clifton hill cabinet party

Just before Christmas last year, we finished this modest living/dining-room cabinetry fit-out in a Clifton Hill townhouse. The brief was for a cabinet design to fulfil everyone's needs in this creative family - part DJ console; part TV alcove; part book and art object display; part play-nook for the children. We designed this wrap-around unit, complete with a floating turntable platform on sound absorption pads to stop the speaker jumping and it was beautifully made with care in Victorian ash hardwood and veneer by Auld designs. The brick home, designed in the 1980s, had some period style additions that were not true to it's late modernist design so they were stripped back and the simple quality of exposed brick and long garden views maximised. 

One of the highlights of this project was the new baby girl born into the family on the day their cabinetry was installed! A very productive time for all involved, and we felt very pleased that the family could come home to their new space and settle in for the summer. These types of jobs are why we love residential work at Brave New Eco. The owners are looking forward to hosting some fun parties in this space - just as soon as they get some sleep!

All photographs by Emma Byrnes

yin and yang wet rooms

The owners of this lovely, modest Yarraville home were tripping over the washing baskets (and each other) in a dim, dysfunctional laundry and old bathroom. Their bulk household supplies were stacked on shelving in front of windows in the laundry, making it feel dark and crowded. They came to Brave New Eco wanting to harness the best layout from the two spaces, whilst allowing for a second shower and toilet.
To provide this solution, two L-shaped spaces were created, locking together in a yin and yang fashion. In the the bathroom a luxuriously large shower nook and wide custom made timber vanity unit ensure that, what is essentially a small room, is easy for more than one person to use at a time. Meanwhile the laundry and extra ensuite were created in the other space, side-tucked neatly into the corner of the complimentary "L", with a shared laboratory-style basin. 

Beautiful custom-designed mirrors, a vanity cabinet and towel racks were made by Auld Design combined with some warm details such as locally-made turned timber lights and cabinet handles. The wet areas are now functional, light and lovely. 

And how do the owners feel about their new bathroom/laundry solution?

"I love the way you designed the new layout so that there is maximum useful space and lots of light. The combination of timber and grey and white tiles is very peaceful and beautiful and the custom design of the vanity and mirror is spot on. It has lots of nooks and storage. We also love the quirky light fittings. The space is much more functional now, and the surfaces and textures are perfectly suited to their uses like the laundry bench and the smooth floor tiles. I just like to go in and gaze at how beautiful it all is!"- Lucy, Yarraville. 

Despite having added an ensuite into the space it seems larger overall, with plenty of full height storage in the laundry for linen and bulk supplies. 

All photographs by Emma Byrnes

sweet dreams are made of this

If you consider the total amount of hours we spend in various parts of the home, bedrooms are by far our most frequently inhabited spaces. Good bedroom design contributes to our psychological and physical health and wellbeing, and with careful planning need not be difficult or expensive to achieve.
The first question to ask is what is a bedroom for? Bedrooms can be spaces for rest, work, storage and play. For all of their potential uses bedrooms needn’t be very large.

East facing windows are ideal in a bedroom.  Morning sun, and having a view out a window from the bed are good for the spirit. Locating the bed so you are not looking out the doorway or out windows into the street will increase the sense of privacy.

The location of bedrooms is crucial, upstairs can be beneficial in cool climates as the interior heat will collect on the upper floor. In warmer climates placing bedrooms to the south and near thermal mass will help keep them cool. Good bedding can solve most heating problems. Radiant heat can be absorbed and stored by the human body so taking a hot water bottle or another human being to bed is a good old fashioned and highly-effective way to stay warm.

Sealing up wall vents, fireplaces and other gaps will reduce both winter draughts and summer heat. Windows that can be locked securely and that open at night, will help to passively ventilate the bedroom and improve indoor air quality. Insect screens are useful to keep mosquitoes at bay. A ceiling-fan will circulate air reducing the need for air-conditioning.

North or west facing windows will benefit from exterior shading in summer to keep a bedroom cool. Adjustable exterior blinds or deciduous plantings allow a high degree of adaptability to provide shade as needed. Thermally-effective window treatments are especially important in bedrooms. Heavy lined curtains that have pelmets and run to the floor will effectively trap a pocket of warm air inside. If curtain are impractical or the heaters are under the window then recess mounted honeycomb blinds or face fixed heavy backed roman blinds are the best option. Roman blinds use less material than curtains so can be a good opportunity to using organic and or locally printed fabrics.

