Displaying posts labeled "Support"

Maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor environment is essential for our well-being, and a properly functioning air conditioner plays a crucial role in achieving this.

However, one common issue that can arise with air conditioners – whether you’ve got a split system, ducted system or something else – is the presence of musty odours, which can be unpleasant and even affect the air quality in our homes. If you’ve noticed a musty smell emanating from your aircon, don’t fret.

In this article, we will provide you with practical tips and solutions to effectively deal with these odours and restore freshness to your living space.

By understanding the underlying causes of musty odours, implementing regular maintenance practices, and incorporating do-it-yourself remedies, you can overcome this issue and enjoy clean, refreshing air from your air conditioner once again.

Additionally, we will discuss the importance of seeking professional assistance when needed and provide prevention tips to maintain a fresh-smelling environment. Say goodbye to musty odours and embrace a more pleasant and healthier living space with these valuable tips.

Understanding the Causes of Musty Odours

Unpleasant, musty aromas coming from your air conditioner can be indicative of underlying issues that need attention. By understanding the causes of these odours, you can effectively address the problem.

One common cause is moisture buildup in the air conditioner. When moisture remains stagnant within the system, it creates a breeding ground for mould and mildew growth, resulting in musty smells.

Additionally, accumulated dust and debris can also contribute to the odours, as they can harbour moisture and promote bacterial growth, particularly in ducted heating and cooling systems.

Understanding these causes helps emphasise the importance of regular maintenance and cleaning to prevent the buildup of moisture, mould and debris. By addressing these underlying causes, you can effectively eliminate musty smells and ensure that your air conditioner operates efficiently, providing you with fresh, clean air.

Regular Maintenance to Prevent Musty Odours

Prevention is key when it comes to dealing with stale odours from your aircon system. By incorporating regular maintenance practices, you can effectively prevent the occurrence of these unpleasant aromas.

One crucial maintenance task is cleaning or replacing air filters regularly. Dirty filters can trap moisture and promote mould and mildew growth, leading to these musty smells.

Additionally, it is essential to clean the condensate drain lines to ensure proper drainage and prevent moisture buildup. Checking and cleaning the evaporator coils is another important step, as dirty coils can accumulate dust and mould, contributing to the smell.

Lastly, don’t forget to remove any debris from the outdoor unit to maintain optimal airflow.

By implementing these regular maintenance tasks, you can keep your aircon clean to ensure fresh and pleasant air in your living space.

DIY Remedies for Musty Smells

There are several simple do-it-yourself remedies you can try before seeking professional help from a HVAC (heating, cooling and air conditioning) technician.

One effective solution is to use a vinegar and water solution for cleaning. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then spray or wipe down the affected areas, such as the evaporator coils and drip pan, to eliminate mould and mildew and neutralise odours.

Another option is to use baking soda, which acts as a natural odour absorber. Sprinkle baking soda on the air conditioner’s filters and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming or rinsing it off.

Additionally, you can introduce pleasant scents by adding a few drops of essential oils to your air filters or creating a homemade air freshener using essential oils and water. These DIY remedies can help combat unwanted odours and leave your air conditioner smelling fresh and clean.

Professional Help for Persistent Odours

If you’ve tried DIY remedies and are still struggling with persistent musty odours from your air conditioner, it may be time to seek professional assistance.

Professional HVAC maintenance can provide comprehensive solutions to tackle the underlying causes of the odours.

Hiring a professional air conditioning technician brings expertise and specialised tools to thoroughly inspect and clean your system. They can perform tasks such as deep cleaning the evaporator coils, sanitising the air ducts and checking for any hidden mould or mildew growth.

Additionally, they can identify and fix any potential issues that may be contributing to the odours, ensuring optimal performance of your air conditioner. Professional assistance is particularly crucial if you or anyone in your family have sensitive allergies or respiratory conditions that can be aggravated by poor air quality.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals to address persistent stale odours and restore fresh and clean air to your home.

