#recycled timber beds melbourne

[bumblebeeappletree]

Hannah visits a tiny yard in Melbourne’s inner-city that is bursting with ideas and productive plants.

Hannah's in Melbourne to visit an inner-city patch that's small on space but big on plants and style. Garden owners, Judy and Andreas Sederof, have transformed a challenging block into a productive patch that is filled with color year-round. Situated in Brunswick east near the Merri Creek, it's filled to the brim with plants and ideas in every inch of this 66sqm garden. Judy describes it as “pretty eclectic, pretty crazy... I just collect plants. I'll see a plant and I’ll love it.” The site has been designed with the house built on the back boundary to leave a bigger space for a garden out the front. The diversity of the garden highlights different types of plants, which take advantage of the various soil profiles. Judy says, “we have quite deep, productive soil here which was nurtured, adding compost and mulch, but it really was pretty good to begin with. Whereas this side of the garden is really all on rock, so it had to be built above the ground.” There’s a lot of colour in this garden and Judy says this is due to her background in design and interiors, “I just love color and I'm always changing the color pallets and getting it to work together.”

Judy and Andreas have been designing sustainable houses for 30 years and built their own with the aim of being light on the land. Andreas says, “the four critical elements are glass, mass, insulation and most importantly orientation. We chose this block because the house faces north which is the optimum angle for sustainable building design, often called passive design.” In this home, the ceiling has 2-feet of insulation which Andreas calls “super-insulation” as it’s double the standardised requirements. “Everything in here is double or triple glazed... and to get this house to 9.5 stars, we had to provide way more concrete or brickwork than this house was planned for,” says Andreas. The sustainable principles that underpin the house can also be found in the garden. Timber used in the wicking beds is Cypress macrocarpa, which is known to be a sustainable timber, and “things like not having any hard surfaces so that the land absorbs the moisture, and it doesn't heat up the building,” says Judy. Pipes direct grey water from the shower to the garden, as well as “two squat rainwater tanks underneath the deck here that are connected to a pump; they collect rainwater from the roof. We use that a lot in summer,” says Judy.

With no bare ground in the planting style, Judy says, “one of the things is to plant heavily so it keeps weeds down. They also provide quite a lot more moisture to the site, so I mulch, but I don't have to weed very often.” Much of the garden is edible, including flowers like nasturtium, marigold and viola. Judy says, “In summer I can grow some of the bigger vegies like eggplants and tomatoes. Over winter, there's more low growing brassicas and herbs.” Judy utilises tent structures and shed walls to grow vegies vertically, as well as wicking beds that were built by Andreas. ��They're really high functioning wicking beds,” says Judy, “They store a lot of the moisture, and it wicks up in the soil. I just have to put a light sprinkling of water on top when I'm growing seeds but mostly the vegetables root down quite well.” Judy takes her love of designing interiors to the outdoors and uses a lot of recycled materials, including baskets from old vineyards repurposed as planters, and an eclectic mix of mirrors, sculptures and ornaments found in hard rubbish collections. “I do collect things... I do it innately, I don't think about it that much,” says Judy and in a cool temperate garden when many plants lose their leaves, having these elements really hold the garden together. Even though it's a small space, there's more than enough happening year-round to keep Judy actively planting, improving and making the most of her little productive inner-city sanctuary. “It's a connection with the Earth to me,” says Judy, “it really grounds me... it's very soothing.”

[aclasstimberhardware]

The Versatility of Concrete Sleepers in Melbourne Landscaping - AClasstimber Hardware

Concrete sleepers have become a popular choice for homeowners and landscapers in Melbourne looking to enhance their outdoor spaces. Known for their durability and aesthetic appeal, concrete sleepers serve a variety of purposes, from retaining walls to garden beds, making them an excellent investment for any landscaping project. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of concrete sleepers and how they can transform your garden.

1. Durability and Longevity

One of the most significant advantages of concrete sleepers is their durability. Unlike timber, which can rot, warp, or be damaged by pests, concrete sleepers are resistant to the elements. They do not require regular treatment or maintenance, making them a long-lasting solution for your landscaping needs. In a city like Melbourne, where weather conditions can be unpredictable, having robust materials that can withstand heavy rainfall and strong winds is essential.

2. Aesthetic Appeal

Concrete sleepers come in a variety of designs and finishes, allowing homeowners to choose options that complement their landscape. From sleek, modern styles to rustic finishes that mimic natural wood, there is a concrete sleeper design for every aesthetic preference. This versatility enables you to create a cohesive look throughout your outdoor space, enhancing its overall beauty.

3. Versatile Applications

The versatility of concrete sleepers makes them suitable for a range of applications. Here are some popular uses:

Retaining Walls: Concrete sleepers are commonly used to build retaining walls that prevent soil erosion while adding structure to your garden. They can be stacked to create walls of varying heights, allowing for creative landscaping solutions.

Garden Edging: If you’re looking to define garden beds or pathways, concrete sleepers can serve as attractive and functional edging. They help keep soil and mulch in place while providing a clean, finished look.

Raised Garden Beds: For those who enjoy gardening, concrete sleepers can be used to construct raised garden beds. These beds not only provide better drainage but also make it easier to manage soil quality and prevent weeds.

Outdoor Seating Areas: Concrete sleepers can be transformed into stylish seating arrangements. By stacking or arranging sleepers creatively, you can create a unique outdoor lounge space for gatherings or quiet relaxation.

4. Environmentally Friendly

In an age where sustainability is a priority, concrete sleepers present an eco-friendly option. They are often made from recycled materials, reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional timber. Additionally, their longevity means fewer resources are consumed over time due to the need for replacements or repairs.

5. Easy Installation

Another appealing aspect of concrete sleepers is their ease of installation. While some landscaping projects may require professional assistance, many homeowners find that they can install concrete sleepers themselves, especially for smaller projects. This not only saves money but also allows for greater creativity and personalization in design.

Conclusion

Concrete sleepers are a versatile and durable option for enhancing outdoor spaces in Melbourne. Their aesthetic appeal, longevity, and environmentally friendly attributes make them a favored choice for both professional landscapers and DIY enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to build retaining walls, create raised garden beds, or define pathways, concrete sleepers offer a practical solution that can elevate your landscaping project.

Investing in concrete sleepers not only transforms your garden but also adds value to your property. With their wide range of applications and attractive designs, it’s no wonder that concrete sleepers have become a go-to material for those looking to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces in Melbourne. Whether you are starting a new project or updating your current landscape, consider the many benefits that concrete sleepers can bring to your garden.

For More:

Ph: 0450 612 719

Mail id: sales@aclasstimberhardware.com.au

Working Time: Monday to Friday 7 AM to 4PM and Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM.

Visit us: https://aclassbuildingmaterials.com.au/

[smartresourcesgroup]

Buy Premium Garden Supplies in Melbourne: Transform Your Courtyard!

Property owners can transform the open spaces into beautiful gardens by creating a perfect gardening landscape using top-quality garden supplies in Melbourne from well-established recycling facilities. 

Whether anyone has experience in creating pulchritudinous gardens to make the home lavish, they can buy premium supplies and garden mulch from the most trusted recycled ecological material supplier in the region.

Using gardening materials maintains healthy and thriving gardens, creates a protective barrier, helps to retain moisture in the soil, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weed growth. 

Additionally, organic mulch enriches the soil as it breaks down, providing essential nutrients for plant growth, and improving soil structure. Natural timber waste-made mulch from trusted suppliers can reduce evaporation and erosion, help conserve water for longer and prevent nutrient runoff from the topsoil.

Why Select a Trusted Supplier for Gardening Materials?

Recognised gardening material suppliers provide a variety of top-notch supplies that are tailored to meet the unique needs of Melbourne's climate and landscape. from topsoil, mulch, crushed brick, compost, organic fertilizers and more to create the perfect soil to grow plants easily.

These recycled gardening material suppliers recycle timber waste and other organic waste to develop them into organic mulch and fertilizers. They source from trusted suppliers and develop organic materials that can improve the quality, sustainability, appropriate air circulation, and water-holding property of the soil, making it ideal for healthy flower and fruit production and kitchen gardening as well.

These suppliers have knowledgeable employees passionate about gardening and eager to assist clients in selecting the right supplies for their projects. Whether anyone is planning a vegetable garden, creating a flower bed, or designing a landscape, their experts can deliver advice and guidance on selecting the right gardening soil and material supplies best for the client.

These recycling suppliers provide excellent customer care executives who can satisfy their customers through exceptional service, and competitive prices, and create a seamless gardening bed guaranteed the best outcome.

Find a Trusted Recycling Service Nearby:

People should find a trusted recycling service nearby by following a few steps. 

Firstly, they need to visit their websites to know more about their available products and services.

Secondly, buyers must compare their pricing, product quality, and services in the market.

Thirdly, they should visit their social media pages to read the reviews and recommendations of their clients and gauge their overall reputation in the market.

Finally, check their transparency and contact them to get the best quality mulch, compost, topsoil and other supplies to transform the backyard into a beautiful garden.

Source

[ecotimber3]

Sustainable Chic: Elevate Your Space with Recycled Timber Furniture in Melbourne

Introduction:

Embrace the essence of eco-conscious design with our Recycled Timber Furniture in Melbourne, where sustainability meets style. Our curated collection of recycled timber pieces redefines furniture as not only functional but also a statement of environmental responsibility. Crafted with precision and a commitment to reducing ecological impact, each piece tells a unique story, breathing new life into reclaimed materials.

