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Compiledby NewlywedsMichelleandJCSchoeman missedhaving adiningroomintheirrental apartmentinStellenboschandthesmall pavedareaintheircourtyardleftthem feelinguninspired.Theywerekeentocreate aspacewheretheycanunwindand entertainfriends,withoutbreakingthebank. Thesolution With abitofcreativity,thepairturned adull areainto amultifunctionalMediterraneaninspiredcourtyard.Here’show:

1ARTIFICIAL GRASS

Afterdoingtheirhomework,creatinga moodboardandevenpainting adetailed watercolourmock-upofthespace,Michelle andJCboughttwopiecesofartificialgrass atthehardwarestoreandgottowork.

“Wewantedmoregreeneryoutsideand knewthatartificialgrasswoulddothetrick; Michelle.“Ichosetolandscapewithorganic shapestomakeitlookmorenatural.”

Afterfittingthefirstlargerpieceoflawn snuglyaround atreeinthecornerofthe courtyard,theycuttheremainingpieceinto twoS-shapes.Theyinstalledthefirstone nexttotherectangularpiecearoundthe treetosoftenthelineandcreate acurve; theyusedtheotherpieceontheopposite sideofthecourtyard.

“Iusedchalktomarkthepatternand fabricscissorstocutitout.Thescissorswill neverbethesameagain –but itworkedlike acharm!”saysMichellewith alaugh.

ShanéBarnard

Wanttoknowhowtoconcealyoursoundsystem,orhowto stripyourcementtiles? Youask –wefind theanswers.

ASK US ON FACEBOOK Doyouhavean urgentquestionthat justcan’twait?Thenjoin our Tuis|HomeExperts grouponFacebook andgethelpfromthe team,professionals

Courtyarddilemma

Thechallenge

it’salsosoftunderfootlike arug,”says

andotherreaders.

Lights

Outdoor table Jasmine Veggies

Mosaic tiles

Stripped and resealed Bernard Otto of Sasolburg writes I’m renovating my

small kitchen and I want to remove the sealant from the cement tiles; it has started to yellow in places and needs to be replaced. How do I go about it? Robert Scott of Tile & Floor Care

Chemicals replies Tile & Floor Care Sealer Stripper is a very powerful solvent-based product designed to remove most types of sealers and paints from floors, including linseed oil and urethanes. Sealer Stripper is water-soluble and will also remove most types of stains from the floor.

Make sure the entire floor is dry before applying Sealer Stripper and mask off any adjacent surfaces. After testing for the desired result in an inconspicuous area, apply the stripper using a paintbrush or sheepskin applicator. Allow 3–5 minutes for the solution to break down the sealant, but don’t allow the solution to dry out. Use a scrubbing pad with a solution of Tile & Floor Care Easy Clean and water to remove residues. Add more clean water as you continue to scrub. Mop up and rinse the floor and allow the surface to dry before repeating the process if necessary.

To check if the floor has been completely stripped, wipe it with a damp cloth and inspect for uniformity. There should be no light and dark patches on the tiles – this would be evidence of sealer residues.

It’s important to reseal your cement tiles, as unprotected tiles are likely to be abraded. You can use a surface sealer like Top Seal, which protects the tile from the top, or apply a penetrating sealer like Natural Stone Sealer Matt which will bond and strengthen the tile. CONTACT tfc.co.za

Sound advice for ugly speakers Marinda Boolsen of Port Elizabeth writes My husband has

mounted speakers on the wall next to our TV and now I must find a way to disguise them. I like the black wall, but what else can I do? Floating shelves, a built-in unit, mirrors? Wouter le Roux of Hello Charlie Interior

Design Studio replies This is often a problem when equipment is added to an existing space, rather than the space being designed to accommodate your devices from the start. A black wall works well as the speaker units blend into it, but I’d also recommend installing shelving units. You could mount floating shelves above and below the speakers or build larger units around the speakers on either side of the TV. Consider using acoustic fabric to cover the speakers (think a timber frame with the fabric pulled taut around it; this acts as a door to the speaker unit itself). It won’t compromise the sound quality and if you use black fabric against the black wall, this will further conceal the eyesore. A surrounding shelf unit can be prettied up with plants and other décor elements to draw attention away from the speakers.

Another, more costly option is to replace the speakers with a sleek soundbar. Install it just below the TV unit for quality sound and a sophisticated look. You could also purchase speakers that are built into the ceiling panels – these are hidden out of sight with speaker covers to match the colour of the ceiling.

Check out the home entertainment options from Sonos (sonos.com) and Bang & Olufson (bang-olufson.com). They are Bluetooth and/or WIFI-compatible and can be managed with your smartphone, which means your speaker system becomes more functional and isn’t just connected to your TV! CONTACT hellocharlie.co.za >>

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