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Trinidad's #1 Home magazine, proudly brought to you by the Special Publications Unit of Guardian Media Ltd.
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The rainy season is upon us and withmorning temperatures dropping lowerevery year, it becomes a task to take ashower. The water is as frigid as ice, soyou do your warm up dance and jump in. Ifonly there was some alternative to thisroutine…
Bradford White has been providing warm showersfor decades and continues to provide innovation andquality with its water heaters.
Bradford White is one of the most technologicallyadvanced manufacturers of water heating, spaceheating, combination heating and water storageproducts. The company has focused on theengineering and development of an increasing numberof energy efficient and eco-friendly water heatingproducts, many of which are Energy Star rated.
Now some may think that the benefits of having awater heater is limited to the nice relaxing baths youmay have but the reality is that hot water is requiredfor a lot more than that. Doing laundry with hot watereliminates bacteria as well as allowing your detergentto work more effectively to remove stains and odors.Germs and bacteria are major concerns especially ifyou have a baby in the house. Another benefit ofhaving hot water is that it aids in the daunting task ofdoing the dishes. Hot water along with somedishwashing liquid helps to lift away and clean dirtfrom dishes.
This reduces the amount of time you'll have tospend scrubbing and eliminates the need for extracleaning products.
Bradford White offers solutions to any waterheating need you may encounter, from residential tocommercial applications.
The company has been providing heating systemssince 1881, making it one of the oldest and mosttrusted water heating companies in the US.
Bradford White also boasts proudly of its abilityto provide their customers with a six year warrantyon the inner tank as well as two years on theelement and thermostat. This further enhances thecorporate vision of providing unmatched customerservice and satisfaction.
Count on Bradford White forEverything Hot Water
In our next issue we will discuss how to choose theright size of water heater for your home, installationand the importance of your warranty.
HEAD OFFICEJRJ Warehousing Compound,Bhagoutie Trace, San Juan,Trinidad, W.I.
(868) 675-7628
(868) 675-2641
BRANCH OFFICE#6 Greenland Drive,Point Lisas Industrial Estate,Couva, Trinidad, W.I.
(868) 636-4369/4373
(868) 636-7672
[email protected] or (868) 675-7628 Ext. 1314
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Bright Ideas by HADCO June/July, 20132
www.facebook.com/HADCOGROUP
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Design Showcase June/July, 2013 3
Electrical receptacles, sometimes called outlets or wallplugs, are the connecting element between your home’selectrical system and lamps, appliances, home technologyand other electrical devices.
What is a GFCI?
A GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, is anautomatic device that offers personal protection againstelectrical shock. They are installed in areas where knownelectrical shock hazards exist such as outlets in swim-ming pools, kitchens, basements, bathrooms and garages.Wherever there is the potential for contact between aperson and an electrical appliance in or near moisture, aBTicino GFCI should be protecting the circuit... and you!
BTicino also manufactures tamper proof HospitalGrade receptacles which meet all the requirements ofgeneral use receptacles. They also meet additionalHospital Grade requirements which include grounding
reliability, assembly integrity, terminal strength, impactresistance and durability. The next time you see aVentilator, Dialysis Machine or X-Ray equipment restassured that chances are they are plugged into, a BTicinoHospital Grade GFCI.
Computers and other electronic equipment such ascash registers and computerized equipment in labs canbe sensitive to electrical interference. Installations suchas these emphasize the need for Isolated Ground GFCIReceptacles, which can be easily identified by the brightorange hue and green triangle.
Countless house fires are caused by poor wiringtechniques, substandard materials, faulty extension cordsor defective electrical appliances. It is very important tohave qualified electricians perform installations andrepairs at your home rather than attempt to fix theseyourself. You can rely on BTicino for superior qualityproducts and their unmatched 20 year warranty on allWiring Devices.
www.facebook.com/HadcoGroup
HEAD OFFICEJRJ Warehousing Compound,Bhagoutie Trace, San Juan,Trinidad, W.I.
(868) 675-7628
(868) 675-2641
BRANCH OFFICE#6 Greenland Drive,Point Lisas Industrial Estate,Couva, Trinidad, W.I.
(868) 636-4369/4373
(868) 636-7672
[email protected] or (868) 675-7628 Ext. 1314
BTicino offers a wide variety of electrical receptacles, but by far the mostcommon ones in Trinidad and Tobago homes are conventional duplex receptacles.
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Before you BeginJune/July, 20134
Important Questions to AskBefore Hiring a Contractor
• How much time does the con-tractor propose to spend onyour project each week?
• How many other jobs is he orshe completing in tandem toyours?
• Have you done similar work?• Do you have a process for
dealing with change orders?• Does the contractor plan on
doing any of the actual labour,or is he or she mainly per-forming in a supervisory role?
• How often will the contractorbe on-site, and who'll be su-pervising during times whenhe or she isn't there?
Vetting a contractor throughcustomers works both ways —word-of-mouth recommenda-tions have long been one of themost reliable means of findingcompetent contractors. Seekreferences from neighbours,friends, architects, colleaguesand real-estate agents. We willalso be happy to provide youwith a list of references.
At Captivative Solutions, we are fo-cused on providing general contract-ing services with the highest levels ofcustomer satisfaction – we will doeverything we can to meet your ex-pectations.
We provide construction management, civil engi-neering, fabrication & welding and general contract-ing services (electrical, plumbing and painting). Ourprimary mission is to provide quality services toour customers with integrity and honesty at an af-fordable price.
We strive to communicate with each customerclearly and concisely to ensure that there are nomisunderstandings or cause for errors or distrust.Honesty is the cornerstone of our company.
Here at Captivative Solutions we are a cut abovethe rest. We work toward satisfying our customers’contractual needs. Our team is well equipped withqualified professionals to provide the best service.We have experience from private and public institu-tions.
Visit us online athttp://captivativesolutions.webs.com/contact-us ifyou have any comments or questions, please feelfree to contact us. We hope to see you again! Checkback later for new updates to our website. There’smuch more to come!
https://www.facebook.com/CaptivativeSolutions
Captivative SolutionsPhone: 1-868-353-2227Email: [email protected]
Hours of OperationMon-Fri: 8-4pmSat: 10-4pmSun: Closed
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine June/July, 2013 5
PRODUCERTRACEY [email protected]
HEAD OF DESIGNDENISE BAPTISTE
ASSOCIATE EDITORS SPULISA JESSAMY, HALCIAN PIERRE
FEATURE CONTRIBUTORSRANDALL WADDELL, BAVINA SOOKDEO, DARREL DOOKOO,ANN MOORE-SPENCER, TENNILLE ALLEYNE, DWAYNE IFILL
DESIGN & LAYOUTSEAN SIMONRAQUEL VASQUEZ LA ROCHE, PSYCHE MITCHELL
SALES/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTSPECIAL PUBLICATIONS [email protected]
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTMANAGER (SPU)SONJA [email protected] EXT: 2928
Special Publications Unit [SPU]
BRIGHT IDEAS2 The Perfect Choice3 Designed for Functionality
BEFORE YOU BEGIN4 Captivative Solutions
DESIGN SHOWCASE4 Randall Waddell
What has HGTV done to us?
DESIGN & DÉCOR7 Samora House -
A World of Styles
IN THE KITCHEN8 Shaker Maker9 Life is a Picnic
FABRICS & FURNISHINGS10 Design with Ann Moore-Spencer
Colour Vocal II
SURFACES11 Colour Solutions with Dwayne Ifill
Ceilings the Forgotten Wall
TRADE SECRETS17 A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever
BACKYARD BASICS18 Darrel Dookoo -
Landscaping for your family19 The Plant People Interiorscaping20 How to Choose a Pool Contractor
Dwayne Ifill and other esteemedcontributors, we’ve created theonly local magazine solely dedi-cated to home improvement, ren-ovation and interior design.
