Furnishing Stage Part 4
Lounge, Dining, Patio, Kitchen, Sitting Room & Front Entry areas
Last update of this page : 28 December 2006
These images give a pictorial presentation of how we are attempting to furnish our passive solar house. The gallery here is for distant family and friends who are interested in how we are setting up for comfort and pleasure.
We apologize to those viewers who expect more on solar information and less on our self-indulgence!
See home page http://home.iprimus.com.au/fredb19/solarhouse/house01.htm for additional photographs, technical detail, some design and conceptual information.
PHOTO 1
Photo 1 view is taken from next to kitchen bench looking at dining room and lounge room area. Note the dark, vitrified tiles which are positioned to receive winter sunshine for energy absorption. The timber benchtops are made from solid Australian Blue Gum. The bench (cupboard) doors are Tasmanian Oak. The light area at the top left of the image is the large picture windows looking east over the canal. These windows have both internal blinds which recede into slots along the edge of the dropped blue-gum ceiling (the internal blinds are used to provide window insulation during cold periods) and external, motorised blinds (95% UV blockout) to provide shade during early morning sunrise. The external blinds are controlled by both the building management C-Bus system as well as over-ride remote hand operated controls. These blinds are programmed to lower at daybreak, then retract after the sun no longer shines on the eastern windows.
PHOTO 2
Photo 2 has been taken from the patio area looking in through the large open area to the kitchen/dining room. The large blue-gum and glass sliding door has been opened to its "parking spot" in front of the large glass window adjacent to the lounge area. Sliding this large door to the left (as shown) opens up the dining room and kitchen area onto the patio area. The thin boxed section over the top of the window on the far left is one of the external motorised blinds. These blinds traverse down tight, nylon, vertical cords mounted on either side of the windows. From inside, the view through these external 95% UV blockout blinds provide a "see-through" capability so continuing the theme of an "open" feeling designed into the house.
PHOTO 3
Photo 3 the view into the dining room area from the patio. The kitchen area is behind the bench on the right.. Note the exceptional light input through the clerestory windows at the rear of the room at ceiling level. The cupboards fixed along the rear wall are mounted 200 mm (from the floor) and have no "supporting legs". The carpet extends through to the wall underneath these cupboards and provide an illusion of space.
PHOTO 4
Photo 4 shows the view looking from the lounge area to the patio. Note how the tiles within the house have been continued un-interrupted through to the patio area to produce a virtual extended dining area. There is a 10mm drop at the door interface to prevent water flowing from the patio into the dining room area. The lounge chairs have now been recovered in high quality green leather.
PHOTO 5
Photo 5. Early morning breakfast time on the patio..... And the sun is shining on the solar panels generating far more power than we are using, and the solar hot water system is heating our daily needs for hot water. We love this silent, free energy contribution to our lifestyle!
PHOTO 6
Photo 6 shows detail in kitchen. The glass splashback behind the stove provides view of rammed earth wall behind glass. The Miele glass range hood has provided a very nice match. The fridge and freezer are Liebherr, inverter powered, very low energy consumption units with a 5.5 star and 6 star energy rating respectively. The Lofra stove is LPG. Bench tops are solid Blue Gum with two-pack clear finish. Now that it is approaching winter, note the sunshine is starting to enter the house through the clerestory windows on to the southern rammed earth wall. Not only free heat, but exceptional indoor lighting.
PHOTO 7
Photo 7 is a view into the kitchen working area. The blue gum floor is floating on flexible bearers providing a soft, comfortable walking area.. Most of the kitchen cupboards have large, pull out drawers providing easy access to all crockery and utensils. The dishwasher is an Asko unit which is extremely quiet with low energy and water use. Note the tall, western red cedar louvre window which provides cross flow ventilation when required.
PHOTO 8
Photo 8 is a view down the virtual hallway. It is Autumn and the early morning sun is shining on the dark, vitrified tiles and absorbing energy to be slowly released at night when the external temperature drops. The Vergola patio roof is partly open, and at this time of the year, we have positioned the Vergola roof panels to prevent sunshine through to the floor.
PHOTO 9
Photo 9 is a view of the sitting room overlooking the canal. Note the timber louvres below the fixed glass to provide floor level ventilation from 3 sides of the room.
PHOTO 10
Photo 10 shows the front entry hallway (between the two wings of the house). Vertical slots have been molded into the rammed earth wall during construction, and fitted with glass shelves to hold various knick-knacks.