Tag: doors

Three quick DIY paint projects for the winter

Post author By Jekyll Chau
Post date July 14, 2022
1 Comment on Three quick DIY paint projects for the winter

A winter weekend is the ideal opportunity to take on a DIY project, allowing you to stay cosy at home and update your space. To help you pick the perfect project, British Paints has shared their top three options that can be completed in just 48 hours.

1. Give an old piece of furniture a new life

Transforming an old piece of furniture is a great way to save money and help the environment. While it might seem like a challenging task, with the right paint and equipment, it can be done in just a few days.

To get started, you’ll need to remove any hardware and give your piece a good sand. Next wipe down the surface with a damp cloth then apply an undercoat.

Once your undercoat is dry, give your piece of furniture another light sand before adding your topcoat.

You’ll need to add two coats but wait until the first is fully dry before adding the second. Now, all that’s left to do is reattach your hardware and your freshly painted piece is ready to enjoy!

2. Make a great first impression with a fresh front door

A coat of paint on your front door can instantly transform the look and feel of your home. It’s an easy project to complete in a day, so the perfect one to try this weekend!

To get started, you’ll need to take the door off its hinge and lay it flat across a couple of sawhorses, chairs or even a table. Next it is time to prep! Start by removing any hardware, then sanding and wiping down with a damp cloth.

If you’re painting over a dark colour, paint that is both an undercoat and topcoat in one is handy. Only two coats are needed for full coverage, and you can paint over a water or oil based paint, so you don’t need to worry if you don’t know what type of paint was previously on your door.

Once you’ve finished painting, it’s time to re-attach your door and watch as your guests are wowed as they enter your home!

3. Add some style to your space with a feature wall

Feature walls add impact to any space. They’re quick and easy to complete and a great way to start building up confidence in your painting skills.

Remember, you don’t need to paint the entire wall to create a stylish statement. Consider quirky and unique options like painting half the wall, a painted bedhead or arch.

Before you start painting move all your furniture away from the wall, lay a drop sheet to protect your flooring and mask up any skirting boards or electrical switches.

Next, clean your surface with sugar soap. Then it’s time to start painting! For the best results, you’ll need to use a paint roller to paint your feature wall. Make sure your roller has been cleaned well before you start, to ensure a smooth paint finish.

Once you’re ready to roll, place your feet towards the wall and grip the roller with firm but relaxed hands. You’ll need to start at one side of the wall and work towards the other, never starting in the middle, as this can result in an uneven finish.

Finally, as you let your roller work its magic, remember to always paint in a W pattern for best results.

More from British Paints

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Painting your walls is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to freshen up your home. Even so, starting a painting…

Tags British Paints, diy, doors, expert tips, painting, walls

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Barn door hardware: New paintable, DIY from Corinthian

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 15, 2019
No Comments on Barn door hardware: New paintable, DIY from Corinthian

Barn doors feature throughout The Designory's latest project

Aside from being a fabulous space-saving option, the barn door has fabulous design versatility – it complements virtually any interior (from industrial to farmhouse) and works in almost any room. The barn door also happens to reign supreme in The Designory’s latest project, courtesy of Corinthian’s brand new ‘Moda Barn Door Collection’ which you can see pictured here.

“The new designs are an extension of the popular Moda interior door range, which takes cues from the simple yet elegant shaker style. Acting as functional feature in both small apartments and more spacious houses, the Moda Barn Door Collection provides homeowners with a solution of a sliding door that is perfect for walls where there is no cavity pocket and can be used in a variety of applications, from kitchens to living rooms to bathrooms,” says Corinthian Doors Marketing Manager, Amy Ryan. (They must be nice because Jen has the MODA doors throughout her home too!)

The doors are crafted from sustainable solid timber, and available in two finishes; a light American white oak veneer that’s perfect for staining, or primed, which allows for a smooth paint finish. We’re rather excited about this feature, as we have a penchant for coloured doors!

The Corinthian barn doors come in a primed, paintable option

There are multiple designs across the range including a diagonal brace, centre brace and British brace and all of the designs are mirrored on both sides.

Obviously, hardware is vital to the barn door aesthetic with tracks and rollers left purposefully exposed. As such, the Moda range features a matte black face-mounted barn door track and hardware kit including a two-metre track, rollers and anti-jump stops for smooth gliding.

