kebony-wood

Isn’t it good? Judges love Norwegian wood!

kebony-woodAn eco-friendly, high-performing wood used in projects from seafront buildings to cutlery is causing a stir in the design world! Norwegian sustainable wood provider Kebony has scooped the product innovation prize at the Architectural Products awards, which honour innovation in buildings-related products.

Kebony, which has been used in projects as diverse as the Mary Rose museum, HunterÔÇÖs Point in New York, an eco-home in Norfolk and even a set of minimalist cutlery, was recognised for its extraordinary innovation in the development of timber-clad technology. Suitable for both internal and external use, Kebony products ÔÇô such as decking, flooring, cladding, roofing, windows, indoor and outdoor furniture ÔÇô are high-performance without compromising on style. The latest accolade follows two wins at the Best Business Awards and a host of other nominations for global prizes.

kebony-cutleryKebony is made by using furfuryl alcohol, a by-product of farming of sugar cane, to transform sustainable soft woods such as pine into durable woods. The material has been shown to have a substantially lower carbon footprint than hardwood equivalents and can be used in commercial, residential, public and marine projects. The Architectural Products award is another indication that the company is going from strength to strength and is increasingly proving the choice of leading architects and developers who want to use wood in projects without causing environmental degradation.

KebonyÔÇÖs international sales director Adrian Pye said: ÔÇ£We have observed an increasing demand for an environmentally friendly high-performance wood with the attributes of the best tropical hardwoods. Innovation is at the very core of KebonyÔÇÖs functionality and what sets it apart from other treated timber products.ÔÇØ

kebony-kenyaArchitectural Products Magazine editorial director Jim Crockett said: ÔÇ£Building on the success of last yearÔÇÖs program, our fourth edition of the awards proves commercial building manufacturers are committed to, and are working arduously toward, delivering more sustainable products, as well as products that deliver better performance, life and affordability.ÔÇØ┬á

Under the Architectural Products awards program, a group of 50 independent industry professionals impartially review products and award those which pose a creative and rational solution to the everyday problems faced by workers in the industry.

Photos courtesy of thecommunicationgroup.co.uk

home-building

It’s home and away for would-be buyers!

home-building

A lack of affordable housing in the UK is leading Brits to think outside the box when it comes to owning their own place ÔÇô including considering emigration, buying a barge and even buying with strangers!

With the housing market seeming out of reach for an increasing number of people, new research shows the drastic measures Brits are prepared to take to get their foot on the property ladder. Options considered now include buying with work colleagues, buying a static caravan and co-owning with parents, rather than facing years of renting with no return at the end.

Latest official figures show that UK population growth has exceeded the number of new dwellings completed by more than double*. From mid-2012 to mid-2013 the population grew by 400,624, yet just 134,460 dwellings were completed in the same period. Research** conducted by comparison website Gocompare.com in response to these stats shows the lengths some of the UKÔÇÖs five million aspiring home owners will go to in order to get their name on a mortgage:

  • Almost one in three – 30% – would apply to the governmentÔÇÖs Help to Buy scheme, which provides equity loans to first-time buyers and movers buying new-builds in England
  • One in five – 20% – would consider emigrating
  • 15% would buy with friends
  • 14% would buy a microhome, a small house usually pre-manufactured and ready for self-assembly
  • Almost as many ÔÇô 13.5% – ┬áwould buy a static caravan
  • Buying with parents as joint applicants is an option for 12%
  • Nearly one in 10 would buy a canal boat or barge
  • One in 20 would buy with colleagues from work whilst three per cent would risk buying with a stranger!

self-buildAmongst would-be expats, English-speaking countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand come top of the destination list. Men are more likely than women to think about a move overseas and, perhaps unsurprisingly, young adults aged between 18 and 24 are more likely to consider emigration than any other age group.

Gocompare.comÔÇÖs mortgages expert Matt Sanders said: ÔÇ£A lack of affordable housing has resulted in a property market that is closed off to an increasing number of would-be homeowners. As such, itÔÇÖs hardly surprising that many people feel like they may have to take some rather drastic steps to own a home.

ÔÇ£If youÔÇÖre actively looking to buy a home, itÔÇÖs well worth seeking advice from a qualified, impartial mortgage broker, who can give you an idea of what you can afford and the options available to you.ÔÇØ

* Sources: www.gov.uk / www.ons.gov.uk
** Gocompare.comÔÇÖs research was conducted online by OnePoll in August 2014 with 2,000 adults who are looking/would consider buying a home
painted-table

How to transform a table

Gone are the days in which weÔÇÖd throw perfectly good furniture into a skip and replace it with a brand new buy. With purse strings getting tighter and crafty TV shows making it fashionable again to make do and mend, these days itÔÇÖs all about ÔÇÿupcyclingÔÇÖ. And it doesnÔÇÖt get much easier than transforming the good old kitchen table into a centrepiece to be proud of! HereÔÇÖs how:

old-table1. If you have space in a garage or workshop, move your table and chairs from the kitchen into the workspace. If not, place them on top of dust sheets or newspaper.

2. Strip the table back to bare wood using a biodegradable paint remover, which is less toxic than older paint strippers and does not smell as strong.

3. Sand the wood thoroughly and wipe down with a clean cloth.

coat-paint4. Apply a coat of paint. ItÔÇÖs likely youÔÇÖll need to re-sand the wood after the first coat before applying a second coat.

5. Wax with a cloth and remove any residue with a second, clean cloth.

6. If youÔÇÖre also repainting the chairs, itÔÇÖs wise to remove drop-in seats before you get started. You might need to unscrew them first and perhaps gently tap out tightly fitted seats with a hammer from below.

painted-chair7. Treat loose joints and splits with wood glue. Check thoroughly for small, neat holes, which are a tell-tale sign of woodworm, and treat if necessary with woodworm solution or spray.

8. Sand, apply a coat of paint and repeat if necessary, as above.

9. Re-fit the drop-in seats. For a completely new look you can re-cover the foam first with a fabric of your choice or, if they are particularly old and worn, you can buy new foam and cut to the right size using the old seats as a template.

painted-table10. Hey presto, you have a lovely ÔÇÿnewÔÇÖ dining set!

 Did you know?

You can paint the wood in a number of different ways, to suit the type of furniture and the style of the room it sits in:

Distressed wood: Get the shabby chic look by applying two coats of paint, waxing and sanding back the wood gently.

Wood wash: Dilute the paint with water then apply as normal for a softer, translucent finish that highlights the wood grain. This works particularly well when whitewashing or lime-washing furniture or floorboards.

Crackle-glazed finish: Dry the paint with a hairdryer and wax with a clear then a dark wax, which will run into the cracks.