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Home-DzineIts all about caring for and improving your home

February 2011

online

In this issue ... Freshen up your living room Coffee table manners

Valentine crafts Making slipcovers

and more...

Love your home

Make it

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Find living room design ideasfor furniture, wall colour,

lighting, and more to takeyour living room from blah to

beautiful.

Freshen Upyour living room

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Rearrange thefurniture

For a freebie

room trans-formation,move furniture

around. Putsome pieces

on a diagonalor group them

into smaller conversation

areas insteadof letting themhug the walls.

Even swappingartwork from

another roomcan createa refreshing

change of

pace.

Arrange your living room to reect the

way you and your family like to live,the location of the room, and its trafcpatterns. If the room is designed for conversation, gather furniture arounda central point and keep it cosy. If itsused as a serene getaway withouta television, add a chaise lounge tocomplement a sofa. If reading is themain activity, plan for book storage,easy chairs, and adaptable lighting.

Be sure to allow for access to furnitureand a pathway through the space.

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ABOVE and BELOW: Before, During and After: Play around with furniture in the room. Moveall the pieces out - or to another room - and introduce back into the room piece by piece.You can also bring in furniture from other rooms for a completely new look - or makeover existing furniture in a new colour. A slipcover for the sofa makes all the difference!

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ABOVE: Placing one sofa with its back to this path underscores the separation betweenthe two groups, as do the area rugs anchoring them.

This arrangement offerspeople inviting placesto land and talk face-to-face. Unify the groupsby using identical rugs,coffee tables, and sofasin each.

Visually Break UpLarger Open Areas

A replace, room divider,or half-wall can be usedto divide open spaceswithout losing the ow oflight and energy throughthe space.

RIGHT: In this spacious

open-plan loft, thereplace separates anddenes the living anddining areas.

Divide LargeSpaces with

Seating

If your living roomis the setting for

large parties, bringintimacy and

a comfortablesense of scale

to the room bydividing it into two

conversationalgroupings with

a path betweenthem.

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Set the Tone withArtwork

Use original artwork to add personalityand create a focalpoint. Here, dramaticart and accessoriesgive the room designattitude.

For a cohesive look pair similar colours andshapes.

Highlight Wall Artwith Paint

Turn your walls intodynamic, graphic designswith paint and shadowboxes. Paint rectanglesso they relate to the

width of the furniture below or to the shape and size of the wallspace. Also consider the shapeand size of the three-dimensionalpiece you want to hang withinthe painted rectangle.

Whether you hang originalsculpture over the paintedrectangles or just use simplebox shelves with ordinary vases,the effect is contemporary andexciting.

Repeat Elements forVisual Rhythm

Rhythm - the way colours,patterns, and shapes ll

a room - keeps a spaceinteresting because itrequires constant eyemovement.

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This living shows howshapes can add rhythm.

The key shape is curvy,from the lampshade tothe coffee table to themodern vases and eventhe pattern on the pillow.

Spreading like objectsaround the room keepsthe eye moving.

Use Mirrors asWall Art

Large mirrors leaningagainst the wall offer a dramatic andeffective way toexpand the sense ofspace in small rooms,enhance light in dark ones, and add interestanywhere.Three identical mirrorsin plain dark framessuit the contemporarystyle of this loft livingroom.

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Cool and Contemporary

This dark wood table is a study inrectangles. Go with the theme, andarrange a shapely collection of accessories- square plates, tall cylinders, and an ovalbowl - on top of it. The nal result is like ageometry lesson with style.

Apples are too traditional for this modvignette, so opt for something with morezest. Limes are lovely on stacked squareplates.

Sunny lemons become something specialin a sculptural bowl. They also add a spot of

cheerful colour.

Gain height from a trio of slim bottles.

Fill the primepiece of realestate in frontof your sofa

with the rightbuilding blocks.The key is touse objects ofvarying heights.

TableManners

Make your ownCoffee Table

See page 26 for instructions on how tomake the above Coffee Table.

NEXT PAGE (top): If you attended theDIY Divas Basic Ottoman workshop

you will know how easy it is to makethis ottoman table. A base, cushionand slipcover are all that are required.

