Improve your home and impress your guests with an indoor entertainment space made for the Australian lifestyle. Australians love the outdoors as well as entertaining friends a and family, and many of them are choosing to incorporate this love for alfresco dining into their design plans. The use of retractable fly screens, sliding, and bi-fold doors can be a simple way of bringing the outdoors inside, providing good flow from the main living space to the outside patio all year round. Here are some simple tips and creative ideas to integrate screen doors and windows to achieve the perfect indoor/outdoor living area which takes advantage of the Australian climate.
Open up your living space
Older homes often have each living space closed-off from the other. This can make it isolating and crowded when it comes to entertaining. Opening up your main living areas – e.g. kitchen, dining room, and living room – to achieve an open-planned living space will instantly create more flow and make it a more inviting space for guests. The benefit of open-planned living is that you aren’t restricted with design ideas. Having a kitchen space that flows to an open dining room through to a living area provides an aesthetically pleasing flow and allows guests to wander easily from space to space.
Bi-fold doors
One of the easiest ways to link the indoors with the outdoors is by installing bi-fold doors. Bi-fold doors are a stylish and functional way to add both a statement and function to your entertainment space. One of the most popular ways of extending your home is with the use of bi-folds. If you want to connect your living or kitchen space with your outdoor patio or pergola, installing bi-fold doors gives you complete freedom of design and also adds value to your property.
Outdoor patio/pergola
Make the most of your entertainment space by installing an outdoor patio or pergola. Pergolas are a great way to create a room outdoors which can integrate your indoor entertainment space to create a stunning indoor/outdoor flow in your house. For entertaining guests, pergolas or a patio space outdoors creates an atmospheric space which can be utilized during the warmer days and nights; providing a shady spot and one that can be decorated to tie in with your indoor space. Think about tying the two spaces together with the same colour scheme through use of furniture’s, or with plants and even tiki torches to create a charming setting.
Consider retractable fly screens
Enjoying the great outdoors unfortunately comes with the many insects that are common in Australia! This is where fly screens can up the comfort factor and keep your family and your guests free from nasty mosquito bites or creepy crawlies. One aesthetically pleasing solution is to install retractable window screens, as these screens keep the pests out without infringing upon your view of outside. If you want your entertainment and outdoor space to flow, you can choose different styles and colours of retractable window screens to match with your home decor and surrounding space.
Lighting
Using lighting as a design element in your entertainment space can create a great atmosphere. For an indoor/outdoor space, think about adding ceiling fans as they flow easily from inside to outside. You can install a ceiling fan in your outdoor pergola and in your main living room or space that directly connects to the outdoor area. In the living room, add some mood lighting with the addition of floor lamps and sconces, as this is the place where most people will relax as well a be entertained. Having a flexible lighting system can allow you to achieve the relaxed, casual setting of daytime get togethers as well as the comfortable, cosy setting of moodier low-level lighting.
Add a statement feature piece
A lot of great entertainment spaces contain at least one feature piece that allows guests to come together. This could be anything from a central island countertop in the kitchen with bar stools for guests to sit, a big screen TV or projector screen in the living room, or even an outdoor pizza oven in your outdoor patio. Providing a space for guests to sit and relax with their food and drinks adds to the comfort level of your home and makes the most of functional design.
Liven up your entertainment space with Artilux
Looking for more ways to enhance your home? Find out more about Artilux screens by getting in touch with our friendly staff.
Australia’s climate varies greatly from state to state. Much of the country experiences a relatively moderate climate, but there can be blazingly-hot summers and freezing winters. With the changing weather, it’s also common to see insects such as mosquitos and flies become regular – and unwanted – visitors. To accompany the changing weather and to shield your home from insects, fly screens are a must to give you peace of mind and keep your family comfortable, no matter the season.
Why choose fly screens for your home?
The fly screen has become a staple in the Australian home. They allow for proper air circulation and help to keep your home cool during the hotter months while keeping the elements out. Using fly screen doors and windows saves you money in the long-run, giving you the freedom to achieve a natural cooling system without having to constantly run air conditioning units during Summer. Australia’s outdoor lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with unwanted pests, but having fly screening allows you to enjoy the outdoors with protection from all of those little critters. While some homeowners may steer away from fly screen doors and windows over fears that they are ugly, modern fly screens come in a range of designs and are also proven to provide more permanent protection for your home, especially during bushfire season. Here is a list of the top reasons why a fly screen is perfect for your home and the Australian climate.
1. Keeps insects out
Growing up in Australia, we all know how annoying insects such as flies and mozzies are! They can also carry carry diseases which can be passed on to humans. In New South Wales these include Ross River Virus, Barmah Forest Virus, and in rare cases Murray Valley encephalitis virus. Pests such as flies, mites, midges, and cockroaches can also cause a health hazard. Fly screens will shield your household from these insects and the diseases they can bring.
2. Natural cooling system
Opening your house up during warmer, balmier evenings and during the day allows fresh air to clean out old stale air trapped inside, and provides a cleaner, more natural cooling system to each room. Due to their perforated mesh construction, fly screens provide added air circulation and a natural ventilation system to help keep your home cool in the breeze.
