Your Forever Home

In this Facebook Forever Home Live Frances discusses some key functionality points to consider in your home design before the build starts. She outlines small details that are often missed that affect the functionality of your home, and lead to disappointment when not picked up in time to rectify.

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In this episode of the My Forever Home podcast, Frances discusses how to prevent having under utilised spaces in your home. She outlines the common areas that often appear on floorplans, which are not well utilised and what you need to think about to ensure all space is maximised in your home. This is to save money now, but for the duration of your time in the home.   SHOWNOTES:  Sometimes, homeowners can rush with getting their floor plans completed as they are so keen to get their home built or renovated.   However, not getting your floor plans right has a long-term detrimental effect on the outcome of your home and can end up costing you a lot more in the long run.  The key is to slowdown so you can review your floor plans with your vision and brief in mind. This will also allow you to review all spaces and rooms in your plans, to see if any spaces are likely to be under utilised.    Under utilised rooms ultimately waste money, energy, and resources. The key is not to jeopardise premium floor space in your home when it could be used for something else.   So what are the most common under utilised spaces;-   The Spare room  Spare rooms are set up for guests to have a comfortable place to stay, but how often do they stay, and what is the spare room being used for all the other days and months when you don't have guests in the room?  Think about creating multiple functions for your spare room for when you don't have guests.  For instance, your spare room can serve as an office while being able to welcome guests every now and then.   Formal dining room  Traditional homes sometimes have two dining rooms, the additional dining space is often what we refer to as the "formal dining rooms". Often this room is never used, or so infrequently, that it doesn't translate to good use of space.   To maximise it, you need to assess how often you are going to utilise the space.  Ideas:  It could be closed off and used as a separate room.   It could be carved up to add space to another room (i.e walk-in pantry or into the kitchen space)  Formal living area or Secondliving   Having a second living area is a great idea as it can be used as another living space for privacy. It also enables other family members to watch different shows or do different things. However, the second living needs to be set up correctly for it to reach its full potential.   Think about how you want to use space and how you want them to feel a second living area. Your second living area is a great opportunity to create something different from open plan living.   To do this, you can create a different "feeling" in space by having:  Different flooring   Heavier style window treatments   Different furniture style   Different colour palette and textures   Lastly, you must be able to close off this space off to create a separate zone and mitigate noise from other living areas to fully maximise the uitilisation of a second living room.  In summary  Think about the requirements for these spaces and how they will be used.   Questions to ask:  How frequently are you going to use the space? How can you create multi-functional spaces? How does your lifestyle suit the spaces on the floorplan? What do you need for your family and how will this room make a difference to how you live in the space?  A room that is hardly ever used costs money to build, time to maintain it, energy to heat or cool it and resources to have it there.   It's all about making your floorplans work super hard and be relevant to what you need.    Upcoming Free Online Masterclass  Learn the key steps to get you on the path to completing the interior design of your own home. Plus kill that crushing question ‘I don't know where to start'.  Join my brand new online masterclass- "5 Essentials to Know Before You Start Designing Your Home".   Choose from the following dates below:  Tuesday 1st March 2022 at 7pm AEDT  Thursday 3rd March 2022 at 12 noon AEDT  Wednesday 9th March 2022 at 6pm AEDT  Register your spot now   If you can't make it, I'll send you the replay    Available Resources  Want to learn more about floorplans? Listen to episode 97 of My Forever Home Podcast- “Floorplans and getting them right” as Frances discusses the steps to take if your floorplans are not what you want. Click here to listen to the episode.   Or read our blog on “Creating Forever Home Floor Plans and Getting them Right” to ensure your home can adapt to your changing needs over time. Read the article here.  

In this episode of the podcast, Frances outlines how important it is to create a vision for your home, and that a vision is not just about the way you want your home to look. She outlines what a vision is for your home, what you should think about when creating it, and how to go about it to make it about aesthetics as well as functionality.

In this episode of My Forever Home, Frances runs through key considerations when deciding on your flooring type. She outlines 10 buying criteria for choosing the right floor for your home along with key mistakes people can make when deciding on their floor, and how best to avoid those mistakes. The floor in your home makes a big impact and has to work really hard for you, so it's important to be informed about different flooring available, choose carefully, and buy the best you can afford.

In this episode of My Forever Home, Frances outlines what she terms the ‘Key 4' specialists you'll need on your team for your renovation or new build. She outlines the benefits of engaging your key team early on, along with how they can each save you money and lots of time, as well as mitigate expensive mistakes. She outlines what each of them brings to the equation for a successful outcome for your home project.

In this episode of the podcast, part 3 of this three-part series on how Frances designed and built her Forever Home, this episode explores how Frances managed the build of her home. She outlines how she did it, what she'd do differently, and the opportunity cost of project managing your own build. Shownotes : Tender process Usually, building designers will manage the tendering process. This means that they are responsible for engaging with the builders, sending out all the tender documentation and specifications, reviewing the quotes, and liaising with the builders throughout the process with queries and follow-up. Frances managed the whole tendering process for her build. She engaged with the builders to check availability, gauge their interest, and arrange site visits to see previous work. She also liaised with the builders to manage expectations on the turnaround of the quote and answered any queries. All builders quote differently, so it was up to Frances to check what was in and out of each quote to form a consistent comparison   Frances created a spreadsheet so that she could make a clear comparison about what was in and not in the quote. Build Process For the Forever Home, the builder they used was one they had worked with in the past at their previous home. It was also decided that Frances would manage the build from the ‘Lockup' stage as she had her own tradespeople, (her builder and her shared many trades), and then the builder would come back at the end for fit off. As she had a good relationship with the builder, and he knew how meticulous and organized she was, he agreed to go down this path with her, but he also challenged her and told her if she was going to manage the ‘Lock up' phase, that she won't be in by the deadline of Christmas 2014, but Frances is determined and moved into the house prior to Christmas of that year! Once everything had been roughed in and plaster was in, Frances then managed all the trades that came in after that. Tiler, cabinet maker, caulker, painter, electrician, stonemason, garage doors, range hood installation, shower screens, delivery of all supplies, plus the landscaper and pool people. She was on site every day to check progress, manage to change schedules and answer queries. Each day there was something else that changed, and the schedule was a moving beast due to supply delays with trades, equipment, and one small change had a huge knock-on effect for other trades and their schedules with all their projects.. Why did Frances manage the project? She had the right contacts. Her skill set and experience gave her the confidence to do it. To save money as she was not paying a builder's margin on top of all trades. However, the stakes were much higher as she was building her own ‘Forever Home'. The finish had to be higher It represented her business and the work she can do - an example of what she can achieve for her clients A sustainability showcase The ‘costs' of managing the build herself It was difficult for Frances to work on her business as normal as she was required daily on-site. Managing multiple trades could sometimes lead to grey areas on who was doing what. She had to consider the opportunity cost as she was not able to work on her own business. Stress, the long days, and the toll on her family It involves a lot of negotiation- even after the builder was back on-site, Frances was still negotiating with the builder and landscaper for access, timings for driveway pour, etc.  Things that she would have done differently: It is easy to make rash decisions on-site when stress levels are high. If she had her time over, Frances would have been stricter with her builder and insisted on the finish being as per plan, and not the easier option. She should have stuck to her guns. Some compromises made she regrets are; Mitered edges on all the windows in the ensuite – not some. Cut of the shower waste not matching with the grout line. Plumbing for shower not in the right location. She couldn't get more tiles in the same batch, so she had to live with it. Other changes she would make if building again; Square set door frames – no architraves She would get an architect to oversee the building project and manage the builder. Not manage a build again Her partner would have a smaller house, but Frances feels that they use every single room in their home, so it's a well-used space, on a daily basis.   There were many decisions they wanted to make, that were not possible then, but if building today they could achieve more given access to current technology, knowledge, or supplies. Would not go with their own advice about not having shade provision for east-facing windows. Learning: Make sure that you have got the right people working for you and that they really know about what they do. Would have gone for dispensation to have higher ceilings in the kids' bedrooms and have larger kids' rooms. Key takeaways: Find the right people for your build or renovation project They need to understand what you want You need to have a great relationship with your renovation or new build team Resources available:  Unsure how to find the right people for your renovation or new build?  Download this FREE guide- How to Find your Renovation or New Build Team as this gives you the checklist and process on how you find the right people for your team.     

In this episode of this 3 part series on how Frances created her Forever Home, Frances outlines how she specified the interior materials and finishes for her own home.  She walks through her vision for the home, her decision making criteria, things she would do differently now, and how she stayed true to herself when selecting items for her home.    Shownotes  The interiors are often regarded as the exciting part of building a home, but with so many options available, it can also be the overwhelming part. This is where having your vision is important.  Frances renovated many homes for herself in the past, prior to designing her Forever Home, and each time she injected her own personality into them, for instance, bright Spanish tiles for her kitchen in Amsterdam and Floral Wallpapers and a Green Kitchen in London.   For her Forever Home, Frances already had ideas on what she wanted. She focused on what she loved and had desired for years.   Vision  Look and Feel  She tried to incorporate Moroccan influence where she could as true Moroccan  materials were not easily available at the time.  Her dream was Tadelakt finish for the bathrooms, but again it was difficult to find an artisan who could do it, and when she did, it was well out of the budget. Instead, she sourced tiles with a trowel effect to mimic Tadelakt as best she could Concrete looking tiles were just hitting the market at the time.   Patricia Urquiola tiles were used in the kitchen and ensuite  Classics that had been around over 10 years that she still loved with a passion.   Flooring  Timber tile flooring – was selected before we even engaged an architect.  Wanted floors to be ‘party proof' and maintenance-free  Lighting    Die-cut Moroccan Inspired pendant lights used over the island bench in the kitchen.   These were also chosen before the house was designed.  Disco Mirror Ball Light – loved and chosen by her partner  3-tiered mirrored wedding cake light – also loved and chosen by her partner.  Work around the Budget   Like everyone else, Frances had a budget to follow.  She chose her key feature tiles and coordinated more cost effective options around them  She  opted with mid-range tapwear that has the best warranty on the market.  Kitchen  The Patrica Urquiola Mutina splashback tiles were the ‘leading piece' in the kitchen and all other materials revolved around the splashback colours of mixed greys, off-white and brown accents  White cabinetry in thermo wrap combined with a newly released concrete look solid acrylic surface in charcoal grey from Hi Macs, to pare back with the splashback.     Plus, the White Moroccan inspired pendant lights   Bathrooms  Her family bathroom has Moroccan inspired decorative tiles as a feature and tiles to mimic Tadelakt. This bathroom made it into House and Garden's Top 50 Rooms  Forher Ensuite, Frances wanted a lot of natural light. She wanted to have the feeling of being outdoors so a floor to ceiling window was specified inthe shower to give that indoor/outdoor feel.   She chose embossed Patricia Urquiola tiles – which she had loved for years.  For the powder room, Frances wanted it to have a ‘wow' factor.    After seeing a new release of Bisazza's first ceramic tile designed by Marcel Wanders (Dutch Designer), she completely changed the specification for this room, so these tiles could be used.  External  The front door was important as it makes such an  impression. Frances selected a solid timber paneled door with a custom stain to get the colour perfect.  It was important to match the colour of the home back to Colourbond Surfmist being used for the the gutters and downpipes, so the render colour was chosen to coordinate back to this.This saved a lot of money not having custom Colourbond colours.  Preference was for a no maintenance exterior, so they chose Alpolic cladding in a timber look finish to soften the white render  Black windows were used that fitted with the vision of ‘less is more.'  If Frances had her time over, she would have recycled bricks as part of the façade.  Lesson Learned  Avoid having a dark coloured solid acrylic surface for the benchtop as scratches are more prominent than if it were a light colour.   If she had her time over, she would have made the shower in the family bathroom smaller and increased the size of the vanity. Get a lighting designer involved from the outset. Residential lighting designers very hard to find at the time of her build.  Install an external vertical blind for the large east facing windows. Should have followed their own advice  What Frances loves  After 7 years, Frances still loves all the materials she chose, and that's because she really chose what she loves. Decorating is on-going – it's forever evolving.  The garden – it's established and an oasis of green.   Frances loves the natural pool, but it is higher maintenance than anticipated.  She's proud her home got showcased in Australian House and Garden and featured internationally on Houzz.    Resources available:  Unsure how to find the right people for your renovation or new build?  Download this FREE guide- How to Find your Renovation or New Build Team as this gives you the checklist and process on how you find the right people for your team.     

In this special 3 part series 'Designing and Building my Own Forever Home', Frances will take you on her own Forever Home Journey. In this episode, Part 1 of the series, Frances outlines how she created the vision for her home along with how she researched and found her architect to design the home. This series is a wonderful insight, and personal story, warts and all, of how Frances designed and built her own Forever Home.

  In this podcast episode, Frances lets you into a week of her life of being an interior designer and running her own business. She outlines each day, what typically goes on and what curve balls she has to tackle when it doesn't all go according to plan.   It's a great insight into the world of an open and upfront interior designer, who tells it like it is, and is raw and real in this episode. You'll get to see, it's not all as glamourous as you may think! Welcome to a week in the life of Frances Cosway.

In this short and sharp episode, Frances discusses the coordination of bathroom floor tiles with the main flooring throughout the home, and how tiles cannot be looked at in isolation from other materials in the home. She chats about the overall colour tone being used in the home, either warm or cool, and how that also needs to be reflected in bathroom material choices.   SHOWNOTES A key bathroom mistake Frances often sees is NOT looking at the entire flow of material selections from one part of the home into another. Creating continuity The floor is one of the key areas that links our home together and creates continuity throughout. How to create continuity? The same colour tone throughout For example; Hard Flooring (Warm Colour Tone) & Carpet (Warm Colour Tone) Hard Flooring (Cool Colour Tone) & Carpet (Cool Colour Tone)   Tiles- The floor tile being used in your bathroom, ensuite or powder room should marry into the floor that it's butting up against, be that a timber floor, carpet or another tile. Be sure to obtain samples so you can see how the floor material and the floor tile work together and that they are of the same tone. Free Upcoming Webinar 5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Frances is hosting this webinar on the 24th November at 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to reserve your spot.