A barn door worked a treat in The Designory's recent project — A barn door worked a treat in the bedroom of The Designory’s recent project

Stability can be an issue when it comes to barn doors, but Corinthian have covered that too. “Poor anchoring can be a common pitfall for barn doors and results in them swinging away from and into walls, causing potential damage,” says Amy.

The range features two types of door guides to prevent this from happening, and they are both simple enough to DIY. The classic floor-mounted version secures doors discretely (and comes included in the barn door track and hardware kit). And for floors that are difficult to drill into (tiles, cement, stone, marble), there is a wall-mounted door guide (sold separately) that can be affixed to the adjacent skirting or wall.

Photography: The Designory & Andy Macpherson Studio

For more on Corinthian doors | Check out the coloured barn door in Jen’s kitchen

Tags barn doors, corinthian, Corinthian Doors, diy, doors, reno, renovating, the designory

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Scandinavian style: Doors integral say Norsu Interiors

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 1, 2019
No Comments on Scandinavian style: Doors integral say Norsu Interiors

norsuHOME front door — Kristy's front door

It’s not something we tend to think much about but a beautiful door can be just the finishing touch a room needs say Scandi interior decorator and renovators Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier, of Norsu Interiors. “You should be able to tell a lot about a space by its doors. They’re the first thing you see when you enter a room and, if closed, the last thing you see when you leave. If your room has a design story, then the doors are its cover and in this case, you should definitely be able to judge a book by its cover,” says Nat who carried out a beautiful renovation her 1920’s Melbourne bungalow recently.

Kristy's elegant bathroom door — Nat used Corinthian doors (Balmoral PBAL 2) throughout her home

Create a grand entrance
“One of the best things I did when renovating my home was to open up the hallway. The Scandi aesthetic is open and full of light, so a small corridor just wasn’t going to work. This new space created the opportunity to make a big statement with my doors,” says Nat of her double entrance front doors, painted in Dulux Vivid White.

“Simple elegance is key to the trend, so making a statement with your choice of doors relies on the detail. The deep carved vertical panel motifs add texture and shadow without being too dramatic,” says Nat who finished the pair of doors with Buster and Punch handles. “I set them on a background of Dulux Tranquil Retreat painted walls that helps them really stand out,” says Nat.

Keep the look consistent
“Beautiful interiors rely on having a strong design story that is executed consistently throughout your home. This ensures that the eyes can wander calmly from space to space without any unexpected surprises,” says Nat who says that interior doors should complement exterior ones. “A good trick for doing this well in a Scandi home is to slightly pare back the motifs of the front door with a simpler profile inside,” says Nat who selected brass interior door hardware too. “That material choice was picked out in fittings and furnishings including our tap ware and lighting,” says Nat further emphasising the importance of consistency in design.

Brass handles complement light fittings and tap ware — Brass handles complement the home’s light fittings and tap ware

Door to door design
“If we think of the door as the cover of your design story, then it follows that you should ensure it is represented in your space. Door frames, picture rails and skirting boards all provide opportunities to add more texture to the home through the use of carved and embossed profiles,” says Nat who used mouldings throughout the house alongside soft grey and pink paint colours on the walls for subtle contrast.

The doors are complemented by skirtings and architraves

“While getting the Scandi style goes beyond door choice, they are a great place to start thinking about how you are going to construct your vision and some of the core elements that are going to define it. Whether you’re going for the original 1950’s aesthetic, a more modern interpretation, or an entirely bespoke twist on the design, make sure your home opens the door to your personal Scandi style.”

For more | Check out the rest of Nat’s stunning home

Tags design, doors, interior, interior design, interiors, melbourne, norsu interiors, scandi, scandi design, scandinavian design, styling

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3 ways to take your reno from ordinary to extra special

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date June 18, 2018
No Comments on 3 ways to take your reno from ordinary to extra special

Who can go past the ever popular Hamptons look? These Intrim products are best sellers.

Coloured front doors: Boost your street appeal!

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date May 8, 2018
No Comments on Coloured front doors: Boost your street appeal!

Taubmans Exterior Stormy Shadow Pink Dust

I’ve long been a fan of a colourful front door. It’s always baffled me as to why most are painted in basic neutrals because, given the relatively small surface area, it’s a low-risk gambit. Plus, aside from being a cheap and easy home refresh, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the latest colour trends.

