The mid-20th century marked a design revolution strongly influenced by the Modernist movement. Particularly influential across Scandinavia, America, parts of Europe and Australia, it still inspires and endures today.
To get a handle on Mid-Century Modernist furniture and design, it helps to understand what led the movement and who the leading designers were.
After the Second World War, from about 1945 to 1975, interior and architectural design was strongly influenced by the availability of new materials and mass production techniques. The world was rapidly changing, and the concept of modernism looked at exactly that - the modernisation of society and the impact of technological advancement.
Key concepts included form follows function' and truth to materials'. The result was an emphasis on function over decoration and using materials such as plywood and steel in a recognisable state. Design became streamlined, pared back and less ornate. Organic sculptural shapes were embraced over decoration.
Interior and architectural design go hand in hand, and many of the leading architects at the time -such as Le Corbusier, Arne Jacobsen and Eero Saarinen -were also furniture designers. The International style was the overarching architectural movement of the mid-20th century. These buildings feature flat roofs, bold rectilinear shapes and horizontal lines, and are often raised on stilts with carports underneath. Internally multi-level open-plan living was introduced. Local proponents included Harry Seidler and Robin Boyd.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
Australian property owners are becoming savvier when it comes to getting the most out of their tax returns.
According to BMT Quantity Surveyors, the number of property owners who are ordering depreciation schedules is increasing, while at the same time the time it takes them to order one is decreasing.
BMT's figures from the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years show the firm had a 15% year-on-year increase in the number of people ordering schedules.
The data suggests that an increasing number of investors are becoming more sophisticated in terms of understanding the tactics available to them to increase their yields, BMT chief executive officer Brad Beer said.
Hand-in-hand with this large increase, the amount of time that passes between an investor purchasing a property and then ordering a tax depreciation schedule has dramatically decreased, Beer said.
During the 2013/14 financial year, BMT found that it took owners an average of 281 days to order a tax depreciation schedule after purchasing property.
In May this year, investors were taking an average of 245 days to order a depreciation schedule, a decrease in time of nearly 13% compared to the 2013/14 financial year.
While investors are apparently becoming better at taking advantage of the tax breaks depreciation has to offer, Beer says there is still opportunity for those who may have missed claiming it in the past.
If an investor has not claimed depreciation on an investment property in the past they are able to claim for some of the years that they missed out on and this might result in savings of up to tens of thousands of dollars, he said.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
It's not surprising that you can now add internet access to the list of things that affect house prices.
Just like access to good transport, schools or a great aspect, buyers and renters see fast, reliable and affordable internet as one of life's essential pieces of infrastructure.
WHY DO WE WANT IT?
We don't just use the internet for accessing work emails anymore.
Increasingly, it's an essential recreational and life tool. We watch TV through the internet, stream movies and music, read or watch the news, speak in real-time with friends and relatives overseas or interstate, access telemedicine in remote areas, book holidays, upload photos, do our shopping, and much much more.
UPS AND DOWNS
We all want to be connected, so it's only natural that access - or lack of it - to fast and reliable internet could affect home prices.
In big cities we often take good internet speeds for granted. But regional and rural areas are not always so lucky.
Dreaming of working from a hideaway in the country? It could be a very slow and frustrating business if you don't have a decent internet access available. And many communities are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the National Broadband Network (NBN) to see if it makes the promised difference.
THE OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE
While the connection between internet speeds and property prices is well documented overseas, it seems we're yet to see the same kind of clear cut impact of internet on property prices here.
A poll undertaken in the UK in 2012 (which is almost ancient history in tech terms) showed that home buyers there rank a fast broadband connection higher than off-street parking and local amenities when considering a new property. UK property experts say that properties with slow broadband speeds can be as much as 20 per cent lower than those with good speeds, and a dealbreaker in house sales. It's one of the first services new home buyers or renters connect - often ahead of electricity, gas or other utilities.
It's no different in the US, where a recent study found that the fastest type of high speed internet, fiber-optic connections, can add as much as $5,437 to the price of a $175,000 home.
THE FUTURE
Fast, reliable and affordable broadband internet has the potential to fuel economic growth of all kinds - not just property prices. It can also drive improvements to local communities and economies, businesses and bring new opportunities, which is why the Government saw fit to invest in the NBN to start with.
But the jury is still out on whether the NBN has had - or will have - a tangible impact on Australian property prices. Experts say it's too early to tell, and the change to fibre-to-the-node from the original fibre-to-the-premises plans will likely also have an impact.
As internet connectivity and our reliance on broadband becomes only more essential to, and entrenched within, our day-to-day life we can only wait and see what happens to the desirability of properties with super fast - or super poor - connectivity.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
PAINTING
Painting is an easy way to renovate without being put out for long, but when planning your schedule allow time for the preparation. Time-poor renovators can make inroads by painting one room at a time or even one wall in a contrasting colour.
