Warm white is great for bigger living spaces where you would like to give the room the ambiance of warmth, and an inviting sense. However, for bathrooms where you want the space to look and feel clean, there has been lengthy research conducted that says ‘daylight’ LED lighting is more preferable.

When it comes to LED lights Australians are all over the benefits that they reap. How can you not be a fan of LED’s when they are designed to last longer and are also much cheaper to run, as it consumes 80% less power than the regular incandescent and halogen lights. They are also much safer as they operate on a low temperature that greatly reduces the risk of fire.

Similarly, LED lights in bathroom mirrors diminish unwanted shadows, as the lighted bathroom mirror emits an even amount of light around you. This makes it even easier to apply makeup, shave, or style your hair without the overhead shadow that down-lighting can so often create. Likewise, when you hang a lighted bathroom mirror onto the wall, the space behind it becomes illuminated and casts splashes of light that give the illusion of more depth and space. This is a great asset for smaller, narrower bathrooms as it gives you the sense that the space is in fact bigger than it actually is.

Getting LED lights is a no brainer, but when it comes to colour choice, things can get confusing. The colour of LED lighting almost indefinitely comes down to personal preference. However, many people don’t actually know the benefits to each different type of lighting, and where it should be used.

There are three main groups that the LED lighting is classified in; Warm White, Daylight and Cool White.

For the majority of people, LED lights on the higher end of the spectrum would be considered less popular because of the “blue tinge” that is produced. This is a common misconception, as having ‘cool white’ LED lighting actually gives you the clearest and best lighting, especially on the face. Warm white is great for bigger living spaces where you would like to give the room the ambiance of warmth, and an inviting sense. However, for bathrooms where you want the space to look and feel clean, there has been lengthy research conducted that says ‘daylight’ LED lighting is more preferable.

Our REMER mirrors come in Warm White, Cool White and Daylight colour temperature. On the Kelvin scale, our best seller range Sphere and Otto are 6500K. Whilst our REMER mirrors are on the higher end of the Kelvin scale, our mirrors don’t produce the overwhelming “blue tinge” that many people try to steer clear of due to being on the cusp of ‘Daylight’. Many of our bathroom mirror models are also backlit, with the lighting pouring through the sand—blasted frosted glass to give it an opaque look.

In terms of makeup application, sticking with a ‘daylight’ or ‘cool white’ LED lit mirror is key for an even application for makeup during the day. ‘Warm white’ can make the face appear more yellow than it truly is, resulting in a patchy or too heavy make-up application. We recommend using warm white lighting when applying makeup for a night out to the movies, or a candle lit dinner. Daylight colour temperature is perfect for applying makeup for spending a day outdoors or having lunch with friends. Cool white colour temperature is best used for a day spent in the office or classroom.

Most makeup artists have now invested in what is called an ‘LED Ring Light’ which is essentially a ring of LED globes that are between 5500K – 6500K on the Kelvin scale. This is used because it mimics daylight for an even makeup application, and it also helps you take better selfies may I add!

So, if you’re looking for the best lighted mirror out there for better makeup application and a cleaner look of your bathroom space, stick with a ‘daylight’ lighted mirror and you won’t go wrong.

Remer’s illuminated mirrors are an environmentally safe and energy efficient option to bring a touch of luxury into your home today.

The answer to this problem is Acoustica’s CurtainWave SQ!

CurtainWave® SQ is the easy and simple way to block out sound using existing curtains and window décor. A high-performance noise barrier and vibration damping material, CurtainWave® SQ is effective at absorbing noise even in heavily glazed rooms.

CurtainWave® SQ is a flexible noise barrier and vibration damping material. CurtainWave® SQ was designed for backing curtains to increase the noise attenuation given by glass.

It is like installing a double-glazing system with the advantage to also blocking sunlight. CurtainWave® SQ can be directly sewn onto the curtain material or attached to a separate fabric or ‘block-out’ material.

Due to its patented micro-cellular composition, CurtainWave® SQ achieves the same acoustic rating as a mass loaded flexible nose barrier that is 2 x heavier, i.e. 4.5kg/m2. CurtainWave® SQ is only 2.3kg/m2 (nominal). CurtainWave® SQ has a tested acoustic rating of Rw 27.