Benefits of Recycled Timber Furniture:

Environmental Stewardship: Choosing Recycled Timber Furniture is a powerful way to contribute to environmental conservation. By repurposing timber from salvaged sources, we minimize the demand for new materials, helping conserve forests and reduce carbon footprints.

Unique Character: Each piece of recycled timber carries a history, showcasing the natural patina, knots, and grains that tell a tale of its previous life. This uniqueness adds character and charm to your furniture, making it a distinctive and conversation-worthy addition to your Melbourne home.

Durability and Timelessness: Recycled timber is renowned for its durability and longevity. Our furniture pieces are not only environmentally responsible but also timeless in design, ensuring they remain a cherished part of your interior for years to come.

Customization Possibilities: Tailor your furniture to suit your personal style with our range of recycled timber options. From rustic farmhouse charm to sleek contemporary designs, our collection offers versatility to complement various aesthetics prevalent in Melbourne's diverse design landscape.

Applications of Recycled Timber Furniture in Melbourne:

Living Spaces: Introduce a touch of sustainable luxury to your living room with Recycled Timber Coffee Tables, Sideboards, and Entertainment Units. These pieces seamlessly blend style with conscience, creating an inviting and environmentally friendly space.

Dining Areas: Elevate your dining experience with Recycled Timber Dining Tables and Chairs. The natural beauty and durability of recycled timber ensure a dining set that not only makes a visual impact but also stands the test of time.

Bedroom Retreats: Create a cozy and environmentally conscious bedroom with Recycled Timber Bed Frames, Dressers, and Nightstands. Each piece adds a touch of warmth and individuality to your personal sanctuary.

Home Office: Foster creativity and productivity in your home office with Recycled Timber Desks and Bookshelves. These pieces combine functionality with sustainable design, creating a workspace that aligns with your values.

Conclusion:

In Melbourne, where design innovation and sustainability converge, our Recycled Timber Furniture stands as a testament to the city's commitment to responsible living. Elevate your living spaces with furniture that not only exudes style and craftsmanship but also embodies a conscious choice towards a greener future. Choose Recycled Timber Furniture for a home that reflects both your aesthetic preferences and environmental values, creating a harmonious blend of elegance and responsibility.

[commercialfurnituremelbourn-blog]

Perfect Custom Made Beds Melbourne For Your Comfort

Comfortable and custom-designed beds are very difficult to found. This variety is available to only rarely professional industries in manufacturing the custom made beds Melbourne. Removing your whole day's stress and relaxing plays a very important role in getting you ready for other challenges for the next day. So, while buying one for yourself go for the Davis Furniture company. The variety and the quality of the furniture they manufacture are what make them more recommended. They have a quality collection of dining furniture, living area furniture, outdoor-indoor furniture according to your choice.

All the products hold Tasmanian oak and blackbutt hardwood which increase the life of the product and avoid your sleepless nights. If you are planning to change the bed of your space then Davis Furniture will never disappoint you. All the Australian made furniture is priced reasonably. You can even visit the online website to check the quality of all the timber furniture, track your orders, and even can contact our experts for the related queries.

[skintreatmentbrisbane]

Davis Furniture is a reputed business in manufacturing commercial furniture in Melbourne. All the furniture pieces are made so comfortable for the customers essentially ensuring long sitting hours. Premium offers are applied to the unique designs of furniture so that you can easily buy them at the best prices. For detailed information about the product quality, freely contact us.

[austinmatthew]

Recycled Timber - Why Choose Recycled Timber?

Recycled timber can be a beautiful addition to your home, whether you want to make a dining table and chairs, a buffet or hall table, or even a bed. It is not only environmentally friendly, but it can also be fashioned into just about any furniture item. For example, you can have your dining table made from recycled timber by a company like Nullarbor Timber.

When it comes to buying recycled timber melbourne, the durability of the material is an important consideration. Recycled timber is not a new product, and therefore, its durability is an important issue. In Australia, recycling timber has become a popular choice due to a growing concern about climate change. Reclaimed timber suppliers in Melbourne recycle old structure timber, stripping it of nails and giving it a new lease on life. Old railways, wharves, power poles, and other structures that are no longer needed are usually sources of recycled timber.

Recycled timbers are excellent for structural purposes, such as framing a new house or extension. They can also be displayed as exposed beams or columns for a dramatic effect. They are also ideal for building retaining walls. Moreover, recycled timbers are great for decking. And because they are sustainable, they will last for decades.

Recycled timber is stronger than new lumber. While new lumber is treated in kilns to remove moisture, recycled timber is naturally dried for several years. This way, it has virtually no moisture content. This makes it an ideal option for homeowners who are looking for a greener and more affordable way to build their dream home.

[palletfoundation]

What are the benefits of using wooden pallets in industrial packaging?

The importance of pallets for shipping industry in USA is simply inevitable. Wooden pallets, however, come in different materials such as plastic, metal and wood. Wooden pallets are among the most widely used varieties by the shippers due to various reasons.

Advantages of wooden pallets

Wooden pallets are affordable

Compared to other pallet varieties, wooden pallets are notably inexpensive. Since the price of the raw material (timber) is very low compared to metal, the end result (wooden pallets) is remarkably cheaper. Therefore, wooden pallets are considered to be the most appropriate solution for the shippers that are looking for low budget pallets. Since the wooden pallets are easily reusable for many times, they have become a preferred choice of many shippers in Melbourne.

Durability and strength

Although wooden pallets are remarkably cheaper than the other options, their overall quality, durability and strength is not compromised. In fact, wooden pallets have amazing strength to hold heavier and bulkier loads with ease. Due to this strength and durability, shippers in Melbourne prefer wooden pallets as their containers particularly when loading huge consignments.

Wide availability

In general, wooden pallets are widely available throughout Australia. Because of this frequent availability, pallets are preferred by busy clients as they don’t like to wait until their pallets arrive.

Wooden pallets can be repaired pretty easily

Compared to metal and plastic pellet varieties, wooden pallets can be repaired pretty easily. In most of the occasions, repairs can be done just with a hammer and a couple of nails. You don’t need to be a professional carpenter to handle such repairs associated with wooden pallets.

They can be recycled

Recycling of wooden pallets can be entertained without the use of any special procedure. You don’t need to melt them or use chemicals to mould them; all you need is a creative mind and some skills. These wooden pallets can be transformed into many other items and in fact, the items like tables, fences, and flower beds etc. made out of wooden pallets are highly popular throughout Australia.

Better friction than other materials

One of the most remarkable benefits associated with wooden pallets is their high level of friction virtually on all the surfaces. Such friction helps these pallets to stay in place without slipping with the goods during the transportation process.

Environment friendly Wood is extracted from nature hence it can also be decomposed into nature. If the Wooden Packaging Material gets worn or torn it can be shredded into small pieces that can be used for filling furniture or for making wood baskets, etc. no harmful gases or chemicals are required to make Wooden Packaging Material.

Stackable Wooden Packaging Material provides optimum space utilization. Wooden crates or plates can be easily stacked over each other. They save a lot of space in the shipment vehicle.

Wooden Packaging Material is ideally used in industries that deal with heavy weight goods. Due to its high strength and low cost, Wooden Packaging Material is considered to be the most cost effective solution for packaging.

Pallet Foundation

To unify the wood packaging industry, the Pallet Foundation delivers the latest science and technology that allow our businesses to succeed. We work with partners and invest heavily in projects to improve the safety of our industry and our environment.

Nature’s Packaging®

We focus on delivering tools and resources for the supply chain to assess better and to understand their carbon footprint, the importance, and the connection of wood packaging to forest health. Backed by sound science, Nature’s Packaging® gives our industry the tools to take a more proactive role in telling our story and celebrating wood as a sustainable choice.

To know more visit: https://palletfoundation.org/research/

[livingcorner]

Landscaping for sustainability | Sustainable Gardening Australia@|how to create a native australian garden@|https://www.sgaonline.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/design2-1920.jpg@|21

Principles Getting started Your needs, wants and budget Take your time The design Selecting plants Special elements Plant selection Plant placement – plant stacking and hydro-zoning Site details Material selection Know when NOT to DIY Costs Water features

Principles

1. To design a landscape that minimises the requirement for energy inputs. These inputs may take the form of petrol to run mowers, leaf blowers and line cutters; chemicals to treat pests; and fertilisers to promote growth, H2O, cleaning agents, stains and finishes to keep hard surfaces clean and well-maintained. Informed plant selection that reduces the need for maintenance inputs – e.g. gardens/landscapes that feature a high proportion of amenity lawn require much higher energy inputs than a mixed herbaceous/shrub planting. On-site treatment of green waste also reduces the need for energy input.

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2. To design a landscape that minimizes the requirements for high water inputs, above that which naturally occurs in the particular region. This may be achieved via plant species choices, microclimate design (hydrozoning), mulches, water recycling etc.

3. To design a landscape that maximizes opportunities for biodiversity at all levels. This includes attracting wildlife, maintaining complex ecosystems, companion planting, considering the health of soil biota, recognizing the links between the elements of the garden and the organisms that inhabit it.

4. To design a landscape that maximizes vegetative biomass. This aids in carbon stabilization. For example a landscape that features a high proportion of paved or hard surfaces and/or high proportion of amenity lawn stores much less carbon than a landscape which features higher proportions of vegetative biomass. And we mean permanent vegetation, not material that must be constantly pruned or mown heavily, or seasonally replanted.

