However, cooking up a storm in your backyard for your next soiree still comes with a few inconveniences, such as leaving your guests (and your Weber) mid-BBQ and making the trek to your indoor kitchen to grab your next set of ingredients for the grill. Walking to and fro between your backyard and indoor refrigerator may seem like a non-issue for some, but having everything you need to make delicious creations all in one place – ready to go – is a luxury we’re willing to invest in.

That’s where outdoor fridges come in. And yes, there are specific fridges that are designed for outdoor entertaining. We’re talking about outdoor refrigerators with safeguards that protect against Mother Nature and sit nicely within your existing outdoor kitchen.

So, if you’re no stranger to hosting a backyard BBQ or an alfresco-style dinner party, you’ll want to read on as we have everything you need to know about outdoor fridges, including which models to buy this year.

The best outdoor fridges to shop in Australia

01

Napoleon Alfresco double door fridge NAPDD

$2083, Appliances Online

The ideal pick that will take the stress out of organising your next outdoor soiree. This outdoor refrigerator will cool your food and beverages between 0-10 degrees in shaded temperatures as high as 43 degrees Celsius. It features triple-glazed heated glass doors and fan-forced technology to cool evenly and prevent condensation in humid environments. Plus, it’s crafted with non-ferrous 304 stainless steel with an IP24 rating, so you know it’ll last for years.

Key features:

• Keeps food cool effectively in shaded temperatures as high as 43 degrees Celsius
• Triple-glazed heated glass doors
• Crafted from 304 stainless steel
• IP24 rating
• Adjustable feet
• Suitable for indoors and outdoors

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02

Artusi 190L double-door outdoor refrigerator

$1893, Appliances Online

This outdoor fridge has a 190L net capacity and height-adjustable shelves to ensure you can organise the interior to your needs. With a temperature range of -2-10 degrees Celsius, easy-to-use digital touch controls, spring-loaded self-closing doors, and a safety lock feature, this outdoor fridge will instantly elevate any outdoor kitchen and dining experience. Plus, its black finish gives this fridge a modern edge.

Key features:

• 190L capacity
• Crafted with UV-safe stainless steel and black weatherproof exterior
• 4 interchangeable shelves
• -2-10 degrees Celsius temperature range
• Suitable for ambient temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius

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03

BeefEater 120L single-door outdoor refrigerator

$1299, The Good Guys

This outdoor fridge has been tested to withstand temperatures of up to 43 degrees Celsius, and since a 40+ degree day is not uncommon in Australia, this unit is an excellent choice for Down Under. With a 120L capacity, temperature range between -2-8 degrees Celsius, and self-closing lockable doors, this single-door outdoor refrigerator is everything you’ve been searching for.

Key features:

• 120L capacity
• Single-door
• -2-8 degrees Celsius temperature range
• LED lighting inside
• IPX4 rating indicating a weather-resistant build
• Adjustable shelves
• Withstands temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius

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The best outdoor bar fridges and beverage centres

04

InAlto 118L outdoor beverage centre IBF118

$1435, Appliances Online

Investing in an outdoor beverage centre or bar fridge may be more suitable if you only need a refrigerator for beverages (rather than food). This bar fridge from InAlto is the perfect addition to your outdoor kitchen. Featuring a triple-glazed glass door that is slightly heated to ensure condensation does not accumulate during its use, you’ll have optimally chilled beverages within arm’s reach.

Key features:

• Heated triple-glazed glass door to eliminate condensation
• Designed for outdoor use with IPX4 rating
• Engineered to withstand temperatures of up to 43 degrees Celsius
• 0-10 degrees Celsius temperature range
• LED interior lights

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05

Rhino 148L ENVY alfresco bar fridge ENV1L-SS

$2541 (usually $2747), Appliances Online

Crafted from high-quality 316 marine-grade stainless steel, this outdoor bar fridge from Rhino will keep your drinks chilled even in scorching Aussie summers. Suitable for temperatures of up to 43 degrees Celsius (now, that’s hot), you can crack a cold one when you need it the most.

Key features:

• 148L capacity
• Adjustable shelves
• Suitable for temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius
• Made from 316 marine-grade stainless steel
• Heat tempered glass door
• LED lighting within

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06

Husky 190L double door bar fridge HUSC2840BLK

$1995, Bing Lee

Invest in a spacious double-door bar fridge from Husky. Designed for sheltered outdoor use, this bar fridge features handy self-closing doors, interior LED lights as well as separate locks on each door for added security.

Key features:

• 190L capacity
• Electronic temperature controller
• Digital temperature display
• Adjustable shelves
• Painted galvanised steel exterior
• Adjustable feet

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What fridges can be used outside?

It may be obvious, but you cannot use an indoor fridge outside. Outdoor fridges have safeguards in place and are specifically engineered to withstand the weather. And especially when you’re living in Australia, when summers can hit temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius – or above – ensuring your outdoor fridge can handle external heat while keeping your food chilled optimally is vital.

Look for refrigerators that are designed for outdoor use. These units generally have Ingress Protection (IP) ratings, which grade the refrigerator’s resistance against dust or liquids. An IP rating consists of two numbers. The first number indicates its protection against solid objects on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (highest level of protection). The second number indicates its protection against liquids on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protection from high-pressure hot water from various angles). You can learn more about IP ratings, here.

Is an outdoor refrigerator worth it?

If you spend most of your time (especially in the warmer months) lounging in your backyard, or you love to host friends and families frequently, an outdoor refrigerator is well worth the investment. It’ll save you time from going back and forth between your indoor and outdoor kitchen when cooking – which can be stressful when you have extra mouths to feed. If you entertain on occasion but still want to elevate your outdoor living facilities – an outdoor bar fridge or beverage centre may be a better-suited option. It’s not recommended to store food in bar fridges or beverage centres, so this is something to take note of when making your purchasing decision.