Preserve limited floor space by running storage cupboards above head height. The alcove underneath can be used to tuck a bed or desk into. Capitalize on high ceilings by creating a sleeping loft, utilising the space under to fit a wardrobe, desk or another bed. Wardrobes are a cost-intensive part of a renovation, so rather than using mass produced storage solutions, look for creative ways to reuse second-hand cabinets, or hide shelves and racks behind a lightweight ceiling mounted curtain.

Keeping furnishings simple will reduce dust build up, that can contribute to allergies, respiratory problems and asthma. Rugs rather than carpet are useful for warmth and softness underfoot, as they can be aired and cleaned regularly. Painted surfaces and composite timber products off-gas volatile organic compounds into the indoor environment so choose VOC free paints and oils for your bedroom walls and furniture, and EO rated timbers for your cabinetry.

Leave new upholstery or furniture outside to off-gas for a few days, to get rid of the ‘factory fresh’ smell.  Slatted bed bases provide good ventilation around the mattress reducing the occurrence of mould and dust mites. Mattresses are commonly constructed and treated with chemicals in the fabrics and foams containing volatile organic compounds such as antibacterial agents, flame-retardants, PVC’s, bleaches, pesticides and dyes. These chemicals can contribute to allergies, respiratory problems, chemical sensitivities and asthma. Mattresses made of plant-based materials such as organic wool, cotton, hemp, natural latex and bamboo are a safer option. Bamboo and latex are naturally hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant. If you are replacing a mattress divert it from landfill by sending it for recycling.

Ideally use natural fibre bed linens and covers made from organic and ethically produced sources of bamboo, linen, silk or cotton. Wash and line dry new bedding before using it to get rid of any chemical residue from production, or buy second hand sheets and blankets. Try dying old bedding and blankets to give them a new lease of life.

Keep digital clock radios and phone chargers away from where you are sleeping and avoid positioning a bed on the opposite side of a wall to a smart meter, refrigerator or other appliance, as these will emit electro magnetic fields most strongly within 1-2 meters.

Poorly designed and furnished bedrooms can make us sick while we sleep. By applying a few simple design and retrofitting ideas and carefully selecting the materials that we bring inside a bedroom area, we can create a space that is not just somewhere to sleep, but a place to retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.

This article content was originally published in Sanctuary magazine.

oh' rosanna!

Here is a little project we worked on this year in the lovely Melbourne suburb of Rosanna that is full of large post-war brick houses on elevated blocks with established trees. It is the home of a keen gardener and every room looks out onto beautifully maintained native and productive gardens. The house has modestly proportioned rooms in a great existing layout that flows from one room to another. Sadly, the 1970's bright yellow laminate kitchen was beyond repair and and the owner was keen to replace it with both the uber-functionality and clean lines of a Cantilever designed kitchen, but combined with some handcrafted and vintage touches in keeping with the rest of the home.

A local 'wood genius' and friend of the owner, known as Chubb, sourced recycled spotted gum and lovingly turned it into a large island bench at one end of Cantilever's kitchen. At the other end a wall dividing the kitchen and dining was opened up and spotted gum shelves, also made by Chubb, were suspended from copper pipe rods found in the attic space. Hand-turned handles were fashioned from the left over timber offcuts.

Compact and highly efficient appliances were selected including an induction cooktop. Stainless steel tap-ware was chosen for the kitchen and laundry to avoid using chrome.  Japanese tiles that echoed the original stonework around the fireplace in the living room were selected. Vintage mid century lighting was sourced from Australia and Europe to add a touch of the owner's personality and the homes inherent style.  The result is highly cohesive, earthy and inviting low-maintenance spaces in a very enjoyable collaborative project.

