Artist in review - Skye Robertson

Artist in review: Skye Robertson


For mixed media artist Skye Robertson, inspiration is never far. Intuitively drawn to old objects and messages, collage and assemblage are mediums that allow her to capture a discarded world.
Showcasing her latest collection at the Art Sydney Exhibition last week at Moore Park, Skye’s work grabbed our attention.

Stylish, balanced & multi-layered – reclaimed newspapers, record covers and piano keys are combined to create a new aesthetic.

Studying at the Sydney Institute of Design, Enmore and with an impressive work history in the art and design industry, Skye understands the importance of looking at objects in an isolated then objective manner considering shape, weight, colour, font and size.

"I'm constantly scouring markets, second-hand shops and garage sales looking for materials. I may hold onto a particular object for years before it finds its way into my art" says Skye.

Our favs:

Fight | 156cm x 53cm | Mixed media on canvas | 2008
Constructivism 1 | 50cm x 50cm | Mixed media on canvas | 2008
Constructivism 2 | Mixed media on canvas // 50cm x 50cm | 2008

Next Exhibition details:
Group show - Underground ARTspace
Opening night 4 December
Suite 1, 295 Sydney Road Balgowlah
www.redolivestudios.com

Less Red Tape, More Green Action.

Fofi, Ally and Brendon from Style Plantation Design Studios went to the Phillips Sustainability Discussion: Less Red Tape, More Green Action last night at Customs House, Sydney.

The panel discussion covered the ups and downs of sustainability implementation, lessons learnt and projections for the future.

ABC Radio National's Alan Saunders lead the debate, with speakers Ross Gardam, Judy Hollingworth, Dr Usha Iyer-Raniga, Mark Kelly, Olivier Piccolin and Tone Wheeler.

We're thinking now as a group on what more we can do for a sustainable future.
Consider the following with us:

- A capped price for energy consumption: Increase power costs on a tiered level: the lowest users of energy pay very little or even get free energy, low users pay only a small amount, medium level users - the price increases, higher users have a trebled bill and so on. This is about 'waste' - and hitting users where it hurts more - in the hip pocket.

Consider this: Users who have the lowest usage don't pay: who wouldn't then want to strive to be in the category? People who do nothing but leave lights on and use clothes driers all day will be paying more and more - encouraging lower usage levels.

Of course, this could also apply for water use and so on.

Could this idea also be used for garbage and waste? Instead of having a weekly garbage collection for three bins - could it be a fortnightly collection in a smaller bin for non-recyclable rubbish? For households that need more - a user-pays price would apply. How quickly we would slow down our 'chuck it in the bin' habits.

City of Sydney council has adopted a program in inner-city Chippendale where residents can dispose of food scraps in community compost bins - and make use of kerb-side gardens with strawberries and mint and other herbs.

Your suggestions and comments are always appreciated.

Hot Summer Reads

While away the hours with these fab new books:

1. Glamour: Making it Modern
Quotes by interior Designers are peppered throughout this book. . "A room must have wit to be glamorous. Any design that seems over-considered or over-serious ain't glamorous," says Jonathan Adler. "Glamorous doesn't have to break the bank, says Vicente Wold, "but it must break the mould." Michael Lassell Filipacchi Publishing.

2. William Yeoward at Home
This book, by the well-known British fabric and furniture designer, has all you need to know about entertaining in style. Its section on Weekend Guests includes tips on picnics, while City Living is good for formal dinners and backgammon evenings!
William Yeoward, Cico Books

3. Interiors by Yoo - Who are Yoo? They're the property brand behind the world's most stunning developments, with interiors by Phillippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Kelly Hoppen and Jade Jagger. This inspirational book treats the home-owner as a brand and shows how our living space should reflect your individuality. It includes more than 20 projects in locations ranging from Dubai's G Tower to Jagger's 14 storey Jade condominium in New York. John Hitchcox, Carlton Books

Enjoy!

Walk to work.

Friday 1 October is Walk to Work Day. Walking to work is a great way to stay active and healthy. It's also a great excuse to leave the car at home and save some carbon by walking!

Now in it's 12th year, participants are encouraged to register. Visit the website for more information.

