Whether you’re looking to have cleaner air in your home or if you purely love them for aesthetic reasons, house plants make for the perfect decorative accent. If you are wanting to add more life into your home, here is a guide to some of the most popular Aussie house plants and how to keep them alive and healthy!

First things first, you need to find the perfect pot to plant your new pride and joy in. At the moment, Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds alike are being taken over with trendy pots to compliment all interiors from eclectic to coastal. When looking for pots, try and find something that has good drainage to stop root rot  (plants don’t like having ‘wet feet’). If you find a pot that has good drainage you will be able to plant directly into the pot – this is where plant pot saucers come in handy to catch any excess water and stop potential staining! The alternative is that you keep the plant in the plastic pot you buy them with, take them outside to water them and put them back after excess water has drained out. Now its time to pick your plant!

Fiddle leaf Fig

Its highly likely you have seen one of these on social media because right now, they are the  most popular houseplants in the world! Known for their large leaves and bright green colour, fiddle leaf’s are easy to keep alive but require specific conditions to look their best!
They grow best in a well lit area  and only require watering occasionally. To check if your fiddle leaf needs a drink, test the soil with your finger. If it feels damp at all don’t water it again until it has completely dried out.

String of Pearls

The string of pearls make for the perfect shelf accessory. Although very pretty, they are as temperamental as they are beautiful. Drainage is especially important for this plant and they do best in indirect sunlight.
Nursery’s often sell immature versions if you are willing to help it grow, but established plants can be found through growers online.

Mother In Laws Tongue

You might have seen this plant in your local café. A distant relative of the humble asparagus, this is a great one if you are looking for something that looks great but is also hardy and won’t wilt if it misses a water. These come in different sizes but can reach up to 3-4 feet! They are also easy to grow and you’ll have no problems finding them either in a nursery, home wears store or online.

String of Hearts

If you’re looking to bring a little more love into your life the string of hearts is perfect to proudly hang above your kitchen! Best in a bright sunny location and not overwatered. When happy and healthy, a string of heart tendril can grow up to 4 meters long, making it perfect to hang. It is best to avoid the bathroom or laundry though as they prefer dryer air.

Peace Lily
Recently featured by NASA as one of the top air purifying plants, peace lily’s have long been an Aussie household plant favourite. They bloom best in bright light and only need to be watered once a week during spring/summer and even less during the winter months. They dislike soggy/wet soil and are prone to root rot so it’s very important not to overwater them.It is also important to regularly wipe dust off the leaves of the Peace Lily to prevent any build up.

 

There is something special about the relaxed, bright, breezy coastal interiors initially made famous by the homes that hug the shoreline in the Hamptons. Their spacious layouts, crisp colours and natural textures are so inviting, it’s no surprise it has quickly taken over as one of the most popular interior design styles in Australia.

Although the name suggests it belongs in beachside homes, the more modern take on coastal interior design has removed its previous nautical emphasis. Making it accessible to Seasiders and city slickers alike.
To put things simply, ‘coastal is beachy’ using natural light, soft tones, natural textures and a clean simple aesthetic, it is designed to remind you of a simple white sand beach.

The connection to nature is important in a coastal home. Natural elements will come through especially in the furniture. Weathered woods, wicker and jute are a good way to incorporate earthy tones and enhance the natural look of the interior. Costal homes generally avoid shiny metallics and other flashy textures in leu of brushed brass which provides a much softer look. When choosing fabrics for couches and curtains, linen is a good place to start. The lighter and floatier the better and white or beige are the most common choices.

In previous decades, a coastal pallet might have been dominated with layers of blue, but the modern pallet takes a more simple approach. White is a key design feature in a coastal home and dominates most walls and cabinetry. The aim of coastal design is to have your home looking as bright and airy as possible and the use of white adds to this greatly. Accent colours and textures are still very popular to break up the white. Light stone, beiges, light blues, greys and khakis are popular colour choices and still in keeping with an earthy colour pallet.

A Coastal home should never feel cramped. The space should be airy, open and inviting. If possible, the design is hugely enhanced by a seamless indoor/outdoor living transition. Glass windows and doors that allow more light and don’t obstruct your view are ideal.
Sunlights are also a massive bonus! If possible, an open plan living design is also the most desirable to achieve a true costal aesthetic. If this isn’t an option in your home, using a more minimalistic furniture and decorations will give your home a more spacious feel.

Avoid the cliché! It can be so easy to make Coastal ‘tacky’. One seashell too many can take things too far.

