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Home-Dzine IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME
October 2011
Guest Bedrooms and more!
In this issue ...
• Decorate a guest bedroom • Make a rustic pendant lamp • DIY reclaimed timber table and more...
• DIY collectable furniture • Dremel carver plate craft • Home security
a word or two
3 GUEST BEDROOMS
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DIY PENDANT LAMP
DIY Divas at the recent Interior Decorating workshop held at the Black Eagle Conference Centre. DIY Divas becoming very popular! We are currently busy shooting inserts for Top Billing - so exciting - and I do apologise for my tardiness with both the newsletter and magazine. I’ll let you know when we air on the show, when we will be discussing innovations and gadgets. Don’t forget to drop us a line at any time (home-dzine@iburst.co.za) if there is a particular project you would like us to feature. Enjoy!
Janice Home-Dzine Online is written and compiled by Janice Anderssen. All projects in this issue, or any other issue, remain the property of Home-Dzine and Janice Anderssen, or the respective copyright holders, and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
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RECLAIMED TIMBER TABLE
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DREMEL CRAFT PROJECT
KITCHEN UPDATE
21 AFFORDABLE TREASURES
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CLICK HERE FOR OCTOBER 2011 WORKSHOPS
ENTERTAIN IN SPANISH STYLE
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HOST THE PERFECT BRAAI
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HOW SECURE IS YOUR HOME?
Please note that as from January 2012, Home-Dzine Online magazine will only be available for viewing to subscribers. If you haven’t yet subscribed, visit the www.HomeDzine-Online.co.za website and add your details to qualify for great deals and discounts, special offers, competitions, monthly features and projects, and so much more.
A DAY OUT WITH THE GIRLS BUY THE BOOK AND ATTEND THE FULL DAY WORKSHOP ON Saturday 15 October 2011 Black Eagle Guest House, Strubens Valley at only R550.00 per person including breakfast and lunch
The workshop offers Beginners - Power Tools & Woodwork, Advanced - Power Tools, Basic Electrical & Plumbing all in one day, plus free goodies and giveaways for all
CLICK HERE TO BOOK for the full day workshop
With 128-pages of tips, tricks, techniques and projects for the beginner DIY enthusiast, there’s something for everyone in the new English and Afrikaans books. Full colour and detailed step-by-step instructions guide you through each and every project, with tips and techniques on using the various tools, accessories and attachments.
Buy online at www.lapa.co.za, Exclusive Books and Kalahari.net 2
DECORATE A GUEST ROOM If you are expecting guests for the holidays, be inspired to create the perfect guest bedroom.
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WELCOME
guests
It’s getting close to the time of year where you are either thinking about what to pack, or thinking about where you are going to put family or friends. December holidays are the busiest time of the year. Not only do we have to rush around to ďŹ nd the perfect gift for everyone, we also have to start planning a vacation, or making arrangements to accommodate family and friends who will be staying over.
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If your spare or guest bedroom is packed to the brim with everything but guest accommodations - now is the time to get a move on to create the perfect guest bedroom.
If you are planning to stay at home for the holidays this year, chances are you are going to be having guests stay over. If this is the case, Home-Dzine is giving you plenty of advance notice for preparing a guest bedroom that is welcoming and inviting. If you already have furniture for the room - you’ve already got the expensive part out of the way. If not, now is the time to start honing your DIY skills and get cracking! If breaking into a slight sweat is not what you have in mind, start looking around for secondhand furniture that can be given new life with a new coat of sealer or paint, and some new fabrics.