All photographs by Emma Byrnes

the tiny kitchen with a big heart

This is one of those projects I affectionately call a 'LOVE' job.
The inspiring clients - live at The Plummery in Northcote, an impressively productive 280sqm urban block. They are the type of home-owners I respect as they have finished all of the "less-glamourous-but-sensible-jobs" first - adding solar panels; setting up a nectre wood heater; installing home-made double glazing (bubble wrap); and building a wonderful sun-trap conservatory out of reclaimed materials that shelters seedlings, warms the house and even grows tropical fruit! They have also spent many years developing every square inch of The Plummery permaculture garden hence creating an abundance of produce in a self-sustaining nutrient cycle. This cycle includes composting waste; nourishing soils and organic matter; and growing fruits and vegetables from which seeds are then saved for planting the following year. At certain times of each season there will be a glut of produce - with kilos of feijoas, blackberries, grapes, persimmons and plums passing through their tiny lean-to kitchen to be preserved, fermented, dried, bottled and baked.
After years of using this old dysfunctional kitchen Kat and Nik were ready to create a purpose-built kitchen to do all the busy work. In an agreement with Brave New Eco that was part barter-exchange (I've had all my seedlings hand-raised at The Plummery for the past year) we set about designing the ultimate hard-working tiny kitchen in the same six square metre space as the original kitchen but replaced it with high-quality efficient appliances, no hard-to-clean surfaces or fiddly deep cupboards, and with everything they need within arms reach.

"The kitchen is the heart of our permaculture system. We grow most of our fresh produce and make meals from scratch and so the kitchen needed to be able to handle heavy use and lots of dishes! It has a tiny footprint of only a few square metres so we needed bench space and storage solutions. Using local, recycled and sustainable materials was paramount for ethical reasons, but we also wanted a bit of a modern twist. Looking back there are certainly conflicts in our brief - recycled and rustic yet modern, tiny floor plan but with lots of space, heavy duty but with a light footprint - but Megan has somehow delivered on each one of them", says Kat.

For all of the utilitarian function desired by the owners we wanted to steer clear of a cold and minimalist outcome in a home that truly embodies "cosy". To avoid this from happening Brave New Eco merged industrial functionality with an organic, homemade charm. One side of the kitchen became the utility bench with all of the appliances required to make a small kitchen hum. An induction cooktop; a built-in oven; an efficient 450mm wide dishwasher and a tiny 1.25m sink were included under a stainless bench-top making a seamless junction between wet and hot areas that is less likely to get damaged and easy to clean. Terrazzo floor tiles give the splashback a lovely natural stone palette and minimal grout reduces the amount of cleaning needed. In collaboration with the owners we designed a reclaimed Blackbutt drying/shelving plate rack that was made by a local craftsperson, Sam Joddie. It was thoughtfully designed for plates and cups to drip over the sink area.  Kat had the idea to line the shelf trays with the cut-outs of recycled plastic bread crates- this solution worked an absolute treat.

A floating shelf over the island bench houses anything fermenting, soaking, rising, drying or otherwise needing passive observation without cluttering the workbench. This shelf had to be such a height that one shorter and one very tall house-holder (read: Kat and Nik) could both reach it and see under it, so much detailed measuring ensued.  
Knowing the owners had many friends on country properties I set them with the task of finding a dry fallen branch of the right proportions to use as a semi-structural vertical element for the floating shelf unit. They soon returned with a beautiful Redbox branch not too curvy, not too straight. They whittled the bark off themselves to show the beautiful surface below and Sam incorporated the branch into the shelving thus completing our marriage of utilitarian and organic elements. 

"We especially love our dish draining rack which combines drying and storage to cut the chore of putting away dishes. The overhead shelf to store our ferments, cultures and produce which is out of the way but visible so we can keep an eye on what needs to be used up is also fantastic and so beautiful that it has become a real feature in our living room" observes Kat.

The walls were painted in Murobond paints and energy-efficient LED strip lighting is recessed under the open shelving. Kat hand-felted the 'wolf back' pendant light using natural wool.
"We always spent a lot of time in the kitchen but now we relish that time. Jobs like cooking, cleaning, washing up and preserving produce have become so much easier and more enjoyable. So the irony is that we now need to spend less time in the kitchen but we're wanting to spend more time in there", says Kat.

