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inplace
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Winter 2011 • Issue 6
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Simplify your life...
magazine
the best
storage solutions for your home!
Declutter, de-stress and feel like new!
Going up? Add value and space with an attic conversion!
Plus:
Moving made easy! 15 tips to make moving house run smoothly
Terrific Tahiti, home office tips, wine storage advice and more!
simply organised
contents
GET IN TOUCH!
INTRODUCING BI-BOX INNOVATIVE DESIGN TO ALLOW CONTENT VIEWING
WE LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! email us at inplace@ hsw.com.au
GREAT RANGE OF BRIGHT COLOURS
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EASY TO STACK & EXTREMELY VERSATILE
Issue 6 Winter 2011
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AVAILABLE NOW FROM
HOWARDS STORAGE WORLD 2 inplace magazine
www.hsw.com.au
Cover photography: Maree Homer / acpsyndication
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4 Indulge
18 Attic Attack!
The latest news, products and promotions from Howards Storage World.
Launch into the space above your head to open up a whole new room in your home.
6 Inspiration
20 A Passion for Polynesia
Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a bottle of red wine. It’s also perfect for considering wine racks.
Tahiti is famous for boasting some of the best beaches in the world. The food’s great too!
8 Different by Design
22 Travel Smart
Got more paintings than you have wall space? Try turning your house into a museum!
Getaway presenter Natalie Gruzlewski shares her best tips for perfect packing.
10 Get the Look
24 Smooth Move
Dare you re-create the fashionable black-andwhite bathrooms of the Crown Metropol?
Make every house move blissful – well, nearly – with our essential guide to shifting home.
12 Clutter Detox
27 I Can’t Live Without...
Some simple solutions to help you achieve clarity where previously there was clutter.
The readers of inplace share stories of how Howards products have helped them!
14 As Good As New!
28 There’s No Place Like Home
As you clear you’ll discover plenty of items too good to throw out. Here’s what to do with them.
All you need to get your home office in order and ready for anything from homework to taxes!
16 Clear Home, Clear Mind
30 Chaos Control
Achieve a Zen-like state in your clutter-free home. It’s even good for your inner health!
Transform the mess levels in your children’s bedrooms with these colourful boxes.
inplace is published by Citrus Media on behalf of Howards Storage World. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. © Howards Storage World 2011.
6 From the Editor Clutter is an unavoidable part of life. You can do your best to slow its constant march into your home but eventually, inevitably, you need to declutter. It’s okay, though. Help is at hand. In this issue, we’ve focused on the art of clearing away the mess. We’ve provided you with loads of great ideas for storage and recycling, plus systems to keep clutter at bay for as long as possible. We’ve also stopped Getaway presenter Natalie Gruzlewski for a chat about her jetsetting lifestyle and picked up a few tips about how to pack the perfect suitcase. Be sure to check it out on page 22. You may gain extra enjoyment from that article over a glass of wine. If so, the wine rack feature on page 6 could be just the thing for you! Enjoy the magazine!
Gillian Gillian Serisier Editor
205,950
This publication has been independently audited by the Circulations Audit Board. Audit Period: 01/10/2010 – 31/03/2011
inplace magazine 3
Before
news
indulge
The latest Howards news
plus!
The Elevate Carousel Set from Joseph Joseph is a very clever device. The colours are fun and the stand allows you to have its six great kitchen tools always to hand. Best of all, the handles have been weighted so the business end of each utensil never touches the counter. Fabulous! IDS10004 $109
Let us know what you think of our new look! email: inplace@ hsw.com.au
Looking good! Carry your hot and cold drinks in style with these 450ml Cheeki flasks in a range of exciting colours. They’re so economical that you only need to refill the flask 10 times instead of buying bottled water to break even! Spearmint CHK4705 $19.95. Lavender CHK4699 $19.95. Slate CHK4682 $19.95
If you’ve visited our stores in Bondi, Robina, Port Macquarie or Kotara over the last few weeks you may have noticed a bit of a change to the way they look – new colour schemes, new uniforms, different fittings and a smart new logo. It’s all part of the rebranding Howards has embraced and we couldn’t be happier with the results. The change is designed to be fresh, welcoming, softer – while keeping the great service and quality products you know and love. Dominic Panetta at Howards Storage World’s headquarters in Sydney is thrilled with the new look: “Our new logo and brand identity reflects the modern retailer that we’ve become.” Dirk Spence, co-founder and CEO of Howards Storage World agrees: “We won’t stop here. This is only just the start of a fantastic new journey for our business as we boost our plans to expand our brand across Australia and the globe.”
Keep your precious jewellery organised and looking stunning with this new range of Faux Leather Stackable Trays (MMA70405 from $34.95). Keep the look coordinated with a gorgeous Faux Leather Mini Stacker jewellery Box – it’s absolutely divine alone or when stacked. MMA70563 $59.95
Avoid the dread of losing a ring down the sink with this chrome ring holder rabbit. The sculpture is part of a series, which also includes mice, cats and dogs – all perfect for dangling your rings on. Pop one beside each sink in your home and never face the hassle of fishing your favourite piece of jewellery from the U-bend again! Check the whole range in-store from August. Umbra Zoola Ring Stand ANA10158 $14.95
How cool is the Jot? This little gizmo sticks to the wall and holds just about anything small that you can think of: pens, keys, cords, cables, toothbrushes – the list goes on. The colours are funky and plentiful enough to colour code his and hers, plus all of the kids! Dreamfarm Jot DRF8012 $5.95
Congratulations to the winner of our Win a Chef competiton, S. Cooper of Queensland, whose friends and family will be treated to a dinner for eight catered by Sarah French Boutique Catering! Runner-up prizes went to O. Caon (SA), M. Ticehurst (QLD), J. Borton (VIC), D. Rowan (NSW) and S. Cirillo (WA).
Indexed chopping board perfection Always on the ball and always thinking, we absolutely adored the original Joseph Joseph Index Chopping Boards, but we love the new design even more. This is a truly fabulous indexed chopping board and storage system in one, with cutting-edge looks to match its sharp performance. Index Advance IDS60030 $99
Poached eggs have never been easier!
Busy people like to multitask, so why not combine your relaxation with a bath caddy that has everything within reach – including a place to put your glass of wine and book! ANA5660 $79.95 Perfect poached eggs are a breeze with the Poachpod Lift from Fusion Brands (ZBD8029 $4.95). You’ll never burn your fingers in hot water again – crack an egg into the Poachpod (ZBD8004 $19.95), let it cook and lift out. Easy!
Chopula – love the name, love the product. It’s like someone finally listened to what we want in a spatula: it’s thin, flexible, will chop food in the pan – without scratching the bottom – and sits up so food doesn’t get all over your counter. Brilliant. Heat resistant to 260 ºC and long enough to keep your hands cool while stirring even the meanest stir-fry, the Chopula is a kitchen must-have! Dreamfarm Chopula DRF3734 $14.95
4 inplace magazine
news
Coming soon! Keep an eye out for Howards Storage World’s Annual Catalogue 2012 which will be in-store from September 2011. Make sure you come into your local store to get your limited edition copy!
? www.hsw.com.au
For the cook who has everything, nothing beats these fantastic Stainless Steel and Glass Canisters. They allow you to see the contents – so lentils, pasta and rice are always at your fingertips. EIC2320 700ml, 1L, 1.3L and 1.9L $39.95
Displaying photographs, postcards or poems just escalated to high design with the fabulous Umbra Petal Frame. ANA80718 $39.95
Bear Cot tage
Thank you for your continued support of Bear Cottage. In 2010, Howards presented Bear Cottage with a cheque to the value of $50,000! The donation was a result of individual and corporate donations plus 12 months sales of support products sold via Howards stores across Australia. Bear Cottage is a medically supported home away from home, providing respite for children with terminal illnesses with their families. Don’t forget you can help Bear Cottage any time of the year. Visit your local Howards Storage World store and pick up a pocket Pad for $4.95 and all profits will go to Bear Cottage. Each Pocket Pad contains sticky tabs, a note pad, pen, ruler and magnifier.
