Timber trends…

Timber makes up the framework of every Creative Structures home, but lately it is being integrated into interior design more and more. Sure, timber is a timeless material but it’s being used in such a diverse range of ways that you can bring those warm earthy tones into every room in the house. With so many timber choices available, we thought we would show you how our clients are showcasing timber in their homes.

Style             

The warmth and texture that timber adds to the spaces in your home are what makes it so appealing and there is a timber for every style, rustic, traditional, Scandinavian or modern. When selecting your timber, consider the variety and age of the tree which impacts the grain and knotting. Knots occur where branches grow off the trunk or other large branches. Softwoods have lots of knots, as they grow quickly in the shape of Christmas trees but hardwoods have few as they are slow growing and have few branches stemming off the trunk.

The treatment and finish of your timber ‘piece’ should also reflect your style, so what look are you going for?

Durability and Adaptability

Softwoods v Hardwoods. Hardwoods such as oak or walnut are generally harder and more durable, hence used more for quality furniture, decking and flooring. Softwoods include cedar, pine and juniper and although they are softer, they have a wide range of applications in building such as windows, doors and some furniture.

Cost              

Hardwoods are typically more expensive than softwoods.

Faux              

Polytec is just one supplier of faux timber products. Their extensive range of laminates can create an authentic timber look across the joinery in your home. Their ‘RAVINE range showcases the best natural touch timber surface lightly coloured with warm and inviting shades.’ It is a cost-effective, practical and adaptable application which can effectively create that timber look.

Pairing         

You love the look of timber and you want to do it justice by pairing it with complementary tones. Subtle stone with a faint marbling or monochrome detailing is perfect to balance rich timbers and allow them to shine.

Fun Fact       

The world’s tallest hardwood tree is located in Tasmania, a Mountain Ash named Centurion which stands 101m tall.

GLENGOWRIE

Our recently completed home at Glengowrie showcases how you can adapt real and faux timber to work in the kitchen, bathroom or lounge room. We use The Timberwolf for all of our custom designed and made timber pieces, his craftsmanship, attention to detail and respect for each piece he creates is second to none. He also shared his expertise with us to help write todays blog.

Enquiries for any custom timber pieces for The Timberwolf Design can be made via email; h.polk@bigpond.com. Please include your ideas, pictures, timber type, a detailed description and rough/exact dimensions. Heath can help you design your projects using 3D software to make sure you are ordering exactly what you need.

Your building your new home and you have spent hours trawling through photos of bathrooms, kitchens and flooring, but have you thought about how you’re going to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. With the cold weather almost upon us, we thought we’d discuss the different types of heating for every budget.

Ducted reverse-cycle heating and cooling is standard in all new Creative Structures homes. Allow for a concealed location, such as a utilities nook outside to hide the compressor, which supplies the ducted outlets in the rooms you want to heat or cool. It is a very efficient type of heating, although it relies on electricity (often during peak times, when you are home), so it can be costly.

Underfloor Heating is a series of underfloor wiring or pipes integrated into the concrete slab. The slab is heated using off-peak electricity or hot water from a gas heater, which is stored and released gradually, keeping running costs low. However the initial costs are high, depending on engineering it could cost $7 000 – $15 000 to heat 2 bathrooms and your main living area (120m2).

These upfront costs are comparable to Gas Heaters, which range from $5000 – $15 000 to heat anywhere upwards from 120m2. They can be a real “Wow” factor in any room and create a sense of luxury, plus they are extremely efficient and cost effective to run.

WEST BEACH

Our open living space has a lot of glass with an outlook of the pool and tropical oasis (if I can create an “oasis” on a tight budget). So, we wanted to make the back wall a feature and add some aesthetic and literal “warmth” to this room. We have built a bulkhead to house our Rinnai Sapphire Gas Log Fire, which we will wrap in the same beautiful timber floorboards we’re using for our main flooring. The black fascia on the gas fire should complement the timber feature wall beautifully. I also mentioned we had a lot of glass (less insulation) so a gas heater was a very logical decision being cheaper to run than our ducted heating. It’s also more powerful and quicker at heating large open areas.