Home-Dzineonline

It’s all about caring for and improving your home

and even more...fresh ideas with flowers - easy practical floors

instant landscaping - miserable mozzieseasy kitchen storage

October Issue 2

easy kitchen makeoversand storage options

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contentsaffordable quality 3 Pay a visit to your local Prominent Paints store

and see the latest range of specialty and decorative paint products for your home.

quick and easy 4

shed some new light 5 Light fittings and fixtures do more than light a

space.

inspired living 6 Still haven’t decided what colour to paint the

lounge. Be inspired...

fresh new face for a dated look 7 Give your kitchen cabinets a new look with

paint.

stencil cabinet doors 11 Dress up cabinet doors with a fleur-de-lis

stencil.

easy as 1 or 2 12 Take a plain, unfinished pine cabinet and see

what you can achieve!

fresh ideas 15 A handful of fresh flowers and a container

are all you need for these fun arrangements.

easy, practical floors 18 Want to replace your old flooring but don’t

want to commit to tile or carpet?

diy divas 20 How to use a spade bit

instant landscaping 21 New garden innovations make transforming

any yard into a lush garden a breeze.

miserable mozzies 22 Tried and tested tricks to stop mozzies

bothering you!

miserable mozzies 22 Tried and tested tricks to stop mozzies

bothering you!

q-zone 23

directory 24

copyright of articles and images, not submitted and licensed by home-dzine or janice anderssen, remain the property of the owner, and home-dzine or janice anderssen claims no intellectual property rights.

Home-Dzine Online is written and compiled by Janice Anderssen. All projects in this issue, or any other issue, remain the property of Home-Dzine and Janice Anderssen, and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

a word or two

Is it hot, or is it HOT! I cannot believe how it went from winter to summer weather in the blink of any eye, especially here in Guateng-a-leng. No doubt everybody will soon be rushing out to buy air coolers and aircons, but before you do, remember that cooling your home is much easier by simply installing Think Pink in the ceiling space. This product also increases the performance of any cooling machine you put in your home, AND it’s eco-friendly and energy-wise as well!

For all you moms... Our DIY Kids will be open and very active over the coming holiday season. I know from experience how bored the kids get over the school holidays and after a hundred “what can we do mom?” you want to pull your hair out. DIY Kids offers a new way for the kids to have fun while learning at the same time, plus they get to take home projects that they have made themselves. An added bonus for parents - drop off the kids and go shopping!

We are still busy putting everything into place for our rise to TV celebrity fame and I will be keeping you regularly informed as to what’s happening on this front. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on what promises to be ‘the battle of the sexes’ and a whole lotta fun.

Until next month

Janice

Have you visited a Prominent Paint store or Decorating Centre lately? With a life expectancy in excess of 10 years, Prominent Paints offer the most affordable ways for improving your home.

For new homes the Wall Primer is a high coverage emulsion based paint designed to be used as a sealer coat on new cement plasters and offers excellent sealing to prevent absorption of more expensive final coats. WallPrimer offers high coverage at a low cost and makes decorating even more affordable.

Need to paint on wood? Wood Primer offers good adhesion to timber and hardboard and is easily over coated with conventional decorative coatings.

For a decorative finish to boring walls, Ripple is a permanently plasticised acrylic bound protective and decorative interior/exterior coating with a durable plaster-like texture finish.Ripple is UV resistant, weather resistant, water based, and so flexible it can withstand substratemovement.

For more subtle wall texture, Texture-Crete is a ready-mixed textured solvent based acrylic resin coating with good waterproofingproperties that can be applied directly to sound masonry and cement surfaces.

For the decorator who likes to have fun and play around with colours and patterns, Scumble Glaze is a transparent paint effects glaze that is added to final coats to extend drying timeof the glaze mixture in the application of paint techniques.

affordablequality

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quick and easyScalloped FareSew fabric into a fresh summer trim for a side table. Cut a circle of fabric to fit the top of thetable, with an extra 10mm for seams. For the skirt, cut a length as long as the diameter of the table (adding 10mm to all sides for the seams). Trace a scallop pattern onto one edge of the skirt, then finish it with a welt of red-and-whitecord. Seam the skirt and sew it to the circle. To get a uniform scallop shape, trace around a saucer or oval dish onto paper. Then use the paper as a pattern.

