Blog | Martina Hayes | Architectural Interior Design

Engineered vs Solid Hardwood Flooring

Engineered vs solid hardwood timber floors in your home

What is not to love about timber floors? Timber is long lasting, hard wearing while bringing natural texture into our homes. The question to ask yourself though is do I want engineered or solid hardwood timber floors. It’s a question of engineered vs solid hardwood.

Solid timber vs engineered timber floor

If you’re trying to decide whether to choose a solid timber floor or an engineered timber floor, watch this short video, which explains the pros and cons of each.

Distinguish between engineered vs solid hardwood

Solid hardwood is the term given to timber that is the same solid piece of timber all the way through e.g. spotted gum (below) is solid timber throughout with no interfering layers. There is no other wood mixed, whereas engineered hardwood also known as a floating floor refers to timber that has been made up of various layers, lower grade timber on the bottom and beautiful timber as the top layer that you see.

Solid Timber

Solid-hardwood-spotted-gum — Piece of solid timber, Spotted Gum throughout entire piece

Wearability of solid timber floors

When your solid timber floor shows wear and tear a couple of years into the future, you have the ability to sand it back, therefore exposing the undamaged timber below. Then just add a new sealer on top and your floor will be like new again.

How to install a solid timber floor

A solid timber floor needs a floor underneath for support. This subfloor can be constructed with timber joists.

Timber subfloor joists — Solid timber floor boards to be laid on joists

Subfloor may raise floor level

Joists will raise your overall floor level. That is not a big deal if you’re constructing a new house because you can factor that in right from the beginning. But it’s a tricky thing when you are renovating as you’ll need to cut the bottom of your doors to adjust to the new flooring height.

Australian hardwood species

For many soon to be home owners the go to product is Australian hardwood timber when deciding on their solid timber floors. Popular species are:

Blackbutt
Brushbox
Ironbark
Sydney Blue Gum
Spotted Gum

But there are many others to choose from. Have a look at Boral who is probably the largest supplier of Australian hardwood floors around.

Engineered timber floor

Engineered timber floor for renovators

Let’s shed some light on engineered timber floors. They are my preferred option when it comes to home renovations for a much smoother transition and factoring.

Engineered timber layers — Engineered timber consists of layers

Many options with floating floors

Don’t get mixed up with laminate. Engineered timber is real timber, laminate is a different medium altogether. With engineered timber you have many options You can choose beautiful Australian species timber as well as from imported timber such as walnut or oak.

Cost of engineered vs solid hardwood floors

Solid timber flooring cost roughly $180 – $260 per square metre, including supply and install. It’s not a cheap option, but it may well be worth it for its beautiful look and wearability.

On the other hand, engineered timber cost roughly $100 – $200 per square metre including supply and install.

Consider bamboo, vinyl and laminate

If you believe, timber flooring is not for you, there are other flooring options to consider. You can also choose to just go with the timber look. Popular options include bamboo, laminate, vinyl and even tiles to achieve the timber look without any wood.

Don’t hesitate to contact me via email martina@martinahayes.com.au or phone 0434 498 450. Or feel free to use this contact form.

Engineered vs solid hardwood comparison table

To see how timber and timber look flooring may work for you, have a look at my comprehensive table I’ve compiled for you.

You can download this table for free. Simply type in your name and email below.

Laundry design with character in Manly

For a home in Sydney’s Manly area, I developed a functional and charming laundry design.

The renovation of this exterior space has been recently completed. Have a look at this short video on how this small laundry has turned out.

Missing benchtop to fold clothes

Originally, the laundry was not very practical to use. It was missing a benchtop while the inbuilt laundry tub was oversized taking most of the available space.

Laundry design problem solved

The biggest issue was that water flowed into the laundry underneath the entry door during heavy rain. That’s why we created a 40mm elevated tile bed and laid the tiles on top. This threshold acts as a physical barrier and keeps the rain water out.

Patterned floor tiles in the laundry

Laundry before and after renovation — Before and after the implementation of the laundry design

To add character to the laundry, I proposed floor tiles from Beaumont Tiles that take inspiration from a Spanish finca. Combined with simple white cabinetry and a benchtop in a concrete look, they became the stars of the space.