TOP and ABOVE: Hard to believe that it is the same room! Secondhand ďŹ nds are given some TLC with paint and fabric and the result speaks for itself. Window blinds offer shade from the sun during the way and privacy at night and are topped off with faux blinds to complete the look. 5
ROOM FOR TWO? The first decision you need to make is how to make best use of the space. Does the room allow for a single bed, two single beds, a three-quarter or a double? If the room is so small that you can’t turn round in the space without bumping your elbows on the wall - a single bed it is! As the most important piece of furniture in the room, work everything else around how much space the bed or beds will take up, and how best to arrange. It’s a matter of personal preference, and available space, but I love the look of a guest bedroom with two single beds. It has a quaint charm that instantly appeals and looks gorgeous. S1005-R90B
Paint walls in Prominent Paints soft robins egg
RIGHT: If you like the look of single beds but don’t have the space, consider two single headboards. These headboards are simple, fabric panels that look wonderful in the teal and cream bedroom.
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0406-Y60R Paint walls in Prominent Paints UltraSheen Orchid
CREATE THE
look Decorative Panel Headboard
Have a piece of 16mm PG Bison SupaWood cut to the height and width for the headboard. Pencil on your design and then use a jigsaw to cut out the shape. Finish off with a decorative edge using a Dremel Trio or Router SupaWood is absorbent, so apply a light coat of acrylic PVA (white) with a foam roller before finishing off with two light coats of Rust-Oleum 2X Painters Touch. A guest bedroom needs a mirror, whether mounted on the wall or as part of a dressing table. To make your own mirror, have a glass and mirror supplier to cut the mirror to size, mount this onto a piece of 12mm PG Bison SupaWood with No More Nails adhesive. Decorate around the mirror with shells, driftwood, mosaic - or visit the Home-Dzine Craft section for more ideas.
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S1502-R50B
Paint walls in Prominent Paints UltraSheen for walls with a brilliant smooth, ultra luxurious silky soft texture
CHOOSING COLOUR Soft, pale colours are perfect for decorating a guest bedroom. Normally a smallish room, it is best to use colours that create the illusion of space. In a south-facing bedroom that doesn’t receive a lot of natural light, use warm tones to heat up the bedroom. Soft creams and taupes - with a hint of metallics here and there - can do wonders for a bedroom that is cold and uninviting. 8
In a north-facing bedroom that is heated by the sun, cool tones will reduce the heat factor. Replace white with broken white, ivory or cream to tone down the harsh brightness and add a soft, welcoming touch the to room. ABOVE: Glass or acrylic furniture is functional without being obtrusive.
0406-Y32R Paint walls in Prominent Paints UltraSheen Antique Lace
Installing a window seat provides a place the relax and takes up less space than traditional furniture. Fitted with drawers or a lift-up top, a window seat can also provide a place to store guest bedding and towels. To make a window seat, construct a basic box of 16mm PG Bison SupaWood and then add on to this basic box design.
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Decorative Pendant Lamp Shed new light onto a room with this easy pendant lamp. The oversized design is modern enough for any room and it’s easy to make using an old lampshade frame. Here’s how: 1. Remove the cover from the lampshade and use this to cut out a piece of muslin to fit around the circumference of the frame. Allow an extra 2cm at the top and bottom of the fabric to roll under for a hem - and allow extra at the edge to sew the fabric together.
You will need: Old lampshade frame Muslin* Thick rope or jute Needle and thread Dremel Hot Glue Gun Glue sticks Scissors You can also use burlap or hemp for the shade fabric. The idea is to keep the shade looking as rustic as possible and still be elegant.
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2. Once you have sewn the edges together, place the fabric onto the frame and use a couple of sewing stitches to attach to the top and bottom rings (as shown top left). 3. Cut two lengths of rope or jute to the length of the electrical cord and place these at the front and back, wrapping small threads of the rope around at 20cm intervals to secure in place. A blob of hot glue will ensure that these won’t come unravelled.
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You will need: Pallet or reclaimed timber for the box 4 x Pine 44 x 44mm support battens 4 x 44 x 360mm crossbeam supports Drill/Driver + asstd drill and screw bits Woodoc Gel Stain - imbuia & ebony Woodoc 10 interior sealer
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Paintbrush Woodoc steel wool Sander + 120- & 220-grit sanding pads 3 x 30mm wood screws Wood glue Clamps
1. Cut individual planks to 400mm in length. The overall size of the table is 400(W) x 400(D) x 400(H)mm.
2. On the side panels use a circular template - a dinner plate works well - to draw a circle and then cut this out with a jigsaw.
