The arrival of warmer weather encourages more evenings spent outdoors, enjoying our patio and entertainment areas. Consider these three tips when sprucing up this area of your home:
Keep it Simple
The idea behind great outdoor lighting is quality over quantity. When summer rolls around, it can be tempting to update your outdoor area with numerous new light fixtures, but less is more, especially when it comes to fixtures that are adding a decorative touch to the space. String lights are the easiest way to add character to a patio or outdoor entertainment area, but don’t go overboard. The last thing you want is for your backyard to be lit up like a carnival. Cafe style string lights or sparkling fairy lights, zigzagged across the patio or twirled around trees, make your outdoor area feel special and creates a warm and welcome glow for those evening braais and al fresco dinner parties.
Switch to LED or Solar
Go around your garden and patio area and check that all your bulbs are in working condition. Now is also the time to wipe away any dust and debris that may have settled on your fixtures during the winter months. Consider swapping out all your old technology bulbs for LEDs and use solar fixtures where possible, as this will lower your electricity bill considerably.
Go Warm with Your Bulbs
When lighting outdoor entertainment areas, the trick is to match summer’s heat with a warm glow. A cosy ambience is not just for the cooler months - you want to feel relaxed when spending time outdoors in the evening, regardless of the season. Choose bulbs with a colour temperature of around 2100k, preferably never cooler than 2700k. This should set the scene by creating an intimate, friendly environment in which to unwind and entertain.
Eurolux Sales Team
]]>There have been many points put forward about SPC (Stone Plastic Core), RCB (Rigid Core Board) Vinyl flooring, all of which are partially correct, but don’t necessarily tell the whole story. Therefore, let us attempt to clear up some of the fog surrounding these products.Vinyl flooring has always been promoted as being 100% waterproof. However, there have always been very specific installation instructions attached, which, unfortunately, are rarely read.For example, when vinyl is installed as a glue down, all retailers/installers/sales staff are aware that the screed has to be dry and free from all moisture. This is to serve some main functions, namely:
Many imported European products specify that a vapour barrier must be applied to all ground floor glue down installations. This has been a standard instruction for many years and is not only to protect against moisture/water egress from the screed, but rather to protect the vinyl material from any chemical leeching from the screeds. This instruction over time has been allowed to lapse and has become a forgotten instruction within the local market, which is always looking to save a buck.The main vinyl manufacturers have also always specified that the alkalinity readings must be measured to prevent problems, normally referred to as MVER (Moisture Vapour Emission Rate) – we also refer to an extract from the installation instructions for the Finfloor TRIOLoc Vinyl range issued in 2015 –“Moisture rising from new or old concrete can create high levels of Moisture Vapour Emissions, Hydrostatic Pressure and high levels of alkalinity. This combination is highly corrosive and will damage the flooring over time. To avoid this problem, a Calcium Chloride test and PH level test must be performed prior to installation. If the level of Vapour Emissions /Hydrostatic pressure exceeds 3.5 kg and /or the alkalinity level is 9 or higher, a moisture barrier must be present.”So, from the above, nothing has changed over the years for vinyl, be it for a floating or glue down floor.The instructions for floating vinyl floor installations have also followed the same trend of installation instructions – vapour barrier to be used/recommended when there is a high alkalinity presence, see below tables, which must always be read in unison, to make sense.
Install
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Residential requirements | Commercial requirements | |
Vapor Barrier recommended | Painted or 200micron | Painted or 200micron | |
Subfloor RH/MVER (Moisture vapour emission rate) recommendations | 85% RH/8 lbs MVER(Moisture vapour emission rate) | 85% RH/8 lbs MVER(Moisture vapour emission rate) |
This does not mean that vinyl isn’t waterproof, it is very waterproof, when submerged in a bath of water, there is no problem, but when left on a wet screed/sub-strait, the problems are huge, very difficult, if not impossible to repair, leading to expensive replacement costs. At the same time as new players enter the sales arena, so some things are left out, to enable, in most cases the new entrants to be more competitive. Highlighting the fact that not all products are equal, but they do come at a price! Proving there is no substitute for quality.To ensure that our products meet the demanding living conditions in Southern Africa, we have always insisted that all our vinyl products must:
We at Finfloor have always strived to sell products that a solve our local living conditions, we don’t like selling a problem, rather a cure, that we can safely stand by.
]]>Levels and layers
Ensure there is lighting at three different levels in the room. Low-level lighting includes table lamps and floor lamps, mid-level lighting is wall sconces, and the highest level is ceiling fixtures. These three levels of lighting should create a layered lighting look by including ambient lighting, accent lighting and task lighting. Ambient lighting in the form of ceiling fixtures, accent lighting from wall sconces, track lights, and cabinet lights, with table and floor lamps providing the task lighting.
Use table and floor lamps
Create pockets of serene light throughout your living room by introducing table and floor lamps. If your space is compact, then one fixture should do the trick, but a medium to large-sized living room calls for multiple lamps. Lamps give off a nice cosy glow but are also practical, especially when positioned next to a reading chair where extra illumination makes reading a book or doing other task-oriented activities more comfortable.
Make a statement with a pendant or chandelier
An attention-grabbing pendant or chandelier serves as a focal point in the living room. This gives the space character, which in turn creates a cosier feel. Pendant lighting in particular is also an opportunity for you to play with scale, contrast, materials, and colour.
Consider the colour and material of your fixtures
The colour of your lighting fixtures and the materials used, impact how cosy your living room feels. Opt for fixtures in warm hues of brown, taupe, caramel, mustard, and rust. Metallics such as bronze, gold, and copper also add warmth and a touch of luxe. Lampshades made with fabric and fixtures with wood accents, are also a great way of introducing that cosy factor into your space.
Less is more
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that more light equals a cosier ambience. While you do need sufficient light for your family and guests to feel comfortable, too much illumination can feel clinical and unpleasant.
Highlight personal items
Adding personality to your living room creates a welcoming feel. Framed photos, artwork, and interesting architectural details give your space character, so use accent lighting to highlight them.
Install a dimmer switch
If you only make one adjustment to your current living room set up in your quest to make it cosier, this should be it. Setting your lighting to a dimmer switch gives you total control of the level of lighting in the room, allowing you to decrease the brightness for relaxing or increase it for better visibility.
A mirror is an interior decorators secret weapon, far from just being a practical object a mirror is used, to add drama, create interesting reflections, amplify light and frame views. The astounding addition of a mirror can transform you space in an instant. Take a look at our design tips for using mirrors in your home.
Once you have tested the water and decorated your home with a few mirrors there is no looking back, we have every mirror possible to solve any decorating dilemma you may have. Choose from an assortment materials, shapes and colours.
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