5. To design a landscape that maximizes the opportunity for the growth of produce (vegetables, fruits, bush tucker/edible weeds),and other useful materials including composting, on-site green waste recycling, space for chooks and other sustainable elements. It encourages you to supplement your diet with freshly grown produce, encourages you to consider more than the ornamental value of gardens, and makes you aware of the environmental impacts of broad acre farming and all that this entails, eg. fertiliser/chemical applications, soil structure, etc

6. To design a landscape that minimizes the risk of weed-escapees moving into native habitats. Consider the reproductive biology of the plants selected for your garden, or the ways in which particular species can be maintained to lessen the risk of their unwanted spread (for example, deadheading or removing the flowers off Agapanthus as soon as the flowers die).

7. To design a landscape that minimizes or eliminates the use of materials that disrupt, destroy, pollute or damage natural systems/communities where they are sourced. For example, retain top-soil so far as possible in present condition, chose mulches sourced from timber industry by-product or local source by-product, avoid sleepers taken from native forest, ornamental river pebbles harvested from active waterways, and avoid plants harvested from the bush or logging coups. Choose locally sourced (eg bulk) materials to reduce product miles, where possible.

8. To design a landscape that minimizes the risk of disruption, pollution or interference to other systems. For example, the effect on non-target areas from highly toxic, mobile or residual chemicals can be catastrophic. Runoff from poorly designed landscapes can affect local systems via erosion or movement of damaging products (chemicals, soil movement, weed seed).

Getting Started

1. Measuring Up

Any existing house plans or the Land Title will be of assistance, as measurements will be shown on these and can reduce your work. Crudely draw the shape/boundaries of the garden on a sheet of paper. Measure the dimensions of the site and write all the measurements on the paper along the appropriate boundary lines etc., as shown in the illustration here. Measure the position of existing trees and other plants that will not be removed and note these on the paper. (It’s also a good idea to note plants that you are removing, as it can help with planning).

When plotting the position of elements in the garden, utilise existing permanent structures such as fences and buildings, so that measurements can be taken at right angles from them. This will ensure that the position on your plan is accurate. For example, to pinpoint the exact position of the lemon tree on the top right of the illustration here, the tape measure was laid out at right angles from the top fence (the tree is three metres in), and then the tape measure was laid out at right angles from the side fence and that distance is four metres in (this is noted on the paper).

2. Site Analysis

A careful site analysis makes it much easier to design your new garden because you will have noted anything that could have an impact on the garden’s success.

a. Where’s north? If in doubt, the street directory or the GPS can help and so can a little compass! When designing a garden, the movement of the sun can be very crucial. We will discuss this more in another Part of this series.

b. Take note of sunny and shaded areas. (Remember that the sun is much higher during the summer months.) Local shade will vary depending on surrounding structures eg fences, trees, neighbouring houses, as well as the seasons.

c. If you know your garden well you might even be able to note the areas that are boggy in winter or particularly dry in summer.

d. Slopes. Depending on what work you intend doing or having done in your garden you may need to consider having accurate levels taken, especially for any construction works.

e. Soil type (and condition). Refer to the SGA information page on soils.

f. Size and position of trees and other plants that are staying.

g. Existing paths and other features that are staying. (These will also need to be measured and accurately noted on your plan).

h. Overlooking to or by neighbours.

i. Views (from windows into the garden as well as views from and within the garden).

j. Neighbours’ trees etc.

Take a note of anything that may help you with your garden plan and write it on the paper with the measurements. Remember that even minor ground depressions can be utilised.

Your Needs, Wants and Budget

If you were a professional designer, this stage would be referred to as the Client Brief. In this case you are the client and the designer!

You need to consider what you want out of this garden but keep your budget in mind. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend you might want to consider how you can implement works over time.

Needs

Write a list of everything you need in your garden. For example, a garden shed, and the size you are thinking of. It’s a good idea to have catalogue information for these sorts of items, so that you have accurate dimensions.

You might need an area for the kid’s trampoline and swing set. So you need to work out how much area to set aside – remember to include plenty of surrounding area for sliding off slides, jumping off swings and trampolines etc.

If you are including a vegetable garden, you need to think about the size and whether it will be in ground or above ground (garden beds, pots, or upright planter beds). If you are new to vegetable growing, start small but perhaps have a plan to increase its size should you find you can cope with growing more. Vegetable gardens can be quite time consuming. And because vegetable gardens will require regular water, remember that any other high water use plants you might want to include, such as fruit trees should be planted in the same area. But be mindful of future shading of the vegetable garden. Think about the size of the tree when it has grown, as its canopy might be several metres in diameter.

There are smaller fruit tree varieties available now that are small in stature but produce quite a lot of fruit.

Then there are the other utility items such as clothes lines and storage areas.

Do you need a cricket pitch?

And if you have a courtyard sized garden, you better prioritise your needs. We’ll get onto some design solutions for smaller spaces.

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Wants

This could include the style of the garden. Garden design books and magazines will help you narrow in on the look that appeals to you.

From a design point of view, don’t forget to incorporate standard design elements, including repetition, contrast (colour, foliage), asymmetry and surprises in to your overall ‘look’.

Keep in mind when thinking about what style of garden appeals to you; you can achieve it using drought tolerant, native or indigenous plants. SGA has prepared information showing just how this is possible, and with examples of plants from the local Melbourne area that would be appropriate.

Make a list of your favourite plants, textures, foliage colours and flowers.

Sculpture and artworks might be considered. Even a very small budget can cope with a bowl of water on a rock and this can be as effective in the right surrounds as any expensive sculpture.

Take Your Time

Take your time to think about what you really need and want in your garden.

Some more questions to get you thinking . . .

Do you like winding paths and surprises around corners, or do you prefer a vista of a garden?

Do you entertain outdoors a lot? If so, you may need to consider an entertaining space as a need.

Do you have pets and how might you cater for their needs, especially rambunctious dogs and young plants?

Are there any other considerations relating to the wider landscape that you might need to consider, such as bushfire, heritage and tree overlays?

If you are considering built structures, contact your local council to find out their requirements regarding permits etc. And while you’re at it, ask for their list of garden weed plants in your area.

Movement throughout the space is a key aspect. Movement is not only important for navigation around the space, but should be factored in (eg the placement of paving stones) so that compaction of soil can be avoided, which affects soil drainage and nutrient uptake by plants.

The Design

We will now adjourn to the drawing table (a la kitchen table), with crude hand drawn plan with site measurements written on it, a site analysis, a firm idea of wants and needs, and a firm idea of limitations budget-wise.

Scale

All drawing from now on should be to scale. This means that the measurements on the paper must reflect actual membership but smaller scale. In landscape drawing we often work in the 1:100 (which means that 1 cm on the paper is equal to 100 centimetre on the ground. This is the same as saying the 1 cm on the paper is equal to 1 metre on the ground). 1:50 is also a common scale. This means that 1 cm on the paper is equal to 50 cm (or half a metre) on the ground. For even more detail, the 1:25 scale means that 1 cm on the paper is equal to only 25 centimetres on the ground.

A 1:50 scale is most often the best, as the plan can provide enough detail at this scale. For larger properties, many different drawings may need to be produced, including Shadow Diagrams and Section Elevations.

Scale rulers are available at office suppliers.

Paper

Tracing paper is good to work on, as you can put another sheet on top and quickly rework if necessary. Often it is available by the sheet in larger sizes too. The size of your garden and the scale you want to show will dictate the size of the paper!

What is the longest measurement on your rough drawn plan – maybe it’s the measurement from one end of the garden to the other? If it’s 15 metres that will be 30 cm on your paper if it’s at the 1:50 scale.

Other tools

There is a multitude of professional tools available but for the one-off (or maybe a couple-off) home design plans most of them can be avoided. A scale ruler can be handy but is not a necessity, cheaper drawing pens are quite suitable, and a template of scaled circles (as shown here) is mighty useful for drawing plants to the right diameter.

An H pencil, which is quite fine, is good for drawing on the tracing paper, whereas an HB or heavier leads 2B and 4B are good for sketching (this depends on personal preference too).

A bendable curve (also shown here) is useful for shaping curves.

And a triangle will help with right angles.

A drawing table like this portable one costs about $180, but even a smooth, clean and dry kitchen table will do the job.

Drawing

All those rough drawn lines with the measurements on them (refer to the illustration in Part 1), must now be transferred accurately to your paper.

This can be time consuming, depending on the level of detail and size of your garden. Draw up all the basic building and boundary measurements first.

Next, incorporate the elements you are keeping from your existing garden onto your new plan.

Trees and other elements that are staying must be put in the right spot and shown at the right size and dimensions. For existing trees, this means that your circle template reflects the actual spread of the canopy – or rather, the diameter of the canopy. This is important to help you gauge shading effects when placing your new plants and elements.

Keep your scale in mind when drawing. For example, when you are drawing your new deck, go outside and measure your new dimensions on the ground too and actually see the size of it.

Paths

Paths need not be all the one size, but consider how they are to be used. For example, you don’t want to make the access path to the shed very narrow as you need to be able to negotiate it with a wheelbarrow and tools spilling out.

Placing stuff

Consider the view out of your windows and what you will be looking at. You don’t want to spoil a potentially appealing view by sticking the new garden shed right in the way. And the same goes for artworks or focal points too. Think about where they will be viewed from – out of windows and when walking around the garden.