When painting one wall, choose your colours wisely as that's where the eye will be drawn. But you can afford to be bold here, so don't be afraid to try a colour you wouldn't choose for the whole room.
REPLACE CARPETS
Check under a corner of that worn carpet to see if there are floorboards below. If so, rip up the carpet, then sand and polish the floorboards using an odour-free, oil-based stain.
MAKE YOUR ENTRANCE
The porch, front door and hallway are the first things visitors see, so a weekend spent renovating these will make a huge difference in terms of how you feel about your home.
* Replace the front door or paint it in bold colours and upgrade the doorknob and knocker.
* Make a bare porch welcoming with a pergola, wicker furniture and potted plants.
* If the path leading to your front door is straight and boring, edge it with interesting plants or replace the entire path with curved gravel or stepping stones. Plant bushes to enhance the curves.
BATHROOM BLITZ
There are ways you can upgrade your bathroom without losing access to it for weeks.
* Re-grout the tiles. Over time, tile grout gets dull and mouldy so if the bathroom walls are looking a bit tired, but the tiles are in good shape, just replace the grout.
* Clear the shower. Nothing ages a bathroom quite like a mouldy old shower curtain, yet it's a fairly quick job to replace it. For an ultra-modern look, have a professional put in a glass or seamless shower and replace the fittings. If you'd prefer to make a quick change yourself, buy a clear plastic curtain and loop it onto the rods using equal lengths of waterproof ribbon in colours to match the bathroom decor..
A KITCHEN SNACK
Apart from painting or changing the window dressings, some speedy renovation ideas in the kitchen include:
* Upgrading the cooktop or oven.
* Installing new splashbacks.
* Many kitchen fittings are standard, so you might be able to replace just the fronts of the cupboards. Alternatively paint the existing doors and replace the handles.
* Get your kitchen sprayed by a professional resurfacing company. It can completely update the look of your kitchen and is cost effective.
Giving your home a facelift doesn't necessarily mean you have to move out for months, or even be inconvenienced for more than a few days. Pulling up worn carpet, repainting, replacing old fittings or just cleaning up the yard can add value and make it a joy to live in.
Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/
An interesting article in the Weekend Australian of the 21st November 2015 relating to “The disruptors reshaping our world” by Allan Kohler.
As the business editor at large, he reported on a new share float of Fastbricks Robotics, doubling in price on the Australian Stock Exchange just after its launch. The company manufactures robots to lay bricks because, as its corporate video suggests, bricklaying is a repetitive process which is ideal for robotics.
It is suggests a normal house could be built in 2 days with the use of robotic brick layers.
Apart from robotics disrupting traditional businesses and skills, artificial intelligence is now seen as the greatest disruptor to the way we do business and work.
The industry disrupters such as Airbnb and Uber only touch the surface of changing the way service industries work; soon artificial intelligence will change the roles people play in the economy.
Offered unfurnished this property exudes quality and elegance, from a lofty double height reception to the light and airy living areas and large covered balcony with views over the water. The open plan lounge/dining area has fully tiled floors and abuts a large gourmet kitchen with stone bench tops, 5 burner gas hob and electric oven and features an island unit with breakfast bar.
Perfect for extended family this property has 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs; and 1 bedroom, study or possibly 5th bedroom, additional bathroom, large media room and laundry downstairs. The huge master bedroom has a walk through robe and ensuite with a corner spa bath. Air conditioning throughout, tiled floors in the main living area and ceiling fans make this a cool and comfortable place to live. Simplistic contemporary styling and a neutral palate mean you will easily incorporate your belongings and make this a place of your own. There is a remote access double garage with plenty of space for a work area at the rear and ample off street parking. A small neatly landscaped yard provides a place to play. The owner may consider an outside pet on application.
Set on the side of the hill in the prestigious Turtle Bay Estate this property has been carefully designed to make the most of gentle sea breezes and stunning views across the water with imposing high raked ceilings and plenty of glass. A double carport gives entry down a short flight of steps to the front entrance. Step down to the master bedroom with walk through robe, ensuite bathroom and adjacent study then along the hallway to two further bedrooms and a second bathroom. The large living area and open plan dining and gourmet kitchen give access to a shaded deck through a stretch of concertina glass panels which fold right back.
The level below provides a fourth bedroom and bathroom, with a further living area or family rumpus which could be a perfect teenage retreat. An internal laundry is also on this level. The landscaped yard has easy care terracing, irrigation and instep lighting leading to a good size lockable garden shed.
This property is fully airconditioned and is offered unfurnished.
