Renovation Competition
Gladstone Region

Where would we be without our kitchens?! From the early morning coffee to the family dinners and late-night snacks, our kitchens are a hive of activity. It’s where we congregate, cook and connect with family and friends, making them the true heart of our homes – the place where we spend the most time. So it’s only fitting we put careful thought into ensuring this space is not only designed for aesthetics, but also for practical living and seamless functionality in our homes.

When we embark on designing a kitchen for our clients, we firstly always consider both the practical and aesthetic aspects. It all begins with a conversation to understand our client’s lifestyles and preferences. After all, not every functional kitchen is beautiful and not every beautiful kitchen is practical.

Plus, it’s worth noting that your kitchen is often where you’ll invest the most
money, whether it’s a budget renovation or a luxe makeover.
At Studio GIW, we hold a special place in our hearts for kitchen design, and we’re excited to share some valuable tips that will help you create a liveable and
inspiring kitchen space.

At Studio GIW, we’re here to help you turn your kitchen dreams into reality. If you have questions, need expert advice, or want to discuss your kitchen renovation project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Let’s work together to design a kitchen that truly reflects your lifestyle!

Attention Gladstone locals…Your garage door is not just a convenient entry point for your vehicles and storage. It’s also a critical part of your home’s security and functionality.

Many homeowners tend to overlook the importance of regular garage door maintenance. However, maintaining your garage door is crucial not only for the safety and security of your property but also for extending its lifespan.

♦ Fact – Did you know that your Garage Door is the largest moving part in your home?

Ensure The Safety Of Your Loved Ones

Safety should always be a top priority for every homeowner. A garage door that is not regularly serviced can become a potential safety hazard. Over time, various components of your garage door can wear out or become damaged, making it unpredictable and dangerous.

Annual servicing ensures that all safety features, such as sensors, springs and cables are in good working order. This ensures that your garage door won’t accidentally malfunction preventing accidents and injuries.

Extend the Lifespan of Your Gladstone Garage Door

Replacing a garage door can be a costly endeavour. However, with regular maintenance, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your existing garage door. Annual servicing helps identify and address minor issues before they turn into major problems, preventing premature wear and tear.

A well maintained garage door can last for decades, saving you from the expense and hassle of a full replacement.

We understand that regular servicing may seem like an additional expense, but in the long run, it can save you a significant amount of money!

When you choose us as your Garage Door company in Gladstone, you choose a reputable company that has a track record of delivering quality maintenance and repairs. This ensures that your garage door remains a reliable and secure part of your home for years to come.

Remember, a well maintained garage door is not only a functional necessity but also an investment in the safety, security, and overall value of your Gladstone, Queensland home.

√ PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Written by Gaylene Drew, GIW Design

Need a space to work from home? Or even a space to call your own, but don’t have the budget for custom cabinetry? Then this blog is for you!

We had a guest bedroom that was no longer being used for its namesake, and instead became a dumping ground for items in limbo. The goal was to convert the space into a work zone for ME! A zone that was my own style with items that bring me joy. A zone that was not dictated by what will or won’t work with children (e.g. won’t be touched, dirtied or broken). I wanted a space that was light, bright and pretty.

INSPO & PAINTING 

I used a canvas print from Kmart as my inspiration for the room; it is floral, green and light.

Designers Tip: Pick one or two focal pieces as your guide for colours and decor in the room. I did this by pulling the green from the canvas and placing it on the walls. I also decorated with other floral elements through-out the room.

To bring life to the room we painted it in Half Strength Foille by Dulux. Designers tip: Purchase some sample pots and test the colours first.

By testing first, we learnt the full strength colour would be too dark and which left the space feeling smaller. To assist in lightening and brightening the space, we conducted DIY on pieces of wood by painting them white (Chest and Shelf). They were then styled with existing and new pieces that aesthetically connected with our focal piece.

THE DESK 

I was clear and decisive about my desk objectives: long and moveable. To meet these objectives the desk was put together by items from IKEA. IKEA can be a cheaper alternative; however delivery soon adds up when living regionally. Don’t just presume it will be the cheapest route and do your research by comparing other suppliers.

THE BUDGET

To get hubby on board with my project I had to set a budget and we felt $500 would be ample. Unfortunately, I went a little bit over! Upon reflection, overheads could have been reduced with more DIY tasks.

Cost breakdown:

$164  Décor
+ $140  Desk Set-up (including delivery)
+ $233  Paint & Equipment
= $537

Written by: Sarah Hunt, Zone Planning Group

With a shift in business mindset following COVID-19, and a number of small scale business owners looking for ways to establish their up and coming businesses with minimal overheads, we are seeing an increase in the number of people working from home or running a home based business.