Be rewarded
Become a Howards member when you join our Inspirations Program. Benefits include a $10 voucher when you enrol, which is valid for use in participating stores Australia-wide. Being a Howards Inspirations Member means great offers, fantastic storage solutions and amazing tips. Becoming a member is easy, just visit a store.
inplace magazine 5
inspiration
Perfect Store, Splendid Pour Get more from your wine by letting it age gracefully in a designer wine rack.
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he problem with wine is that there are too many good bottles! Once upon a time, the average wine collection consisted of a bottle of Chardonnay on permanent stand-by at the back of the fridge. Today, we all share a passion for Pinot, a soft spot for Sauvignon and a zest for Zinfandel. But how are we supposed to store them all? For the serious wine connoisseur, a wine cellar needs to be just as serious and the Winestak Storage System is perfect for custom building a grand home for your favourite bottles. The Winestak system can be built to accommodate any sized space and stained to suit any décor. The Modularack (MOD12 $49.95 for 12 bottles) is another robust solution wine buffs and has the flexibility to grow as your buying trips to Margaret River become more frequent. If you want your wine storage to look hightech the Cellarstak system (55 bottle wine rack CEL55 $155) is as cool as your dusty bottle of 1961 Bordeaux, while the 9 Bottle Wine Rack (ZLS4627 $39.95) is another funky solution for the budding connoisseur or full-blown sommelier. Also try the 24 Bottle Wine Stacker (PC049 $42.95), which can be stacked for twice the storage. Janice McDonald, Senior Winemaker at the
■ 9 Bottle Wine Rack ZLS4627 $39.95
A close-up of Colin Claring-Bould's Winestak Storage System
dry, and the temperature is stable.
to type. Sparkling on the lowest rungs, then white and then red. 3 Monitor your wine’s progress either by research or testing. 4 Experiment and enjoy the challenge. 5 Start a wine club with a group of friends to swap labels and wine tips. 6 Do not brew beer in your cellar. Corks act as filters but are susceptible to fermenting bacteria, so make a choice: wine or beer, but never both. 7 Keep vibrating machines such as washing machines and old freezers well away from your cellar. The vibrations break down the wine and change its flavour. 8 Always store wine on its side. This keeps the cork moist and airtight. 9 Never store wine in direct sunlight. 10 And never, ever rotate your wine. It disturbs the ageing process and can ruin the wine.
Did You Know?
Howards offers a free measure and quote service at your home, to help you choose the perfect product!
together, for twice the storage!
Howards has hunted out the best of the best. One of our favourites is the Champagne Saver (VLL1301 $24.95) for keeping your bubbles crisp to the very last drop. Plus you'll never have to keep unexpected guests waiting with the VV Large Rapid Ice Cooler (VLL1121 $22.95) which can chill a warm bottle in minutes. Once the party's started, the Vino 4 Bottle Wine Ice Bucket in shimmering black (ZLS46538 $42.95) works a charm, while the 4 Bar Glass Rack (PC812 $19.95) keeps glasses free of fingerprints. Finally, it's inevitable that sooner or later a drop of red will meet your carpet. Thankfully, Howards has found the perfect way to remove the evidence with the Oops Red Wine Stain Remover (VLL6100 $12.95). ■ inplace ■ VV Larger Rapid Ice Cooler (VLL1110 $12.95) ■ Cellarstak system (55 bottle wine rack CEL55 $155)
■ Curved Bamboo Wine Racks EIC from $19.95
■ 24 Bottle Wine Stacker PC049 $42.95 6 inplace magazine
1 Make sure the room is cool, dark,
2 Heat rises, so position wine according
Howard Park winery, believes that choosing the right wines to lay down is key: “For example, the 2008 Howard Park ‘Abercrombie’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a great wine to put down right now. It’s expected to be at its prime in 10 years, exhibiting blackberry and cedar flavours with nuances of damp earth and forest-floor complexity, balanced by ultrafine powdery and layered tannins.” Chief Winemaker for Penfolds, Peter Gago, also advises ensuring that the room isn’t drink now, your storage affected by seasonal changes in heat or cold: needs will certainly ■ 4 Bar Glass “Temperature control is critical! Fluctuation in differ. Keep wines temperature is to be avoided. Wines should be Rack (PC812 $19.95) that are ready to drink ideally stored at 13 to 15 degrees Celsius. Avoid close at hand with a vibration, background odours and light.” sensational 6 Bottle Curved Bamboo Wine Labelling is important to keep track of Rack (EIC1735 $39.95). when a wine should be opened and, in some For a super-glam look, the Grapevine Acrylic cases, tested. Penfolds runs a re-corking clinic 6 Bottle Wine Rack (ANA50165 $34.95) is a where Penfolds wines older than 15 years can brilliant piece of engineering, as is the Smart be opened, tested, appraised, topped up and Wine Bottle Storage Wedge (MMD120 $14.95) re-corked. But for the everyday wine collection, that can easily stack up to 10 different bottles. a simple list of wines and recommended A good cellar deserves good accessories and cellar completion date is more than sufficient. A device like the P-Touch 1090 Electronic Labeller (BRO1090 $59.95) makes sticking a date on each bottle easy. Storing wine, however, isn’t all about cellaring, and for some of your favourite wines that are ready to Two racks stacked
■ Grapevine Acrylic 6 Bottle Wine Rack ANA50165 $34.95
Ten top tips for wine storage
www.hsw.com.au
First person:
■ Colin’s finished Winestak cellar.
Colin Claring-Bould
Colin has been in the wine industry for 22 years, although his passion for wine started much earlier. Over time his collection, which now boasts in excess of 800 bottles, has grown. Living close to the magnificent wine regions of South Australia has added to the collection and pressed Colin to take the step of a purpose-built wine cellar. “I had been looking around and nothing suited until my wife, Wendy, and I went to see David Strutton at Howards Storage World in Mile End. He was really great. I didn’t want a knock-down wine rack that I had to assemble myself, so David came to our home, looked at our cellar and said ‘we can do something here’. I gave him the dimensions and mentioned that I wanted a Jarra colour to match the staircase that leads into the cellar. He took a colour match and came back with a quote. A week or two
later David brought the wine rack to our house and assembled it in the cellar. It was in three or four packages, plus the little joining pieces. David and three men had it all done within an hour – stained and put together. It’s terrific and exactly what I wanted. We’re really, really pleased with it. The timber is really good quality, smoothed over and stained perfectly. It really showcases the wine as well as giving excellent storage and accessibility.”
■ Modularack MOD12 $49.95 for 12 bottles
inplace magazine 7
different by design
www.brabantia.com
■ Large gallery spaces for visitors to enjoy.
What’s the use of beautiful, if it isn’t useful?
Life at the Museum ■ The stunning wooden staircase.
■ The garden enjoys gallery views too.
■ Outside is less conventional than the average home.
Lots of paintings but not enough wall space? Simply convert your home into a museum!
T
hinking outside the box, one family has solved their need to store a large collection of art by transforming their home into a stunning museum that everyone can enjoy. Located just eight kilometres east of Melbourne, Lyon Housemuseum is both a functioning museum and a warm family home. The idea behind the project started in 2000 when Corbett Lyon – of the awardwinning architectural firm, Lyons – decided to create a space that would allow the Lyon collection of contemporary Australian Art to be available to the public. The collection is both large and varied with works by video artists, sculptors, painters and photographers – so getting the design right took time. By 2001, however, the project was in full operation with a design that paid particular attention to scale. The designers felt it was important that the collection, which had been displayed in their home, continue to operate on a domestic level and not be overwhelmed by the dauntingly large white walls of a
traditional museum. Having said that, it’s only fair to point out that some of the works at the Lyon Housemuseum – such as the incredible Brook Andrew piece, painted straight onto a wall – have an enormity that very few homes could cope with! The Lyon Housemuseum, is a series of cubes surrounding a central zone for living, with areas of courtyard in between.
■ Real life meets artistic endeavour inside.