If you can't walk all the way to work, then try these suggestions on National Walk to Work Day, then use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to work. If you must drive, leave the car at least a kilometre from your destination and walk the rest of the way.

Visit the Walk to Work Day website - http://www.walk.com.au

Coincidentally, the first Friday of every month is our 'NO PRINT DAY' so we're certainly doing our bit! Tell us what you're doing!

www.styleplantation.com

Design: Going Japanese

The months of July and August are the moths of many celebrations and festivals in Japanese culture. Just recently we had the Star Festival called Tanabata: a celebration of the very lovely tale of two lovers Hikoboshi, the herder, and Orihime, the weaver. The Emperor of Heaven became angry with them for getting lazy and banished them both to opposite sides of the Milky Way. However, after seeing the heartbreak his harsh decision had caused he allowed them to cross the Milky Way and meet once a year on the night of July 7th.

Around this time children write wishes on paper strips and decorate bamboo branches with them. Shopping arcades also decorated with colourful paper strips.

To see these (sometimes quite large) brightly coloured, whimsical decorations feels to be very much in contrast to the style of design and decoration seen in Japanese modern architecture, interiors and gardens.

Japanese interior styling is very much in line with: less is more and quality over quantity.

Designs are very simple, functional and clutter free. Furniture tends to be grouped or placed towards the centre to allow for free visual flow and physical movement around the perimeter. This way, walls are an important element of the overall scheme with perhaps an alcove to display an important collectible piece in a key location, or a place for a single, impact piece. When choosing colour, neutrals will help with the underlying look of orderliness. With neutrals taking their hues from nature, off whites and blacks do not clash. Vivid colours are used only sparingly to stand out, to stand alone in a single object or architectural feature.

Some Japanese textures and materials that immediately come to mind are cedar, rice paper, maple, bamboo, stone, and woven wicker. One might also think of textured silk, tatami floor mats, and the elaborate needlework of kimonos and obi’s.
as a focal point, like for example, red lacquer on a single bamboo post or column.

As with colour, when decorating aim for a balance of opposites. Interior finishes can be highly opposing and contrasting, and yet achieve balance. Some examples are for instance, highly polished floors with heavily textured mats, a lacquered box displayed on top of a rough wooden table, or white pebbles on a polished black granite ledge around a tub; A long grained cedar wood table or bench with a perfectly crafted, shining lacquered box. Floors of engineered bamboo hardwood surrounded by a single slab of quarry stone or polished concrete; Heavy texture of natural fiber mat with stretched taunt leather seating.

There is nothing new about Japanese interior design features. They have slowly and tastefully evolved over centuries. Even though western influences are increasingly noticeable, improvements in materials and processes are being made, the basics have been graciously preserved.

Bamboo Flooring

Organic food is taking over as more of us are becoming aware of the effect of pesticides on our environment. But are there other ways we can help sustain our future? In a word, yes.

Bamboo is an environmentally-friendly product that grows at a rate of knots, making it a choice material for anyone concerned about the rate we are foresting the world’s trees.

Bamboo not only grows fast but it’s one of the toughest materials available – perfect for flooring and bench tops. Style Plantation has recognised the value of this fast-growing material and is using it in many new ways. Environmentally- friendly, stronger and more versatile than most old growth forest hardwoods, bamboo is allergy-free and white-ant resistant so there’s more than one benefit to using this wood.

If you’ve ever had a timber floor laid you’ll know all about the two week acclimatization period where the wood has to settle into its new environment. This is not the case with bamboo. This flexible friend can be laid and set with no waiting time before you place your furniture back in the house. Think of the time and energy that will save you!

And the benefits of bamboo don’t end there. Style Plantation offers a variety of applications from flooring, to bench tops to shelving, stairs and blinds, adding a natural and aesthetically-agreeable addition to any home, and any taste. Bamboo – it’s the new black.

Why Bamboo?
• Environmentally-friendly product from renewable timber plantations
• Stable under humid and dry conditions
• Pre-finished with six coats of UV-treated urethane gloss or aluminium oxide
• Retardant against termites, fire, sunlight, chemical stains, scuffing and indentation
• Manufacturing process is 100 per cent non-toxic and waste-free

Ergonomics for a happy body.

