New year - Howards Storage World

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inplace
EE
Summer 2013 • Issue 11
!
magazine
WIN!
AN ATTIC
MAKEOVER
WORTH
$7000!
New year
new you!
Your organised year starts here!
Back to school
All you need to make
mornings hassle-free!
Plus: Simple steps to create the home office of your dreams!
simply organised
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contents
Issue 11 Summer 2013
GET IN
TOUCH!
14
We love to hear
your thoughts!
email us at
[email protected]
10
18
22
28
From the Editor
4 Indulge
20 Your Chance to Win!
The latest news and products from Howards.
Win an incredible $7000 attic makeover
courtesy of Attic Group and Howards.
8 Q + A with Howards
Our experts find solutions for your storage needs.
22 Master Your Man Cave
9 Sue Blake
Discover how Howards restored order to an
overcrowded garage.
Sue shows us how decluttering can be life-changing!
10 The Kitchen Revolution
Loads of incredibly quick clean-up ideas to
help you defeat kitchen chaos.
14 Home Office Happiness
Want to create the perfect home office? Check
out these great hints and tips!
18 Attic Attack
Cover photography: ACPSyndication.com
Need more storage space in your home?
Sometimes the answer is just overhead...
26 Back to School Special (Pt. 1)
My Big Nutshell blogger Gemma on
how to beat those back-to-school blues.
28 Back to School Special (Pt. 2)
More tips from Howards’ star organiser, Cathy Player
30 Simply Efficient
Fabulous home solutions from the elfa® range.
32 Quick Fixes
Home storage ideas that take only moments.
Not all products or advertised prices are available in all stores.
Prices valid to 31/3/13. Every effort is put into ensuring that products
shown are available. However, from time to time some products may
become out of stock, discontinued or be replaced by new models. Please
check with your local store to avoid disappointment. See page 34 for more
information about store locations.
The New Year brings a whirl of activity
to any home, especially if you have kids.
We've put together some great strategies
for making your New Year cool, calm
and collected, with tips from the experts
for getting your kids off to school, your
kitchen under control and your garage
working like a dream.
In addition, we've taken a closer look
at the increasing number of people
choosing to work at home, with some
excellent solutions for setting up a home
office. And thinking outside the box,
we also have a great feature on attic
conversions – along with your chance to
win a $7000 attic makeover of your own!
All in all, it’s another bumper issue with
loads of fabulous solutions.
Happy New Year!
Gil ian
Gillian Serisier
Editor
QR codes
Throughout the magazine you’ll see QR codes,
like the one above. To use them, download
a QR reader app on your smartphone and
follow the instructions.
inplace magazine 3
news
indulge
FIND OUT
MORE!
Go to hsw.com.au
to find more
handy products
and gadgets.
The latest Howards news
Even brighter ideas!
T
ubtrugs have become an absolute
favourite for organisers right around
the world, and rightly so.
Strong, flexible and food-safe, they look
terrific and come in a fabulous rainbow
of bright and cheerful colours. They're
also good for just about any storage
solution, from laundry basket to picnic
hamper or ice bucket.
The latest additions to the Tubtrug range
are two brand new sizes, allowing for a host
of practical new possibilities.
The super-mini Tubtrug is just 370 ml
(CRS0372 $2.95), making it just perfect for
planting a bright little flower, stacking your
pens and pencils, or for party treats on
those celebratory occasions.
Just as adorable is the five-litre Shallow
Tubtrug (CRS0507 $7.95), which features a
new, shallow shape. This darling addition
is a fantastic solution for storing moveable
projects including knitting, craft items,
gardening hand tools, bike maintenance
items and more.
Inspirations offer!
To help you stay organised as you return to the
office, Howards has a great Back to Work offer for
Howards Inspirations members. Purchase a Fridge
to Go Mini Fridge (FTG3000 $34.95) and Cheeki
Coffee Mug (CHK3644 $22.95) for only $44.95.
That’s an impressive saving of $12.95!
The Fridge to Go is ideal for daily use, with a
removable chilling panel and slim-line design that
will keep your food cold for up to eight hours!
It's perfectly paired with the Cheeki Coffee Mug,
which uses a unique non-spill lid and an insulating double
wall to keep drinks hot for up to five hours.
This sensational offer ends February 17, 2013, so be sure to take
advantage while you can!
4 inplace magazine
Locked-in freshness
If you have a passion for perfectly
prepared coffee, the Coffee Vault
(VLL6800 $39.95) is the ultimate
container, keeping your coffee fresh
for longer. Eliminating the four big
no-nos – carbon dioxide, light, air and
moisture – this little gem really is a
vault for your coffee. The unique design
features a reverse
filtration system,
which draws carbon
dioxide out of
the canister, leaving
your coffee fresh,
pristine, and
never bitter.
Something
to tweet about
We're absolutely loving this on-desk
solution for paper clips that comes in the
form of a darling little bird sitting on a nest.
The Nest Sparrow (OUT0596 $14.95) is a
wonderful piece of design with a magnetic
base that keeps your paper clips in place
and creates that nesting look. The fact
that it's magnetised also means your paper
clips will stay in place and be on hand
when you need them. What's more, the
ingenious design will ensure your home
OTHER
office remains colour coordinated,
as the sparrows come in red, white
COMBINATIO
N
or black to match the colour of your
AVAILABLE S
INSTORE
paper clips. We'd suggest being the
early bird for these!
COLOUR
hsw.com.au
news
Style master
When it comes to hair styling, the
typical Australian bathroom resembles a
professional salon with curlers, straighteners,
dryers and crimpers. All are fabulous for
staying fashionable, but disastrous for
keeping your bathroom looking like a
minimalist haven of tranquility.
To get your equipment under control,
enlist the help of the expert Style Station
(DNE4485 $29.95). The separate front
compartments of steel mesh and silicone
base help cool each appliance, while
separate compartments in the rear keep
cords in check. Great for on the counter,
over the towel rail or even wall-mounted.
Thinking with a twist
Nothing says party time like a
sombrero-shaped lime juicer! Umbra
Sombrero Juicers (ANA90022 $9.95)
Simply pop the sombrero into the
top of a bottle and apply your lime
or lemon in a rotating motion for
instant, fresh juice that goes straight
into its destination – instead of all
over the kitchen counter! Perfect
for margaritas and mojitos, it's also
excellent for making lemonade, or for
any other occasion when you feel like
adding that citrus zing!
An office staple!
The Eco Stapler Cube (OUT0422 $16.95)
is more than just a wonderfully quirkylooking cube of happiness; it is also able
to fasten four pieces of paper together
simultaneously, and it does so without
using traditional metal staples. Unbelievable,
but true – you will never run out of staples
again. Rather than pinning your paper together
with metal, this nifty device cuts out tiny strips
of paper and uses them to securely stitch the
pages together. Safe for children and good
for the planet, this is an idea you'll soon be
attached to as well!
The smarter storer
Need a unique solution for keeping dry
foods fresh and your kitchen organised?
Airtight and space-efficient, these brilliant
OXO POP Jars are the answer. Featuring
a unique push-button mechanism that
creates an airtight seal with a single
touch, they also have a flat back designed
to sit flush against your countertop or
wall. Available in three sizes (WKI08416)
from $29.95.
inplace magazine 5
news
Going greener
Al dente, perfecto!
With summer still spilling warmth into
our days, cooking should be as quick as
whipping up a bowl of pasta. But getting
it right can be tricky if you don't have the
tools and tricks of the trade. Here are the
basic steps for cooking pasta al dente.
Cooking pasta to perfection
Step 1
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to
the boil. Adding the salt not only improves
the flavour of your pasta, but decreases the
boiling point for faster cooking.
Step 2
Measure your pasta to suit your needs,
set your timer and place in the boiling
water. Adding the pasta causes the water
temperature to drop, so your pasta will
need the occasional stir to prevent any
sticking in the early phases.
Step 3
Cook the pasta following cooking
instructions until the pasta is al dente
– Italian for ‘to the tooth.’ The simple
test is the bite test. It should be cooked
sufficiently, but still slightly firm at the
centre so that you feel the bite. Drain and
serve in your favourite fashion either with
sauce ladled over or by tossing in the pan
to really absorb those delicious flavours.