Make it

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Light and Bright

Instead of a coffee table,choose an upholsteredottoman with a crispwhite slipcover for asoft, cottage-inspiredlook. This piece canalso be used for additional seating whenentertaining. A large,low basket adds a stablesurface for display.

Pretty votive holders setthe colour scheme. Plus,small candles are aneasy way to light up anyarrangement.

A decorative box addshiding space for theremote controls.

A dramatic orchid standstall over the basket.

Its thin silhouette isunobtrusive. Warm and Elegant

A two-tiered glass-and-ironcoffee table is a great choicefor an elegant look. Warm upthe sleek surface with a punch ofcolour. Accessories in red do thetrick here.

The coffee-table book is a classicchoice. Pick one with a cover intones of orange and red.

Granny Smith apples are thego-to accessories of photo stylistsbecause they lend a striking popof colour. Put them in a red bowl.

A tall, spiky plant is dramatic,

especially in a planter witha oral pattern. Such anaddition brings life to the tablearrangement.

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When is it better toslipcover a piece of

furniture rather thanhave it reupholstered orreplaced?

Slipcovering furniture costsa fraction of the cost toreupholster or replace your existing chairs or sofa - ifyou make your own covers.However, if you have customslipcovers made, these cancost almost as much asreupholstery - so the choiceis up to you.

If you have children or pets,slipcovers are great becausethey can be removed andwashed as often as required.

Slipcovers are also wonderful

for transforming furniture- and a room. And theyregreat for mismatched chairs.

Here are some tips to bear in mind when slipcoveringfurniture:

LEFT:Slipcovers havebecome more tailored.Excess fabric tucks intocrevices between cushions,and bare wooden legs show

rather than hide behindgathered, full skirts.

AllDressedUp

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Choose the right fabric

The best fabric to use for slipcovers is a light- tomedium-weight cotton or linen fabric. I have used

upholstery-weight fabricbefore, but it doesntdrape as well.

How much fabric?

To calculate how muchfabric you will need,measure the entire sofa or chair: arms front and back,back rest front and back,seat and cushions, frontpanel, and add an extratwo metres to this for seamallowance, edges and anydecorative nishing, suchas rufes and pleats.

Have a design

Do some research be-

fore you start. Decide onwhether you want casual,formal or country slipcov-ers - there are so many op-tions to choose from. Youllnd plenty of ideas on theInternet.

You can add welting (alsoknow as cording) to trim, or perhaps you want to adda pleated or rufed skirt.

Wash before making

It is always a good ideato pre-wash fabric beforesewing together, to pre-shrink. I advise washingit on hot and drying thefabric all the way to get asmuch shrinkage as possibleout of the way before theslipcover is made. You willalso get a good idea ofhow the fabric holds up.

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Dont be afraid of white

With bleach and other whiteners, tough stains willdisappear.

Tight and Tailored

Tailored slipcovers on thedining chairs in this diningroom allow the eye to travelto the view outside the doors.

Living Large

Slipcovers on the generouslyscaled living room furnitureinvite guests to sit a while.

FAR LEFT:White slipcoversmake any room feel freshand previously mismatchedfurniture gets a new look.

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Lets slipone on...Once you get the hangof it, making slipcovers iseasy. After the rst one

youll want to cover all yourupholstered furniture in slip-covers!

Before

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Heres how to recover a sofa or chair

Remove all the cushions and tted sofacushions.

Place the fabric face down (nice sidedown) and drape it over your sofa or chair.

With smooth gentle strokes t the cornersinto place at the back, bottom and sides,while allowing the fabric run all the wayto the bottom of your sofa at the back and front.

Tuck into the creases of your sofa about5 cm to ensure a comfortable t oncenished and reversed.

Pin the outline of your sofa starting at the topalong the side all theway down to the oor,pinning two piecesof fabric comingtogether.

Once youve done that the back will be inplace and should not move on you while youwork on the front and sides. The reason for starting with the back is sofas are mostly simplestraight backed and it just makes it easier towork with.

The next step is to smooth out the seat area,again, ensuring small tucks into the corners.Take the extra fabric you have from theside overhanging and using your pins, pina straight crease following your armrest all

the way to the front of your furniture. Dontworry if you have some looser corners, asthe cushions (once slip covered) will tightendown the cover once in place.