White paint covers red bricks

The red brick walls are typical for the mid century era when this Manly house was built. But their dark red face made the space feel enclosed and even smaller. To stay within budget and to add interest, the bricks inside the laundry were simply painted in a white colour.

Laundry design with storage space

As my clients wanted to store some garden tools in this space, I incorporated a tall cupboard in the laundry design. The open shelving over the bench top accommodates for washing powder, pegs and cleaning products. A nifty detail is the pull-out clothes airer that my clients can store away when not in use.

If you have any questions about this laundry or any other interior design related questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

White Kitchen Designs

White kitchen designs are clever and classic that never go out of trend. White benchtops combined with white cabinets are on the top of many homeowners’ wish list when it comes to designing a new kitchen.

A classic white kitchen design is always on trend

What makes up white kitchen designs?

White kitchen designs with an industrial touch

My clients, a couple in Mosman, wanted to go for the white-on-white look but they were worried that this neutral colour scheme might look cold and bland. This is why for this design we incorporated an industrial touch in the design.

The Marble Look

I recommended choosing a benchtop that has the marble look. Including the traditional broad grey veins through the stone, Statuario Maximus by Caesarstone breaks up the otherwise solid white kitchen in this design.

Open shelving for cups and plates

Another feature that adds interest is the open timber shelving integrated into the overhead cupboards mirroring the dark colour from the timber floor boards.

Splashback in herringbone pattern

Underneath and highlighted by LED light strips is the splashback with a herringbone pattern. For the grout I selected a light grey to strike a balance between showing off the herringbone tile without becoming overpowering.

White kitchen splashback — Splashback in a herringbone pattern adds interest

Black kitchen sink and tapware

A black sink and black tapware provide contrasting accents to the white kitchen. They correspond well with the industrial bar stools with their black leather pads and wired back rests.

Pendant lights over island bench

Continuing this theme, we installed minimalist pendant lights on top of the island bench for additional lighting and to create interest.

Plenty of storage in white kitchen design

The tall floor to ceiling cabinetry on the left offers plenty of storage in this contemporary kitchen. It includes a pantry and appliance cupboard where the toaster, kettle and coffee machine are hidden away but still easy to access. If you’re looking for a few nifty kitchen ideas check out this link.

No handles for a seamless kitchen

The push/pull mechanism of the cabinet doors allows for not having to include handles at all in this kitchen design. Therefore making this kitchen easy to clean while achieving a sleek seamless look.

LED light strips let the island bench float

LED lighting on the bottom of the island bench give the impression of a weightless island that seems to hover effortlessly over the kitchen floor.

If you wish to have a new kitchen and need help with layout and finishes, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au. Alternatively, you can also use this contact form.

Which Grey to Choose?

Which grey to choose for your home?

Many people have been led to believe that grey and white work with every other colour. Right? Wrong! Choosing which grey to use is more involved than you may have firstly estimated. In this short video below I show you how to determine which grey to choose.

Does grey really work with everything?

Recently I had a friend from overseas staying with me. One day she said: “Look Martina, I understand you’re a colour consultant, but who actually needs a colour consultant because we all know grey works with every colour”. And this was my response that I replied to her.

“Be mindful of different colour bases”

I showed her three colour samples of three greys each with a different base tone.

Grey with a purple base (left), with a green base (centre) and with a turquoise base (right) — The left swatch has a purple base, the centre one a green base and the right one a turquoise base. They are all grey but each portray a different feeling and match other colours in a certain way. So now do you begin to see that grey is not just grey.

Which grey to choose depends on their undertones

Both the grey and the white have a purple undertone — Both the grey and the white (above) have a purple undertone.

An example: You have a sofa in the above purple based grey and are looking for a white paint colour for your walls. I would recommend to choose a white that shares the purple undertone as to best accentuate your space. This way all the chosen colours look and work beautifully together achieving a harmonious look. When you wish to add scatter cushions e.g. to your lounge go again for the purples, this way it all ties together.

Which grey to select for a harmonic colour scheme

Grey with a turquoise base works well with a crisp white. Combine it with a turquoise sheer curtain — Grey with a turquoise base works well with a crisp white. Combine them with turquoise accessories like a turqoise sheer curtain

Another example: We have now (above) a grey sofa that has a turquoise undertone, and are looking for white paint colour. You may wish to go for a crisp white in this case. Bring more turquoise in through your decorative items, such as sheer curtains. Therefore creating a harmonic colour scheme.