3. Use wood glue and clamps to glue the top, bottom and side planks together. Leave the glue to dry.
4. Place the sides on a flat, level surface. Place a crossbeam support across the planks 20cm in from the front and back edge and screw this to the back of the planks, leaving a gap at both ends to allow for the top and bottom sections.
5. Screw a batten to the top 6. Mount side planks to and bottom sections. This top/ bottom by screwing batten joins the top/ bottom through batten, spacing sections to the sides. screws to avoid those already in place.
7. The edges will be rough and you can easily sand smooth with 120-grit sanding pads if you want a neater finish.
Finishing
Give the table a light sanding with 120-grit sanding pad to get rid of any loose splinters and then give a final sanding with 220-grit sanding pads for a smooth finish. Wipe away all traces of dust and then use a sponge or cloth to apply Woodoc Gel Stain - imbuia - over the entire project. To add the darker detail, use a sponge to apply Woodoc Gel Stain - ebony - to small areas and then rub well to blend with the imbuia stain. Finish off with three coats of Woodoc 5 or 10 interior sealer. Woodoc 5 leaves a matt finish while Woodoc 10 leaves a satin gloss.
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DINE IN
style
Entertain in style by embellishing beautiful coloured glass carver plates with tiny glass mosaics and ethereal engraving - to create a talking point at your dinner parties this Spring. The glass carvers act as the base of your crockery collection inspiring a beautiful look for the new season. Simply buy the items listed on the next page and follow our instructions. Your unique dining table will be the envy of all your friends!
GOOD TO KNOW Choose plates that have a deďŹ ned rim area. Creating a decorative border around the outer edge of the rim will ensure that the pattern is seen when the carver is in use. Small-sized pieces of multi-coloured glass mosaic in one single line will achieve a delicate look and will allow you to ďŹ t both mosaic and engraving onto the rim. 15
You will need: Dremel VersaFlame 20 x 10 mm glass mosaic Self-adhesive copper foil tape Solder containing ux Superglue Glass carver plates
The Dremel VersaFlame is the only stationary burner that safely combines open ame use with a catalyst and soldering head, making it the most versatile stationary burner in the market today, especially for DIY applications The Dremel VersaFlame is powered by liquid butane gas (lighter gas) for quick heat-up and fast recharge. Applications can be described as: soldering, shrinking, welding, etc. And the Dremel VersaFlame even comes in handy in the kitchen - for making perfect creme brulee, toffee apples and cracked toppings.
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Here’s how: 1. Apply self-adhesive copper tape around the edges of approximately forty 20 x 10mm mosaic tiles. This will be enough to decorate a carver plate with a diameter of 30 centimetres. Then apply two strips of copper tape around the edge of the carver plate, spacing them 20mm apart. Burnish the tape smooth using a bone folder or the back of a teaspoon. Glue the mosaics around the plate so that the top and bottom edges touch the tapes, spacing the mosaics randomly as shown. The glass glue requires sunlight to bond. 2. Using the Dremel VersaFlame and soldering tip, solder around the individual pieces of mosaic, and around the rim twice to cover the copper tape. GOOD TO KNOW: When you have soldered around the entire rim, remove the soldering tip and use a naked ame to soften the solder and smooth out any small irregularities caused by the soldering tip. Avoid overheating the solder or the glass. 3. Take your Dremel Engraver and engrave lines in between the mosaic tiles, containing them within the border and positioning them randomly as shown. Alternatively, simply engrave into the edge of the plate below the mosaic rim, creating your own pattern. 17
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KITCHEN
update
After living in their home for nearly 10 years, Claire and hubby Wayne were ready for a new look in the most-used area of their home - their combined dining and kitchen. With two of their four children away at university, the couple knew the updates should be practical, encourage spending time together, and offer plenty of seating for friends and extended family.