Prevention Tips to Maintain Fresh Air

Here are a few handy tips to help you keep the inside of your home smelling fresh and clean:

• Control humidity levels in your home by using a dehumidifier (possibly in combination with your air conditioner).
• Ensure proper ventilation and air circulation by opening windows and using fans.
• Regularly clean and replace air filters to prevent the buildup of dust, mould and odours.
• Keep the area around your outdoor unit clear of debris to maintain optimal airflow.
• Schedule regular professional HVAC maintenance to ensure the system is clean and functioning properly.
• Consider installing an air purifier or an air cleaning system to remove pollutants and odours from the air.
• Avoid smoking or allowing smoking indoors, as it can introduce persistent odours.
• Clean and vacuum your home regularly to minimise the presence of dust and allergens.
• Use natural odour absorbers like baking soda or activated charcoal in areas prone to odours, such as closets or near the air conditioner.
• When cooking or using chemicals, ensure proper ventilation to prevent odours from lingering in the air.

In Conclusion

Dealing with musty odours coming from your air conditioner can be a frustrating experience, but with the right tips and strategies, you can overcome this issue and enjoy fresh, clean air in your home.

By understanding the causes of musty odours, implementing regular maintenance practices and using DIY remedies, you can effectively eliminate the unpleasant aromas and improve the air quality in your living space.

Remember to seek professional help if the stench persists or if you have specific health concerns. Additionally, incorporating prevention tips such as controlling humidity levels, maintaining proper ventilation, and keeping your home clean can help prevent the recurrence of musty smells.

By taking proactive steps and addressing the issue promptly, you can ensure that your air conditioner operates efficiently, providing you with a comfortable and odour-free environment. Embrace these tips and enjoy the refreshing and clean air that your air conditioner can provide.

I got my hands on a few new books as of late, which is always an exciting mail day when a book shows up, and this first one, French Blooms, was my favourite. (Author Sandra Sigman Of Les Fleurs, with Victoria A. Riccardi; Photographs by Kindra Clineff; Published by Rizzoli)
As Sandra Sigman learned while living in Paris in her twenties, the French consider each floral arrangement a unique work of art filled with passion, movement, texture, and surprise. In French Blooms, Sigman shares the distinct design principles she learned from her favorite Parisian florist, and offers tutorials, with images and instructions for creating French-inspired arrangements for different areas of the home. With chapters on choosing the right containers—from vintage stoneware crocks to baskets and white ceramic footed vases—and flower care and tools, along with lush photographs, many taken in Paris, Normandy, and Provence, this book is both inspirational and practical. It’s also a love letter to France—from Parisian sophistication to the simple grace of provincial life.
The pairing of gorgeous flower arrangements with the exquisite beauty of scenes from France make this a delightful dose of eye candy.

Next up is a book by someone I’ve admired for many years, since we first began this blog and I started to become familiar with design icons. Creative Interior Solutions by Vicente Wolf and Margaret Russell, published by Rizzoli, is a classic book featuring past and present projects by this master of interiors and was fun to spot spaces I hadn’t seen in years. If you don’t know, he’s the king of mixing whites with modern and antiques.

In this book, celebrated AD100 designer Vicente Wolf shares the expertise he has honed over forty plus successful years in the business. Wolf’s work is characterized by a passion for integrity and simplicity; a sophisticated sense of space, color, and ease; masterful handling of furniture, fabrics, and art; and the use of rare antiques and exceptional handcrafted pieces (many acquired on annual globe-trotting adventures). Organized topically and illustrated with Wolf’s own photographs, the design principles are engaging, absorbing, and above all practical—from coping with the challenges inherent in life transitions to overcoming space and budget limitations to working with art and other collections and remaking outdated spaces.

And lastly I received a book by an architecture firm that admittedly is new to me and whom we have not featured on the blog before. New York based Stelle Lomont Rouhani are responsible for designing some really spectacular modern, clean-lined, homes that look like works of art amidst the landscape. Some of the spreads in their first book, Stelle Lomont Rouhani: Architecture and Interiors (published again by Rizzoli), really took my breath away. A perfect coffee table book.

Modern houses that are timeless, thoughtfully detailed, marked by innovative and environmentally friendly design, and inevitably situated close to nature—by the sea, on the bluff, upon the dunes—are the hallmark of Stelle Lomont Rouhani. With thought to an ultimate experience of comfort, to space and light, to views, and to a way of living beside nature that is considerate of nature, the architects open walls toward the sea and position decks to allow for the enjoyment of morning sunlight and scented breezes redolent of bayberries and pine. Ultimately it is a kind of harmony the architects are after and doing more with less, a Zen-like quality that renews the spirit, offering serenity and repose—and which, in the houses featured here, they so warmly, so quietly find.

