Plantation Shutters Sydney - a ‘how to’ for guys

A warning ladies: this one is for the blokes. With most of the evidence pointing to the females of the house as the key decision makers when it comes to décor, it’s not surprising that the concept of a ‘man cave’ is still holding sway. While it may sound a little sexist, it makes sense that in a home teeming with cushions and drapes chosen by the top chick of the establishment, many men still relish the idea of a space that’s all their own. Whether you are a career oriented bachelor who needs a refuge from the hassles of work stress or a family man seeking time out from the demands of home life, chances are your fantasy room is a man cave. Time was that the classic Aussie male took refuge in the shed, but increasingly the concept of a man-only refuge is creeping inside the house. So how are men making this interior space work for them? The ideal man retreat is a functional part of the home focused on the senior bloke of the house and his interests, a bit like a grown up play room. Anecdotal evidence indicates menfolk can be fairly picky about the vibe they want to create in their space. Classic dark timber furniture, a billiards table or retro pinball machines are all typical man-cave accessories, while more bookish men might prefer a library style sanctuary (or mantuary) complete with floor to ceiling shelves and buckets of natural light. In home cinemas, video games and of course James Bond style drinks cabinets are all popular choices. Remember, your man cave can start as a space just for your interests, but over time it may evolve. The key here though is that for most men, the man cave is simple, masculine and lockable! Passive ventilation 101 We’re all aware of the continued rise of energy costs, and in Australia, where extremes of climate are so prevalent, this awareness appears to be reaching a critical point. A large number of homeowners are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to control their energy costs, not just from the perspective of their bills, but also due to increased awareness of the environment. To be comfortable, buildings in all Australian climates require some form of cooling at some time of the year, so effective alternatives to traditional approaches to cooling, such as costly air conditioning, are needed. There are a number of ways homeowners can achieve what’s called passive (non-mechanical) cooling in their homes, as well as hybrid approaches which utilise mechanical cooling systems. The most effective passive cooling solutions include ventilation, windows, shading and insulation. The efficiency of the building envelope can be maximised in a number of ways to minimise heat gain: shading windows, walls and roofs from direct solar radiationrnusing lighter coloured roofs to reflect heatrnusing insulation and buffer zones to minimise conducted and radiated heat gainsrnmaking selective or limited use of thermal mass to avoid storing daytime heat gains. Remember, direct sun can generate the same heat as a single bar radiator over each square metre of a surface, but effective shading can block up to 90 per cent of this heat. A variety of shading techniques can help, from fixed or adjustable shades, to blinds, cellular or Honeycomb shades, shutters and more. It’s also important to note that as cooling requirements are dictated by climate, distinctly different approaches to passive cooling are required for: hot humid climates where no heating is requiredrntemperate and warm climates where both heating and cooling are requiredrncool and cold climates where heating needs are more important.