Friday 4 December 2015

Reduce your heating and cooling costs with Duette Architella Shades

Windows can make up 10% of a home's insulated shell. Did you know that up to 30%# of the unwanted heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer occurs through uncovered windows?


In summer, Duette Architella Shades filter unwanted glare while deflecting heat, keeping your room cooler. In winter, Duette Architella Shades reduce heat loss, keeping your room warmer.



The Duette Architella Collection features a patented cell within-a-cell construction providing superior energy efficiency and increased insulation, reducing heat loss in winter and keeping the home cooler in summer.


Monday 2 November 2015

Luxaflex Edge Vertical System

Edge Vertical Blinds are a newly designed and developed system that has been created and enhanced specifically for the Australian market.



Edge Vertical Blinds are suitable for a wide range of applications and are characterised by their flexibility, durability and the efficient versatile solar protection they provide. Edge Vertical Blinds are available in 4 track colours and a wide range of fabrics to suit any interior.




Chain and Cord

A smooth operating system with a beaded chain and cord in grey, white or ivory. The beaded chain tilts the blades which allows you to have complete control and direction of the light you want in the room.



Traversing Wand

A new gear and triangular wand, available in white and anodised, has improved the quality and control when operating the blind. This makes the operating process easier and smoother - simply use one hand to tilt the blades and draw across.



Monocommand 180°

One continuous beaded chain operates the entire blind and is used for both tilting and moving the blades. The cleverly designed bevel gears within the track allow the blades to rotate 180 degrees eliminating light gaps.









Tuesday 27 October 2015

Silhouette Shadings Ultraglide 2 - Click and Walk Away

Silhouette Shadings Ultraglide 2 is the new and improved patented operating system. It's simple - Click it and walk away. The single retractable cord system offers the convenient self-lowering of Silhouette Shadings with the added benefit of child safety.



To Lower - Pull cord towards centre of shading. Listen for the 'click' then release cord and walk away. The vanes automatically open once shading is completely lowered.



To Tilt Vanes - Gently pull straight and outward on cord to position angle of vanes.



To Raise - Pull cord straight down with long strokes. With each stroke, Silhouette Shading partially raises.



Features and Benefits

  • A Luxaflex exclusive.
  • Silhouette Shadings lowers with just one click.
  • Decreases pull force by 50% making raising the shading easier to operate than ever before.
  • Provides enhanced child safety with one constant cord length.
  • Can cover large window spans with increased limitation.
  • Colour co-ordination from the top of the shade to the bottom of the shade.
  • New end cap design which easily snaps on and off. 

Monday 19 October 2015

PolySatin™ Shutters with Smartview™

Luxaflex PolySatin™ Shutters are the modern alternative to traditional wooden shutters and are virtually maintenance free. PolySatin Shutters will not warp, shrink, chip, peel or fade, and will never need painting, making it suitable for both inside and outside the home.



SmartView™ is a patented gear driven system for one-touch control and an unobstructed view. This system completely eliminates the traditional rear or front tilt bar, and with no cords, it is the perfect child and pet-friendly option.



Most plantation shutters have a tilt-bar running vertically down their centre or at the rear of the louvres. It's this tilt-bar that allows for simple, one-touch control, opening and closing the louvres.



The optional SmartView operating system performs the same function as a tilt-bar, but is hidden on the back hinge side of the panel.

Features of SmartView include:

  • Louvres can be closed tightly in both directions. This method has eliminated unsightly staples or gears which tend to break or rust.
  • One-touch control to open and close the shutters.
  • Clean, contemporary look.
  • Hidden gear system reduces depth requirements.
  • Improved uniform closure.
  • Available in 64mm, 89mm and 114mm. 
  • Louvres can be closed tightly in both directions. This method has eliminated unsightly staples or gears which tend to

Monday 12 October 2015

Nisse Awning

Nisse Awning fully extended

The Nisse is a compact sized full cassette awning. Designed to be unobtrusive, the Nisse Awning is capable of covering an area of 5 metres wide and 3.5 metres projection, making the Nisse Awning a versatile and modern addition to any home. The increasingly popular small sized compact full cassette awning offers strength and durability against the harsh Australian environment while keeping the consumer’s home cool and protecting against harsh UV radiation.