In this episode, Frances makes an exciting announcement about the partnership with B1G1 and White Pebble Interiors. She outlines her goal to use her business as a vehicle to help others around the globe (not just through creating amazing homes for her clients).   She explains how working with B1G1 aligns with the values of the business, the team and her own personal values, by contributing to the livelihood of others and providing an impact around the world. The particular focus where she wants the business to make an impact is through providing education to those where it's not always available.  SHOWNOTES White Pebble Interiors is now in partnership with B1G1- Business for good. Through her extensive travels, Frances has seen and heard stories about inequalities and other challenges, particularly in developing countries.   Frances wants to use her business as a vehicle to help others around the globe by providing access to education and opportunities.   What is B1G1?  B1G1 is a social enterprise whose mission is to create a world full of giving through its alignment with UN sustainable goals. There are 17 goals that represent global communities' next step in ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustices, and tackling climate change by 2030.  How does it work?  With your support, White Pebble Interiors has the power to change lives by integrating giving into our everyday activities to positively impact worthy causes worldwide.  For every new proposal signed, we will provide business training program for a month in Malawi.   For every initial consultation, we will give school supplies to 5 children in Nepal.   For every review we received (positive or negative), we will provide a week of vocational training to women in the Philippines.   Every month we will do a reconciliation and donate directly to those mentioned above. The full amount that's donated will then go to these causes as a business. An administrative fee has been given to B1G1 to help the organisation which means that every single dollar that we donate goes directly to the cause.     Links mentioned in the podcast  White Pebble Interiors with B1G1  https://www.whitepebbleinteriors.com.au/b1g1givingback/  B1G1  https://b1g1.com/ 

In this episode of the podcast, Frances outlines the many reasons why you should write a brief for your architect (and your landscaper and interior designer), and why it's so important. She also provides an outline of what to think about when creating your brief, how to start creating one, and what to include, and who should be involved.  As a starting point for the vision of your home, the brief is a reference document that is referred back to many times throughout the process of creating your Forever Home, so is a logical starting point to get the process moving.  SHOWNOTES Why is Creating a Brief Important?  1. Allows you to create a vision of what you are trying to create, the core things that you need to include in your home, and what's really important for you.   2. It creates a dialogue for everyone who's involved in the project – all family members, including the kids!   You're able to sit down as a family and go through what is it you are trying to create and what's important to each of you.  3. It allows you to assess 'what you need Vs what you want. It allows you to identify key priorities.  4. You can refer back to the briefing document throughout the process to assess floorplans, landscaping, and interiors and how those consultants have responded to the brief  Has the briefing requirements been met by what's come back from each consultant?    Who is your brief for?  Architect/ building designer  Landscaper- Interior Designer- What is the feeling you want to create? What sort of functionality do you need, the aesthetic and style you want to live in.     What do you need to include in your brief?  Think about your vision  What's the overall objective of the home?  Create a visual brief  A visual representation of what you want really helps to show what you love  Overall look and feel   How do you want to feel when you walk into your home?    Overview of the site  Provide details of the site.   Lifestyle requirements  How do you live in the home?   How your home is to be used  Essential rooms required  What do you need to store in your garage  What's needed in the space for each room        For instance, wanting a desk for your child's bedroom or a guestroom that can be turned into a separate office.   Essential Vs Non-negotiable items  Make a list of what's essential Vs Nice to Have (space or budget permitting)  Sustainable Features  What energy efficiency or sustainability measures are you going to incorporate into this design?  External components    For instance:  Pool  Any trees you want to retain  Is there going to be a fire pit or do you want to have a trampoline?    Budget  Be honest with your budget. Your architect should know what will be achievable with your budget. Get the experts involved so that you get an idea about what it's going to cost.   Always have a contingency. Allow10-20%   Ensure you're clear about budgets either being inclusive or exclusive of GST (VAT/tax).  Timeframe  What are your expectations about when you want to move into your completed home?  Design references  Create a digital portfolio or a hard copy of the things you like, and architectural styles you love. This provides direction for your consultants.    FREE RESOURCES AVAILABLE   Creating a brief is a good exercise to get everyone on the same page and to ensure your thoughts and ideas are captured as cohesively as possible so it's able to be followed.  Download our FREE Briefing Template here.     Join my webinar- 'The top 5 costly bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them' as I prepare and arm you with critical information that will save you time and money creating your new bathroom.  This will be on Wednesday, 24th November 2021 at 7PM- 8PM AEDT.  Click here to register.   Book a free 15-minute chat to discuss your project and how we may be able to assist.    

In this Facebook Live, Frances discusses the steps to take if your floorplans are not quite what you want. She outlines the steps you should take to have them meet your objectives, and who you could turn to, to help out in getting them right.  Floorplan is king, so you must be happy with your plans before starting any build works for your renovation or new build.    SHOWNOTES  It's an easy trap to fall into when you have your floorplans and they are not really what you want, so you start to find solutions and re-jig the floorplan yourself to ‘fix the problem'.   My experience shows this is not the best approach. You've engaged an architect, building designer, or draftsperson to design the floorplans for you, so it's best to leave this to the experts.   So what should you do when your floorplan is not working for you, and it's not how you want it to be?      Go back to the Brief you provided your architect/builder designer/draftsperson  Identify your core objectives for the home, what you set out to achieve, and your non-negotiables.  Check what you communicated with your architect, building designer, or draftsman about what you are trying to create. Has this been reflected in the plans?     Review your plans  Refer back to the brief and review your plans to see how the response from your architect, builder designer or draftsperson has met your brief.   Has it been designed around your core objectives and non-negotiables>  What's missing?    How is the floor plan meeting your brief, objectives, and requirements?    Review your floorplans with your Building Designer  You need to be clear about not providing the solution, but rather giving your building designer the opportunity to respond to your concerns.   Refer them back to the brief to focus on areas that have been missed, or are not quite right.   Be clear about what's not working for you in the plan.  Let them explain if there is a reason why something cannot be achieved.   Allow them the chance to review your comments and come back with a revised version.    For instance,   Mudroom is not big enough to store 5 school bags  There is no connection to the views we have.  There is not enough space in the kitchen for two people to cook     Consult another expert  You may feel more comfortable having another set of expert eyes go over your floorplan to ‘sanity check' it's as good as it can be and you're not missing anything.   For example, an interior designer will look at things from a completely different perspective.     Cut your ties  At the end of a lot of backwards and forwards trying to get your plans right, but you still don't feel like you're hitting the mark, it may be the time to cut your losses and find another architect or building designer.   As painful as that sounds. it's going to save your thousands of dollars and so much heartache. Imagine you build a home, you know at floorplan stage is not right, where you'll forever regret you didn't sort it out before you started to build.    Resources and Services Mentioned in the Podcast  Floor Plan Sanity Check  Save Yourself from Costly Mistakes  Book a floor plan sanity check today.    Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group     Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     Your Forever Home Book  Keen to know more? I have dedicated a whole chapter to Floor Plans in my book ‘Your Forever Home'. You can order your copy here.    First three chapters of the book FREE  If you'd like to receive the first three chapters of the book ‘Your Forever Home' for FREE, download it here.   

In this episode of the podcast, Frances outlines a key change to Your Forever Home with a re-name to reflect how she feels about the brand. In the episode, she runs through her thinking behind the change, what it means to you and what it means to all the resources available to you.

In this Forever Home Live, Frances answers a question from the Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Community about tile layout. Specifically around laying 300x600mm tiles for floor and walls. She also outlines how to finish splashbacks in power rooms and what to consider to determine the height to finish your tile, the impact of mirrors on tile layout, the height of 300-400mm for functionality purposes, and pattern in a tile affecting cuts and overall aesthetic. A great snapshot of some options surrounding tile layout, and how you should always have a conversation with your tiler BEFORE they lay the tiles.

In this Facebook Live, Frances outlines the key differences between using engineered timber flooring and timber tile flooring. She walks through the advantages and disadvantages of each and discusses criteria for when you may use one over the other.

Health and wellbeing are important now more than ever, as we all navigate through the Covid 19 pandemic. In this episode of the Your Forever Home podcast, Frances outlines different ways that we can incorporate wellness into our homes – through connection to the outdoors, bringing the outside in, use of colour and materials on our homes, and more permanently – designing for wellbeing.   Sit back, relax, and delve into all the options to make you feel better in your home.    SHOWNOTES In light of lockdowns that have occurred numerous times to many of us, Frances decided it was time to talk about creating wellness for ourselves, and for the people around us, by creating home havens, where we feel nurtured and cocooned, ultimately creating a positive impact on our mental health.  How can we create wellness in our home?  Private Retreat  Create a space that you and other family members can retreat to. A space where someone can relax, recharge and reconnect with themselves. Ideally, this space has doors to maintain privacy and mitigate noise.   This room could be:  Second living   Sunroom  Conservatory  Retreat or multi-purpose room  Connect to the outdoors  From sitting in a garden, walking along the beach, to surrounding ourselves with plants and trees, connection to outdoors has a positive impact on our mental health and wellness.   Have a vista to a garden or balcony where you have greenery with plants or flowers. Physical connection to balcony, garden or courtyard  A view to the sky, the ocean, a garden or tree canopies.    Surround yourself with the things you love  You need to surround yourself with items that resonate you. Items that you feel connected to so you're surrounded by things that you have meaning and therefore create a sense of being cocooned.  It also creates a more relaxed environment to be in, and also aids in feeling a sense of connection and meaning in your life. Having items in your home that mean something to you - it's what makes a "home" a home.  Create a curated selection of items that mean something to  you, for instance;  Items that you've collected on your travels  Items  that you've made yourself  Something that someone made for you  - a family member, a friend or your children  Heirloom pieces that tell a story and have meaning  Houseplants   Frances' number one way to create wellness and relaxation in a home is to bring plants into the home. Plants are a good option to change the way a space looks and FEELS. Plus, plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.  Some ideas on how to use house plants; Plants in large pots positioned on the floor  Plants are perfect for empty corners and nooks  Placed on  shelves and bookcases – especially trailing plants  Plants in hanging pots from beams or ceilings  Plants in pots placed on bench tops, tables, dining tables, consoles or buffets.  Consider plants being placed at  different heights   Things to consider to design for wellness when renovating or creating a new home   Materials Being Used  Toxic and chemicals   Make sure that you are not using materials that may affect your physical health. If you want to create wellness. minimise the toxicity and chemicals that are being emitted in your home.   Avoid toxic chemicals such as VOCs, those in plastics,  polyurethane and formaldehyde.   Be mindful of hybrid and vinyl floors as they are full of toxic chemicals that slowly emit into the home over time.  Use of Organic and Natural Materials   Choosing natural materials means a reduction of toxic chemical compounds being brought into your home. Plus, bringing natural materials is always a great sustainable choice!  Anything made of timber – sustainably sourced.  Natural Stones  Recycled materials  Organic textures and petrified timbers.  Use of Doors  Doors allow you to create privacy, and mitigate unwanted noise in your home – perfect when you need some time and space for relaxation.  Design around the landscape   Sliding doors or bi-fold doors to create a connection to your garden and the outdoors.  Highlight windows or porthole windows enabling you to get a view of the sky.   Strategic placement of a window that allows you to see your garden.    Colours and Wellness  How do you choose colours that allow you to  feel relaxed, connected, and recharged?  The Colours of Nature  Most commonly, most people love;  Different shades of Blue   Different shades of Green  The Colours that You Love  Choose colours that you love and have always gravitated to   Colours that make you feel relaxed, energized and/or happy  Kids  Allow your kids to have a bit of creative input in their own space, which will make them happy and more connected.   Paint their room colour of their choice (you can provide parameters for this)    Add their favourite colour with the use of scatter cushions, artwork, a rug or throw  Make a  reading nook in a corner of their room to encourage downtime and recharge time.    Free resources around the topic:  Injecting New Life into your Home  Ready to renovate or build but not sure where to start?  Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat.    

In this Facebook Live, Frances discusses the buying criteria for a ceiling fan as not all fans are the same! She outlines why they are worth installing (so many reasons), and the controversial question of fan Vs pendant light in a bedroom. She also runs through why spending a little more on your ceiling fan provides so much more than a standard fan and is worth the investment.

In this final episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines some of the key take-aways from each episode as an easy reference tool for you to know where you need to listen next.