Consider utility

Consider how quickly and easily you need to get from one point to another. Sometimes we don’t just want to meander around, sometimes we are out there working, and easy access and speed can be a necessity.

Selecting Plants

At this stage think about the size of the plant and the look you want for a particular location, rather than the specific plant. For example, you have decided that along a path’s edge a groundcover that has yellow flowers most of the year would be ideal. In another area you are thinking that a shrub with grey foliage that will grow to a maximum of 2 metres will look great next to the existing native hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) and its bright purple-blue flowers. You can write this briefly on your plan in light pencil to help remember what you have in mind.

When drawing in plan view, all you can show is the diameter of the plant, not its height. Using a thicker pen on the final drawing gives the illusion of a more dominant (bigger) plant. The diameter that’s shown on the plan is the plant’s diameter at maturity, not when it was first bought in the pot!

Special Elements

Adding a Rain Garden or designing a pond is one thing, but building them is quite another. Keep in mind your budget and capabilities when designing these sort of elements and structures. You may need to consider expert help, or even a builder for some of the built structures. Local councils have lots of information of this kind.

Plant Selection

A plant’s suitability for the job, the site and the position, is the rule for all plant selection in sustainable design. By this we mean that the plant will do what you want it to do (for example, provide shade or screening), its suitability for the climate and microclimate (for example, roses might be very suitable for your climate, but not if they will be sitting under full shade all summer long), and, most importantly, the soil.

Not only does wise plant selection make life easier from a maintenance point of view but it is a key to true sustainability. After all, many plants die simply because they are placed in the wrong spot or are not suited to the local soil characteristics (sandy, loamy, clay or combination soil).

In recent times, drought tolerance has been a key criteria for plant selection, and there’s no signs that this will change soon in (change to) various regions.

Weather patterns are a lot less predictable, nowadays. It’s becoming equally important to select plants that tolerate extreme conditions, ie. heavy rain, high winds, and severe heat, as well as drought.  This need not impact on the style of garden, as plants tolerating extreme conditions can be found to suit all garden styles.

Weeds

An important point to remember is to avoid environmental weeds. Your local council should be able to provide you with a list of weeds that are a problem in your region. Otherwise, Google is a great resource! If you have any doubt, simply type the botanic name of the plant and check out Australian websites. If it’s a weed, it will come up on sites such as Weeds CRC, council sites and many others.

Another important issue is the state of your soil, especially if you are going to be creating your garden on a recent building site. If the topsoil has been lost and you are left with subsurface clay and the like, you will need to improve your soil well before planting. Recycled green waste compost and soil improvers are available in bulk and should be added to your soil months ahead of planting. This will allow time for worms and soil microflora to recolonise and create a more suitable planting environment.

Avoid importing topsoil, as this is usually from an unsustainable source. Try to work with the top-soil on site, as this can always be ameliorated and is teeming with important organisms (biota). A useful book on the subject of soils is Gardening Down-Under by Kevin Handreck (published by LandLinks).

Local Plants

Indigenous plants are plants that grow naturally in your area. They have evolved with the local climate and the soil, so are usually perfectly suited to your environment. However, if you have a recent building site and are looking at subsurface clay etc, as mentioned above, you will still need to improve your soil prior to planting.

There are many advantages to using local plants besides their ability to thrive in your garden. They are often low maintenance and thrive without the addition of fertilisers or pesticides and they provide food and shelter for native wildlife. There are indigenous plants to suit any style of garden, so you don’t have to have a bush garden if that doesn’t appeal to you. Do not remove indigenous plants from parks and bushland. Your local council should be able to provide you with information on nurseries that grow indigenous plants.

Native Plants

Native plants are Australian plants that aren’t necessarily from your area. Native plants can offer similar benefits to your garden as indigenous plants and once again, don’t necessarily dictate a bushland garden style. The book, The New Native Garden – Designing with Australian Plants by Paul Urquhart (published by New Holland Publishers) offers great suggestions on using native plants in any style of garden.

Do be careful, though, some native plants can be environmental weeds in your area. For example, Sydney Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana) is a weed in Victoria, and the beautiful Western Australian Blue Bell Creeper Sollya heterophylla is a weed in the eastern states (although Austraflora has developed a sterile variety that is not a weed – Sollya heterophylla x parviflora ‘Edna Walling Blue Bells’, shown here).

There is also information on the website of the Australian Native Plants Society (http://anpsa.org.au/).

Don’t assume, though, that because a plant is indigenous or native, it will be drought tolerant. Some are from riparian (waterway) environments, so are used to having ample available water. Indigofera australis (shown here), is an example. It is an elegant small shrub that is indigenous to all States of Australia. It is found naturally mainly in riparian environments and damp forests.

Exotic Plants

Exotic plants are plants from other countries. There are many suitable exotic plants that are drought tolerant species or are suitable for your site, but do check that the plant selected is not a weed in your area.

Mix and Match

There is no reason why you can’t incorporate a mixture of indigenous, native and exotic plants in your garden. Obviously if you are including a vegetable garden and fruit trees, then exotic plants will be necessary (although there is also the possibility of exploring bush tucker!).

Plant Placement – Plant Stacking and Hydro-Zoning

Be careful when placing plants that, over time, you won’t be shading areas that you don’t want shaded. This is especially important with regard to the northern aspect, as the sun is lower in the sky in winter and allowing winter sunshine into the house or corners of the garden is very desirable.

The other side of that is creating shade where it is required. Providing shade to western exposures is a good idea, so think about taller trees and shrubs here (where possible). Deciduous plants can be planted closer to the house, whereas evergreen trees need to be placed well away, to avoid casting shade in winter.

Consider competition between plants over time too (for sun, water, ventilation). You need to allow plenty of room between large trees and shrubs. Consider the size of the plant at maturity when drawing them on your plan.

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Another factor is to incorporate plant-stacking where larger trees or plants can create shade and wind-protection for shade-loving species. Similarly, plants can be zoned according to their water needs, so water isn’t wasted. Plants needing more H2O can be placed ‘down-slope’.

Also be mindful that you won’t be creating a future problem because you are placing a tree too close to a building or to drains. There are web-sites that will list trees with invasive roots, in your local area. And consider your neighbours too. Don’t plant large trees close to boundaries, without your neighbour’s consent, for example.

Site Details

Not only can the microclimate vary from one corner of the garden to another, but slope and proximity to buildings can also have a significant impact on plant success. For example, the south side of buildings is shaded for most of the year, and the western side can be shaded for most of the day and then suddenly be blasted by hot afternoon sun during summer.

Soil conditions under existing trees and under house eaves can be quite dry. Slope and depressions can also have an impact. Depressions will often be wetter most of the year, and the top of a slope is generally drier than the bottom.

Grow What Where (which also comes with a CD), by Natalie Peate, Gwenda Macdonald & Alice Talbot (published by Bloomings Books), is an excellent resource for selecting native plants for specific environments.

The Soft Landscape

The soft landscape includes plants, mulches and composts etc. Plant selection guides what soil preparation is needed and a lot of what else is required too. Many indigenous plants require little ground preparation, yet a vegetable garden requires considerable preparation, especially in poor soils. Vegetable gardens are often best built above the soil, using the No Dig Method of establishment and growing.

Indigenous and native plants benefit from a coarse mulch. Some prefer gravel mulches, or light loose leaf litter, so ensure you know the requirements of the plants you are putting in.

Most soils will benefit from the addition of compost and for plants where soil improvement is necessary, it would be wise to consider adding the compost weeks or even months ahead of planting. There’s more information on soil preparation in SGA’s Information Pages, under Soil Health.

What you now need to work out is just how much of everything you need. For those of you who have forgotten your school maths, the following formulas are the ones of most importance! Working out volumes of mulch and the like becomes very easy (especially with a calculator!).

Area of a square (and rectangle): l x w (l = length, w = width)

Area of a circle: π x r2 (π = pi, which = 3.141 – if you have an electronic calculator, π will be on it as the symbol, so you don’t need to type in the actual numbers, r = radius)

Area of a triangle: (b x h)/2 (b = base, h = height)

If you need more of an explanation of these formulas, a good webpage is: http://math.about.com/

You can use a combination of mostly squares, rectangles and circles to work out the area of garden beds on your design. These formulas only give you the area, the other variable is depth. And depth depends on what you need. For example, to work out how much mulch to order for garden beds, work out the area of all the beds. Now, we usually like mulch to be up to 70mm in depth, so we multiply the area by the depth of 70mm. Be careful with units and decimal points.

For example, if all the areas of garden bed give a total of about 180m2, then the volume of mulch required will be 180 x .07 (notice the decimal point has moved because we are working in units of metres). The total is 12.6 cubic metres (m3), but when ordering you would probably go up to 13 or maybe even 15 – to round it off (many of us often add another cubic metre or so for good measure!).

You will need to go through the same procedure for all materials.

And another couple of formulas that are very useful are the volume of a cylinder (see graphic left) and the volume of a cube (see graphic right). Both or either will be useful if you have included a lot of large pots in the design, as you will be able to work out how much potting media to purchase.

Volume of a cylinder: π x r2 x h Volume of a cube: l x w x h

The Hard Landscape

The hard landscape is essentially anything that’s not the soft landscape! The soft landscape includes the plants, mulch and composts etc. and was discussed above.

