Tag: cabot’s

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to protect your timber benchtops from the get-go

protect your timber benchtops

There’s plenty of reasons to love timber benchtops. The style, aesthetics and durability of timber is second to none. If you’ve decided on timber benchtops for your kitchen reno then you’ll be well aware that they can come with a decent price tag. Typically, you can expect to pay $350 per square metre for a cheaper timber, like bamboo and up to $1200 per square metre for a hardwood like Jarrah or Ironbark.

How to protect your timber benchtops from the get-goImage source: Nullarbor Timber

Installing timber benchtops is worth the spend for many renovators but with a very specific catch; timber needs to be treated well to really pull its weight. Timber is what’s referred to as a ‘soft’ material. This is especially true when comparing it to other materials typically used to makes benches like laminate and stone. This can mean ongoing maintenance issues, especially if you don’t get things right from the get go.

The biggest mistake you can make with your timber benchtops, is not treating the wood properly and thoroughly from the get-go. Investing the time and money in a product that will protect your investment in the long term is key to ensuring a good, long term finish.

Cabot’s new Benchtop Clear timber coating product for interior benchtops and tables is a highly durable, heat and stain resistant coating product that protects against almost anything your kitchen has to throw at it with the added bonus of enhancing the natural grain of the timber to prolong its appearance and minimise the chances yellowing over time.

One of the biggest selling points of the product? Its food safe properties, which keep timber surfaces protected from nasty liquids while providing a more hygienic food preparation area. James Fisher, Senior Brand Manager for Cabot’s explains that consumers are often being directed to flooring grade clears and tung oil-based products. “These aren’t specifically formulated for benches and don’t contain the food safe stamp of approval,” says James. “Benchtop Clear, however, has been designed with exactly this purpose in mind, to offer people a safe, simple and hard-wearing way to safeguard their kitchen’s timber surfaces.”

Cabot’s advises re-coating your benchtops every 6-12 months to ensure their longevity.

Cabot’s Benchtop Clear is available in 1L tins, in both Satin and Gloss finishes. For more information, visit www.cabots.com.au

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Design DIY Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Shopping

TV carpenter Adam Dovile grants Sydney girl her Starlight Wish

When 5-year-old Claire wished for her very own cubby house to escape between hospital treatments, little did she know carpenter Adam Dovile (of House Rules and Better Home and Gardens fame) would make her Starlight Wish come true.  

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It’s fair to say every kid dreams of a cubby house – a space where they can let their imagination run wild and escape from reality, and Claire from south-western Sydney is no exception. Born with a chronic kidney and bladder illness Claire is regularly in and out of hospital, and for her Starlight Wish, she wanted nothing more than her own space to relax between hospital treatments.

ADAM DOVILE AND CABOTS

Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight) collaborated with Adam and Australia’s leading woodcare brand, Cabot’s, to make Claire’s once-in-a-lifetime wish come true. “Granting Claire’s wish is such a humbling experience especially after hearing about her story and what she has to go through on a daily basis,” explains Adam. “She’s a really tough kid and it’s an absolute honour to build Claire her own dream cubby for her to enjoy with her family.”

ADAM DOVILE AND CABOTS

As a qualified carpenter Adam was the perfect man for the job. In addition to his creative talents he was armed with Cabot’s decking products and accessories. The cubby house design was inspired by Claire’s love of the outdoors, especially gardening and picking flowers. A sturdy Colorbond roof was included to protect Claire from direct sunlight, to which her medication makes her sensitive, and a craft table was included for Claire to explore her passion for arts and crafts.

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For a beautiful finish, the cubby was painted with Cabot’s Timber Colour in Oxford and Lexicon. Little window boxes and plants were added. And as the final touch, the flooring and furniture were finished using Cabot’s Deck and Exterior Stain European Beech.

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The gorgeous cubby house was recently revealed to Claire and her excited family just in time for Christmas. The project is the first in Cabot’s Dream Decks for a Cause, which brings together charity and creativity for worthy recipients.

For more information.

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Design DIY Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Shopping Styling

9 ways to create the perfect outdoor space

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to get your outdoor space prepped for entertaining, relaxing and family fun. However, with so many options on the market, from stylish decking and trendy outdoor furniture to lighting, plants and cushions it can be difficult to know what to focus on to get the best results for your budget. Australia’s leading woodcare brand, Cabot’s, has partnered with local design movers and shakers to provide nine top tips on how to transform your outdoor space.

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Award-winning landscape designer, Daniel Tyrrell’s top tips:

1. Create a destination. Aim to create a space that invites people outdoors. You can use seating with outdoor cushions that introduce colour. Or arrange a collection of pots with a mix of your favourite plants, such as herbs, succulents and bulbs, which encourage your interaction. The pots could be linked to other features, for example, by painting a couple to echo an existing colour in the garden.