Ergonomics is essentially about "fitting work to people". It's the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them – friendly to the body. The aim of ergonomics is to develop a comfortable and safe work system, by bringing human factors into the plan. With consideration of specific human abilities in the design process, these can include body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities (vision, hearing, etc), even attitudes. Ergonomics comes into everything which involves people.

Seating ergonomics

The best way to reduce pressure in the back is to be in a standing position. However, there are times when you need to sit. When sitting, the main part of the body weight is transferred to the seat. Some weight is also transferred to the floor, back rest, and armrests. When the proper areas are not supported, sitting in a seat all day can put unwanted pressure on the back causing pain.

The lumbar (bottom five vertebrate in the spine) need to be supported to decrease disc pressure. Providing both a seat back that inclines backwards and has a lumbar support is critical to prevent excessive low back pressures. The combination which minimizes pressure on the lower back is having a backrest inclination of 120 degrees and a lumbar support of 5 cm. Another factor that reduces lumbar disc pressure is the use of armrests on your seat. They help by putting the force of your body not entirely on the seat and back rest, but putting some of this pressure on the armrests. Armrest needs to be adjustable in height to assure shoulders are not overstressed.

TIPS FOR GOOD ERGONOMICS

* Get a decent chair

THE best sort are the standard clerical-type office chairs, NOT the large, high-backed reclining types which some people think mistakenly are guaranteed to be comfortable. Look for the following features:

• adjustable in height;
• a separately adjustable backrest you can bring forwards into the small of the back, as well as (preferably) altering vertically to suit your trunk length;
• a seat short enough to allow you to get full back support without the front edge of the seat pushing into the back of your legs;
• a five-star base (for stability);
• a curved, "waterfall" front;
• well padded - you shouldn't be able to feel the seat base under the padding when you're slumped heavily in the chair.

Lots of chairs on sale are labeled as "ergonomic" - but they're not! Ask if the chair conforms to Australian Standard AS/NZS 4438 ("Height-adjustable swivel chairs"), published in 1997. There's also a set of Standards on Fixed-height Chairs - AS/NZS 4688.1, 4688.2, 4688.3 etc. Does the chair have a strength and durability rating from AFRDI (the Australian Furniture Research and Development Industry). If not, why?

"Bargain" chairs usually have poor or average strength components and assembly, and usually break down after a year or two - so be prepared to spend a bit more if you want something to last. A good chair is really worth it!

* Learn how to adjust your chair

- alter its height until your shoulders are relaxed, not slumped, in the working position;
- adjust the backrest into the small of your back;
- ensure the seat pan is flat or sloping upwards (NEVER downwards) at the front;
- learn the elements of correct posture, and practice them!

* Provide good, even lighting

Your whole working surface should be evenly illuminated, without shadows near your hand. Concealed fluorescent lighting is good (tubes are cool, light well dispersed, long life); consider an extra desk lamp as well, but ensure that the light source itself is covered, and is kept out of your field of view. Use curtains to control screen reflections or bright sunlight, and don't sit facing a screen with bright daylight (like a window) beyond and behind the screen. Don't put up with a dark or shiny desktop: they should be a light to medium colour, matt finish.

* Give yourself plenty of desktop space

WHY not put your screen or laptop on a mobile, articulated holder? You can adjust it to suit (a good distance: about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen level with your forehead), then use the handy space under it to move your keyboard out of the way. 700 mm is a good desk height, but lower for lots of shorter people. Many desks are still far too high. Put the stuff you use a lot within a comfortable arm's reach (eg phone, notepad, reference files). A desk should be 900 mm deep (front to back) for comfortable screen viewing, and your desk should not be thick (30 mm maximum).

* Take regular breaks

Muscles need movement - from the tiny muscles which manage your eyes to the big ones which support your back. Get up and get things. Try working standing up sometimes. Get some fresh air. And keep yourself fit - daily exercise (even just a brisk walk) will repay you many times in the extra hours of productive work you'll be able to do as a result.

