Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
Tap Timers Watering is more complex than many people think. Standing out in the garden with a hose is really a very inefficient way of watering your plants. You’d cut down on garden maintenance, save time and waste less water if you installed an irrigation...
Indian Curtains Rita Hill showed how to create your own colourful, soft, shimmery curtains using beautiful sari fabrics from India. Sari fabrics make fantastic flowing curtains for any bare window. They’re also perfect if you’re renting because you can...
Why Timber Rots Don looked at a typical example of dry rot in the timbers of a house. Water had been sucked into the ends of the wood by capillary action, creating a wet zone which rotted as it dried out. This problem is less likely to occur if the ends of the timber...
Pictures and prints add cheer and colour to your home, but they don’t always have to be framed and hung on the walls. Rita Hill showed how to use découpage to turn a plain timber tabletop into a stunning work of art. You will need A small table, old or new...
Aftershave – The French Alternative Jackie’s homemade aftershave is a great present for a bloke, and it smells good too! You’ll need 20 cloves 2 star anise 1 stick cinnamon dried rind of 4 limes 4 tbspns vodka mineral or distilled water Method Put...
Nindooinbah On a clear day you can stand on the verandah at Nindooinbah and see about 110km (60 miles) over the water and across the valley. Nindooinbah is a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘the place of ashes’. In times gone by the Aborigines used to camp...
Modern Courtyard Landscape designer Ian Barker was given a simple brief by his clients for the courtyard of their modern townhouse: they wanted something easy and something different. Features of the design Corrugated galvanized roofing iron was used on the exterior...
Modern Mexican Villa Two years ago Colin Ashby and Ross Jenkins moved to Mission Beach, in far north Queensland. They purchased a unique 2 acre property, surrounded on all boundaries by rainforest. After major renovations the existing bland house has been transformed...
Moroccan Style House When it comes to innovative house design in Australia, tropical areas seem to be leading the way. The design of the north Queensland home of Franca and Danny Obersky takes advantage of fabulous views over Trinity Bay towards Green Island. Danny...
Outdoor Heaters Despite our wonderful climate, Australian’s have been slow to embrace the concept of extending indoor living areas outside. Even though the idea is catching on, most people still wouldn’t even consider dining alfresco during the winter...