 In this episode of the Your Forever Home Podcast, part of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines some of the major mistakes she sees people make when designing their bathroom. Expensive mistakes that can be avoided, which she outlines in this episode, so you're not having to live with a less than desirable outcome. This is a must listen if you're designing your bathroom. SHOWNOTES    Major mistakes:  No Internal Elevations  Homeowners often feel they don't need internal elevations for their bathroom design, as they feel they can easily instruct the cabinet maker or builder in this area. This can unfortunately lead to lots of (avoidable) issues on siteand ultimately lead to miscommunication and a less than ideal outcome.  Benefits of Internal Elevations:  Provides a clear roadmap for your builder.  Allows your builder to give you an accurate quote.  It shows your cabinetry design and fittings.  You can view everything before it is built, which allows you to make changes and discuss things with your family during the early stages.  Freestanding bath not suitable for the space  Adding a freestanding bath that is not suitable for the space is a design compromise. Not only that, but it makes cleaning difficult as it would be hard to reach in behind the bath. . It also needs adequate space between the wall and the bath to give the aesthetic look that a freestanding bath needs. Freestanding baths are also expensive to retrofit because they cost more than a standard bath.   Inadequate storage  Towels, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, toilet rolls- you'll need to find room for all of these things if you haven't allowed for adequate storage in your bathroom. Don't compromise storage over aesthetic in your bathroom.   Determine what you need to store.  Then work out your storage requirements.   Don't underestimate eye height storage   Lack of adequate task lighting  Consider having task lighting as well as downlights in your bathroom. This will be helpful when you are getting ready in the morning or at night.  It is benefitial to have multiple light sources to meet your requirements and also the ability to dial up or dim down as you need to.   Tile Layout  A shower niche that does not match the tile layout.   If there are other tiles at the doorway, it needs to marry up with the tiles in the bathroom so the look is seamless.   No Ventilation  It is important to have a window that opens in the bathroom. You need to allow the moisture to escape and fresh air to come in.   Toilet Position  Avoid placing the toilet in front of your bathroom door. If possible, try to tuck your toilet around the back of the door, or to the side. Toilets are expensive to move, but when you are building a new house it's worth the investment to get an internal elevation as it will help you get the design right – from the start.    Mixer inside the shower   Consider placing the mixer at the side instead of having it right next to the shower rail so you don't get wet turning it on.   Window treatments  Spending a lot of money on window treatments without considering moisture resistant properties and accessibility.   Natural Light  Consider introducing natural lighting by adding a window at eye height. If it's not possible, you might want to opt for the following:  Skylight- Make sure that it actually opens , and that it has also a blind that can block the sun during the summer.   Highlight window    Links mentioned in the Podcast   Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design   Why Internal Elevation are Critical for Your Home Blog  Services   Book a Chat       If you're thinking about renovating or creating a new bathroom, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15 minute chat here.       Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group       Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is ‘future proof' and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.          

In this episode of the Your Forever Home podcast Frances covers off the topic of creating a bathroom that is accessible for when you get older, or are less able-bodied. She outlines design elements that can be incorporated now that will make a big difference later on, and some that can simply be provisioned for and installed later. Through her passion for creating ‘Future Proof’ homes, this is another area that adds to the liveability of your home well into the future.

In this Forever Home podcast episode, Frances outlines how to get the most out of your Powder room -whether it’s the family powder room, or one for guests, she provides design suggestions on how to get the most out of both of these spaces. From injecting personality into your guest powder room, to adding lots of storage so the main powder room can be utilised as an ‘overflow getting ready’ space when kids no longer want to share the family bathroom. This episode will make you revisit powder room design to maximise it’s functionality, and maximise it’s aesthetic appeal.   SHOWNOTES:  Family Powder Room   This sits next to the family or main bathroom so it needs to work really hard for you.   When designing your powder room, you need to take into consideration that it may be used as an overflow room eg for getting ready or a separate space for kids or teenagers.   What needs to be considered;  Adequate storage - include a proper vanity with good bench space and avoid having a pedestal basin or a wall-mounted basin, so that it provides a large enough area so you can also get ready if need be  Good task lighting - add task lighting that illuminates your face which will be helpful if you need to use the space to get ready (i.e shave or do make up)  Add powerpoints- for toothbrush, hairdryer, shaver etc.   Good size mirror    Guest Powder Room  The guest powder room provides a golden opportunity to break some rules and add personality into the space.  Options to consider:  Bright or bold colours.  Wallpapers- psychedelic, bright florals, linen, botanical or iridescent. Be mindful not to use paper-based wall papers in a powder room, instead go for a commercial grade vinyl as it is washable and heavy duty.   Wild tiles- can be installed on walls or floors. A fantastic talking point for your guests. Consider either embossed or neutral.   Spectacular lighting- add an amazing pendant light for effect  YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS MY “Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy” online course!    I am excited to introduce my new online course Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy!  If you are planning on renovating or building a new bathroom and:  Struggling with the overwhelm  Not sure where to start  Worried about making costly mistakes  Then this course is for you. Your bathroom is an important room as you start and finish each day in it, so you want to get it right!  To help with this, I have developed an online course called Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy which arms you with knowledge and guides you through the exact process I have used over the last 10 + years as an interior designer to help my clients create their perfect bathroom.   And with this course, you can do it yourself – it’s like having access to an interior designer without having to pay for one!  As a SPECIAL LAUNCH OFFER I have heavily discounted the price for this course from $197 to $97 – a $100 saving!  But this is a limited offer and only available until 6pm Sunday 30 May - you won’t see this price again so don’t miss out! Click here to join.   Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new bathroom, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15-minute chat here.       Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future-proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.  

In this episode of Your Forever Home, Frances outlines several decorating tips on how to create a warm and inviting bathroom. She offers plenty of insight and advice to allow you to make the finishing touches to your bathroom to create a space you can be proud of. There’s nothing worse than a sparse bathroom with no soul, so this episode will give you confidence to try her creative and insightful ideas. From plants, towels and mirrors, to artwork, stools and baskets – there’s plenty to experiment with to make your bathroom a haven!   SHOWNOTES Plants    Adding plants is a number one rule of thumb in decorating across the entire home. In a bathroom, plants add a beautiful lease of life. They generate oxygen and add an instant "lived in” feeling and a sense of calm.  Most plants thrive in bathrooms because of the high humidity and moisture.   Examples:  Add a trailing pot like a devil’s ivy on window sills, shelves or shower niche  Put plants on plant stands as they add height to a corner  Hangi plants from the ceiling  Pop a small plant on your vanity  Plants to try:  Devil’s Ivy  Orchid- to add a little bit of colour  Chain of hearts  Spider plants- you can hang them as they drape beautifully  Air plants  Towels  Towels are a fantastic way to inject texture, pattern and colour into the space. It can also reflect your mood or serve as a seasonal décor. Keep in mind, try to marry the colours of the towels with the tone of the bathroom- I.e cool or warm tones.   Artwork  A painted wall is an ideal location for hanging artwork. Try leaving a wall free of tiles to allow for hanging artwork.. It adds personality and a unique touch to the space.  Examples:   Artwork from travels   A piece of artwork that makes you feel relaxed and calm  Artwork with your favourite colours  Mirrors  Shaving cabinetscome in a variety of different shapes which can add to the aesthetic and also give additional storage space.   In a powder room where storage requirements are not as necessary, opt for a decorative mirror  Framed mirrors can add an element of design.   Opt for organic shapes such as oval or round as it can break up all the rectangles in the space. It’s also softer and more visually appealing.   Baskets  Baskets always make a space feel homey and inviting. They can be purely decorative or can be an added storage option.   You can use a basket for many things, including somewhere to store your:Plants   Towels   Toilet rolls   Stools  Can be placed in the corner, by the bath or even in the shower.  Used as a side table when in the bath  You can place a plant on it  I love vintage timber stools as it adds character and texture to the space!     YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS MY NEXT FREE WEBINAR!    “The 5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them”  Are you aware of the top 5 costly bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them?  Join me in this webinar as I prepare and arm you with critical information that will save you time and money creating your new bathroom.  Far too many people make costly mistakes when creating their new bathroom – don’t let this be you!    Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15 minute chat.            Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

Frances is super passionate about this topic, and it clearly shows in this episode of Bathroom Design Essentials. Frances outlines the importance of internal elevations so you can create a well designed bathroom that allows you to be involved in the design process, make informed decisions, and mitigate expensive mistakes. Internal elevations also provide the builder with details of exactly what they are building, along with providing the opportunity for a more accurate quote. SHOWNOTES  What is an Internal Elevation?  Unlike a floorplan which gives you an aerial view of your design, an internal elevation drawing allows you to see the design “front on”.  It will help you to avoid mistakes on site and allow you to have fixed price quoting  It also has a big impact on your overall design as it helps you to map out the layout of the space.   Why do you need Internal Elevations?  Not having them is similar to instructing your builder to navigate without a map.  It can lead to expensive mistakes and design disappointments that could have been avoided.  You might miss the opportunity to get the design right.     Cabinetry Drawings versus Internal Elevations  Some people get confused between cabinetry drawings and internal elevations.  The main difference is cabinetry drawings show “joinery only’ and nothing else, whereas internal elevations show you the whole wall set upfront on. Allowing for a better “overall” design view. How does having an Internal Elevation for your bathroom help?   It allows you to view your bathroom design “front on” rather than an “aerial view”.  It gives you detail of your bathroom design which instructs your builder what he needs to do, including:  joinery design (drawers, doors, heights, benchtop thickness)  tile size and location   placement of taps (wall, bench or basin mounted) and shower (ceiling or wall-mounted)  placement of towel rails and toilet roll holders  shower niche placement, size, and finish  powerpoints, mirror and cabinet placements  shower screen type, length, and height  Allows you to understand how the proposed spaces and rooms will look.  Helps assist you with decision making by letting you actualise visualise the location of vanities, windows, doors and powerpoints   By knowing the position of all the critical items in the room, you are able to make other dependent decisions Eg. wall finishes, extent of tiling around a bath, sink or window.  Far too often, we see people with only floorplans showing the aerial view of their cabinetry layout, or internal elevations with minimal design detail which opens up so much room for error, misinterpretation and misunderstanding about expectations on the final outcome.  It’s a costly to get it wrong, so having an internal elevation is a key factor in mitigating mistakes, both before and once you start building.            Much of the design thinking is done at floor plan stage, and critical thinking about functionality and space planning happens with the drawings. This is where interior designers can really show their value around creating spaces that work!   LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:  Why Internal Elevations are Critical For Your Home Blog   Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials- Internal Elevations and Joinery Design     SERVICES AT WHITE PEBBLE INTERIORS     The 5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them  Are you aware of the top 5 costly bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them?  Join Frances  in this webinar as she prepares and arms you with critical information that will save you time and money creating your new bathroom.  Far too many people make costly mistakes when creating their new bathroom – don’t let this be you!    Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.            Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.      

Frances welcomes guest James Lambrou from Est Lighting to the podcast for this episode of Your Forever Home. Together they chat about Bathroom Lighting and key considerations to think about to ensure your bathroom not only looks fabulous, but is also functional. They also discuss functional and aesthetic lighting, and how to use both to light up a space - including colour, temperature and side lighting. SHOWNOTES:  Good bathroom lighting shows consideration of  3 elements- functional, mood, and time of day. Bathroom lighting needs to balance shadow and mood for functionality.   You also need to consider bathroom fittings as it forms part of the overall design look and feel as they can add personality to a space.  Natural Lighting   Natural Lighting is the best lighting in a bathroom. It’s a core consideration when designing bathroom spaces.  It’s important to think about window placement, the size of the windows and how your window is going to  provide good lighting.   Artificial Lighting   Wall lighting  You can achieve a relaxed mood in your bathroom by using wall lights. When looking for wall lighting, you need to consider if it gives off an indirect or direct light.   Direct lighting is more practical as it provides a good amount of light on your face which is handy for getting ready in the morning – especially for putting on makeup or shaving!  Other considerations:  Custom joinery lighting-  direct lighting works best on custom joinery pieces with mirrors, incorporating a low glare diffuser such as led channels or a milky lens.  This will give you a beautiful amount of lighting covering the whole area of your face. On a separate light switch, it could double up as mood lighting.   For practical use, place the led lighting vertically, 8-14 mil width.  Placing it below will not give you functionality but will give you more overall ambiance and aesthetic.   Layering of lighting will give you the ability to be able to dial it up or dial it down.     Downlights  Downlights are fine if they are not used as the sole light source in a space. To prevent shadows, avoid putting downlight in front of the basin but rather put it behind you and then add another light source. If it’s not possible, place it slightly in front of you so it lights up the space - and your face!   If you have a shower space that needs a lighting solution, it is best to remove any downlights and just add an IP 67 led strip within the cavity to the corners of the wall. This will give you a good amount of light which will highlight the textures and materials of the shower tiles.   Pros:   Create a great aesthetic   Nowadays they are much smaller and less intrusive  Types of downlights:  Recessed   Beam angle  Types of Lighting Placement  Uplighting -a beautiful way to light bathrooms  Lighting from below- ideal for showers that have textured walls to accentuate the materials and texture.   Frequent go to    Recommended Brand   XAL- an Austrian manufacturer of high-quality LED lighting systems. They have plenty of off-the-shelf surface-mounted strip lights to choose from.   Suggestions:  Recessed LED strip- mimics natural lighting as it provides light across the whole room.   Articolo Lighting – offers beautiful decorative lighting that gives you a good warm blast of light.    Information on IP rating regulations:  IP 44- A product that has a rating of IP44 means that it is protected against solid objects and water splashing from all directions. Thus, IP 44 is suitable for bathroom fittings.   Non IP rated-  should be placed at the far corner of the bathroom, at least two meters away from any running water. It will also depend on the discretion of the installer if they would allow a non IP rated product.   IP 67- You don’t need an IP 67 in a bathroom, but if you are thinking about adding lighting in the shower or around the bath, IP 67 is  the safest option.   IP 55-  downlights must be at least IP 55 because they can withstand direct water  contact.  Make sure:  The electrician signs off  on the installation and fitting   Any fitting must be a minimum of 60 cm away from  any water flow  Cool vs Warm light  For bathroom lighting, the main go  to for warm spectrum lighting is the 2,700 Kelvin Light,   and for cooler lighting, the 4,000 Kelvin Light would be a good option.   Be mindful of choosing thecolour  temperature for bathrooms as it needs to match the colour tone of the space. (I.e Greys=Cool, Beige= Warm)   It is a good idea to have a separate switch for each colour temperature. For instance, you can use 2,700  Kelvin Lights during the night for the warm ambiance and 4,000  Kelvin Lights during the day for practical use.   Key Considerations:  Switching - being able to switch the light from warm temperatures to cool temperatures is an advantage  IP rating  Bathroom space- look at the space from a three-dimensional and holistic viewpoint. Start by looking at the space from the ground then move your way up – including the sides.  The colour tone of the bathroom  Position and placement of your lighting   Functionality  An opportunity to add personality into the space  Light fittings      Important links mentioned in the podcast   EST Lighting   Est Lighting is about balancing practical lighting tools with thoughtfully selected decorative pieces to arrive at a balanced lighting design for any space — solutions that sit comfortably and work in unison with the chosen environment. Visit their website here: https://estlighting.com.au/     EST Lighting Showroom  Sydney  479 Bourke St  Surry Hills NSW 2010  Australia     Melbourne  14 Willis St  Richmond VIC 3121  Australia    XAL  Articolo    Services at White Pebble Interiors     Book a Chat     If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.      Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group     Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.           