3. Added security
Security proof fly screens such as the Artilux Prowler Proof Screens are made using a stronger mesh bond, with Prowler Proof being Australia’s only welded security screen. These security screens can be installed in hinged or sliding doors as well as windows, keeping your home safe from potential intruders. These tougher mesh screens are tamper-proof and offer a modern, sleek look maintaining both protection and style.
4. Allows you to enjoy the outdoors inside
Flyscreens are a great addition to the home, especially in the Australian climate. They allow you to enjoy the outdoors while simultaneously providing protection from pests, unwanted critters, and airborne pollutants. Installing fly screen sliding doors in your outdoor entertainment space gives you the ability to open up your space to enjoy the fresh air and sights and sounds of nature, without having to worry about the elements. Welcome that indoor/outdoor flow the next time you entertain guests and make the most of this country’s natural beauty.
5. Good for allergy sufferers
Fly screens provide comfort from pests, but did you know they can also benefit those who suffer from allergies? For those of us who love the outdoors but suffer from seasonal allergies, fly screening is a great remedy. Common irritants like pollen and dust can be carried in the air and into our homes. Fly screens offer some added protection from airborne pollutants, providing extra relief to those who are sensitive to dust, pollen and mowed grass.
6. Comes in a range of styles
There are generally 3 types of fly screens. These are;
- Retractable: (able to be drawn back or in)
- Sliding – fixed: Made for sliding doors
- Hinged: Fits to one side of window or door via a hinge (e.g. most doors that you open and close)
Along with different styles of screens, there also comes a range of styles of mesh, ranging from fine to thick. Depending on your need and use for sly screen in your home, you can find screens that are tamper and intruder-proof, screens that are pet scratch proof, and screens that are rust-proof. Decorative fly screens provide a touch of style, with the addition of a decorative screen adding curbside appeal to your home. Modern fly screens are easily integrated into your home’s unique style, ensuring that they blend with your home and deliver the protection, privacy, and security that you need.
7. Bushfire resistant
If you live in a bushfire-prone area, did you know that your local council may require a fire rated fly screen doors and windows to be installed in your home? Aluminium, galvanised steel, and stainless-steel mesh fly screens are fire-resistant and add protection from windborne embers and debris. Depending on what BAL Classification your home/suburb falls under, you may need to integrate fire rated fly screen doors and windows to your home. If you are unsure, contact your local council or shire to confirm your local areas fire risk category.
Protect your home from the elements
If you’re in the Sydney area and are interested in installing fly screens to protect from the Australian climate, get in touch with our team to book a time or find out which fly screen will work for you.
Extending your house is a popular type of home improvement. It makes sense to want to improve where you live by creating more space. One of the most popular types of renovation is installing bi-fold doors, and it’s easy to see why. Bi-fold doors are perfect to integrate two spaces that otherwise would have to be permanently separated, such as the indoors and the outdoors.
Bi-fold doors can transform any living space into a welcoming and spacious entertainment zone — merging the outdoors with the indoors. We’ve put together this handy overview to answer all of your practical questions regarding bi-fold door configurations and their screening solutions.
Whether you’re a fan of insects or terrified of creepy crawlies, you’d probably agree insects belong outside and not inside your house. Not only are bugs potentially annoying and distracting when they get into the house, their presence can lead to unsanitary conditions, bites, and even disease transfers.
Windows and doors allow the flow of natural light into the interior spaces your home. However, opening up your windows and doors can mean unwittingly allowing a whole host of unwanted things into your home – insects, organic materials carried in by the wind, and even the unwanted gaze of neighbours.
Pleated insect screens are one of the most innovative and easy-to-use screen systems for your home. They offer convenience and space efficiency without the traditional restrictions and limitations of regular insect screens. Elegant and functional, pleated insect screens also come with aesthetic and visual benefits for your spaces, allowing you to seamlessly open up your interiors to nearby outdoor living areas.
Patio doors create entry points into your interior spaces from your outdoor spaces. They need to be aesthetically appealing while supporting energy efficiency and security. Patio doors come in a wide variety of styles, but two of the most common are French doors and sliding doors. So, which is right for your home?
Summer can also bring about heat waves; sun streaming through the windows making it even hotter inside. And if you’re home isn’t designed to deal with the intense heat, you could be using a lot more electricity than you actually need to trying to cool it. Is your home designed to really make the most of the summer lifestyle? Do you have a relaxing outdoor entertainment area? What about a sunroom you can enjoy without those pesky flies? Can you enjoy time spent indoors? Are you really utilising the extra hours of natural light, or do you find yourself flicking light switches every time you enter a room?
How is it already 2018? Be ahead of the curve and keep up to date with your interior design. Here are the top 11 modern interior trends for the coming year.
Welcome to my blog which focuses on tips and handy information for making your home life and surrounds more enjoyable and headache free. Basically I want to cover all the questions that I have about what will make my home more comfortable, energy efficient, comply with any new safety regulations and of course – won’t break the bank. I have so many of questions I want answers to relating to home maintenance. Some of these relate to the best product to use in my home from security systems to sound systems as well as services. How much should I pay for a gardener or a cleaner? So join me as I go through the minefield that is home maintenance! If you have any specific questions let me know and I will go out there look it up.