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How would you describe your wardrobe?   Would you say "organised" or "spacious"? Or is it more likely to be something like "ramshackle", "cramped" or "chaotic"?   Whether you have the luxury ... See more...
How would you describe your wardrobe?   Would you say "organised" or "spacious"? Or is it more likely to be something like "ramshackle", "cramped" or "chaotic"?   Whether you have the luxury of a walk-in wardrobe or need to make the most of a tight space with a freestanding system, most of us struggle with insufficient storage and a lack of organisation. It's an area of the house that often gets neglected.   Fortunately, there's plenty of great storage systems available to help you maximise space, keep your clothes in great condition, and keep your bedroom looking both tidy and stylish.     How would you describe the current state of your wardrobe? Do you have any plans to tackle it?   Jason
This is a good summary - http://www.domain.com.au/advice/spot-property-lemon/   Things to watch out for: timber rot (especially stumps), termites, illegal building work, damp and moisture, and dodg... See more...
This is a good summary - http://www.domain.com.au/advice/spot-property-lemon/   Things to watch out for: timber rot (especially stumps), termites, illegal building work, damp and moisture, and dodgy construction - especially decks. 
  I make youtube videos of my woodworking projects. Here is the build video of the structural pine bench seat. Hope you enjoy it!   Feedback welcome (:
Recent cold weather has kept many of us inside, giving the weeds in the garden a chance to run amok.   The latest Workshop poll asks how you get the upper hand in your garden battleground: how do... See more...
Recent cold weather has kept many of us inside, giving the weeds in the garden a chance to run amok.   The latest Workshop poll asks how you get the upper hand in your garden battleground: how do you usually get rid of those pesky weeds?   Do you get down on your knees and yank them out by hand? Do you apply a commercial weed killer? Or do you use a tried-and-tested technique handed down from previous generations such as boiling water?   The poll can be found on the front page underneath the Join the discussion icons. Please add your vote. I also encourage community members to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various weed-killing strategies by replying to the conversation below.    Jason
Just finished my laundry reno – thought I would share with the group.   Our laundry connects with our only guest toilet, so we wanted to create a space that functioned as a laundry, but also serv... See more...
Just finished my laundry reno – thought I would share with the group.   Our laundry connects with our only guest toilet, so we wanted to create a space that functioned as a laundry, but also served as a guest bathroom.   We tried to maximise the space with new cabinetry -  the washing machine is now tucked away inside the tall cupboard, with provision for a dryer on top (yet to purchase).   Couple of things to finish it off – we plan on adding in shelving inside the cupboard above the washing machine until it comes time to purchase a dryer.   We also need to paint our back door and add in a handrail for the handtowel.   Anyone else going through a laundry reno? Share your pics! Happy to share advice and do my best to answer any questions.    
This is fantastic.     I have purchased an apartment off the plan and the layout is all set but I would have loved to do something similiar to maximise space. Bedrooms are obviously really imp... See more...
This is fantastic.     I have purchased an apartment off the plan and the layout is all set but I would have loved to do something similiar to maximise space. Bedrooms are obviously really important for sleep but it makes so much sense to reclaim that space as living area or an office during the daytime. 
I want to get into charcoal cooking. I've always cooked on a gas BBQ and won't be ditching my Beafeater anytime soon but I want to try charcoal for bigger pieces of meat when we host friends. Can any... See more...
I want to get into charcoal cooking. I've always cooked on a gas BBQ and won't be ditching my Beafeater anytime soon but I want to try charcoal for bigger pieces of meat when we host friends. Can anyone give some tips for a newcomer? I'm a little torn between getting an old-style kettle BBQ and something a little fancier like a Char-griller. Also, where is the best place to get fuel and how long does it tend to last?        
Workshop community update #29   Hi all,   It’s certainly felt like the depths of winter in many parts of Australia this week. I hope you’ve all managed to stay warm while keeping your po... See more...