“Lyon Housemuseum is both a functioning museum and a warm family home” It was the Winner of the 2010 Australian Institute of Architects – Harold DesbroweAnnear Award. This simplified arrangement of modules allows the art to be viewed as small museum collections, while the whole remains connected. Interestingly, the areas designated for living are just as richly adorned with artworks, artefacts and architectural drawings as the areas dedicated to art. The arrangement of modules also allows for the
Lyon Housemuseum to grow as the collection itself grows. In effect they have made a plan, sorted the artworks into manageable groups, and then stored them beautifully! The Lyon Housemuseum is open by appointment to small groups of visitors on Mondays and Tuesdays between noon and 2:45pm. If you’d like further information on the Lyon Housemuseum, visit their website: www.lyonhousemuseum.com.au. ■ inplace
Beautifully useful, fast folding WallFix A beautifully designed clothes dryer that’s always ready to use. Simply mount onto your wall and the 24 metre clothes line can dry a full washing machine load in the smallest of spaces. But with just one hand it can fold away into a neat steel case to keep it clean and dry when not in use. Comes with a 5 year guarantee. waste storage
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food storage
food preparation
laundry care
bathroom care
get the look...
■ The black and white bathroom.
■ Sculptural lamps by Steven Hennessy.
“The Metropol style might seem at odds with reality. However, it can be achieved...”
■ The black theme con tinues.
Paint it Black Bathrooms should be an oasis of calm, but black is back and making an impact. Dare you try it?
B
lack might seem like a pretty severe colour for a bathroom, but softened with white accessories it has the power to make a real design statement. That is certainly the thinking behind the newly finished Crown Metropol in Melbourne. In fact, the black theme doesn’t stop at the bathrooms, with nearly every space having a brush with midnight tones.
10 inplace magazine
The building itself is a majestic curve of opulent glass designed by the awardwinning architects, Bates Smart, who were also responsible for the elegant interiors and stunning work of art by David Band displayed in the hotel’s grand foyer. Heading inside, the guest room design is seeped in luxurious yet simple touches, where quality of material, whether that be fine linens or Carrera marble, is perfectly presented within the rather fun style of a designer Vegas hotel. A particularly elegant touch is the slightly textured grey fabric used to cover bedroom walls and the interesting fabrics selected for pillowslips, which become a feature of each room. The softening element of the fabric, both on the wall and pillows, offers a harmonious counterbalance
■ The Howards version.
A sleek white laundry hamper adds elegance to the stark white of the bed linens and is a good solution to ensure the rooms appear spacious, inviting and unique. Simple, whimsical lamps, mid-century furnishings and colour-trimmed linens further add to the room’s character. The bathrooms are a particularly glamorous feature of the hotel, boasting large expanses of black marble, simple elegant lines and bold forms coupled with the pristine glamour of all-white accessories and towels. It’s lucky that the building boasts two new Gordon Ramsay restaurants – run by Chef de Cuisine, Josh Emett – as they are probably the only option exciting enough to entice you out of the super-slick rooms. Black may be the very definition of dark, but used like this we’ve seen the light! ■ inplace
www.hsw.com.au
Keep fresh towels in a utility box
Modern glamour:
get the look !
The York range of glossywhite, glazed stoneware bathroom accessories is perfect for this look. It also has a variety of ■ Resin Jewellery Tree coordinated solutions EIC642 $22.95 to keep everything contained and in its place: Lotion Pump (ANA70201 $49.95), Cotton Canister (ANA71901 $49.95, Tumbler (ANA70401 $31.95), Soap Dish (ANA68820 $34.95). Alternatively, the Milky acrylic range has similar, white bathroom accessories such as a Lotion Pump (EIC2701 $19.95), Toothbrush Holder (EIC2702 $14.95), Soap Dish (EIC2704 $12.95) and Toilet Brush (EIC2715 $39.95). Luxuries such as Crabtree and Evelyn’s La Source range of products reinforce the ■ Utility Box EIC99036 $89.95 sense of sumptuousness. For children, bathrooms are all about fun, so the matching Utility Box in white timber (EIC99036 $89.95) is a great solution for hiding away dry bath toys. Cleverly, the simple design is just the right height to double as a handy seat when bathing the kids! Keeping the bathroom streamlined is easy with the new Everloc Hair Care Centre (EVO10284 $47.95) which is fantastic for storing a hair dryer and hair care accessories. It features a holder suitable for ■ Everloc Hair most hair dryers and Care Centre a convenient storage EVO10284 $47.95 basket for storing your hair brushes, rollers, hairclip, hairspray and gels. To achieve the spacious look of the Metropol, everything needs to be in its place, which means no squeezed-together towels. A sleek Towel Rack in chrome (EIC99521 $49.95 or EIC99520 $59.95) is perfect for airing those fresh white towels. An ornamental touch that will take care of your jewellery while you shower is the Resin Jewellery Tree in black (EIC6421 $22.95) or white (EIC642 $22.95). ■ inplace ■ The Milky acrylic range
inplace magazine 11
declutter special Fighting the tide
Clutter Detox
To reduce the flow of clutter into your home, consider making some of these super-simple and effective changes: ✔✔ Have your bills emailed or view them online ✔✔ If you need a new computer, buy a laptop rather than a desktop. ✔✔ Download your software and music online instead of getting CDs. ✔✔ Use voicemail rather than an answering machine. ✔✔ E-cycle rather than have old electronics sitting around the house. ✔✔ Read books online or go to the library. ✔✔ Get an online newspaper subscription. ✔✔ Use reusable shopping bags. ✔✔ Get a water filter instead of buying water.
Experts all agree a home clear of clutter allows prosperity and productivity to flow… ■ Lau
ndry piles...
G
etting your home to that deep clean perfection takes much more than a tidy. It takes planning and a good, solid infrastructure to support long-term solutions and adapt to changing needs. It also takes some serious consideration when it comes to creating systems for optimal work flow. To detox your home and achieve a satisfying calm, consider the basic rules of feng shui. This ancient art asks us to look at four types of clutter: unwanted items, disorganised items, badly displayed possessions and unfinished projects. For unwanted items, the bottom line is: it’s time to go. But don’t worry, this issue of inplace has some great recycling suggestions on page 14 to help give your old stuff a new lease of life. Disorganised items need to be organised
10 simple ways to declutter Follow these top tips to make decluttering your home as easy as can be...
12 inplace magazine
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■ ...and a disorganised office are all common!
“Think about infrastructure and realise that clutter is anything stopping a smooth work-flow” – it’s as simple as that. Stop and make a plan to sort and store properly. Remember to start small and tackle one job at a time, but don’t let your detox become an unfinished project. Badly displayed possessions generally mean the object has been squeezed into a space that is just too small. This can happen when you are trying to display three items where you should be happy with two. Sort, prioritise and give your precious possessions room to breath. Unfinished projects are a bit more difficult as they are often a work in progress. When this is the case, find a large storage container that suits your style but has a closable lid. This way your home’s energy won’t be tangled in your knitting needles or quilting squares! If it is a project that has been abandoned, you may need to make a hard but realistic decision. If you choose not to
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■ ...a messy kitchen...