CurtainWave® SQ is a highly elastic micro-cellular acoustic membrane supported by a heavy-duty non- stretchable polyester fabric. At only 1.6mm thick, it makes integration into any window décor a breeze!

Here at Southwood, we keep our Australian made range natural in the true sense of the word. Our upholstery is made with natural latex wrapped in 100% wool, instead of the ubiquitous petrochemical foams and Dacron wrap of contemporary manufacture. We have gone back to the traditional methods of the mid 20th century before plastics took over in the 60s and 70s. Our fabric ranges include Australian and New Zealand wools, cotton, linen, hemp, and nettle. Our Australian Made Collection is made in Melbourne using only Australian timbers. Australia has some excellent hardwoods which are ideal for furniture making and with local milling transport miles are kept to a minimum. Once a piece is created, why cover it up with dyes and more plastic? We bring out the natural beauty of timber by avoiding any use of stains choosing instead to finish with sustainable hard wax oil.

Southwood
Our furniture is designed by our team here at Southwood and is built to last by skilled local makers. The majority of our timbers come from sustainable Victorian growers with each piece having its individual characteristics. We use a natural hard wax finish to keep the integrity and beauty of the timber at the forefront. We make contemporary yet timeless pieces that are made to last with no harmful chemicals used in the process.

Armadillo & Co
Armadillo & Co-creating stunning rugs that are 100% handmade from sustainable natural fibres in Fair Trade workplaces. Each rug purchase benefits the local schools in the artisan’s villages.

Artisan
This Croatian company specializes in the manual production of high-quality furniture made from solid wood. Exquisite timber and subtle, sleek designs are distinguishing factors of Artisan furniture.

Tide
Founder and owner of Tide, George Harpers designs are not only pleasing to the eye but also to the touch. Using the finest wood, his furniture has a simple elegance with contemporary shapes and lines, smooth finishes and meticulous attention to detail. His pieces sit beautifully by themselves yet are also versatile in various spaces.

Kristina Dam
Think unique Nordic minimalist design – simple yet with subtle and considered details. Kristina Dam has mastered the monochromatic palette, creating timeless, unique pieces with attitude. Her designs have a functionable elegance about them, playing with shape and form.

WOUD
WOUD owners and co-founders Mia and Torben Koed curate stunning, quality Danish pieces. They have meticulously picked a team of upcoming talents and established designers to create pieces that reflect the traditional Nordic design with a touch of innovation and always with incredible attention to detail.

When looking at materials that are preventative in nature, a comparison was made between the micro-organism resistance of wet-felted mineral fibre tiles (which is the process of manufacturing mineral tiles with organic and non-organic resins without the use of chemicals) and stone wool resin bonded mineral wool tiles by the ‘Ceiling tile properties Report’ BSRIA 2002, results showed that stone wool resin bonded mineral wool tile was the only product which did not show any micro-organism growth. In addition, the structural integrity of certain building materials may also be compromised where in extreme cases, ceiling tiles have warped and fallen out of the grid. Stone wool ceiling tiles are stable up to 100% RH and with no acclimatization required, and can be fixed at the early stages of construction.

The number of nosocomial infections (also known as hospital acquired infections) are growing yearly. The fight against these types of infections are a concern to the facility managers and aged care directors and providers. In 2014, the World Health Organisation’s first global report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) revealed the importance of preventing and containing AMR. AMR is the ability of a microorganism (bacteria, virus and fungus) to stop antimicrobials from working against it. As a result of AMR, standard medical treatments have become, and are becoming ineffective, and simple infections are causing significant harm. This puts high risk patients in aged care at greater risk. Excessive humidity and moisture in a building can also promote the growth of micro-organisms such as mould or bacteria which cause allergic reactions, respiratory illness and skin problems. Antimicrobial treatment applied to carpet as a topical treatment will help avoid and protect against the growth of bacteria, mould and fungus, the proliferation of dust mites, odours and protection against discolouration due to microbial attack.

Humidity resistance (RH) plays a vital role in creating and maintaining a healthy building. If a building is not hermetically sealed while under construction or if materials have not adequately dried out, moisture problems may occur. Humidity and moisture also pose some of the problematic issues for the health of a building which is termed as “Sick Building Syndrome”.