Frances is joined again by Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life, to discuss the options available for showroom vanities. They also outline some of the comparisons with customised vanities, and why one would be better suited over another. SHOWNOTES Showroom Vanity Vs Customised Vanities  Showroom vanities are the vanities that are on display at stores. It allows you to see and know exactly what vanity you are buying.   Custom vanities are bespoke and designed based on your needs, and preference   for materials, finishes and sizes.    Considerations:  Price  Designer vanities  (i.e Zuster) typically start at $1,500 / metre   With other brands, a typical 1,200cm long vanity would cost $2,5000-2,800 which already includes the top and the vanity in any finish options.  Vanities with ceramic top(1200cm) long start at $1,600    Good Quality Criteria  For cabinetry, laminate is a basic option and looks natural, however if you want a better quality finish, Zuster would be a good brand to consider.   It contains elements of real timber  The quality of material is supreme- drawer runners and hardwares.   Natural timbers- as long as they are sealed correctly and have been properly treated, they can work in a bathroom  Fully extendable drawer runners – they maximise functionality as  they allow greater  access  in the drawer  A lifetime guarantee on drawer runners and hardware    Vanity Trends  Timber vanities  – both light and dark options add warmth to the room  Vertical group vanities - they have more depth, texture and personality and are ideal for  beach houses.   Curved vanities- aesthetically they are softer and more practical  because they don’t have sharp corners.   Fully hung vanities – they create the illusion of space in the bathroom and are ideal for small bathrooms.   Above counter basins – visually they add so much more to the space    Handles  This is a design element that needs to be considered when choosing a vanity as they can be used as a feature   There are a variety of colours to choose from – including chrome, black, brushed nickel, gold  etc.   They can be personalised based on your style  If handles are customised, they will typically take between 4-10 weeks from date of order    Australian Manufacturer  All vanities  sold in Reece stores are manufactured in Australia.     Warranties  Showroom vanities come with 10-year warranties.      Important links mentioned in the podcast    Reece and Zuster Collaboration    Reece    Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.      Reece Richmond showroom    You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.        Services at White Pebble Interiors     Book a Chat     If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.          Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group     Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.              

In this episode of Your Forever Home, Frances has guests Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life to discuss different types of basins available and when one may be more suitable over another. They chat through different material types along with what to look for in a quality basin. Lots to learn to make good basin decisions.   SHOWNOTES  Types of Basins   Above counter- A popular wash basin that sits above the counter.    Can be used as a featurepiece in your bathroom   They are aesthetically pleasing because it allows you to show off the basin’s beautiful design characteristic, colour and palette  They provide more storage underneath  The basin is deeper compared to other basins so are ideal for families   Undermount- Opposite to the above counter basin because the whole basin sits underneath the bench.  Available in different shapes  A clean and simple aesthetic  Doesn’t allow a lot of storage underneath  More difficult to clean    Semi inset- Half of the basin is above the counter and the other half is underneath.   Semi Recessed-A wash basin mounted on a furniture unit or worktop.  The rear half of the wash basin is recessed into the top of the unit and all the pipe work can be concealed. The front half of the basin protrudes in front of the unit.  Wall mounted basins- are a great choice for small bathrooms or powder room as they are mounted against the wall.   Washstands- these wash basins are commonly seen in hotels and nightclubs.  They stand on the floor and are all in one piece.     Types of Materials  Steel- has beautiful,fine edges compared to ceramic and available in various different finishes.   Solid surface- made up of crushed minerals mixed with resin. Typically above counter basins are made in solid surface material and it is available in different finishes ranging from matte to gloss.   Porcelain/ Ceramic- these are the traditional materials for basins, and fortunately there have been many technological advancements in ceramic. For instance, Laufen, a swiss manufacturing company, makes ceramic with a mineral found in sapphires soit gives the material a flexural strength, equal to that of steel. It has the potential to have wafer-thin edges.   Concrete Basins- wash basins that are made of cement.   Porous material so it's a little bit difficult to clean.   If not properly sealed, it could stain and discolour.      Types of Colours, Textures and Finishes  Matte Finish- available in solid surface materials  Coloured basins- for cement or porcelain basins.   Ceramic in pottery- For instance,  Robert Gordon creates basins with different types of glazes    Different Buying Criteria  Shape- Rounded shape basins are recommended (such as oval), but you can also buy rectangular or soft square.   Ease of cleaning   Depth of the basin  Which type of bathroom the basin is going into- For instance, typically you would like a beautiful basin in a master en suite, but a more simple option in the main bathroom.      Price points  Undermount basins- approx $300  Above counter basins- depending on material and quality, between $500-550  High quality basins from Laufendepending on their size, between $1,200-1,500  Solid surface- between $550-$700     What's popular at the moment?  Basins that have an Organic shape – eg circle, d-shape    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Caroma  SaphirKeramik  Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.      Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.     Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.   

In this Forever Home Live, Frances discusses the options available to you if your solid timber floors are looking tired and yellow. Frances provides sound advice on what CAN be done that prevents you from laying down a brand new floor and outlines limitations with going over the top of a current floor. This is a great episode if you’re looking to save money and want to achieve the best aesthetic and superior outcome, plus kick some sustainability goals at the same time.

Description: Not sure how to choose the right bath? Then this is the episode for you. Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde are back from Reece Bathroom Life to chat with Frances about all things baths. They discuss the different bath finishes, along with key considerations for free standing baths, opposed to hob or inset baths. Why choose one bath type over another, buying criteria and how you actually go about choosing the right bath for you. There is plenty to learn from this episode.    SHOWNOTES Different Types of Baths  Freestanding Baths  Back to wall- these are freestanding baths attached to the wall. One advantage is rather than needing to clean all the way around the bath, you just need to clean the sides and front. Plus, it’s ideal for smaller spaces.   Back to corner- a great choice when you need to save some space.    Hob/ Inset Bath  A bath that is installed in a hob.   Most of them are flat-rimmed.  An advantage is that you can install flushing all the way around which gives you protection against water runoff.   Types of finishes available and advantages of each  Cast Iron- also known as pressed steel. There are different quality options available for this type of finish.   Advantages:  Can be re-enameled and repaired easily  Stronger and more premium than acrylic baths  Scratch resistant  Retains heat  NB Kaldewei is a German manufacturer producing pressed steel that is stain resistant, scratch resistant and UV resistant. They also offer a 30 year warranty.     Acrylic- This material has improved a lot over the last 10-15 years and is now manufactured using sanitary grade acrylic, which prevents the material from turning yellow.  Advantages:  Lightweight- can be transported easily.  Cost-effective  Can be molded into different shapes and sizes.      Solid Surface- A lot of freestanding baths are made from solid surface. This material is similar to stone, where minerals are crushed and mixed with resin.   Advantages:  Non-porous and dense  Indestructible   Scratch resistant  Easy to clean.   Disadvantage:  The material is very heavy and needs extra support on the floor    Limestone Bath- A luxury and beautiful material.   Advantages:  It retains more heat than any other material  A premium looking product    Buying Criteria and Consideration  Size – what size works best for the size of the bathroom  Shape - different shapes for different looks I.e. Egg-shaped  Comfortability - when visiting a showroom, it is a must to hop into the bath and give it a try before buying.  Style and design - what look and feel do you want for your bathroom  Shower bath- The bath needs to have both a flat end and an inclined end so that you can either soak in it as a bath or be able to stand under the shower.  Durability  Price points   An inset bath made with acrylic material - estimated price: $450   A pressed steel bath - estimated price: $1600-$1700  Back to wall or corner baths (depending on the material);  Acrylic - estimated price: $1800  Solid surface- estimated price: $3600  Luxury Limestone – ranges from $5,000- $6,000  Misc  Acrylic materials are a safe option for baths   Solid surface has high integrity  Be mindful of materials manufactured using lots of resins as they are more likely to turn yellow.   It is well worth investing in a surface that is not susceptible to scratching.    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Kaldewei   Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.      Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.     Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

In this Forever Home Live, Frances walks through an example of a floorplan she reviewed with a client, and how really examining the clients core objectives for their home to meet their lifestyle questioned some aspects of the home. The discussion lead to a massive improvement on the use of the space, enabled better privacy for everyone, and saved them heaps of money by not renovating unnecessary wet areas. Big win for everyone! Key learning – really scrutinise your floorplans well before you start building, for the best outcome!

In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances welcomes back Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life. Together they discuss all there is to know about choosing the right toilet. There is a lot more the buying a toilet than you may think, like height, pan type, rimless design and self cleaning. There is plenty to learn in this episode so you can select a toilet that will right for your home.   SHOWNOTES  Toilets   Different types of toilets  Back to Wall  The cistern is hard up against the wall. It’s easy to clean.   Close coupled toilet- Old fashioned style of back to wall toilet. A cost effective style where the cistern sits on top. You can choose to have an over height pan or a standard height pan.    Standard height pan- sits 400 mil off the floor.   Over height pan sits between- 425- 450 mil off the floor, depending on the brand. It is ideal for tall people or those who have mobility issues. It does cost a bit more because there are more materials involved in the manufacturing process.   Rimless Toilet   A toilet without a box room. It has a direct flush technique that shoots water around the edge of a smooth pan. As there is no rim, rimless toilets are easy to clean and more hygienic than a traditional toilet.  The range of price points are reasonable.   Smart Toilet   Similar to rimless toilets, smart toilets are easy to clean and more hygienic. It has a built-in spray in the toilet seat which will wash and dry for you. You can control everything with a remote - including water pressure, temperature and the position of the wand for self-cleaning.   Wall Cisterns  The water tank that flushes the toilet is hidden so you only see the toilet pan at the cistern.. I Ideal for small bathroom spaces.   Be mindful that it doesn’t work with every stud wall. If you have a brick wall, you will need to create another wall inside.   With a hidden cistern, you can choose either a floating pan or one that sits on the floor.   Something else to consider is the colour of the flush button as colours are limited.   A lot of clients prefer to use white as it blends in with the wall tiles.   Flush plates are sensor operated. To access the flush mechanism, you may wish to install an access panel for ease. This will allow you to access a few of the movable parts inside the cistern.  Good Quality Toilet  Key considerations:  Type of materials    A clean  coat on top of the ceramic  Design features- I.e Roberto Columba and Patricia Urquiola  Design Components - beautifully designed products will cost more  Cost effective  options can sometimes have an inferior flush mechanism  Recommended Brand  Geberit from Switzerland  15-year warranty  One molded piece in the system  A lot smoother and more comfortable  Coloured Toilets   Coloured toilets are making  their way into the Australian market so keep an eye out for them.   When choosing toilets, itsimportant to visit showrooms and actually sit on them . You can’t possibly know if it’s going to be comfortable unless you sit on it!    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Geberit  Laufen Palomba Collection Designed by Roberto Palumbo  Laufen Sonar Designed by Patricia Urquiola  Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business – found in over 600 locations across Australia.. Their  plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally.  Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.     Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.        Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances welcomes guests Trisha Narde and Cathryn Matchett from Reece Bathroom Life. Together they discuss basin mixers Vs individual taps and why you may consider one style over the other. They also talk about the different types of bath taps and spouts available. Finally, they cover the ever important discussion on showers and what you will need to know when choosing the right type of shower for you.    SHOWNOTES Basin Taps  Mixer  Aesthetics-simple and streamlined  Ease of cleaning  Easier control over water temperature  Easier to operate  Water-saving- you achieve your temperature a lot quicker    Cartridge  The actual body of the mixer- it what mixes your hot and cold water to produce the temperature that you want  You can get the cartridge separate from the fitting itself with some brands which is easier at build stage and easier to retrofit  Brands where you can get a separate cartridge and trim kit  Hansgrohe  Grohe  Sussex    Individual Taps  If you have to use what’s already existing and have two taps, then you need to retrofit with hot and cold tap  Buying Criteria   Quality  Warranties- 15-year warranty  Look for those which include labor and parts warranty  Brands that have good warranties: Grohe, Sussex, Brodware and Methven  Shapes, colours, and styles  Comfort        What Makes a Good Quality Tap?  Plumbing Components  Having solid brass Components  High-quality features  Grohe Silkmove- delivers gradual and precise control of the water flow and temperature.  Grohe Starlight- long lasting surface  Grohe Zero- No contact of water with lead and nickel due to isolated inner water ways  High-quality brand that offers warranties- 12 months      Different Types of Metals  Living Tumbled Brass  Most popular at the moment  Fits into many different styles of homes  Feels more organic than just using chrome or other metals.  Other metals are   Gun Metal  Coppers  Rose Golds          Black Tapwear  It won’t go away anytime soon.  You just have to make sure that it’s a high quality tap  Electroplated rather than powder coated  Bath Taps  Types of Bath Taps  Floor Mounted  Opulent look  More expensive to install  You need space around the bath as well  Wall Mounted  Swivel tap  Ideal for families-prevent children from hitting their heads  Bath Spouts  The length of bath spout depends on the style of your bath.   For instance;  Freestanding bath- ideal length would be 200 mm  Inset Bath- 150-160 mm  Recommended Brands  Sussex  Grohe  Shower  Reece has a fantastic display of showers where you can feel the water pressure on your hand. It is recommended to utilise these displays to give you an idea of what shower to choose.   Types of Showers  Rail  Has a flexible hose with fixed rail on the wall  It allows you to move the shower head up and down the rail   It’s ideal for families as can adjust shower height, especially good for kids.  Makes it easy to clean the shower (and your feet)  Ideal for couples with large height differences.  Flexible and functional     Ceiling mounted  You need to consider the ceiling heights  Be mindful of length of ceiling arms - eg. extra long for tall ceilings  Wall Mounted   You need to make sure that the installation height is correct based on tallest person who will use it.  Length of the arm comes out far enough so you are not against the wall.   A smaller shower space, ensure shower head not to big for the space, consider scale.   Large/Rain Shower Head   Most large shower heads on the market are 3-star rated. They use between 7.5-9 litres per minute   A lot of them have different technologies which give a powerful spray without utilising too much water  Turbine Technology by Nickles   Built-in turbine that will spin and push the water through  A quality shower head means better technology  Methven  Satinjet shower - gives a misty type of jet, but it is powerful with 20% more coverage than a regular shower.   Methven Aurajet  Methven Satinjet  Function of Sprays in shower  Option for jet spray- good for massage  Thermostat showers  Thermostatic mixers  Mixers where the thermostat is built into them for constant temperature control  You can’t retrofit  New technology for thermostat  Separate controller for temperature  Push and turn technology  A popular technology where you push it to turn it on and the dial for pressure and your temperature will set there for you.   The temperature doesn’t fluctuate.  It has a safety mechanism so cannot burn   Water saving   Bathroom Accessories  Whatever coloured taps you have, the accessories need to be the same.- I.e Black tap and black accessories  Heated towel rails  Available in several types-   Will not replace having a heater in the room. They provide ambient heat, not heating!  Electric –quicker to warm up than hydronic. You can’t have them next to bath based on regulations.  Hydronic –has a copper tube inside where the water heats up. It is more radiant compared to electric,  Single individually heated rails- a combination of 3 or 5 in bathrooms. Also available in vertical.      Current regulations- at least 500mml between the water source and power source.     Important links mentioned in the podcast:  Sussex   Grohe Silkmove  Grohe Zero   Grohe Starlight  Nikles Techno 300 LED Shower Head Chrome (3 Star)  Methven Aurajet  Methven Satinjet  Reece  Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business, as well as 8 others in allied industries. Our plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally which you can find in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.  Reece Richmond showroom  You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.    Events and Services at White Pebble Interiors   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