Top tips
Never add oil to the water as it stops
the sauce from sticking to your pasta.
Also, avoid rinsing your pasta, as the
starch helps your pasta absorb flavours
from your sauce. Buon appetito!
What can we say about this big
beige composter, except that it's
fantastic? In fact, it has the potential to
revolutionise your life and make home
composting a breeze.
The design of the Full Circle
Compost Collector (FOC11301 $39.95) is
simply brilliant, with a ventilation system
built in to allow oxygen flow. Effectively,
this means slower, drier composting,
which minimises odour, mess and
attractiveness to flies – great!
The benefits of composting
Composting helps reduce household
waste while giving your garden a
well-deserved boost by regenerating
soil. It adds healthy microorganisms
– think of them as probiotics for your
garden! These marvellous organisms
turn your compost into humus, adding
a vital shot of nutrients to your soil. It
all equates to far less need for chemical
fertilisers and more bountiful crops.
A new way to pasta time
Perfecting your portions and making sure your spaghetti
is perfect every time just got a whole lot easier. So simple
you'll wish you'd invented it, the Mastrad Spaghetti
Timer and Measurer (TRA77908 $19.95) is an all-in-one
gadget that measures out portions for one, two or three
hungry tummies and has a timer for getting cooking time
spot on! What's more, it's magnetic, so you can stick it on
the fridge, rack or oven for timing whenever you need it.
6 inplace magazine
See yourself clearly
with iForm.
inspirations
Why become a
Rewards member?
It's free to join the Howards
Inspirations Rewards program, and
there's a host of great benefits:
● $10 Vouchers
Activate your membership online
and receive a $10 Welcome voucher.
Earn a $10 Reward voucher for every
$200 spent, plus a voucher to celebrate
your birthday. What better way to
celebrate your big day than with a
special treat at Howards?
● Special offers
Receive regular and exclusive
Member-only offers.
● VIP events
On special occasions we will hold
VIP events and organise workshops
with exclusive free entry for
Inspirations Members.
● Competitions
Sweet Serenity
Congratulations to Lucy Orth,
the winner of our Inspirations family
holiday to Castaway Island, Fiji.
Enter our Member-only competitions
for a chance to win fabulous prizes.
● It's easy
With Howards Inspirations, there's no
need for another plastic card and no
points to calculate or exchange.
Member views
Helen Plummer
Adelaide, South Australia
Helen shops at Howards Mile End.
She says: “I love browsing and shopping
at Howards! I love the rewards program
too and recommend it to friends all
the time.”
Denise McKeough
Newcastle, New South Wales
A member since November 2010,
Denise shops at Howards Kotara.
She says: “I love the Inspirations
Rewards program. As a heavy user of
Howards products, I really appreciate
the vouchers usually being available
every time I walk into the store. It's a
real bonus that just gives me a lift.”
L
ucky Lucy, who is currently expecting,
will be able to ease away the stresses
of pregnancy with a relaxing five-night
family break on a perfect Fijian island after
having her name randomly drawn from more
than 100,000 entries.
Howards Inspirations members were
automatically given two free entries, as well
as gaining extra entries for every purchase
made during the promotion period.
Lucy, who has been a Howards Inspirations
member since February 2012, was thrilled
to hear the news. She said: “I'd like to say
the biggest thank you to Howards Storage
World. I love shopping there and feeling so
organised and tidy.
“We are so excited to have won this
amazing holiday. With baby number three on
the way, it's perfect timing as we will need a
holiday. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
As holidays go, it's going to be a
special one. The private island's 174 acres
are covered in rich tropical rainforest,
surrounded by white sand beaches and
azure waters.
The prize includes accommodation on
Castaway Island, flights for four people, land
and sea transfers, and a full meal package.
Look out for more exclusive Howards
Inspirations member competitions soon!
How to join
Visit a participating
Howards store and a
staff member can enrol
you. Alternatively, sign up online at
howardsinspirations.com.au
inplace magazine 7
your questions
Q+A
i nsider
Our Howards experts are on hand to
find solutions to all your storage needs!
Howards Insider asked the simple
question: Which area of your home do
you struggle to keep organised?
The response was amazing, but some problem
areas seem to be shared by many. Here are just
a few of the topics our insider blog has been
addressing. If you have a question, you can
also visit our Facebook page – we're here to
help with all your organisation needs!
THE KITCHEN
Elysia Fisher: “The kitchen! It's an ongoing
drama, from the jumbled drawer of utensils
to the bowls stacked on plates. What to do?”
Hi Elysia. You're in luck, because this is one
of the easiest problems to fix in the kitchen.
All you need to do is group like items together
and make a home for them with the use of
expanding or modular drawer organisers.
Additionally, the Bamboo Stacking Shelf
(EIC10061 $22.95) might help to solve your
plate problem.
PANTRY
Michelle Kavenagh Sands: Like many
FAMILY ROOM
CUPBOARD
Leonie Price: “The family room, which
Tracey Richardson identified the plastic
doubles as my son's toy room – Lego, Hot
Wheels cars, and general stuff everywhere…”
containers in her cupboard as an area of
continual frustration.
Hi Leonie. Our hint is to create a room with
accessible, fun storage. This will help with
teaching your son tidy habits
– and it will look cute to boot!
Have a look at our Kids Storage
Solutions pinboard on Pinterest
by scanning this QR code.
Hi Tracey. Firstly, group like containers together.
Separate the ‘high use’ containers from ones
used on occasions. Stack the containers, without
their lids, into each other. A Lid & Packet Tidy
(HLL4260 $4.95) will help keep your lids together.
It can screw or stick on the back of the door and
you will know where each lid is at all times.
CRAFT AREA
Ann Percival: “The craft area. But then, most of the house needs help.”
Hi Ann. A quick solution for storing ribbons would be our Ribbon Box (STE42870 $19.95).
It has compartments to store all ribbons so they don't become a tangled mess. Another
handy product that can be used a multitude of ways is the 22 Pocket Organiser (LTW5216 $21.95).
Great for storing smaller items such as buttons and beads.
8 inplace magazine
of our readers, Michelle finds getting the
pantry organised and under control a
constant chore. So how do you go about
fixing this most chaotic of areas?
Hi Michelle. The secret to organising your
pantry is to ‘zone’. This helps create a fully
functional pantry high on visibility and
accessibility. We recommend using organisers
to help you group items and make high-use
items easy to see. Quality, airtight stackable
storers are a real investment to save you time,
money and space. Check out Marie Storage
Baskets (PLF028 from $4.95), Aamina
Storers (PLF004 from $14.95) and our range
of OXO POP Containers (WKI81595 from
$18.95) as they are all customer favourites.
For more information
on zoning, check out
our insider blog by
scanning this QR code
hsw.com.au
column
In an
Organised Fashion
with Sue Blake
Professional organiser Sue Blake describes how
decluttering can be a life-changing experience.
“I
can't believe it,” she said. “The room
feels so much bigger – it's as if the
walls have receded! And when I sat
down to dinner with my son, I found I was
really listening to his conversation. I didn't
realise just how distracting the clutter was.”
It is the day after our first session, and my
new client has called to tell me how
she is feeling.
The word clutter is derived from the
Middle English word, clotter, which means
“to coagulate.” Clients contact Professional
Organisers when clutter has logjammed
their homes and, as a result, their lives
have clotted and congealed. They can't
get started. Clutter is Kryptonite to
clarity and, at the risk of sounding like a
politician, it stops us moving forward.
Clutter is not limited to the physical.
Emotional clutter is the stickiest of all,
a veritable bed of quicksand. We hold
on to anger, resentments and secrets
and are bombarded with requirements,
and expectations. Mental clutter is the
epidemic of our time.
Professional Organisers deal with
A new year is filled with a palpable
sense of portent and possibilities.
The air is saturated with desire for new
beginnings and hope bubbles along with
the champagne. We make resolutions,
we talk of the future and we dare to
dream new dreams. But a new start need
not be as big as a new job or moving
house. It can be achieved as simply as
“Clutter is Kryptonite to clarity, and
at the risk of sounding a little like a
politician , it stops us moving forward”
■ Does clutter
have you on the
verge of eruption?
people's possessions, but in doing so,
create a clean canvas for fresh beginnings.