We’re left with decking, paving, walls, and essentially the built components of a landscape. This can be a tricky area for the inexperienced or untrained, and there are some very important issues to consider before you tackle building structures or hard landscaping.

Material Selection

Selecting the materials you want can be time consuming alone, with the amount of product available out there. But to try to make an informed decision based on environmental criteria, adds a whole other dimension!

Here’s a guide:

Where does the material come from? Local products require less transport, chain of custody/forest stewardship is easier to establish, and local products have less impact on greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts.

Avoid rainforest timber. (There is always a sustainable replacement.)

Use plantation grown timber or bamboo from a sustainable source.

Look for radially sawn timber, as this technique produces more timber per log.

Consider recycled products where possible (eg reclaimed bricks.)

Consider recycling existing material. (For example, concrete can be sent to a recycler and turned into crushed rock which can be reused on site. Crushed bricks can be used as back-fill for walls.)

Where do those pebbles come from? Are they mined without control in Asia? Or are they at least mined from a controlled source locally.

Consider the urban heat island effect and wind-turbulence factor. The greater the proportion of hard surfaces you build, the lower the heat absorption by vegetative bio-mass that can occur and the harsher the wind-factor may be. Also, by reducing area for vegetation, you reduce the potential for ground-water cleaning, stormwater filtration and carbon uptake, as well.

Factor in the amount of hard surface cleaning and maintenance you wish to do. Outdoor walling and decking can require regular cleaning, sanding and staining.

Finally, consider allowing for permeable areas such as crazy paving/cobble-stones/stepping stones with space for vegetation, rather than an en masse area of non-permeable paving.

Know When NOT to DIY

Know your limitations! Simple paving may be well within most people’s scope of ability but unless you have training in bricklaying, paving, etc, think seriously about the outcome. The hard landscape is the most expensive element of a landscape. It’s also the most obvious, so a shabby job will permanently detract from the overall look.

There are safety issues inherent in built elements too. We’ve all heard horror stories of DIY walls falling over.

Training is obviously an option. There are plenty of short courses available through TAFE and the like, which will ensure you develop enough technique to create the more modest aspects of hard landscapes.

There are times, though, when it is compulsory to bring in professionals, so be mindful of building regulations. Contact your local Council for information on their requirements, rules and regulations.

Council permits and insurance are required on building projects over a certain amount (depending on where you are), so this also needs to be investigated. Contact your local council for more information to ensure your landscaping project does not breach local laws and regulations.

Be mindful of easements on your property (refer to the title plan), as it is illegal to build over easements.

Dial Before You Dig (1100) is an essential service to contact prior to any major excavations. Dial Before You Dig advise as to where underground services are located on your property.

Costs

Even if you don’t feel confident about building the hard landscape, there is research you can undertake that will help you keep an eye on costs. Ascertaining the amount of paving and decking required uses the same formulae as used to estimate soft landscape materials, except that you don’t need to work out depth! Suppliers can often help you work out the costs of decking and paving based simply on the area. Get several quotes for materials, as this will help to ensure you are getting the best price.

Water Features

Water features in a sustainable garden are ideally designed and constructed to increase biodiversity. Attracting frogs to your garden is an especially satisfying reward for creating suitable habitat. Frogs are not only interesting critters to have around but they also devour huge quantities of mosquitoes, flies and other insects.

There are a number of pre-made fibreglass ponds that can be simply dug into place. Edges and base can be hidden and the pond softened with the inclusion of rocks and pebbles. Another simple method of construction is to excavate a suitable sized hole and lay pond liner in it. The edges and base are also hidden with rocks and pebbles. When designing for a pond, it’s a good idea to consider utilising the natural slope of your block, wherever possible. Although you may wish to compromise that if you particularly want your pond in a specific place in your garden.

Placed in lower areas of your garden, the pond may be fed naturally by runoff rainwater, but the other advantage is that the surrounding ground will stay damp. This makes perfect frog habitat because Australian frogs don’t live in water all the time. In fact, they are used to their watery habitat drying out during summer and so take to the shelter of lush grasses and plants.

Pond Features

A frog pond can incorporate one or all of the requirements for each part of the frogs’ lifecycle.

Damp bog zone for adult frogs.

Shallow water zone for laying eggs.

Deep zone of at least 300mm for tadpoles.

Your frog garden should also have:

Soft, thick vegetation that droops into the water, for shelter and protection

Rocks, logs, bark and leaf litter

Mostly shade

Sloping sides for frogs to crawl out

Been made from non-toxic materials (concrete ponds will need to be sealed and plastic ponds be made of food-grade plastic)

Food plants for tadpoles (and they will eat them, so don’t put your prize waterlily in there!)

Frog-Friendly Plants

Frog-friendly plants include the following: Grasses: Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Weeping Grass (Microleana stipoides) or Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia spp.)

Tufting plants: Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthus spp.) or Black-anther Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta)

Bog plants: Soft Water Fern (Blechnum minus), Thatch Saw-sedge (Gahnia radula), Knobby Club-Rush (Ficinia nodosa), Grassy Mat-rush (Lomandra confertifolia) and Tassel Cord Rush (Restio tetraphyllus) – this is also suitable for planting in water.

Plants for Ponds

There are lots of native water plants that are suitable for garden ponds. These include Villarsia (Marsh Flower) and Marsilea drummondii (Nardoo). The following books also contain information on Australian water plants:

Aquatic and Wetland Plants, by Nick Romanowski, 1998, published by the University of New South Wales Press (UNSWP).

Australian Native Plants, by John W. Wrigley and Murray Fagg, 1996, published by Reed New Holland.

There are many exotic water plants that are terrible environmental weeds, so be very discerning when you buy, and do a bit of research. Other commonly used water plants include: Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Tassel Sedge (Carex fascicularis), Jointed Twig-rush (Baumea articulata) and Water Ribbons (Triglochin procerum).

Things to Avoid

Most fish will eat tadpoles.

Tadpoles and eggs can be killed by fountain pumps.

Cats and dogs will often hunt and kill frogs. Protect the frog area of your garden with sharp, spiky plants.

Pesticides and herbicides. Frogs eat insects, so you don’t want to spray them. And frogs are very sensitive to chemicals, so you can’t have both.

Fertiliser runoff.

Allowing duckweed or Azolla to cover the top of the pond as it reduces the oxygen available to tadpoles.

Cleaning out the pond too often. Tadpoles need some material to be breaking down in the pond water to provide food for them.

Collecting tadpoles from the wild. It is illegal in most parts of Australia. It’s also unnecessary. If you provide the right habitat, they will find you!

More information on particular topics that interest you can be found using the Search function on this site.

Photo: Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peroni) courtesy of Viridans [external_footer]

source https://livingcorner.com.au/landscaping-for-sustainability-sustainable-gardening-australiahow-to-create-a-native-australian-gardenhttps-www-sgaonline-org-au-wp-content-uploads-2018-08-design2-1920-jpg21/

[jeremystrele]

12 Sustainable Australian Products Changing The Way We Live

12 Sustainable Australian Products Changing The Way We Live

TDF Design Awards

by Lucy Feagins, Editor

Photo – Pier Carthew. Art Direction – Thalia Economo.

Photo – Cubed Studios

Photo – Annette O’Brien. Styling – Ruth Welsby 

Other Matter, Algae Bioplastic Vessels

Other Matter is the multifaceted studio of experimental designer Jessie French, exploring the creation of seaweed-based bioplastics. Jessie’ Melbourne based design studio is the first in the world to offer custom-made, algae-based bioplastic designs, resulting in aesthetically striking pieces reminiscent of glass that are recyclable, biodegradable, and can be composted in a home system.

Other Matter supports Jessie’s vision for a ‘post-petrochemical’ world: an economic model that substitutes plastic products made from mined petroleum with biodegradable ‘plastic’ made from biological substances.

Jordy + Julia Kay of Great Wrap, Great Wrap – The only Australian made compostable cling wrap

Recognising the waste created by conventional cling wrap, an architect and a natural winemaker teamed up to create Great Wrap. This certified home-compostable cling wrap performs exactly like conventional cling wrap, except it breaks down into carbon and water in less than 180 days when composted.

Great Wrap is made from potato waste and a mix of other compostable biopolymers, and manufactured for home and industrial use at a solar powered factory on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ettitude, CleanBamboo

While many companies offer bamboo bedding using toxic rayon or viscose technology, ettitude spent years refining and testing its signature CleanBamboo textile to create a bamboo fabric that is 100% biodegradable and produced in a closed-loop system. The 100% bamboo lyocell has a sateen weave that provides its signature silky-soft feel, and is only available through ettitude.

Compared to cotton, one set of CleanBamboo ettitude sheets requires just one tenth of the water to manufacture. The brand’s technology reuses water up to 200 times, recycling 98% of water in the process.

3D Render – Michael Warren

Photo – Jess Brohier 

Pleasant State + Pop & Pac, Pleasant State – Drop into the Revolution

With the objective of reducing Australia’s single-use plastics, Pleasant State developed Australia’s first just-add-water cleaning products. Simply fill their reusable 500ml glass bottle with warm water, drop in the concentrated cleaning bar, wait for it to dissolve, then get cleaning. The product is zero waste, non-toxic, effective and stylish to encourage consumers to make the switch.

Since August 2020, Pleasant State estimated they’ve saved over 20,000 plastic cleaning bottles from landfill.