All photographs by Emma Byrnes

the papered wall

Monomeith Designs wallpaper by Penny Maskell - Designed in Tasmania and hand printed in Melbourne

Low-impact living does not mean austere interior minimalism. An often brave and beautiful interior addition, wallpaper is an enduring investment if you follow your instinct and choose something that you find truly beautiful (or just get good advice!). Wallpaper can be done in a very environmentally-friendly way and can last a long time if well cared for.
Here are a few tips on selecting and using eco pasteups:

• Adding wallpaper to an interior can be expensive, so minimise the cost by choosing a small wall area with the greatest visual impact, perhaps a central space that you can see from many different viewpoints.
• Have you bought an old home with original wallpaper?  Wall-to-wall patterned coverings can be stuffy and overwhelming in an interior, however many original retro and period designs are quirky and interesting. So before you start ripping it off, consider keeping one feature wall papered as a nod to the home’s history.
• Sometimes embossed and relief wallpapers that are of dated colours or torn can be rejuvenated by sealing any damage then painting over. This creates an appealing surface of papery textural interest, without the labour intensive hassle of removing the old paper. 
• Or you can add an old wallpaper to your home - there are great sources on the web of vintage wallpapers in enduring and nostalgic designs.
• Select wallpapers from responsible sources (recycled is best, FSC certified is a close second) and those printed with solvent-free water-based inks. Hand-printed wallpaper gives you an intimate bespoke alternative to the homogenous nature of digital printing.
• Search for low or no-VOC wallpaper options as these Volatile Organic Compounds can contribute to interior environment-related respiratory and allergic health problems. 
• High-VOC products to be avoided are those containing PVC, synthetic fire-retardants, self adhesive wallpapers and vinyl based water papers, often 'waterproof’ and ‘easy-clean’ products. Sometimes products that claim to protect us can introduce harmful and unnecessary elements into your home in the pocket of your good intentions. 
• Use a simple wallpaper paste that doesn't contain toxic chemicals - an effective wallpaper paste is basically clag - like the flour and water home made glue you used to make at school. Many natural recipes are available online to make at home or you can use a non-toxic adhesive option.

Stampeding horses by Florence Broadhurst - an enduring and dynamic design. 

Vintage 1970's photo mural in a contemporary bathroom. Good ventilation is important when using wall paper in a bathroom. 

A tired relief wallpaper is repaired and painted over to beautifully preserve the textural effect. 

Some handy links to Australian wallpaper companies with good eco-credentials:

• Wilding
• Dear Wood
• Origin Wallpaper
• Paper Hands
• Flashback Fabrics
• Cavalier Wallpapers
• Funky Wombat Textiles

The original content of this article was written by Megan Norgate for Green Magazine. Edited by Stephanie Ruddie and Megan Norgate.

westgarth house renovation

In Melbourne's inner-city Westgarth area, this grand old home is the definition of good bones with it's lofty ceilings, multiple bay windows and impressively wide proportions. Despite this, a previous renovation had created a kitchen and laundry that felt pokey, dysfunctional and was falling apart faster than the original home! And like many older homes - especially those with high ceilings, old windows and gappy floorboards - it was proving costly and inefficient to run.
Brave New Eco was engaged to design an interior renovation that would provide a better quality kitchen, family bathroom and laundry; feature generous storage throughout; and make energy efficient retrofit changes. Most importantly, the result needed to sit with the original features and be of the quality that a beautiful family home like this deserves. 

The kitchen cabinets were created with a mix of EO (zero emission) - rated laminate, hoop pine plywood and recycled Australian hardwoods. All of the timbers and plywoods were oiled using natural oils and tints.  Custom fabricated slim-line brass handles were created for all of the cabinets.

New locally-made brass and ceramic pendant lighting and high efficiency LED lighting were installed throughout. The entire interior was painted in low VOC paints and all timber finishes are recycled and oiled in naturally based oils. A graphic colour palette was used to create cohesion between the original and newer parts of the home and to provide a good base for the family's colourful collection of artwork and curiosities. 

We maximised the available space for the kitchen and laundry by reconfiguring the rooms. We removed a dividing wall separating the rooms and replaced it with a space saving double-sided cabinetry unit, then flipped the kitchen and laundry to give the kitchen direct outdoor access and installed a new glass door to allow more light in. The kitchen was opened up to the dining room, allowing better connection between the two spaces and a sightline from the dining to the garden.

Into the dining room went a new cosy window seat, with record storage underneath. Heavy backed 100% linen curtains throughout help keep the heat inside the house as the weather grows colder. Wall and ceiling insulation were added and efficient space heating was installed in the open-plan living area.

To reduce the waste involved in upgrading the kitchen, the old kitchen cabinets were re-purposed in another client's laundry fit-out. Appliances were re-used, and pull-out metal pantry shelves were re-used in the new cabinetry.
The kitchen is divided into two zones: the cooking and washing (wet/hot work) zone and the snacking/ drinking/ socialising zone where family members can make drinks and snacks without disturbing the person at the stove of sink. 

