August 27th, 2008
by dodo
in
Decoration |
3 Comments →
To hang or fix wall brackets or other items to a brick or masonry wall it is necessary to drill and plug the wall.
Plastic wall hanging plugs are preferable for a screw fixing and a wooden plug 10 mm to 12 mm in diameter is suitable when a nail fixing is adopted. To select a wall hanging plastic plug, first determine the gauge of the screw to be used and select a suitable one from the range of wall hanging plugs usually available in hardware stores. The length of the wall hanging screw should then be equal to the length of the plug plus the thickness of the item to be fixed. Read the rest of this entry »
August 27th, 2008
by dodo
in
Cotton, Covers, Cupboard, Decoration, Iron, Pine, Polish, Sheet, Wood |
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French polishing storage cabinet is a skilled craft but, using proprietary solutions, it can be tackled by anyone with patience for that special piece of storage cabinet that is beau but not faux.
Step by Step
1 Remove broken latch and strip wood veneer off storage cabinet top panels.
2 Rub down storage cabinet timber with methylated spirits using steel wool to remove lacquer. Read the rest of this entry »
August 27th, 2008
by dodo
in
Covers, Cupboard, Furniture, Painting, Wood |
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Stencils are most often applied as a border and provide an ideal embellishment for ordinary storage items. You can customise a chest of drawers, for example, by adding a simple floral or geometric motif to the painting top and bottom of each drawer, or to the corners of cupboards on a bedside cabinet.
When applying stencils, which you can either create yourself or buy ready-made in painting kit form, it is important to fix the stencil in place — masking tape is ideal — and apply the paint carefully to prevent it running underneath. The paint needs to be just the right consistency. It is wise to experiment on a piece of old timber or card first. Read the rest of this entry »
August 27th, 2008
by dodo
in
Cupboard, Painting, Texture |
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This is considered a basic painting technique. The effect is achieved by lifting some of the topcoat of painting colour from the basecoat (usually a lighter shade such as cream or a pastel) with a scrunched-up rag which has been soaked in solvent. A random textured effect is created as the lighter painting basecoat is revealed beneath the darker painting topcoat. Read the rest of this entry »
August 24th, 2008
by dodo
in
Bedroom, Covers, Cupboard, Cushions, Duvets, Furniture, Indoor, Pillows, Quilts, Sheet, Towel, Wood |
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Sanding
Sanding is the other method used to remove accumulated layers on timber surfaces. It is hard work but rewarding, and the effects will be most gratifying.
Start with a coarse grade of sandpaper graduating to finer grains as the sanding proceeds. Once the timber has been reduced to its (nearly) ) original state, the process of filling and smoothing must be tackled. Whatever finish you are to apply, be it natural or a painted one, it is important that the surface you are working on is as clean and free of imperfections as possible. Paint, wax or sealants will not adhere to dusty, damp or grimy surfaces. Read the rest of this entry »
August 24th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Cotton, Cupboard, Decoration, Fabrics, Furniture, Leather, Linen |
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The art of renovation is not limited to demolishing walls and raising the roof Recycling should always be a priority and small-scale renovation projects offer great scope to the homemaker who likes to be creative.
Mangy storage items lend themselves perfectly to renovation — so why not trade new looks for old?
When you’re considering storage, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the only way to improve the situation is to start again. Firstly, it is not always the most practical solution. Secondly, the constraints of budget rarely allow such luxury, and thirdly, in the interests of the planet, recycling should always be a priority. Read the rest of this entry »
August 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Bed, Carpets, Covers, Cushions, Duvets, Furniture, Knitting, Painting, Pillows, Quilts, Rugs, Sheet, Texture |
3 Comments →
Step by Step
1 Slate must be laid on a firm base that will support it. Timber floors present a problem in that timber and particle (chip) board expand during humid periods, and shrink during drier times. Timber floors can be prepared in several ways. Care should be taken with all the procedures however, bearing in mind that timber or particle (chip) board is not the best base material for slate.
2 A number of slate suppliers have specially developed membrane systems available for the installation of slate on a timber floor. The one used here is the hessian and bitumen method and will provide the necessary `slip’ joint between the rigid tiles and the timber. Read the rest of this entry »
August 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Bed, Cleaning, Cotton, Covers, Decoration, Fabrics, Furniture, Knitting, Lampshades, Rayon, Silk, Texture, Weaves |
3 Comments →
Slate has enjoyed great popularity with home improvers for many years, because of its toughness and range of natural earthy colours, which can vary from soft green to deep purple, mottled brown and dark charcoal.
The project is to apply slate to a family room, where its lasting strength will provide good service. Read the rest of this entry »
August 21st, 2008
by dodo
in
Carpets, Cleaning, Decoration, Furniture, Mats, Polish, Rugs, Windows |
2 Comments →
20 Work a maximum of 1 m at a time. If you do more, you run the risk of the adhesive skinning, and not adhering properly to the tiles.
21 Lay the first tile straight down without sliding it in place. Take great care in aligning it properly. All tiles should be laid without sliding them in place.
22 Lay the following tiles in the form of triangles towards the corner, butting each one against its neighbours.
23 When you reach a wall, tiles will need to be cut. Read the rest of this entry »
August 21st, 2008
by dodo
in
Carpets, Cleaning, Mats, Polish, Rugs, Sheet |
3 Comments →
One of the most successful types of floorcovering for a kitchen is cork tiling. The colour of cork is fairly neutral and these days can be natural, stained, or dyed to various colours. The finish applied is easy to care for and the job can be done by any handyperson.