Grout is often an afterthought and not even considered when making bathroom selections. Often it’s left to the tiler to decide on type and colour, which is not ideal. I’ve seen some less than desirable outcomes when the grout colour is not carefully chosen with the tile. The overall look can be compromised by the wrong colour tone of grout and can ruin the whole aesthetic in your bathoom.  SHOWNOTES  Grout is used as a filler for the joints between tiles. It is basically a calcium carbonate that has various qualities.  Different Grout Types   Super fine grout   A fine paste that gets right into the nooks and crannies of all the different joints and when it dries you will get a fine surface.  It is pulverized into a talc rather than being sanded.  When using super fine grout, it is best recommended to use grout boosters in them. Grout boosters makes it set so that it is less absorbent. It makes it hard for the water to penetrate which prevents mold to form.  Can’t be used in Y-joints. Use it only on smaller/finer joints.     Sanded grout  Washed sand.  Used a cemented material with it.  Is more absorbent, so you need to mix it with a grout booster  Used in bigger joints, for example 3mm on floors  Epoxy Grout  Superor grout and used for high traffic areas  Not necessary for walls  Stain resistant  No need to seal it  Higher price point than standard grout   Non-porous and will not absorb build up of soaps and chemicals.   Super quality grouts- A good compromise if you don’t want to use epoxy  You can have an epoxy grout and super fine grout in bathroom showers. Most tilers can install epoxys but you need to be mindful of what you are installing the epoxy grout with. You can’t use epoxy with all products.  Whether you are using a super fine grout or sanded grout, be careful of using coloured grouts with materials that have moisture absorption. This is because when they put colour in grouts, they use oxide which can bleed into the room materials you are putting them with.   How to Maintain Your Grouts  Don’t use chemicals on grout, use water. Most of the buildup on floors and our grouts comes from the chemicals that we use.  Chemicals compromise the grout’s ability to stand the test of time. Bleach doesn’t remove mold, it just whitens it, and damages the grout.   The best option is to use a steam mop. It will help you sanitise and clean your grout and tiles.  Reputable companies that have excellent grout ranges  ARDEX  Mapei  Davco  Additional Tips  Bond your grout with silicone  Best to use same brand of grout as caulking for perfect colour match.   If you want to use a light colour grout on the floor, it’s best to use epoxy    Links Mentioned in the Podcast:  ARDEX  https://ardexaustralia.com/  Mapei  https://www.mapei.com/au/en/about-us/mapei-in-australia  Earps Bros  Whether you are looking for decorative splash-back tiles for your rental property, high performing commercial quantity slip resistant tiles or handcrafted artisan mosaics from Morocco, their range will add value to your project now and into the future. Visit their website here: https://earp.com.au/  The Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass – 24th March 2021   Register on our next webinar- Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass, Frances shares key areas to consider when planning for an updated or new bathroom. From ideal layouts, to storage solutions, to design mistakes to avoid, Frances will walk through key factors for bathroom design so you understand key considerations when preparing and planning, and feel confident to ask the right questions. Plus there is a Q&A session too! Reserve your spot now.   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

  In this episode of the podcast Frances walks through the different type of vanity options available, along with custom Vs off-the-shelf designs discussing what may work best for your requirements. She also looks at material types and what to consider when specifying for wet areas.      SHOWNOTES:    Vanities are a strong focal point that can make or break the overall design and functionality of a bathroom.     Custom Design Vanity  Allows you to customise the design, shape, configuration of the material and the material being used for the vanity.   Flexible in design   Scaled for the space  Created based on your needs, storage requirements, and bathroom usage .  Custom materials – any combinations – i.e colours, styles  Customise size and configuration    Off the shelf  Sometimes able to  customise certain elements  Choose between different stone tops  If you want a coloured cabinetry, choices are limited  Generally available in standard sizes- 600, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 mm.   eStandard size may not be the right scale for the room, so it may not be ideal  You may not be able to choose the material type that you want  Limited colour choices – specific colours may not be  available with off the shelf products.  Storage Configurations  What you need to store is going to drive the design and functionality of your vanity.   Drawers- How deep and wide you need your drawers Open Shelving- Combination- For instances, a combination of drawers, cupboards and open shelves.  Cupboards  Benchtop only with exposed pipework  Freeform concrete or a piece of stone that forms a vanitytop.   No storage – very minimal look  Can be used in bathrooms where storage is not critical- i.e guest powder room     Different Types of Vanities  Floating/wall hung vanity  Creates an illusion of space as you can see the floor underneath.  Ideally 25-30 cm off the floor.   Looks a lot more sophisticated as things don’t feel bulky Ideal for smaller bathroom space   Has a more refined, superior finish If you have a well-designed floating vanity, then you are going to get much more functionality and usability  More often than not, more expensive than floor mounted vanity  Floor Mounted vanity  Has a kicker at the bottom   It can look more  bulky  Doesn’t maximise on creating an illusion of space  Benchtops  Stone- all types of stone  Opt for a lighter coloured stone  if you don’t like the watermarks  Laminate  If you like an undermounted sink, laminate will not be a great choice  Timber  Need to be sealedto prevent water marking and damage  Cabinetry  Laminate  2pac  Thermo wrap  Timber- veneer and solid timber needs sealing as moisture can affect it.      Links mentioned in the podcast:     Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1  Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2  Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials  The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy Online Course   Planning a new kitchen or renovation?   Join The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy--a 21 module online course on Kitchen Design to give you peace of mind you’ve covered everything off      All for only $99!      In this course you will get:   ✅ Kitchen Design Masterclass Webinar Recording   ✅ Transcripts from EVERY Episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Podcast Season   ✅ Professionally Designed Downloadable Resources   ✅ Easy to Access Podcast Season      PLUS FREE BONUS – Access to the ‘Design Essentials to Future Proof your Forever Home’ Masterclass. Promo runs until 28th February.    So, what are you waiting for? Find out more and join now.    The Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass – 23rd March 2021   Register for our next webinar- the Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass. Frances shares key areas to consider when planning for an updated or new bathroom. From ideal layouts, to storage solutions, to design mistakes to avoid, Frances will walk through key factors for bathroom design so you understand key considerations when preparing and planning, and feel confident to ask the right questions. Plus there is a Q&A session too! Reserve your spot now.   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new home  get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

Choosing tiles is a main consideration in your bathrooms. It’s the main material that will be used and impacts functionality as well as aesthetics. Not all tiles are the same, so it’s important to know the buying criteria so you can choose the right tile for the right application.  In this episode of the podcast, Frances is joined by Tiling expert, Richard Earp from Earp Bros.  Richard shares his amazing knowledge on tiles to discuss the different types of tiles and differences between poor and good quality tiles.     Shownotes:  Different Types of Tiles  Ceramic- the material has a moisture absorption of more than 3%, ideal for walls  Gres Tiles- the material has a moisture absorption of between 3% and 0.5%  Porcelain- are low absorption product (0.5% or less).  Can be used on the inside, outside, wall and floor   Technical Porcelain- has a 0.1% moisture absorption and are generally used in high-performance areas such as airports, shopping centers, and Melbourne Exhibition Centre.  Other types of porcelain:  Glaze Porcelain  Full Body Porcelain  Double Charge Porcelain  Triple Charge Porcelain  Polished Porcelain      Things to consider when choosing porcelain material:  Porcelain varies in quality mainly with accuracy and surface flatness which effect how its laid and the overall finish  Design and the surface  Colour separation rooms for glazes to create a depth of colour not seen cheaper version tiles. The more colour separations used, the better the quality.  Cheaper Porcelain tiles generally cut corners in the manufacturing process. Reduced processing of raw materials, the use of more glass as a fluxing agent to incorporate with ball clays and porcelain clays. On the other hand, high-quality tiles have lesser fluxing agents, longer firing times using higher technology to press, and the raw materials are extracted.   Terracotta-can be formed in different ways-extruded, molded and etc. It has a very high absorption material and generally requires sealing.   Cement tiles- like terracotta, cement tiles also require sealing  Placing a tile that has a higher (10%) moisture absorption on the floor is not ideal as they are not dense. If you drop something on the floor, it can easily crack, break, or chip. The moist absorption gives an indication of what type of materials the factories are manufacturing  Sealers   There are sealers that are designed to breathe in stone, terracottas and cement.   Topical Sealer- sit on top of the material  Penetrating Sealer- shields against moisture penetration and chemicals. Usually, they provide invisible protection without changing the surface appearance, and most products are breathable, allowing moisture vapor to escape.  Tile Sizes  How the size of tile impacts your selection  Spatial Awareness - larger format tiles can look great in some spaces, but a small space with large format tiles in many instances won’t work. Instead of a 800x800mm tile, 600x60mm may be better. Cost – will cost more to use larger format tiles – product and labout. Porcelain sheets (2.7, 3.2 meters sheets, 1.2 meters wide.)- needs a specialist to install which costs more than 20-30% of premium. Why it costs more?  Delivery of the material   Kitchen benchtop- must be fabricated off site and it get done by machine in specialist factories  Intricacies of installing them  Tile Types    Rectified- the tile is perfectly straight  When buying tiles manufacturers should be able to provide you with the following:  Installation Procedures  Sealing guide  Cleaning guide  Sustainability   Earp Bros joined the green building council in 2004 and was the first company that went through product certification. They use two certification systems:  Global Green Tags   Product Declare  Sustainable Criteria  Green Tag Accreditation  Life cycle assessment of materials   Tips when deciding on your tiles and getting a good result at the end  Understand what you need- I.e High-maintenance vs low maintenance materials  Visualise what you want before you start your journey- Create a pinterest board  Be fully accurate on what your budget is  Surround yourself with professionals. Find trustworthy companies and people    Tile trends  Large format tiles  Natural materials- Zellige tiles are popular now        Patterns and sheets of design, like big florals       Links Mentioned in the Podcast:  Earps Bros  Whether you are looking for decorative splash-back tiles for your rental property, high performing commercial quantity slip resistant tiles or handcrafted artisan mosaics from Morocco, their range will add value to your project now and into the future. Visit their website here: https://earp.com.au/  The Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass – 2th March 2021   Register on our next webinar- the Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass, Frances shares key areas to consider when planning for an updated or new bathroom. From ideal layouts, to storage solutions, to design mistakes to avoid, Frances will walk through key factors for bathroom design so you understand key considerations when preparing and planning, and feel confident to ask the right questions. Plus there is a Q&A session too! Reserve your spot now.   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group. 

In this Forever Home Live, Frances answers a query on having a Mixer Tap Vs conventional taps, and outlines her reasons for specifying mixer taps more frequently than normal taps.

In this episode of the podcast, Frances walks through what is possible when renovating your bathroom at various price points. She covers off options at $1,500 to freshen up a dated bathroom. What can be achieved for about $10,000 and then what you can look at when you’re creating a high end bathroom. She provides plenty of examples of what can be done at each budget level.