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“Once you let go of your clutter you will create a space for all kinds of wonderful
continue, try one of our recycling options to give your project a second chance. Now that your home is free of the obvious clutter, you need to think about infrastructure and realise that clutter is anything stopping a smooth work flow. What is going to give your home a better flow of energy? How can you make your work flow seamless and more energy-efficient? One of the easiest places to start is the kitchen. Take a good look at your kitchen bench, think about what you use the most, then think about where it is located. Creating a smooth energy flow may be as simple as clearing a space that allows you to wash and chop vegetables without moving from one area to another. Try moving your tea and teapot closer to the kettle or rearranging your spices
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with the most-often-used at the front. Remember, if it is an efficient solution, it will stay in place and keep you clutter-free. When it comes to infrastructure, getting your wardrobe right will not only save you time, but will expand your range of outfits, as all your clothes become simple to find! The other great advantage to a smooth system is the likelihood of it staying in place. After all, it is harder to toss a scarf into a drawer if you know hanging it properly is just as easy and means the scarf will be ready to wear the next time you need it. Like any detox, it takes time, patience and planning, but if you stick with it the results will be well worth it. Here’s to feeling good and living lighter. ■ inplace
www.hsw.com.au
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Keep clutter out to begin with. Create a habit of throwing out two items for every new item you bring home. Create a chart with goals on it – e.g. to declutter three times a week. You’ll feel a sense of achievement as you cross off each goal. Put on music and make cleaning fun to enthuse your kids. Also, friends have a dispassionate view and can help decide what’s worth keeping and what can go. Design a system to stop clutter build-up. There’s a reason you have stacks of paper or big piles of toys, books and clothes. Place, throw or store everything you accumulate. Start by the door and move around the room, doing the superficial items first – surfaces, bins, etc. Repeat, but go deeper the second time around – e.g. open the cupboards. When boiling the kettle for tea, tidy up the kitchen. If the kitchen is clean, tidy up the next room – it’s only three minutes, but it keeps you on top of everything. If you have too many clothes, put all your hangers the same way round. Every time you wear something, put the hanger back in the wardrobe the opposite way. In a few weeks you’ll be able to see at a glance what can go. Any items you’re unsure whether you need should go into a box in the garage. At the end of the tidy, seal the box and write a date one year in the future on it. If the box is still sealed when that date comes, throw it away without opening it. When you tidy, try and make really quick decisions. Have a trash bag on one side and a give-away box on the other, and then simply think: throw out, give away or keep? Celebrate when you’re done! This is actually a general rule in life: always celebrate your accomplishments. Even if you just decluttered one drawer, that’s great!
Everloc’s unique suction system can hold up to 15kg and provides consistent load bearing ability, ideal for use around the home. Everloc is versatile and easy to install, remove and re-use with no tools, screwing or drilling required. Everloc products can be installed almost anywhere around your home. Everloc suction cups can be applied directly to non porous surfaces. For use on porous surfaces such as plasterboard, wood and painted surfaces, we recommend Everloc Adhesive Disks. These disks can be applied to any surface providing the ideal platform for you to install your Everloc, no matter what the surface. Everloc Adhesive Disks are now available in-store. For more information on Everloc, please visit our website www.everloc.com.au or see in-store for details. • No tools required • No drilling required • No screwing required
declutter special
declutter special
As Good as New! Recycle, reuse and repurpose your way to a clutter-free home with this handy guide.
Quick tip Declutter for 15 minutes every day. It’s amazing how much you can get through in small increments.
R
ecycling isn’t just about sending rubbish to the right kind of tip. A much more useful way to declutter your home and give new life to old items is to consider what you own that someone else could make use of. Here are some great tips for repurposing and ‘upcycling’ your hidden treasures.
Give away your unwanted items to St Vincent de Paul, or any number of the many charity organisations that help people by reselling unwanted clothes, kitchenware, furniture, linens and sporting equipment. It’s a fantastic way to extend the life of just about anything you own. They will even collect large or bulky items but, unfortunately, they no longer collect electrical items.
Recycling is now a very big part of every council’s remit, so pop online or into your local office to explore solutions for extending the life of your treasured items. For example, many councils now offer a quarterly electrical recycling service where they take everything from old toasters to last year’s computer. They call it e-waste. E-waste is dropped off at the council rather than left on the street and their aim is to repair and recycle as much as possible to get those items back into the community and out of the landfill. To make it easy for the teams organising this system, grab some masking tape and a pen to clearly mark if your item is working or not.
Turning to the internet, the auction website eBay.com.au is a great way to make some money while getting rid of unneeded items. Selling something on eBay is easy – there’s a category for everything and people are even willing to take broken items, as long as you are
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Reverse Garbage may be your solution if you are looking to get rid of a large amount of anything reusable. They take all sorts of things like industrial discards, off-cuts and over-runs that are made available to artists, theatres, schools and hobbyists. Toys are always loved and are one of the hardest things to let go. To make it easier, think of the joy your toy will bring in its second life once it’s been lovingly restored by the Toy Restoration Centre. All toys are donated to disadvantaged children. You can call them in Sydney on 02 9528 4024. Finally, pop your postcode into the Planet Ark website (recyclingnearyou.com.au) for instant, local recycling solutions. With a little effort you’ll have your mess rehomed in no time! ■ inplace
clear about it. After all, as the popular saying goes, ‘One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’ Just take a photograph, measurements and write a good description of the item and away you go. If you’re selling items for
pickup, such as furniture, arrange to have a friend with you on the pickup day. Classified listings are also easy to use and growing in popularity by the day. Gumtree. com.au is a terrific website to try as people can locate things by area, plus it’s free to list your items. If you want to get rid of things quickly, just list the objects as being free and relax in the
www.hsw.com.au
While we’re on the subject of recyling household items, Howards Storage World boasts a great selection of bins designed to help you separate your kitchen rubbish appropriately. The Brabantia 2 x 20L Twin Bin (BRB6358 $499) has two removable inner buckets for practical emptying and cleaning. The split design of the 2 Compartment Pedal Bin 2 x 30L (PJF57404 $189) is large, great-looking and makes recycling easier than ever. Finally, the 38L simplehuman Butterfly Twin Recycle Bin (ALB1839 $399) utilises the butterfly design to fit in tight spaces and underneath low counter-tops. ■ Brabantia 2 x 20L Twin Bin BRB6358 $499
What goes whe re? Some items, such as poison, paint and medicine, need to be disposed of properly. Here’s how... Medicines
Never keep out-of-date medicine. Did you know over 400 tonnes of pharmaceutica ls are collected for safe disposal by RUM (Retu rning Unwanted Medicine) each year? To dispo se of your unwanted medicines simply take them to your local pharmacy for RUM collection .
Chemicals
Chemicals such as paint, pesticides, poiso ns, motor oils and batteries can turn into toxic waste if not disposed of properly. Most councils offer a drop-off service for safe disposal and recycling of everything from old gas bottles to light globes. Contact your local council for details of your nearest drop-off site.
Mobile phones
Clever ideas!
Get online
■ simplehuman Pull Out Recycler ALB10160 $199
knowledge that they will go to a good home. Our quick browse online offered a crock pot, firewood, speakers and an entertainment unit, all on the first page and all for free. Remember, the aim of the game is to declutter your home, so don’t get sidetracked by acquiring more!
Be charitable
Recycle & reuse
Two bins, one for recycling and one for waste!
“ The auction website eBay.com.au is a great way to make some money while getting rid of unneeded items”
Recycle your mobile phone at an Australia Post store or look for the green Mobile Muster drop-off bins at your local bank or phon e store.
Ink cartridges
Drop off your used laser and ink jet print er cartridges at participating Australia Post, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Tandy or Dick Smith Electronics and Powerhouse store s.
White goods
■ 2 Compartment Pedal Bin Large 2 x 30L PJF57404 $189
Fridges, freezers, tumble-dr yers and wash ing machines can usually be left out for coun cil collection (secure in the knowledge that more often than not they will be taken to a new home before the council arrives). How ever, make sure that it’s impossible for a curio us child or animal to get locked inside. Rem ove the doors if need be.
■ 38L simplehuman Butterfly Twin Recycle Bin ALB1839 $399
inplace magazine 15
declutter special
Clear Home, Clear Mind
To get started, really think about what you want to achieve and create a plan. Then start small and take on clutter in manageable portions, such as a shelf or drawer. Mia Lotringer, of Los Angeles firm C’est Fini!, is one of the world’s top professional organisers and her advice is a must for anyone looking to declutter their life: “Do not get overwhelmed. Pick one thing that needs to get organised – the smaller the better; papers, computer files, clothes, linen closet, kitchen, mail, children’s room – and work on that one thing until you are content that it is sufficiently organised. Then move onto the next item. Never attack the whole house at one time.” Clinical Psychologist Dana Gionta agrees, but adds that we have more to gain in removing clutter than a tidier home: “It’s about freeing up time, and conserving your mental and physical energy, to experience the other wonders of your life that give it meaning and joy.” Decluttering can also be an emotional journey according to Heather Bestel,
“Try not to become overwhelmed. Pick one thing that needs to get organised – the smaller the better ”
Freeing your home of clutter will improve your life in ways you may not have expected.