When a client commits to the
process, it is astounding how often
things become ‘unstuck’. They
suddenly land that dream job, solve a
relationship problem, lose some weight.
Get together any group of Professional
Organisers and you will find
these stories abound. We are not
psychiatrists, and do not pretend
to be, but anyone who has worked in
this profession knows that clearing the
material has a mental impact. I don't
pretend to understand it, but it's as real
as it inexplicable. Moving the physical has
psychological consequences.
The act of decluttering is powerful; it
has the potential to give us a new start.
re-evaluating, decluttering and mining
the existing for sparkly new gems of
possibility.
As for my client, we continued our
sessions and, as her home improved, her
relationship with her son slowly took a
turn for the better. So what does your new
start look like? Will you reclaim that spare
room, clean out the garage, tackle the
paperwork? I promise it will be a cathartic
and liberating experience that gives you
a whole new start on your home… and
who knows what else.
In the meantime, if you have any stories
of how decluttering has impacted your
life, we would love to hear them. Share
your story on Howards' Facebook page!
Sue
Sue Blake is accredited as an Expert Professional Organiser by the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers.
To find a Professional Organiser in your area go to www.aapo.com.au
inplace magazine 9
kitchen revolution
The Kitchen Revolution
Want to learn how to defeat kitchen chaos in no time at all? Check
out these quick solutions that cover it all – including the kitchen sink!
10 inplace magazine
www.hsw.com.au
kitchen revolution
T
he kitchen is an amazing place.
It’s where we hang out with friends,
cook for family and start the day. It’s
also where we toss things into drawers,
cram things under sinks and lose jars of jam
in pantries bulging with food. Getting the
kitchen organised may seem like a huge
job, but it needn’t be. In fact, there are
plenty of storing tasks that take just a few
minutes. We know, because we timed them!
inplace magazine 11
kitchen revolution
■ An organised fridge makes
stocktaking a simple task!
h o w to...
QUASH THE PLASTIC
BAG INVASION
Free an entire shelf, drawer or under your
sink in seconds by placing your plastic bags
in a simplehuman Grocery Bag Holder
(ALB1000 $29.95). Brilliant!
■ simplehuman
Grocery Bag
Holder $29.95
“Sorting the fridge is a task you
can do in one fell swoop without
breaking the bank”
CHOPPING CHAOS
GETS THE CHOP
The most logical place to store your
chopping boards is right on your kitchen
counter, but chopping boards never seem
to stand up as neatly as you intended.
Thankfully, the wonderful designers at
Joseph Joseph have come up with the
Index Chopping Board (IDS60030 $79.95),
a set of chopping boards that come in an
upright storage container. The boards are
even colour coded to help prevent cross
contamination. How clever is that?
SECOND DRAWER SYNDROME
Getting a utensil drawer working
efficiently and looking good is all about
having the right tools. The right tool in this
case is a drawer organiser that fits perfectly
and has all the key zones you need. Howards
has plenty of excellent options, but the
best is the one that works for you. Simply
measure the groups of items, length and bulk
to determine which drawer organiser you
choose. Bring your drawer into any Howards
store if you'd like some expert help!
FRIDGE RESCUE
Each board is
earmarked for a
specific task!
12 inplace magazine
Sorting the fridge is one of those
tasks you can do in one fell swoop without
breaking the bank. Once you've sorted the
contents (discarding empty and out-of-date
jars), use baskets and Lazy Susans to store
food. Condiments should be stored together,
while favourite items should be at the front
and clearly in sight. Marie Fridge Baskets
(PLF028 from $4.95) make short work of
Brings order to
hard-to-stack pan lids!
keeping items grouped and easy to access.
Choose the right containers from Howards'
huge range to keep food fresh and save loads
of space.
CUPBOARD RETHINK
Create precious cupboard
space with the Euro Kitchen Organiser
(SPE32078 $29.95). This rack's eight divided
sections allow you to organise your plates, lids
or baking sheets with ease. Made of sturdy
metal, the Euro Kitchen Organiser's clean
design is a smart take on a classic idea that
adds a modern touch to every home. It can
also be used in the office as a desktop
organiser as it's perfect for folders and files too!
www.hsw.com.au
kitchen revolution
Pantry perfection in two 1-hour tasks…
Cu pboard magic
Task 1
Transferring packaged goods
to airtight containers will
extend the life of the products. It also
increases your storage space, as the
products can now be stacked. Make sure
everything is labelled with a used-by date
clearly displayed.
1
Task 2
The key to a good pantry is a
well-organised and accessible
storage system. How you arrange your
pantry items will depend very much on
your family, but the key ideas will always
be the same. That is, the high-use items
need to be centre front. Rollout baskets
are a great way to activate your bottomshelf storage, while the top shelf should be
reserved for bulky-but-light items such as
bags of chips. Labelling shelves is a great
way to keep everything in its place.
2
What you will
need to get started
Baskets with handles are particularly
useful in the pantry. They are excellent for
items you like to move as a group, such as
condiments, or items that don't store easily.
Try grouping items in a Marie Medium
Storage Basket (PLF028 $4.95).
Create a simple labelling system that
indicates what goes in each basket (jams,
soft drinks, salad dressings, etc.) as it'll help
family members stick with the system and
encourage them to return items to the
correct container with Avery labels.
Storing bottles can be tricky, as they
tend to topple when you reach past them.
Keep all your bottles in place and intact
with Mimi Wide Separator baskets
(PLF008 $9.95).
For dry goods, such as
pasta, flour and cereal,
Aamina Easy
Access Storers
(from $14.95) are
ideal, with handles
for ease of use.
■ Marie Medium Storage
Basket (PLF028 $4.95)
Kat the Organised Housewife has
always stored her cups and bottles in
a low cupboard. However, she recently
discovered the joys of coffee and now
must access her cups on a regular basis.
“I spied these simplehuman Cabinet
Organisers (ALB01118 from $79.95) and I
knew they would suit perfectly,” says Kat.
It's amazing how much space she has
found with a bit of organisation! Follow
Kat's blog at theorganisedhousewife.com.au.
3
4
5
Get the look !
1. Aamina Storers 9.6l PLF005 $19.95
2. Aamina Storers 4.8l PLF004 $14.95
3. Amalie Narrow Pull Out Organiser
PLF009 $9.95
4. Amalie Wide Pull Out Organiser
PLF010 $14.95
5. Mimi Wide Separator PLF008 $9.95
Kitchen Malisketover
check
❑ Grocery bag holder
ard set
❑ U pright chopping bo
❑ Drawer organisers
❑ Fridge baskets
er
❑ Plate/lids organis
❑ Storage baskets
❑ Avery labels
r dry goods
❑ Containers fo
nisers
❑ Cabinet orga
inplace magazine 13
get the look
Working a Treat
How to get your home office off the
kitchen table and ready for action!
Orla Kiely's elegant
designs add an extra
dash of style to any
home office
Keep files in order
with a dedicated
set of drawers!
Store important
magazines and
books in style!
■ Three-ring wall-mounted
magazine rack EIC4004 $19.95
■ 8 drawer cabinet on wheels
EIC006 $199
14 inplace magazine
www.hsw.com.au
get the look
INSPIRATIONS
OFFER
Orla-la h!
T
here's no need to find your desk
disappearing under a pile of papers!
Whether for business, household
accounts or correspondence, a working home
office is all about systems. From the in-tray to
the filing, everything must run smoothly from
one zone to the next. Here's how to make it
work for you...
Home office happiness
Before you set up your home office, think
about how you intend to use it. Will you
be distracted by family noise? Ideally, your
home office should be separated from the
rest of the home by a door. Not only does
this create a quiet working area, but – if
you're a home worker – it also allows you to
mentally separate office time from home life.
Whatever the primary function of your
office, keep all items you use on a daily basis
close at hand; for example, a pot of pens
on the desktop is endlessly helpful. Items
that are handy but less regularly needed
– a stapler or ruler, perhaps – can have a
designated space in a drawer.