We’ve built @Home with love,and we appreciate the love andsupport we get from our adver-tisers, contributors and readersevery month. What’s amazingabout this opportunity is that to-gether we’ve been able to build anetwork that supports busi-nesses and homeowners alike.Homeowners can get credible in-formation on home solutionsfrom furniture to specialised tools
right here in Trinidad and Tobago. We trust that in this month’s
issue and our upcoming big issuewhere you find all you need tohave that home fabulous andfunctional in no time.
Together, we’re taking homeimprovement from being some-thing that is frustrating to some-thing fun and productive, and wepromise to continue creating andimproving this brand to betterserve you.
If you are interested in show-casing your interior design orhome improvement ideas or wishfor us to cover a particular topic,
@Home was born in 2009, out of our ideas toimprove our magazine frameworks. It started asspecial pages called essential homes, but our mag-azine quickly took on a life of its own, and we ex-panded this publication to provide advertisers withunique marketing opportunities to showcase theirbrands and services while connecting homeownersto practical home solutions for modern living.
Together with design professionals like RandallWaddell, Darrel Dookoo, Ann Moore Spencer and
write to [email protected] send us a message on face-book.
Cheers, Lisa Jessamy
Associate EditorSpecial Publications Unit
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Design ShowcaseJune/July, 20136
It is possible that in nearlyevery residential client meetingI have there is a reference toHGTV. I hear “I love HGTVmakeovers – can we do that?”or “I want my home to look likethose on HGTV” or “I’ve seenthem do “this” and I’d like to in-corporate “that” from HGTV.HGTV, HGTV, HGTV!!!
The recent popularity of televisionmakeover programmes, where enthusiasticparticipants transform rooms in a matterof hours, have only served to promote theidea of interior design as a form of con-sumption, as immediately gratifying asshopping. Therein lies the problem – in-stant gratification. We often forget thatdesign is a complicated business. It is notcompleted in an hour. The planning, budg-eting, sourcing and implementation stagesconsume very many hours and a lot ofbrain power, many of which are spent onchoosing the materials that are used in aspace.
Materials engage all the senses. You canpaint your walls a different colour, but youwill not alter the way they physically feel orsmell as if you used wood or other ele-ments instead of paint for example.Change a floor covering and a whole range
of ambient factors comes into play. Add amulti-layered lighting plan and that cancompletely change the mood of the space.These decisions are a few of the manyhundreds of details that the designer takesinto account when designing and planningfor a space but are rarely the focus in detailon the makeover programmes – they sim-ply do not have the air time to demon-strate the volume of factors required forthe finished space.
So it is not that I have a problem withHGTV and the effect these makeover pro-grammes have on us – definitely not, as Itoo am possibly the biggest fan! Theseshows serve to show the homeowner theimportance of using a professional and theeffect that choice has on a space. I havebeen lucky enough to have had a few ofmy local projects featured by HGTV.comand also had the privilege of meeting withCandice Olson of HGTV fame to discussher line of upholstered furniture, lighting,paint, fabric, rugs, broad case goods, wall-paper, etc. etc! She herself is like a fullscale industry, and she is as charming,grounded, witty, funny and intelligent asshe is on her TV show. Ms. Olson of allpeople best illustrates the power of HGTV,as her shows have made her a star of theinterior design industry, and obviously onein which the big businesses that serve thatindustry see the relevance of her name at-tached to their goods. But in the end it’sbecause of her design aesthetic that peo-ple hire her to do their homes, and not be-cause she has a multitude of stuff with hername on it. All those things need to workin conjunction with one another to make aspace beautiful, cohesive and reflective ofthe homeowner’s personality and vision. Ittakes the interior designer to know and un-derstand when and how to put it all to-gether for a successful space.
So, what has HGTV done to us? It’s adouble-edged sword really, as on one sideit makes for a more sophisticated client,someone who sees the need for reinven-tion in their space, and they can seethrough those TV programmes that thereis a way to make it happen. On the flipside however, I perhaps think that peoplesometimes do believe that it could all beaccomplished in an hour and that all theproblems are easily solved. The truth isthat the real business of interior design is,well, just that – a business - a tough andmultifaceted one at that, but also a highlyrewarding one.
I love seeing the reactions from clientswhen they see the completed space and Iam lucky enough to work with a team oftalented, hardworking people who under-stand the importance each other brings tothe success of the project. Interior Designis a joy and it brings joy - I couldn’t ask fora better job than that! Thanks to HGTV forspreading the word!
E-mail [email protected] www.homeworktt.com Facebook www.facebook.com/homeworkdesignstudio
Randall WaddellCID, ASID
Principal Interior DesignerHomework Design Studio
Today’s spaces are more inviting and personalthan ever. We utilise our areas for a variety offunctions, including having a meal, paying the bills,working jigsaw puzzles, entertaining or even doinghomework with the kids and working on a hobby.
In many homes, spaces are now connected to an-other room, occupying one end of a living room to akitchen. At Samora House you can find a world ofhome décor solutions that fit with your lifestyle.
Samora House offers unique furniture and acces-sories, antiques and one-of-a-kind wood furnitureand accents from around the globe as well as qualityupholstery and furniture lines from top manufactur-ers.
From formal accents to solid furniture for your din-ing and other living areas, each piece brings to yourspace a charming comfort, elegance and sophistica-tion to suit your personal tastes. So, whether it is awhimsically designed lamp or beautiful bowl for fruit,visit Samora House where you can find design anddécor solutions that appeal more to your lifestyleand the rooms of your home.
Samora House recently moved to their new show-room located at 24 Patna Street (Corner of BruntonRd. & Patna Street) St. James, Port-of-Spain,Trinidad and Tobago.
Samora House Limited
Phone: (868) 628 - 1551www.facebook.com/pages/Samora-House
Mon-Fri: 9:30am -5:30pm Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Samora House June/July, 2013 7
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine In the KitchenJune/July, 20138
Over the years most styles in architecture and designhave taken their name from, or have been attributedto, a period in time or the individual who was the mostprominent in the field at the time of origin. For exam-ple Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian etc are named afterthe English monarchs of the day, whereas the stylesArt Deco and Cubism have their origins generally at-tributed to Romain de Tirtoff (or Erté from the Frenchpronunciation of his initials R.T.) and Pablo Picassorespectively.
One exception to this is a partic-ular style of door called a "Shaker"which actually has its origins in re-ligion. The Shakerswere an 18th centurybreak-away Christiangroup, formerly calledthe United Society ofBelievers in Christ’sSecond Appearing(USBCSA) whichapart from being amouthful to say, hadits roots in the EnglishQuakers but grewmore so in the USwhen one of the earlyfounders, settled inNew York after leav-ing England.
The term ‘shakers’itself is derived fromthe method of wor-ship that the break-away Quakers used, namelyecstatic dancing or “shaking”,which dubbed them as the Shak-ing Quakers, and later just ‘Shak-ers’.
The philosophy of Shakers wasengrained into their daily lives and
greatly influenced their furniturestyle, and their philosophy is evi-dent in everything they made or
built, which can besummed up in two fre-quently quoted phrases:“whatever is fashionedlet it be plain and simpleand for the good” and“beauty rests on utility”.As part of their strongreligious convictions, theShaker craftsmen invari-ably made items for theglory and worship oftheir god and accord-ingly they strived tomake them to the high-est levels of craftsman-ship, using only pure andsimple lines without anyornamentation. TheShaker Craftsmen werealso interested in mak-
ing their homes and furniture,hardwearing, durable and, aboveall, practical.