Various studies illustrate that higher levels of thermal comfort are experienced when occupants have a degree of control over their environment – through various window systems for example. Sealed buildings employ a “one size fits all” approach by maintaining constant temperatures irrespective of external conditions. When occupants are given the ability to alter their local environment, a greater level of satisfaction with the thermal environment can be achieved. Even when opting for an automatic natural ventilation system, occupants and carers can manually operate windows as they desire with a wall mounted switch or keypad installed in their room.

Automated windows can also reduce the burden on carers in aged care facilities. When an intelligent natural ventilation system is selected, it will have the ability to signal windows to close should inclement weather conditions develop. Parameters such as wind, changes in temperature and carbon dioxide levels can be monitored and then signal for automated windows to adjust their position accordingly.

An additional benefit of natural ventilation is that it can be effectively used to lower the concentration of carbon dioxide in communal areas, such as dining halls and meeting places. This creates a healthier and more inviting environment for the carers and residents, as well as reducing reliance on mechanical forms of ventilation to perform this task.  Cooling or heating services are likely to be installed in buildings, however the goal is to reduce their energy use or how hard they work, not eradicate them.

When thinking about safety, Aged care facilities should be designed to support a range of conditions. These include specialised dementia care, psychogeriatric disorders as well as high dependence care.

The building should be designed to facilitate the easy and safe access and flow of residents, staff and visitors. Safety must be addressed in a number of different ways including flooring selection, infection control, universal accessibility, fire safety, air quality, security and privacy. Residents in aged care facilities experience three times the rate of falls than older people living in the community (Rubenstein et al., 1996 as cited in Shanley). The risk factors for falls are considered to be a combination of intrinsic (related to the person) and extrinsic (related to the environment).

Hufcor movable partitions are supported on tracks from above — no floor tracks to get in the way, no tripping hazards and no crevices to collect debris.  When an acoustic bottom seal is needed, the seals are incorporated and activated from within the operable panels.

In certain areas of an aged care facility, evacuation in the event of a fire is almost impossible, therefore, fire prevention should be top of mind at the concept stage. In the event of a fire, occupant safety and the protection of adjoining properties are fundamental requirements of building regulations. Fire safe insulation products act as an effective fire barrier in the following ways:

• Between rooms and roof spaces
• A fire shield for structural steel members
• A fireproof cover for hot industrial process pipes and ducts
• A fire-safe core for sandwich panel constructions

Fire stopping products help architects, contractors and developers conform to current fire regulations. Careful design will also ensure that fire cannot spread through cavities or along the service pipe or cable. With each service run including a different combination of plastic and metal pipes, ducts, and power and data cables. Every element will react very differently to fire therefore, fire stopping systems must be designed, manufactured and installed to cope with the individual needs of the project.

Rockwool stone wool ceiling and insulation products have been awarded the highest possible European classification: A1 non-combustible and AS1530.part one tested by CSIRO to meet the BCA standards.

When considering wall and ceiling insulation, Rockwool insulation is able to withstand up to 1000°C. The unique inbuilt layering of the fibres keep the structure intact and maintains its rigidity thereby protecting the mineral from the effects of high temperatures.

Rockwool insulation and construction products are designed to remain stable when exposed to burning hot flames, helping to maintain the buildings structure and buying valuable time for the occupants to safety evacuate.

Rockwool insulation slows the spread of flames and does not produce any significant toxic smoke. Stone wool products are fire safe and also help to protect the building load-bearing structure, protecting lives and investment.

With an extensive range of noise barriers that controls airborne and impact sound transmission, we offer bespoke sound solutions to the most complex acoustic problems affecting all sectors including residential, commercial, education and industrial sectors. 

We’ve revolutionised the way we manage, control and cope with sound.

Our unique and patented acoustic barrier technology is designed to exceed industry standards, for guaranteed quiet comfort in various applications.

Hufcor is the industry leader in movable partition sound management, and Series 600, 5000 and 8000 moveable partitions come in a very wide range of construction styles that minimize sound transition or absorb sound to minimize sound room reflection. At Hufcor our products are tested in either a NATA approved testing facility in accordance with AS1191-1985 here in Australia or in our USA sound laboratory in accordance with ASTM E90 and ISO 10140-2 for sound blocking and ASTM 423 for sound absorption to ensure they meet or exceed our published acoustical ratings. Our USA laboratory is certified by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP Testing Lab Code 100239-0), and we undergo regular inspection to make certain we adhere to their strict regulations.