It’s always nice to have some good news amidst the load-shedding and “winter blues”, and if you would like to achieve that classic, chic interior designer look and add immediate style and security to your home, Plantation Shutters holds the key.

Plantation Shutters include all the practicalities of window and door coverings, but in addition, they add controlled light, ventilation, insulation and privacy. They also add an impactful aesthetic, that can make any space feel ‘designer’ in the most timelessly elegant way.

Choose from Plantation Timber, Security or Aluminium Shutters – the quality on these locally designed and manufactured shutters is unmatched, making them a valuable investment that will never go out of style.

Plantation Shutters is offering 10% off all shutters in their range until 31^st July 2022, so, if you are considering shutters for your home, now is the time!

The shutters can be customised to almost any size, with dedicated in-house teams guiding buyers from the design process through to manufacturing and final installation.

Adding instant style and value to your home has never been easier.

For more info on Plantation Shutters 10% off promotion, visit plantation.co.za, email info@plantation.co.za or contact one of their offices nationwide.

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I-Glaze focuses primarily on the residential home market and have partnered with a number of architects and clients to design and innovate the inclusion of the outdoors into their homes by creating state-of-the-art fenestration models which blend effortlessly in the background while providing security as well as UV and thermal protection.

With the wide variety of I-Glaze shutter options – from sliding and folding to hinged and adjustable – home security can be elegant, stylish and functional.

There are various frameless options such as clear balustrades, seamless stacking doors and invisible shower doors that offer unobstructed solutions for your home.

Get in touch with I-Glaze by calling 0445013800.

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Why choose blinds over curtains? Here are seven possible reasons:

1. Blinds can control the light levels in a room. You can adjust blinds so that light and air enters a room without being affected by the glare from the sun’s rays, whereas curtains tend to be made either from thin fabric, letting a lot of light in, or heavy fabric, which can limit ventilation and make a room stuffy.

2. Not only do blinds add a sleek touch to a home, they are also incredibly versatile, and are available in various styles, finishes and materials to suit every room, from fabric (e.g. Roller Blinds, Duette® Shades, Twist® Roller shades or Silhouette® shades) and wood to polyresin and aluminium. Curtains generally only come in fabric.

3. Blinds are easier to measure for than curtains, as there are no hem or seam allowances, rings, tabs or tapes required. Simply measure the area you wish to cover and choose your style. Blinds also usually attach directly to the window frame, whereas curtains require rails, rings, screws and sometimes clips and tapes to hang correctly.

4. Blinds are generally easy to clean. Wood, plastic and metals can be wiped down with a cleaning wipe or damp cloth, and even fabric blinds are generally hardy and stain-resistant, requiring a simple brush down while hanging or even a light vacuum. Curtains are often made from cotton, which is not stain-resistant. Curtains also need to be taken down, washed and pressed before being re-hung back in place, during which time the sun will be glaring through your window.

5. Blinds are durable. Curtains are generally not suitable for homes with pets as they are easily ruined by teeth and claws and could pose a problem or even a danger to your pet if they become entangled in the fabric. Similarly, small children could easily pull down, become entangled with, or damage a curtain. All Luxaflex® blinds are child safe. Curtains can also hold dust mites and pet dander, which can trigger allergies or asthma issues, whereas blinds usually feature a hard or treated fabric surface and are better at resisting this build-up.

6. Blinds are easy to use, often being opened or closed at the turn of a wrist or the pull of a cord. Curtains can sometime stick on their rails and become difficult to open and close easily.

7. Blinds give a minimalist, streamlined look and can make rooms appear bigger, especially when fitted into bay windows or conservatories. Curtains, especially heavy ones, can sometimes make a room appear smaller, and are very difficult to fit into a bay window without screening it off.

For more information about Luxaflex® blinds, visit luxaflex.co.za.

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Whether you are planning a complete re-build of your house, a minor renovation or simply want a no-mess, no-fuss solution, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are five tips from Saint-Gobain on how best to insulate your home.

1. Insulate Your Home’s Ceiling

Insulate the ceiling cavity in each room, as this is often where the most heat escapes. The thicker the insulation, the higher the insulating properties. Go as thick as you can (100mm will do the trick in a big room). Take a peek inside your roof cavity and if there is already insulation, check that it does not need replacing, or perhaps an extra layer. It’s the fastest and cheapest way to keep a constant temperature indoors.

2. Insulate Your Home’s Walls

If you live in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, external cavity walls can also be filled with insulation fibre when exposed during a big renovation. If your renovation doesn’t involve breaking down or removing any walls, insulation board can be retrofitted to interior walls. You could also choose to apply a cladded insulation system called ETICS to existing exterior walls, which also facilitates the application of attractive facades and drastically reduces the transfer of heat and cold through walls.

3. Insulate Your Geyser

Ensure all geysers are insulated with a thermal blanket, as well as all hot water pipes. Insulation products available in rolls or sections that can be cut to the required size are a simple, affordable and practical way to improve the loss of heat through your water pipes and geysers, therefore improving energy efficiency and costs.

4. Install Airtight Windows and Doors

Another key home feature that affects thermal comfort are windows and doors. Windows and doors should seal tightly to prevent cold air coming in and heat escaping. Consider replacing existing steel windows with high quality aluminum windows – these are significantly more airtight and require no maintenance.

5. Consider Low Emission Glass

Double-glazed windows are ideal for areas that get extremely cold, but may not be an option on a tight budget. A highly effective alternative to double-glazed glass is Low Emission glass (Low E), which is coated with an insulating and transparent film. A glass thickness of 6.4mm also offers higher insulation properties than standard 4mm glass, and 6.4mm Low E glass has been very effectively used for double volume spaces with feature windows.

To learn more about some of the solutions mentioned above, visit the Stand 47 How To Guides.

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The innovative More Sky project by Argentinian architect Aldana Ferrer Garcia was presented at Dubai Design Week 2015 as part of the Global Grad Show.

Her thesis project was developed while studying at the Pratt Institute in New York. It pushes the boundaries of cramped urban living, creating an opportunity for more light, space and visual stimulation.

The concept behind the design is to bring city dwellers into contact with nature by means of accordion-style, expandable structures that extend out of the spaces where regular windows would be.

To see more of Aldana’s work, visit aldanaferrergarcia.com.

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With the trend towards homes with larger windows and doors that enhance the amount of light entering a home Luxaflex®, South Africa’s leading window styling brand, provides a new energy saving alternative to the already proven range of Luxaflex® window styling products.

Luxaflex® Duette® Blinds are a perfect solution for better indoor climate management, saving money on energy costs. The Duette® blind features an advanced honeycomb pleated fabric construction, with the Architella® option having three air pockets built into the fabric, making it one of the most distinctive and energy efficient blinds available.

Windows act as ‘energy holes’ in the home. Despite the fact that windows make up only about 10% of a home’s insulated shell, up to 50% of the home’s heating and cooling energy can escape through them.

By introducing Luxaflex® Duette® Blinds, the heat loss is minimised from a home in winter and the amount of radiant energy permitted to enter the home in summer is also reduced. The resulting amount of energy needed to heat or cool a property can be significantly reduced, leading to a very welcome reduction in energy bills.

Although highly practical, Duette® Blinds are extremely stylish and soft on the eye. Available in a large range of colours and with varying degrees of light transmission, they are suitable for any size or shape of window and are sure to enhance any decor style.  A full remote control programme is also available for total ease of operation.

For further information and stockists visit www.luxaflex.co.za

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