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Custom catio with climbing platforms
🖼️ The project: I designed this custom catio from the ground up and built it with my two kids to give our cats, Teddy and Dexter, a safe outdoor space to climb, explore and relax. Featuring a sturdy timber frame, climbing platforms, an observation deck overlooking the chickens, concrete pavers and pebbles for the flooring…
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Backyard transformation with firepit entertaining area
🖼️ The project: We transformed our backyard into a resort-style retreat. We begun with a custom-built arbour, which we painted crisp white to create a timeless Hamptons look. Beneath it, we laid beautiful paving to form the perfect entertaining space for family and friends. We also created a Santorini-inspired fire pit…
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Toyota Coaster minibus conversion into tiny home
🖼️ The project: At age 18 I purchased an empty Toyota Coaster bus in Melbourne. With the help of my Dad, who had no prior experience of van conversions, we turned it into a 100% off-grid tiny home, ready to travel Australia. It took us 2.5 years and I worked 4 jobs to afford the build. We spent every weekend at Bunnings.…
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Shaker-style kitchen reno with paint and plywood
This ingenious kitchen makeover uses 3mm plywood glued to cabinet doors to create a Shaker-style trim. The project I wanted to replace our high-gloss polyurethane kitchen with a Shaker style look but we couldn't afford to have it done by professionals. To change the cabinet doors, drawer fronts and end panels, I ripped…
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Training climbers to screen a fence
This simple project uses Star Jasmine and cable to train the plant to cover a Colorbond fence. It has inspired many Bunnings Workshop members to create living screening solutions. The project Easy little project at my brother-in-law's place. Took about 5 hours and cost less than $100 to cover 10m of fence: plants $68, wire…
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Merbau timber replacement deck with built-in lighting
🖼️ The project: We moved in around March. The deck was my first mission. I gutted the old (assuming 30-year old) deck and replaced it with a Bunnings Merbau deck. - Materials: 90x45 89x89 posts Merbau decking. - Tools: Makita drill and driver Makita hammer drill Drop saw Nail gun Concrete mixer. - Step 1: Complete…
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Outdoor entertaining pavilion with skylights
🖼️ The project: The backyard had plenty of potential, but it offered little protection from the weather and the space wasn't being used to its full potential. I wanted to create an outdoor room that felt like a natural extension of the home. What was once an ordinary outdoor area is now a light-filled entertaining pavilion…
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Side garden transformation with rendered curved beds
🖼️ The project: We transformed a bare side passage into stunning native garden beds to complement our ecological footprint. Using Besser blocks, render and white masonry paint, we built curved raised garden beds along the side of our driveway, then filled them with a selection of Australian native plants and dark mulch.…
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Native front garden with steel borders and gravel path
🖼️ The project: We transformed our front garden into a low-maintenance native sanctuary using Cor-Ten weathering steel garden bed edging, pea gravel throughout the courtyard area, and a curated selection of Australian native plants. The Cor-Ten steel develops a beautiful rust patina over time, creating a striking contrast…
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Charred-look timber pergola for tropical garden concrete patio
🖼️ The project: As first-home owners in our little Queenslander, we had no outdoor entertaining area, so we decided to create one ourselves from scratch. We started with the garden beds, filling them with lush tropical plants before having the concrete slab poured. From there, we built the entire timber pergola by hand.…
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Budget D.I.Y. plunge pool and landscaping
🖼️ The project: We had an unused and unloved corner at the back of the house that never really served a purpose. Around that time, my wife was recovering from cancer, and we wanted to create a small, peaceful pool retreat where she could relax, rebuild her strength and enjoy some quiet moments outdoors. With a tight budget…
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Townhouse backyard makeover with deck
🖼️ The project: When we bought our townhouse we wanted to make every space count. Our backyard was what we called a “desert wasteland” with no plants and a pile of rocks in the corner. We transformed it to be one of our favourite spaces: building a deck, adding lots of plants, a BBQ, baby swing, table & chairs, outdoor…