When people hear 8 star energy rated home, they often assume you would not need air conditioning at all. And in an ideal world with perfect weather, that might be true. But here’s the reality. We live in Wagga where the climate is not exactly gentle. Summers can be absolutely stinking hot, winters can be …
I have had a few people message me lately saying how lucky I am with my build team, and honestly, they are spot on. I am lucky, but it has also been years of learning, watching, asking questions, and knowing what to look for. Not all builders are created equal. I have been around this …
There is nothing worse than standing back after all your hard work and realising your beautiful pendant lights are not lined up properly. Crooked pendants or lighting that is off-centre can completely throw off the whole space, especially when you have feature ceilings or tricky layouts. We just did ours and I wanted to share …
The Weathertex cladding is going up and it’s starting to look so good. This is the Weathergroove 150 Natural, and it’ll be stained black soon for a bold, beautiful finish. Made from 97% hardwood timber and zero silica, it’s a sustainable Aussie-made product that’s tough, breathable, and low maintenance. I love that it adds texture …
If you’re about to start building your dream home, one of the biggest decisions you'll face is whether to go with a custom build or a volume builder. It can feel a bit like choosing between a made-to-measure outfit and something fabulous off the rack. Both can look amazing, but the fit, the detail, and …
When most people think about building or renovating, they jump straight to the fun stuff. Tiles, tapware, paint colours, and furniture. I get it. That’s the stuff you see every day. But today, I want to talk about something you feel every day: insulation. We’ve just installed SoundScreen insulation in the internal bedroom and bathroom …
As part of building our 8-star energy-rated home in Wagga Wagga, one of the key decisions I made early on was to install double glazed windows. They’ve just gone in, and although we’re not living in the house yet, I can already see what a difference they’ll make. The comfort, the savings, the quality – …
There is something pretty special about seeing your new home take shape. Slab by slab. Frame by frame. And while there are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes, one of the biggest highlights so far has been the incredible team effort between Dahlsens and our builder JCC New Homes. As the homeowner, you …
Thinking of building an energy-efficient home in Australia?We’re in the process of building our 8-star energy-rated home and have already made some important choices that will help with comfort, sustainability, and lower energy bills. These steps focus on how the home performs year-round, not just quick fixes. Here are 3 energy-efficient building strategies we’ve implemented …
You know how I said no downlights in the new house? That bold little sentence has taken on a life of its own. Saying no to downlights means saying no to the easy route. No quick, click-in-and-go fittings. No default ceiling grid. What it does mean is a whole lot of thought going into every …
Most people think a high-performing home starts with solar panels or double glazing, but it actually begins much earlier than that. Before the paint goes on, before the floors are laid, and even before the cladding, there is something critical happening behind the scenes. That’s why I’m using Pro Clima Wrap in my new 8 …
I know, I know… a black and white roof combo sounds a little crazy when you first say it out loud. Trust me, I had the same moment of doubt - quickly followed by a thank goodness for Pinterest and 3D renders to help me visualise it all! But now that the roof is on… …
