Made with love

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Dream it

WALL THAT JAZZ

Add character, texture and colour to your rooms with the latest feature-wall trends

TO MUM WITH LOVE

Select the perfect gift for Mother’s Day

OPEN-AIR DELIGHT

See how the Make It Happen: The House Project team created an alfresco oasis

Plan it

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NEXT LEVEL

Marvel at this productive tiered garden

TREAD THE BOARDS

Source the best materials for your new deck

47 PET CORNER

Browse care tips in our new creature feature

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COOL CHANGE

Prepare your home for the winter months Update

65 SOAP STAR

Check out our ingenious laundry revamp 70 6 letter Welcome! out how to keep indoor plants alive and flourishing Learn which plants are best for every spot Editor’s

When we moved into our suburb a couple of decades ago, it was a childfree zone. A bit close to the city, a bit gritty and a lot of room for improvement. A few years later, prams were suddenly prevalent, and parks and preschools overflowing. Now it’s all about dogs. The Covid-fuelled desire to own a pet is well documented and our community reflects the statistics – including a heavy weighting towards breeds of the Oodle variety.

Lockdowns behind us, pet ownership continues to bring joy to households and neighbourhoods all over. It’s fun, energising, connectionbuilding, occasionally chaotic – and a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Cue our new Pet section: a place to find pet news updates, expert advice and – naturally –a few pampering opportunities every month. The best news of all? You can now stock up on all your pet needs during your next trip to Bunnings*. Don’t miss our Pet of the Month column on page 48.

Reset and check

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday April 2 so, if this affects your state, turn back your clocks by one hour. Wherever you live, it’s a good idea to mark this date on your calendar as a reminder to test and replace smoke alarm batteries. For maximum protection, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom, hallway and living area; and on the ceiling above stairways connecting levels of multistorey homes. See bunnings.com.au/ smoke-alarms for more information.

Find Words Caitlin Olsen-Ludlow. Photography (editor) Sue Stubbs; (indoor plants) Anna Robinson, styling Tilly Roberts, (garden) James Moffat, styling Katie Turner, (pets and clock) Getty Images. *Pet products are not available in WA, except Armadale and Bunbury stores. ‡Not all services are available in all stores.

Grow your knowledge

Powerful suction for versatile cleaning

Up to 40 min of fade-free power 1

Whole machine filtration captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns 2

Includes MotorbarTM cleaner head, combination tool and charger

Engineered for powerful all-round hair removal

No dirty filters to wash or replace

Picks itself up when knocked over

Carbon fibre turbine cleaner head helps remove fine dust from hard floors and deep-cleans carpets

Includes combination tool, stair tool, swivel hard floor tool, tangle-free turbine tool, and groom tool

Cosy Colour

Refresh

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5 9 7

3 4

DIY a deck

Bunnings Workshop community member Shane (@DIY4Knuckleheds) made over his backyard by building a low-level hardwood deck. The undercover deck is an ideal space for alfresco entertaining and provides a seamless transition from inside to outside. “It softens the outdoor area, complements the house, and looks great against the green grass and garden,” says Shane.

Low-level decks are a good option for outside spaces with overhead protection. “As there is limited airflow beneath a low-level deck, you want as little moisture under there as possible,” explains Shane. “It’s very important to keep the joists off the concrete to minimise moisture being sucked up into the joist, which can speed up the rotting process.” For more decking ideas, see our Make It Happen: The House Project entertaining area feature from page 26, as well as our guide to selecting decking materials from page 43. Plus, see Shane’s project at bunnings.com.au/workshop-DIY-decking.

Spice Up A Space

For a decorative focal point, try the instant impact of feature walls. They’re a budgetfriendly way to enliven a room and it’s easy to experiment with colour and texture. This statement wall (right) sparkles with Dulux Design Effects ’Glitter’ paint in Rose Gold over ‘Wash&Wear’ in Namadji. For more fabulous feature walls, turn to page 13.

Dulux Design Effects ‘Glitter’ paint in Rose Gold, $36.50/ 500ml, I/N: 0089056

Add interest to the patio with a big pot and the ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ method. Place a large, tall plant towards the back, medium-sized filler plants at the centre, and position trailing plants around the front of the pot.

Maximise small spaces with a vertical garden. DIY kits are easy to install and fix to walls or fences. Mobile versions are an option as a less permanent solution.

Feed citrus trees with a complete fertiliser, specially formulated for citrus, to boost autumn and winter fruiting.

Rake up fallen leaves and use to make a nutritious soil conditioner (leaf mould). In a cool spot, fill a wire mesh bin with layers of leaves and pelletised manure, watering between the layers. Cover with hessian and keep moist over the next 6-8 months. It’s ready when it easily crumbles in your hand.

Protect brassicas from the larvae of cabbage butterflies. Spray leaves thoroughly with a suitable insecticide, repeating regularly during the season.