CREATE THE
look
Laminate flooring replaces the old beige coloured tiles on the floor
Green, glass subway tiles replace the original eighties tiles on the wall and add a reflective finish that lights up the walls.
Cabinets are updated and the height increased to make use of the previously wasted space above the wall cabinets.
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Affordable Treasures Making your own reproduction pieces is not as difficult as you may think. To show you how easy it is, we are going to make this Bali-style console.
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We make a lot of furniture as part of our DIY Divas workshops and as projects for Home-Dzine and HomeDzine Online. I often come across pieces that I would love to have in my home, but the price tag that comes with these ďŹ nds is normally so exorbitant that it makes me realise that I am so glad I CAN do-it-myself!
You will need: 4 Pine boards 380 x 1800mm* Asstd wood screws Wood glue 60-, 120- and 220-grit sanding pads 3 Antique brass handles Woodoc 10 with imbuia stain Woodoc steelwool Paintbrush Clean cloths 3 antique brass handles TOOLS Tape measure Pencil Jigsaw and clean cut blade Drill/Driver + asstd drill and screw bits Orbital sander Hammer Large chains Angle grinder (optional) Dremel MultiTool and sanding rings Dremel VersaTip or VersaFlame
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CUTTING LIST 2 of 380 x 120mm pine - top 4 of 44 x 44 x 800mm pine - legs 2 of 20 x 250mm - side cross beams 2 of 20 x 830mm - front/back cross beams 1 of 330 x 830mm - drawer support shelf 2 of 44 x 44 x 200mm - upright supports 6 of 10 x 10 x 300mm - drawer guides
DRAWERS 3 of 200 x 250mm - drawer fronts 6 of 150 x 300mm - drawer sides* 3 of 150 x 200mm - drawer back* 3 of 200 x 284mm - drawer bottom* * I used 16mm supawood that was lying around but you can substitute with pine. *OK. I will admit that we’re using pine for this project, which would normally be made of some or other exotic wood species. But my feeling is that I would rather use pine and make it look as close as possible to the real thing, rather than chop down another tree that has taken 20 or more years to reach maturity!
CONSOLE FRAME
380mm
800mm
830mm The top consists of 2 boards 380 x 1200mm that are glued together.
I used a scrap piece of OSB for the drawer support shelf. I had some lying around and it was a good time to use it. I will disguise the front edge of the OSB with a thin strip of pine. All the sections are glued and screwed together.
This is what the console looks like after wood burning, but before staining and sealing.
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MAKE DRAWERS 1. Place the drawer sides, back and front around the drawer bottom. Glue these in place and clamp until the glue has set. 2. Use the Dremel MultiTool and sanding ring to roughen the edges. If you don’t have a Dremel MultiTool, you can use an Angle Grinder or rough sandpaper to achieve the same effect. You want to achieve a rough, worn look around all the edges. Start off by removing the sharp corner edges and then move the Dremel MultiTool backwards and forwards until you are happy with the desired effect. Finish off the edges by sanding with 220-grit sandpaper until slightly smooth.
3. Place the drawers on the shelf support and arrange them so that the fit nicely. Use the upright spacers to correctly adjust the spacing. 4. A thin strip of supawood, glued to the top of the bottom drawer shelf on either side of the drawer, ensures that the drawers slide in and out easily. 5. Fill the gap between the drawers with the upright spacers and glue this to the top of the bottom drawer shelf. 6. Fit the top in place by gluing and screwing through the top into the legs and upright spacers. 24
If you don’t have clamps, you can also use packaging tape to hold everything together while the glue dries.
FINISHING To give the console an aged effect I first used my Dremel VersaTip soldering iron - with the soldering tip removed - to burn the edges. It looks awful at first, but once the stain and sealer are applied it looks authentic. To ensure a seamless finish on the top, apply a small amount of wood filler mixed with wood glue to fill the gap between the two pieces and then sand this smooth, before roughing up with the Dremel MultiTool.