Use Daily, Various Origins

Believe it or not, Use Daily’s stylish bags are made from discarded outdoor materials such as awnings, tents and tarps all sourced in Melbourne from roadsides, demolitions and secondhand. Recognising the further potential of these durable and water-resistant materials, they have been transformed into practical, functional bags designed to be used daily.

The sustainable accessory label was founded in 2020 by multidisciplinary designers Cleo Coppinger and Joshua Anderson, with bags made in Fitzroy North by local maker Vanessa Flynn. Use Daily challenges perceptions of what is considered valuable, and the current model of mass production and mass waste.

Photo Render – 3d3d

Photo – The Life Style Edit

3D Render – Sarah Ceravolo Convolo Design

ROCC Naturals, ROCC Naturals – brand launch

Every year an estimated 1,500,000,000 toothpaste tubes enter landfill, all of which live there for 500+ years. Responding to this major problem, ROCC Naturals launched Australia’s first biodegradable toothpaste tube. Each tube breaks down in landfill in as little as six years and is engineered in a way to not break into microplastics.

ROCC Naturals’ brand identity designed by Date of Birth agency differs from other natural toothpastes in the market to offer a visual identity that’s both nostalgic and brand new at the same time. The design-inspired toothpaste is intended to sit proudly on your sink, not in your drawer.

The Better Uniforms Co., Sustainable Better Uniforms

The Better Uniforms Co. was created to fulfil a gap in the market for sustainable, premium and fashion-led uniforms. Their minimal, aesthetic uniforms are made-to-order using organic fabrics and ethical manufacturing, resulting in durable uniforms delivered in four to six weeks.

The company uses GOTS certified organic cotton from fair-trade certified farms, which means less damage to the soil, less impact on the air, less water, less energy and more support for the farmers and their communities. The company’s dye process is also certified to OEKO TEX 100 standards. Items are long lasting and competitively priced compared among leading Australian industry suppliers.

Convolo Design, H_Station

Hydrogen Fuels Australia are providing a revolutionary alternative to fossil fuels, and seeking to reimagine the future of vehicle design and mobility. In response, designer Sarah Ceravolo imagined H_Station – a hydrogen refuelling station for the future. H_Station is a modular construction with a light footprint on the land it resides on, and therefore can be easily and delicately relocated, preserving natural ecosystems. The site is planned for its first stage of construction to be completed in February 2022 in Truganina, Melbourne.

Photo – Fiona Susanto

3D render – Josh Howard

Cultivated (by Cult Design), Cultivated

Cultivated is Cult Design’s in-house program that provides buy back, refurbishment, and recycling services for authentic designer furniture. From a single lounge chair in need of re-upholstering, to an entire office space of worn-out seating, Cultivated works with local manufacturers and craftspeople to restore, reinvigorate or recycle original design, creating a sustainable circular economy for authentic furniture and lighting.

Cultivated is a standalone program, but also closely integrated into the Cult sales process. All commercial projects receive a Cultivated guarantee, ensuring that end of life furniture will be brought back to be refurbished or recycled.

Single Use Ain’t Sexy, Dissolvable Hand Soap Tablet & Reusable Glass Soap Bottle

Australians reportedly each use 130kg of plastic every year, less than 12% of which gets recycled. Single Use Ain’t Sexy set out to create a stylish solution to save single-use plastic soap bottles from landfill, leading to the creation of Australia’s first dissolvable hand soap tablet. Just add water into their reusable glass bottle, and wash your hands – without plastic waste.

Single Use Ain’t Sexy has now saved up to 125,000 single-use plastic bottles from landfill!

Photo – Jessie O’Brien

Photo – Christopher Tovo

Nobody Denim and GEORGE, Woven Bag

The objective of this project was to reduce Nobody Denim’s footprint and reimagine commercial textile waste. Cut offs otherwise destined for landfill were gathered from the denim label’s cutting room floor, and rerouted into the hands of weaver and designer, Georgina Whigham. In her Canberra studio, on behalf of her eponymous label GEORGE, Georgina wove this series of truly unique one of a kind recycled denim hats and bags.

Revival Projects, Zero Footprint Repurposing initiative at Ferrars Street

On half a South Melbourne block demolished to make way for new development, Revival Projects have salvaged over 2000 lineal metres of timber beams, and are using them to manufacture furniture and joinery. This manufacturing is being completed entirely in a workshop on site, and items will feature in the eventual development. The workshop will be demolished upon the initiative’s completion, effectively leaving zero footprint.

The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards 2021 Sustainable Design or Initiative category award is presented by Country Road. 

Country Road is an iconic Australian fashion lifestyle brand for women, men, children and home. Focusing on style, quality and versatility, Country Road delivers modern Australian design for effortless living, every day.

[karingudino]

The Snug House / Green Sheep Collective

The Comfortable Home / Inexperienced Sheep Collective

© Emma Cross

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https://www.archdaily.com/959812/the-snug-house-green-sheep-collective

© Emma Cross

Textual content description offered by the architects. The Comfortable efficiently transformed a run-down, darkish, poorly insulated and inward-looking Californian Bungalow into an energy-efficient, snug and wholesome dwelling in interior Melbourne.

© Emma Cross

The homeowners are knowledgeable couple who consider in sustainable dwelling. They wished to attain an inexpensive however extremely useful dwelling that considerably elevated consolation and power effectivity, related them to the backyard, and expressed their love of design. The transient included the addition of a 3rd bed room and second toilet together with a lined entertaining space with out compromising the backyard space.

© Emma Cross

Challenges There have been a number of essential challenges that needed to be overcome to attain sustainability targets, together with: – Poor orientation of the present constructing – Planning car-parking necessities – Small lot dimension – Defending the southern neighbour’s close-proximity north home windows

© Emma Cross

Strategy The venture aimed to create a whole-home resolution that related the present construction with the extension while maximising thermal efficiency of the whole dwelling. The scale and performance of the home was elevated, with acute consciousness to keep up present out of doors house.

© Emma Cross

Key parts included: – Reconfiguration of the south-facing side to safe energy-efficient, north-facing dwelling areas – Creation of a kind harnessing north mild with out overshadowing the southern neighbour – Connection to the entire backyard while controlling western warmth achieve – Addressing the dearth of cohesion within the earlier structure – Grasp-planning sustainability necessities to stick to a modest price range

© Emma Cross

Power effectivity and closely lowered CO2 emissions A complete-home method was taken to the power ranking, opting to raise the environmental efficiency and power effectivity of the whole dwelling, not merely the extension element.

© Emma Cross

The Comfortable exceeded minimal necessities with a collection of non-mandatory upgrades to excel and obtain a large 77% discount in heating and cooling demand from the unique situations, and important enhancements in thermal efficiency and occupant consolation.

© Emma Cross

At roughly half the scale, The Comfortable achieves higher operational power effectivity than the common new free-standing dwelling in Australia*. The heating and cooling power demand of this petite 5.4 Star house is roughly 52% of an average-sized new home that achieves 6 Stars. A pre-construction vs. post-occupancy evaluation of family power payments exhibits that the design measures of this exemplar of sustainable design enabled a whopping 3.54t CO2 emissions discount per yr!

© Emma Cross

Low embodied power Environment friendly reconfiguration and good design has stored this dwelling to simply 117m2, and has enabled the preservation of beneficial embodied power of the present constructing. In comparison with the common new Australian dwelling, The Comfortable will save the equal of 753,000km price of automobile exhaust emissions, 848 years price of ingesting water for 4 individuals, and $226,000 in building and power payments over its lifetime.

© Emma Cross

Constructing supplies have been rigorously chosen to minimise unfavourable impacts on non-renewable sources, the pure atmosphere and human well being, and that creates an power and water environment friendly, snug dwelling. Accredited merchandise have been chosen, together with FSC Plywood, GECA licensed paints, and Eco-Specifier accepted Livos oils. Low waste supplies included E-crete concrete and radially sawn timbers. Demolished supplies have been sorted for re-use and recycling, additional conserving embodied power and minimising waste.

© Emma Cross

Versatile dwelling options and built-in storage take advantage of each sq. metre. The extra bed room was created by the environment friendly reconfiguration of present house, eliminating the financial expense and environmental value of a second storey.

© Emma Cross

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source https://fikiss.net/the-snug-house-green-sheep-collective/ The Snug House / Green Sheep Collective published first on https://fikiss.net/ from Karin Gudino https://karingudino.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-snug-house-green-sheep-collective.html

[treechangeseachange]

Getting our Veg On

Sometimes I feel like I’m a pretend bush lady. People ask, “How many acres do you have?” “72,” I reply. “Any animals?” “A dog.” (Oh, and courtesy of my youngest this summer we also have three skinks called Lizzie, Lizzie and Lizzie.) “Chooks?” “No.” “Growing your own veggies?” “No.” Hmm people think. Internally I protest, we do have composting toilets, tank water and we’re solar powered off grid! To be real a bush lady, at the very least I need to to grow some veggies.

Being on tank water and with a small roof in a year of drought, we didn’t actually have spare water to grow veggies. Happily, since October we have had excellent rain and most excellent husband has installed an old water tank which now collects run off from the extended lean to off the shipping container, and that tank is now full! Dripping a little, but full. Water? Tick!