Most importantly, items that are only
required quarterly or less can be filed in a
box and placed on a shelf, or in the attic.
For example, you are unlikely to refer to
your tax returns from last year for another
12 months, so they should be carefully filed
away to ensure they're not cluttering your
daily space.
A large wall planner placed near your desk
will help you to keep track of your projects,
as well as ensuring you don't forget about
the ‘bigger picture’ when you are focused
on smaller tasks.
Multi Stem
Buy two A4Boxes and
Storage ic Stem
get a Class worth
Notebook ee!
$14.95 fr
One of the most exciting
designers to emerge from the UK
in the past decade, Orla Kiely was
perhaps always destined for fame.
Indeed, she was still in college when
upscale London department store
1
Harrods first placed an order for her
range of products.
Inspired by simple, stylised
shapes such as leaves and flowers
drawn in muted shades, Orla's
designs have become synonymous
with elegance around the world.
Her list of famous fans includes
Kirsten Dunst, Zooey Deschanel, Keira
Knightley and Helena Christensen!
Orla's latest project is a range of
folders, files, pens and storage boxes
bearing classic Orla Kiely motifs.
As stunning as they are practical,
5
with generous proportions and a variety
of sizes to fit a variety of needs, the range
fits perfectly with the rousing philosophy
of making your home office a beautiful
and creative environment that you will
love to work in.
To welcome Orla Kiely's brand of
elegance in-store, Howards is running
a special offer for Inspirations
Members, until February 17, 2013.
Members can buy two A4 Multi Stem
Storage Boxes and get a Classic Stem
Notebook worth $14.95 free!
Create a filing system
When it comes to filing, labelling is key. The
simplest way to label then arrange files is
alphabetically. But even within that you might
wish to give some thought to how your
system will grow. For example, do you file
people by their first name or their surname?
We would suggest surname, but no matter
what you decide, the important thing is to
keep to the system, sorting the Brown family
in clearly marked files as Brown, Andrew;
Brown, Jenny; Brown, Susan; etc.
It's also worth labelling three boxes
'In-tray', 'Processing', 'Filing'. Remember,
though: a filing tray is strictly short-term
parking. Don't let it get out of control!
2
3
4
6
Orla Kiely Multi Stem Range
1. A4 Storage Box OUT5210 Large $34.95
2. Expander File OUT5209 $29.95
3. Magazine Organiser OUT5692 $32.95
4. Ring Binder OUT5691 $17.95
5. Classic Notebook OUT5200 Med $14.95
6. Ball Pen OUT5733 $17.95
Purge your paperwork
If your in-tray is already overflowing, here's
how to fix it. Gather all the piles of paper on
your desk and perform a general sort. You
don't need to read everything, just throw
away the clear trash – empty envelopes, old
magazines, junk mail, etc.
Once you're down to a pile of important
letters and bills, go through each item and
decide whether to sign it, post it, fax it,
forward it, file it or trash it. The key is to only
touch each piece of paper once. Don't put
it onto a new pile or you'll have to read it and
deal with it again!
When you're done, you'll only have items
that relate to current projects on your desk.
inplace magazine 15
get the look
What you will
need to get started
Creating a home office or study nook
that suits the needs of your whole
family requires a flexible design.
The elfa® range of products is perfect
for this. For example, the organisation
station pictured right allows a child to
take control of his/her study space – no
more school bags left in the hallway.
Wire drawers allow objects to be
seen, plus, the height of the desk can
be adjusted as the child grows!
The space is divided into a
homework zone, a storage zone on
the top shelf for keeping certificates,
artwork, etc., and a
uniform zone.
A clock and notice
board finishes off the
study space perfectly.
Children's study zone
With the kids going back to school and
homework being part of the routine
again, it might be worth considering
whether your home office could be best
used as a dedicated study area.
Obviously, if you are a home worker
this solution won't apply – but if your
home office isn't getting regular use,
then reconfiguring it for your children
could make all the difference. Research
has shown that a study space devoid of
distractions and multi-tasking leads to a
better learning outcome.
“Even if you do learn while multi-tasking,
you cannot retrieve information as easily,” says
Associate Professor Russell Poldrack of the
University of California. Providing your child
with a study area also encourages good study
habits, such as establishing a routine, which
can help them later in life.
The basics of a study nook are no different
to the home office: a table, chair, drawers, a
filing system, sufficient lighting, a computer,
and the necessary stationery.
A shelf that operates as a library is also
useful for school books, reference books and
files from previous years.
16 inplace magazine
■ elfa® offers a range of solutions
that are totally flexible.
“If your home
office isn't getting
regular use, then
reconfigure it
for your children”
Locate your child's study area away from
diversions such as the TV and busy familyorientated rooms such as the kitchen. Natural
lighting from a large window is a bonus, if
possible, as it's a more pleasant way to read.
Help your child create a study routine,
with the same hours set aside each day for
homework. With sport, music and other
extracurricular activities on the schedule, the
right balance needs to be achieved between
hobbies and homework. The ideal way is to
use a calendar to ensure all goals are being
met and that your child is managing their
time effectively.
Last but not least, make sure the area
isn't dull. In fact, the best way to beat study
blues is to let your child pick colours and
folder designs they love to make it a zone all
of their own.
If you follow all of these tips and remain
diligent in their application, you'll be able to
make more of your space and quickly be on
the way to home office happiness! ■ inplace
www.hsw.com.au
get the look
Organise every home,
one room at a time.
Introducing the new range of Avery Home products
®
Freezer Safe Labels
Oval Labels
Dry Erase To-Do List
Now you can communicate, co-ordinate and organise with ease, thanks to the Avery Home Organisation Range. It now includes a
huge choice of labels (including Freezer Safe and Removable Photo Labels), Peel and Stick Dry Erase Monthly Calendars, Personal
Expression Products for gifts and parties and much more. So, no matter how busy your household, you’ll always have it under control.
Little things that work in a big way.™
For your FREE sample pack*, call us today on 1800 644 353 (free call)
*While stocks last
Innovative Products | Easy-to-Use Templates and Software | Service and Support |
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inplace magazine 17
attic attack
Lofty
Goals
How to convert
your attic space and
expand your home
by up to 30 per cent!
W
hen everything is organised
but you still need space, finding
that much-needed extra room
may be as simple as looking overhead.
Attic conversions are fast becoming the
spare room miracle many have been looking
for – and a great alternative to moving.
Indeed, this conversion is being
championed by professional architects all
over Australia, including Lucy Vader. “Using
the attic space in your home makes a lot
of sense,” Lucy says. “It's cheaper and often
quicker than moving, while adding to your
lifestyle and your property's overall value.”
Cameron Elkins of roof-space conversion
experts Attic Group adds: “People are
becoming aware that up to 30 per cent of
unused space in their home is right above
their head. Homeowners are waking up to
the fact there is this roof-space that they
can do something with.”
Whether your attic space is best suited
for extra storage, an extra room or both will
depend on your needs and its size. That
said, what you choose to do with your new
room depends entirely on your imagination,
and can range from an extra bedroom to a
home office, sewing room, media room, kids'
room, parents' room, music studio or even a
home gym. In fact, one enterprising family
has converted their attic to a year-round
campsite with billowing tent walls, Persian
rugs and laid-back day-beds, making it
perfect for hanging out, parties and taking a
quiet afternoon snooze.
Home offices in particular are increasingly
18 inplace magazine
hsw.com.au
attic attack
■ Believe it or not, this was
once an unused attic!
WIN!
AN ATTIC
MAKEOVER
SEE NEXT PAGE
FOR DETAILS
“People are becoming increasingly
aware that up to 30 per cent of unused space
in the home is right above their head”
popular, with more people opting to work
from home or shift their household accounts
to a designated area. Essentially, this means
getting bills off the dining-room table and
into order with stationery, receipts, filing and
papers all in the one place.
Moreover, optimising the space in your
home with an office not only adds an extra
room, but also adds value to your home,
according to Marc Fitzpatrick of Liberty
Property. ”The addition of a study to any
Before
home can add exponentially to its market
value, especially when competing with
properties without,” he explains.