The revival of Shaker style ofkitchens started back in UK theearly 1990s and the modern ver-sion of a traditional classic remains
one of the most popular styles to date.The original Shaker furniture was usually made
from beech. In the modern age, this has been re-placed by more common woods like oak, walnutand maple, and is often stained, painted or lac-quered. However, the signature of an understatedsquare panelled door with fairly sharp, well de-fined edges; no fancy profiles or curves, just sim-ple sophistication, remains.
Our focus Kitchen this week utilises this sameShaker style door.
Located as the penthouse of a WestmooringsTower, with panoramic views of Trinidad and itsWestern Peninsular, the apartment was striking,but the kitchen, originally installed some 20 yearsago was dated and tired. Maurice Superville fromThe Italian Kitchen Company was charged withthe task of designer and surgeon, to restore life tothe fading heart of this home.
The door is made from Walnut which is a warm
dark wood and usually works best with a lot ofnatural light. This wasn't an issue as the apart-ment was south facing and had ample uninhibitedwindows.
Either side of the Kitchen was designed with'banked' cabinets giving ample storage, and thefront elevation, a simple run of base cabinets givethe feeling of open space. The wall cabinet arefronted with defused glass doors, and althoughvery modern, still retain the shape of the panelleddoors. To the centre we added an island, clean,white and understated so as again not to crowdout the room. The gleaming white quartz counteradds to the fresh open feeling whilst a raisedtable bar hides any clutter on the cook top.
I'm not sure what the 18th century ShakingQuakers would have made of our interpretation oftheir original concept, but i would like to think theywould agree that it's definitely a modern classic.
Photo Credits: Melissa Battersby
NUWAVE OVEN: Infrared - Radiant heatpenetrates foods from the inside outleaving food moist and flavourful. Apatented coating over our custom madeheating rod enhances Nu-Wave's uniqueinfrared capabilities. No Defrosting -Cook a 10lb. frozen solid turkey in 2 1/2hours. Conduction - applies heat directlyto the food enhancing browning, roastingand flavour. Time Saving - cooks up to50% faster than a conventional oven.
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Bright Ideas June/July, 2013 9
Is there anything great as sharing a meal you have made your-self? Sitting down to dine is a great way to catch up of what’s hap-pening with your love ones. However, if you meal isn’t properlyprepared that can put a serious damper on your moment. At D RiteStuff, you'll can find many quality solutions to all your kitchen andentertaining needs: crafty appliances for your food and beverages,as well as cups, plates and cutlery. Furthermore, D Rite Stuff carriessome of the bet brands that have been tried and true and as anadded benefit can easily transformed to transform your kitchen intoa functional and fun scene. Life is a picnic, after all.
WINE CANTEEN:Rustproof,BPA-free,reusable, recyclable. Vacuumflask holdsone bottle ofwine(750ml) andis dish-washer safe.Perfect forpicnics,cooler fetes,trips to thebeach ordown the islands.
BODUM YOUNG: 8cup French Presscoffee maker. Glass Jar, with protec-tive and insulated frame. French presscoffee makers extract all the essentialcoffee oils and make a much richer,flavourful cup of coffee. The design ofthe Bodum Young also makes it idealfor camping or weekends away.
NINJA BLENDER: An extremelyversatile and powerful Blenderthat introduces many uniquedesign. Frozen Blending, FoodProcessing, Dough Making andNutrient Complete Juicing. 72oz Professional Blender Jar, 8-Cup Food Processor Bowl with3-Cup Bowl-in-Bowl. Makes 2lbs of Dough in under 30 sec-onds as well as BPA Free andDishwasher Safe.
BREVILLE IKONGRILL: Breville Ikon Re-movable Plate Grill has atop plate that can be ad-justed to six pre-setheights and options of flatand ribbed plates. The ad-justable tilt feature con-trols the angle of thegrill's lower plate. The"Angle" position is perfectfor fat-free cooking, drain-ing the fat into the driptray. "Flat" angles for useas a griddle for cookingeggs and pancakes. Theribbed plate is perfect forgrilled vegetables, and thegrill can also be used tomake a variety of grilledsandwiches, includingmelts and paninis.
BREVILLE JUICE FOUNTAIN ELITE (Backin stock soon): Fruit islargely composed ofwater, but its selling pointis its nutritional value.How do you extract thejuice from fruit, withoutleaving the nutrients be-hind? Breville’s Nutri Discand patented juicing sys-tem extract more nutri-ents than other juicersand transfers less than1.8F of heat to protectenzymes and maximizenutrient absorption of se-lect nutrients.
Let your mealtime be easily be transformed from yourkitchen and finally on your table.
Experience a whole new way to cook!
Triadic ColourSchemes. Triadicschemes use threecolours that areequally spaced fromeach other on thecolour wheel: for ex-ample, red, yellow andblue or violet, greenand orange or red-or-ange, yellow-green andblue-violet. To use a tri-adic colour schemesuccessfully one colour
should be dominant, another should be secondarycolour, and the third an accent colour.
For Success. Have a plan. Good colour combinationseldom happens by accident. The colour schemes sug-gested here are not exhaustive. But they are more thanenough to give you a good start. As a rule of thumb re-member the 60:30:10 rule. Use your dominant colour 60per cent of your room’s surface; for instance, on yourwalls. Use your secondary colour on 30 per cent of yoursurfaces. Your upholstery will normally fit this bill. Youraccessories can carry your accent colour at the propor-tion of 10 per cent. Then anchor your scheme, by usingsomething black or a very dark value or shade of one ofyour colours. This helps to solidify and clarify the othercolours. It could be a black pillow, a seat cushion, a boxon a shelf, a vase or a small table. Remember that anycoordinating neutral can be used with the colour combi-nations that you select.
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Fabrics & FurnishingsJune/July, 201310
In our last issue of @Home we explored many dif-ferent nuances of colour in the article Colour Vocab.We learned that hue is how we identify one colourfrom the next and that, a shade is a darker version ofa hue. A tint is a hue that is mixed with white and onthe other hand, if grey is added to a colour, you havethe tone of the colour.
The value of a colour refers to its relative lightness ordarkness and the saturation refers to its purity, vivid-ness or intensity. We were also introduced to the colourwheel. In this issue we look further at colour and dis-cuss the basics of integrating different colours in pleas-ing combinations: the key to successful colour schemes.
Monochromatic Colour Schemes. A monochromaticscheme may seem the simplest since you are using onlyone colour. It is not as simple to use successfully. Whilethe monochromatic scheme can be very elegant and so-phisticated, it is easy for the room to lack contrast andlook ‘matchy matchy’ and boring. It is possible to addsome drama by forcing contrast by selecting variationsof the colour. Hint: Use a paint strip as a guide. The stripwill have your colour and other values of your colour, allof which can be used for monochromatic variety. An-other way to increase impact is by mixing textures. Doso by mixing materials, like smooth leather with damaskpillows or glossy paint with a textured rug, for instance.For diversity, you can also mix your selected colour witha neutral such as grey, white, cream, ecru or greige andyour colour scheme will still be considered to be mono-chromatic. This is a good strategy for reducing the riskof an overload of your selected colour. So you can paintyour walls ecru, for instance, and then layer on varyingversions of your selected colour in different textures inyour flooring, window treatments or furniture. Or paintyour walls and accessorise in your colour, but use neutralcolours for your larger pieces of furniture and flooring.
Complementary Colour Schemes. If using a 2-colourscheme, using complementary colours is usually suc-cessful. Complementary Colours are those which aredirectly opposite to each other on the colour wheel.The complements are red and green, blue-green andred-orange, blue and orange, blue-violet and yellow or-ange, yellow and violet, red-violet and yellow-green.