Useful website: www.ergonomics.org.au

We like + recommend the chairs from Corporate Culture, www.corporateculture.com.au

Hallway ideas.

VISUALLY it’s the very first place that guests will see in our home. So why do we overlook our
hallway? Here are our tips for maximising your hallway, big or small.

“For instant impact introduce colour and texture.”

Long corridor (typical in terrace houses)

Think about wallpaper for the smooth, un-interrupted wall. Eg textured grasses or cellulose paper, metallic finishes that reflect light. All available from Baresque. If you’re renovating on a tight budget consider textured paints. There is a big range available from Porters Paints or DULUX. Whatever you choose, it needs to be durable and low-maintenance so any stains or marks can be easily wiped clean.

L-shaped or dog-legged hallways (typically found in an apartment)

Consider a bespoke floating shelf that is fixed onto the wall. This can be in either marble, onyx, timber with dimensions to suit your space. For eg 40mm thick, 1200mm wide and 900mm off the floor (basically kitchen-bench height) - Useful to place an ornamental sculpture, being mindful of placing vase or glassware on high traffic area, as item could get knocked off.

If you have the luxury of a very wide hallway you could have a sideboard or a console table complete with top-drawers and plenty of bench space for decorative items. Interesting artwork hanging above that could be textured and colourful, eg contemporary Aboriginal artwork. Or a thick gilded frame mirror.

Lighting is an important factor and will depend on the style of your home. For a touch of glamour chandeliers are a good choice, for something more under-stated a clear glass dome pendant. For added height consider a coffered ceiling with down lights.

Remember, it’s still a thoroughfare so don’t overdo it with accessories. A few, well-placed items will give maximum ‘wow’ .

Designer - In Review

Fofi by design is a Sydney based interior design + decoration consultancy offering creative solutions with an emphasis on function, style and comfort.

Specialisng in a range of interiors from residential, cafes to boutique commercial projects, Fofi by design has a good understanding of space, light, colour, texture and fabrics and creates innovative yet practical designs. And loves sustainable materials - such as natural textured wallpapers and bamboo flooring.

We love Fofi by design's Coogee apartment make over. With a stunning feature wall and classic 'hotel' feel, this apartment is a blend of modern and traditional furniture (new and existing) with a stunning mix of personal treasures from the client's collection.

Fofi Gourlas has a Diploma of Arts in Interior Design + Decoration from Commercial Arts Training College (CATC) Sydney, graduating with high distinctions.

Fofi also writes a fantastic blog - be sure to check the website for more information.

Who: Fofi Gourlas, Fofi by Design

Where: Sydney, CBD and suburbs

What: Interior design

Web: www.fofibydesign.com

Start today at home - For a better world.

It couldn't be easier. A few small changes to make today, that will make a difference for tomorrow.

We know that you are already aware and committed to making a difference every day, but here's our quick checklist - please feel free to add to it.

1. Put a 'no junk mail' sticker on your letter box at home - and cut the junk.
2. Put a footnote on your emails to remind the reader to only 'print if required'.
3. Write a list of things that you need to repair at home - and plan to set aside some time to get things done - remember, a stitch in time.....
4. Buy items in bulk to reduce packaging - or look for products that have less packaging.
5. Buy reusable items - and avoid items that will only be used once - like disposable cutlery.
6. Buy fresh foods - more often, and compost the scraps.
7. Pass on clothes or unwanted household goods to charities - maybe have a clean out of last year's clothes and give them a new home.
8. Say no - to plastic bags at the supermarket - keep a stash of reusable shopping bags in the car boot and at work - be ready.
9. Walk somewhere - maybe to the train station, to work, to the shops - leave the car at home, start small and it could turn into a great habit. Even set a day aside every week where the car is left at home - 'car-free' Fridays for example - and do your best to make it a rule.
10. Send that stash of plastic bags in the back on the pantry back to the supermarket for recycling.
11. Arrange to recycle old mobile phones, batteries and printer toners and cartridges - check for drop-off bins at your local post office / bank.
12. Turn off the lights / appliances when not in use - this includes 'standby' appliances, such as the TV - turn it off, at the source.

In the know, on the net.

