The word Mexico conjures up images of vibrant, warm colours, long stretches of desert and exotic fruit, birds and flowers. Passed down from generation to generation, the rich and colourful craft traditions of Mexico are perfectly suited to our warm and...
Jackie French has a recipe for a rose aftershave for men that doesn’t smell like roses but which should make their presence more acceptable on a hot summer’s day. What you will need 1 cup of white wine vinegar (not malt vinegar) 12 bay leaves (fresh or...
Give new life to your decor with colourful and imaginative tassels, trims and braids. Make a ribbon tassel to dress a window or door. Ribbon tassel Quick and easy to make, this delicate ribbon tassel gives a stunning result. Choose a colour combination that...
Due to the fact that viewers have been sending in some very strange (as well as large) entries, Don has decided to divide the ‘Mine’s Bigger Than Yours’ competition into two categories. There will be one prize for ‘weird’ and one for ‘big’. Huge vegies Robyn Klaus...
House Facelift The subject of our makeover was a red brick house with a very unattractive front garden, steps and balcony. Don thought the red bricks were very relentless, but decided he could work around them. However the colour of the trim on the woodwork, railings...
Window Cleaning Of all the irksome household chores, cleaning windows has to be right up there with the ironing. Commercial cleaners, soap and water, newspaper and other methods all work reasonably well, but there has to be a better way! Peter Valder recommends the...
House of Riverstones Don and the Burke’s Backyard team visited a fascinating house which was built thirty years ago using local riverstones, and extensively renovated by the present owners. The original exterior walls look particularly attractive with...
Kitchen Design Kitchens can cost anything between $12,000 and $50,000 to install or renovate. They are also the most used rooms in the house so you really want to get it right. The wrong decision can be costly both financially and structurally. There are some kitchen...
Metal Art Man Ten years ago when Tony Gray started buying up scrap metal, glass and bakelite, he had no intention of becoming an artist. He originally planned to resell the parts, but the more he looked at the various bits and pieces, the more he recognised their...
Mexican Artefacts One of the best things about designing a house or garden is the excitement and the satisfaction of creating a look that’s new and different. Tuscan, Santa Fe and Mexican styles are all wonderfully fresh and vibrant, but there is a problem. The...