Apply 3 coats of Woodoc 5 or 10 Interior sealer, sanding with steel wool after the first coat. You can buy pre-tinted, or use a stain concentrate to the wood tint that you want. We used imbuia for this project. If you prefer a natural finish for your Bali Console Table, miss out the wood burning and staining. Roughen the edges with the Dremel MultiTool and sanding ring, sand smooth with 220-grit sandpaper and then apply Woodoc 5 Matt or Antique Wax to the surface.
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ENTERTAINING SPANISH STYLE Easy to prepare, the main ingredients in tapas are fresh vegetables and local ingredients. You can keep it simple or you can make it as complicated as you like but whichever way you prefer it, tapas is best served with an early evening drink among friends and company.
An integral part of Spanish cuisine, Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks. Served cold or warm, serving Tapas is one way to gather together family and friends for good conversation.
To fully experience Spanish tapas, try to incorporate one or two classic tapas dishes such as tortilla (omelet), albondigas (meatballs) and calamari (squid). In Spain, tapas are usually on the menu when the evening is set for drinking and relaxation.
Wherever you live, these ‘little dishes’ will give you a tasty little mouthful of Spain. 27
CROQUETAS Mixed with prawns, a bechamel base gives croquetas their characteristic flavour.
You will need:
3 tbsp butter 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 6 tbsp cake flour salt to taste 2 - 2 1/2 cups milk 2 eggs bread crumbs
DID YOU KNOW? Although tapas originated in rural Spanish taverns, many countries, especially Mediterranean, have their own equivalent of tiny starter-size dishes: hors d’oeuvres in France, antipasto in Italy, meze in Greece or Turkey, and dim sum in China. Tapas are more than just finger foods and appetizers - a tapa is not a particular type of food, but rather a way of eating it. Once you start eating tapas it’s difficult to stop eating these authentic finger foods!
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Here’s how: Melt butter in a medium saucepan - add flour, stirring continuously. Start adding the milk little by little, stirring all the while until you have a thick, smooth sauce. Add the prawns, season well. Continue to cook for 7 or 8 minutes. The end result should be quite thick. Let the mixture cool completely. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and form into a croqueta. Roll in the bread crumbs and then coat in the beaten egg and roll in bread crumbs again. Make sure the bread crumbs are always dry to ensure an even coating. Heat the oil for deep-frying in a large, heavy-based pan. Fry in batches of no more than 3 or 4 for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove with a slatted spoon, drain on kitchen paper and serve immediately.
TOMATES RELLENOS Fresh tomatoes with a delicious stuffing are a favourite tapas.
If keeping to serve later, brush them with olive oil and cover with cling film.
You will need:
8 small tomatoes 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled 6 tblsp mayonnaise Salt and pepper 1 tbsp parsley, chopped 1 tblsp white bread crumbs
Here’s how: Slice an ‘X’ into the top of each tomato and place in boiling water for 10 seconds; remove and plunge into a bowl of iced water and peel off the skin. Slice the tops off the tomatoes, and just enough of their bases so that they will sit squarely on a plate. Scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon.
Mash the eggs with the mayonnaise, add salt, pepper and parsley. Stuff the tomatoes, firmly pressing the filling down. With small tomatoes, replace the lids at a jaunty angle.
GILDAS The classic Gilda is a simple assembly of chilli pepper, anchovy and an olive.
You will need:
marinated anchovies in olive oil green chillies, small green olives red peppers fresh bread
Here’s how:
Serve immediately.
Place an anchovy on the bread and top off with sliced red pepper. Thread green chillies and olives onto a cocktail stick and place on top of the bread. 29
Think you’ve got the perfect South African braai down pat? Before you light up those coals, make sure you’ve got all the right ingredients to make ‘the perfect braai’ you can be proud of! Spread the word The first step in planning the perfect braai is deciding on how many guests you will be inviting. This will not only help you define a setting, but will help for catering purposes as well. A small garden braai might suit a small group of people, however, if the number of guests increases well past your property’s capabilities then perhaps consider having a braai at one of your local braai spots. Before picking a braai spot make sure you check with your municipality if fires are allowed in the area.