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Outfitted for SummerSewn into a table runner, below, fabric adds fun and function to any picnic table. Sew the runner to the desired length, trimming it with red-and-white welting. On the drop portion, add a divided pocket to marshal tableware. The pockets make it handy for a buffet table, too.

Star PowerPerk up a porch chair with this starry pillow. Sewn from separate diamonds of fabric, the cover highlights trim stripes. A vintage red button punctuates the centre.

easy!

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shed some new light on rooms

ABOVE: An etched glass pendant is the perfect piece to illuminate the foyer and an eye-catching candle vignette adds a soft glow to the entry table. Lighting Tip: For determining the correct size for a fixture, add together the length andwidth of your room. The result in feet will be the fixture size in inches.

LEFT: With the addition of a central pendant - fitted to a dimmer switch, a fluorescentstrip light in the centre storage shelf, and a few inexpensive candles on the edge of the bath, a plain, fairly dark bathroom is turned into a more romantic retreat for evening bathing.

RIGHT: The bold blue lamps add height and a colourful punch to a bedroom. New night stands fit the scale of thebed, and navy pillows and a throw help pull the bold colours throughout the space. Plus, something doesn’t need to be plugged in to brighten a room. The reflective tea service catches the lightand bounces it around the room.

Light fittings and fixturesdo more than light a space. They can be used as decorative features to dress up and illuminate any room in the home.

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Urban ComfortIn a city loft, architectural elements usually do the talking. But in this posh loft, the decor is in stride with the pillars and exposed duct work. Bright white furniture shines against charcoal gray walls. The long line of orange artwork emphasises the length of the room. Pillows and a throw continue the orange theme for a consistent look.

Sophisticated PinkBring pink out of the nursery and into the living room. Pink, usually thought of as pastel, takes a sophisticated turn in this space. A soft shade of pink coats the walls and strong chocolate brown accents add an edge. Furniture with modern, clean lines also maintains the sophistication. Accessories, like the tiered lamp and oversize wall art, add the final bold touch.

White OutAll-white rooms need a dose of personality. Throw pillows bring in a pop of green, blue, and pink in cottage-inspired patterns. But the addition is small enough as not to disturb the ambience of the crisp, white room. Different textures, like the bowl of shells, starfish, and asisal rug, add depth to the room.

inspiredlivingStill haven’t decided how to decorate your living room? Or perhaps you are looking for something completely different. Here are some ideas to get those creative juices flowing!

Whatever decorating scheme you decide upon, pop into your local Home Comforts

store for the widest range of affordable decor accessories and soft furnishings.

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Before you attempt any painting, make sure that you follow the preparation steps below. If you don’t you could end up with a surface that scratches easily or does not adhere as it should to the surface.

Take some time to visualise what you want your kitchen to look like before you decide.

fresh new face for a dated look

LEFT, BELOW and BOTTOM: You don’t have to opt for painting an entire kitchen to achieve a fresh look in your kitchen. In the pictured kitchen our homeowner selected a few pieces and painted them in a light blue colour for impact and a completely new feel for a dated kitchen.

1. Clean the cabinets Preparation is of prime importance for the

successful painting your cabinets, and it is very important to make sure that all of the surfaces you are going to paint are completely free of all grease, grime, food residue and whatever else may be stuck to them. Set up a place where you can work, as you will find the entire process ismuch easier if you remove all the cabinet doors. If you don’t have the space for all the doors, work one section at a time until all the doors have been done. Use a household cleaner that is specificallyfor heavy degreasing, a soft scourer, and make sure that you don’t forget to rinse them clean and allow to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.