Description: In this podcast episode, Frances outlines how to find your style for your bathroom.   She gives tips to help you determine the feeling and aesthetic you’d like to create in your bathroom. Further, she outlines how to start pulling your design scheme together, and how to incorporate colour into your bathroom (if that’s what you want). This episode gets into the nitty gritty of pulling your materials and colours together.     SHOWNOTES:  Choosing your bathroom style and colours can be the trickiest part of bathroom design.     Where to start with the look and feel?  Think about what you really gravitate to - What do you really love?  Create mood boards either online or with magazine cut outs  You can also look at Pinterest, Instagram and Houzz  Interior designer portfolios  Bathroom showroom will allow you to touch and feel materials     Think about the feeling you’re trying to create in your bathroom.   Examples  Calming and relaxing  Bright and fun   Dark and moody    Think about the look – here are some ideas  Bright and airy- more functional compared to a dark bathroom   Colourful- if you want to inject more colour and personality into the space.  Monochromatic- if you want to keep it simple Tropical  Moroccan  Traditional  Modern  Shabby Chic  Modernist style   How to design for multiple bathrooms  If you have more than one bathroom, do you want them all to be the same or do you want to use this as a creative opportunity to design the bathrooms differently?  Opt for each bathroom to be the same or have them completely different.   You can use one element throughout all the bathrooms to create a link. For instance, having the same benchtop but different cabinetry or tiles.   There is no hard and fast rule. It is going to come down to the look and feel that you are trying to create and what your  preference is  Some clients prefer to have their powder room stand out by adding loud wallpaper, using brightly coloured wallpapers or texture.  Be brave and  if you don’t feel confident pulling it together, ask for help.   Starting out Homes need to have a consistent tone for it to flow and to create continuity - For instance, if you are using a warm colour tone, warm colours such as beiges and browns should be applied to the rest of the home including bathrooms.  Warm=beiges and brown Vs Cool= greys  Choosing Material Colours   Leading piece-what the rest of the scheme is going to revolve around.  Feature tile  Cabinetry colour  Benchtop  Choose something you love- material, tile, colour or shape  Dark or light cabinetry  Depending on what your leading piece is, you need to make sure that it’s going to co-ordinate with the colour tone of the cabinetry  Overall look- If you want dark and moody then you may have a dark tile, dark vanity and dark benchtop. Or if you want to create a bit of contrast, you may induce a light timber vanity on dark tiles.    Add texture, shape or colour to break it up – generally with a feature tile or feature benchtop.  Timber in a bathroom can be created through;-  Timber cabinetry – either solid or laminate version              Timber top- Timber handles- as an accent can look very sophisticated. It creates warmth in the space  Timber for floating shelves  Avoid grey based timbers- not a reflection of nature, looks artificial  If you going to use timber, make sure you use a natural looking colour  Less is more  Don’t mix your timber types. Try to have your timber consistent in colour tone. It doesn’t have to be the exact type,  tone is important.   Having the same floor and wall tiles?  For a small bathroom,  having the same floor and wall tiles is ideal because it creates simplicity in the space.       How to incorporate colour  Coloured tiles  A splashback above the vanity  Feature tile on the floor  Feature tile on the wall  Kitkat tiles are very popular now  - skinny, thick, multi coloured and  textured      Coloured cabinetry  Navy is very popoular right now  Organic greens- sage greens, olive greens or earthy greens  Choose a colour you love though    Benchtop   Natural feature stone – green, pink, marbled, coloured concrete    Colour Combinations  Timber with plain coloured cabinetry  Darker cabinetry and lighter benchtop  Darker tiles and lighter cabinetry  Lighter timber with darker tiles  Light cabinetry, light benchtop and light tiles but then incorporate texture so it’s not clinical.       Mood boards are an excellent resource to how your designer as it allows them to get inside your head. They can see your design direction and what you are gravitating to.   Links mentioned in the podcast:  Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio – Bathroom design focused on upcycled bath  With a heavy focus on sustainability this home is very considered in its intent to blend into the landscape. The colours selected are to create a calm interior with a strong focus on natural materials and colours. This home was built using Passive House Principles in-conjunction with Passivology Consultants, and is incredibly energy efficient, while also taking in its surrounds creating a wonderful sanctuary both inside and out. View the Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio here.     The Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass – 23rd March 2021  Register on our next webinar- the Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass, Frances shares key areas to consider when planning for an updated or new bathroom. From ideal layouts, to storage solutions, to design mistakes to avoid, Frances will walk through key factors for bathroom design so you understand key considerations when preparing and planning, and feel confident to ask the right questions. Plus there is a Q&A session too! Reserve your spot now.    The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy Online Course  Planning a new kitchen or renovation?  Join The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy--a 21 module online course on Kitchen Design to give you peace of mind you’ve covered everything off   All for only $99!     In this course you will get:  ✅ Kitchen Design Masterclass Webinar Recording  ✅ Transcripts from EVERY Episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Podcast Season  ✅ Professionally Designed Downloadable Resources  ✅ Easy to Access Podcast Season  PLUS FREE BONUS – Access to the ‘Design Essentials to Future Proof your Forever Home’ Masterclass. Promo runs until 28th February.   So, what are you waiting for? Find out more and join now.    Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.  

In this podcast episode, Frances outlines how to find the style you’re after for your bathroom. She gives tips to help you determine the style and feeling you’d like to create in your bathroom. Further, she outlines how to start pulling your design scheme together, and how to incorporate colour into your bathroom (if that’s what you want). This episode gets into the nitty gritty of pulling your materials and colours together. SHOWNOTES:  Choosing your bathroom style and colours can be the trickiest part in bathroom design.   Where to start with the look and feel?  Think about what you really gravitate to - What do you really love?  Create mood boards either online or with magazine cut outs  You can also look at Pinterest, Instagram and Houzz  Interior designer portfolios  Bathroom showroom will allow you to touch and feel materials     Think about the feeling you’re trying to create in your bathroom.   Examples  Calming and relaxing  Bright and fun   Dark and moody  Think about the look – here are some ideas  Bright and airy- more functional compared to a dark bathroom   Colourful- if you want to inject more colour and personality into the space.  Monochromatic- if you want to keep it simple  Tropical  Moroccan  Traditional  Modern  Shabby Chic  Modernist style     How to design for multiple bathrooms  If you have more than one bathroom, do you want them all to be the same or do you want to use this as a creative opportunity to design the bathrooms differently?  Opt for each bathroom to be the same or have them completely different.   You can use one element throughout all the bathrooms to create a link. For instance, having the same benchtop but different cabinetry or tiles.   There is no hard and fast rule. It is going to come down to the look and feel that you are trying to create and what your preference is  Some clients prefer to have their powder room stand out by adding loud wallpaper, using brightly coloured wallpapers or texture.  Be brave and if you don’t feel confident pulling it together, ask for help.   Starting out  Homes need to have a consistent tone for it to flow and to create continuity - For instance, if you are using a warm colour tone, warm colours such as beiges and browns should be applied to the rest of the home including bathrooms.  Warm=beiges and brown Vs Cool= greys   Choosing Material Colours   Leading piece-what the rest of the scheme is going to revolve around.  Feature tile  Cabinetry colour  Benchtop  Choose something you love- material, tile, colour or shape  Dark or light cabinetry  Depending on what your leading piece is, you need to make sure that it’s going to co-ordinate with the colour tone of the cabinetry  Overall look- If you want dark and moody then you may have a dark tile, dark vanity and dark benchtop. Or if you want to create a bit of contrast, you may induce a light timber vanity on dark tiles.    Add texture, shape or colour to break it up – generally with a feature tile or feature benchtop.  Timber in a bathroom can be created through;-  Timber cabinetry – either solid or laminate version  Timber top- Timber handles- as an accent can look very sophisticated. It creates warmth in the space  Timber for floating shelves  Avoid grey based timbers- not a reflection of nature, looks artificial  If you going to use timber, make sure you use a natural looking colour  Less is more  Don’t mix your timber types. Try to have your timber consistent in colour tone. It doesn’t have to be the exact type, tone is important.   Having the same floor and wall tiles?  For a small bathroom,  having the same floor and wall tiles is ideal because it creates simplicity in the space.   How to incorporate colour  Coloured tiles  A splashback above the vanity  Feature tile on the floor  Feature tile on the wall  Kitkat tiles are very popular now  - skinny, thick, multi coloured and  textured  Coloured cabinetry  Navy is very popoular right now          Organic greens- sage greens, olive greens or earthy greens  Choose a colour you love though  Benchtop   Natural feature stone – green, pink, marbled, coloured concrete    Colour Combinations  Timber with plain coloured cabinetry  Darker cabinetry and lighter benchtop  Darker tiles and lighter cabinetry  Lighter timber with darker tiles  Light cabinetry, light benchtop and light tiles but then incorporate texture so it’s not clinical.  Mood boards are an excellent resource to how your designer as it allows them to get inside your head. They can see your design direction and what you are gravitating to.     Links mentioned in the podcast:  Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio – Bathroom design focused on upcycled bath  With a heavy focus on sustainability this home is very considered in its intent to blend into the landscape. The colours selected are to create a calm interior with a strong focus on natural materials and colours. This home was built using Passive House Principles in-conjunction with Passivology Consultants, and is incredibly energy efficient, while also taking in its surrounds creating a wonderful sanctuary both inside and out. View the Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio here.     The Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass – 23rd March 2021  Register on our next webinar- the Bathroom Design Essentials Masterclass, Frances shares key areas to consider when planning for an updated or new bathroom. From ideal layouts, to storage solutions, to design mistakes to avoid, Frances will walk through key factors for bathroom design so you understand key considerations when preparing and planning, and feel confident to ask the right questions. Plus there is a Q&A session too! Reserve your spot now.    The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy Online Course  Planning a new kitchen or renovation?  Join The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy--a 21 module online course on Kitchen Design to give you peace of mind you’ve covered everything off  All for only $99!     In this course you will get:  ✅ Kitchen Design Masterclass Webinar Recording  ✅ Transcripts from EVERY Episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Podcast Season  ✅ Professionally Designed Downloadable Resources  ✅ Easy to Access Podcast Season  PLUS FREE BONUS – Access to the ‘Design Essentials to Future Proof your Forever Home’ Masterclass. Promo runs until 28th February.   So, what are you waiting for? Find out more and join now.   Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.

 In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines why starting with your storage requirements is critical to getting your bathroom designed properly. She outlines the main storage solutions available and what solutions are better for storing certain items.  Frances outlines how functionality is critical in a bathroom, as the space can be tight, and without adequate storage through good design, will lead to frustration and space not working as you need it to.  SHOWNOTES:  Storage is critical for bathrooms particularly with family bathrooms and en suites. Your bathroom needs to be functional considering the number of people using the space.  How much storage you need?  Identify and assess your needs to determine your bathroom storage  What needs to be stored?  The height of items  Think about how you want the space to function   What things you need to store and where you would ideally like to store them  Bathroom Appliances- i.e Hairdryer  Haircare  Makeup  Shaving Items  Hair Accessories   Towels  Types of Storage  Having a storage at eye-level is the most ideal scenario as it is easily accessible.   Shaving cabinets that are placed on the wall-, so you can see things easily. It is the most usable and workable storage that allows you to store little items too. You can add shelf caddies to store lipsticks and makeup brushes for example.  Adding power points inside the shaving cabinet- a great idea because it allows you to get everything off the benchtop such as shavers and, toothbrushes   Shaving cabinet recessed into the wall- This allows for a flush finish so the cabinet intrudes less into space and makes for a more seamless finish. Adjustable shelves inside the shaving cabinet- Fantastic for customing the internal space around what you need to store in them. Round shaving cabinets- These are a beautiful aesthetic, although are more expensive than standard regular cabinets   Vanities - are great for storing things that are not easy so easily stored overhead, or will not fit, such as a hairdryer, hairtongs.  Vanities that have a combination of cupboards and drawers work well.  If you can, add a vanity in the main family powder it's ideal for families that have children, to give them a separate space to get ready (faster and less arguments)  Drawers- excellent for easy access to items. I normally advise; Bank of drawers for him and her (if have a big enough vanity)  Ensure drawers deep enough for what you need to store  Right size:- height and depth  Shelves  Floating shelves along the length of the bath can look lovely  Open shelves in a vanity- can break up a long vanity and it can be used for decorating by adding towels. Shells and plants to break it all up.  Shelf in the shower – would avoid this if possible as a niche is much nicer. Lovely aesthetic to have a shelf underneath the shaving cabinet. It can serve as a feature shelf by adding plants, a candle, perfume bottles or frequently used items. Shower niches-  A niche recessed in the wall in the shower to store soap, shampoo, face wash etc.  More streamlined look than a mounted shelf.  Provides essential shower storage without protruding into the shower space.    Needs to be designed properly to avoid water pooling in it.   Your bathroom needs to function first. Remember that it is a space you constantly use. It needs to look beautiful, but it needs to function. If it's not properly designed, you're not going to be able to utilise  it as you need to, which only leads to frustration. So make sure you put the time in to assess your functionality requirements     Upcoming Events  and Services Available:   Kitchen Masterclass Webinar   If you are planning a kitchen renovation, or are building a new one, we've got you covered, in the FREE FOREVER HOME KITCHEN MASTERCLASS on Wednesday 17th February 2021 at 7PM AEDT. Register here.      Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your bathroom, get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.      Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.      Kitchens are a big deal and getting the layout right is an even bigger deal!  It’s one of the main reason clients come to us – to get the most expensive room in their house right! Check out Frances' latest blog-Kitchen Layouts. She also included some critical dimensions too.   