B
eing clear, calm and in control may be as simple as putting your home in order, according to author of The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin: “For most people, and certainly for me, outer order contributes to inner calm. When I’m surrounded by a mess, I feel restless and unsettled, and I’m always surprised by the disproportionate energy and
16 inplace magazine
cheer released by clutter clearing – plus, I’m able to find my keys.” The benefits of a clutter-free home are, in fact, endless and can optimise your mental and physical health in many ways. Just some of the positive outcomes include less stress, a greater ability to be productive, better sleep and a greater ability to prioritise and control your environment.
Psychotherapist and Stress Management Consultant: “Getting rid of our clutter can often bring up the most deep-rooted emotions. The underlying problem of clutter is not procrastination; it’s that dealing with clutter means dealing with our own difficult feelings.” Emotions will be stirred up and it’s important to remember that it is okay to have feelings. There are, however, some good strategies for coping with this kind of emotional release: “If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow yourself to explore this feeling. Hidden beneath the fatigue is a deep desire to be free. Tap into that desire and give yourself the energy needed to conquer the clutter,” says Bestel. “Once you let go of your clutter you will create a space for all kinds of wonderful gifts to flow into your life. As you declutter, you may notice you de-stress too.” So, enjoy your diminished stress and clutterfree space but, above all, enjoy the time that a well-organised home leaves you to enjoy the things you love. ■ inplace
creating space
creating space
Attic Attack!
■ easy-build kit DAD2 $259
Change the height of shelves to suit your needs
Where once upon a time moving up meant a bigger home, these days moving up is all about taking advantage of attic space.
■ Easy Hang Over the Door Shoe Organiser LTW5101 $20.95
■ Easi Store 35L With Wheels PJ035 $18.95
■ Over the Cupboard Double Hook ANA54260 $19.95
■ elfa® Freestanding Shelf Unit
“The elfa® system is perfect for creating a custom shelving solution for any space”
■ Compactor Compressible Trunk 115L STE4139 $39.95
F
or many of us, finding that extra space for a home office, library, study or extra storage could be as easy as looking upwards. The attic is the perfect spot to create that little bit of much-needed room, without having to either sell up or move. Traditional extensions can cost up to $4,000 per square metre while building a new attic room costs around $1,500 per square metre. In fact, the usable space in many attics is as much as half of the floor space of the home! The conversion itself is a pretty specialised task, so it’s best to consult a company such as Attic Group, Australia’s leading business in attic ladders and conversions. They are experts in creating a new living area, bedroom or study from your dark and dusty attic space. They’ll look after all aspects of the planning
18 inplace magazine
and construction process with design work, engineering, permits, council approval, certification, building management and supervision all taken care of. You just need to sit back, wait a few weeks and ponder what colour scheme you want! Once the builders are finished and the walls have been painted, it’s time to start thinking about how to make best use of your new room. The elfa® system is perfect for creating a custom shelving solution for any space and your local Howards store will be more than happy to help you out with any of your requirements. Alternatively, easy-build chrome shelving is an exceptionally good choice for sturdy storage. Look out for the great Triangular Shelf, designed for maximising small spaces (DAD464663 $24).
Attics often have slanting walls, but this doesn’t mean diminished use. Install a lowline freestanding elfa® Unit to turn it into usable space, while Easi Store Tubs With Wheels (PJ035 $18.95) and the Easi Store 45L Underbed With Wheels (PJ045 $34.95) ensure even the most tucked away corner is utilised. If attic space is at a premium, which it almost always is, the Compactor Compressible Trunk 115L (STE4139 $39.95) is absolutely essential for storing puffy space stealers like parkas, quilts and ski-wear! Along similar lines, vacuumsealed Space Bags make easy work of reducing everything from clothes to doonas and pillows
■ Easi Store 45L Underbed With Wheels PJ045 $34.95
to around a third of their usual size. Keeping your attic fresh and mildew-free couldn’t be easier with DampRid Moisture Absorber 300g (KEN01 $7.75) and 3.4kg Econ Refill (KEN37 $19.95). If your attic hasn’t seen the light of day in a while, you might like to start out with the more industrial DampRid Disposable Moisture Absorber (KEN100 $6.95). Once you’re set, the DampRid Moisture Absorber Hanging Bag is a great way to keep
the air fresh in a confined space – just hang it in a cupboard or, if your attic is really tiny, the back of the door! (KEN80 $11.95). To really make the most of your new space, use every inch, including the back of the door, with an Easy Hang Over The Door Shoe Organiser (LTW5101 $20.95) which, while fabulous for shoes, is also brilliant for sewing accessories, craft tools, stationery items, toys, brochures and any other small items that need to be stored. The back of the door is also a great place for a handy hook and the 10 Knob Over the Door Hook (EIC1895 $27.95) is a neat choice for your handbag and coats. Remember it’s your room, so go ahead and have fun with it! ■ inplace
■ 10-knob Over the Door Hook EIC1895 $27.95
■ Triangular Shelf for maximising small spaces. DAD464663 $24
■ Wall-mounted shelves from25x25cm AKT52525 $29.95
■ The DampRid range will keep your attic fresh.
inplace magazine 19
travel
travel ■ Stunning Tahitian scenes.
GETTING THERE Where to stay: Le Méridien Bora Bora is among the most spectacular resorts in the world. Made up of a series of bungalows that perch above the crystal clear lagoon, each offers its guests a unique and breathtaking experience of the island’s beauty. The same resort also offers poolside bungalows for a more affordable splash of luxury. Where to eat: Le Lotus is the place to go for quintessential Tahitian French fusion cuisine. Located within the InterContinental Resort, Tahiti, PK 7.5, Coastal road, Faa’a. Bookings are absolutely essential, but in this quite-small restaurant every table has a view, so you’re guaranteed a meal to remember. How to get there: To start your holiday with all the flair of the French, Air Tahiti Nui will spoil you with crusty, Brie-filled baguettes and has several flights each week to the Tahitian capital Papeete. To travel between the islands you will need to book flights with Air Tahiti. ■ Relax by beautiful beaches.
A Passion for Polynesia Known as the Love Islands, French Polynesia is much more than a honeymoon destination; it’s also the perfect place to fire up your passion for fine dining.
T
he breathtaking beaches and crystal blue lagoons of Tahiti are among the most beautiful in the world. Indeed, so beautiful and idyllic is this FrenchPolynesian haven that it has inspired artists such as Paul Gauguin and philosopher JeanJacques Rousseau to ponder the spectacle of such perfection. Located in the South Pacific, Tahiti is the largest of the Society Islands and perhaps most famous as a luxury honeymoon destination. And although this reputation is fitting, many tourists now visit Tahiti and the surrounding islands for fabulous hiking, great spas and spectacular diving – as well as the incredible seafood and the island’s abundant fruits. With the ocean literally on the doorstep of most restaurants it’s no surprise that fish – or
20 inplace magazine
as the French say, ‘poisson’ – plays a major part in the cuisine of Tahiti. You’re unlikely to have been ashore long before you come across one of the more surprising cuisines of Tahiti: the traditionally marinated fish, served raw, having been steeped in lime juice and coconut milk. The Asian influence from surrounding countries becomes apparent as you savour the coriander and chilli that add the finishing touches to this delectable dish. The French influence, however, is where Tahiti really comes into its own. The islands became a French protectorate in 1889, forever altering the language, architecture and food of the region. Today, the fusion restaurants are simply incredible. L’O a la Bouche is one of the great staples of French Tahitian cuisine with sumptuous offerings such as moonfish with
passionfruit and ginger sauce or prawns with the local grapefruit – more commonly known in Tahiti as ‘Pamplemousse’. For a truly romantic experience, try the amazing Le Lotus. This gorgeous restaurant sits over the lagoon with a perfect view of Moorea Island and spot-lit water for fish gazing as you enjoy some of the best French wines available outside of France. The food is something special with Chef Franck Davi delivering on his reputation as one of the best in French Polynesia. His mousse of swordfish served on mussel risotto is out of this world. Embracing all things French, it’s fitting to toast your food adventures with a hearty bon appétit, but remember to save room for dessert, where coconut and chocolate come together in spectacular fashion. ■ inplace www.hsw.com.au
■ A cornucopia of local treats.