Set the date and time
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Go shopping
The second step is deciding on the perfect time. Braais usually take place in the afternoon or early evening, but the specific timing of your event will probably depend on what the weather is like and what time your guests are able to arrive. Usually most South Africans plan the braai time around the time the rugby is on.
Make a list of all the supplies you will need. Plates, serviettes, cutlery, condiments, ice and fire wood are all among the essentials for a perfect braai.
Now that you have chosen your guest list, location and time, you can continue with the next step.
The lists of side dishes are endless; potato salad, pasta salad, green salad, coleslaw, braaibroodjies, sweet corn and garlic bread. These all complete the ideal South African braai.
Once these are accounted for, you can plan which side dishes to serve with your perfectly char-grilled braai meat.
Bring and braai A braai is often a relaxed affair where you can delegate guests to contribute certain dishes which makes the task of catering a breeze. Which side dish can you not do without at a braai? Potato salad came out tops in A latest poll with a whopping 38%, followed by garlic bread at 20% and a green salad variety at 8%.
Preparing your braai meat is the easy part, yet is the most vital if you want to ensure a tasty outcome.
Once all the initial planning has been completed you can step outside and take the last few ‘braai master’ steps. Make sure your braai and entertainment area is in tip top condition and ready to take on all your guests. If your garden still looks like winter, then sweep up the leaves, cut the grass and give everything a good clean. The patio furniture, outdoor bin and braai should all be washed down, and most important make sure there are plenty of seats, indoors and out.
Buy the best quality meat you can find, and marinate overnight as this will ensure the meat becomes infused with the rich flavour of the marinade. So what meat will you be throwing onto the flames? According to a facebook poll, 27% choose to braai chops over any other meat. This is followed closely by 25% devouring boerewors and another 20% sinking their teeth into a juicy steak. 10% of our fans chose chicken and only 7% chose a vegetarian option.
GOOD TO KNOW Seating tip: If you don’t have enough chairs, ask your guests to each bring one camping/fold-up chair of their own. This way you can ensure that no one goes without a seat. 31
Warm up your meat According to Weber® South Africa, “letting your meat sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before you pop it on the grill will help allow the fibres to warm up and relax a little, making for faster cooking and juicier meat!”
Ready, set, braai!
Now you are all set to host the perfect braai. Before you go take note of the following important braai tips: 1. Clean the grill regularly. The residues that are stuck there are concentrated in hydrocarbons, which are considered as carcinogens and you risk contaminating your fresh foods.
There are different types of braais on the market, which all affect the method of cooking. The way you braai usually comes down to personal choice, although many South Africans will opt to cook over warm embers, using the usual grill braai way. When asked which braai method they preferred, the results were not surprising! 85.12% Prefer a grill braai, Followed by a gas braai at 2% and a skottel at a meagre 0,5%.
Only turn your meat once or twice. Many aspiring braai masters will make the mistake of turning their meat too often. If the heat is right, most foods only need to be turned once or maybe twice during cooking. This process guarantees a tastier outcome, as the longer your meat stays in one place the more flavours it will soak up.
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2. Always keep a bucket of water nearby in case of emergencies. 3. Ensure your braai area is well lit. 4. Don’t leave the braai unattended. 5. Keep all raw food separate and keep it wrapped and refrigerated until it is ready to be cooked. 6. Never add salt to meat prior to cooking as the salt will draw more moisture resulting in a tough meat. Rather, sprinkle braai salt over your meat after it has been cooked, or just before it is done.
Maryann Lister - Property24.com
If you have chosen the good old fire and coal method, you will need to use a fuel which produces long-lasting coals. Once the flames have died down and the coals are white-hot in colour, only then should you start cooking your meat. The grid positioned roughly 10 centimetres above the coals, must be hot before the meat is placed onto it.