The long thin bathroom was reconfigured to create more circulation space and better functionality. A new shelf was added along the entire length of the bathroom to place useful things in easy reach. Handmade lighting, recycled timbers and vintage mirrors were chosen for their enduring details. 

And finally a few words about the project from our client, Rebecca Burdon:

"We wanted to transform our crafty old house into a much more comfortable and workable home. It is a Victorian house that had been renovated about 15 years ago by a builder/developer. The house had not been insulated and many shortcuts had been taken in the original renovation. Brave New Eco provided sustainable, practical, well designed solutions. (They have) excellent problem solving skills; great knowledge about options, suppliers and quality of different products; great relationships with tradesmen and great attention to detail and advice regarding finishes.
We're enjoying all aspects of our home more. It is far more comfortable to live in. Everything looks and works better. It's a pleasure just to be at home now."

the comeback curtain

Window furnishings are the nerds that no one wants to invite to the energy efficient house party. Curtains have had a bad rep for the last few years as natural light and indoor-outdoor connection drive home design. Our windows are getting larger relative to interior spaces and to cover them we often use blind systems that do very little to thermally seal your windows. Many ‘eco’ houses are designed around walls of glass with no thought given to hanging window coverings on them. There is a common misconception among consumers that double-glazing is a replacement for curtains. Double-glazing is an almost essential building element in this day and age, but it will not work to its optimum to thermally protect you home unless combined with high quality window furnishings. 

Good window coverings are an excellent way to increase the energy efficiency of existing homes and new buildings. The humble curtain is set to make a big comeback. If you are sitting in a warm room at night between an uncovered window and your heating source it is likely you will feel a chill, as you are sitting the middle of a draught created by the interior heat making a beeline for the cool exterior. Properly fitted and lined curtains and window treatments are the best way to avoid this effect and to slow down interior heat loss. They also work to reduce heat gain in summer; however shading the glass externally is the better way to achieve this. 

However, not all window treatments have a beneficial thermal effect, they must be designed, constructed and hung a certain way to work. If you are wondering if your sheer curtains have any insulating qualities, imagine standing in the snow in a sheer nightdress and you will have your answer. The curtains/blinds must create a seal over the window so that a layer of warm air can become trapped in between the curtain and the glass. If the curtains hang in front of the window with gaps at the base and top it will become a passive cooling system, sucking warm air from the upper part of the room down beside the cool glass and pushing it out the bottom freshly cooled.

4  WAYS TO CHECK IF YOUR CURTAINS WILL SLOW HEAT LOSS:

1. The are fully lined with 3 pass thermal lining.

2. They touch the floor.

3. They  wrap around at the sides to the wall. (Use track rather than rod and ring hanging systems.)

4. They are sealed at the top by a pelmet. These can be timber, fabric, or invisible (achieved by resting a piece of lightweight timber along the track mounts between the wall and the curtain).

THERMALLY EFFECTIVE BLINDS:

1. Thermally lined roman blinds that sit against the window frame and make a reasonable seal.

2. If you have deep timber reveals or window frames and can mount a blind against the glass and inside the frame of the window then block out roller blinds and honeycomb blinds can be effective, but these must have a snug fit! You can tell if they are sealed at all sides, bottom and top by the amount of light getting in around the edges.

5 TIPS FOR CURTAINS THAT LOOK GOOD:

1. Have them reach the floor: Curtains half way down the wall look like a man with suit pants that are too short. Also mount them at least 200mm above the window (or from the ceiling) so it looks balanced.

2. Pick your fabrics carefully as curtains are a long-term investment. Make sure you don't pick something that will date in 5 years as hopefully they will last at least 10-15 with good care. 

3. If you don’t want to feature them, match the fabric to the wall colour, they will blend in and disappear.

4. Make sure you allow enough room to stack back the curtains off the window so you don’t block any views or light when they are drawn back.

5. Get expert advice. Badly made curtains and poorly fitting blinds draw attention to themselves. Interior designers and decorators often offer you good discounts that mean that you pay less for your curtains and blinds and all of the stress of figuring out what will work and look good is taken care of. Brave New eco specialises in custom curtains and blinds in a range of sustainable, natural fibre and hand printed fabrics by local designers.