemark seal of approval... more.

cooking for the future
The new POP883S Westinghouse oven has quadruple glazed doors and fingerprint resistant stainless steel. It comes with two pyrolytic cleaning programs and a 10-function oven, with touch-on-glass controls. The huge 80-litre capacity lets you cater for any event and the Boss technology features include low noise and A-class energy efficiency. For more information see www.westinghouse.co.nz.

go cordless
The Luxaflex® Duette® LiteRise® cordless system makes raising and lowering blinds easier than ever. Simply push up to raise and pull down to lower. The new system holds blinds securely in any position and with its cordless format, is the ultimate child safety window covering. For further information visit www.luxaflex.co.nz or contact Luxaflex on 09 574 2200.

the luxury of velvet
Warwick Fabrics has combined classical designs and tactile velvets with a contemporary palette of colours in shades of magenta, moody greys and vibrant blues for its luxurious new Valentino collection. The collection comes in five designs and four colourways. See www.warwick.co.nz.

a little kinky
Curlicue is a stunning heavy-weight chunky cut pile made from 100% felted New Zealand wool which is exclusive to Cavalier Bremworth. Named for the curly ends – a result of the kinky hardtwist structure – Curlicue has rounder and thicker tufts than any other cut pile in the Cavalier Bremworth range. This provides a superbly sensuous underfoot experience and because the wool fibres are locked into a smooth and strong structure, the carpet has superb durability and comfort. View the full Cavalier Bremworth product range at www.cavbrem.co.nz.

warm towels for less
There’s nothing quite like a warm, dry towel waiting for you when you step out of the shower, but the cost of running a heated towel rail adds up. Installing a heated towel rail timer could save you up to $115 a year. A timer is fast and easy for an electrician to install and there are several different models available ranging from around $30 up to $150. For more information and other energy efficiency tips, visit www.energywise.govt.nz.

kiddy kitchens
Any aspiring chefs in the family? Get them one of these gorgeously colourful play kitchens by Alphabet Art. Painted in Resene paints, the kitchens also use Resene Blackboard Paint and Resene Magnetic Magic. This one is finished in Resene Tutti Frutti, Resene Lochmara and Resene Resolution Blue with Resene Roadster on the stove top. For more cute products see www.alphabetart.co.nz.

the lived-in look
New to the Teragren Portfolio range is Hewn Tawny, a hand-scraped bamboo floor, suitable for rooms naturally full of light, such as sun porches or living areas. It is super strong, made with Xcora™ technology which is 154% harder than red oak, so perfect for high-traffic areas. Teragren Portfolio comes prefinished, and the Hewn Tawny colour is available in wide-plank with a self-locking system which is easy install. The flooring comes with a 25-year residential finish warranty. Available from www.teragren.co.nz.

handy neutrals
Planning on a neutral colour scheme, but not sure which one to choose? The Resene whites and neutrals collection is now available in palette cards to make choosing easier – tuck them into your handbag or pocket as a handy reference when you go shopping for fabrics, furniture and other finishing touches. The range of 28 palettes covers more than 300 whites and neutrals hues through to black, including up to six strength variations of the most popular Resene colours. Available from Resene ColorShops and Resellers.

shimmer and shine
Check out the new additions to the Resene Curtain Collection. Resene Xpressions is a modern retro design with a shimmer shine effect (left) while Resene Labyrinth is an Art Nouveau inspired classic scroll with a subtle raised effect. Curtains come with a standard lining or you can upgrade to a blockout backing. Available from Resene ColorShops and selected curtain specialists (NZ only). See www.resene.co.nz/curtains.

set in stone
Giving your home instant age and grandeur is easy with Ledgestone from Alpine Stone. Using the Ledgestone ‘z’ shape stone module, it’s easy to lay and very cost effective, with no need for extra corner pieces. Ledgestone can be used on inside feature walls and fireplaces or outside on pillars, fireplaces, swimming pools, barbecue areas, fences and more. Visit www.alpinestone.co.nz or phone 0800 000 094.

one tap, two functions!
The FMXF kitchen sink mixer from Foreno Tapware (NZ) connects to a standard underbench water filter and can be retrofitted into existing bench tops and sinks. Use the handle on the left to deliver filtered water, and the handle on the right to operate hot and cold water like a normal sink mixer. Available at hardware, building and plumbing merchants with a recommended retail of $279. Visit www.foreno.co.nz.