A list of some of our favourite websites to keep up to date with the latest in sustainability and design:

1. www.todae.com.au
Go there to find solutions for a sustainable future such as:
- Solar Power
- Energy Efficient & LED Lighting
- Business & Home Assessments
- Energy + Water Saving
- Office Products + Stationery
- Household Consumables (such as cleaning and body care)
- Eco Baby

2. www.news.worldvision.com.au
World Vision is Australia's largest charitable group. World Vision helps over 20 million people every year, thanks to the support of more than 400,000 Australians. It operates also Birrung Gallery www.birrung.com.au The award winning gallery has been in operation for over twelve years and provides unique Indigenous artwork to collectors and art lovers around the world. The ethical sale of art at Birrung supports over 400 Indigenous artists and over 25 remote area art centres across Australia.
A lively exhibition program showcases the rich diversity of art forms including painting, fibre arts,sculpture, printmaking , ceramics and more

3. www.infolink.com.au
Infolink is Australia's online directory for the architecture, building, construction and design sectors. Make online enquiries direct to suppliers, or click through to their websites. There is an online newsletter where you can get the latest news on products, services and developments in the architecture, building, construction and design sectors.

4. www.fiaa.com.au
The Furnishing Industry of Australia (FIAA), is an industry association representing the interests of businesses in the wider furnishing and joinery industries. FIAA members include:
Bedding & Mattress Makers
Furniture Manufacturers
Blind Cleaners / Repairers
Joiners and Cabinet Makers
Flooring & Floor Coverings
Blinds, Awnings & Window Furnishings
Kitchen Manufacturers
Commercial Furniture Suppliers
Picture Framers
Suppliers to the Furnishing Industry
French Polishers
Upholsterers
Built-in Wardrobe Businesses

FIAA Mission: The Mission of the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia is to represent the Furnishing and Joinery Industries and to provide services and benefits to our members.

5. www.choice.com.au
Independent and transparent, CHOICE ensures the consumer voice is heard loudly and clearly.

CHOICE empowers consumers to get the most out of all their purchasing decisions by providing a mix of advocacy and advice.

6. www.fofibydesign.com
Our favourite blog is on this site that covers design tips to improve every home. Written by Fofi Gourlas, Sydney based interior designer, this site is informative and relevant to people who are looking for inspiration.

Winter Warming

How to have a warm and energy efficient home this winter.

Install insulation batts – Insulation batts installed in a typical home over a period of 40 years will save over 340 times the energy that was required to make the batts. Not only that, it will keep your house a few degrees warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.

2. Gas vs. Electric heating - Try to opt for energy efficient electric heating. Heaters where the energy from the electricity is “burnt” or used directly to produce the heat produce approx. 3.5 to 4 times as much carbon emissions as the same unit of heating produced with gas. However; there is a much more efficient way to deliver heating electrically by using reverse cycle air conditioners and heat pumps. Essentially, these devices use the electrical energy to move heat from one place to another as opposed to “burning” it to directly produce the heat.

3. Heating in winter accounts for almost 50% of energy costs. Keep your bills down by closing doors to unused rooms. This will keep the warmth in the areas that you spend the most time in.

4. Cover up those windows – A window loses 5 to 10 times more heat than the equivalent area of a wall. Floor length curtains are a very effective insulator against those cold winter days – they stop the warm air coming into contact with cold windows, and leaving you with a cosier room to sip some hot chocolate in.

5. Dress appropriately – reduce unnecessary harmful emissions by substituting gas/electric heating by rugging up. Get yourself a cute pair of slippers and a thick blanket to rug up. It makes no point to sit in the house with a t-shirt on and the heating up full. You will save money and the environment by throwing on an extra layer or two.

6. Consider your floor finishes – Typically tiles are the coldest of all floor finishes. Consider using floorboards or carpets (the warmest) to promote a warmer environment inside the home. If you don’t want to change your flooring completely, adding a large floor rug will help to reduce the coldness of tiles.

Guerrilla Gardening

"Guerrilla Gardening" is the latest craze in greening urban areas that started in the United States. Its basic principes are to reclaim sidewalk cracks, parking lots and public spaces that are highly visible and turning them into gardens.

