Australian House & Garden — June 2017

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 171

POWER TO YOU

Electricity and data outlets are

the kind of thing people only

tend to stop and notice when

they don’t have them, says Greg

Bryant, spokesperson for Master

Electricians Australia. “I’d advise

anyone building or renovating to

include a USB outlet or two.

So many of our devices, from

phones to cameras and

wearables, can be charged via

USB.” Two double power outlets

in the kitchen is the absolute

minimum – and that’s for a small

space, says Greg. “I’d add a

couple more in an appliance

drawer, on the kitchen island and

possibly in the pantry.” It’s also

important to think about how far

your vacuum-cleaner cord might

reach. “A power outlet along

a hall can be handy in this

regard and so is one in a broom

cupboard so you can charge

your stick vacuum when it’s not

in use.” Our television viewing

habits may be increasingly

mobile, but it’s still worthwhile

having cable in the living room

and possibly bedrooms. “The

resulting image signal will be so

much better,” says Greg.

‘BY COMBINING LIGHTING SOURCES,

WE’VE BUILT IN MANY WAYS TO CREATE

DIFFERENT MOODS IN THE ROOMS.’

MADELEINE BLANCHFIELD

accent lighting to create a sense of space,

depth and comfort.”

Of special note in the plan is the use

of recessed and surface-mounted

Brightgreen downlights. These new-

generation downlights don’t emit heat

(unlike standard downlights, which can

pose a fire risk if insulation is placed too

close), so the home’s overall thermal

efficiency is also boosted by allowing the

roof cavity to be fully insulated. “The

D700+ downlights used in this design are

unique in that, unlike other recessed

downlights, they offer total lighting

flexibility, thanks to their airtight, 360°

pivoting mechanism,” says David.

The living areas in Madeleine’s My Ideal

House design will also utilise uplights,

concealed LED strips, wall lights and

pendants. “By combining lighting sources,

we’ve built in many ways to create different

moods in the rooms,” she says. In the

kitchen, multiple dimmable light sources

will be present. “All the surfaces will have

the capacity to be lit in some way. Light

thrown onto a surface such as the walls

or ceiling defines that area and highlights

the edges of the space, making it feel

bigger.” Striking D900 Curve SH surface-

mounted LED downlights have been

specified for over the kitchen island.

One spot you won’t find any downlights

is the dining area. “Where possible, for

the sake of visual comfort, I prefer to reflect

light around, not have it come from a direct

source,” says Madeleine. Throughout the

house, lights will be dispersed rather than

evenly spaced. “We wanted to avoid a grid

of downlights and instead highlight areas

with pairs of lights. This allows for

variation and provides pools of light over

reading or working areas.”

Just as getting the lights right during

the design stage pays huge dividends, so

does planning for other electrical services,

such as motorisation for blinds or awnings.

“If you’re considering motorisation for

your window furnishings, do so as early

as possible to ensure you find a product

that fits into the rest of the plan,” says

Jenny Brown, national marketing manager

for Luxaflex Window Fashions.

Luxaflex’s PowerView motorisation is

an intelligent operating system that allows

homeowners to control their blinds

throughout the day with the press of a

button, tap of a mobile device or via

personalised settings. The products

support both wired-in and battery power,

so if you do decide to automate some time

after you’ve moved in, you can choose

battery operation.

The rapidly expanding and evolving

arena of smart-home technology is also

important to factor into the building

process. “The number of connected devices

we use in our homes continues to increase,”

says John Chambers, executive director

of Home and Premium Services for Telstra.

“Anyone building a new home should think

about how they can maximise their

broadband set-up to get the most out of

their smartphones, tablets, lights, sensors

and any future smart technology.”

Wi-fi is an essential part of any smart-

home set-up to ensure devices can be

connected, no matter where they are

in the house. “Think about where the

internet connection will be so it’s not

just convenient for a study or living

room, but the whole house,” says John.

“An electrician can advise you on the best

spot for your wi-fi access point.”

myidealhouse.com.au #

TOP Saturn Zen double

USB charge outlet, $176,

Clipsal; 1300 202 525 or clipsal.

com.au. ABOVE LEFT D700+

LED downlight, $69,

Brightgreen; 1300 672 499

or brightgreen.com.