Once you have the plan in mind, you can turn your attention to the colour and style of your bathroom.
Your choices are almost unlimited and while your final selection boils down to personal taste, there are a few general guidelines.
To some extent, the bathroom is a place where you can indulge your decorative whims, but try to ensure that its decor — and the budget allocated — is in keeping with the rest of the house. (more…)
A deskmate is a mobile storage cabinet which is stored out of the way under a desk and rolled out when needed.
There is a number of different configurations ranging from simple storage of paper, envelopes and a few files you may be working on, to a deskmate which can store a printer on the top with the paper feeding from the shelf at the hack. (more…)
Flexibility is the key to successful storage in double-duty rooms and multipurpose areas. This need not result in makeshift mayhem. These stylish space-savers have been designed to make the most of in-between areas.
There are so many ways to keep things in order and easily accessible — be inventive and resourceful with every little space you have.
One area which needs to be flexible is the hallway, and as this is where visitors gain their first impressions, it is logical to give thought to its design and fittings. If possible, there should be at least one chair and a table large enough to take parcels, letters, magazines, a telephone, message pads and directories. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
Yes, it’s fun! More than that — you can save a lot of money if you do it yourself, provided you do your homework and research beforehand. Reading this is an excellent start!
The novelty of painting does wear off after a couple of hours, so try to enhance your painting task by playing loud music (be it punk-rock or classical) and experimenting with new colours. We are playing it safe by giving you guidelines on the basics of wall painting; you are on your own when it comes to washes, sponges, stencilling and other special effects. Take note: read the information on the paint tins — everything we don’t tell you the tin will! (more…)
Fabrics made from a combination of several fibers, either natural (such as wool, cotton, linen, or silk), man-made (such as acrylics and polymers), or both, in contrast to fabrics made of only one type of fiber. The advantage of blends is twofold. (I) Blending several fibers can yield fabric with the virtues of each of the fibers used (color absorption, durability, wrinkle resistance, warmth, or washability), some of which would be missing in a fabric made from any single one of these fibers. For example, the addition of Dacron, an acrylic, to cotton has produced sheets that do not need ironing. (2) Fabrics made with several fibers often have new qualities (weights, textures) with decorative possibilities that no single- fiber fabric has. (more…)
Before phoning the plumber consider the following — you can’t take the mountain to Mohammed, so Mohammed will be charging a call-out fee to come and look at the mountain, after which he will charge you a bit more to fix the mountain. After 5 minutes you may realize that the mountain was in actual fact a very insignificant little molehill, easily taken care of yourself, if only you’d known.
The molehill could take on various forms: a leaking tap, a blocked toilet or a blocked drain, all of which you will be able to fix if you follow our detailed instructions. But there are a number of mountains best left to the plumber. These will include a burst water pipe (possibly caused by over-eager digging in the garden), a water pipe that accidentally connected with a power tool near the bathroom or kitchen (caused by over-eager drilling) or an old geyser that is on the blink. (more…)
The toilet is hissing, spurting, gurgling and generally not sounding too health Maybe you’ve tried one of the following options to silence it — lifting, hitting, ignoring, or for those of you with a violent disposition — kicking! The latter became the most often tried remedy for us as we’ve been plagued by malfunctioning toilet for the best part of our independent lives. How silly, considering a pair of pliers and 5 minutes of fiddling would have solved the problempermanently, if only we’d known.
When you flush the toilet, it starts refilling wit water immediately so the next person who uses the toilet can follow suit. The toilet float-valve stops this flow of water as soon as the cistern is full. If the toilet float-valve does not work, the water keeps on running, driving youcrazy and wasting a lot of water. (more…)
Vacuum regularly and get into those corners. If you entertain you would have had to get rid of some nasty stains; if you entertain heavily, you may have had to get rid of some more severe markings, and smells.