This combination of warm and cool colours createsexcitement, brings out the richness in the other andadds interest. Opposites attract and are perfect accentcolours in a neutral décor. For success when using com-plementary colours, do not use both colours in equalamounts or intensity. Consider using one colour onyour walls and using the complement in the acces-sories. Of course, you can combine different tints,shades, values and saturations of any of the coloursand mix in general mix any versions of the colours. Soin the end you can have a colour scheme of many dif-ferent versions of yellow and purple (violet), for in-stance.
Split Complementary Colour Schemes. Select a colour.Find its complement on the colour wheel. Then select thecolours on either side of the complementary colour. Thecolour and the 2 colours from each side of the comple-ment form the split complementary. This combination iseasier to manage than the complementary scheme. Thisscheme is good for amateur decorators. It is very difficultto screw up. There is less risk of the colour scheme beingjarring. There is less contrast between the colours and byhaving to divide between 3 colours (instead of 2) thecolours can be more easily balanced. There is still a lot ofenergy in space as you will be combine warm and coolcolours in the mix. You have the opportunity integrate lay-ers of colour in a balanced and dynamic manner. In the ex-ample we see the combination of violet, red andyellow-green. Again, unless you want a colourful and veryanimated space, you will not want to use the colours inequal proportions. Consider using a shade or more mutedversion of the colour on the walls, with accessories andmajor furniture pieces being in more intense or saturatedversions of the other colours. Or you can use all 3 coloursin the shade or tint versions of the colour. Another optionwould be to paint the mainwalls in a white with a touch ofone colour, with an accent wallin a more saturated version orstronger value of the colourwith furniture and accessoriesusing all 3 colours in varyingtints, values and saturation.
In another example, the softblue walls are combined withyellow-orange bed linen andstool and red-orange patternedpillows.
Analogous Colour Schemes. In an analogous schemethe colours are right next to each other, or consecutive,on the colour wheel. For example yellow, yellow-orange,orange or green, blue-green and blue. This is a very pleas-ing palette. Since the colours very often share an underly-ing colour the combination works comfortably together.Analogous schemes with greens and blues will createcool, soothing space.
Schemes that range between purples and reds are dra-matic when values are used and light values will be morerelaxing. Schemes based on orange and yellow are sunnyand bright and darker versions can be over powering. Usethis combination in well-lit spaces.
To use this scheme successfully, have enough contrast,vary the proportions of your colours and have some tex-tural interest. In an analogous colour scheme, usually onecolour is dominant and the others secondary in impor-tance. Decorators sometime use colours that are near,but not directly adjacent to each other.
Ann Moore-Spencer,Beyond Drapery Limited
Phone: 868-678-3414Email: [email protected]
Website: www.beyonddrapery.comBlog: www.beyonddrapery.com/blog/
www.facebook/BeyondDraperyLimited
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Surfaces June/July, 2013 11
The ceiling is now considered such animportant element in a space that it isoften referred to as the fifth wall in inte-rior design. They are often forgotten andneglected, and all the while they have somuch potential. we paint the other fourwalls with great thought, beautifully mak-ing masterpieces out of them. We takeour time to pick out colours for the wallsto match our textiles, and furniture, evenartwork, but won’t give the ceiling athought. Most of us keep it white andblah. Usually the only thing popping fromthe ceiling is a chandelier, or a ceiling fan.Well ceilings need love too! Painting oradding a design element to a ceiling canreally change a entire space from dull tothat wow factor, but the best news is thatpainting a ceiling is a very budget friendlyway to add curb appeal to a space.
There are some considerations that needto take place before you paint your ceiling.Decide on the overall result you want toachieve in the room. Do you want the roomto feel large, airy, spacious, and tall? Do youwant a cozy, intimate feeling where you feelsurrounded and safe? Do you want to cre-
ate the illusion of space in a small room, oremphasize the smallness by using astronger colour? Is the room too big andcavernous so you’re trying to make it morehuman scaled?
However, once you’ve decided to paint theceiling, Dwayne suggests you use the samecolour as the wall but at 1/4 to 1/2 strength.Using the same colour keeps a cohesivefeeling in the room yet allows the ceiling tobe perceptibly lighter and brighter.
If you are considering banishing your bor-ing white ceiling, Beyond Paint (Colour Solu-tions) suggest a few decorating ideas togive it the attention it deserves.
For a harmonious, monochromatic look,use hues in the same colour family for boththe ceilings and the walls. Don't be afraid touse the darker colour on the ceiling. This willcreate a space that is bold and elegant. It'sperfectly fine to paint your ceiling with abold colour, even if the walls are white.
In small rooms, many people paint theceilings white to achieve a sense of spa-ciousness. However, painting both the wallsand ceiling with the same colour will actu-ally make the space appear larger, because
there is less contrast.When using multiple colours perhaps in
an entertainment room or kids room it is es-sential for fostering imagination and cre-ativity.
In small spaces, painting the ceiling thesame colour as the walls (or one shadelighter) can make the room feel larger.
On ceilings with molding, try a neutralcolour (such as light beige, ivory or gray) onthe ceiling to make your molding really popand give your space an elegant look.
If your walls and furnishings are neutral incolour, consider adding your main colour onyour ceiling (a classic colour such as richplum or red often works well) to draw theeye upward and give your room some vibe.
Decals, stencils or even decoupage workwell on smooth ceilings and give a room asurprise ingredient that can really add an in-dividual touch to a space, or for a customlook, paint a design on your ceiling to drawthe eye upward.
Small decorative wood moldings are inex-pensive, and with a bit of paint or stain anda touch of hot glue, a ceiling can easily betransformed into the most interesting fea-
ture of a space.You can make your ceiling appear like an
expensive, trayed ceiling by painting a softpinstripe or border around edge of your ceil-ing. Choose two paint colours similar in toneto achieve this look.
As usual with home decorating, there arealways exceptions, personal preference andstyle to consider. Remember to use yourimagination in your home.
Colour Solutions Tips: Cool colours tend to recede into space
while warm colours often make somethingappear closer, so consider this when choos-ing your ceiling paint colours.
If you choose your ceiling to be your maincolour element in your room, don’t forget to“spread the wealth” by adding throw pil-lows, vases and other decorative acces-sories in the same colour.
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Bright IdeasJune/July, 201312
One of the most common mistakes peoplemake when purchasing a Ceiling Fan is bas-ing the decision on price and appearance butnot considering performance.
Ceiling Fan with Light
Outdoor Ceiling Fan with Plastic Blades
Ceiling Fan - 30 inches
Hugger Fan - close to ceiling
At Lighthouse we can help you to choose the best Ceiling Fan, atthe same time keeping performance, quality and décor in mind. Thefollowing are some factors to be aware of:
• CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) Airflow• Windspeed• Efficiency• Location (indoor, outdoor etc.)• Ceiling height• Size of room
All of these must be taken into consideration before choosing theright Ceiling Fan for your space.
Why do I need a Ceiling Fan?Ceiling Fans help maintain a constant temperature in a room to
prevent the Air Condition Unit or Heater from working too hard,which leads to energy savings. A Ceiling Fan uses less electricitythan a 100 watt bulb.
What size Ceiling Fan do I need?Choose a Ceiling Fan that fits the scale of the room. For rooms
that are smaller (about 11’ x 11’), a 36" or 42" fan can be used. AtLighthouse we have a variety of Ceiling Fan sizes ranging from 30”to 60”.
What height should I install my CeilingFan?
For optimum air circulation your Ceiling Fan should be installed9ft above the floor. Depending on the height of your ceiling, wewould recommend the appropriate length downrod. Ceiling Fandownrods range from 12” to 72” in length. For very low ceilings youcan use Hugger Fans (Ceiling Fans that are close to the ceiling).