There are some great examples around Sydney where boring public spaces have been transformed into colourful gardens. Using plants that are native to the area and that thrive with neglect, these new feature gardens have popped up 'over night' - we've noticed a few around town -such as at Woolloomooloo and also on South Dowling Street in Surry Hills. Have you noticed a new garden somewhere? Please let us know.

Bamboo Flooring Images

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is a breathtaking alternative to hardwood timber floors. Plantation grown bamboo saves our ancient forests and is one of the world's oldest building materials, and one of the fastest growing plants known to man!
Bamboo flooring is stronger and more resilient to indentation and scuffing than many native woods, but with the same look and feel.

Why Choose Bamboo for Flooring?

• Environmentally sustainable – Style Plantation Bamboo Flooring is an attractive alternative to hardwood floors, and is the product derived from the forests of a fully sustainable, environmentally friendly and rapidly growing renewable resource.
• Easy installation – Bamboo Flooring compares favourably with traditional solid select timber floors and given it is already sanded and finished with six durable Treffert or Klummp UV coatings. Style Plantation products are capable of being quickly installed ready for use with minimal disruption.
• Coupled with its price advantage, bamboo floors are creating significant interest for their aesthetics and other performance qualities over existing hard wood alternatives. In summary, bamboo flooring provides a highly competitive product for both domestic and commercial applications.
• Style Plantation Bamboo Floors are abrasion resistant and have excellent horizontal surface friction (non-slip).
• Bamboo flooring is allergy free
• Style Plantation bamboo floorboards are sealed with non-toxic glues and are finished with aluminium oxide.
• Style Plantation offers a wide range of colours and are consistent through to the core except in the instances where surface stains are used to achieve the colour.
• Bamboo floors have high UV resistance, blocking the sun's harmful rays and protecting the floor.
• Excellent warranty protection. The manufacturer warrants Style Plantation Bamboo Flooring in the original manufactured state free from structural defects (Structural Warranty) for 10 years in residential applications and 5 years for commercial uses. The manufacturer warrants to the original purchaser that the wear layer (Coating Warranty) of aluminium oxide will not peel or separate from the flooring plank in residential applications for 5 years.
• Easy repairs, since damaged bamboo floorboards can be replaced without contrasting with the pattern of surrounding boards.
• Easy cleaning, most spills can be cleaned up with a mop or sponge. To read more about how to maintain your bamboo floor, click here.
• Very low emissions through waste and pollution; the result is a very environmentally friendly product.
• Endless design options
• Style Plantation Bamboo Floors are very hard and durable
• STYLEBOARD ™ Strand woven bamboo flooring technology is retardant against termites, fire, sunlight, chemical stains, scuffing and indentation.
• Finally, the natural beauty and durability of bamboo flooring far surpasses traditional hardwood floors.

However, above all these extraordinary features are quite simply the look of bamboo flooring. When you walk into a room floored in bamboo you truly do catch your breath. There is a quality, warmth and feel created entirely by the floor itself. Before choosing flooring, you really need to see bamboo for yourself.

Sydney Home Show

The Sydney Home Show, featuring the HIA Build Green Expo is on again, from Thursday 13th May to 16th May at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre.

Open 10am - 7pm daily, the Sydne Home Show is a line up of the latest products and industry leading companies showcasing current and popular home and building products.

Of course, Style Plantation will be on display showcasing our latest and greatest - in two locations. Come and see our Design Floor and our Exhibition Stand at J23.

For complimentary entry tickets to the show, please contact us on 1300 326 789 or email brendon@styleplantation.com

For more information about the show, visit www.sydneyhomeshow.com.au

Mother's day gift ideas - that won't cost the earth!

For mum, this mother's day.

1. The best gift of all - a hug. Hugs certainly feel good, both on the giving and receiving end, and it turns out their effects are more than skin deep. A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that hugs increase the "bonding" hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease. Hugs are good for your heart, they lower blood pressure, and reduce stress.