This isn’t to say decorations can’t be inspired by the ocean, just try and keep them minimal and avoid anything too kitschy. Fireplaces, sea glass and different tones and textures of white are a great way to personalise the area without causing too much visual clutter.

Plantation Shutters have become a go-to window furnishing for Coastal inspired homes. Their design keeps windows looking fresh and clean. Plantation Shutters are a low maintenance, highly functional option that works perfectly with a coastal aesthetic.

When open, they allow air to be directed through the home to make the most of spring and summer breezes. When closed, they provide complete privacy and blend in seamlessly with surrounding walls.

 

Modern Plantation Shutters are Australian made and  designed never to wrap or crack even in humid conditions, making them perfect for Australian homes!

If a Coastal Interior is calling your name and you think Plantations  they will be the perfect finishing touch, contact your local service team on 13 11 78!

 

 

 

 

 

The Modern Group was originally founded in the 1970’s by Ron and Tina Bayley as a roof steam cleaning business and over the past 40 years it has grown into one of Australia’s largest and best home improvement companies. During the 70’s Modern, which was then trading under the name Bramalco, serviced residential and commercial properties and was run out of a small depot and their home. A small part of this business focused on roof repair and by 1987 the directors saw the potential in this area and focused their attention on developing strategies to allow this part of the business to flourish.

In early 1988 Bramalco Pty Ltd was formed, and quickly became the fastest growing home improvement business in South Australia. With such high demand for their services and rapid growth, roof restoration was born and quickly became the dominant part of the business.

In 1992, a Perth branch of Modern Roof Restoration was opened and Streamline Roller Shutters were introduced. The experience of the Adelaide staff combined with the enthusiasm of the Perth branch meant the Perth division of Modern was a huge success.

By 1997 the demand for Modern products and service had spread nationally  and branches had opened in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Wollongong and Central Coast NSW.

 

Modern could see a gap in the market and embarked on some intensive research to enhance Moderns current products to suit the extreme Australian conditions.

The results of this research was the launch of our heat reflective roof coating called Supablock™ and our second generation Enviro Blind Roller Shutters! – both of which were designed for the Australian climate and provide thermal insulating qualities to reduce the need for homeowners to rely on artificial heating and cooling.

Today, Modern is an Australian market leader in Roof Restoration, Re-Roofing, Roller Shutters, Plantation Shutters, Louvre Shutters and Solar Electricity and still proudly Australian owned and made.

 

 

 

 

The list of responsibilities a homeowner has is a long one. Of course, you are responsible for maintaining almost everything under your roof, but have you ever considered what maintenance your actual roof might need?

If you notice the occasional leak, feel a strange draft or just haven’t had a look at what’s going on up there, it might be a good idea to have a professional inspect what’s going on.

Modern offers a complimentary 33 point roofing inspection that will help determine if your roof requires some extra attention and catch any early signs of significant problems that could save you lots in the long run.
If there are signs of any significant damage to your roof, your Modern Roofing Specialist might suggest a Roof Restoration.

So What exactly is a roof restoration?
Roof restorations are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to a total roof replacement that goes far beyond a quick roof repair.

The first step is to ensure the roof is completely watertight. All leaks are repaired, faulty and broken tiles are replaced along with any leaky roof sheets, loose screws, nails and valley irons.

Your roof restoration specialist will then inspect and replace any ridge capping tiles.
Any faulty bedding mortar is replaced, and all capping tiles are repointed with a Flexible pointing compound to help prevent any future movement of capping tiles.

Your roof will then be deep cleaned. This is an essential step to ensure that the paint adheres properly to the tiles when it is painted, and no dust and dirt gets trapped in the tiles.

Then, a final clean of the roof is completed to ensure there is no leftover residue, and the fun part begins!
Your roof is then painted to your colour preference and will be looking better than ever.
In the final step, two coats of Supa Bloc protection are applied to provide ultimate UV protection to your home.

If you have any doubts about the condition of your roof, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Contact the roofing experts at your local service team on 13 11 78 to arrange a complimentary 33 point inspection and discuss how a roof restoration could make all the difference to your home.

Now that summer is drawing to a close and winter is creeping up with its cold temperatures and wet weather, it only feels natural to want to hide indoors under a blanket with a warm cup of tea.
After a summer filled with gatherings in the backyard, it seems a shame to have to retire that part of your home for the better part of three months… so why should you?

Here are some great ideas to help you embrace your outdoor areas and keep that space as valuable and welcoming as it is in summer!