Workshop community update #29   Hi all,   It’s certainly felt like the depths of winter in many parts of Australia this week. I hope you’ve all managed to stay warm while keeping your power bill as low as possible.   I encourage you to add to our latest poll about heating and also join the discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of different heating systems to assist other Workshop members.   We also had another more light-hearted poll this week and the verdict was clear – Workshop members would much rather live without a dishwasher than part with their beloved television. I’m sure I’m like most community members and don’t ever want to part with either device, although @ro-novation already happily lives without both!   There’s been plenty of interesting discussions and projects on the site recently. We really appreciate you sharing your experiences and knowledge and encourage everyone to jump in regardless of their knowledge, experience or level of expertise. Everyone has to start from somewhere…   Some of the most popular posts from the past week included:   Painting advice for @KingStreetReno and @Gwandalan_Tales tackling 80s aluminium doors and blackboard paint for a playroom   Advice for @John1 who is considering a new pressure washer   Interesting discussion on the strange things neighbours can get up to and what new skills members are learning   Help for @Janina_G with identifying some building materials   Workshop members chatting about whether they wear shoes in the house   Favourite slow cooker recipes from the community.   Meanwhile on the Gallery, don’t miss @Trying She Shed renovation and an amazing greenhouse made from recycled bottles.    Our top contributors to Workshop over the past week were @Brad, @darylhewston, @John1, @Baretta11 and @Darren. Many thanks for your fantastic contribution.   Thanks again for joining in the discussion here on Workshop and please let me know if you need a hand getting the most from the site.   Jason Community Manager  
We recently purchased a Halti head collar for our 1 year old curly retriever in an attempt to have better control over him when we took him on walks. He wasn't overly menacing when we took him out bu... See more...
We recently purchased a Halti head collar for our 1 year old curly retriever in an attempt to have better control over him when we took him on walks. He wasn't overly menacing when we took him out but he had a few bad puppy habits we wanted to put a stop to so we could enjoy our walks more. We've only taken him on a handful of walks with the new collar but so far it's proving great. I'll admit it is a little tough getting the collar on his snout now but i'm hopeful he'll get used to it soon. Has anyway else had an experience with gentle leaders, either the head collars or harnesses?   Here's what we got... https://www.petbarn.com.au/petlife-halti-head-collar-black
With it being so cold recently I've been giving my slow cooker a real workout. One of my favourites is corned beef. I use Stephanie Alexander's Corned Beef recipe and it works a treat. I put the corn... See more...
With it being so cold recently I've been giving my slow cooker a real workout. One of my favourites is corned beef. I use Stephanie Alexander's Corned Beef recipe and it works a treat. I put the corned beef in the slow cooker on low in the morning and when I get home from work it's all done. The meat is so tender it just falls apart - delicious!   Last week, I made the corned beef into wraps using a piece of corned brisket, spicy coleslaw, pickles, mayo and sriracha (pic below). They were awesome - even if I do say so myself.   Anyone got any other suggestions for slow cooker recipes I should give a go?  
It's been a freezing cold week in many parts of Australia, and I'm sure many shivering Workshop community members have been thinking about how to keep warm at home.    The latest Workshop poll as... See more...
It's been a freezing cold week in many parts of Australia, and I'm sure many shivering Workshop community members have been thinking about how to keep warm at home.    The latest Workshop poll asks what heating do you have installed at your house. If you have multiple systems, please just choose your primary source of warmth. The poll can be found on the front page underneath the Join the discussion icons.   I would also encourage community members to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various heating systems by replying to the conversation below.    Stay warm!   Jason
Hi everyone,   I need some advice about blackboard paint. We recently made the decision to convert my husbands “man cave” into a playroom for our daughter. We want to paint one of the walls with ... See more...
Hi everyone,   I need some advice about blackboard paint. We recently made the decision to convert my husbands “man cave” into a playroom for our daughter. We want to paint one of the walls with blackboard paint but want to ensure it doesn’t darken the room too much. Has anyone got some advice on choosing the right wall? Should it be opposite a window? And once the right wall is chosen any advice on the best paint and any hints or tips on getting the best finish?   Thank you   Andie
We recently completed phase 1 of our renovation and had most of our house professionally painted.   The rooms look completely new apart from the ugly aluminium doors that will not be replaced unt... See more...
We recently completed phase 1 of our renovation and had most of our house professionally painted.   The rooms look completely new apart from the ugly aluminium doors that will not be replaced until phase 2 of the renovation in 18mths - 2yrs.   Does anyone have experience painting these?  
Hi All   I just wanted to share pics of my new Bio Ethanol fireplace that arrived yesterday.  I have it situated in my lounge room as a feature and as a secondary heating source as my reverse cyc... See more...
Hi All   I just wanted to share pics of my new Bio Ethanol fireplace that arrived yesterday.  I have it situated in my lounge room as a feature and as a secondary heating source as my reverse cycle air-conditioning is at the other end of the house, in the kitchen. It doesn't produce extreme heat, but it does take the chill out of the room.