UL Listed Ceiling FansOutdoor Ceiling Fans are UL listed for either damp or wet loca-
tions. Both of these are designed to be exposed to the elementswithout the risk of electric shock or fire. Damp location Ceiling Fansare not designed to get into contact with water; however wet loca-tion Ceiling Fans can handle sprinkles of water from the rain etc. ULlisted Ceiling Fans have weather resistant blades made of plastic.The motor housing, paint, screws and other parts of the Ceiling Fanare also made of weather resistant material.
Come in to Lighthouse to check out our wide range of CeilingFans and let us help make that choice easier for you.
32-34 Dundonald Street, Port Of Spain,Trinidad, W.I.
Tel: (868) 62- Light (625-4448)Fax: (868) 625-4665
25 Royal Road, San Fernando,Trinidad, W.I.
Tel: (868) 653 - 3177Fax: (868) 653 - 2961
Enhance Comfort & ConvenienceYour home and your workspace should be
designed to complement your every need. As yourneeds change throughout the day, your lightingshould adapt as well; bright to read a book, but dimto use the computer. Whether you are at home orat work, Lutron solutions provide convenient accessto light control, creating a comfortable atmosphereto support your daily activities.
Provide elements of ComfortPersonalize a light control system to recall
favorite settings and effortlessly transform thelight that surrounds you. Your home’s lighting canbe controlled from a handheld remote, wallmounted keypad, tabletop control and nowyour iPad® or iPhone®.
For rooms with ample sunlight, you can integratea shading solution with electric lighting for totallight control. Shades can be preset for differentroom uses or adjusted for changes in the time ofday or season.
Increase energy Savings & CostEffectiveness
When it comes to energy efficiency, there areplenty of options; however, many homeownersoverlook a key energy saving opportunity-lighting.This accounts for almost 20% of the averagehomeowner's monthly electric bill. Lutron light con-trols can help increase energy savings throughoutyour home.
Lutron’s innovative productsare known worldwide to:
All Lutron dimmers save energy. Lightsources use less energy when dimmed; theseinclude Incandescent, Halogen, CFLs and LEDbulbs. For example, a halogen light sourcedimmed 35% reduces energy use by 28%. Onaverage, dimming an Incandescent or Halogenlight will reduce energy use by about 20%.
The more you dim, the more you save.Dimmers operated over longer periods of timeat light levels dimmed greater than 20%, savemore electricity and money, not to mentionreducing the payback period.
Lutron dimmers extend bulb life. Dimmersreduce power to the lighting source or bulb,leading to energy savings and longer bulb life.Incandescent and Halogen bulbs last up to 20times longer when used with a dimmer.
Discreet occupancy/vacancy sensors can beinstalled to ensure lights are turned off whenrooms are unoccupied, thus leading to furtherenergy savings. Dimmers and other lightingcontrols allow individuals to adjust light levelsfor specific entertainment options, enhanceambience, set a mood and take advantage ofdaylight. While there are many ways to reduceenergy use, most involve sacrificing something;few actually enrich the quality of living andworking environments.
Come in to Nova Lighting to get more inhouse advice and check out our full range ofLutron Products. You can visit Lutron’swebsite at www.lutron.com
Lutron RemoteControlled Shade
Lutron Table-topKeypad Control
Lutron Occupancy Sensor
Lutron Touch Dimmer
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Design Showcase June/July, 2013 13
18 Rust Street, St. Clair, Trinidad, W.I.Tel: (868) 628 - 5483 (LITE)
Fax: (868) 622 - 0897Email: [email protected]: www.novalighttt.com
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Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine House BuzzJune/July, 201314
STEP 1• If the area is still wet you should
first attempt to absorb the dogurine. Leaving it there to dry outwill only encourage bacterialgrowth which causes the smell.
• The best method is to place sev-eral layers of paper towel overthe wet urine area and tread onit so as to soak up as much ofthe dog urine as you possiblycan. You may have to repeat thisseveral times until no more dogurine can be soaked up.
• Sometimes dog urine accidentshave already dried because youdid not notice them previously.You can find dried urine spotson your carpet with the aid of ablack light. The dog urine stainswill fluoresce under the ultra vi-olet light in a darkened room.Hand held black lights are quiteinexpensive.
• Of course, you can always savethe expense of a black light.Find the urine spots by usingyour nose. Just get down onyour carpet and sniff and findthe offensive urine odors thatway.
STEP 2• Mix a solution of fifty percent
white vinegar and fifty percentwater. You must use a liberalamount of this solution to reachthe carpet fibers deep down.Work the solution into the car-pet with a soft brush (or yourfingers) to ensure it penetratesthe carpet fibers below.
• Then blot the area using thepaper towel method above to
absorb the vinegar mixture. Thevinegar will neutralize the am-monia in the dog urine.
• If you own a wet/dry vacuumextractor use it to remove ex-cess moisture.
STEP 3• When the area has dried or al-
most dried sprinkle a goodhandful of baking soda over thesoiled area.
• Mix half a cup of 3% hydrogenperoxide with a teaspoon ofDish Soap detergent. Plain liquiddishwashing detergent is re-quired. Do not use caustic dish-washer detergent.
STEP 4• Slowly pour the hydrogen perox-
ide and dishwashing detergentmixture over the baking soda.Alternatively you can use aspray bottle for the hydrogenperoxide/dish washing deter-gent solution.
• Then work the baking soda andhydrogen peroxide mixture wellinto the carpet with your fingers(put on some rubber gloves) oruse a brush.
• Allow the area to dry com-pletely. Once the area is thor-oughly dry, vacuum up thebaking soda. A fan or heater canassist drying. Use a hard bristledbrush to loosen up the bakingsoda if necessary.
That's all there is to it. Your car-pet will smell fresh and free fromurine odor.
If you don't have hydrogen per-oxide on hand you could substi-tute it in an emergency for a spraylaundry stain remover. Check thebottle. If it says ‘Oxy’ anywhere onthe label then it probably containshydrogen peroxide.
In areas that have been heavilysoiled with dog urine you mayhave to repeat the process again.
Courtesy:http://www.dogchatforum.com
This home remedy for cleaning dog urine from carpets iseasy and inexpensive and it really works! Below is a recipewhich removes dog urine smells and stains from carpets andrugs even if the urine has dried and is old.
For whatever reason your dog has peed on the carpet the outcome isthe same. A smelly carpet! When your dog pees on the carpet it leavesan odour that your dog may repeatedly return to. Avoid using ammoniabased products to clean dog urine. One of the ingredients of dog urine isammonia and he may well be encouraged to re-offend in the same area.Remember, your dog's sense of smell is a hundred times better thanyours.
Dog Urine Smell and Stain Remover
Ingredients:• Baking Soda• White Vinegar• Liquid Dishwashing Detergent
(Dish Soap)• 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
15June/July, 2013 www.guardian.co.tt Sunday Guardian @Home Magazine
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Home HistoryJune/July, 201316
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For Mc Lean however, life quicklytook another route. “I did not likethe Interior Design course offered atthe Birmingham Institute of Art andDesign, plus it was only offered fulltime and I could not manage suchan intense course with an infant totake care of” revealed Mc Lean whoat the time had a two year old son.She embarked on a BA (Hons) inArt and Design and excelled, gradu-ating with First Class Honours in2009 from Birmingham City Univer-sity.
As a Mixed Media InstallationArtist, it’s all about the materialsused, most of them being unconven-tional. “They have to visually ex-press what I am trying to convey. Ihave used wood, metal, screenprinting, video, ready mades, andcollage from found paper. At themoment I am using blue soap, crossstitch, double sided tape, and pack-aging,” she said.