It’s a view shared by ex-Blockheads Julia and Sasha who opted for a very punchy lilac colour on the front door of their latest renovation. “There’s something extra special about arriving at a property and to be greeted by an unexpected pop of colour. It gives an aura of Notting Hill by adding instant character to any home,” says Julia Treule.

Julia and Sasha’s fabulous front door is painted in Taubmans Lavendula

“We knew we wanted a variation of lilac from the get-go to reflect our love of pastels. Once we had swatched Lavendula, we fell in love straight away as it set the most wonderful tone for our home and we often find ourselves standing in the garden just to stare at it,” says Julia.

Taubmans Suddenly Sapphire is the feature paint on the door and porch of this heritage home

From orange to sapphire, emerald, aqua and pink, there there is a veritable kaleidoscope of colour to choose from. Plus, a signature front door colour is also a great way to introduce your home’s feature colour upon arrival. For instance, in my own home (below) I chose a bright yet muted/pastel blue (the husband vetoed pink!) which is a shade that runs throughout our house. It works well with the other colours on the outside of the home too – a crisp white and black.

Amy's front door — My front door. It’s painted in Taubmans Kingston Aqua.

The white paint/bright door combination is another technique that Julia and Sasha employed to really harness the front door as a focal point, when it came to their lavender door. “Choosing the right white for your home is one of the most difficult decisions as there are so many around. We decided to go with Taubmans Crisp White to add a contemporary edge to our heritage abode. It’s striking in its simplicity and has passers-by desperate to see inside,” says Julia.

I LOVE this door painted in Taubmans Irish Stone – it really makes the brass knocker pop.

For more | The barn door trend

Tags colour, diy, doors, front door, paint, reno, renovating, renovation, taubmans

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Blonde as a blank canvas: Corinthian Doors’ new collection

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date October 19, 2017
No Comments on Blonde as a blank canvas: Corinthian Doors’ new collection

While the old idiom ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ is good in principal, let’s face it we all do it! So when renovating it’s important your exterior looks flawless and that starts with the front door.

Corinthian Doors has just launched its Blonde Oak collection, which perfectly fits in with the on trend look of blonde timber and soft colour palettes. Crafted from sustainable timber with an American White Oak veneer, the collection is available in a range of designs and sizes, including wide stile pivot doors.

A seamless blend of modern design sensibilities and traditional joinery, the detailing is quite simple, so it doesn’t overpower the architectural features of a home. The key is the material itself, which is a very light American White Oak that can be stained, painted, or even left in its natural state with a light oil. The durability and consistency ensures a wonderful canvas for many finishes and colours, making it the perfect material for a variety of different homes.

Ideal for a grand entrance or other external applications such as backdoors or side entrance doors, the collection also includes vertical and horizontal panel designs, as well as clear and opaque glass options – depending on the chosen design.

For more information.

Tags American White Oak, Blonde Oak, Corinthian Doors, doors, front door, renovating, timber

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Timber and aluminium combine for beautiful and durable doors

Post author By Hannah Wootton
Post date April 1, 2016
No Comments on Timber and aluminium combine for beautiful and durable doors

Timber and aluminium doors both bring so much to a home, it’s difficult deciding which to go with. Timber is insulating and adds a traditional touch, while aluminium is so fantastically durable and modern.

If you’re struggling with the choice, check out Stegbar’s Siteline composite doors and windows. They combine the two!

Featuring wooden interiors, you can get the warm and classy look that is so unique to good quality timber. Both the western red cedar and pine options are beautiful woods. If you want to really showcase that wood grain, you can also get it stained rather than painted.

Heading outside, the aluminium exterior frames look contemporary and are super practical and durable. You’ve got to love that they’re virtually maintenance free! They’re anodised, powder-coated and waterproof.

Even better, the most common problem faced by aluminium door owners is minimised by the wooden interior. You can keep your heat in winter and lose it in summer.

In fact, Siteline products can withstand most weather events. They’re fireproof and treated to resist water saturation. This means they open and close easily without swelling and warping every time.

Stegbar’s national marketing manager, Christine Evans, thinks that environmental and energy conscious renovators in particular will love the composite range. “Due to the properties of the timber, which is sourced from environmentally sustainable forests, energy-efficient glass and single or double glazing options, the windows and doors can help to achieve a six-star energy rating or higher.”

There’s plenty of styles to choose from, too. The composites come in bi-fold, awning, casement, sliding and fixed window models, and bi-fold hinged and sliding doors. Not sure which suits you best? The Stegbar Installation Service team are experts at working out what glazing best suits your local conditions, and have lots of tips of product selection too.