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2. Sand the cabinets Once all the doors are completely dry, use

180-grit sandpaper to go over the entire surface of each door. This will remove any absorbed oils, greases or sealers that may have been previously applied. By lightly sanding you are creating a ‘key’ surface that will allow the primer to hold onto the cabinet surface and ensure proper adhesion for the following paint coats. Whilst labour intensive, this step will greatly increase longevity of the paint job. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step!

3. Apply primer Once the sanding is out of the way, the rest

is fairly easy. The first step is to apply primer tothe doors. This will prevent any stain seeping through your final coats and spoiling thefinish.

Use the brush to apply paint to any profilesor mouldings on the doors. Allow the primer to dry completely If you can see any brush strokes on streaks on the doors, use a very fine sandpaper (240-grit) to lightly sand thesurface smooth in preparation for painting.

4. Apply paint For the paint you can use a water-based

gloss (Prominent Paints Ultra Gloss), a standard enamel paint, or an acrylic paint to which you would apply at least two coats of a water-based varnish to finish. Allow thecabinets to dry overnight before putting everything back together and re-attaching the hardware.

TOP: Two shades of green have been used on wall and floor cabinets. BOTTOM: Apale tangerine creates a colourful and

welcoming kitchen.

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bored with your kitchen?

Are you tired of your all-wood kitchen cabinets? Bored with the uninspiring look? If you want to give them a fresh new look without the expense of replacing, try a faux painting effect.

Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the least expensive ways to update the look of your kitchen and, it’s not as difficult as you may think. You can also give your cabinets a little added pizzazz with a faux antique finish, tocreate a unique and personalised look that is well worth the extra effort.

TOP and LEFT: Pine cabinets get a complete transformation with a Rust-Oleum Distressed Ivory Kit.

the paint. Dip the sandpaper in a little water and this helps to smooth out any brush strokes for a perfect finish.

4. Roughen the doors The Rust-Oleum Distressed Ivory Kit comes

complete with a scrubber pad. Use this to lightly scrape over the edges and mouldings on the painted doors.

5. Apply the antique finish to the cabinetdoors with the supplied applicator and, in accordance with the instructions. At this stage you can decide how little or how much of a darker finish you want to add tomouldings, decorative trim or doors. (see pic insert above) If you are unsure, have a space piece of wood on which to practice before you tackle the doors.

1. Clean the cabinets Use a household

cleaner that is specifically forheavy degreasing - or sugar soap, a soft scourer, and make sure that you don’t forget to rinse them clean and allow to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.

2. Sand the cabinets Lightly sand the doors with 180-grit

sandpaper.

3. Apply base coat Once the sanding is out of the way, the rest

is fairly easy. The first step is to apply the ivorybase coat over the entire surface. The kit comes complete with everything you need for the task. Use the brush to apply paint to any profiles or mouldings on the doors.

For an ultra-smooth finish, use 400-grit wet ordry sandpaper to lightly sand the surface of

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Dress up cabinet doors with a few coats of paint and a fleur-de-lis stencil for a new-look kitchen.

LEFT: The plain wood doors

before.

RIGHT: After a couple

of coats of paint, and

the addition of our stencil.

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1. Use a heavy kitchen degreaser to clean the cabinet doors and remove all traces of grease and grime that may have built up.

2. Lightly sand the door with 120-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for painting.

3. Apply a base coat of universal primer to all the surfaces. Using acrylic paint, choose a lighter colour such as cream or white for the first coat, and thenapply two coats of your chosen colour, allowing it to dry after each coat.

4. Use steel wool to go over the edges of the door and around the edges of any mouldings. This will remove the top layer of paint and reveal the lighter coat

below, giving the doors a distressed, aged look.

5. Enlarge the fleur-de-lis pattern to desiredsize (see back page). Glue your design to a piece of stock card and use a craft knife to cut out the stencil. Remember to protect your surfaces with scrap board.

6. Use self-adhesive spray to affix the stencil to the front of the cabinet doors, makingsure that it is completely flat on the surface.