Converting your attic requires thought
and expertise to optimise space and ensure
it's a room you will love. Cameron Elkins
continues: ”An attic conversion can be as
simple as installing an attic ladder to give
you access to your space, or it could be a
premium room with a much nicer finish and
much higher weight-bearing load.”
Typically, a premium room starts at about
20 square metres and features a structural
floor, gyprocked walls, lighting and skylights.
And of course, as Cameron also points
out, adding ceiling windows for light and
ventilation can give you easily the best views
in the house!
Once your attic has been converted,
fitting it out to suit your home office needs
also requires thought. Getting this right
takes skill, as the spatial dimensions of an
attic aren't the simple four square walls of a
traditional room. Rather, sloping walls and
tricky corners are the order of the day, and it
will take time to figure out the best solutions
inplace magazine 19
attic attack
■ Roof space can be
utilised easily with elfa®
A Roof Storage Makeover
valued at
$6,000!
Plus a $1,000 Howards gift card
to start making use of the space
Do you have unused attic space that you feel could be
better utilised? This is your chance to win...
Prize includes:
After
■ 2.8m Premium Australian-made
“Stair Ladder Deluxe” attic ladder
■ 10sqm of flooring and battening
■ Perimeter kickboards, wall framing
and roof lining
■ Wireless sensor lights
■ Access hatch to non-storage roof space
■ All fully installed by Attic Ladders’
qualified carpenters
■ $1,000 Howards Gift Card
Before
How to win:
Simply tell us in 25 words or less
why an attic storage area would be
great for your home!
When you've got a great answer,
visit atticladders.com.au/competition
to enter. Good luck!
• The closing date is 31/3/13
• The competition will be drawn
on 1/4/13 with the winner notified
by email.
• Entrants must upload at least
one external photo of their roof
(and also one of the inside of their
roof space, if possible)
• All entrants must be owners
(either outright or via mortgage)
of the home they have nominated
their prize for. Entrants cannot be
renting or temporarily residing in
the property.
• Competition only available to residents
in the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
and Brisbane metropolitan areas.
• To view terms and conditions, visit
atticgroup.com.au/competition
20 inplace magazine
WIN!
for optimal use of space. Of course, this is
where the experts at Howards Storage
World are at their best, with a solution for
most spaces, no matter how unusual.
When creating a new room in your newly
converted attic, take advantage of the clean
slate and consider your long-term needs.
For the ultimate big fix, think custom-built
with an easy-build system that provides
storage and archival space as well as loads of
functional areas.
If you have previously been using your
attic for storage, converting it to a home
office, bedroom or media room may have
actually worked to reduce your overall
amount of space for storage in your home.
This, however, does not automatically mean
that you're forced to reduce the amount you
store. Compression is the answer.
Archiving out-of-season clothes is as
simple as getting out the vacuum cleaner
and a Space Bag Hanging Dress Bag
(TRA57014 $22.95) that can turn 10 coats
into the width of three – virtually tripling
www.hsw.com.au
get the look
your storage space! For storage of
large amounts, a Compactor High
Volume Flat Family Case (STE4025
$49.95) can handle 180 litres of
storage, while the High Volume
Family Trunk (STE4024 $44.95) can
compress 150 litres of storage into a
neat, stackable box.
Of course, many treasured items
simply cannot be compressed, and
these will need to be archived in
sturdy plastic boxes, keeping them
safe from dust and household pests.
Try Easi Store from $9.95, with a
range of sizes available. ■ inplace
■ Compactor Trunks
(STE4023 from $36.95)
inplace magazine 21
garage makeover
Master Your
Man Cave
Feeling fishy
Racor Fishing Rod Rack
(STE104 $29.95) Here's the
catch of the day: storing up
to four rods, this outstanding
rod rack can be mounted on
the wall or even the ceiling.
Great garage solutions!
T
he dream of a pristine, perfect
garage is possible with all the
right tools – no pun intended!
Check out the various garage storage
solutions on this page, and then turn
over to see how Howards brought
order to the most chaotic of garages.
■ Racor Garden Tool
Rack (STE103 $63.95)
CUSTOMER
FAVOURITE
le
■ Racor Doub
ck
Floor Bike Ra
(STE101 $99)
■ Latch boxes
(STE1882 from $12.95)
22 inplace magazine
www.hsw.com.au
hsw.com.au
garage makeover
Bike bliss
Racor Iron Wedge Bike
hook (STE105 $14.95) Store
bikes safely on the wall with
a durable Racor wall hook.
Includes moulded rubber
hook to guard tyre.
Just hanging
Hole in one
Space Bag Hanging Dress
Bag (TRA57014 $22.95)
Compress, protect and
organise your ski gear with
these airtight, watertight
bags. Also keeps away dust,
dirt and mildew.
Racor Double Golf Rack
(STE102 $39.95) For the avid
golfer, keep those clubs on
the wall for easy access and
storage every time. Includes
hooks for one pair of shoes.
Easy storage
For more, scan
this QR code!
Tubtrugs 26L (CRS $14.95)
Genuine Tubtrugs are super
strong and flexible. Use
them for storage, weeding,
washing the dog, or even as
an ice bucket.
Organisation is at its best with a
custom designed garage solution
from elfa®. Strong, epoxy-bonded
steel makes this system tough
enough to resist even the sportiest of
families. Ask for a free design, measure
and quote from any Howards store.
inplace magazine 23
garage makeover
After
Before
Garage makeover!
In the real world, the garage is generally
a pretty chaotic space. In fact, it tends to
act as both a dumping ground for junk
and a storage area for things we use on a
regular basis. With this in mind, we set about
creating a garage makeover for Life Love and
Hiccups blogger, Sonia, and her sporty family
of three lovely boys and a surfing husband.
Sonia focuses her blog, as the name
suggests, on love, life and everything in
between – with an emphasis on the real.
“I write about the hiccups; the stuff that
happens in everyday families that one day we
hope we can look back on and laugh about.”
Taking this approach, Sonia set the
■ elfa® plastic bracket covers
prevent scratching
■ Tubtrugs ($14.95)
“It’s absolutely brilliant. I’m
going to be able to get at the
boards I haven’t surfed for ages!”
challenge of taking on a truly chaotic
garage, describing her expectation of the
Howards team with humour. “I thought
they would turn and run!” she laughs.
What surprised Sonia most, though, was
the overall approach, which focused on the
family rather than the products. “The whole
idea of zoning blew me away,” she says. “The
fact they stood there and really thought
24 inplace magazine
Scan here to see
the makeover!
about it and asked questions about how our
family works and operates before they made
any suggestions – that was really impressive.“
Ultimately, what Sonia wanted was a
system the whole family could use. She also
wanted it to appeal to her aesthetic sensibility
for order: “I like things to look nice and be
organised so that I can pull them out and put
them away simply. When I need to find one of
■ Sonia Stackhouse from
Life Love and Hiccups
the kids' mouth guards or shin pads, I want to
go straight to the right place. I also want it to
be manageable for the whole family. I have a
five-year-old who needs to be able to follow
the system – nothing too complicated.”
For Sonia's garage, Howards' solution
was an elfa® system of ‘zones’ allocated to
activities. “They organised the space into
areas specific to a hobby or need,” she says.
www.hsw.com.au
garage makeover
“A wet-wall for water sports, a building and
home decor zone, a kids' sport zone for bikes
and skateboards, a pet zone to store big bags
of dog food and leads, and an everyday living
zone. I have three boys and hate smelly shoes
in the house, so an area to remove all the gear
before coming inside helps control the clutter.”
The wet-wall was the first stage to be
resolved. There was a considerable amount
of customisation due to an unusually shaped
wall, and the installer took about four hours
to create the system. The result, however, has
been terrific, according to Sonia. Her husband
was particularly impressed with the access to
his boards: “It's going to be brilliant, absolutely
brilliant. I'm going to be able to get at the
boards I haven't surfed for ages!” Sonia also
points out that “he loves the incorporated
hanging space for wetsuits – something
he'd never have thought of.”