■ Dessert of grilled pineapple with passionfruit sorbet.
■ Living the dream...
■ Fresh prawn salad, with ginger and kiwifruit.
inplace magazine 21
■ Natalie’s always ready to go.
interview
Travel Smart
Take a ‘less is more’ approach to packing
Globetrotting Getaway presenter Natalie Gruzlewski has perfected the art of packing. Here are her tips.
W
hen it comes to travelling, packing doesn’t prove to be a problem for Natalie Gruzlewski. It has become a part of her everyday life. The Getaway television presenter turned Channel Nine News weather girl is always flying for work and believes a “less is more” packing approach is the best way to go. “I just hate lugging around those extra unnecessary kilos in my bag, so I often just pack light,” Natalie reveals. “I have learnt over the years that you can always pick up a few extra things if you need them at the other end when you’re on the road.” In previous years, Natalie was away for up to 30 weeks of the year for her mostly international Getaway trips. Now she finds herself travelling abroad a lot less than she used to and much more regularly between states as part of her weather role. And, while jetsetting, Natalie has become quite the expert packer. She plans for trips in advance and refrains from throwing clothes into her suitcase at the last minute. “I guess you could say I am quite a seasoned packer, so I usually pack just a few days beforehand,” Natalie says. “Every so often I will pack an extra but smaller bag if my luggage is overflowing.” Natalie’s key to fitting clothes in her suitcase is rolling them, as opposed to the popular folding technique. She believes you can always pull out the iron once you get to your destination. However, often simply hanging garments in the steam of her hotel bathroom is enough to keep her clothes wrinkle-free. One of Natalie’s favourite tips to protect her luggage items is a smart separating system. She says that learning to compartmentalise over the years is one big timesaver that she is lucky to have made into a habit. “I like putting my toiletries and electrical items, like the hair dryer and my adapters, iPods and all that sort of thing, in different compartments so that they are easily accessible and, also, if the odd shampoo
22 inplace magazine
bottle happens to open in my luggage, it won’t go all over everything.” Her secret to getting away with packing so light is choosing clothes that are easy to travel in; pieces that aren’t going to be difficult to wear on the road. Natalie has to hit the ground running when she ventures on a Getaway trip, so avoids white linen which tends to not look so flash at the end of a 12-hour day. Natalie wisely keeps her most valuable items ■ Light, versatile clothes
are key.
Win!
5 Prizes to be won!
The simple Space Bag solution to packing more when you travel!
“I just pack light. I have learnt that you can always pick up things at the other end” with her the whole time in her carry-on bag, including an iPod, computer or iPad, a good book and a basic change of clothes so that she can freshen up at the other end. Like every jetsetter, Natalie has had her share of undesirable travel dramas. She’s never arrived at the airport and realised she forgotten her passport, but admits she’s missed numerous flights over the years. She’s also had to bear the brunt of luggage going missing. But, like a true travel pro, Natalie has never let any of these hiccups deter her. Instead, these experiences have taught her to be more patient – it’s all part of travelling! “I don’t dislike anything about travelling, nothing at all. I could never even choose my favourite destination because there are just
too many and I think it would be unfair to just pick one. Any travel experience is a good travel experience, so I really have never had a negative travel experience.” Extensive time in the air doesn’t faze Natalie either; it excites her. She leads quite a busy life, so long flights are pretty enjoyable and provide her with an opportunity to switch off and unwind. If international flights are on the agenda, however, Natalie says taking the appropriate steps to ensure you’re prepared is just as important as packing right. “Just do a little bit of research about where you’re going and show some respect for the country that you’re visiting. Be mindful of the different cultures, laws, and ways of life. I think that’s one of the most vital things.” ■ inplace
With the Space Bag travel range you can quickly reduce your luggage by half. Perfect for any carry-on luggage, backpacks and suitcases, everything comes out looking great! We’ve got five Space Bag Travel Packs to give away. Each pack contains 1 x Travel Roll Up (4 pack) and 1 x Travel Push Down Cube (2 pack). Cleverly, the travel range of Space Bags works with or without a vacuum – for your convenience when camping or staying at a hotel. To enter, simply visit the promotions page at: hsw.com.au Rules of entry can be found online. Competition closes September 30, 2011.
inplace magazine 23
Mother of moving house the Year
moving house
7
Smooth Move Turn moving mayhem into moving magic with these amazing house packing tips!
8
Labelling boxes saves moving headaches
M
ake the most of your move with these great ideas for a smooth declutter campaign, a great packing system and some fresh thinking for your new home to help you stay organised and clutter-free. Cleaning is integral to a happy move – both cleaning out and cleaning in – after all, you don’t want to be unpacking into grimy shelves. A new home is a great excuse to upgrade your cleaning kit with a fabulous Cleaning Caddy (STE1584 $22.95) full of great cleaning products. Try any of the following to cover the whole house, from cleaning the bathroom sink to removing goo: White Magic Kitchen Microfibre Cloth (JTY0160 $9.95), White Magic General Purpose Microfibre Cloth (JTY0184 $9.95), White Magic Dusting Microfibre Cloth (JTY0214 $9.95), White Magic Household Value Pack (JTY0252 $19.95), White Magic Original Eraser Block, (JTY16 $4.95) and the ‘can’t-livewithout’ Goo Off (KEN701 $6.95) – which does exactly as its name suggests!
How to move like a pro
1
Create an ‘on the day’ tub with essentials including bed linen, towels, toiletries and a change of clothes. Tub Trugs (CRS) are a great way to move these ‘must have now’ items and they’re hard to lose. A separate valuables box that you move yourself is the safest way to make sure your most treasured possessions stay safe. Only pack what you want to keep. Okay, that sounds a bit obvious, but do you really need that collection of jars that may come in handy one day, but hasn’t so far? Create systems as you pack. The garage is a great place to start – use some large Easi Store stackable plastic
2 3 4
9 10
tubs with wheels (PJ035 $18.95) and dedicate a box to camping, another to gardening, etc., and then clearly label. Now, your new home will have a simple, permanent storage system that will keep similar things together and make them easy to find. Label boxes clearly with the rooms where they will be needed in your new home. You can also add words that will help you access important items quickly: e.g. Sally’s teddy, toaster, etc. Moving is a great time to rationalise your wardrobe, not just in terms of what you should keep, but also what you should keep on hand. Packing out of season clothing like coats, jumpers and jackets in Space Bags will save you oodles of space, but also keep your beautiful clothes dust and mildew-free. Try Hanging Space Bags (TRA57006 from $21.95 ea).
5
6
■ Check out the range of White Magic products.
■ Cleaning Caddy STE1584 $22.95
24 inplace magazine
Packing adaptors, leads, cords and chargers with the item they are used for can save a lot of heartache at the other end. Take a twofold approach. The first step is to permanently label the cord of each item. The P-Touch 1090 Electronic Labeller (BRO1090, $59.95) allows you to print out a label that can wrap around ■ Command the cord and adhere back strips and hooks on itself. Secondly, pop the PQ17023 from charger or lead into a zip lock $5.25 bag and attach it straight onto the device it powers. When taking furniture apart keep any screws or wheels with the main part of the object. Zip lock bags are an easy way to keep everything together, labelled and taped in place. Save your back by packing light things in big boxes and heavy things in small boxes. Always lift from the knees. Once each room is packed and empty, have a look under any furniture and on top of every surface, including the tops of cupboards. Once you are certain the room is clear, close the door. If items are going into storage, make clear labels that are easily read from either the side or top. An inventory list for each box that corresponds to a master list is also extremely useful.
