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Stylish solutions to all your design dilemmas
Luxe soft touches are a wonderful foil to warm timber tones
QI’m interested in adding timber cladding to the ceiling of my federation semi. Can I retrofit? If not, what are my options? Blake, via email Adding cladding to the ceiling is a great way to bring character and style to an existing and possibly tattered old ceiling in a Federation semi. Generally, Federation houses have fairly high ceilings, so dropping it down with a new lining won’t be an issue. The minimum height for a habitable room is 2.4 metres. One thing to be aware of when putting in a new ceiling lining is that the old ceiling may have bumps in it, so you will need to level out any battens you would place on the existing ceiling to attach the new cladding. If it’s 12mm-18mm timber cladding, then the extra weight shouldn’t be an issue. If the tradesperson installing it has any concerns, they’ll be able to beef up the structure in the roof to take the additional weight.
QI want a bedhead but my bedroom is really small. What are some options that won’t take up too much space? Liv, via email “Don’t be scared of a small space! Create something bold and transform a small bedroom into something impressive by making the bedhead the ‘hero’ of the room,” says interior stylist Simone Barter of Style. Life. Home (stylelifehome.com). “Choose a high bedhead and a low bed frame – the room will look bigger and the bed won’t overcrowd the space. By making the headboard the focal point, you can style the rest of the space with less dramatic items. Start with dressing the bed in muted colours to complement the bedhead and remember to reduce the patterns on soft furnishings so they don’t compete. Another key is pairing the bed with small bedside tables – consider stools or slim chairs to make the floor space feel larger – and hang minimal art on the walls.” Also, visit insideout.com.au to check out guide on buying bedheads.
QI’m interested in adding a mirrored kickboard to my kitchen. What are the benefits and are there any safety requirements? Jed, via email “It can be done, but it has complications,” says Graeme Metcalf of Dan Kitchens (dankitchens.com.au). “On the plus side, toughened mirror has been used for kitchen splashbacks for many years without any safety incidents, according to my knowledge and that of a supplier. In a kickboard situation, a mirror would be adhered to a plywood substrate. It can add a sleek look to a kitchen, with the appearance of being lighter than air. Mirrored kickboards can get complicated when floors are not flat, when applied to outside corners and for integrated dishwashers. In those situations, it’s best to use a ready-made faux mirror applied to a laminate board. The mirror isn’t perfect but it’s much easier to work with.”
QOur 80-year-old brick house is damp in a couple of spots. Do you recommend brick injection? Justin, via Facebook “Silicone injection is an effective way to combat rising damp,” says builder Chad Loxsom from Just Screw It (justscrewit.com.au, via hipages.com.au). “You might see a bubbly, brownish stain on the wall. A specialist will drill a series of holes along the base of the wall and force silicone into the holes to create a barrier. They’ll remove the render from the internal walls to let it dry out for a few weeks, then re-render with a salt-retardant render, then plaster and paint. This is less costly than installing a new damp-proof membrane.”