Nisse Awning fully closed









Wednesday 7 October 2015

Ventura Terrace

Ventura Terrace fully extended

New to the Ventura range is the Ventura Terrace Awning. An ideal solution for apartments, patios and terraces that require a narrow awning with a long projection. The clever design of the Ventura Terrace Awning allows for the arms to be offset one above the other creating an awning with a narrow width and a projection of up to 4 metres. The functionality of the Ventura Terrace Awning allows it to span widths from 2 - 14 metres at a projection of 4 metres and provides maximum flexibility for all types of applications.

Clever folding arm design of the Ventura Terrace




Tuesday 29 September 2015

Reception - The latest Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades fabric range

The latest Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades fabric range Reception offers a soft suede texture with an element of shimmer and is sure to make a strong statement on any window with its luxurious look and feel.

The Reception range is available in translucent and blockout opacities. The colour palette is distinctively neutral and subdued to suit any home décor and design.

It’s not every day that you come across a fabric range that provides a modern take on suede with an element of shimmer!




Tuesday 22 September 2015

Australian Made for Australian Living - 8 New WARATAH Colours

This September, LUXAFLEX® have introduced eight new colours to the Waratah fabric range, inspired by current trends in interior design to refresh your windows.

Waratah colour trend inspiration

Continuing the tradition of local affordable quality, the LUXAFLEX® Waratah range has gained 8 new classic trending colours to the existing range. Cluster, Chi, Pluto, Greyshee, Stonehenge, Oxide, Metalcon and Gravity are the new colours that have been inspired by the influencing themes currently shaping the Australian home interior market. These colours are here to refine any space with just the right evolved style.


20 colour Waratah range

So what inspired these new colours?

CHI is where boundaries are blurred and colour is yearning for vanished epochs. Think tones of greys and blues. 






CLUSTER is where neutral meets illusory aesthetics. The colour takes the surfaces into the recreation of faded hues and emotions. 




BISQUE is about injecting comfort with a touch of muted drama. The new rugged natural takes flight. 



TRUFFLE is tactility and the subconscious drive of the senses to retrace urbanism and truth. Think natural brown with an underlying grey tone. 




PLUTO is the revelation in grey. The light compliment of the universe mixed with the lush softness that breaches texture play. 




GRAVITY is about the forces of prisms revealing the deceptive truth. It is where micro becomes macro and highly flexible. Think dark and moody tones.



Waratah is a 100% polyester blockout fabric providing the capability to beautifully coordinate looks and styles across different rooms and window types, as the fabric can be fit with Roller Blinds, Panel Glide Blinds and Vertical Blinds.

Waratah Fabric is proudly Australian Made and is now available in 20 essential Australian fashion forward colours. The fabric has been designed and tested for Australian conditions and consumer requirements.

Roller Blinds in the Waratah fabric

Monday 7 September 2015

Style your home with 4 NEW DESIGNER fabrics

This September, four stunning new fabrics have been introduced to the LUXAFLEX® Window Fashions Designer Series. The new fabrics, named Aria, Tempus, Alto and Luceeda all feature a diverse colour palette and modern stylised textures.



The new Designer Fabrics all deliver that finishing touch that will complement the many styling trends that are shaping the interior world. Each collection is available in a colour pallet that not only off sets its aesthetics, but delivers a surface design and unique appeal of perfection.

The four new fabrics allow for true co-ordination, providing the ability to match fabrics across both Luxaflex Roller Blinds and Luxaflex Panel Glide blinds, in every room in the house. The fabric choices include:

ALTO BLOCKOUT - Introducing the Glitz behind the Glamour of Alto Blockout. 


The Glamour pop of a plain metallic like no other in the range, Alto Blockout transforms any room from ordinary to extraordinary through its impeccable metallic lustre finish on its face surface. Alto features in 3 colours that will ignite any space.

TEMPUS - The light transcendence of Tempus Sheer


Capturing the true essence of a breezy Voile, Tempus fabric creates a meditative mood through its play on light in any room through its 5 astonishing atmospheric colours. This sheer is available in Roller and Panel applications, for that ultra-contemporary styling solution.

ARIA - The right understated Linen texture.