2. Get a green kitchen hamper for mum, full of earth friendly products for around the home. Cleaning products and laundry products that are gentle on the environment - we like www.ecostore.net.au

3. A health beauty pack full of beautiful soaps and creams with organic, fair-trade ingredients. Our favs: regenerating hand cream and body wash by Weleda - pomegranate body care range www.weleda.com.au

4. Organic Cotton Bedlinen - Did you know that researchers have uncovered up to 2 kilograms of harsh chemicals embedded in every queen size sheet set of non-organic cotton bed linen. Go organic, for mum's sake.

5. An Earth Machine or compost machine - it's a fabulous investment to reduce landfill waste and give your mum free mulch and soil amendment that will make the neighbours jealous.

6. An interior design consultation - give mum a special gift to help brighten her world. A new coat of paint for the lounge room, or a bedroom make-over with help from a professional interior designer. Contact us for more information.

7. A pair of house shoes from www.houseshoes.com.au - House Shoe soft foam soles are made from industrial waste diverted from landfill, creating a sustainable future for the planet, with a double layer of stretch cotton that moulds to the shape of your mum's foot.

8. www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au for a gift for mum, and one for a total stranger that keeps on giving! Many adults in Cambodia have limited or no functional literacy. A gift of adult literacy classes teaches many basic life skills in a supportive environment specifically tailored to local needs, as well as numeracy and literacy.

9. Another mum's gift - from Oxfam. Starting the day well is important, especially for growing minds and bodies. That’s why Oxfam Australia supports Doomadgee State School to run a healthy breakfast program for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Your gift helps provide one child with fresh fruit, bread, milk, juice and muesli for a month, and helps increase their attendance and concentration at school. Make another mum happy!

10. Super soft and absorbent, bamboo towels will spoil your mum without costing the earth! Pick a highlight colour from the bathroom or go with classic white. From Style Plantation stores nationally - www.styleplantation.com

Cleaning tips.

Autumn is here! Beautiful weather, crisp mornings - and time to get the house in order!

It’s always so rewarding to clean house and simplify, but did you know that there are some Autumn cleaning projects that can help your home be more energy efficient? These are quick, easy, and should save you some money in the end.

1. Refrigerator
There are a few ways that you can clean out the fridge and make it more efficient. The biggest one is cleaning those coils. You can save 6% of your fridge’s energy output just by doing this one little thing a couple of times a year. Cleaning the coils is pretty simple:
• Pull your fridge away from the wall and unplug it.
• If there’s a metal plate covering the coils, carefully remove it.
• Check out all of that dust!
• Use the skinny vacuum attachment and a brush to clear away the dust.
• If things are really gross, you can wipe them down with warm, soapy water, and let the coils dry completely.
• Replace the back plate, plug it in, and move your fridge back against the wall. To be really efficient, you ideally want it about 5cm from the wall. Check manufactuer's recommendations.
Another way to save energy in the fridge is to clean out the contents. You want it to be full, but not so packed that air can’t efficiently circulate. Plus, now’s your chance to get rid of that mystery container of leftovers that you don’t remember shoving in the back there. A win-win!

2. Dishwasher
Keeping your dishwasher clean saves energy and water. For most modern dishwashers if you clean it a few times a year, you can totally skip pre-rinsing and soaking dishes in hot water and avoid having to re-wash you dishes. The best time to clean the dishwasher is right after you’ve run and unloaded it…the water and heat from the cycle will make it easier to de-gunk. Here’s how to clean it:
• Cut the power or unplug.
• Pull out the trays that would hold the dishes, and wipe them down with a vinegar and water mixture.
• Check the spinning arms and vents in there, clearing out any debris with an old toothbrush and a rag.
• Do the same on the door.
• Use that same toothbrush to clean around the edges of the door, where it seals closed.
You can also save energy by making sure that you only run your dishwasher when it’s totally full.

3. Air Conditioner
You can save 5%-15% on cooling costs just by making sure that your A/C filter is clean. This is super simple to do, and you should change the air filter in your home 2-4 times a year. Here’s how!
• Take a peek at the filter that’s in there to find the size you need, then head to the hardware store to pick up a replacement.
• Before you pull out the old filter, take a look at how it’s inserted. You’ll want to insert your replacement in the same direction.
• Pull out the old filter, and slide the new one into place