Our project kitchen and family room is a large area, just under 50 sq. m. The original floor is structural plywood. There are three steps between the kitchen and family areas, which will be edged with light-coloured seasoned hardwood as a wearing edge. Read the rest of this entry »
August 20th, 2008
by dodo
in
Carpets, Cleaning, Windows, Wood |
2 Comments →
One of the simplest and most attractive floors is the polished timber-strip floor. In many a renovation or restoration, old floors of hard-to-get and well-seasoned timbers can be exposed, and brought to light in all their original glory by careful sanding and clear finishing.
For a new room, or when replacing a floor, there is nothing quite like a timber-strip floor. It’s not an easy project, but is well worth the effort - even if you hire a professional to do it. Read the rest of this entry »
August 20th, 2008
by dodo
in
Acrylics, Carpets, Decoration, Furniture, Leather, Nylon, Sheet |
2 Comments →
Choosing the right floor and floorcovering is an important aspect of furnishing your home — it is not only one of the most dominant decorative surfaces, it will also claim a large proportion of your furnishing budget.
The type and quality of the floorcovering you choose should be appropriate for each room, just as the right colour and design are important. Poor quality flooring, ill-suited to the requirements of the room, will wear out quickly and end up costing you a lot more in the long run. Read the rest of this entry »
August 15th, 2008
by dodo
in
Cotton, Fabrics, Furniture, Lampshades, Leather, Lighting, Polish, Silk, Weaves, Windows |
2 Comments →
17 Cut off the two damaged ends of the lead, and then cut sufficient length off the wider lead to place around the semicircle defined by the cut panel. The lead is cut using a sharp lead knife, in a rocking motion. The other half of the perimeter is the last piece in the jigsaw to be fitted at the end.
18 Select the piece of glass for the starting point. On our circle it can just about be anywhere on the bottom perimeter, but where successive pieces can be installed easily. The best place would be in the middle. Read the rest of this entry »
August 15th, 2008
by dodo
in
Decoration, Windows, Wood |
3 Comments →
The project featured is not the easiest leadlighting project to start off with, but will give an indication of what is achievable in this medium. There is a wide lead edge, and three sizes of thin lead for effect.
NOTE: When working with lead make sure that you clean your hands before breaking for meals. Washing hands thoroughly after leaving the workshop should be automatic as lead is an accumulative poison. Read the rest of this entry »
August 13th, 2008
by dodo
in
Blinds, Curtains, Decoration, Fabrics, Nylon, Windows |
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Blinds have travelled a long way from their origins as the gauze window protectors of elaborate drapes and furnishings in grand houses. Modern blinds can be totally functional and unobtrusive, or unashamedly ornate and extravagant.
These blinds are tailored and neat looking, economical in their use of fabric and regarded as being quite simple to make. There is less sewing in this style of blind than, say, a festoon blind, and they lend themselves to stripes or evenly printed geometric fabrics very well. Read the rest of this entry »
August 13th, 2008
by dodo
in
Curtains, Decoration, Fabrics, Knitting, Linen, Painting, Pillows, Rugs |
3 Comments →
These decorative elements have outgrown their stuffy and slightly old-fashioned image of the past. They can now, with clever choices and use of fabric, totally complement what is really a plain set of curtains, and transform a room into a well-thought-out home decorator’s triumph. Read the rest of this entry »
August 11th, 2008
by dodo
in
Covers, Curtains, Fabrics, Texture, Windows |
2 Comments →
Formal swag pelmets are draped pieces of fabric which, when attached to a pelmet support board, become a classic draped pelmet. They hang free of the curtain and usually add a classical, ornate appearance to windows.
Here are some rules to remember with swag trimmings: they look best on tall windows in rooms with high ceilings, so be sure that you don’t over-design your room; consider your fabric requirements (swag curtains can take up large amounts of fabric, and this can become a budget-breaker) — plain calico or home-spun fabric is one idea, as the old principle of using fabric generously applies well here. Generous amounts of inexpensive fabric look wonderful next to skimpy quantities of expensive fabric. Read the rest of this entry »
August 11th, 2008
by dodo
in
Bedroom, Blinds, Cleaning, Cotton, Covers, Curtains, Cushions, Fabrics, Linen, Texture, Weaves, Windows |
3 Comments →
Dressed windows, in the form of curtains, elaborate drapes and blinds, are probably the most decorative type of fabric use in the home. Large or small areas of attractively used fabric can quickly transform a room — so look upon window dressing as interior decorating, as well as a practical essential. Read the rest of this entry »
August 9th, 2008
by dodo
in
Accessories, Blinds, Covers, Curtains, Lighting, Windows |
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The project is to install a skylight in a concrete tile roof to provide a lightwell for maximum lighting in an enclosed kitchen. The skylight will be 800 mm square so will need a rafter cut, and the lightwell is to be painted white for maximum natural light.
Step by Step
1 The size of a skylight is based on the floor area of the area to be lit. It is generally recommended that the skylight be at least 10 per cent of the floor area. In this case the skylight will be 800 mm x 800 mm.
2 Order the skylight, specifying size, roof type, the shape required, and if any accessories, such as diffusers or solar control features are required. Read the rest of this entry »
August 9th, 2008
by dodo
in
Blinds, Covers, Curtains, Fabrics, Knitting, Lighting, Office, Painting, Windows |
2 Comments →
Openings in houses may be voids, doors orwindows. Voids tend to be in areas where security is not a consideration, such as between rooms in an open-plan living area. Doors provide a means of access and security to the building. Windows, however, are designed to provide daylight and a means of ventilation. They should also provide a view, but still allow for privacy when required. Read the rest of this entry »