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KEEPING YOUR HOME SECURE It’s a sad fact of life that, here in South Africa, we are surrounded by crime. But no crime hits harder than a personal attack against family and property. Anyone who has experienced a burglary knows the feeling of insecurity that you are left with after an unknown person or persons has invaded your personal space. 34
There are plenty of articles out there that talk about securing your home when you go on holiday, and with holidays just around the corner, I thought I would do a bit more in depth research as to the various means of securing a home. While fitting an alarm is probably one of the leading methods of deterring crime, not everyone wants to have an alarm fitted, or cannot afford the monthly cost. But it isn’t absolutely necessary to have an alarm.
More often than not a burglar will choose the softest target. Any security measure that deters a wanna-be burglar is just as effective. The idea is to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to break into your home, to slow them down - to have various deterrents that shy them away from your home, family and possessions.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS While you may feel secure in a townhouse development of complex, that doesn’t mean you are! Statistics show that a residential complex that has an access controlled gate is just as much as target as a standard home.
TIPS TO SECURING YOUR HOME • Install timed lighting to indoors. A system that works on a timer will ensure that criminals are not aware that you home is empty, and sensor lights on exterior perimeter walls will alert neighbours if someone is in your garden. Mount light fittings high up on the walls so that intruders can’t easily reach and disable them. • If post is delivered to your home, arrange for someone to collect it every few days. Overflowing post boxes are an obvious sign that there’s no-one at home.
• Even if you don’t own a dog, simply by hanging a Guard Dog on Duty sign on the gate, will make burglars think twice about climbing over the wall or fence! The same applies to a security company board.
• If you have one fitted, test your alarm system to ensure it is working properly - make arrangements with the security company before you do this. Did you know that your insurance company may want to see maintenance records in the event of a claim? • Check all windows and doors to ensure that they are secure, and that burglar bars that are fitted onto cottage-pane windows are not in need of repair, as many times this is overlooked.
Be security conscious when leave your home unoccupied. In this way you can secure your home against intruders and keep your treasured possessions safe.
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The problem lies in the fact that access controlled gates are easily foiled.
•
ARE YOU BEING FOLLOWED?
Few residents take note of who enters the development behind them when they open the gate, or remain at the gate long enough to see that is closes.
•
JUST ONE CLICK
Most access controlled gates are operated via remotes, which themselves are easily purchased at a security store. These remotes are designed to ‘learn’ the gate code. Not feeling very secure now, are you? But don’t get into a panic just yet, although not impenetrable, an access control gate is still a deterrent to many would-be criminals.
FIRST LINE OF DETERRENCE We have now looked at the first line of defence. An access controlled gate, security boom, or other form of access control is the first line of deterrence.
SECOND LINE OF DETERRENCE A man’s home is his castle, and while we can’t build moats and battlements, we can add protection to our home to assist in repelling unwanted criminals. Security or palisade fencing is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it does add another level of deterrent. Bear in mind that you want to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to break into your 36
home. The more barriers you can erect - the better. Having said that, you don’t want to live in a prison. I personally feel that palisade fencing is far more attractive than a high wall topped with barbed or razor wire. If you can live with the lack of privacy, this time of fencing is one of the most cost-effective ways of securing a home. Additionally, palisade fencing allows you to see through the barrier on both sides, cancelling out hiding places that a solid wall would provide. Once inside the property, the privacy offered by a solid wall will often work in favour of the criminal.
Access controlled gates, high perimeter fencing, outdoor lighting, dogs, and visible signage all act as deterrents.
It might not be attractive, but razor wire or spikes are sometimes a necessary deterrent on perimeter walls against open lots, a main road, or neighbouring property. If this is the case for your home, build a high wall - as high as municipal regulations will allow - to be an effective against criminals. Although entry is not blocked, it will offer a far greater deterrent.