Encapsulating traditional yarn slubbing and delivering it through a modern de-tuned textured surface, Aria Translucent is all about delivering a simplistic modern realm. The range colourway’s allow for easy classic coordination to ignite any room.

LUCEEDA - That bold statement piece. 


Luceeda blockout fabric is all about that Sensuous appeal being delivered through elegantly woven lustrous yarns. Showcasing true elegance and harmony through its 5 statement colours at 2.8m wide, Luceeda adopts tonal foam backing to continue the range delivery of grandeur. A further delight to the offer is its sustainability of being Oeko-Tex certified


Thursday 4 June 2015

Australian Trend Forecast

The Australian Trend Forecast has released their latest trend ideas, which explore the influence of nature in design.

Colours, textures and patterns weave their way through our lives. They take us on a journey of imagination and inspiration. Through colours, textures and patterns, trends are created and translated into products. You can naturally combine or mix and match different schemes to create your own pallet of colours, textures and patterns. The possibilities are limitless.

Dawning

Dawning is inspired by nostalgia. Think of skipping on clouds of indigo gold and going on a dream. The colour palette consists of a mix of silvers and greys, hues of blue which expose highlights of pinks. Earthy tans, coppers and different hues of purple mushrooms of smoke which are evident in the beauty of a sunrise.

"Dawning" - Maurice Kain Latitude Horizon

Gaia’s Land

From the Greek mythology, Gaia was the personification of the earth. She was the creator and giver of birth on the Earth and all the universe - all the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. Gaia was the great mother of all. 

Gaia’s land is inspired by a balance of earthly tones which are somewhat soothing, warming and complete. Think muted tones of envious green, eye shadowed ocean blues and coppery bronze. Patterns are fascinatingly random and gentle.

"Gaia's Land" - Silence Shapes by Filippo Minelli, filippominelli.com

Touch Me

This trend is based on the idea that colour is a possibility, but not a necessity. Grey tones are dominant. A return to the primal joy of touching dominates. Allowing your fingers to do the talking and to explore and play with different tactile textures and depths.

"Touch Me" - Left Image: Amma Studio NYC, Photography by Cary Whittier / Right Images: Treasure Island by Noëlle Mulder, Photography Bram Heijnen

 Cat’s Cradle


Cat’s Cradle is the string game that everyone played as kid, creating never-ending patterns with the strings. It is inspired by a matrix of woven cells, where fragile components come together and bind to create indestructible strength. Imagine bee’s wax hexagons, a spider’s web and chains upon chains viewed underneath a microscope. Grey tones, patterns and textures are a dominant feature of this trend. 

Left: Decorfilms 3M CA-420 / Top: Boyac Baumann Creation Maltall Col 0409 / Bottom: Knauf Heradesign Superfine



Monday 27 April 2015

Selling Houses Australia – The House by the Sea

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 13 Season 8
The Story: Angela Service always dreamed of a little holiday house by the sea. So when she saw a pint-sized ex motel unit at the bargain price $79,000, she snapped it up. For a while she made great use of the place, then life got in the way. Now she’s desperate to sell, but in 2 years hasn’t had a single offer. Can Charlie and Shaynna think outside the box and turn tiny into terrific?

The Problem:  The Batehaven home was a tiny home, full of little challenges. The entrance led straight into the lounge room, where the lounge room was enough to send buyers away because it was small, had no character and connected to the kitchen and dining room. The blue wall and cupboards just gave the room a tacky and run-down look.


The bathroom was literally a hole in the wall, where the water tank was smack bang right next to the sink, and not to mention the horrible bright blue walls. The outside of the home was not any better. It lacked character, was small and very bare. And then there was the very tiny courtyard screaming out for a transformation.
The Solution: For the interior, a lot had to be fitted into the tiny space. Smart hidden storage space was created throughout the home, as to not take up anymore room. Space efficient appliances were installed and a brand new coat of paint, and new floor boards in the lounge and kitchen area created that whole new difference to the lounge room. Grey, navy and cream tones were used in the lounge and kitchen area to give the room a sophisticated look. Complimented with Roller Blinds in the fabric Havana Blockout and colour Fog, the grey tones of the Roller Blinds was the perfect match for the navy wall, and the boat feel of the room.