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Turn inside out and check on the t over your sofa. Some adjustments may berequired. Reverse the piece and makeany adjustments with your pins and re-sew the area.

Check the bottom of the sofa for lengthand make your length adjustments. It isall right to leave a puckered effect if youprefer, which means extra fabric is leftto drape over the oor. Whichever thecase, ensure the edge is folded under and nished to prevent fraying.

Covering cushions

Measure against your cushions and cutyour fabric. Make a pillow style cover (again with raw face showing, this is whereyou always stitch) and stitch along 3sides leaving one side open to insert your cushion. Once nished turn it inside out andslip your cushion inside. If they are zipperedtype, do not worry about putting a zipper on the new slipcover. You can use Velcro- either stitching or glued in place or simplet ies can also be attached to ensure thecover closes snug over the cushions.

Once everything is complete, put your sofaback together using your slipcover and

Continue to pin the entire outline ofyour sofa design for arm rests frontand back, ensuring the fabric staysshaped and smoothed by your hand.

Once you have pinned the entireoutline, you can trim off the larger pieces not needed. This willallow you to sew your cover easily.

Note: Do not cut too close to the stitches.

Slowly peel off the cover and use asewing machine to stitch along the

pinned mark, removing your pins asyou move along.

Tip Trim excess fabric

with zigzag scissorsto prevent thefabric fraying.

covered cushions. You may have to gentlypush down into the corners of your sofato ensure the fabric ts snug all around.Some people use a stick (such as a broomstick) - cut to the length of the crevice, andplaced is in the back crevice of your entiresofa length in the 1 to 2 inch tuck. This willensure the fabric stays in place under your tted cushions.

Slipcover TipsIf youre thinking about slip-covering,particularly in high-traffic areas, pre-shrink to ensure shapely slips.

Add dressmaker details. Buttons andties are a great way to bring in colour.

Slipcovers are not upholstery, andthey shouldnt look like it. A loose-

fitting form ensures a casual look.

Combine fabrics for a fun effect.Cover a club chair in white duck, thenuse a soft velvet on the cushion.

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16 c r e d

i t : i s a b e l

l a a n d m a x

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It is so easy to makeover and re-upholster old chairs. I love to gobargain hunting to see what I can nd.Its just so satisfying to see an old chair transformed and made pretty!

Start off by removing the old cushion.It is normally just screwed on from

underneath. If the cushion is in badcondition, keep the backing boardand add new batting or foam.

Sand down the chair with 120- andthen 240-grit sandpaper to removeold paint or varnish and smooth outany damaged areas. Wipe cleanwith a cloth lightly dampened withmineral turps.

Take the chair outside and spray onone coat of primer and two coatsof Rust-Oleum painters touch - in thisproject we used Espresso. Allow eachcoat to dry before applying the next.

To make a new seat cushion, usethe backing board as a template tocut out your foam and fabric. Leaveplenty of fabric for wrapping over

and attaching to the back with astaple gun.

Pull tightly to the back and staple atthe centre of each side - staple oneside and then tightly pull the other side. Continue to staple along thesides, leaving the corners for last. Thisallows you to play around with thecorners until you have a nice neatedge, which is then staple down.

Re-attach the seat to the chair.

Dressed

for Dinner

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18 c r e d

i t : b r i a n p a

t r i c k

y n n

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This year we still have our Beginner andAdvanced workshops, plus a few extra

specialist workshops - for those whowant to learn more.

This year were bringing you even more DIY, with a new selection of projects,DIY and craft workshops and more fun!

Thanks to our Sponsors, Dremel, we

are launching Crafty DIY workshops tocover the Dremel range of tools. Usethe Dremel TRIO, or get carving with the

Dremel Multitool.Crafty DIY

All our workshops are now project-based, which means that you alwaysmake something to take home with

you - just to show your hubbyYOU CAN DO IT!

garden bench

upholstery projects

tiling, practical building, basic plumbinelectrical, plastering, closets & cabin

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c r e d

i t : c r a f

t y s i s t e r s

Love You

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Heres how:

1. Clamp the 32mm dowel and drill 4 holesthrough the dowel at equal intervalsalong the length. Hold the drill/driver per-fectly level and straight so that you drillperfect holes.