blowing in the wind
Tired of static gardens? Wind-activated sculptures can bring movement and a sense of joy to your outdoor spaces. Pukekos, gulls, hands and umbrella men are some of the creative range of small sculptures to enhance your garden or deck. Designed to withstand the weather, their moving parts are made of stainless steel and nylon and the wooden areas hand-painted with Resene paints. The sculptures are available along with other designs at www.whirlwinddesigns.co.nz.

go underwater
The striking range of Walltastic mural designs is now available through Resene. Ideal for kids’ rooms and play areas, they feature everything from dinosaurs to underwater scenes, fairies to soccer. Best of all, you don’t need to be an expert to apply them! Available from selected Resene ColorShops or view the range on the Resene website www.resene.co.nz/ walltastic.htm.

you view
Resene has created Resene channels on YouTube to make it quick and easy for you to view everything from the Resene Total Colour Awards ceremony to roadshow presentations, how to apply paint and hang wallpaper videos and much more. Check out the Resene channels on YouTube – you’ll find them under ReseneSpecifier, ReseneDecorating, Resene1946 and ReseneTrade.

graffiti no more
Unsightly graffiti over your property not only looks bad, but is likely to attract more graffiti. Now you can protect your home or business using Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield. Traditional anti-graffiti coatings are full of solvents. Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield is a high performance waterborne two pack urethane with lower VOCs. Once cured, graffiti can be removed using Resene Graffiti Cleaner without the need to repaint. Both products are available from Resene ColorShops and Resellers.

accent it
A ccent walls are increasingly being used in interior schemes to bring new elements of focus and style to a space. Make a statement based on today’s trends, then change it as often as you like. Walltrends II is a ‘paste the wall’ wallpaper collection – easy to hang and easy to remove. View thousands of wallpapers online (pictured is Everglade) in the Resene online wallpaper library. Resene Walltrends II wallpapers are available from Resene ColorShops.

good to be green
Resene was delighted to win the Sustainable Business of the Year award at the Sustainable Business Network National Awards, the S60 Exemplar and Marketplace awards and a Green Ribbon award. These awards don’t just celebrate having ‘green products’, but focus on a range of sustainability initiatives – from products to services, to the things that Resene’s suppliers, painters and clients are doing. Resene is always grateful for your suggestions. Use the Feedback button to send us your feedback.

perfect fit
At a height of only 45 or 60cm, the new Bosch ActiveWater Smart™ dishwashers are designed to fit into practically every kitchen. Taking six or eight place settings, they can be installed to a precise height so you don’t have to bend every time you load and unload. Faster heating-up, targeted water circulation and improved pump performance means the dishwashers use less water and less energy without compromising performance. The VarioSpeed™ option lets you wash dishes in almost half the time.

mirror, mirror
For Mark Batty, creating artistic mirrors is more than fun, it’s a passion. Mark started new local company Wallpond around two years ago, based on the idea that mirror design needn’t stick to the status quo. Wallpond can tailor-make to nearly any size, shape or colour with nearly any material. The mirrors are finished in a variety of Resene colours and products; pictured above is the Tikal mirror, using Resene Gold Dust metallic paint over Resene Black in a crackle effect.

getting it right
The drawdowns have arrived and you are still not sure! Deciding on paint colour can be difficult – colour can be the difference between a successful finish or one that doesn’t look anything like you imagined. Colour is always being shadowed or reflected by the colours adjacent to it, so how we use it can also change the dynamics of a room, and whether it feels good to live or work in. Join colour expert Debbie Ambercrombie for her weekly Colour Design Course to learn how to understand and manipulate colour, and to take the mystery and stress out of your next project. See www.debbieabercrombie.co.nz.

keeping it clear
Keep your timber flooring looking good with Resene Qristal ClearFloor waterborne urethane clear, a tough durable finish formulated especially for floors. Available in a desirable satin finish, Resene Qristal ClearFloor can be applied by homeowners as well as professional tradespeople. Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K is available in a single pack designed for general flooring use with low to medium foot traffic. Or choose Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2K, a harder wearing waterborne option for high abrasion areas. Enjoy lower odour and VOCs than traditional solventborne flooring clears. Ask Resene staff for more information on whether Resene Qristal ClearFloor is right for your flooring project.