Want more information? Check out Stegbar’s site

Tags aluminium, building, composite, doors, home, home reno, home renovation, outdoor, outdoors, property, renovating, siteline, stegbar, timber, windows

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Checklist: the most common household hazards and how to avoid them

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date November 25, 2015
No Comments on Checklist: the most common household hazards and how to avoid them

Broken window in the winter time with frost on the glass

Most common household accidents can be prevented by using the right fittings, lighting and finishes to avoid slips, cuts and scalds. If you own a property, you can minimise potential harm to your tenants by identifying potential hazards before any damage is caused. A thorough building inspection can help you pick up on potential problem areas.

Don’t run the risk of incurring expensive insurance payouts down the track. Before you buy or renovate your building, review this checklist outlining the most common household hazards.

INSIDE

We all like to feel safe and secure in our own homes, tucked away from the perils of the big bad world outside. But despite our perceptions of homes as a nurturing place, the average home is filled with countless safety flaws and potential hazards. Luckily, with some minor adjustments and renovations, the interior of your home can be 100% safe. Potential hazards are not always immediately obvious to the untrained eye — you need to know where to look.

Glass:

Fit safety glass to entry and balcony doors, shower screens, and windows above stairs.

Doors:

Make sure toilet doors can be opened from outside.
Provide secure locks to entry doors and ground floor windows.
Provide good night lighting at entry points.
Install remote control garage entry for night safety.
In known funnel web spider areas, install screen doors.

Floors:

Secure loose carpet or vinyl edges and joints.
Avoid slippery surfaces (such as glazed or polished marble) for indoor flooring.
Apply non-slip coating to slippery surfaces.
Apply non-slip backing to mats.

Fire safety:

Install and test smoke alarms.
Check emergency exit signs and lights.
Check fire resistance of walls.
Remove objects obstructing fire escapes or emergency exits.
Fit fireproofing to flammable walls near gas cooktops.
Supply fire extinguisher.

Hazardous materials:

Identify any asbestos products.
Anticipate lead in paint films over 20 years old.
Anticipate toxic termite chemicals in the basement and subfloor.

Water:

Fit temperature-limiting devices to showers, baths and basins.

Steps:

Fit railings to all stairs, including any hard-to-see steps, ramps, driveways, or drops of more than 600mm.
Install lighting so all steps are clearly visible at night.
Close any gaps in stairs where infants might fall through.
Attach non-slip nosing or grooves to the edge of all steps.

OUTSIDE

The average person spends more time inside their home than outside — most of our eating, sleeping and entertainment happens indoors. So the external safety hazards around your home may be even less familiar or obvious to you than the internal ones. You know what they say: out of sight, out of mind. But there are dozens of problems that can arise if you neglect the safety of your outdoor areas, so don’t take your chances. Every property has its own unique safety and security issues – here are a few common ones.

Paving and decking:

Remove any slippery moss growth.
Avoid single steps.
Remove tree roots that are lifting paving to create a trip hazard.

Drainage:

Request to local council that any open drains, pits or culvert are fitted with childproof safeguards.
Upgrade onsite drainage to eliminate seepage onto paving.

Gardens:

Identify and remove any poisonous or spiky trees or plants.
Around children’s playground equipment, install sand or soft fall.
Remove hanging ropes from trees and buildings.
Ensure up-to-date compliance on BBQ storage cylinder.
Avoid planting and fences that obscure the footpath and compromise safe entry to the front door.

Parking:

Fit speed humps in longer flat driveways.
Install wheel stops in car spaces where vehicle can potentially damage structures or drive through railings.
Install bollards or crash barriers where appropriate.

Pool:

Install a childproof fence around the swimming pool.
Service gate latch and self-closing device.
Fence all water features or place stainless steel mesh just below surface of water to eliminate drowning hazard.

This checklist is fairly comprehensive, but you may come across other unique safety and security issues when buying or renovating your property.

— Jerry has over 40 years experience in the building, architectural and timber pest industry. As the founder of Tyrrells Property Inspection, he has managed building and pest inspections in over 90,000 buildings.