The bathrooms were given new fittings to add a bit of bling, where cupboards were added for extra storage along with the Luxaflex® Roller Blinds to compliment the white-toned bathroom.
The master bedroom was given a brand new bed with under compartments of storage – perfect for a small space, which added great functionality. The bare sliding door window was given a revamp and replaced with Luxaflex® Roller Blinds.


The fabric Soltec and Silpcast Blockout in the colours White and Versailles were used throughout all the bedrooms and were the perfect match for the décor and colour tones, working with the white and neutral tones of the bedrooms, but also adding a pop of colour.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealer Platinum Blinds and Awnings.  

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Thursday 23 April 2015

Selling Houses Australia – Great Bones and Character, But That’s About It

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 12 Season 8
The Story: Divorce can lead to some odd living arrangements, as Cherie and Bryce found out. The couple bought an old Queenslander as their family home and for time they were very happy. When Cherie and Bryce split, Cherie and her new partner bought Bryce out. But Bryce didn’t move out, he stayed put as the tenant and moved his new partner in! This complex plan was to keep a stable base for the kids, but now they’ve grown up its time to sever ties. But there’s one big problem, the place is in such a state, nobody wants to buy.

The Problem:  This house had plenty of space, great bones and character. But the main thing that kept buyers away was its lack of curb appeal. The exterior of the home looked awful. All the paint on the exterior of the house and on the fence was beyond pealing. It looked as if it had gone to hell and back. The concrete path was ugly and overgrown with weed and grass.


The entrance into the home led directly into a bedroom, which was completely off-putting for buyers and the lay-out of the home needed a lot of rejigging. The bathroom was too small for the size of the house, and placement of rooms throughout the home did not make sense.

The Solution: The home was automatically given street appeal with a new coat of paint on the house and fence – and what a huge difference that made. The grey tones of the house matched with the white fence brought life back into the home. It gave it a modern touch, and made it pop against all the other houses on the street.
A wall was created in the entrance bedroom to create two useable rooms so that buyers would not be walking straight into a bedroom, but instead a foyer. The wall meant that a functional foyer and functional bedroom were created.
At the back of the house, doors were blocked up and new doorways created and walls knocked down or moved. The old bathroom was transformed into something spectacular. It was bigger, better and even had a bath tub. 89mm NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters in the colour White were installed in the bathroom, the perfect complement for the white and grey tones of the room. NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters are perfect for bathrooms because they will never blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade, even under intense sunlight or exposure to water due to the technologically advanced Polyresin compound.

Two of the old bedrooms were transformed into a fabulous master bedroom with a walk-in ensuite – something which property buyers really value today. Again, NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters were installed in the bathroom to create an elegant look with the soft, matte lustre look of fresh paint.

Roller Blinds in Blockout Cotton White and External Louvres outside the windows were chosen for the home because they help battle the Queensland heat and harsh sun. Metal Lourve Awnings are extremely effective for providing privacy, light control and air flow because you can control light and privacy by adjusting the awning panels.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealer CBD Blinds in Milton, QLD.


Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Thursday 16 April 2015

A Fish Out Of Water

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 11 Season 8
The Story: Margarita’s Art Deco home is a fish out of water. Nestled amidst an industrial suburb, it’s hardly your standard offering. The style is quirky, the floor plan crazy and the décor plain outlandish. It’s a sale that would challenge the most seasoned agent, yet Margarita wants to sell the place herself.

The Problem:  The art deco home had a lot of difficult issues, where the art deco design and look of the home polarised buyers. The house lacked street appeal because the garden was messy and the front fence was literally falling apart.

Also, in a million dollar plus home, buyers expect a big kitchen, and the kitchen in this home was far from big. There was also a bedroom that was literally in the middle of the house, which wasn’t very functional, and the home had a very dark and heavy feel.