In this episode of the podcast, Frances is joined by guest Fabieli Fontana, Senior Interior Designer at White Pebble Interiors. They discuss some key considerations to think about, such as privacy and windows, when designing your bathroom, along with thinking about flow and space planning. They cover some key mistakes they have seen people make, and how to not make the same mistakes yourself.  SHOWNOTES:  Not assessing what you need in a bathroom before the building stage is one of the biggest bathroom layout mistake that people make.  As a result, there won’t be enough space between zones.   Layout Considerations  Avoid door opening to face the toilet - When you are opening the door, you want to have a peaceful and nice view of a beautiful bath or a vanity. When designing the bathroom, Frances and her team will try to tuck the toilet away, so it is not on full view, it is aesthetically pleasing, and it gives more privacy.   Key Measurements- It’s also important to consider the standard dimensions when designing a bathroom. For instance, the toilet ideally needs a space of 900mm for comfort. Some client prefers a larger space, but White Pebble Interior team always start on a standard measurement and refer client preferences. A whole episode on ideal measurements will be covered in an upcoming episode.  Avoid a toilet in the main family bathroom – Frances and her team always suggest to remove the loo from the main family bathroom to create more flexibility for those using the spaces. It makes your life so much easier for multiple people trying to use the bathroom and the toilet at the same time.   Separate Powder room is good planning for the future.  A separate toilet (powder room) can also double up as an additional space for when you have multiple children getting ready at the same time. Having a vanity with storage is always a good idea for extra prep areas.   Which way the door swings open- Consider the swing of the door and the what it opens onto. To toilet, shower, vanity. How does it affect access?  Space is critical in a bathroom layout, so you may need to consider having a sliding door. One thing to consider on having a sliding door is it does not seal as tightly as a hinged door.    Window Placement in the Bathroom- Windows have significant impact on bathroom layout. For instance, having a window behind the vanity would cause an issue with storage as it’s difficult to place a shaver mirror above the vanity.  Sometimes windows are not even aligned with the vanity, affecting the balance of how the room looks and feels.   Shower niches- Think about locations of shower niches and their ease if installation. Solid brick exterior walls can be a problem! You need to make sure they are in the right location so they are not conflicting with taps and pipe works.   En suite Bathroom- Ensure the ensuite is closed off from the bedroom rather than open plan so it mitigates the noise, light and creates privacy. A closed ensuite also prevents hot steam that can get into the master bedroom, and walk in robe.  Accessibility- Critical to consider so spaces are planned with accessibility in mind. Ease of access to the shower, vanity, and toilet, with space in between to get around and minimal corners to navigate. A step in shower and flat floor surfaces (no lips), so nothing to trip on.    An accessible bathroom should also be designed to accommodate wheelchair users. It should also have a large turning circle.    How White Pebble Interiors work with clients in designing their bathrooms.  Bathroom and Ensuite Deep Dive Needs Assessment -   Allows White Pebble Interiors to assess what the client needs in their bathroom and ensuite before designing it.  How many people are using the bathroom?   How much storage is needed?  How do things need to be stored?  What other considerations that are personalised to your situation.    Upcoming Events  Kitchen Masterclass Webinar  If you are planning a kitchen renovation, or are building a new one, we've got you covered, in the FOREVER HOME KITCHEN MASTERCLASS on Wednesday 17th February 2021 at 7PM AEDT. Register here.  Services Available Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your bathroom, get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15-minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.    

In this episode of the brand new season, Bathroom Design Essentials, Frances outlines core considerations to think about when renovating or creating a brand new bathroom as part of a new build. She runs through the topics that will be covered in the season along with who will benefit from tuning in to each episode.   Shownotes:  Renovating or creating a new bathroom can become quite overwhelming, time-consuming and costly.  In this Podcast Season- Bathroom Design Essentials, Frances will discuss key considerations to think about when renovating or creating a new bathroom.   The Bathroom Design Essentials Podcast Season is created for those who are:  Thinking of, or in the process of doing a bathroom renovation  Creating a brand-new bathroom from scratch for a new home  Looking at doing a bathroom makeover  Interested in bathroom design  Wanting lots of knowledge to plan for your bathroom in the future.  Guests on the show  Experts from all areas such as material manufacturers, lighting designers, and hardware representatives, will be joining Frances to share their insight and expertise on various topics. Fabieli Fontana will be coming back in the new season to talk about bathroom floor plans. We will also have a representative from Reece to discuss taps, basins, baths and loos.  Frances will also include a special buyer’s guide on choosing toilets and baths as they are the area that people ask a lot of questions about.   What the season will cover:  Vanities and materials   Counter Basins  Different types of tiles  Colours and Decorating  Bathroom Storage  Bathroom Floorplans  Balance between functionality and aesthetic  Showers -stepping shower, wet rooms and shower base  Budget  Powder rooms  Lighting   Difference between custom made joinery and off the shelf vanities.  Frances will cover topics such as vanities and sizes.  She will also talk about the disadvantages and advantages of having above counter basins versus under mounted.   She will also run through the different types of tiles such as porcelain t and ceramic tiles.   Frances will cover the all-encompassing topic of storage to make sure that there’s a perfect balance between functionality and the aesthetic.   She will also cover off regulations you need to consider for wet areas such as a bathroom.   There will also be a very special episode dedicated just to Powder Rooms!   Decorating and choosing colours can be fun, and Frances will outline key considerations when selecting colours, as well and how to decorate your bathroom.  Finally, Frances will discuss the importance of good task lighting, decorative lighting and how lighting can make your bathroom, powder room and en suite into something special from a design perspective.  There are so many elements to good bathroom design. Join Frances each week as she runs through a different topic each week to ensure you have your bathroom design well and truly covered.  Services Available:  Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive) Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.   Kitchen Masterclass Webinar  If you are planning a kitchen renovation, or are building a new one, we've got you covered, in the FOREVER HOME KITCHEN MASTERCLASS on Wednesday 17th February 2021 at 7PM AEST. Register here. 

Frances reveals many personal aspects in this podcast episode. She outlines the silver linings that occurred for her during hard lockdown in Melbourne due to Covid 19, and the effect it’s had on her life and her studio. A very personal story.  For those renovating or building on 2021, she outlines a myriad of free resources available to boost your knowledge over the holiday season, in preparation for 2021. Finally, she also outlines plans for 2021, to assist her community (you) even more.    SHOWNOTES:  Silver Lining to Covid-19  When Melbourne went to a hard lockdown, Frances found silver linings amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. It normalised remote work and what that might mean for the team. She got to remote working with team members working from home. It gave her insight into the possibilities available on a larger scale. Ultimately, it meant that when a key team member moved interstate, the option to remain working in the team was there, with both parties wanting it to work.   With process and systems in place, Frances and her team were able to continue serving their clients remotely. For instance, showing the specifications through video allows clients to view the material specification in their own time and the opportunity to talk about it together as a family. This process allows Frances and her team to serve lots of different clients in lots of different ways.   Having 4 months in hard lockdown allowed Frances to slow down and figure out what really mattered to her. It enabled her to take some rest each weekend, and start engraining new routines to slow down into her life. Every Saturday she would read the newspaper (along with a cheeky snooze) and stopped feeling guilty about it. She also developed good connections with friends, with a daily morning walk, engraining new routines that started in lockdown, and maintaining those post lockdown. A  Resources   Are you thinking about a renovation or new build in 2021?   Frances outlines are stack of free resources available to you to update and increase your knowledge over the holiday period. Head to the resource section of the website to find links to the podcast, blogs, publication articles and case studies. And if you’ve got a Kitchen on your radar in 2021, listen to the  Kitchen Design Essential Podcast.  The Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy online course is also a way to upskill your knowledge specifically around kitchen design. Frances has also contributed to many publication articles. Visit the Media section of the website to read these.  To give you an idea of other people’s journey’s through a build and renovation process, check out our case study here. And don’t forget, the Your Forever Home Book is available from our website. The first 3 chapters are available for FREE here [add link to lead magnet). It is a must-read before you embark on your own build or renovation.     There’s also an area in the website for frequently asked questions and the option to Book a Chat [add link] for a chat with Frances directly. .     Plans for 2021  On Thursday, 28th January, Frances will be launching a brand new podcast season- Bathroom Design Essentials. She will cover topics such as material selection, design solutions, bathroom schemes and storage and much more!  Also, there will be a calendar of events next year with in-person events making a comeback, along with webinars. Check out the calendar of events to find out what’s coming up soon.  Studio Update  The White Pebble Interiors studio will be closed 23rd December until 13th January inclusive. Reopening on Thursday the 14th January 2021.   

In this Forever Home Live, Frances outlines the updates to the Home Builder Scheme for renovations and new builds. The scheme has been extended into 2021, however there are some changes to eligibility and the grant reduced to $15,000. Learn more in this episode.

In this episode of the podcast, Frances runs through criteria for assessing if a spare.guest room is something you really need, or whether it’s a nice to have. She provides examples of how rooms can be multi-functional – using her own home as an example. She highlights ways to incorporate having guests stay, without giving up on regularly used valuable space in the home. A very down to earth look at rooms that are rarely used.   SHOWNOTES Spare room mentality Sometimes homeowners add an additional room that essentially becomes a spare rooms, but it could be at the cost of good open plan living, or flexibility. Spare rooms have so much potential, but these functionality is often overlooked and are left unused for large periods of time. Here’s things to consider before adding one; Cost to build - every square metre adds to the overall cost Maintenance Cost and or time to keep clean Cost for the energy- heat or cooling Environmental cost of adding rooms and making your home larger Spare rooms are often unused real estate in the home that could be put to better use. It would be a waste to have it solely set up with one purpose, if rarely used (i.e home cinema arrangement). A spare guest room really is a luxury as it’s dedicated extra space for a guest, but not having a guest room doesn’t mean can’t host guests! Consider having kids bunk in together when families come to stay Adults can stay on a sofa bed Kids can move into one room so their bed and room can be used for adults. How Frances designed her spare room Frances designed her spare room with multipurpose and flexibility in mind. She set an intention on how Her family were going to use the spare room Initially for their au pair who needed a room Grandparents who frequently would stay Playroom for lego Office for her husand, but still had access to use it as a guest room. Teenage retreat Had doors for privacy and noise, was slightly larger and located at the other end of the house Guest Room Assessment How often do people stay at your home overnight? How long do they stay for? Can another room be converted for when people stay? Adding a pull down bed Sofa bed in the study Playroom that has built in daybeds Second living room Would the space/room be better utilised as something else instead that serves you and your family much more? Think about flexibility and avoid having a room set aside for one purpose. It’s a waste and a spare room could be considered a luxury. If you have people stay frequently and for long periods, it could be a necessity, but then it’s also well used. If you've got a spare room that can be used for multiple things like Frances did with hers, then that's a room that's going to be well utilized and is inherently both flexible and adaptable.   Services Available Floor Plan Sanity Check White Pebble Interiors’ Floor Plan Sanity Check is ideal if you’re in the process of drafting or finalising plans, and provides a second expert set of eyes to ensure your proposed floor plan will stand the test of time. Want a second opinion on your floor plan? Book a floor plan sanity check today. Book a Chat Ready to renovate or build but not sure where to start? Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. A Room at a Time Decorating Package Need to complete a room, or have a couple of rooms you’d like decorated and want it done for you? You may not be sure how best to use the room or space, or you’ve just never got around to getting it done. Whatever the reason, we can now finish it for you so it’s fully utilised and be a happy place to be in. Book our A Room at a Time Decorating Package here.   Other References Episode 2: Forever Home LIVE- Floorplans 3 Ways To Future Proof Your Home Creating Forever Home Floorplans and Getting Them Right Future Proofing Your Home Top 5 Ways to Make Best Use of Your Floorplan

In this Forever Home Live, Frances runs through different themes for decorating your Christmas tree this year, and linking it to other areas of the home. She talks about using your favourite colours, a ‘nature’ theme, and how you can run that theme through to your table setting too.

In this Forever Home Live Frances has come straight from site! She discusses the impact of having dining and island bench lights too close together and how less can often be more. Coming from site, so also references the impact of not deciding your floor material before the build starts, and shaver cabinets recessed into walls.