Back in the city we had raised garden beds built from corrugated roofing tin. We brought this tin with us when we moved in an enormous truck full of stuff I berated my husband we may never use again. Proving me wrong, the tin garden beds have been resurrected. One is lined up against a section of our yard fence which incidentally was originally a balustrade in a Mollymook house husband renovated. Some Sydney blue gum branches from our block are the frame for the wire covering. Our veggie patch needs to be bird, rabbit, possum and wombat proof. The old shack flyscreen door is one opening side, a tip shop $10 flyscreen door the other. Two tin garden beds are now side by side framed with recycled timber and critter proofed by discarded incorrectly sized flyscreens from a city job and a hundred year old flyscreen door from Melbourne’s historic Yarraville. Another of these beautiful old doors is now the door to our greenhouse polytunnel. The polytunnel has been constructed using tubing found on the block held in place with tip shop star pickets and a recycled timber base. The plastic covering is reinforced by recycled decking from a Moruya Heads residence. The tall garden beds I half filled with rocks, easy to find around our block but a good workout to collect, and leaf litter which we have in abundance. The only new items used in construction were the wire, staples, plastic and the soil. So if that’s not real bush building it’s definitely country style - use anything you have and pay for materials as a last resort. Cobbled together, slightly whimsical but entirely functional. The boys had a great time raking out the soil, then selecting and planting seedlings. This bush lady says bring on the veg!

[bettagrower]

Landscape suppliers that you must have for a great garden décor

I love to walk in the garden… everyone wants his house to look the best. A beautiful landscape allows getting an appealing outdoor environment is enjoyed by the family member as well. Allow having Garden Supplies and Landscape Supplies Melbourne to make the yard beautiful and attractive.

Build eco-friendly garden surface outdoor

The act of edging has more to it than just defining border for your yard. It allows enjoying the fresh look to your garden and even landscaping area. Timely, we need to choose landscape suppliers as they can functional durable, and easy to install.

It’s the time to build an eco-friendly garden by using Garden Supplies in Melbourne material made of renewable components that are safe to use. The process of gathering necessary landscaping supplies is to enable you to care for your outdoor areas. Typical tolls to purchase include gardening tools, shovels, rakes, a garden house, a lawnmower, and pruning tools.

Nowadays, most of the people buy grass seeds, mulch compost, topsoil, fertile, weed killer, flowerpots and flower, and vegetable seeds. We need to purchase extra bags to enable you to refresh the mulch periodically throughout the growing season.

Let’s have a look at some of the pavers and edging stones to consider are:

Bricks

Natural Stone

Wrought Iron

Concrete Pavers

Landscaping Timbers

Plastic

Making the use of eco-friendly garden landscaping supplies made of recyclable components. Landscaping involves a lot of work this includes trimming, blowing, leveling, tree removal, mowing, edging, sod installation and many more.

1. Stone edging: This process will keep safe precious plants and flower beds in your garden use border stone edging. The act of decorative stone edge that comes with weed barrier protection has an added advantage.

2. Wood edging: This could be considered the cheapest garden landscaping materials; it is also very popular because of its versatility.

3. Plastic edging: You can buy the Ultra Edge, which has a flexible construction that allows edges to bend around plants with ease.

Need to maintain timely garden area

On the platform of the garden surface that is planned for the growth of organic foods demand much more attention than the inorganic ones. Apart from buying the necessary garden supplies, it allows maintaining your garden area. Further, in addition to the things mentioned, they also offer several professional services, including land clearing, site prep, excavation, road improvement, and hauling services. Here you will get the best buys on everything you will need to make your yard and garden beautiful!

The Final lines

House outdoor broadly refers to the process of modifying the physical features of garden supplies and landscape supplies in Melbourne; adding elements to a specific location. Aside from the time needed to be allotted for the maintenance of the land plot, the right choice of landscaping supplies is also a contributing factor to the success of each landscaping and gardening effort.

Source: There is a spread of landscape supplies available to suit your garden style

[umichenginabroad]

Spontaneous Trip to Melbourne

To celebrate the end of midterm season, we decided to take a trip to Melbourne. I was corrected many, many times, because of my pronunciation of Melbourne. In Australia, they pronounce it as Melbin, which is odd considering there isn’t an I in the word. Australians also love to take R’s out of words that should have them and throw them into words that don’t have an R, like ‘orkay’. They also use words like ‘heaps of’ instead of ‘lots of’ and ‘I reckon’ instead of ‘I think.’ The cultural differences of word pronunciations and usages are definitely interesting to me. Sorry for the tangent. Back to Melbourne.

So aside from the funky pronunciation of Melbourne, it is a fantastic city that I would definitely go to visit again. We stayed at an Airbnb owned by a wood miller. He and his wife were very eco friendly people. They restored an old World War II home, made the furniture and beds from recycled timbers, and constructed the drywall from mud and straw. They also had solar panels, countertops made from recycled timbers and stoves that burned recycled wood chips in the winter. Another unique feature was their use of an aquaponics system to grow plants! To top it all off, they had chickens and bees nests in their backyard that they got eggs and honey from.

The wood miller was kind to us and passionate about his city. He gave us heaps of recommendations and boasted about it having the best hot chocolate in the world. He even offered to pay for it, if we had it better elsewhere. We ran out of time and didn’t get to try the restaurant, but the offer was definitely generous.

The first day in Melbourne, we checked out the central business district (CBD). The city had an event similar to Cleveland’s GuitarMania back in 2012. In Melbourne, they have Mooving Art, which is over 90 cows painted with different themes. They are meant to bring awareness to the dairy profile and bring more public art to each city that they travel to.

I was impressed with how much public art there was in Melbourne. After we left to the CBD, we walked along the Yarra river and saw black swans, a giant sculpture, and giant upside down bells that played prerecorded music.

Later that night we met up with Ed, a family friend of Adriana. He prepared us a fantastic roasted lamb, showed us around the city, and took us to a comedy show that night. It was all good fun!

The next day, we walked around and continued to explore the city. We went to the botanical gardens, had Vietmanese food, and walked along the beach. We stopped at a pier that was about a quarter of a mile long and got pizza that evening. After our dinner, we saw heaps of people sitting and waiting on rocks off of the pier. I talked to a man in a yellow vest, who said that penguins often come out of the rocks at dusk. I was excited, but knew that it was going to be about an hour before we would likely see them. Since it was pretty chilly and Adriana was cold, we decided to head back. On the way, I saw a women bend down and to take a picture of one of the penguins that was coming out of the rocks. The wildlife rangers made sure that no one disturbed them by with flash photography or got too close to them. It was a neat experience to see wild penguins!!

On Saturday, we went to the Queen Victoria Market. This was an extensive market with 15 sheds that were over a football field long. They sold everything from aboriginal artwork to sports jerseys to dragon fruit to fresh meat and fish. While I was there, I bought a collection of souvenirs, a couple soccer jerseys, and a bunch of different foods. I tried the spicy lamb borek, which is an eastern European pastry filled with a meat. I was a big fan of it and even considered getting seconds. 

I also tried fried ice cream, homemade donuts and a persimmon. The fried ice cream had a caramel drizzle over it which was different than what I had before. 

I was most interested in trying the persimmon. The persimmon looked like an orange tomato, had the consistency of a pumpkin and tasted like a combination of pumpkin, peach, and honey. Odd, but very yummy!

Later that day, we went to an Australian Football League game and saw Carlton (Melbourne’s home team) and the West Coast Eagles play. We saw this game in a very special location: this was the location of the Olympic games in 1956. The stadium is called the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). We went to it not knowing any of the rules, but mostly figured it out by the end of the first quarter. The goal of the game is to kick the ball through the middle 2 posts, scoring your team 6 points. If you kick it through either of the outer posts, you only get 1 point. The pitch of the field is ovular, which I found interesting.

The game consists of four 20 minute quarters with extra time, similar to soccer. However, this had about 7-12 minutes of extra time tagged on to each quarter instead of a typical 3-5 minutes in soccer.

Carlton (ranked 16th) was definitely the underdog in this match, but they put up a good fight and even almost upset the number 2 West Coast Eagles. The fans made it an entertaining and enjoyable match to watch.

The next day, we went to check out the State Library of Victoria.

Since I’ve been in Australia, I’ve played a decent amount of chess against my roommates, Tom and Aman. Tom taught me strategies and general rules that I have tried to incorporate into my game. So when I came across a giant game of chess outside the library, I had to give it a go. I played against an older gentleman who comes to the library fairly often to outwit anyone he can find. The game lasted about an hour before I finally conceded. It was a respectable match with a crowd of spectators!

After the chess match, I went inside to check out the library. I was pretty blown away by how beautiful it was.

We finished the day by going to Hosier Lane. This is an alley with legal spray painting.

When we went by, we were fortunate to see an artist spray painting.

While we enjoyed the art, a tour group walked through. We had the opportunity to hear about the history of some of the longer term pieces. For example, the artist who did this portrait has done many paintings of aboriginals.

In this mural, the aboriginal boy is seen looking at Birrarung Marr, an inner city park known to Wurundjeri people as the “river of mists.” It is meant to further the connection to the land that the Wurundjeri people hold and forces greater public acknowledgement of the original owners of the land.

The tour guide described how, although the artist doesn’t financially compensate the aboriginals, he does as much as he can to be respectful of them. For instance, he went and asked permission to paint this aboriginal boy along with every other aboriginal that he has painted. Additionally, if the aboriginal that he painted dies, the artist has an aboriginal leader come and blow ceremonial smoke over the painting. Then the artist paints over the deceased person with black paint as per aboriginal customs.