THE BENEFITS

This a great way to get started, it provides flexibility for workers around family commitments, reduces commute time/vehicle dependency, and increases opportunity for casual surveillance of our residential neighbourhoods during normal working hours for improved public safety. However, due to being located within residential neighbourhoods, there are a number of Council regulations in place to manage the Home Based Business structure to ensure that they do not impact on the peace and quiet of other residents. As a result, it is essential that potential business owners are aware of these limitations before proceeding with a corporate change, or initial startup, to ensure they avoid regulatory pitfalls.

COUNCIL REGULATIONS

The most essential limitation is that the main use of the House is retained for ‘living’ purposes. On this basis, a business cannot operate from a House unless the business owner (or primary employee) lives there as their permanent place of residence. In addition to this limitation, a home based business can avoid the requirement for further planning approval all together, so long as all of the following requirements are met, at all times:

• The business is wholly contained within the main house on the site;
• Has a maximum area for the business use (gross floor area) of 100m2;
• The business is conducted by a resident or residents of the dwelling and has no more than two (2) non-resident employees on site at any one time;
• No goods, materials or equipment are visible from the street or neighbouring properties;
• Unless a bed and breakfast, the business is closed Sunday and public holidays with operating hours between 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays;
• Limited customers – no more than 10 vehicular trips to and from the site per day and no more than 2 vehicles parked on the site at any one time associated with the business;
• Limited deliveries of no more than 1 delivery per week from a delivery vehicle exceeding 2.5 tonnes in weight); and
• Activities do not involve the repairing, servicing, cleaning, or loading of motor vehicles.

If you have a home based business idea that doesn’t quite fit within these requirements, but it is still something you are passionate about proceeding with, a planning approval would be required so that Council can assess any possible impacts on surrounding neighbours.

At the end of the day it is all about retaining a small scale and preserving the residential amenity of your surrounding area. If you’ve been looking for options outside of the commercial space and believe your business operations fall within the above parameters, then the Home Based Business structure may be just what you’re looking for!

Written by: Kara Kirk, Harbour City Tiles & Carpets

Bathrooms are one of the most exciting rooms in the home when it comes to tiles. I believe it is one of the areas in the house where you can show off your unique style. 

There are plenty of trends that come and go, but it’s important to stick to your own taste and individual style, and not include too many features in a small space.  

LARGE FORMAT TILES

A trend that we see emerging is the use of large format tiles. A popular option has been using the same 600×600 tile for the floor and walls which creates the visual effect of a larger space. Large format also helps with minimal grout and ease of cleaning.  

With the reduction of grout joints, using the large format tile helps the area look less busy and it visually opens up the area. 

NOTE! Check with your tiler on the extra costs of laying the larger format tile and a rectified edge.

CHOOSE YOUR UNIQUE FEATURE

To successfully design a unique bathroom, you simply choose a feature to reflect your own style!

The tile market is flooded with new and different feature tiles almost on a weekly basis which can be overwhelming. Choose the feature that best reflects the aesthetics of the space you are designing. Each feature has its place, whether it is something as simple as having the same tile floor and wall and using your vanity as the feature; or doing a full patterned wall. The choice is yours!

A popular way of adding a focal point to a bathroom is to use feature tiles on a single wall to create a backdrop for a statement bath. Or feature floor tiles to make your white bath really pop.

INVEST IN TIME

Choosing the right tile for your bathroom takes time. There are a huge range of colours, shapes, and textures available to suit your needs. We strongly recommend borrowing samples to test how they look in your home and the unique lighting conditions of your bathroom. 

If you need help in making your dream bathroom a reality, please feel free to pop down for a chat at Harbour City Tiles & Carpets. 

Written by Belinda Blackburn

I was passionate about improving my home!

Despite having lots of windows in an open plan design, the space still felt dark from the timber-look lino and black kitchen benchtop.

When we decided to undertake the renovation I knew that I wanted to make it bright and welcoming; consequently, the entire house was gutted!  The dark flooring was removed and replaced with a light vinyl planking; walls were repainted; and a new bathroom, toilet and laundry were installed. We got it all!

We were so excited to see the improvements evolve and enhance the living spaces.

THE FINER DETAILS

I researched for many hours and found most of my inspiration online. I then created virtual mood boards before finally deciding on a style that I loved and could commit to.

We designed the kitchen so that white was the dominant colour palette, and used black accents and marble benchtop to create a beautiful contrast.

Sparkmans Cabinetry made it all come to life and I thank them for their patience with my back and forth decision making! Reece Plumbing were the suppliers for all our beautiful kitchen and bathroom products (including appliances), and I absolutely love how it turned out.

TIMELINE

It was hard to keep track of the timeline as the whole house was being renovated at the same time. There were lots of people to navigate including the builder, plumber, plasterer, electrician, tiler, floor layers, painter, and cabinetmaker. In total, the renovation took approximately 10 weeks.

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

The best advice I can offer to anyone else undertaking a renovation project is to plan, plan, plan! Be prepared for setbacks and things not always going right. It’s going to happen no matter how well you have organised everything, but it’s all worth it in the end!

Happy renovating and good luck in this year’s competition!