In this episode, Frances provides a summary of each episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season and how each episode adds another dimension to your overall kitchen design and outcome. From budgets to materials, from flatpacks to splashbacks, she outlines all episodes, providing a handy reference on what will be the episode to listen to next as part of the season.   SHOWNOTES:    1 – Episode 24: Kitchen Design Essentials - Season Overview Frances provided an overview of what’s in store for the season- giving you a good insight into what was covered in the series. 2 – Episode 27: Kitchen Design Essentials - How to Determine What You Need in Your Kitchen This episode is about working out what you need in the kitchen.  Frances talked about the importance of doing a kitchen needs assessment- analysis of your lifestyle, type of cook, storage requirements and the number of people working into that space.  Ideally using the Clear Clarity Design Worksheet from the Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy course. 3- Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location Frances, and guest Interior Designer, Fabieli Fontana talked about Kitchen layouts and locations in the home.  Kitchen Layout and the advantages and disadvantages of each layout- U shape, Lineal, L shaped, Galley The best location that brings in natural light 4 – Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials –The Builder’s insight This Kitchen Design Essentials episode had special guest, Jeremy Gates from Gaia Construction, who provided the builder’s insight on mistakes people make when creating a new kitchen. He focused on setting a budget, and avoiding mistakes such as undercapitalising  being worse than overcapitalising by not utilising the space the best way possible. He felt homeowners esigning their kitchen was a mistake too as it held to a whole heap of issues. 5 – Episode 34: Kitchen Design Essentials – Key Kitchen Design Mistakes This episode brings back our guest Fabieli Fontana, where she and Frances spoke about key kitchen design mistakes. They chat about experiences with clients and errors caught early enough to be reflect a better overall design- window placement, size & height, structural constraints. 6 – Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 Frances and her guest Laura Neville from Cosentino discussed the various products available from Cosentino, namely natural stone, reconstituted stone, and Dekton. 7 – Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2 Frances talked about benchtop criteria in terms of you and your family’s needs. She also mentioned other benchtop materials such as timber, porcelain, recycled glass, stainless steel, paperock, concrete, laminate, and solid acrylic surface. 8 – Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks Being a self-confessed fan of splashbacks, Frances outlined several splashback materials including glass, stone, windows, mirror and porcelain, including her favourite – tiles. She also pointed out how splashbacks can determine the entire selection for your kitchen. Lastly, she talked about the considerations from a regulation perspective- gas or induction stove tops 9 – Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials In this episode, Frances spoke about cabinetry materials and the advantages and disadvantages of each materials- 2Pac, thermal wrap, laminate, timber, and Dekton.  She also talked about kickers, sizes and material options. 10 – Episode 43: Kitchen Design Essentials – Flatpack Vs Custom Designed Kitchens Frances walks through the differences between flat pack and custom designed kitchens. She shared considerations that you need to think about when choosing between flatpack and custom kitchens such as design and materials constraints,  constraints and possible compromises on layout. 11 – Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design In this episode, Frances discussed  Internal Elevations and Joinery Design and why it is important in your kitchen design, why it is worth the investment and what could go wrong if you don’t have them in terms of cost and design considerations. She referenced the blog too  Why Internal Elevations are Critical for your Home, which you can read here. 12 - Episode 47: Kitchen Design Essentials – Key Kitchen Measurements Frances outlined the key kitchen measurements to make sure that your kitchen is functional and workable. She ran through key metrics for kitchen planning such as gaps between rear-bench and island bench, the ideal length for island benches, depths of cupboards and other space considerations for fridges. 13 - Episode 49: Kitchen Design Essentials – Butler’s Pantries and Pantries This episode talked about Butler’s pantries and pantries and the difference between the two. She also debunked the concept that pantries are critical in every home  and presented other options such as appliance cupboards, step-in pantries and pantry drawer systems 14 - Episode 51: Kitchen Design Essentials- Kitchen Taps and Sinks In this episode, Frances and her podcast guest Trisha Narde from Reece Bathrooms talked about kitchen taps and sinks. They discussed the different types of sinks and taps available and buying considerations for both.  What makes a good quality tap and sink?  What makes a cost-effective tap and what are some of the issues that pose? And if you planning to incorporate Billy and Zip taps in your kitchen, don’t miss this episode as Frances and Trisha gave an in-depth review about it. Lastly, they talked about the very controversial black tap and black sink.  Should you or shouldn't you? 15 - Episode 53: Kitchen Design Essentials – Appliances - Part 1 We featured another guest in this episode- Rob Sinclair, the managing director of e&s Trading. This episode focused on fridge, dishwasher, oven or steam ovens, the buying criteria for each and great brands to look out for. He also suggested that when choosing appliances, it’s important to assess your needs, lifestyle and cooking requirement. Rob and Frances also talked about integrated, semi and freestanding options for your appliances. 16 – Episode 54: Kitchen Design Essentials – Appliances Part 2 Part 2 of the Appliances Episode with Rob Sinclair talked about stove tops and rangehoods- the best range hood and why it’s worth spending the extra money. Other appliances like built-in coffee machines were also discussed in the episode. Rob also shared the latest kitchen appliances to look out for 17 - Episode 55: Kitchen Design Essentials- Handles and Hardware Frances talked about how handles and hardware affects your kitchen’s design and functionality.  She also talked about the advantages and disadvantages of handles and knobs, material considerations such as shapes, sizes and types (leather, timber, metal finishes).  Lastly, she touched on the different types of cabinetry internal hardware like runners and other proprietary systems. 18 - Episode 57: Kitchen Design Essentials – How to Choose Kitchen Colours In this episode of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season, Frances chats through how to choose colours for your kitchen. When choosing for your colour scheme, floors would be a good starting point, as well as your leading material (I.e splashback). Most importantly, Frances said that continuity and flow is essential in your design, so make sure that you are using the same tones, whether they are cool or warm colours throughout the home 19 - Episode 59: Kitchen Design Essentials – Kitchen Lighting Frances ran through the different types of kitchen lighting- task, ambient and decorative lighting and how you can incorporate all of it into your kitchen. She also opposed only using downlights in the kitchen and suggested different combinations of light sources to be able to dial your lighting up or down accordingly.   20 – Episode 61: Kitchen Design Essentials – Budgeting Frances walked us through creating budgets. She outlined what needs to be considered and items that should go into it. She also ran through what you can expect to be able to do at certain budget levels ($5,000 vs $20,000 vs $40,000 vs $80,000 budget). And once again, she put emphasis on undercapitalising being an issue when  not using the space to its optimum 21- Episode 62: Kitchen Design Essentials – Outdoor Kitchens The final episode of the season talked about the growing popularity of Outdoor Kitchen.   She ran through the different types of suitable materials and options Lastly, she talked about the location for your outdoor kitchen- separate to the house or added as an extension to your home.   Services Available: Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy Course Access the 'Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy' Course for only $99. It has over 21 lessons and transcripts from the Kitchen Design Essential Podcast and professionally designed downloadable resources including Top 12 Must-Do’s Planner, All-In Appliances Checklist, Clear Clarity Design Worksheet, All-Inclusive Kitchen Materials and Fittings Template (including WIP) and Kitchen Budget Template. This simple to follow short course will leave you feeling confident that you have information at hand to help you navigate your own kitchen design with ease. Click here if you are ready to build your beautiful kitchen. Online course - $99 with over 21 lessons and transcripts from podcast, PLUS downloadable resources.   Top 5 Tips for Designing your Forever Home Webinar Obtain key information to prepare you for your Forever Home with the ‘Top 5 Tips for Designing your Forever Home’ Webinar on 26th November 2020 at 7:00pm (AEDT)via zoom. In this webinar, we will cover the following topics- Assessing for floorplan flexibility, How to get your kitchen design right, Why internal elevations are critical, How to create zones in the home and Creating different lighting options. Sign up now!   Book A Chat Ready to renovate or create your kitchen but not sure where to start? Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. Click here to get access to Frances' calendar;   Kitchen Bliss Package Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements. We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more.   Thank you so much for listening to Kitchen Design Essentials Series. We are working hard to provide you high-quality contents and your review could greatly help us to continue doing so. We appreciate you taking out the time to help us improve our podcast!    

In this episode of the podcast, as part of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines considerations for an outdoor kitchen. She emphasises the need to plan it upfront as it may impact internal kitchen decisions. She runs through suitable materials, and those that are not suitable for outdoors, and options with regards to necessities for the outdoor kitchen space.   SHOWNOTES:   Our warm climate in Australia, and the tradition of entertaining friends and family at home are two major reasons why Outdoor Kitchens are becoming increasingly popular. When completing a renovation or new build, we should consider the natural flow between indoors and outdoors, and how those spaces need to work together.  Which is where thinking about outdoor cooking requirements as part of your outdoor entertaining space needs to be factored in.  Requirements and Design for an Outdoor kitchen  Think about your needs  How do you entertain outside?  What are the things that you would like to have in your outdoor kitchen?  What do you need access to outside?  Amenities that are going to make your life easier when entertaining outside.  Space perspective vs Budget perspective  What do you need outside? Start with what is critical for the space (must have Vs nice to have)  Smoker,   BBQ   Teppanyaki grill  Spit roast  Running water  Fridge  Drawers and cabinetry for cutlery and crockery  Hotplate  Pizza oven  Sink for running water & cleaning up as you go    You may not need everything! Every component will add to the cost.  Think about the space, as it is premium. What is going to add the most value to the space (not capitalisation value but lifestyle value)?  It is best to purchase items that you are going to have in your outdoor kitchen prior to it being designed so it’s designed around your appliances  Also consider that things will get dirty easily outside – even if under cover - rain, dust and wind .  Location - It can either be a continuation of your indoor kitchen or a separate area in the garden.  Consider flow of materials to create flow and continuity is continuation of indoor kitchen  Located separately from the home can create more flexibility with material choices   If under cover may need an exhaust fan or have more open where cooking is.  Think about smoke, marking ceiling etc.  You may need to consider having a separate firewall to meet safety regulations  Get someone to help with the design so it’s maximising the space for what you need.  Materials  Check with your local state regulations about materials   Benchtops – not all materials are equal  Reconstituted stone is not suitable for outdoors. The warranty will be voided if you’re using materials that are not allowed outside.    Other options;   Dekton  Natural Stone  Concrete  Porcelain  Marine grade Stainless steel  Terrazzo  Cabinetry – standard cabinetry materials is not suitable for outside.  You cannot use standard laminate or melamine  Look at Marine grade ply, other natural timbers – be mindful they will weather  Solid timber cabinetry  Compact laminate- block colours or timber look  Stainless steel  If you can’t have a complete custom-made outdoor kitchen, you can buy complete ‘outdoor kitchens’ from BBQ suppliers. These may not fit the space perfectly, and there may be compromises, but may end up more cost effective.     Available Services;  Beautiful Kitchen Design Made Easy Online Course  Ready to design and create your own beautiful kitchen? Get all the interior designer insider knowledge in this online course to create your dream kitchen. Find out more and join here   Book A Chat  Ready to renovate or create your kitchen but not sure where to start?  Get the help of a property expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. Click here to get access to Frances' calendar;   Kitchen Bliss Package  Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating a stylish, functional and durable kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit the space, and your requirements.  We offer kitchen design packages that include joinery design and material selections for a complete kitchen design. Click the link here to find more:     Related Resources:  Why Internal Elevations are Critical for your Home  Kitchen Design to Match your Lifestyle  Episode 61: Kitchen Design Essentials – Budgeting  Episode 59: Kitchen Design Essentials – Kitchen Lighting  Episode 57: Kitchen Design Essentials – How to Choose Kitchen Colours  Episode 55: Kitchen Design Essentials: Handles and Hardware   Episode 54: Kitchen Design Essentials- Appliances Part 2  Episode 53: Kitchen Design Essentials – Appliances - Part 1  Episode 51: Kitchen Design Essentials- Kitchen Taps and Sinks  Episode 50: Kitchen Design Essentials- Kitchen Taps and Sinks  Episode 49: Kitchen Design Essentials – Butler’s Pantries and Pantries  Episode 47: Kitchen Design Essentials – Key Kitchen Measurements   Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design  Read our latest blog on Internal Elevations and Joinery Design here;   Episode 43: Kitchen Design Essentials – Flatpack Vs Custom Designed Kitchens   Episode 39: Kitchen Design Essentials – Splashbacks   Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2-   Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1   Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On-  Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location-   Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder’s Insight   How to Choose the Right Bench Top-   Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops-  

In this episode of Your Forever Home, as part of the Kitchen Design Essentials Season, Frances walks through what needs to be considered when planning the budget for your kitchen, including items that are often forgotten. She also runs through what you can expect to be able to do at certain budget levels.    SHOWNOTES:   Determine your goals and objectives when creating your kitchen. Are you doing a makeover, some basic cosmetic changes to freshen it up? Is it going to be a renovation? Basic Renovation- replacing what’s already there and not changing the actual layout Full Rip out- Changing the layout, creating a different space. Brand new kitchen Kitchen to flip- short term fix Forever Home Mindset- a kitchen that would last for 10+ years In doing so: You will be able to work out on a realistic budget. You will be able to identify what you need to invest for the best outcome. It will guide you on choosing the type of materials, finishes appliances that sit within your budget.   The kitchen is one the most important spaces in a home, so compromising elsewhere could be well worth it. If part of the bigger project, some areas can be delayed allowing you to allocate more on the kitchen.. For instance, delay builtin cabinetry or an ensuite renovation. It may be worth waiting a little to get it right because it is such an important space.   Not utilising the space in the best way possible- In the Episode of Kitchen Design Essentials- Builder’s Insight, Jeremy from Gaia Constructions highlighted one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when creating a new kitchen. Engaging with experts (eg, interior designer, engineer) will save you money and minimise regrets that you are going to have. Compromising on design as you don’t want to spend getting the design drawings done is a compromise on the space- cabinetry to fit a space rather than it being properly designed. We were able to achieve things for clients what they never thought possible - Walk in pantries, appliance cupboards, servery windows – all because we have a different expert eye that can see things you may not. It’s what we’re trained to do. It’s what you pay us for. How to set your budget What do you need to spend your money on? Design and consultants Interior Designer- Elevations and layouts Engineers- Removing walls Products & materials Demolition Cost – If you are not doing it yourself. Rubbish removal Lighting designer Different tradespeople (if managing yourself) Freight- getting resources and materials from different locations   Other costs to consider;- Plumber Electrician Tiler Plasterer Painting Flooring Handles Caulking Sealing Opportunity cost- taking the time off work to manage all the trades, which means you need to consider; Insurance Warranty on workmanship Your skillset and confidence to manage all grey areas that may come up when a builder is not involved.   How much do you want to spend? If part of a larger home, you may want to get advice on where to spend and where to save. Are there materials that you can re-use or upcycle? Are there any things that you can do yourself, without compromising the outcome? I.e Painting – be mindful of building regulation for complicated tasks.   What budget can you afford? Validate what you can afford with the real costs, so you can determine what you can feasibly achieve. Allocate 15% for contingency Particularly relevant for renovations – come up against unknowns.   Let’s talk figures – what can you do – indications only (2020) These estimations will depend on the finishes, extent of cabinetry, benchtops, and WIP. Remember that one material/ fitting maybe important than the other, so this is not saying you can’t have it! Compromise may be required.