Let me start off by saying this first book, Ateliers of Europe, is now in my top 3 favourites design-y books of all time. It is so unique which is a real bonus given everyone seems to be putting out design books these days and while the spaces can be great, they are just spaces. These are ATELIERS. IN EUROPE. OMG. From Prestel Publishing.
This visually stunning love letter to the art of craft takes readers inside Europe’s most illustrious–and in many cases endangered–decorative arts workshops to profile how artisans continue to maintain the highest centuries-old standards of workmanship and creativity. Beginning in the Renaissance, ateliers were established as places for European artists to work and teach their crafts. Centuries later most of these spaces have disappeared, but a select few continue to produce some of the world’s most celebrated and sought-after objects in the areas of crystal, ceramics, wrought iron, fabric, bookbinding, mosaic, wood paneling, and more. John Whelan and Oskar Proctor traveled throughout Europe to document these important spaces, both to celebrate them and to preserve their disappearing ideals. Ranging from the well- known to the obscure, this volume takes readers inside dozens of ateliers from Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

Next is The Artistry of Flowers: Floral Design by La Musa de las Flores by María Gabriela Salazar, with photos by Ngoc Minh Ngo and published by Rizzoli. This one I thought might be a bit of a bore but I should have known how wrong that was given who the photographer is (I’ve been a fan for many years). But it didn’t stop there. I have very limited free time so I tend to not read much but just look at the pretty pictures and get to the end faster. Not the case here. I read every word. I can’t remember the last time I read every word of a book that wasn’t a novel. It’s a beautiful book all around. Highly recommend.
The Artistry of Flowers encourages everyone to live with florals and to appreciate their beauty as we appreciate art. Celebrated floral designer Gabriela Salazar teaches us how to look at flowers and understand their characteristics from an artist’s perspective. Drawing on her painting background, Salazar looks at floral arrangements as compositions. She highlights which type of blooms are best for different designs and shares building blocks for floral designs ranging from simple and sculptural to complex and colorful, including arrangements for any mood and different decor.

The last book I’ll share today is A House in Maine by Nina Campbell, with Giles Kime, and photos by Paul Raeside. This one wasn’t quite my cup of tea but soley because Nona Campbell’s style doesn’t really do it for me. But this home is so grand and if I can get past her style, it was so meticulously curated and the “how the other half live” vibe is really worth it if you’re a fan of Nina Campbell. And I am a huge fan of Paul Raeside so it’s eye candy I can get behind in how he masters shooting interiors. And if you’re a fan of all shades of purple you need to buy this book.
The interior design of this New England seaside escape—by decorating legend Nina Campbell—explores a myriad of themes: the evolution of a home, the importance of place, and the creation of an oasis amid a bustling world. The interiors of this glorious retreat’s many buildings are given the Nina Campbell treatment with vibrant palettes, sumptuous fabrics, fine antiques, and a contemporary clarity. Constructed at the turn of the last century, the core of the main house is a simple cottage overlooking a secluded cove. The pioneering couple who built it had no idea that they were creating a legacy that would become central to the lives of future generations of their family, who use the place as a retreat from busy lives in the city.

The lovely folks of Expand Furniture reached out to me recently about their products and I have to say after all of these years of blogging not much surprises me anymore…but this company sure did. As their name may suggest, their specialty is space saving, multi-functional furniture, and creating space in your home that you did not know you had. And they have such unique ways of saving space that my mind is literally blown. I could not get over the options they offer. How about the Wall bed Revolving Bookcase Table – a bookcase that hides a dining table and revolves to uncover a murphy bed! WHAT?!?! A mirror that stores your dining table extensions! A bunkbed couch transformer! A sofa bookcase murphy bed combo! A wall desk that converts into bunk beds! An ottoman that stashes away stools! One that I think is super-handy in this era of working from home is the coffee table that converts into a desk so you can work from the sofa. I could go on and on they have so many unique options. It’s really incredible what they have come up with and the multi-functional needs they service. Such amazing small space furniture options.