While the first phase was for Sonia's
husband, the next will be for her own true
passion: home decorating. “The building
and home décor zone will be next,” she
says. I love decorating and can't get to my
paints and bits and pieces. When things
aren't cluttered I'm so much more inspired.”
Follow Sonia's garage transformation on the
Howards Insider blog at hsw.com.au or on
Sonia's blog Life Love and Hiccups ■ inplace
Get the look!
hours
Wet-wall:
■ elfa® inc. installation
■ Tubtrug storage x5
■ Fishing Rod Racks x3
$1288
$74.75
$89.95
TOTAL $1452.70
To see more of Sonia's garage
makeover and take a look at the
fabulous changes Howards put
in place, visit the Howards insider
blog at insider.hsw.com.au!
inplace magazine 25
back to school
Lessons for a
Smooth Return
Gemma of My Big Nutshell with tips from the front-line!
■ My Big Nutshell
blogger, Gemma
■ Create a homework
zone with ample supplies
■ Fridge to Go lunch boxes
keep food cold up to 8 hours
T
o help get your kids back to school, we
asked My Big Nutshell blogger Gemma
to share some of her thoughts and tips.
Describing herself as a “stay-at-home mother
to three very hilarious children,” Gemma
started her blog after realising she was
over-sharing on Facebook.
She explains: “I write from the heart about
what it's like to resign from a career in human
resources. You'll find absurd accounts of
wardrobe malfunctions and rants about social
justice. Just because I'm home, it doesn't
mean my brain has stopped!”
One of the biggest problems faced by
parents is the shift from the slower pace of
holiday mode to the frenetic pace of the
26 inplace magazine
back-to-school period. “During holidays, most
families like to keep a slower pace with more
free time,” Gemma says. “This often means
casual eating and grazing, later nights and
sleep-ins with an unstructured morning (read:
Mum is desperately trying to get over Term 4,
Christmas and a massive New Year, so let me
sleep!).” However, she also points out that
starting early and being organised is key.
Handing opportunity to your children
not only gives them a smooth start to
the day but also sets them up for a more
organised approach to life. “If everyone
knows what must be done and carries
out their responsibilities, you can expect
a smooth morning,” Gemma says. “On the
fridge is a chart with words and pictures of
the sequence for the morning routine. I refer
the kids to the chart so they learn to take
responsibility for themselves.”
She also points out the reality of family life:
“Throw slow-moving kids and rushing parents
into the mix and something is bound to be
forgotten.” To get the routine rolling, Gemma
starts early: “For the first couple of months of
Term 1, I get most of my morning work done
the night before, such as lunches and bowls
for breakfast. Supervise the kids as they lay
out their uniforms including shoes, socks and
requirements for the next school day.”
The age-old problem of how to get
kids to do their homework is another area
hsw.com.au
back to school
OTHER
Gemma tackles with good organisation:
“The secret is establishing a family system
that is uncomplicated, fun and accounts for
your routine. Weekday homework happens
after the kids have eaten a snack – although I
advise against giving a two-year-old a Slurpee
in the car. The floor of the Territory is now
stained red! I still can't talk about it.
“Having a homework zone and wellstocked homework supplies is key to getting
them started. Have a box of supplies like
rulers, erasers, pencils, scissors, working paper
and glue ready to go.”
Above all, Gemma suggests keeping
systems simple so everyone can follow them
– and, most of all, to persevere! ■ inplace
Back-to-school offer!
COLOUR
COMBIN
ATION
AVAILABLE S
INSTORE
To get the year off to a flying start
for both you and your kids, Howards
is offering Inspirations members an
excellent back-to-school package.
This great offer includes a Fridge
to Go Small Lunch bag (FTG30603
$29.95), a Contigo Autospout Kids
Water Bottle (ZLS50921 $16.95),
and a reusable Sandwich Wrap
(DNE8862 $6.95) all for only $39.95 –
a saving of $13.90!
Take advantage of this fantastic
offer in your local Howards store
today. Special offer valid until
February 17, 2013.
“Handing opportunity to your children not only
gives them a smooth start to the day but also sets
them up for a more organised approach to life”
My Big Nutshell's Top Ten Tips
for getting back into the morning routine!
#
1
Honestly review what routines and
activities worked. What can you cull
to make everyone's life less complicated?
What can you concentrate on to enrich the
learning and fun of each family member?
#
2
#
3
#
4
It's a stressful time. Build in some
moments for yourself, to regroup.
Make sure you have crisp new lunch
boxes and drink bottles.
Set up a school hub, a place
where bags and equipment can be
easily accessed, an area for schedules and
routines to be clearly seen and a place for
homework to happen effortlessly.
#
5
Get a folder or big plastic sleeve to
file school notes for your action.
Regularly sit down with a diary, moneyfilled purse and envelopes and keep
spending until you've got nothing left.
#
6
Ask the kids to pick their favourite
baked treat and help them make
enough of them to last for the term.
Freeze them quickly, or else the purpose
of the exercise is void.
#
7
Start a countdown two weeks
before and include a surprise
back-to-school activity each day.
#
8
Invite school friends around for a
play date. This is a particularly good
idea for kids who are a little anxious about
returning to school.
#
Learning starts at home
and your child 's mood
affects how well he/she
learns. Sending them off
feeling calm and positive is
the best thing you can offer!
9
Plan for holidays for the end of Term
1 – before everyone else – so you
don't miss out on anything.
#
10
Tell your kids how proud of them
you are and remind them of all
the wonderful things they have to look
forward to for this school year.
inplace magazine 27
back to school
School
Systems
Putting the brakes on
back-to-school stress...
W
hen it comes to going back to
school, family stress levels can go
through the roof. We asked our
resident expert, Cathy Player, for her sure-fire
tips for getting the chaos under control.
inplace: How organised do families
need to be if they want to beat backto-school stress?
Cathy: After a carefree six-week holiday,
back-to-school time is like mobilising an
army. It’s a process that takes time and
care – plus lots of checklists. Each year
is a great opportunity to learn from the
previous year's mistakes. Leaving
everything to the last minute is never a
good idea; we insist that kids don't
leave their homework to the last
minute, so why not set a great example
for the year ahead with an organised
start? Being in control is a major stress
reliever and puts the whole family in a
better position for a good start.
SHARE YOUR
STORIES
WITH US ON
FACEBOOK!
inplace: What are the most vital
organisation tasks for a smooth backto-school transition?
Cathy: There are three major areas that
benefit from the back-to-school makeover,
and Howards has some innovative
suggestions for organising these spaces:
1
Study space
Has the desk become a dumping
ground? If so, it's time to clear the decks,
make sure ‘last year’ is packed away and start
with a clean slate. Have all stationery items
28 inplace magazine
neatly organised in labelled caddies and
storers. The new Avery labels make it easy to
pick a colourful theme and make
this space just the way you like it. Aim for a
totally clear space by installing shelves
above or beside the desk. Older children
benefit from subject folders with dividers
for coursework, sheets, assignments and
tests. Younger children need nice new
pencils and a lovely new ‘important box’
for school notes and homework.
2
Kitchen
Empower the kids to make their own
healthy lunches by making all the elements
easy to access. Snacks and drinks have their
own caddies in the pantry and cold snacks
can be stored in a basket in the fridge.
Consider pre-making lunches on a Sunday
and freezing to save time with lovely, fresh
ingredients. Label them with Avery freezer
labels and the kids will love you for it! No
more stale bread by mid-week.
hsw.com.au
back to school
■ New Avery Peel & Stick (AVE13099 $8.95)
weekly calendar is a great addition to your fridge
■ New Avery Peel & Stick Homework List
(AVE13094 $5.95) can be stuck to the wall
and easily removed leaving no residue.
“Back-to-school time is like mobilising an
army. It's a process that takes time and care”
3
Bedroom
With busy days, the kids' rooms become
their sanctuary for rest and relaxation. Have a
fresh look at your children's rooms and see if
you can find clever ways to tidy toys and tame
clothes. Clutter is just as stressful for kids, and
January is the perfect time to sort this room
out, pass on clothes that don't fit, put in clever
storage and make the most of the space.
inplace: What's the big-picture solution for
controlling the back-to-school chaos?