Generally, always work from outside in and never brush or rub too vigorously as you may damage the fibres. When using some of the stronger solutions, first test it on an inconspicuous part of the carpet. (more…)
Designs cut from vinyl-coated wallpaper or fabric used elsewhere in the room can be appliquéd to window shades. To prevent raw edges of material from raveling, spray the back of the fabric with a clear acrylic spray before cutting out design. Use a small sharp scissors for cutting out design motifs and arrange them on the shade in exact position. Apply glue to the reverse side of each cutout, making sure that the entire surface is covered, then press it into position. After adhesive has dried, the face of cutouts is best protected by an extra coating of acrylic spray. (more…)
One of the most effective tools in creating an attractive bathroom is the skillful use of color. You can mix and match colors of fixtures and fittings with walls, floors, and ceilings for an inexpensive remodeling project. If fixtures are comparatively modern and you do not need to invest money in new ones, begin your planning with the fixtures themselves. If they are white, they will not interfere with your color scheme; if they are colored, then they must be considered as part of the decorating theme. Decide the general effect you wish to achieve, then turn these fixtures into assets. (more…)
Bathroom linens and accessories are those items in a bathroom other than fixtures. These include carpeting or rugs, towels, shower curtains, window treatments, lotion bottles and jars, plants and flowers, mirrors and pictures, soaps and soap dishes, tissues, decorative lighting fixtures that are not permanent installations, figurines and bowls, shelving, decorative hardware for cabinets and doors, towel rings and bars, clocks, and scales. In addition to metal, glass, and plastic accessories, there are wicker, wood, and mirrored items.
When these accessories are chosen to complement the rest of the home, the bathroom can be made as beautiful as any other room in the house, and still furnish the basic comforts and conveniences necessary in the modern bath. These intriguing, interesting “extras” can add color, character, and individuality, regardless of the size of the bathroom or whether its background and fixtures are lavish or simple. (more…)
Architecturally, a beam is one of the principal horizontal supporting members in a building, such as a support for a roof or a floor. Today these supports are often hidden within the outer framework of the house, tucked away behind the more ornamental façade of the roof. But this need not mean you cannot have a beamed ceiling. You can install false beams. You can buy boxlike vinyl beams that fasten to wood strips nailed to the ceilings or lightweight plastic foam beams that you glue in place. With either type, you actually have to touch them to tell them from the real thing.
These false beams are easy to install, inexpensive, and give a special decorative effect— yet permit proper insulation between ceiling and roof, or ceiling and attic space. (more…)
Comfort is the keynote in bedroom planning, not only for the average eight hours of rest each day, but for the entire 24 hours. The bedroom should have an atmosphere that is conducive to reading, writing, sewing, and knitting, or just plain relaxing. It should have a feeling of privacy, yet should be the kind of a room where the door can be left open, and it will reflect the mood of the decor of the rest of the home.
Although furnishings should be chosen for comfort, convenience, and beauty, it is the background—colors, patterns, and textures in walls, floors, window treatments, bedspreads, and upholstery—that does the most to create a feeling of comfort and tranquillity. (more…)
The most personal room in your home—the master bedroom—can and should have the stamp of the homeowners’ own individuality. This is the one place where you can let your imagination go wild, be as daring as you like with vivid colors and patterns, and mix or match furniture styles and finishes to your own taste. Bedroom basics are, as ever, comfortable beds, adequate bedside tables or counters, plenty of storage space, and an arrangement that makes the most of available floor space.
The most important investment is the best quality mattresses and box springs you can afford so that you will sleep well and awaken refreshed. They are an investment in health and contentment. Supersize beds and bedding will assure you of comfort in both length and width. Choose a mattress and spring combination that will give even support for your spine, no matter what position you usually sleep in, whether you turn and toss, or lie quietly throughout the night. (more…)
Bedroom planning for children’s rooms begins with deciding on the uses to which the room will be put. A boy’s room needs very different furnishings and arrangement than does a girl’s room, a small child’s needs are different from a teen-ager’s. They should be much more than just a place to sleep and change clothes. There should be a place to study without interruption, room to play, pursue their hobbies, and to entertain their friends.
Bedrooms for children should literally “grow” with them. Furnishings, floor coverings, and built-ins should not only be decorative and practical, but should be chosen so they will be adequate during the growing years and beyond. If the basic items are selected with this idea in mind, the room can be transformed from that of a youngster to a teen-ager with minimum expense. (more…)
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