7. Use Rust-Oleum Metallic Silver to spray over the stencil.

stencil cabinet doors

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If you need extra countertop space for food preparation, this island design will organise all your utensils in a single, stylish storage unit. Choose a pine cabinet, add Woodoc Stain Concentrate to match your existing kitchen, and finish off with a Woodoc Sealer.

You will need:Pine cabinet (unfinished)Decorative moulding Formica LifeSeal CountertopHardware pulls and knobs Woodoc Stain Concentrate and Woodoc matt or gloss sealerTOOLS: Drill/Driver, 8-10mm wood bit, jigsaw, tape measure, pencil, hammer, mitre box and saw, nail set, painting equipment

1. Embellish plain doors with decorative moulding (available at your local Timbercity). Depending on the style, this may be as simple as cutting moulding to length with a mitre box and saw, predrilling, and tacking it on with panel pins.

3. Install a countertop. Visit your local Timbercity for a wide range of options and specials on Formica LifeSeal countertops. Use a large drill bit (8-10mm) and a jigsaw to cut a small hole in it as a drop-through for scraps, if you like. If you cut the hole, you’ll need to eliminate the drawer on that side and secure the drawer front to make it stationary. Take at look at the Home-Dzine Online October issue 1 magazine to find out how to cut laminatewithout scratching or chipping the edges.

4. Choose your stain concentrate to match your existing kitchen, or one of the many colour concentrates. Mix this in with the Woodoc Sealer and apply according to the instructions on the tin.

easy as1 or 2Whether you’re starting with a basic base cabinet or a pine cabinet, here are some imaginative ways to customise it so it better suits your needs and turns into a plus for your kitchen.

TOP and LEFT: A plain, unfinished pinecabinet becomes a stylish kitchen island offering plenty of countertop space for food preparation, and even more storage space for the kitchen.

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practical

project

You will need:Kitchen carcass and doors19mm plywood for countertop and shelfNarrow stack wine storage cubbies (or make your own)Glass bricksPine stock 50 x 76mmWire mesh[2] bracketsHandles and door knobsTiles, listello (or moulding), tile fix and groutTOOLS: Drill/Driver, tin snips, tiling tools, wood nails, tacks, painting equipment

Here’s how:1. Attach your wine storage rack to one end of the cabinet.

2. Remove the panels in the doors. Replace with wire mesh, hiding cut edges on the inside with strips of moulding.

3. Make the countertop and shelf from 19mm plywood. Have this cut to size at your local Timbercity.

4. Top with tile and edge with listello or strips of wood moulding.

5. Set the shelf on cut pieces of pine stock, securing it with brackets or corbels at the back for more strength. Insert glass bricks between the supports.

6. Choose one of Prominent Paints Ultra Gloss water-based enamel paints for finishing the cabinet to bring anaccent colour into your kitchen.

7. Install hardware pulls on drawer and doors.

open to viewTransform a white kitchen cabinet into a stylish bar / wine rack for the dining room or kitchen. Add a ready made wine storage rack - or make your own with 16mm supawood - to the end of the cabinet.

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i love bakingMAIN PIC: Two cabinet bases, joined by shelves to become an island, have features that serious bakers will love.

You will need:Two cabinet bases (available from Timbercity)19mm Plywood or Supawood (to make shelves in cabinet base) Beaded board Moulding for feet Paint brushes or rollers Prominent Paints universal primer Prominent Paints sheen acrylic paint Hardware pulls and knobs Solid-surface countertop TOOLS: Drill/Driver, tape measure, pencil, hammer, nail set

Here’s how:1. Enlarge the island by adding shelves made

from plywood or supawood between the base cabinets, spacing them to hold cookie sheets, rolling pins, or other specialty items.

2. Face the sides and back of the island with beaded-board panels or planks cut to size.

3. Face the kick plate with a length of plywood.

4. Remove one door for easy access to bowls and pans.

5. Add moulded feet to the kick plate, cutting them in half if necessary. You can also use decorative timber curtain accessories for this.

BELOW: A plastic organiser placed in a drawer separates items neatly.

