Tag: decks

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Art Homewares

Art Club Concept: homewares meets interior fashion

As anyone in the fashion industry will attest, fashion is a way of saying who you are without having to speak. And now, more than ever, the home has become a further extension of this. A means of expressing yourself, being creative and representing your personal identity.

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Taking this concept and running with it, is new label Art Club Concept. Referring to themselves as a brand that merges homewares with interior fashion, founder Ben Lawry was inspired by his fashion background. “After being heavily involved within the fashion industry for almost a decade I was ready for my next challenge. I wanted to create amazing interior art that is inspiring, accessible and offered across a range of categories.”

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With a collection that includes wall art, cushions, vases and clocks, Art Club Concept focuses on uplifting spaces through a bold use of colour and statement prints. All pieces are unique and dynamic, perfect for disrupting the average and adding some va-va-voom to your home!

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Created for art lovers by Melbourne artists, Art Club Concept is passionate about engaging with local and innovative individuals. “Behind the scenes, Art Club Concept is a team of creative people who love nothing more than fuelling inspiration in others,” says Ben. “They understand the home is a reflection of your own unique personality, therefore wanting to inspire and assist in creating beautiful spaces. Their mission is to inspire passion, creativity and happiness in life.”

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Shop online.

— Disclosure: Art Club Concept gifted me a $300 voucher, however positive coverage was not guaranteed.

Categories
Architecture Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

How to keep your balcony or deck safe

Most people give their cars and themselves regular check-ups, but tend to leave maintenance of their property until a problem becomes so obvious that is simply has to be attended to. This approach is not only bad for the property but also more expensive on the pocket! So what does Cameron Frazer of Ask an Architect recommend you do to keep the more susceptible areas of your home — like balconies and decks — safe?

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Photo credit: TVBS

We all enjoy the summertime, but it’s actually the time to be smart about home safety. Anyone planning to hold a function that will see a crowd of people occupying their balcony or deck should check that it is safe and not at risk of injuring someone or collapse.

Balconies are usually used by a small family group of three to four people, however, when 15 to 20 adults or more gather on a balcony, the stress on the structure often reaches breaking point and the balcony collapses causing serious injury.

Added to this weight factor is often the large BBQ plus tables, chairs and heavy planter boxes filled with flowering plants to brighten the alfresco dining area. Large stone tables have also become a trend for outdoor living along with steel and cast iron outdoor furniture, which increases the load factor on the deck or balcony.

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Photo credit: TVBS

Anyone with a balcony or raised deck should check it out carefully for safety, including an inspection for rotting timbers, shaky hand rails and balustrades, corroded bolts and brackets, rust stains and cracking in concrete balconies. People renting properties should also check decks or balconies and notify their real estate agents if any concerning conditions are discovered.

If people find faults they should take immediate action to repair them and if they are not sure, seek professional advice. I would recommend people get an architect to inspect their property every five years and provide maintenance advice to keep it in tip-top condition.

— Cameron Frazer is the general manager of Ask an Architect, a new online portal (launched by the Australian Institute of Architects) ready to offer you sound and unbiased advice, help you through your home renovation and provide recommendations at an affordable cost.

Categories
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.