Tags doors, fire safety, floors, glass, jerry tyrrell, pool, renting, safety, safety check, tenants, tyrrells Property Inspection

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Make a great first impression with 9 affordable front doors

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 13, 2015
No Comments on Make a great first impression with 9 affordable front doors

Your front door: it’s the entry to your home and makes a bigger first impression than you think! So with that thought, I have compiled a list of my favourite entrance doors right now (in no particular order), that are both affordable and appealing to the eye!

The DR213 Solid Pacific Oak Timber Door from Corinthian. The vertical routes in this door make it look super tall and I love the simplicity of this design. A traditional design made contemporary.

The Hume XGE8 Solid Western Red Cedar Timber Door. The horizontal cutouts feature glass of many patterns and finishes, but translucent glass is one of my favourites. It lets the light in but keeps your privacy.

The Crown Regal 3P solid Maple Door is once again twisting a traditional design into a modern one. I love the gorgeous maple colouring and once again, the simplicity of the three panels featured in this door.

The Corinthian Urban Primed Entrance Door. My absolute favourite part of this door is the fact that you can paint it in your favourite desired colour at the time, then if you decide to change the colour, you don’t have to replace the whole door! Just sand it back and repaint!

The Savoy Entrance Door from Hume is featured in veneer laminated timber and clear glass and is the perfect statement of contemporary style!

The Illusion Entrance door, also from Hume is featured in veneer laminated timber and clear glass. This door is very modern with its large timber panel in the centre of the glass, being the main feature. It’s a very good kind of different!

The Shiplap SEA from Corinthian makes a statement with its vertical planks of solid Western Red Cedar. I love the variation of wood grain in this door!

The Hume JSTI Solid Tassie Oak Timber Door is simple and modern. I love love love Tassie Oak and it looks amazing framing the glass! I would recommend translucent glass for this door, as the larger part of the door is glass – for privacy reasons!

The Oxford 3G Solid Timber Door finished in Maple and translucent glass is another door with vertical glass inserts. Once again a great light source – very contemporary and the vertical inserts are a huge trend right now!

But if you want to step outside and do something that is super contemporary and is a huge design trend right now, you could try the Polar Black Aluminium Double Glazed entry door! Its super modern and very stylish!

Visit your local hardware store or door supplier for more information or to purchase your dream entry door!

Read all Naomi’s posts | Send in a question for Naomi!

–Naomi Findlay is one of our Resident Experts, principal of Silk Home and the International Institute of Home Staging and a serial renovator.

Tags doors, front doors, naomi findlay, reno, renovating, resident expert

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Laminex launch new timber tone and gloss finishes

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 9, 2015
No Comments on Laminex launch new timber tone and gloss finishes

Showcasing warm timber tones paired with a gloss finish, Laminex has introduced four new and on-trend decors to its Silk Finish range.

Responding to the growing interest in more subtle gloss finishes for the kitchen, bathroom and living areas, the four decors: Domain, Burnished Wood, Jericho and Sublime Teak, offer the natural appearance of woodgrains in a smooth melamine finish.

For a rich dark woodgrain option, Domain  offers a blended balance between popular dark shades of browns, greys and blacks, while Burnished Wood delivers a deep charcoal colouring for an ebony effect with grey undertones.  Lighter colour options are achieved with Jericho or Sublime Teak. Jericho displays soft brown-grey tones, while Sublime Teak incorporates muted honey tones.

Easy to clean, the new additions bring the total Laminex Silk Finish offering to 27 decors. Each decor comes with matching gloss ABS edging for an effortless finish for doors, drawers, cabinetry and other vertical surfaces.

To find out more about the latest Laminex decors in the Silk Finish range, visit the website.

Tags Burnished Wood, cabinetry, design, domain, doors, drawers, interiors, Jericho, laminex, Laminex Silk Finish, Silk Finish range, Sublime Teak

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Make a statement with the new Deco interior door range from Corinthian Doors

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 18, 2015
No Comments on Make a statement with the new Deco interior door range from Corinthian Doors

Doors can often be an overlooked element of a reno, but for most people, they’re the first thing they see when they enter a room. So a good first impression is a must!

Corinthian Doors, Australia’s leading manufacturer of interior doors, has recently launched a contemporary new range, the Deco collection, consisting of 15 routered modern door designs influenced by the international Art Deco design movement.

Using clean simple lines, the interior doors range has been developed to inspire Australian homeowners and renovators to use them as a feature of their interiors scheme. With 15 designs to choose from, Corinthian Doors offer the latest contemporary designs and largest range of routered internal doors in Australia.