Make the Space Inviting
As we mentioned earlier, in the colder weather, it can be tempting to hibernate indoors, so you want to make your space look and feel just as cosy as your favourite spot on the couch.
If you don’t already have an outdoor furniture set, even though they are perfect for summer, they come into their own in winter. A comfortable couch and chaise will be worth every penny.
Adding extra cushions, rugs and blankets in thick textures such as wool, flannel, velvet and faux fur will make it even cosier and inviting.

Warm it up Visually
A trick regularly used by interior designers to create warmth in a room is to make sure any lighting used is a warm golden colour.
Swapping out any cool white globes in favour of more golden ones will make the space look more appealing in colder weather and give it a more luxe appeal!
To achieve this you can swap out the globes in lighting already installed in your outdoor areas or even purchase some outdoor lamps. For a budget option, fairy-light’s and candles will give the space a warm and inviting glow, just make sure your candles are in a safe area away from anything that might catch light! 

 

Winter Drinks Station

Having a dedicated space outside where you can make warm drinks to help keep you warm will further entice you and any guests outdoors.

Set up a small station with a kettle, some tea bags, coffee options and maybe even a hot chocolate. Adding a small coffee table and comfy chair will finish off the area and make it a go-to space for Sunday afternoons!

You could also incorporate some extras to help make some delicious winter cocktails! 

Get Toasty!
Nothing says winter in the outdoors quite like a fire pit!
To make your own, gather some kindling and place it in a well-ventilated area far away from anything that might catch alight. Collect some rocks to create a boundary, and voila!

If DIY isn’t for you or you’re working with a smaller space, you can pick up fire pits in all different shapes and sizes from your local hardware or barbecue retailer.

If you think this is something you and your family will love, you can also invest in in-built fireplaces that will enhance the look of your outdoor space!

Invest In Outdoor Blinds
If you want to make use of your outdoor space during winter, investing in Outdoor Blinds will be one of the best things you will do for your home! Weather-resistant and made to last, they will keep you tucked away from the elements and let you enjoy your outdoor areas, rain or shine!
For a free in-home consultation, contact your local service team on 13 11 78!

There is nothing more important than the safety of your family. When you are at home, you want to feel safe in the knowledge that everyone and everything inside is protected from intruders.
Crime statistics show that over 20% of households have experienced a break in at some point with numbers steadily increasing.

Currently, Australia has the 5^th highest burglary rate in the world and has become an important issue for homeowners across the country.

There are a number of ways you can increase the overall security of your home without the need for complex and expensive security systems.

Law enforcement offices agree on the fact, most break ins are ‘crimes of opportunity’.  Meaning, the best way to deter the crims, is to make it harder to break in than the next one they see.

Shut blinds and curtains at night.

Seems simple right? If there are some dodgy folk hanging round your neighbourhood, giving them a look into everything in your home isn’t good. If you have house lights on without anything blocking that view into the street, it’s almost like you are giving them a tour of the place. Not only will they know what you have… they will also know where it is.
A good rule of thumb is when you turn on your lights at night, shut any blinds and curtains you have even if its still dusk so they don’t get a peak at what’s inside.

Make sure windows are shut properly

A number of break-ins have been through windows recently, with crims shimmying them open even if they have only the smallest sliver of space between them and the wall. Before you go out or go to sleep, unless your windows have reinforced protection (and maybe even still) make sure they are shut securely.

Install outdoor sensor lights

This can be done relatively low cost and purchased at your local hardware store. Motion sensor lights can be positioned in your garden or front of the house and will light up when motion is detected. Not only will this increase your personal safety if you are outside during the night, but it will also deter crims as they will not light being easily spotted.

Keep your garden tidy

If a crim is looking to skate by without being seen, having a well maintained garden will offer less of an opportunity for them to hide and remain unnoticed. Keeping hedges and shrubs neat and tidy will also re-enforce the fact you are home and taking care of your house, not on holiday or away for extended periods of time.

Smart Security Cameras

 

For someone wanting to sneak in, the idea that the could be broadcast straight to your smartphone…? Not appealing. Smart security cameras have come a long way and now even offer 2 way communication and the ability to set off alarms from wherever you are. Many of them will come with stickers you can also place around windows in your home to let it be known that you are watching.

 

Install Roller Shutters

Roller shutters are one of the best things you could do to increase the level of security in your home. Windows are the weakest part of your house and even if shut, can be easily broken into.

Roller Shutters provide a barrier between the outside world and your windows, making your home much harder to forcibly enter.
They also provide a visual deterrent and will make anyone think twice about how difficult it would be to consider breaking in.

The added privacy they provide is also a massive bonus when it comes to home security!!

      

If you are wanting to upgrade your home with the ultimate home security feature, contact your local service team on 13 11 78 for a complimentary in home consultation and design.