With just my husband and I in a reasonable sized 4 bedroom house and with a staircase with a 180 degree corner that makes bulky/long items near impossible to get up the stairs, I opted to go simple and try out one of Expand Furniture’s modular sofas. I chose the Migliore modular love seat with an ottoman for our tiny media room that we have created out of one of our spare bedrooms.

When they arrived I got a little nervous about the size of the boxes but fear not! Everything made it up the stairs easily. This was one of the most exciting unboxings I’ve done in a long time 🙂

I also need to commend them on great packaging. Thick boxes (that I of course recycled), then tightly wrapped in bubble wrap with the sharp leg edges covered in fabric and taped up (the legs were removed and packaged up in bundles).

With a house filled with cats I was ecstatic over this grey fabric I chose. It’s really thick and durable and a gorgeous shade of grey. The weight of the cushions are substantial and they’re memory foam topped with goose feathers. It is so freaking comfortable that even my husband has been commenting how much he loves it. And I love knowing that in the future if we move it to the much bigger living room we can purchase additional pieces from this line to suit the space. It’s a winner!

I love that for each major cushion there’s velcro and a sort of microfibre panel so you can put each cushion exactly where you want them and nothing slides around.

I took out the old sofa, put in the new, and tried it out for a week or so and fell in love with it. But the room needing a makeover. The blue and white walls weren’t living up to the expectations the new sofa now set. So I went to work on a little project.

The Farrow & Ball Inchyra Blue is such a unique colour and I really love it so I decided to wrap the room in stripes in that colour as well as Drop Cloth. And despite it being a pain in the butt and time consuming I love how it turned out and I could not love the room more. It really makes the new sofa pop.

Is your bedroom lacking in the luxury department? Do you feel like you simply can’t fit everything into this tiny space while still feeling luxurious and calm? Believe it or not, achieving a minimalist and luxurious bedroom doesn’t require a complete renovation. All you need to do is focus on one thing: decluttering. Try adding a few key items to create an inviting atmosphere that screams “luxury” without sacrificing any comfort—or breaking the bank! Read on to learn how decluttering for luxury can turn your dull and cramped bedroom into an elegant and relaxing haven.

1. Invest in quality furniture pieces that will last – like a hardwood bed frame or luxurious velvet armchair

Investing in quality furniture pieces can make a huge difference in the atmosphere of your home, not to mention its longevity. What good is that trendy rattan armchair if it breaks a few months down the line? Go for something sturdy with star power. A classic wooden bed frame, for example, will last through the ages and give your bedroom an upgrade instantly. And why not try something luxurious while you’re at it? Try Eva’s Comfort Classic Mattress with a 365 day trial so there’s no risk involved either! Investing in quality doesn’t just make sense — it’s always worth it.

2. Use under-the-bed drawers, wall organizers, and shelving units as storage

You may maximize the space in your home by using storage options including under-the-bed drawers, wall organizers, and shelf units. With these straightforward techniques, you may tidy up your surroundings and keep everything more organized. Also, these options are perfect for hiding items so they don’t occupy room in your home. How well-organized your home is can be significantly improved by adding even a small amount of storage space.

3. Make a room appear larger by using mirrors

Mirrors are a simple but effective technique to provide the appearance of more space in a bedroom, making it seem bigger than it actually is. These not only allow you to break up vast, boring walls, but they also bring shine and beauty to the atmosphere. Mirrors, when combined with minimalist decor, may transform a compact bedroom into an extraordinarily sumptuous one, exuding an unrivaled sensation of airiness and relaxation.

Decluttering for luxury doesn’t come without a certain sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. You’ve taken the time to truly understand the kind of aesthetic you desire, the changes you need to make, and the amount of effort it will take to get there. This has been made infinitely easier with this guidebook as your beacon through the fog of bedroom decorating decisions. From articulating your taste preferences down to choosing texture accents, now you can make it all come together while still respecting minimalism in style. The end result will be nothing short of stunning — even if fewer items populate its space. Live luxuriously by transforming your room into a chic oasis free from clutter. Your efforts will be purposeful and transformative, so enjoy!