6. Paint to match with your existing kitchen.

7. Top the island with a solid-surfacing countertop (or marble if you want to splurge). Or for a more affordable option, choose a Formica LifeSeal countertop.

8. Install hardware pulls on drawer and doors.

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Elegant StatementA handful of iris banded together and wrapped with ribbon makes a statuesque topiary. Any flower that hasupright blooms on long stems (would work for this style of arrangement.

1. Cut florist’s foam to fit inside a bowl.Holding iris stems in your hand, cluster them into an appealing shape. Snip the stems into a straight line, allowing 2 or 3 extra centimetres on each stem to push into the foam. Wrap rubber bands around the tops and bottoms of the stems.

2. Push the stems into the foam until they stand upright. Cover the foam with moss. Wrap ribbon around the stems, and secure it with pins. To complete the look surround the base with moss.

freshideas

Take a handful for fresh flowers, a container to putthem in and, voila, an instant arrangement to add splashes of colour to your home.

One-Blossom StunnerCreate this high-style display almost instantly with a pretty glass and a single bloom. An ice cream dish, a champagne bowl, or a martini glass all make attractive vessels for floating a showy dahlia. A strand of vine gives the display an organic quality. Try any handy (nonpoisonous!) garden vine, such as wisteria or trumpet vine.

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Free FallingLEFT: Start with a ready-made mixed bunch of flowers and a wide cylinder vase or glass bowl.

Choose one or two stems to stand tall but not taller than the vase. Cut the rest of the stems short and float the blooms in a small amount ofwater in the bottom of the vase.

Cluster for ImpactCENTRE: Cut the stems of textured flowers,leaving approximately 3-4 centimetres attached to the head of the flower. Add 5cmof water to a large cylinder vase (or a large trifle bowl from your kitchen) and build up amound of stones in the vase. Cover it with the flowers, nestling the stems in between thestones.

Think Inside the VaseBOTTOM RIGHT: Twist a small palm frond or banana leaf into a tall cylinder vase as a backdrop for a delicate white orchid branch. Float a single blossom at the bottom of the vase and display.

Vegetable MedleyA medley of artichokes, as-paragus, and broccoli floretswith white and yellow flowers,all cleverly displayed in an enamel colander. Sprigs of parsley, basil, and other herbs fill in with delicate scents andmore shades of green.

Line a colander with tin foil. Add a block of moistened florist’s foam. Breakwooden skewers into 10cm pieces, and push one end into the bottom of each vegetable

and the other into the foam. Build the arrangement from the rim upward toward the centre. Place large items first, then fill inwith flowers.The idea is to create a compacted effect.

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Citrus StunnerFragrant lemon slices camouflage stemsof purple tulips, anemone, lilac, and stock tucked into an ordinary pitcher.

Find a tall glass that will fit squarelyinside a clear glass pitcher and still allow enough space around it for the lemon slices. Put the glass in the pitcher, slice the lemons about 5mm thick, and arrange them between the pitcher and the glass, beginning at the bottom and over-lapping slices as you go. Carefully pour water over the lemons and into the glass.

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Want to replace your old flooring, but don’twant to commit to tile or carpet? Here’s a guide on how to install glueless laminate flooron your own.

Built to last, laminate floors can be installed over existing flooring, and requires littlecare. Available in a variety of shades, laminate flooring can be installed in a snap.

You will need:Laminate flooringUnderlayment Concrete brads (to reinstall the trim pieces) Pry bar Craft knife Tape measure Pencil Circular saw or handsaw Hammer Nail set (to reinstall the trim pieces)

To prevent buckling and other problems after installation, unopened cartons of flooring should sit in the room whereit will be installed for 48 to 96 hours before installing. This allows for expanding and contracting due to the humidity and temperature of the room.

1. Remove skirting by gently prying from the wall and store safely for reinstallation upon completion of laying flooring. If necessary, remove old flooring,such as carpeting and wood flooring. Make surefloor is dry, clean of dust and dirt, and level.

2. Roll underlayment out to cover entire space, making sure not to overlap strips. Cut strips with a craft knife. Underlayment is available at your local Timbercity.