The Solution: Broaden the appeal of the home without losing the home’s wow factor as the Brookvale house demands a grand approach.
The backyard was given that little special touch – new landscaping, plants and a beautiful pergola. Recycled timber posts were used to enhance the aged and worn in look. The pergola looked formal, yet still keeping with the heritage feel of the home, giving the backyard a whole lot of character.
The wall in between the kitchen and dining room was taken away and the floors were levelled to create a fantastic looking kitchen with more room and an island bench. High end finishes and kitchen appliances along with the dramatic black and white floor tiles added to the big money feel and the prefect compliment for the era of the house.
Traditional and Tiered Modern Roman Shades in the fabric Sheer Linen and colour White Dawn were also installed throughout the home to add a modern, yet classic touch, perfect for the art deco home. The neutral tone of the Modern Roman Shades made it easy to match any tone of colour. 

The non-functional bedroom in the middle of the house was changed into a living room, which made a lot more sense. A feature wall was painted a rich teal colour to add that pop of colour, which was a huge transformation from the old looking shades of brown, cream and maroon. Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades in the fabric Menage and colour Daisy White were installed into the new living room. The neutral colour of the shade was the perfect complement to the colourful teal feature wall. Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® shades feature a patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction dramatically increasing the product’s ability to insulate in the winter and cool against the summer heart.
Duette Shades in the fabric Sheer Linen were also installed throughout the home. It gave the home a more open and airy feel, as a lot of the rooms throughout the Brookvale home were looking dark and claustrophobic. Duette Shades offer the ideal balance between function and energy efficiency together with versatility and style.

The master bedroom was transformed from uninspiring to inspiring. A new bed, a pop of teal colour and Modern Roman Shades in the fabric Sheer Linen and colour White Dawn were enough to give the master bedroom some selling power and that wow factor it was lacking.

Overall, the house had been transformed, adding a modern feel, yet still being sympathetic to its art deco period. The great mix of old and new will hopefully appeal to a wider range of home buyers.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealer Stuart Blinds in Manly, NSW. 


Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Thursday 9 April 2015

Selling Houses Australia – From Liability to Goldmine

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 10 Season 8
The Story: If you think an investment property will make you rich, think again. Anne and Garry’s house in Perth’s outer suburbs should have been a goldmine, instead it’s a liability. First the suburb failed to grow, then the house started falling apart. Anne and Garry spend every weekend mending, fixing, pruning, mowing and its draining their energy and resources. They want to cut their losses and sell up, but one look at the house and its clear why no one is buying.

The Problem:  This house was a cross between a new-age church and a Swiss Chalet. The home was okay as a rental, but buyers expected a lot more. The home was full of  little horrors and the actual shape of the house could not be changed. The exterior had horrible brick work and 70s style glasswork, enough to scare any buyer away. Not to mention, that there was an overgrown palm tree in the middle of the garden.
The interior of the house looked old, stale and stuck in the ages. There was an ugly ladder leading into the attic smack bang in the middle of the living room. Not only did it look out of place, but was also very unsafe.

The walls inside the home were made out of brick, creating a very outdated and cold look throughout the home. The dining room had poor window coverage, where the harsh Western Australia light was coming through and blinding the dining area. The house was calling for a make-over.
The Solution: The exterior of the home was given a new transformation. The horrible brick work was covered with acrylic render and a new pergola added, which took decades off the look of the house. The 70s looking glass was replaced with new glass which improved the outside of the property, but also losing the ugly yellow tint on the inside of the home.
The interior of the home followed a simple modern theme, where decorating was concentrated on high impact areas throughout the home. The interior brick walls of the living room were banished and covered with plastered wood. New carpet was also added to the living room to create a brighter and lighter room, more full of life.
The kitchen cupboards were given a new paint job, which gave it a fresh new look. Roller Blinds in the fabric Temple in the colour Soft Dove were installed, and the perfect window covering for the harsh Western Australia sun. The colour Soft Dove was the perfect match to the brown brick wall in the dining room, as it added a pop of subtle colour against the wall, but also complimented the white cupboards and appliances.

The master bedroom was given a new soft grey carpet and up to date and modern décor and bed. Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® shades were installed in the fabric Elan in the colour Dessert Sand. The Duette® Architella® gave the master bedroom that special something. It finished the new up to date feel, but at the same time, being so versatile in colour.

Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® shades feature a patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction dramatically increasing the product’s ability to insulate in the winter and cool against the summer heart – perfect for the Western Australian climate.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealers Sunmaster Canning Vale and Sunmaster Joondalup, both in WA.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel.