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17 March 2015
Thinking about the way energy's used in houses (and in building houses) is a fairly new thing - and it's a real feast for the mind when you begin to look at some of the ideas and technologies in the pipeline - a lot of them will absolutely change the way we live. This week's blog post focuses on just a few of the ways our houses are set to change...
03 March 2015
Having a look back through our blog posts, we thought it might be a great time to revisit some of our more popular ones in a 'Best of the BUILD Blog' kind of newsletter. Lots of lists, lots of eye candy... great way to spend a bit too long on a Tuesday morning fantasising about amazing houses.
Speaking of which - we'd love to see what makes you tick. Done some great renovations? Got some big plans? Why not write your own blog on BUILD? It's free, and anyone can do it!
16 February 2015
Security's important, but some people take it to the extreme... This week one of our contributors looks into some amazing fortified digs, designed to keep pretty much anything out.
If you're planning on doing some renovations (or building a new house), check out our ideas gallery for thousands of great ideas from real homes - both from Australia and abroad - and save the ones you love into a BUILD scrapbook to use when you're ready to build.
03 February 2015
Some people treat their pets as if they were their kids. Other people go a few steps further... We'd love to say there's a healthy mix of cat and dog owners with this level of obsession but there's not - we've looked, and cat owners win hands down when it comes to pet-obsessed renovations.
On another note - please stay safe this bushfire season. It's a cool summer, but it's still worth making sure your home's safe and ready.
20 January 2015
Bathrooms and kitchens; we renovate them more often than any other parts of our houses for a few really good reasons. In the past (and especially in apartments), these rooms were often designed in a way that makes them feel far smaller than they actually need to. Trends and technologies have changed - these days there's plenty you can do to make these spaces more comfortable.
Looking for more clever ideas for your renovations? Check out our ideas gallery - lots of ideas from some of Australia's best designers!
20 January 2015
Bathrooms and kitchens; we renovate them more often than any other parts of our houses for a few really good reasons. In the past (and especially in apartments), these rooms were often designed in a way that makes them feel far smaller than they actually need to. Trends and technologies have changed - these days there's plenty you can do to make these spaces more comfortable.
Looking for more clever ideas for your renovations? Check out our ideas gallery - lots of ideas from some of Australia's best designers!
03 December 2014
Christmas again. Think carefully when you're buying presents this year - are they useful? Are they going to serve you well and enrich your life for years to come? This week's feature story has some excellent ideas if you're after a bit of inspiration - have a read and let us know if you can think of anything else that belongs on our list.
Happy Christmas from all of us at BUILD - we hope you've had a brilliant year and we'll see you in the next one!
25 November 2014
Selling your house, as much as selling anything, is an exercise in marketing. People buy with emotion, and given the stakes you'd be crazy not to put all your effort into making sure that you're presenting your home as favourably as possible, and finding out what presses your potential customers' buttons.
This week we've put together a collection of some of the better tips we've heard for preparing your house for sale. Know any clever tricks of your own? Leave us a comment...
11 November 2014
Star ratings are a good start if you're building an energy efficient home - but there's plenty more that can be done if you're serious about it. How well it's actually built, how big it is, what sorts of materials are used and how much waste is generated (among other things) all add to the equation too. These days, addressing those things often isn't as hard or expensive as you might think.
A bit of research and a few questions can go a really long way - have a chat with prospective architects, building designers and builders to see what they offer.
27 October 2014
Renovating or building is half fun and creativity, half project management (...if you're doing it right). There are countless little things you'll need to remember as you go - examples of what you want, particular products you love, design ideas, personal preferences, phone numbers and URLs to bookmark...
14 October 2014
Working from home - even occasionally - gives you a unique excuse to put a bit of time and effort into creating a serious workspace you can't wait to use. A good home office or study doesn't have to be incredibly elaborate - but you should definitely take the time to make it comfortable.
Everyone works differently so we're not going to preach about design - the amazing home offices in this week's story speak for themselves, and should provide plenty of fodder if you're after some inspiration!
29 September 2014
The vast majority of people build their houses in a pretty similar way these days - but the reality is that there's an awful lot of freedom available for people with the time and passion to do something a bit different. Alternatives definitely aren't for everyone, but in some cases they'll turn out to be cheaper, more sustainable, and perhaps even more structurally sound and comfortable.
Check out the fantastic houses in this week's feature story - ever considered / built from something unusual before?
15 September 2014
Buying LED globes is a bit of a commitment. They're designed to last for decades, and if you're not taking the time to understand what you need, there's a really good chance you're going to blow an awful lot of money on something that doesn't do what you need it to - or worse, something that isn't up to the standard you think you're paying for.
With that in mind, check out our foolproof LED buyer's guide. Great way to ensure you're getting the best
29 August 2014
Modern bathrooms serve their purpose, but the more you understand about how they came to be designed in the way that they are (and how little they've changed in recent history) the more you realise how much scope there is for some clever thinking and innovation... Check out this week's story on the Bathroom Innovation Awards to see what people are coming up with.
If you're thinking of painting any time soon, check out our article on Dulux's colour forecasts for 2015 as well - some great inspiration in there!
19 August 2014
Less than a fortnight till Spring starts - no doubt DIYers are furiously honing their tools, and gardeners are preparing to get planting. Great time to think about things to do to appreciate the sunshine, and the balcony's the best place to start...
For an increasing number of people in the city, the balcony's the only bit of outdoors to which they can lay claim - and for most of the rest of us it's a great space we don't properly appreciate. Check out this week's blog post, would love to hear about anything smart you've done with your balcony!
05 August 2014
When it comes down to it, design's probably the most important part of building a great home. Excellent house design goes a lot deeper than brand-name materials and aesthetic features too - these days you really can't have good design without paying attention to sustainability measures, and putting some focus on how the home will best accommodate the people it's being built for in the long term.
22 July 2014
It's always great to see the lengths people go to in order to accommodate serious hobbies and passions - for some, it's a spectacular garden, a serious swimming pool, a restaurant-quality kitchen or a five car garage. For others, it's something a bit more niche, like a dedicated games area.
07 July 2014
Ever looked at a picture of a beautiful kitchen or living room and just felt like there's something a little too perfect about it? Chances are you were looking at a computer rendering rather than a photograph. The truth is, they're everywhere these days and most of the time we don't even realise...
10 June 2014
To celebrate the launch of our new forum, BUILD is giving away a shiny new iPad Air. Entering to win couldn't be easier - just click the link above.
If you haven't seen the forum, drop in and say hi - no better place to find creative inspiration, advice or answers for your building and reno questions!
03 June 2014
If there's one thing we've learned since we started BUILD, it's that you can never ask too many questions or have too many friends when it comes to building and renovating - which is why we're so happy to be launching the BUILD forum!
There's always a friendly pro willing to help - or someone else whose valuable tips could save you time and buckets of money.
Got a question you need answered? Gearing up for a project? Join us on the forum!
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