4. To determine the direction to lay the planks, consider the location of the focal point in the room, which wall

easy, practical floors

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provides the longest starting point, and how sunlight will strike the floor. Planning the layout helps to avoidending up with narrow rows of flooring against the farwall. Planks in the last row should be at least 30cm wide. Before you begin, measure across the room (allowing a 10mm gap at each wall; if you have a remainder less than 30mm wide, add that value to the width of a full plank and divide by 2. This will be the width of the planks in the first and last rows. To allow for mishaps andreplacements, plan on purchasing 20 percent extra flooring.

5. Because laminate floors are considered floating floors,it is important to leave a 10mm gap between the planks and the wall. Even acclimated floors expandand contract due to temperature and humidity. Most installation kits include spacer chips that can be wedged between the wall and planks to create the proper gap.

6. You may have to cut the first row of planks lengthwise,depending on the results of your calculations. Use a pencil and masking tape to mark cut lines and irregular wall contours on planks. Cut with the finished side downwhen using a power saw so you don’t end up removing the grooves that connect it to other pieces. When using a handsaw, cut with the finished side up.

7. Install the first row of planks with the tongue side facingthe wall. Connect plank rows by connecting the tongues to the grooves, making sure there are no gaps at the joints. You may be able to do this by hand, or use a pull bar from the installation kit to pull planks tightly together. As you lock in new rows, stagger the seams at least 200mm. You can start a new row with the previous row’s scrap, but don’t use plank pieces shorter than 300mm. When you reach the end of a row, cut the last plank to length, maintaining a 10mm expansion gap between the wall and edge of plank. Allow the same 10mm expansion space when installing around plumbing pipes.

8. You will likely need to trim the last piece according to your calculations. The last row may be awkward to install because there should be only 10mm between the last row and the wall. Slip the planks into position at an angle, and gently push into place with a pry bar.

9. After all of the laminate planks are installed, remove all spacers and reinstall skirtings. Use transition pieces to connect the laminate floor to adjoining surfaces such as carpet and linoleum, making sure not to nail through the laminate planks.

how to use a spade bitA spade bit is a handy accessory for a Drill/Driver or a Standard Drill.

Use a spade bit to ‘drill’ holes into timber and board products if, for example, you want to create finger holes instead of using handles.

You can also use a spade bit to create deeper holes in thick pieces of timber for using shorter, thicker screws. (see left)

A spade bit resembles its namesake - a ‘spade’ - and looks like a flat spade with a sharp pointon the end.

You will find a spade bit in various widths from10mm up to 32mm, and larger.

How to use a spade bit:1. Position the tip of the spade bit at the centre

of where you want to position the hole.

2. Press down hard so that the tip goes into the surface of the timber or board.

3. Start the drill motor at a slow speed and hold it steady as the bit grabs the wood.

4. Increase the drill speed steadily.

5. Drill completely through the work piece and back the bit out smoothly with the drill still going.

DIY Tip:By placing a scrap piece of timber or board underneath where the hole will be, you will have a much cleaner exit hole on both sides of the timber or board.

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instant landscaping

TOP: The garden before landscaping was a mess of rocks and rubble.

RIGHT: After landscaping the garden becomes a lush green paradise.

LEFT and BOTTOM: The concrete brick wall has been replaced by a curvaceous wall of rock-faced bricks.

Whether you are water wise, or simply tired of mowing the lawn every weekend, new garden innovations make transforming any yard into a lush garden a breeze.

Synthetic lawn is the latest introduction for the ultimate low-maintenance garden. While the product has been around for ages, new technology in design and materials have transformed what was previously a poor excuse for fake grass into a product that is almost impossible to tell from the real thing. Synthetic lawn is manufactured using Polyethylene, which is tufted to the applicable length, lubricated

with silicone and applied onto a rubberized base. The grass, once installed, is then top dressed with silica sand to keep the fibresupright and bouncy.