2. Push the smaller dowels through thedrilled holes. If you nd it very tight, drillthe hole again.

3. Hot glue the washers onto the ends ofthe smaller dowels.

4. Use a 32mm spade bit to drill a hole inthe centre of the base.

Optional: I used my Dremel Trio to adda decorative edge around thebase.

5. Hot glue the large centredowel to the base.

6. Spray the entireproject with Rust-Oleum silver metallic.

You will need [1] 32mm dowel or broom handle[4] 8mm dowels in different lengths[1] 300mm diameter pine circleDrill/driver and 8mm wood bit32mm spade bit[8] steel washers[20] eye hooksHot glue gun and glue sticksRust-Oleum silver metallic spray16-gauge wireLong-nose pliersCraft stickers - heart shapes

Tins and tin snipsCotton glovesClamps

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Cut out lots of birdiesYou can use a scrollsaw or jigsaw to cut thebird shapes. Cut one and then use this as atemplate to cut more.

Sand the edges with 240-grit sandpaper tomake painting easier.

Paint the birdiesUse Rust-Oleum silver metallic spray to sprayover the front, back and sides. You canspray the birds any colour that you like, Isprayed them silver to contrast with the redcolour of the hearts.

For extra effect I cut open some emptycold drink cans and use tin snips to cut outindividual heart shapes for the birds. Use

the decorative stickers as templates to cutout the various sizes you will need. Stick thetin shapes to each bird with a couple ofblobs of hot glue.

These are what your nished birds shouldlook like.

Each bird has an eye hook at the top toallow you to hang with wire. Use pliers tobend the wire into curved hangers.

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Lovebags ofThese handmade hessian bags are lled with rice and embellished with

love. Display on your mantel or shelf for Valentines Day.

Before sewing the bags together, use a stencil and apple red Rust-OleumPainters Touch to spray the letters onto the fabric. When dry, sew eachbag down the sides and bottom, ll with rice and close with jute or string.

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LOVE YOUR HOME

The Gauteng HOMEMAKERSExpo is certain to make you fall inlove with home all over again thisFebruary.

Apart from the 620 stands showcasingthe latest in home lifestyle, the expo alsohighlights consumer trends with someexciting new features. Landscapers put

a spin on garden lustre in CourtyardCouture, demonstrating that a beautifulgarden design can be achieved in asmall space. At Dcor on a budget sixtop designers show you how to achievecreative brilliance without breakingthe bank. Young creative artists willillustrate their latest work in theever popular Future of Design andHOMEMAKERS will be doing theirpart for charity by fully supporting theJoburg Child Welfare 100 doors project.This initiative sees artists and celebritiescreatively jazzing up over 100 doors,many of which will be displayed andauctioned at the expo.

Show Details:Dates: 24 -27 February 2011

Venue: Coca-Cola Dome, North RidingTimes: Thursday & Friday 10:00 19:00

Saturday & Sunday 09:00 18:00Entrance: R60 Adults, R30 Pensioners,Children under 12 free

For more information visitwww.homemakersonline.co.za orcall 086 111 4663

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Quick ClampsInvest in a pair of GatorClamps.

These handy and versatileclamps are ideal for using when

gluing wood together.

Find them in the tool hardware

aisle at your local BuildersWarehouse.

You will need:A. [2] of 16mm SupaWood 500 x 800mm*B. [2] of 16mm SupaWood 100 x 500mm*C. [4] of 16mm SupaWood 80 x 500mm*D. [4] of 16mm SupaWood 80 x 300mm*[4] 5 x 30mm cut screws

Wood glueWood ller Quick clamps360-grit sandpaper Prominent Paints Sheen - black Prominent Paints Acrylic Sealer Foam roller and tray

*Have all the board cut to the exact sizesat your local Builders Warehouse.

NOTE: The design above will not take anyweight. For a sturdier table use wood

screws as well as wood glue.

No power tools needed!

Makeit

You can easilymake this

coffee table ina day - withoutany tools if you

have all your board cut to

size at your local Builders

Warehouse.