Cathy: Starting with the big solutions, elfa
and easy-build shelving are ideal for creating
the main infrastructure of your storage,
including hooks for the many bags used.
With this in place, caddies help everyone
keep items nicely grouped, from stationery to
school socks. Labels are essential as they keep
the system simple and visual.
inplace: When it comes to staying on top
of things, what are your top four everyday
routines for long-term organisation?
Cathy: Day to day, there are many simple
routines to enable everyone in the house
to contribute:
1:Kids pack their own lunch.
2:Have a checklist of daily activities (including
uniform/equipment needs).
■ Decor RealSeal
Compact Lunch Starter Kit $24.95
3:When kids return home, as they walk in the
door they must:
✔ hand over notes to mum;
✔ empty out lunch box and put cool bricks back in freezer;
✔ put used uniform(s) in the washing.
4:Allocate a regular homework time and call
it ‘Homework Happy Hour.’ No distractions
allowed during this time.
If you put time into establishing ingredients
for an organised house (e.g., creating checklists
and pre-making lunches), the kids can operate
independently throughout the week.
inplace: When it comes to organising the kids
for school, what's the greatest challenge?
Cathy: There are many challenges faced
during term time and this is made more
complex the larger the family and how
committed they are to extracurricular
activities. The most common complaint is “no
time.” The greatest relief for this is, of course,
organisation. Many of the tasks are repetitive,
so putting in place simple systems and
empowering your children to help can save
you lots of time every day.
With these simple suggestions, Howards
wishes you and your family a happy start
to the New Year. If you would like further
assistance and inspiration, visit a store,
pick up a catalogue or visit our website
at hsw.com.au ■ inplace
inplace magazine 29
elfa®
Keep rarely used
treasures up
high in the
archive zone
Simply
Efficient
Whether getting the kids ready to
go back to school or organising
your home, the elfa® range can
help you win the space race.
Easy-to-access
drawers for
everyday items
30 inplace magazine
■ elfa® units can easily
transform
any space
www.hsw.com.au
elfa®
■ Drawers from the
elfa® classic range offer
instant storage solutions
T
here's something deeply impressive
about elfa®. It's Swedish made, elegant,
endlessly customisable and practical in
an array of situations.
One of the most brilliant things about the
elfa® range is its ability to be configured in
endless ways to suit your needs. Indeed, the
modular sections can be raised, lowered or
even rearranged to suit.
Every elfa® attachment is made of steel for
strength, while all the wooden shelves and
fascias offer real luxury. It even comes with a
10 year warranty.
Flexibility is the key to the elfa® experience.
The wall-mounted units attach to the wall
using the top hang track. Once you've
checked that it's level, everything else will
automatically be straight and true!
As well as being totally adaptable as your
needs change (drawers, shelves and hanging
rails can be added and removed as you wish)
elfa® comes into its own when it's time for you
to move, as it can be easily disassembled and
rebuilt in your new home.
So, who is the pioneer behind this
brilliant idea? elfa® was actually established
in the late 1940s by the Swedish engineer,
Arne Lydmar.
Like many pioneers, Arne was especially
passionate about a single concept. For him,
it was the possibility of creating more space
through smart storage solutions. With his
exceptional eye for detail, elfa® fast became
the leader in the industry.
Over the past 70 years, elfa® has
continuously improved its products as new
technologies have become available. In fact,
elfa® has been stocked by Howards ever since
Les and Edda Howard opened their first store
in Northbridge in the early '70s.
Today, Howards proudly offers free elfa®
consultations. Feel free to bring a sketch or
photo in store, or we can come over and
provide a no-obligation measure and quote
at your home.
Once you've selected your perfect,
bespoke elfa® solution we can even arrange
delivery and installation. It genuinely couldn't
be easier! ■ inplace
Learn more
about
the elfa® range on
the Howards website
“elfa can be used to organise any room in
your home , from the garage to the kitchen”
®
elfa ® basics
Available for a limited time only, the elfa® basics range is an
inexpensive way to get started with your elfa® solution.
Starting from $129, elfa® basics is a standalone drawer
set that comes with a choice of two drawer depths: 540mm
deep or 440mm deep.
The practical white frame and white wire baskets (which
include three one-runner drawers and one one-runner
drawer) are ideal for creating instant, affordable solutions
around the home.
Whether you want to store extra towels in the bathroom,
give your kids a simple home for their toys or keep tools
tucked away in the garage, elfa® basics is perfect!
Pop in-store to take a look at elfa® basics and see how
they could help you!
inplace magazine 31
around the home
Quick Fixes
■ Coat & Hat Stand
(EIC8045 $129)
When you need things sorted
in a matter of moments…
W
hile many storage solutions require
planning, sorting and storing,
sometimes a ‘quick fix’ is what you
really need. These are the fabulous solutions
that turn mayhem into clarity in moments.
Coat stands. Why did we ever stop using
them? In minutes, you can have coats hung,
bags off the floor, umbrellas easily locatable
and hats no longer getting crushed in a
corner. A good coat stand is well balanced
yet slim enough not to be an obstacle in
its own right. It also has to have sufficient
prongs for your family's needs without
looking like a cactus. Try the Coat & Hat
Stand (EIC8045 $129.00) for perfection.
The quickest fix for the shower is an Over
The Door Shower Caddy (EIC3048 $49.95).
It gets everything off the floor and keeps
shampoos and conditioners separate from
soap. The additional hook for a loofah or
washcloth is a great bit of design savvy.
Shoes are next. We all love them, so why
do we abandon them at the bottom of
the closet when getting them organised
and stored can take merely a matter of
moments? A Shoe Rack with Wooden
sides (EIC0502 $74.95) is a product of
outstanding quality that promises to
keep your shoes looking smart for longer.
There never seems to be enough
room for towels. In summer, there are a
million beach towels; in winter, sport ups
the tally again! Teenagers can cause
plenty of towel nightmares, too, with their
habit of leaving wet ones pretty much
anywhere they please. Adding a beautifully
designed towel rack of exceptional quality
is all about choosing the right style for
you. Try the Chrome Towel Rack
(EIC99521 $49.95); and, of course, the
3 Rail Towel Rack with Bamboo Shelf
(EIC90215 $79.95) ■ inplace
Keep wet
towels off
the floor
CUSTOMER
FAVOURITES
■ 3 Rail Towel Rack
with Bamboo Shelf
(EIC90215 $79.95)
32 inplace magazine
■ Chrome Towel Rack
(EIC99521 $49.95)
hsw.com.au
Bring your own bottle…
what a Chee ki idea!
Hooks on the
dry side too!
Australians currently spend $500 million on the 6.67 billion
plastic containers we consume each year. Of those, the Total
Environment Centre approximates that only a third are recycled.
The rest become litter or landfill. You can make a difference – as
Simon Karlik, the founder of Cheeki (Australia’s leading brand of
stainless steel water bottles) has done: “I was at our local shops
on a Sunday morning and there were coffee cups and disposable
bottles everywhere, and I thought, ‘People should go back to reusing
things.’ ” This was just the beginning for Simon, who is keen to wake
people up to the environmental impact of plastic. “Things that take
a million years to form, we create it, we use it for about 30 seconds
and chuck it out and it lasts for about 500 years. It doesn’t go away;
it goes into the ocean and everywhere,” says Simon. Indeed,
he has gone so far as to create the Text bottle, with the truth
about plastic written on the surface by founder of Take 3, Tim
Silverwood. The bottles are all recyclable stainless steel, keeping
water cooler and coffee hotter. Using food-grade stainless steel,
the bottles are robust and won’t rust. Moreover, the sports bottle
is ideal for cyclists as it does not require the head to be tilted back!
More economical
■ Stainless Steel Over
the Door Shower Caddy
(EIC3048 $49.95)
Healthier for you
The water tastes better
Healthier for the planet
Coffee stays hotter
“A good coat stand
is slim enough not
to be an obstacle in
its own right ”
Shoes can quickly
get out of hand
without a rack
Australia’s Leading Brand
of Stainless Steel Lifestyle Products
available at Howards Storage World
• Premium Grade 304 Stainless Steel
• No inside lining • Toxic free inks
www.cheeki.net.au
inplace magazine 33
facebook.com/cheekistainlesssteel
Howards Storage World stores
Visit hsw.com.au to find your local store with the ‘Store Locator’.