THIRD LINE OF DETERRENCE The third line of securing your home is the installation of security measures to the building itself. This can be anything from extra door security, security gates, outdoor sensor lights, and burglar bars. The majority of homes in South Africa, particularly those in regions surrounding cities, are fitted with one or more safety feature. It’s a way of life we have come to accept - being a prisoner in our own homes. If you have quality security gates and
burglar bars fitted to your home, you increase the possibility of a wanna-be criminal going elsewhere for a target that isn’t as difficult. In next month’s issue we are going to show you how easy it is to install additional security in your home. We will be looking at security for sliding doors (a high security risk!), fitting burglar bars to opening windows as a do-it-yourself project, as well as security gates to entry/exit doors, as well as internal security gates.
IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF HOME-DZINE ONLINE WE WILL BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO INSTALL BURGLAR BARS AND SECURITY GATES IN YOUR HOME.
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ADVERTISE in Home-Dzine Online
FROM AS LITTLE AS R3000.00 YOU CAN REACH OVER 50,000 READERS LOOKING FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AND DECORATING SOLUTIONS contact: home-dzine@iburst.co.za for more details or to book your space
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Say goodbye to pests the natural way! I turn around for five minutes and my veggie patch is covered in white fly - trillions of them. My poor cauliflowers don’t know what hit them. If you have read my garden feature on HomeDzine, you’ll know that this whole exercise is about growing my own organic herbs and vegetables, which they won’t be if I have to start spraying them with chemical pesticide. In my home Tea Tree Oil is used practically everything, from killing mould in the bathroom, as an antiseptic for cuts, to get rid of my son’s acne, and so many other uses. With this is mind I found a small spray bottle, added about 50 drops of Tea Tree Oil and then filled up with water. A quick shake and then I sprayed this all over the veggies. Did it work? You bet it did! Big clumps of dead white fly all over the place, and those still on my veggies were easily dusted off. Guess what I’ll be using in future to kill off garden pests.
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Girl Talk Can I drill into walls with a Drill/Driver?
Power tool manufacturers such as Bosch and Skil are constantly working on new power tool innovations. In fact, it is these innovations that have allowed women to become more involved in DIY. Previously, power tools were heavy and cumbersome and not that easy for women to use, but today’s power tools are lightweight and comfortable. However, each power tool does have its limitations. Use the tool for the wrong project and you will burn it out. In this article we are going to discuss what you can and cannot do with a Drill/Driver.
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For routine maintenance in and around the home, the Bosch IXO Cordless Screwdriver is powerful enough to tackle any task instead of using a screwdriver - taking the hard work out of tightening and removing screws. BUT it is only a cordless screwdriver. If you are planning to do your own home improvements, renovations or perhaps making furniture, you need something that packs power, but is still lightweight and comfortable to use. A Drill/Driver is the perfect power tool for these types of projects - if you choose the right model. Bosch have various models in their Lithium Ion [Li-Ion] Drill/Driver range: 10,8, 14,4 and 18V. All these models are suitable for drilling into wood and plaster, but are not recommended for drilling into concrete or hard materials. For this you will need a Bosch Compact 550 or Bosch Combi Drill/Driver. The Combi 14,4 LI-2 is the most expensive option, being cordless and Li-Ion.
For a drill that packs a lot of punch for the DIY enthusiast, nothing comes close to the Bosch PSB50 Compact. This new Compact drill offers all the functions and power of the larger PSB500 model - in a smaller package! Use the Combi 14,4 LI-2 or PSB50 to drill into concrete for hanging curtain rails and rods, drill into stone tiles for mounting bathroom accessories, and more.
If you want to find out how easy it is to DO-IT-YOURSELF, sign up for a DIY-Divas Workshop at a venue close to you. Workshops are for everyone, whether you have used power tools before or not. Building up your confidence - Acquire the skills - Learn the tips, tricks and techniques to be able to DO-IT-YOURSELF.
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