Every artist has an inspirationalviewpoint. For Mc Lean it’s postcolonialism. “I am not interested inthe colonial condition as a thing ofthe past, but in the continued ef-
fects that colonialism has on theworld today.” The mixed mediaartist has already done a slew of ex-hibitions starting from her days atuniversity. She has gone on to beaccepted in the Cork Street Open inLondon and copped the winner’stitle in North Worchester Open in2010. Mc Lean has even exhibited atthe Hackney Museum for Indepen-dence Exhibition which celebratedthe 50th Anniversary of Independ-ence for Trinidad and Tobago aswell as Jamaica.
“My work is not the mainstreamart of the culture, so I signify fromthe periphery. One of the main char-acteristics of my work is Primi-tivism, the rationalethat institutionalized slavery. ‘Primi-tivism’ is used theoretically as acounterpoint to the discourses thatcontinue to support colonial superi-ority,” said Mc Lean. As a post-colo-nial artist, like many others, McLean includes colonial history in herwork, seeking to alter the dis-courses of the European West andmake them acknowledge their sup-pressed history.
Karen Mc Lean is a Mixed Media Installation Artist residing inBirmingham United Kingdom. As she looks back at her life’sjourney, it seems that her penchant for craft making as a childhas come full circle to be her life’s destiny. A former BWIA flightattendant, Mc Lean migrated with her husband to England tofulfill his three year work contract with intentions to pursue adegree in Interior Design and open her own business on her re-turn home.
continued on p. 22
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Trade Secrets June/July, 2013 17
Love of beauty istaste. The creationof beauty is art. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bavina Sookdeo
‘The Timberyard’ was established out ofa need in the market to access high quality,first grade timber for construction of build-ings with timber walls, ceilings, floors,decks, rails and outdoor landscape and ac-tivity areas.
Disclosing that the demand for hard-wood floors (Greenheart in particular) inthis country is very high the owner contin-ued on the advantages. He said “As a hard-wood, Greenheart creates beautiful floors.The shades of the wood can vary from verydark brown to lighter shades of brown andgreenish-brown. This creates multi-tonedfloors that are very hard and durable, beau-tiful to look at and wonderful to experience.Since Greenheart is resistant to all regionaltermites, such floors are considered ‘life-time’ floors. These floors can be sanded fordecades later and still be brought back totheir original luster and beauty.” In addition,such floors are easy to clean and once fur-niture feet are padded to prevent scratch-ing of the floor, hardwood floors are veryeasy to maintain. This type of wood alsohas excellent resistance to local and re-gional conditions. It is considered one of thestrongest woods in the American tropics.In general the timber is exceptionally hard,heavy, tough, strong and elastic. As a result,Greenheart timber is a preferred hardwoodfor most contractors building or renovatingalong coastal areas, forested areas or anyareas requiring high durability timber. Thistimber is also highly resistant to fires andthis makes it one of the safest timbers touse.
You’re probably thinking that such a highquality floor must be very expensive right?As the owner explained, “Hardwood floorsare more costly up front but are well worthit. While ‘wooden looking’ laminates areabout half the price, laminates are notdurable, will swell and deteriorate if wetand will need to be replaced a few timesover as compared to the lifetime benefit ofgenuine hardwood floors. Carpets arecheaper but can become moldy and are nota healthy option. Ceramic and porcelaintiles can be attractive and versatile but canbe very ‘cold’ in certain spaces such as bed-rooms, living rooms, dining areas, studiesand patio decks where the feel of naturaltimber under the feet is a truly special ex-
perience.” A Greenheart floor can be sup-plied and installed complete with coatingfor around TT$50.00 per square foot.
By now you’re probably convinced thatyou should get hardwood floors installed inyour home. So how exactly should you getstarted? The first thing you need to do isget the square foot area that needs to becovered. ‘The Timberyard’ will then providea list of the timber materials needed, pro-vide a cost of materials, recommend a con-tractor experienced in installing first gradehardwood flooring and arrange delivery ofmaterials to home or office. Floors can beinstalled directly over plain concrete, tiledareas or timber joists, as long as floors arelevel. It is not recommended that floors beself installed.
So you are an environmentalist to yourheart but you simply love the look and feelor hardwood. How do you deal with thatconscience of yours? As ‘The Timberyard’owner insisted, “Once the timber is sourcedfrom a confirmed sustainable forestrysource, there is no negative impact on theenvironment. Hardwood floors are perfectfor those interested in natural lifestyles andare ideal for green building principles.” Hethen pointed out that ‘The Timberyard’only sources its Greenheart timber fromsustainable harvesting sources in Guyana.All floor, ceiling and partition timber is firstgrade quality, kiln dried and dressed andcan be supplied groove and tongued, v-jointed, lap-edged or square edged. TheTimberyard also supplies 2", 4", 6" and 8"Greenheart timber that can be used forwall structures, posts, trellises, rails, stair-ways and steps, partitions, bridges, outdoorcabanas, jetties and piers and any othertype of construction requiring durable hard-wood.”
While Greenheart is the best type ofwood to use here in Trinidad and Tobago,as the owner said “traditional floors suchas teak are still in use. There are engineeredhardwood floors but these are not 100%timber. Of all the natural 100% hardwoodfloors, Greenheart is ranked as one of themost preferred.”
For more advice on hardwood floors con-tact ‘The Timberyard’ via email at [email protected] or via telephone at309-2221 / 377-2165.
“When we live or work in naturalspaces, we feel at peace with ourselves,in unity with nature and at one with our-selves.” This is what the owner of ‘TheTimberyard’, located in Chaguanas, hadto say when asked about hardwoodfloors. The owner added “When we liveor work in spaces covered with or sur-rounded by natural timber, the space en-livens our being, maintains in us a feelingof serenity and lends towards a lessstressed, more productive atmosphere.The use of hardwood floors, as comparedto synthetic floors (laminates, carpets,vinyl) and cold floors (tiles) in livingspaces, bedrooms, patios and decks,leaves the individual with a superior ex-perience of well-being, peace and naturalliving.”
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Backyard BasicsJune/July, 201318
• How are you going to utilisethe space?
Take into consideration whatactivities your family loves, e.g.picnics, bar-b-ques. Do you liketo read outdoors? Play sports?Family cook outs? Does yourfamily do more than one ofthese activities at once? Thenyour landscape mustreflect these functional spaces.
• Paved areaThis area can be done in con-crete, pitched, pavers, tiles orwooden deck. This is a multi-functional space used as a sit-ting area, an extendedentertainment space, children
play area, bar-b-que or a partyspace. The possi-bilities are end-less. Utilising thisspace also putsless pressure onthe kitchen, andliving/diningareas and if youare creativeenough these can be fun.
• A Peaceful RetreatPick a spot in your yard thathas the ability to be trans-formed into a peaceful retreat.Create a pathway from yourmultipurpose area that leads
to this spot. Plant atree, use shrubs togive you privacy andadd a bench or apond/bird bath. Evena feeding tray forbirds would be awelcomed attrac-tion. Make it a placeto go read, have yourmorning coffee, and
feed your fishes. It is a perfectspot for the people who desirequiet time in your family.
• Outdoor KitchenetteThis space has changed mylife, I can’t function without it.It’s where we cook most times
INEX CONSULTANTS......The Design Specialist
Specializing in:• Pool Design & Installation • Indoor & Outdoor Waters Features• Rock Gardens • Plant Rentals• Oriental Gardens and much more
Contact: Darrel 291-2326or email: [email protected]
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and entertain. Even doall the dirty stuff, youdon’t want to do in thehouse, like clean fish,roast veggies and manhandle dirty pots andpans. This outdoorwonder has protectedour indoor kitchen fromall the damage associ-ated with those activi-ties.