Springvale
Springvale
Homemaker Centre
(03) 9545 5499
Wantirna NEW STORE!
Westfield Knox City
(03) 9800 4507
NORTHERN
TERRITORY
Darwin
Shop 20,
Jape Homemaker
Village
(08) 8948 2088
WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
Cannington
Shop 1,
38 William Street
(08) 9356 3511
Scan for our
store locator!
NEW SOUTH
WALES
Artarmon
Home HQ
North Shore
(02) 9437 1955
Bathurst
Bathurst City
Centre
(02) 6331 4044
Belrose
Homemakers
Supa Centa
(02) 9986 2480
Bondi Junction
Westfield Bondi
Junction
(02) 9387 5733
Brookvale
Westfield
Warringah Mall
(02) 9907 2200
Burwood
Westfield Burwood
(02) 9744 8077
Campbelltown
Macarthur Square
(02) 4627 5222
Castle Hill
Hills Home Hub
South Building
(02) 9634 4200
Erina
Erina Fair
(02) 4367 0433
Hornsby
Westfield
Hornsby
(02) 9987 2700
Kotara
Homemaker
Centre
150 Park Ave
(02) 4952 9333
Leichhardt
Norton Plaza
(02) 9518 1425
Miranda
Westfield Miranda
(02) 9542 8566
Moore Park
Homemaker
Supa Centa
(02) 9697 2777
Northbridge
Northbridge Plaza
(02) 9958 4699
Rhodes
Rhodes
Shopping Centre
(02) 9736 3111
Mackay
Canelands
Shopping Centre
(07) 4951 0607
Rutherford
Harvey Norman
Centre
(02) 4932 4655
Maroochydore
50 Plaza Parade
(07) 5479 3833
Shellharbour
Stockland,
Shellharbour Square
(02) 4297 0811
QUEENSLAND
Aspley
Homemaker City
Cnr Gympie Road
& Zillmere Road
(07) 3862 7633
Cairns NEW STORE!
108 Scott Street
(07) 4054 4966
Fortitude Valley
Homemaker
City North
650 Wickham Street
(07) 3216 0222
Robina
Robina Town Centre
(07) 5575 7133
Gepps Cross
Gepps Cross Centre
Home HQ
(08) 8162 9160
Mile End
Homemaker Centre
122 Railway Terrace
(08) 8152 0400
Springwood
The Logan
Mega Centre
(07) 3209 2777
Norwood
220 The Parade
(08) 8332 0415
Toowoomba
Harvey Norman
Centre
(07) 4613 5315
Port Macquarie
Port Home Zone
(02) 6584 3500
Jindalee
Homemaker City
(07) 3279 2611
Upper Mt. Gravatt
Westfield Garden City
(07) 3422 2003
Pinterest
Share things
you love!
Mt Barker NEW STORE!
Homemaker Centre
(08) 8391 4755
TASMANIA
Townsville
Helensvale
Domain Central
Homeworld Helensvale (07) 4779 9411
(07) 5502 6677
34 inplace magazine
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Rockhampton
Redhill
Homemaker
Centre, Cnr
Richardson Road
& Yamba Road
(07) 4928 6511
North Ryde
Macquarie Centre
(02) 9888 6655
Like to know a little more about Howards Storage World?
Visit our website: hsw.com.au or find us on these sites...
ACT
Fyshwick
Homemaker Hub
(02) 6280 5552
Hobart
140 Liverpool
Street
(03) 6234 8422
VICTORIA
Chadstone
Chadstone
Shopping Centre
(03) 9568 6200
Facebook
See what’s
happening!
Twitter
Follow us!
Cheltenham
Westfield
Southland
(03) 9583 9155
Essendon
Homemaker Hub
(03) 9374 2903
Maribyrnong
Highpoint
Shopping Centre
(03) 9318 1855
Mornington
Peninsula
Lifestyle Centre
(03) 5973 5399
Nunawading
Home HQ,
372 Whitehorse
Road
(03) 9894 8411
Richmond
Victoria Gardens
Shopping
Centre
(03) 9428 4060
Shepparton
Riverside Plaza
Shopping Centre
(03) 58235877
South Wharf
Homemaker Hub
(03) 9682 0911
Karrinyup
Karrinyup
Shopping Centre
(08) 9244 4333
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
GROUP OFFICE
No. 4 Forest Central
Business Park
49 Frenchs Forest Road
Frenchs Forest
NSW 2086
Tel (02) 9452 8888
Fax (02) 9452 8899
[email protected]
e-SHOP
hsw.com.au
[email protected]
1300-ESHOP-1
INTERNATIONAL
STORES
Now open in:
New Zealand,
Singapore, Spain,
Ireland, Philippines
and India. Opening
soon in Canada.
Visit: hswgroup.com
YouTube
Watch our
videos!
hsw.com.au
XXXXXXXX
Inspirations
Rewards Program
Join in-store or online today
2013
ECTION
COLL
HOWARDS FAVOURITES
OF
NEW
SIMPLY
ORGANISED
Can’t decide?
Give a Gift Card
Gift Cards are available
for amounts 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.
Products, Solutions
& Clever Ideas
Inside!
Shop online
You can shop 24/7 from
the comfort of your own
home. Need some extra help
getting organised? Our website has loads
of tips: 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 obligation-free
measure and quote. We can even arrange
delivery and installation.
Bear Cottage
Bear Cottage is a medically
supported home away from home
providing support and respite for
children with terminal illnesses and
their families. At Bear Cottage they
believe life, however brief, should be
enriched and celebrated.
With the support of franchisees,
staff, customers and suppliers,
Howard’s reached its 2011 donation
goal of $100,000. Money was raised
through the sale of Pocket Pads,
bon bons, sample sales, City2Surf
and generous donations.
Help Howards support Bear Cottage
by purchasing a Bag for a Bear
($4.95). All profits go to Bear Cottage.
2013 catalogue
out now!
Come in-store for more
information or visit hsw.com.au
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Prices: Some Howards Storage World stores are
independently owned and operated. Prices are
recommended retail prices only and the price at
your local store may be different. Advertised prices
are valid only until 31/3/13. and after this date may
not be available. Listed prices include GST and do
not include accessories where shown.
Availability: Not all products in this magazine
may be available at your local store. Some
products may become out of stock or in some
instances be discontinued. We recommend
contacting your local store by telephone to
confirm product availability and price to
avoid disappointment.
Product specifications: All care is taken to
ensure that product information is accurate at the
time of print (November 2012). However, some
modifications to product specifications may occur
during the life of this magazine. Dimensions are
included as a guide only. Some products may
require self assembly.
Warranty information: At Howards, we
respect your rights and our goods come with
guarantees that cannot be excluded under
Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a
replacement or refund for a major failure and
for compensation for any other reasonably
foreseeable loss or damage. You are entitled to
have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods
fail to be of acceptable quality
and the failure does not amount
to a major failure.
Howards Storage World® is the
registered trademark of Howards
Storage World Pty Ltd ©
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 2012.
inplace magazine 35
Space Bag, compress, protect and organise
Stay organised
and triple your storage space
with Space Bag
Turn 4 plastic bins into
1 Space Bag Tote
R
These stackable Totes store equivalent of 4
plastic bins of clothing and bedding.
Before
Jumbo Stackable and Large Underbed versions
available.
Space Bag Travel
Halve your luggage space
Before
After!
After!
AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF SIZES AND DESIGNS:
HOME STORAGE:
Medium, 1 Large, 2 Large, Extra Large, Jumbo, Cube, Hanging Suit, Hanging Dress
With Space Bag Travel range you can reduce
your luggage by half.
TOTES:
Jumbo Stackable, Large Underbed
Perfect for any carry on luggage, backpacks
and suitcases.
TRAVEL:
And everything comes out looking great.
www.spacebag.com.au
Travel Cube Push Down, Roll Up Travel To Go, Large Dual Use
l
Available now from Howards Storage World