A clothing store named Culture Kings was erected right in the middle of Hosier Lane. According to the tour guide, many of the locals don’t like it because it capitalizes off of the culture that was already there. Culture Kings had an artist paint these 2 murals on either side of the entrance to the store for $20,000.

The first night these were created, profanity was spray painted over both of them say “F*** Culture Kings.” The store paid the artist $5,000 to fix the art. After he fixed the art, they put a coating of antigraffiti paint over it. Each morning after the mural has been graffitied, a worker from the store takes a power washer to the mural to get rid of any vandalizing paint from the night before. This is the most controversial thing that Culture Kings does. The locals are mad that they profit off of the culture that is there, but don’t allow anyone to paint on the side of their building.

This coffee shop on Hosier lane that only hires homeless people.

We finished the day by trying different appetizers at a Spanish tapas restaurant on Hosier Lane.

On Monday, we watched a family of street performers on our way to the National Gallery of Victoria.

We also passed a bridge that overlooked the river and city. Jon was sporting his new watch that he got from the market, so I took a cool aesthetically pleasing photo of it.

I had only about 45 minutes in the National Gallery of Art before I had to catch a bus to the airport. While I was in the Gallery, I saw some breathtaking sculptures and paintings.

My personal favorite was the one of the sheep and crows. I felt like you could really see the passion and sorrow in the sheep over it’s lost lamb.

After that, I caught a bus ride to the airport and got home late that night. The next morning, I had a physics exam and an interesting circuits lab. We are finally getting to AC circuits!

If you ever have the chance, I would highly recommend visiting Melbourne. Although colder than Sydney, it is a fascinating place with a rich culture!  

Cheers!

-Alex Ramer

Biomedical Engineering

[terriemanchee72-blog]

Receiving Your Modern Furnishings At The Right Price

Repurposed household furniture is an impressive brand new trend that has actually had the style planet by unpleasant surprise. A taste for the past could be fulfilled by items of Italian furnishings made through current makers which use conventional layouts and decors. Steam cleansing appears like a terrific technique to remove filth and spots yet this can in fact damage your living-room home furniture. With present day furniture laying wonderful emphasis on area, these are actually likewise much more portable along with numerous sections to hold everything coming from supper platters and offering bowls to red or white wine glasses as well as blades. If treated with miraculous treatment, rustic bed room home furniture may be the perfect choice for bed rooms. The public Canadian urban area from Toronto currently has a population from more than 3 million as well as one of the most ethnically unique society on earth. 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If you want to see more regarding yellow pages uk residential addresses - helpful resources, look at our own internet site. The most distinguishing characteristic of Victorian home furniture is actually the use of timber. The job and also carving performed on the furniture made from wood is difficult to become copied on any other component or even area. The measurements and type from furnishings must be stabilized so regarding produce the house even more presentable. Even an internet furniture shop offers modern-day room products like mattress, night tables, dressers. All these shops provide premium household furniture made by good quality of wood, artificial, and also recycled plastic, and fiber plastic. Essentially, besides the suitable laws, furnishings for contract use doesn't seem different coming from household furniture aimed for home domestic usage. Whether you desire to go with wall-mounted storage household furniture or even floor storage space, the choice is your own. Bear in mind that you are going to not always need to invest a huge amount from funds to buy the exquisite dining-room home furniture that you yearn for. Inexpensive furniture has the best market value, however this have to be stabilized along with obtaining the best service out of the item. Our team provide a full one-stop service for all furniture distribution and also our company have the adventure as well as expertise to fulfill all our clients' needs, offering the highest quality items at the correct rate and regularly with the greatest customer support. You could conserve cash through buying excess furniture as well as selling that at a significant cost after you have actually functioned your surprises. The mattress area is actually of specific rate of interest, since it's long been actually burdened massive, dark furniture that's truly very pedestrian for today's residing requirements. Sizable enterprises have comprehensive budgets as well as can afford to acquire new office furniture in bulk at large discounted costs. There are differ of diverse and also bright tinted home furniture along with soft, tidy as well as mathematical designs which provides a trendy as well as modern planning to inner parts and are actually very most prominent. Our experts are actually possessing really good variety of property & children furnishings, tones as well as add-ons, as well as for child and also children in home furniture retail stores Murrieta. The belief that rattan garden home furniture loss simply is actually not a belief in itself, at the very least certainly not if the rattan market is evaluated in its entirety. One of the most ideal means to get details on Laguna Niguel properties up for sale or even Laguna Niguel residential or commercial properties are actually property blogging sites. Whether you are actually hoping to purchase a counter elevation table or even you have an interest in comprehensive modern dining-room furnishings sets, you will surely locate something that attracts your enthusiasm online. Rattan furnishings developers recognize certainly not all their clients will certainly have unlimited space available in their landscapes or even outside regions, and develop several of the things in their lines in such a method regarding account for that. Yet this piece from mirror is encompassed by attractive weaving patterns that you could receive only along with walking cane home furniture.

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8 Beautiful Home Projects Using Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood can be recovered from a wide variety of sources, but it most frequently comes from timber framing and decking used in old barns, factories, and warehouses. Some tell-tale signs of reclaimed wood include nail holes, manufacturer stamps, and markings. Other unique qualities, like variation and depth of color or unusual patterning, can be a result of it being stored in vessels like wine barrels, beer casks, and other containers.

Additionally, reclaimed timber is usually cut from strong, mature trees (unlike the younger, weaker trees used today for lumber), and is less prone to splitting. Because of these aspects, many designers choose to use reclaimed wood rather than virgin timber in their projects.

Here are eight different projects that incorporate reclaimed wood in distinct ways.

Ceiling turned to walls

Salvaged wood from multiple origins come together in this project in Buenos Aires by architects Teresa Sarmiento and Nicolas Tovo. They designed the home for their own family with the intention of celebrating recycled materials-floor boards of repurposed Brazilian pine and wall boards from the ceiling of a tenement in a local Buenos Aires neighborhood. The boards were cut down to size and oriented vertically to bring the eye upward to a clerestory window and small white beams.

Photo by Cristóbal Palma.

Repurposed staircase

A small, efficient home in Seattle designed by SHED Architecture & Design incorporated wood on the exterior and interior of the home, and even used salvaged wood from the residence that had previously stood on the site. Although the 100-year-old bungalow was demolished, the treads of one of its staircases were repurposed in the new home as a modern, open-riser stair that lets in light from the windows beyond.

Photo by SHED Architecture + Design.

Entryway elegance

Even a few pieces of salvaged lumber can have a big impact. This entryway in a Brooklyn townhouse, renovated by Bangia Agostinho Architecture, reused hemlock fir joists from the existing building structure as casework around the main entry door. The trim has a simple, modern profile, ensuring that it makes a contemporary statement. In the entryway is another repurposed piece of wood that was charred in a fire more than 100 years ago. It has since been painted and repainted - creating a unique patina and texture - and transformed into a bench.

Photo by Pia Ulin.

Accent wall and headboard

In a project in Quebec, Canada, a 1924 building was renovated by Bourgeois Lechasseur Architects. The renovation sought to modernize the apartment while preserving the historical elements - in particular, reusing wooden boards that were salvaged during demolition. The unfinished boards act as a rustic, earthy accent wall and headboard, while the surrounding white walls and crisp bed linens keep the room contemporary.

Photo by Adrien Williams.

From flooring to doors

This loft in Brooklyn, New York, used almost all reclaimed, recycled, or diseased wood for everything from the flooring - salvaged from a barn constructed in the 1800s in the Allegheny Mountains in Ohio - to the doors, which were saved from a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. Shelving, walls, and ceilings throughout the apartment are covered with wood that came from butternut trees in a blighted forest in Vermont, where worm infestations created intricate, unique patterns in the diseased wood. Although the apartment is located in New York, the different pieces of lumber inside come from all over the country.

Photo by Kevin Cooley.

Structural elements and beyond

Different types of reclaimed wood, each from different sources, steal the show in this residence in the Scottish countryside by Glasgow-based architect Andrew McAvoy of Assembly Architecture. Thick, deep oak beams were reclaimed and reused for structural elements, while the maple flooring was salvaged from an old school in the nearby rural village of Aberdeen. The reclaimed wood was a critical contributor to the goal of sustainability in the home.

Photo by Andrew Meredith.

Posts and beams

As barns become obsolete, they become fruitful sources of salvaged wood, like this house in the Catskills in Bovina, New York. Architect Kimberly Peck designed a home for a Norwegian couple that was looking for the perfect mix of warm, Scandinavian design and mid-century modern. The wood boards on the walls and the posts and beams are all reclaimed, but from different sources. The structural elements were recycled from a barn built in 1840, and the reclaimed planks on the walls were stained with a gray wash to match the other wood.

Photo by Torkil Stavdal.

A fine library

High ceilings and natural light prevent this small library that’s clad in reclaimed wood from feeling overwhelming or oppressive. The wood, a salvaged spotted gum, is a durable wood that’s native to Australia and is often used in structural, exterior, and interior applications. It ranges from a deep, reddish tone to a much lighter, almost yellow-white color. The library was part of a renovation of a family residence by Melbourne-based architects Andrew Maynard and Mark Austin of Andrew Maynard Architects.

Photo by Peter Bennetts.

This article was written by Kate Reggev and originally appeared on Dwell.  Check out more of their content on Dwell.com.

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