Where to find...Synthetic Lawn

www.turfscape.co.zawww.multiturf.co.zawww.synturf.co.za

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miserable mozzies!We haven’t even had our first rains in Gauteng andalready the mozzies are starting to bite! Here’s a few tips on keeping the garden - and your body - free of mozzies!

Be vigilant about getting rid of any standing water, especially after having the sprinkler on when watering the lawn. It takes no more than a small amount of water for a mosquito to lay her eggs. Any items left lying around, such as plastic toys, plant pot saucers under containers, old tarps, etc., are the perfect breeding ground. Either dispose of these items or ensure that they are packed away so as not to collect water. And don’t neglect the gutters; clogged downspouts create wonderful reservoirs for mosquitoes.

If water isn’t draining well in part of the garden, try to channel the water away with pipe or French drains.

Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants when you’re outside in peak mosquito times — usually in the mid to late afternoon. (You have probably already discovered that mosquitoes don’t read that “dusk to dawn” behaviour

they’re credited with.) Even if you’re typically not a glove wearer, you may find that wearingthem is an advantage at mosquito-biting time.Welcome bats to your yard by hanging a bat house or two. Just one of these mammals can eat 500 mosquitoes per hour.

If you would like to set up a bat house in your garden, the plans to build a bat house are available from www.batcon.org.

While it is preferable to use natural methods to control mosquitoes, sometimes there is simply nothing you can do and you have to try other means of doing so. Before opting for the chemical options, try some of these natural mosquito repellents: Citronella oil in tikki torches and citronella candles placed strategically around your lawn, are a good natural repellent. Eucalyptus oil is also said to be a good repellent for mosquitoes, if you can stand the smell for long periods of time.

Take back control of your lawn and garden and don’t let the mozzie make you miserable!

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Q zoneSend your Q & A for decor, decorating and DIY dilemmas to home-dzine@iburst.co.za.

Q. NomtheeI am presently building a house and would like to have my kids’ bedroom ceiling decorated with themed wallpaper. For example: a sky with stars all over and pink with angels all around for the girl’s room.

Would appreciate your help.

A. JaniceIt is very difficult to find paper that will stick properlyto a ceiling. Most ceilings are constructed using boards and metal battens and they are not rigid in construction, which means that there is always some movement and the paper tends to keep falling off. It is by far easier to paint directly onto the ceiling. Alternatively I would suggest that you buy a piece of 3mm Supawood that you can mount slightly below the ceiling and attach to the timber ceiling supports, and paint onto this.

Q. PhilWhilst doing a little “homework” on granite kitchen tops, something does bother me which I’m hoping you’ll be able to advise me on. With Rustenburg granite (darkish grey/black), on a large surface, with certain light reflections, onecan see clear DULL spots (looks like it hasn’t been polished correctly)! Is this normal and should one expect dull area’s?

A. JaniceWith granite there should be no dull spots. All types of granite are polished to a high shine, including Rustenburg granite.

image: leisurekitchens.co.za

Q. ShirleyCan u please give me some advice on how to begin this small project? My house is fitted with white wallcupboards in bedrooms, I want to change the colour, how do I go about doing that? Don’t have money to put in new ones and only thought of doing something on the doors…..pls help.

A. JaniceThere are a couple of options that you could use for your cupboard doors: 1. Quick and easy. You will find self-adhesivevinyl at most hardware stores, Makro or Builder’s Warehouse. It is available in quite a few different patterns and colours. All you have to do is line up with the top (or bottom) or the door and slowly peel off the backing. Wipe your hand across the front as you peel away the backing and roll down to the bottom of the door. 2. Give your doors a good scrubbing and rinsing and then use any of the wide range of colours in the Prominent Paints Universal Enamel range. Use a soft foam roller to apply the paint to avoid brush strokes. You may need to apply 2 coats, but allow each coat to dry overnight before applying another coat.

Links for this issue

Bosch Power Tools for DIY

CPW

Decorating Centre

Dremel MultiTools

Egger Floor Products

Garden Shop

Home Comforts

PG Bison

Prominent Paints

Rust-Oleum

Timbercity

Woodoc

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