Home Elevators
September 22, 2017 by NQ Survey Home Design, Interiors

The 4 Primary Categories of Home Elevators

Residential properties whether apartment complexes or individual homes that consist of more than a single floor, require elevator machines to transport the residents and goods between the various levels. This is not a mere luxury element any more. With the evolution of residential apartments into complexes with multiple stages and even home offices, residential elevators have become a necessity.

Naturally, engineering and design joined forces and after a number of trials and errors, and the elimination of several models of residential lifts, four primary kinds of elevator designs emerged as the winners. These are the most commonly used home elevators, and each of them have their own unique features, as we will learn further.

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Security Screens
February 27, 2017 by NQ Survey Home Security

Security Screens for Your Home

The 4 Best Kinds of Security Screens for Your Home’s Windows

Often times, people spend a lot of money and time in making sure that the doors of their homes are properly secured. Sadly, they forget to ensure that their windows are well-guarded as well. This results in unexpected break-ins and loss of lives and property. In order to counteract and nullify this threat, security screens for doors and windows were invented. Today, there are several kinds of security screens available in the home furnishing market. While you obviously need to consider the aesthetic aspects of the product you decide to buy, it is of primary importance to make sure that they screen satisfies its main purpose – security.

The best kinds of screens available are –

  1. Stainless Steel Mesh Screens – Stainless steel screens that are finely woven are incredibly strong, and they are flexible as well. This makes it impossible to break through it or even to kick in. There are versions of the stainless steel mesh screens that have been cyclone approved and fire approved, making them an invaluable asset to the security of your home. The best part about these mesh screens is that you can enjoy high levels of protection without having to shut your windows off, as the mesh allows for natural air circulation. 
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Kitchen Cabinets
April 7, 2016 by NQ Survey Interiors, Renovations

Preliminaries Before Shopping for Kitchen Cabinets

There are a few important matters you should get squared away before you begin remodelling or buying new cabinets for your kitchen or bathroom. If there’s one thing that custom cabinet makers dislike, it’s shoppers who are unprepared, and as a result, are always changing the specifications of a job right up to the last minute. As well as creating headaches for the cabinet maker, it adds costs to the project.

If you want to avoid these frustrations and cost blow outs, do some planning before you meet a cabinet maker.

Follow a few tips to help you:

  • Set a Budget for the Project

Regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the job, whether it will be a straight forward door replacement or a complete kitchen refurbish, set a realistic budget. The cabinets are usually part of the rebuild or remodelling. There should be an itemised breakdown of the project costs, including the cabinets.

A budget is a form of discipline for you and the contractor(s) involved. Common sense tells you that setting a dollar figure can mean the difference between a great job at a good price, or a cost blowout that might kill the project completely – unfinished.

Cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom job make up about 40-50% of the total cost.

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February 16, 2012 by NQ Survey Renovations

Deluxe Chicken Coop

The ModernCoop chicken house uses recycled cedar, metal or fiberglass roves to create an ultra cool retro-looking 50’s trailer design.

Designed to provide a deluxe home for your backyard flock,  the innovative and sustainable design comes from Portland-based architecture firm Wright Design Office.The coops have a water supply port and a pest-protected feeding section, roosting box, egg access hatch and perch level viewing windows. A ladder is used to access the interior, and being raised off the ground helps provide extra vermin and predator protection.

The chicken coop sits in a chicken run which is approximately 24″ wide x 48″ long x 42″ high (60cms x 120cms x 107cms) including the ladder. Additional chicken coops can be added lengthwise or side-by-side to increase the chicken run area. The chicken house can be permanent or made as a mobile coop to allow the hens to do their aerating and fertilizing of the soil.

A fully constructed ModernCoop costs around US$790 (€607), with the run costing US$100 (€77) or the plans can be purchased for US$125 (€96).

Visit: ModernCoops & Wright Design Office

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