2. Lighten up. Garden lighting can make a huge difference to the way a garden feels after the sun goes down and will directly affect how you use your outdoor space. Bright light is good for everyday functions like getting that forgotten washing from the line, but it often destroys the mood and creates washed out foregrounds and dark gardens. But not enough lighting is just as bad. Choose good quality well-planned garden lighting to extend the life of your garden and provide another room for entertaining.

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3. Know when to be brave. Show restraint in all things colour, features and furniture. What this means is be brave with your colour palette but commit to a few over many. Features are only that if they are rare, so again be bold and commit to one or two.

Sydney-based interior designer, Karenza Jewell’s top tips:

1. Zone your space. Have areas for larger entertaining, quieter winter sun spots for reading, and shady areas for hot summer days. Use different materials to zone these areas. Decking is also the perfect way to zone spaces, especially with the introduction of stain colour and even floor direction and elevation.

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2. Play with textures and colours. Outdoor spaces are meant for texture, from real stone to rendered paint effects. And you can focus on any area with the simple use of colour or texture. Outdoor fabrics are better than ever, with strong colours and patterns as well as natural soft textures. You don’t need to install colourful plants, especially if you have gone for an easy maintenance garden. Just drop in some colourful fabric finishes on your outdoor seating. On a budget? Use bright sun umbrellas, outdoor rugs and lanterns. Look to colour for timber surfaces too, especially your deck, pergolas and screens. No longer does wood decking have to be a typical wood colour! Play with the stone finishes and timber colours now available. You can easily complement or contrast the architectural colours of your home or natural colours in your landscape.

3. Go sculptural with furniture. We are seeing outdoor furniture that is far more exciting than internal – from daybeds that are like islands to sculpted wire chairs to pebble knitted loungers. Clever uses of materials mean unusual materials are seen outdoors, not just in! You can add a superb sculptural piece of furniture and your garden becomes a gallery.

Renovator and blogger, Michelle Johnston’s top tips: 

1. Embrace the power of paint. You should never underestimate the power of paint, you can use paint to revamp your home’s exterior brickwork or render, or paint the front door with a statement colour. Renters can get creative by painting old furniture or pots for plants to inject some colour in the garden. The bolder, the brighter, the better!pqGcCE-2eEH8-lC6LuNs9d7ABdSrZViDvVhm-4P3BwA,-yhwHp4aUQTohqcNFOeV6wSRGA54hx-FzocZJu6BIts,amwrZqJ5JToqNL0xfaw-SX__VLNYz46qJuHYCORLw582. Add greenery. Plants in feature pots or a vertical garden will add life to the space. If you’re on a budget, ask friends and family for cuttings and grow your own plants. Succulents are one of the easiest plants to propagate, they thrive in pots and come in many varieties, colours and sizes – just avoid the prickly ones as they can be difficult to work with!

3. Create layer upon layer. Bringing the indoors out is about making your outdoor space feel inviting and comfortable. One easy way to achieve this is to add texture in layers. Soft furnishings, like outdoor rugs and cushions, are a great way to make your space comfortable.

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Appliances

3 simple steps to get your deck summer ready

Aussies love the great outdoors and it’s fair to say that if you have a deck, you’ll be spending most of your summer days lounging about on it.

But the problem with decks is they can age very quickly! So don’t let the greying timber hinder your experience, replenish and protect your deck from UV damage with these three simple steps from Cabot’s, Australia’s leading woodcare product manufacturer.

Step 1: Exfoliate

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Using a mix of Cabot’s Deck Clean and water in a bucket, scrub your timber with a broom to rid it of degraded timber fibres (the signs of ageing) and dirt. By eliminating the impurities and surface contaminants, you ensure a smooth finish when you apply your refreshing deck oil.

Step 2: Nourish

Now that you’ve prepped your timber, it’s time to nourish your clean, dry deck with Cabot’s Aquadeck. This water-based product is best applied with a lambswool applicator to ensure there are no streaks, lines or blend marks.

Apply Aquadeck liberally to the entire length of the timber board, approximately 2-3 boards at a time.

Step 3: Rejuvenate

Allow two hours’ drying time between coats. Once your first coat is dry, grab your lambswool applicator and repeat the process for a refreshed, young-looking timber.

When you’re done, wash your tools thoroughly in water. Wait at least eight hours before replacing furniture on your revitalised deck.

For best results

This three-step timber beauty regime should be repeated every spring to ensure your deck is protected from the visible signs of ageing. For product information, how-to guides and stockists, visit the Cabot’s website here.