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Table Top Assembly

Table Base Assembly

A

B

B

A

C C

C C

D

D

D

D

1. Glue to top and bottom [A] to the sides [B] and clamp rmly together until the glue is

2. Glue base sections [C] to base sides [D] and clamp rmly together until the glue is dry.

3. Glue the basesection to thetop assembly.

If you possess adrill/driver - use5 x 30mm cutscrews to attachthe base to thetop to provide additional strength andstability.

Tip Use wood screws

for additionalstrength and

stability

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Sunshinestarburst mirror If you already have asmall mirror lying aroundsomewhere at home, you canmake this project for nothingmore than the cost of a few

sheets or cardstock.

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1. Cut one sheet of cardstock into strip,fold them in half and use these astemplates to cut more strips. The smaller the mirror the more strips you will need.If you cut too many strips - make moresunbursts!

2. There is no rule for the size and shapeof the strips - you can play around withdifferent designs until you are happy.The original design had much thicker strips but I prefer the thinner strips cut tovarying lengths for effect.

3. Start with your smallest strips rst and

remember to work in fours with strips atnorth (N), south (S), east (E) and west (W).The next row will be at NE, SE, SW, NW andso on.

4. Hot glue each strip to the back of the mir-

ror as you move around until its all done.It only takes about 5 minutes of hot gluing,such a rewarding little project.

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Girl Talk We have seen so many Divas comingthrough our DIY Divas workshops,many of whom have taken the nextstep and started making their owndecor accessories and furniture.

The biggest problem that isexperienced is not knowing how tostart a project. Where do I get plans?How do I know the measurements?What type of material do I use? Howdo I nish it? These are all commonqueries that we get.

After attending a Beginners andAdvanced Workshop you will bereasonably equipped with the skillsneeded to make something yourself.The next step is to actually attenda workshop and make a specicproject. All the projects are designedto build up your skills.

This month were talking timber andboard and the best materials thatwe recommend that you use for particular projects...

If youve tackled theBeginner Workshops andare wondering what comesnext... time to go shoppingfor timber and board andstart making stuff!

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With emphasis on reducing deforestation andlooking for alternative materials, SupaWood (or MDF as it is commonly known) hasbecome the most popular choice for furnitureand decor projects.

Stronger than pine and other board products,SupaWood is affordable and can be painted,laminated or veneered.

DO wear a dust mask when cutting or sandingSupaWood. The bonding resin containsFormaldehyde, which can be dangerous ifinhaled.

BisonBord , not to be confused withcheap and nasty chipboard, ismanufactured using wood chips thatare bonded and pressed to createa versatile board that is ideal for usein projects where the board will becovered up. EG. headboards, ottomans.A laminated version - MelaWood - isavailable in a wide range of wood

grain and colour nishes, and is ideal for bookcases, cabinets, tables, etc.

Do not use chipboard in bathrooms orareas of high moisture as the boardsoaks up water like a sponge!

Plywood is made up of layers of thin strips of

wood that are pressed together to createthe ply. The thicker the board - the morelayers there will be.

Plywood is fairly strong and ideal for projects that you want to nish with a woodgrain. The downside of plywood is that thenish is not that great and intensive sandingwill remove the thin veneer on the top andbottom of the board.

Marine plywood can be used outdoors,as it has been specially treated to offerprotection from moisture.

Always specific PGBison SupaWood,

BisonBord andMelaWood when

purchasing boardproducts at your local

hardware store.

Sand the edgesof supawoodwith 240-grit

sandpaper tomake painting

easier

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Teaching an old bird New Tricks!

Never has the saying, Youcant teach an old dog birdnew tricks been so far fromthe truth.

In the last couple of years Ihave discovered how to useso many new tools - and hadso much fun doing it!

Yesterday I treated myself toa wood turning lathe, so thatNancy and I can get stuck into projects for our new

baby... Shabby Chic.

In next months issue of themagazine I will no doubthave a couple of madeprojects to show you.

Youre never too young ( www.DIY-Kids.co.za ) or too old ( www.DIY-Divas.co.za ) todo-it-yourself, and a couple of workshopsto help you overcome the fear, build con-dence and provide information on tips,tricks and techniques will denitely get youprepared.

My personal experience is that if you cantget someone to do it - or make it - for youthen DO-IT-YOURSELF!

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