www.hsw.com.au
12
Keeping your new home perfect may not be possible, but a good start is keeping the walls free of holes. Command strips and hooks are the best damage-free option we have found. Perfect for hanging anything, from art to tea-cups and coats (PQ17023 from $5.25). Triple your storage space by compressing bulky items like beach towels with a Space Bag (TRA83446 $44.95 – 4pk, 3 Large, 1 Jumbo). If you are storing excess linen, try the Space Bag Cube (TRA86122 $29.95 – 2pk, 1 Large, 1 Extra Large). Think about your order of need, with the possessions you are least likely to require placed at the back and the short-term storage at the front. The Aamina Easy Access Storer with Handles (9.6L PLF0005 $19.95, 4.8L PLF004 $14.95) is one of those storage tools you never knew you needed until now. Stackable drawers make moving a cupboard’s contents as easy as transferring one drawer to another. And better yet, there’s no unpacking when you get there (PLF003 $29.95). ■ inplace
■ Space Bags TRA83446 $44.95 – 4pk, 3 Large, 1 Jumbo
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14
■ Space Bag Cubes TRA86122 $29.95 – 2pk,1 Large, 1 Extra Large
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Handles for easy access
11
■ Aamina Storers PLF009 from $14.95
Housewarming pack suggestion When someone special moves into a new home a great way to help them settle in is a housewarming pack. Howards has just the right goodies to make your friend feel stylish, coordinated and at home. A great way to start a new home is with well-coordinated bathroom accessories. The Milky Bathroom Set is perfect for clutter-free organisation and includes a Lotion Pump (EIC2701 $19.95), Toothbrush Holder (EIC2702 $14.95), Tumbler (EIC2703 $9.95), Soap Dish (EIC2704 $12.95) and Toilet Brush (EIC2715 $39.95). Recycling is important to all of us and a great timesaving way to help someone set up their kitchen is with a 2 Compartment Pedal Bin (large 2x30L) (PJF57404 $189.00). Another great idea is a fabulous Sink or Dish Drainer. It’s the thing they are most likely to leave behind and something no sink should be without! (EIC8007 $22.95).
Bags ■ Hanging Space 1.95 ea TRA57006 from $2
Stackable plastic tubs are a great option for moving
■ Stackable Drawers PLF003 $29.95
inplace magazine 25
feedback
I Can’t Live Without… W
e recently asked our readers about their favourite Howards Storage World product. We were so impressed we thought we would share their stories of how Howards has helped them...
Melissa Hardham, Bushland Beach, QLD For this mother of two, the elfa® system has
6 inplace magazine
www.hsw.com.au
simply organised
revolutionised the way her family lives: “We love the elfa® system and we are going to do our whole house room by room. We started with the boys’ room, then did the garage. Once we had the bars in we had it up in a couple of hours. I love the fact that you can move things to suit your needs, adding shelving or baskets. We reconfigure from time to time as our children get taller. We haven’t had to purchase anything extra, we just reconfigure as we need to.” Donna Morris, Wallalong, NSW Getting kids to eat healthy sandwiches is easy with shaped sandwich cutters, says Donna: “It’s one of the the best things ever invented! It doesn’t matter what you put in the sandwich – as long as you cut it, they will eat it. Kids aren’t going to eat the crusts anyway and this
only cuts off a minute part; they get more of the sandwich. Funnily though, I have found Indiana won’t eat the dinosaur and Jackson won’t eat the hearts. I mixed it up one day and they did tell me!” Raquel Osborne-Grace, Coombabah, QLD Keeping everything under control is a big priority for Raquel, who has recently moved from a small house with loads of storage to a large house with “a minuscule linen cupboard”. Raquel turned to Howards for a storage solution: “The thing I love about Howards is that you find solutions to problems you didn’t even know you had. I bought a Compactor Storage Box. I really like that it’s a rigid box you can stack – it sits on shelves, which make them easy to manipulate and the boxes look really neat and tidy.”
inplace magazine 14
home office ■ Umbra Large Magnetic Noticeboard ANA15410 $89.95
There’s No Place Like Home... Getting your home office in order can be easy and surprisingly fast when you create a system with workflow.
G
etting an office organised is all about workflow, so start by determining what sort of system you need. The idea is to put everything within easy reach so that it's easy to find when needed. An all-in-one storage and desk system can be custom built to suit your needs. One great solution is easy-build, with plenty of shelves that you can customise for your own space. For a smart look, Faux Leather File Trays (EIC308 $17.95) will have your daily papers organised in a jiffy. Try having separate boxes to suit your requirements – maybe bills, school notices and receipts. Faux leather Desktop Organiser (EIC3220 $29.95), Letter Holder (EIC321 $19.95), Multi Media Stackers (EIC313 $29.95) and CD boxes (EIC2071 $14.95) complete the look. Memo Pegs (EIC2427 from $5.95) are a great way to keep important information right where you can see it – but set aside one morning a week to go through all your mail and file or action accordingly. When it comes to making the most of your space, think 'up'. An extra shelf for filing boxes may be all you need to get your office running smoothly. A simple White Lacquered Floating Shelf (AKT58025 $49.95) will leave your lower space free for work while providing extra space. For total organisation, control your paper with an easy-build shelving unit. It’s a brilliant way to keep filing in one place. Add wheels so it can be moved from room to room as you need it. Keeping your space neat and tidy doesn’t mean a lack of personality – try a Sverker Salmon A3 Letterbox (PBB93413 $27.95) for an eye-catching way to keep your paperwork on hand, but under control. Choose a look to suit your style. For an organic look try an upright Bamboo file
28 inplace magazine
10 top tips for tidy taxes So, it’s been a busy year and you now have an enormous pile of tax receipts. Let’s get them in order and ready for tax time with these 10 great tips! Filing receipts for tax time is always daunting, but if you break the task down into bite-sized portions it’s simple. Think of it as paper triage, where everything is sorted in terms of priority, then actioned accordingly. Better yet, make this the year that you create a system that you can use all year round.
Quick tip Use bulletin boards to hold reminders, calendars, and a 'To Do' list. Put the board where you can see it easily.
1. 1 Fabric made from recycled PET plastic bottles
Quick tip A themed bathroom creates a sense of luxury, creating an upmarket resort style.
2. 2
3. 3 4 4.
To get your existing tax receipts in order, the first step is to separate your receipts into tax years. Next, and depending on your profession, place like-receipts together, such as: research (newsagents, book stores, library fees, internet fees, etc.), transport (taxis, fuel, air fares, etc.) phone bills, work-related education and stationery. A Clear Plastic File Box, with lid (PJ4998 $24.95) is a good archive solution for keeping your receipts in order and stored for seven years. Label each section clearly to keep your system up and running and ready for tax day. If you are setting up a home office, your Howards Storage World receipt might be tax-deductible, so
■ File organiser with lid MMA032 $29.95
remember to keep the receipt and check with your accountant! 5. Once you have a system in place, create 5 a workflow, either by filing receipts immediately or by creating an on-desk ‘receipts to be filed’ zone that gets actioned each week. 6. Enter your receipts into a spreadsheet 6 or workbook once a week. Be diligent! 7. Keep up-to-date with what you can 7 deduct. The ATO has a professionspecific list covering many occupations at www.ato.gov.au/occupations. 8. Keep a photocopy of your credit card 8 bill and bank statement with your receipts. Check your receipts off as they come in and, if you see a charge but can’t find the receipt, contact the seller to have it reissued. 9 9. Print and file internet receipts as they arrive in your inbox. 10. You need to keep your tax claim 10 information and receipts for seven years. By keeping each year in a separate file box you can store easily, find simply and always stay one step ahead of the tax panic.