• SeatingFunctional outdoorseating is a must. Hav-ing adequate seatingoutdoors means lesspeople indoors. Makesure you choose com-fortable seatingarrangements that arestrong, yet easy tomove around.
These are just a fewsuggestions. Everylandscape isuniquely designed to fityour personal needs.So list your needs first,add the features youconsider necessary forliving, then add yourplanters, lawn andother gardenaccents to complementyour must haves. Al-ways install the func-tional aspects of yourlandscape first, andthen the rest can beconsidered for thatextra touch.
In today's world, the family's needs are changing, somuch that your landscaping is constantly evolving tomeet those needs. No longer do gardens consist of justplanters and lawn; there is need for so much more. Out-door living is now becoming a trend, planning your land-scape with your family activities in mind makes yourgarden functional. Here are some ideas to take into con-sideration when planning your landscape:
TAKING PLANTS & DESIGN ASTEP FURTHER – THE PLANTPEOPLE & PLASTECNICIn 2012, The Plant People Limited agreed to be-come the regional distributor for PLASTECNICS.p.a., an innovative, Milan-based, Italian com-pany that manufactures, modern, cutting edgecontainers for plants. The Plant People havebeen and will continue to introduce new lines ofPlastecnic pots to the region for long termrental customers and for retail residential cus-tomer use.
Plastecnic has more than 3,000 customersworldwide and produces over 20 million potsannually. The raw materials used by Plastecnicare free from heavy metals dangerous to theenvironment, such as chromium, lead and cad-
mium. The raw materials used allows fordurability and resistance of the pots to thestress of use indoors or outdoors.
Plastecnic has always had the theme of theenvironment at the heart of its business. In theyear 2008 Plastecnic joined the program of ecocertification Plastic second Life. The programmeis promoted by the IPPR, the Italian Institute forthe promotion of the plastics for recycling. Thebrand Plastic second Life certifies that the com-pany manufactures goods with a content of re-cycled material, within the percentages requiredby the European standards concerning eco sus-tainability.
THE OLTREVASO COLLECTIONThe Oltrevaso line represents a pot collection
resulting from the research and study of new
shapes and material, involving many interna-tional designers and young talents from the Ac-cademia delle Belle Arti in Milan. The maintheme of this research was: the experience ofnature in the daily environment.
This pot collection is able to offer a large vari-ety of solutions and shapes. They can be freelyplaced in different environments, both insideand outside, helping to create harmony in thesurroundings.
The Oltrevaso collection embodies the home-owner, entrepreneur or designer who embodiesall that is modern, chic and understands thevalue of beauty and nature combines to providemaximum stimulation.
The pots can be ordered and purchasedthrough The Plant People Limited at 223-5075or [email protected]
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Backyard Basics June/July, 2013 19
Shock resistant
Ecological:non-toxic
and recyclable
Very light Weatherproof
Colour fastdyes
Easy towash with-out deter-
gentThe Plant People Limited, only known by this
name since the end of 2009 is an amalgamation ofPaul-A’s Green Foliage Limited and Peter Richard’sInteriorscaping Division. These two companieswere in existence for over 15 years and were majorplayers in the local foliage and landscaping industry.
WHAT DOES THE PLANT PEOPLE LTD DO?The Plant People Limited is the leading provider
of interiorscaping services i.e. long term rentals andmaintenance of green plants for indoor environ-ments such as offices, restaurants etc. and shortterm rentals for events
WHY IS THIS SERVICE AND PLANTS INTHE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT?Our human nature makes us want to connect withthe outdoors, our original natural environment. Re-search indicates that interior landscaping is not onlydesirable but a “must-do green initiative” to keepclients, tenants and customers happy and healthy.A professionally ‘interiorscaped’ and ‘green’ busi-ness space can positively affect your bottom line,while lifting one’s spirits and promoting the healthand wellness of all employees and customers thatengage with you.
PLANTS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO:1. Make buildings look more welcoming and natural2. Improve the indoor air quality (more oxygen, less
chemicals and dust in the air)3. Make a design statement4. Increase occupancy and retention5. Affect productivity and satisfaction through
stress reduction and stimulation of creativity6. Increase retail spending7. Direct pedestrian traffic8. Soften less attractive building features9. Reflect holidays or events 10. Absorb toxins from equipment and furniture
The Plant People Limited#39 Cedar Circular Drive, Ridgeview Heights,Tacarigua, Trinidad & Tobagot: 1-868-640-3237/223-5075 e: [email protected]: http://www.theplantpeopleltd.com
A swimming pool is an investment,just like a car or a home. You wouldn’tjust buy any car on just any lot, wouldyou? The same rules apply. There aremany ways to build a swimming pool.Some are made of concrete, others aremade of fiberglass, and still others arevinyl.
And that’s just the first step. Coping,
cleaning systems, filtering systems, artis-tic finishing touches are all important ele-ments when designing your pool. The listof variations goes on and on. Getting upto speed will allow you to speak your poolbuilder’s language and be more confidentin the decision-making process. Here’show:
KNOW HOW YOU WANTTO USE YOUR POOL
Stop and think about why you’re in-stalling a swimming pool. Is it for yourkids? For entertaining? Is it an invest-ment? Do you want it to make a dramaticarchitectural statement? Or is a relaxingretreat for you and your spouse? An-swering these questions will help tell youwhat kind of swimming pool you want. Aswimming pool for kids might include aslide and a wading area. It probably does-n’t need high-end glass tile finishing or avanishing edge. But if you want some-thing that is as visually appealing as it isenjoyable to use, you might consider abuilt-in water feature, more expensivecoping, and a negative edge. A client witha clear sense of purpose is a builder’sbest friend.
ESTABLISH A BUDGETYou probably already know what you’re
willing to spend on a new swimming pool,but it’s important to speak with your poolbuilder to gather more information andget a sense of what your project will cost.Your pool builder will be able to listen towhat you want and give you an estimateon what it will cost to make it happen.You may have to adjust your plans, or youmay find you have the resources to addto your initial concept. Either way, it’s im-portant that both you and your builderknow what your budget is from the start.
CHECK OUT THE EXPERI-ENCE LEVEL, HISTORY, ORBACKGROUND OF A CONTRACTOR
What makes them qualified to buildswimming pools? Consider the saying, "Ifyou think the cost of a Professional is ex-pensive, wait until you hire an Amateur."
SAFETYSwimming pools can be a great place
to recreate, exercise, and just enjoy theoutdoors. They also come with responsi-bility..... make sure you protect the onesyou care for, and protect the ones thatcannot protect themselves.
SHOPPING BASED ON PRICE
Usually if a deal seems too good to betrue, it is! If you shop for price alone youare destined to be disappointed. Bottomline: you usually get what you pay for.
WORKMEN’S COMPENSA-TION AND GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE?
An inexperienced pool builder may haveneither of these policies, and put you atrisk. A professional pool builder will haveboth, and protect you from any liabilities.
Today’s pools are substantially moresophisticated than they were 15 yearsago, and take experience and engineeringknow-how. They are stunningly beautiful,but can be very expensive and disap-pointing disasters if built by someonewith insufficient experience.
Article and images courtesy Kaufmann Poolsand Spas
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Backyard BasicsJune/July, 201320
KaufmannPools and
Work done by
your changing needsSunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Backyard Basics June/July, 2013 21
50Trinidad & Tobago
is mostly an unregu-lated market so thehome owner shoulddo their due dili-gence to find a rep-utable poolcontractor.