If you need further inspiration on your colour palette, why not have a look at the magazine’s Home Beautiful best interior colours for Winter 2019.

Deciding on which grey to choose

When deciding on which grey to choose access your space and try to determine the undertones that are existing or that you would like to create. Don’t forget about other contributing factors though such as space and light.

For more ideas and information have a look at my other post about choosing paint colours for your home.

Also be mindful that colours in photos and on screens may turn out differently.

If you find that colour matching belongs in the too-hard-basket, take advantage of our colour consulting services where we recommend a beautiful palette that brings the best out of your home.

For any questions you might have, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au. Alternatively, you can also use this handy contact form.

Choosing paint colour

Choosing paint colour is not as easy as it sounds.

Have you found that your eyes have wandered around your home recently, wondering what a fresh coat of paint could do to your walls as well as the vibe and aesthetic of your home. This is fantastic opportunity to rejuvenate your interiors.

Choosing paint colour scheme

But what often troubles us all is the how. How do you select paint colours, what vibe am I trying to create or change? The answer is to find and then determine a new colour scheme.

Many of us are ready for the change but are just stuck at where to start when choosing paint colour.

This short video below is a great start for you to put you on the right path a determining a new colour scheme for your home.

Key Points from the Video

1. Ceiling height important for choosing paint colour

The first step towards choosing paint colour is to measure the height of your homes ceiling. If your ceiling measures less than 2.7 metres it’s best to choose a lighter colour. This is to create the illusion of a larger space avoiding cramped and squished.

2.4 metres is the standard ceiling height but you are not limited only to white, you have the opportunity to add pastel hues which can create a truly stunning and really quite unique space.

With a ceiling height of 2.7 metres or more, you can play with colour on your ceiling. A warm, dark hue gives your living area this snug atmosphere you always desired.

2. Size of the room critical for choosing paint colours

When choosing your paint colour it’s especially important to consider the size of the space. Different colours create different effects depending on the square footage of the room. If your space only measures a few square metres, be aware if choosing a dark colour of the effects they can portray. A darker wall colour can often make a space feel smaller, tighter and more enclosed than it actually is.

The smaller a room, the lighter the colour you should choose as it is making the most of the space, but if you do have a large room it’s a fantastic opportunity to use darker colours with added moody tones and drama to your space.

3. Natural Light critical for choice of colours

Lighting is incredibly important when selecting your hues. Colours are very perceptive to light and can look completely different at certain times of day depending how light is affected in the space. It’s a good start to determine how much natural light your space receives as well as determining whether your space is warm or cool in tone.

Two paint swatches — For the interiors of an Epping house I recommended Dulux Antarctica Lake 1/8 for the walls and Vivid White for the doors and trims

If your room is flooded with natural light, you are spoiled for choice when choosing paint colour. You can choose paint colours from the cooler spectrum of the colour wheel such as blues, greens or turquoise. These colours may otherwise may make a room seem smaller if your space does not have as much natural light.

This cooler hue on your walls may just take the edge off on a hot summer day in Sydney. It is a fabulous solution for Northern facing bedrooms. It goes without saying that the wall colour can’t change the temperature in reality, but your perception may be changed.

If you’re after a stunning space, but don’t want to bother about all this colour gibberish, have a look at my colour consult service.

Feature walls add interest

If you’re finding that the space you want to update lacks any particular interest, a feature wall could be the way for you to go. The idea is that of a wall, ideally located opposite the entry door and has no window or large cabinetry whose design differs from those of the other walls in the space. They are intended to break up the room and add interest and definition to the space.

Choosing the paint colour then for a feature wall should be something that inspires you or that brings out others colours in the space such as the hues of rugs and cushions.

Wallpaper can transform your space

Don’t limit yourself to a solid colour for your feature wall. There are so many beautiful and inspiring wallpapers to choose. Subtle fabric wallpapers add extra texture to your space for comfy hygge atmosphere. If your daring and really in need of change a bold pattern will transform your room from boring to absolutely stunning.

One supplier we often use is Eurowalls with a showroom in Sydney’s suburb Alexandria. But there are many other wallpaper shops to choose from.

If you find it difficult to settle on a paint colour, feel free call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au.

Alternatively, you can use this contact form.