Keep your paperwork stored neatly in eye-catching boxes
■ easy-build Paper Control Custom Unit
■ Memo Pegs from $5.95
■ Trolleys EIC1071
holder (PHA1103 $19.95). Complement this with a Bamboo Desk Organiser with Drawer (PHA1108 $29.95) and a 5 Drawer Bamboo Trolley With Wheels (EIC14001 $159.00). Finally, if space is at a premium, try storing all your stationery needs in a 48 Pocket Small Zippered Jewellery Organiser (LTW5220 $29.95) that can simply hang from the side of your desk or back of the door. It may well take an afternoon to arrange your new-look home office, but it will feel like time well spent the next time you're able to grab an important document with ease! ■ inplace
■ CD stacker EIC2071 $14.95ea Multi Media Stackers EIC313 $29.95ea
www.hsw.com.au
■ Desktop Organiser EIC3220 $29.95, Letter Holder EIC321 $19.95, Faux Leather File Trays EIC308 $17.95
from $109
■ Clear Plastic File Box, with lid PJ4998 $24.95
inplace magazine 29
product focus Howards Storage World stores
Chaos Control
For the full store list, visit: hsw.com.au New South Wales Albury 587 Dean Street (02) 6021 3644
Kids love playing, and now they’ll love tidying too with these funky storage boxes.
Artamon Home HQ North Shore (02) 9437 1955 Bathurst Bathurst City Centre (02) 6331 4044
O
n any given day, in thousands of homes right across the nation, Lego blocks will sprawl from one end of the room to the next, toys will be strewn without care and art supplies will be found bundled into cubby houses. It’s not a perfect world, but it is a world where organised parents can add a touch of chaos control and designer flair thanks to these funky Italian B-Box and C-Box storage units. Let’s face it: white plastic storage boxes – while perfect for garages, kitchens, spare rooms, attics, gardens and just about everywhere else – are not going to cut it in a kid’s heady world of bright colours. Toys need a storage solution that is almost a toy in itself and getting this right will teach your kids to ‘play’ their toys away and start them on the road to good organisation skills. The Monster patterns are bright, vibrant and playfully young enough for kids to love: 2L Monster Pattern STE8406 $6.95, 6L Monster Pattern STE8407 $9.95, 11L Monster Pattern STE8408 $14.95, 18L Monster Pattern STE8409 $19.95, 27L Monster Pattern STE8416 $27.95, 48L Monster Pattern STE8418 $36.95. Teenage rooms are just as tricky. It’s a great age to add a little sophisticated flair while keeping things fun. These beautiful Italian boxes are perfect for stunning, colourful storage that’s totally practical and looks amazing. Keep all boxes in the same colour for a bold statement, or mix it up for a quirky twist. Naturally, these boxes are all food-safe plastic and totally kid-friendly. What teenagers love about the B-Box/C-Box range is the ease of storing their stuff in boxes. They can simply throw it in and pop on the lid, leaving the floor clear and their room in order in minutes – giving them more time to hang out doing, umm, whatever! ■ inplace
Quick tip Get your kids involved by asking them what storage systems they want in place!
Bright colours add a designer edge to a kid’s room
Calling all Inspirations members! C-Box Competition
For your chance to win one of 10 sets of six C-Boxes tell us in 25 words or less why your kids need these boxes... To enter, and for full terms and conditions, head over to howardsinspirations.com.au. Entries for this competition close 15 August 2011.
Upper Mt. Gravatt Westfield Garden City (07) 3422 2003
Northern Territory
Rutherford Hunter Supa Centre (02) 4932 4655
South Australia
Western Australia
Gepps Cross Gepps Cross Centre Home HQ (08) 8162 9160
Bunbury 175-181 Blair Street (08) 9792 4880
Mile End Homemaker Centre 122 Railway Terrace (08) 8152 0400
Cannington Shop 1, 38 William Street (08) 9356 3511
Shellharbour Stockland, Shellharbour Square (02) 4297 0811
Belrose Homemakers Supa Centa (02) 9986 2480
Tuggerah Westfield Tuggerah (02) 4353 9066
Bondi Junction Westfield Bondi Junction (02) 9387 5733
Queensland
Brookvale Warringah Mall (02) 9907 2200
Aspley Homemaker City Cnr Gympie Road & Zillmere Road (07) 3862 7633
Burwood Westfield Burwood (02) 9744 8077
Cairns 327 Mulgrave Road (07) 4054 4966
Campbelltown Macarthur Square (02) 4627 5222
Fortitude Valley Homemaker City North 650 Wickham Street (07) 3216 0222
Castle Hill Castle Hill Supa Centa – South Building (02) 9634 4200
10 prizes to be won!
Rouse Hill Rouse Hill Town Centre (02) 8883 2577
Helensvale Homeworld Helensvale (07) 5502 6677
Coffs Harbour Park Beach Plaza (02) 6652 4848
Jindalee Homemaker City (07) 3279 2611
Erina Erina Fair (02) 4367 0433
Logan Logan Hyperdome Shopping Centre (07) 3209 8846
Hornsby Westfield Hornsby (02) 9987 2700 Kotara Homemaker Centre 150 Park Ave (02) 4952 9333
Hobart 140 Liverpool Street (03) 6234 8422 Victoria Chadstone Chadstone Shopping Centre (03) 9568 6200 Cheltenham Westfield Southland (03) 9583 9155 Essendon Homemaker Hub (03) 9374 2903 Maribyrnong Highpoint Shopping Centre (03) 9318 1855
Maroochydore 50 Plaza Parade (07) 5479 3833
Nunawading Home HQ, 372 Whitehorse Road (03) 9894 8411
North Ryde Macquarie Centre (02) 9888 6655
Rockhampton Redhill Homemaker Centre, Cnr Richardson Road & Yamba Road (07) 4928 6511
Rhodes Rhodes Shopping Centre (02) 9736 3111
Tasmania
Mornington Peninsula Lifestyle Centre (03) 5973 5399
Robina Robina Town Centre (07) 5575 7133
Port Macquarie Port Home Zone (02) 6584 3500
Norwood Opening soon!
Mackay Kay Court Retail Centre (07) 4942 0228
Moore Park Homemaker Supa Centa (02) 9697 2777
Northbridge Northbridge Plaza (02) 9958 4699
Mt Barker Adelaide Hills Homemaker Centre (08) 8391 4755
Springwood The Logan Mega Centre (07) 3209 2777
Richmond Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre (03) 9428 4060 South Wharf Homemaker Hub (03) 9682 0911 Shepparton Riverside Plaza Shopping Centre (03) 58235877
Townsville Domain Central (07) 4779 9411
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Darwin Opening July!
Karrinyup Karrinyup Shopping Centre (08) 9244 4333 Mandurah Shop 2, 65 Reserve Drive (08) 9583 4900 Myaree Primewest Melville, Shop 8, 276 Leach Highway, Melville (08) 9317 8700 Rockingham 2 Commodore Drive (08) 9528 5044 Southern River Cnr Ranford Rd & Boardwalk Bvd (08) 9394 0900 Subiaco 427 Hay Street (08) 9381 4599 Success Cockburn Gateway Shopping City, 816 Beeliar Dr (08) 9499 1018 Group Office No. 4 Forest Central Business Park 49 Frenchs Forest Road Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Tel (02) 9452 8888 Fax (02) 9452 8899 mail@hsw.com.au e-shop hsw.com.au eshop@hsw.com.au (02) 9972 7073 International Stores Now open in: New Zealand, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Philippines, India, Norway and the U.K. Visit: howardsstorageworld.com
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Can’t decide? Give a Gift Card Gift Cards are available for any amount over $20. Redemption is only available through Australian stores.
It’s fine to change your mind We’ll gladly exchange or refund on presentation of a docket where goods are in original packaging (saleable condition). An exchange is offered where a docket is not presented.
Shop Online Shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the comfort of your home. Need some help to get organised? Make us your organisation station: visit hsw.com.au
Free Measure and Quote Your local store is happy to assist with your elfa®, easy-build wardrobe and wine rack planning with an obligationfree measure and quote. We can even arrange delivery and installation.
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All care is taken to ensure that product information and pricing in this magazine is accurate at the time of print (July 2011). However, some modifications to product specifications may occur. It may be necessary to adjust prices up or down and we reserve the right to do so. All prices are recommended retail prices only. Due to the popularity of the lines shown, some products may become out of stock or in some instances be discontinued. Listed prices include GST and do not include accessories where shown. Some products may require self-assembly. Some items may not be displayed in all stores, but may be ordered. Valid for Australian stores only. Howards Storage World® Registered trademarks of Howards Storage World Pty. Ltd. ©
30 inplace magazine
inplace magazine 31