With over 50 yearsof experience, Kauf-mann SwimmingPools & Spas offersthe most comprehen-sive list of servicesand products in theswimming pool busi-ness. We offer swim-ming pool & spaconstruction and re-furbishment (bothresidential & com-mercial), pool mainte-nance equipment,chemicals and sup-plies.
We sell and servicethe leading brands inthe industry andalong with our knowl-edgeable staff, offerthe best value withthe most experience.
Kaufmann Pools isa member of the As-sociation of Pool &Spa Professionals(APSP), this is an in-ternational body thatsubscribes to a codeof ethics and bestpracticestandards. The APSPwrites the construc-tion standards for thepool industry, and itsmembers commit tothe adherence ofthose standards. If apool builder is not amember of the APSPthat should be a clearwarning to looksomewhere else.
At Kaufmann Pools,as a member of theAssociation of Pooland Spa Profession-als, we subscribe tothe highest standardsand recommenda-tions. Additionally, weensure that the cus-tomer is informedand thereby, satisfied.
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt@Home Magazine Home HistoryJune/July, 201322
Some of the focal points of her pieces are:
Sweet Ethics which questions George Cad-bury’s ideological stance as a philanthropist andgreat chocolate manufacturer. Her research re-veals an occluded part of history that shows thathe used indentured labourers to develop Ortinolaand La Merced in Santa Cruz where the housingand conditions provided for them were less thansavoury as compared to the utopian village wherehis chocolate factory was located.
Post Colonial-Now looks critically into PostWar emigration from the Caribbean after the Sec-ond World War, the reasons Caribbean peoplecame to England, the hardships they endured andwhy, this project investigates their continued dis-placement and the historical as well as contempo-rary reasons why as the oldest minority in theUK we are still economically displaced.
Primitive Matters Wallpaper interro-gates ideologies and racism, and in particular thehome as the primary space of socialisation wherethe formations of social and political attitudes be-come engrained, formations that become rooted,and are handed down from one generation to an-other. Subtly they are reiterated and repeated, tothe point of banality. It is this primary space thatpolitical attitudes such as racism become rooted.
Primitive Matters Huts looks at the Mag-nificient Seven and the process of colonization.Homi Bhabba in his book The Location of Culturestates that colonization occurs through a processof education, religion, language, and architec-ture. He highlights how the “coloniser tries to cre-ate ‘doubles’ of himself through this process butthe undertaking is never fully achieved and thedoubles remain forever unfinished, always in aprocess of formation.” The Magnificient Seven areicons of such attempts.
Every dream of an artist would be to live fulltime off of his or her work. Sadly, this has notcome to pass yet. Mc Lean stated “There aremany obstacles, one of them being the type of artthat I do, as an installation artist I cannot sell mypieces like a painter, for example. I would need todraw the attention of a collector who would be in-terested in collecting them.” Nonetheless this pas-sionate artist continues to make strides in her art.She received a grant from Arts Council England todo her residency in Trinidad and her work will befeatured in a theoretical text Playing at Home:The House in Contemporary Art, written by Pro-fessor Gill, which will be launched this summer.
For Karen Mc Lean, her art is really about evolu-tion. “There is no script when you become anartist; but I have achieved critical milestones inthe three and a half years after leaving university.Presently I feel it is important for me to completemy Masters and engage in activities and experi-ences that will allow my work to evolve. I am veryoptimistic and remain passionate about my work!”
Primitive Matters Wallpaper
Primitive MattersSweet Ethics in Cadbury Context
continued from p. 16
THE PALMS VILLA RESORTThe Palms Villa Resort, Signal Hill Old Road, Tobago
The Palms Villa Resort would make a great family getaway location with atleast 4 acres of usable development land.
The Palms Villa Resort was built in 2002 and is located on Signal Hill OldRoad, Tobago. It is close to all amenities (including the new hospital), yet sits atthe edge of the forest.
Description: This 10 acre site has been partially developed it has five threebedroom
luxury villas, each with a large adult sized pool and small wading/kids pool. Allbedrooms are en suite and there is also a guest toilet. It also has fully fittedkitchens, washer/dryer area, living room and huge verandah.
There is also a managers’ three bedroom villa with storage room underneath,a gate house and full fitted office.
The property is fenced and with electric gates. Only approx. 4 acres has beendeveloped with villas; the rest has roads, electricity and water.
(Permission outlined for more villas.)The villas are tourism approved by the THA and have been successfully
rented for the last ten years and will be sold with all furniture and fittings tocontinue business.
LANGE PARK HOMEA 4,400 sq ft house sits on 9,300 sq ft of land with a beautiful pool, secured
surroundings using CCTV cameras, electrical gate with remote garage openerfor 2 cars and air-conditioned garage.
This house has 4 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, teak kitchen with gran-ite counter tops and a family room with a built in bar, a laundry room, an en-suite guest room, a dining room and a living room, all arranged in an open plan.The staircase is made of teak, leading to the 3 bedrooms upstairs, withanother large family room. The floors throughout upstairs are in a wooden fin-ish. There’s a Jacuzzi in the master bathroom as well as a separate shower, pluscustom made wood-grain aluminium windows and modern gypsum work onceilings.
(THIS IS A NEW HOUSE).
SANTA CRUZ- SADDLE GROVESanta Cruz is located immediately north of San Juan and about 6km north-
east of Port of Spain. It is characterized generally by pockets of residential de-velopments, amongst a historically agricultural community.
Saddle Grove is a relatively new residential development located in thefoothills of Santa Cruz Valley. It is one of the premier developments in theSanta Cruz area and lies on the northern side of the Saddle Road.
This Executive Two Storey Home in this Gated Community has 4 bedrooms, 31/2 bathrooms, which come with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops,housekeeper's quarters, an upper balcony and a lower level wooden deck.
House size 7,000 sq. Ft.Land Size 1 Acre of Freehold
PIARCO TOWN HOUSESLocation: Situated at Piarco Old Road, D’Abadie, on the northern side of the
Churchill Roosevelt Highway and between the Eastern Main Road.Available: A selection of Ten (10) Multi-Family architectural designed Units
within a secure gated property for the lifestyle of the modern family. This is anideal investment opportunity providing tranquility and privacy.
Demographics: The area is residential approved with middle and upper middleclass income families. It lies close to the airport, shopping malls and sporting fa-cilities, plus commercial and business centres.
Dimensions: Each two-story Unit comprises 1800 square feet of living spacewith three bedrooms (master en-suite) and two and a half bathrooms. Thereare parking spaces for both owners and their guests.
Amenities: Carpeted wall to wall bedrooms (tiled option); Pine cupboards;Built-in closets; Kitchen counter top; Air conditioned bedrooms; Tiled floors;Water storage; Smoke alarms; Individual water meters; Secured and controlledentrance/exit.
Facilities: There is a long landscaped driveway leading up to the Units withcommon recreational facilities. Underground utility cables and piping enhancesthe aesthetics of the development. (There is also a home-ownership mainte-nance fee.)
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt @Home Magazine Real Estate June/July, 2013 23
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Geschke Mike Properties#5 Appleblossom Avenue Extension,Petit Valley Trinidad, West Indies, POSTel: (868) 632-7642Cell: (868) 740-0719/786-0488
Geschke Mike PropertiesGeschke Mike Properties prides itself on being positioned among the top leadingagencies in the Industry.Having ten (10) years’ experience operating in service-based industries andbeing fully aware of the competitiveness of the Real Estate market, our successstems from our team's passion to provide and maintain top quality personalizedservice to our customers.In handling Residential/Commercial Sales or Rentals, and Property Appraisals,our team is ready to serve you with ethical, confidential and timely service.
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24 @Home Magazine Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt June/July, 2013