The post 6 outdoor fridges that are made for backyard soirees appeared first on Homes To Love.

Designed to fulfil many functions – pool house, home office, guest room, party pad – it’s fully self-contained with a vibrant blue-hued bathroom, compact kitchen and fold-down bed. With full-width sliding doors opening to a paved area and steps up to a lush garden and pool, it feels light years away from a poky granny flat.

When owners Charlie Clifton and his wife, Camille, bought the main house, a semi-detached home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, they were pleased that it already had development approval for a secondary dwelling.

As a builder and co-owner of Robert Plumb Fix, the renovation arm of the Robert Plumb group of companies, Charlie knew how valued these kinds of spaces had become, particularly post-Covid with more people working from home.

As the couple were thinking about having a child, they also had an eye to their own future needs in terms of visiting family and babysitters. Charlie and Camille worked with architects Buck & Simple to tweak the DA to suit their style, and Charlie brought on board frequent collaborators Briony Fitzgerald Design and landscape designers Dangar Barin Smith.

Camille, a doctor, was happy to leave the decision-making to Charlie; her only request was a swim jet in the new pool, installed by Award Pools. “It was a bit dangerous, because if she didn’t like something, it was all on me,” jokes Charlie. “Fortunately, she likes it all!”

The studio is set on the rear boundary and lowest part of the slightly sloping block, with access only from the front. While that challenge was overcome with the temporary removal of a boundary fence, a greater obstacle remained: water.

Biblical-level rain for weeks, plus a newly discovered natural spring flowing onto the block; no stormwater system; an existing sewer system to encase and protect; and solid rock below the surface. Mud was the name of the game for some time.

“We basically had a swamp,” says Charlie. “It could have been as simple as laying a slab, but it turned out to be about three months of groundwork, including a new stormwater retention tank and pumping system. But that’s the nature of building – there are a lot of unknowns.”

With the slab down and burnished to create the floor (thereby saving on time and materials), work could continue on the more visually satisfying elements. The materials palette is simple, befitting the small space, with timber cladding the front of the pitched roof and used to create the folding door screens.

“It’s the first time we’ve used Fijian mahogany in this way and it’s held up really well,” says Charlie of the sustainable plantation timber. “The idea is for the cladding to silver off and eventually go to a natural grey.” The couple have plans to renovate the main house, so the design was considered part of the overall project.

“The idea is that the screen detail will be mirrored in the front and rear gable of our house,” he adds. The internal layout was planned with the kitchen and cabinetry along one wall, leaving plenty of room for a dining table and separate sitting area.

A good-sized fold-down bed is set into the rear wall so as not to impinge on the main space. The bathroom is entirely clad in blue mosaic tiles, with the ceiling painted the same hue. “I guess the whole idea was to have the structure look and feel nice and light and fun and open,” says Charlie of his playful choices, including the colour-flecked terrazzo benchtop and pink Venetian plaster splashback in the kitchen.

Natural light flows in from the sliding doors, and also through a large skylight, cleverly framed to appear round. “When I was building, I was a bit concerned that the space was quite low in the ground and would be dark, but it actually feels filled with light when you’re in there,” says Charlie.

All the furniture and fittings are clean-lined and modern, with subtle colour and texture to add interest. “The thing Briony does really well is to make a new build feel like a home,” says Charlie. “At the end of the day, it’s

built for a family, and it feels genuine and warm.”

While the studio is small in size, Charlie sees it as transformative to the couple’s life. “We probably spent more than we had to, but we’ll get plenty of enjoyment out of it because we’ll be here long-term. I’m happiest about the way it transforms the whole house. On weekends, we sit outside and relax by the pool, which feels really nice.”

Robert Plumb Fix is at robertplumbfix.com.au

Buck & Simple is at buckandsimple.com

Briony Fitzgerald Design is at brionyfitzgeralddesign.com.au and @brionyfitzgeralddesign

The post A colour-drenched, mosaic bathroom is just one of this poolhouse’s inviting surprises appeared first on Homes To Love.

From elegant porch steps to a trellis of fragrant jasmine, every element of your façade can set the tone for your house. Especially when it comes to the exterior walls.

To achieve a modern coastal design, turn to board and batten walls. Inspired by inexpensive Scandinavian buildings, the minimalist look was first introduced in the United States as an alternative to traditional log cabins.

Now, board and batten is a versatile design style that pairs beautifully with other textures and approaches. It’s easily created with James Hardie engineered fibre cement products in the Hardie Architectural Collection.

Below, get inspired to elevate your kerb appeal with these board and batten façades by our favourite Australian designers.

Three Birds Renovations: Coastal style

Everything the Three Birds designers touch turns into a relaxed, coastal dream. In their latest project (above), the creatives achieve a serene look using board and batten to add interest and rhythm.

The board and batten cladding style is created by joining wide vertical sheets (boards) with thin vertical strips (battens) to cover the seams. Here, Three Birds used the board and batten look to evoke a holiday vibe with luxe, resort touches.

“We also used Axent Trim around the windows to create a chunky feel,” Lana adds.

The Block: Modern muse

The Block architect Julian Brenchley said he wanted this year’s exterior designs to impact the whole streetscape. Steph and Gian’s winning House 4 (above) brought his vision to life by transforming the 1950s brick building into a luxury dream home.

“Some of the houses look like an old brick home with an addition, and this was quite different,” Julian told Homes To Love. “The approach was to reskin it. The new clothing ended up being a Hamptons-slash home.”

The façade also received glowing compliments from The Block judges, as they admired the stackstone chimney, round stepping stones, and Hardie Fine Texture Cladding and Axent trim by James Hardie to deliver the modern board and batten look.

Oak and Orange: American farmhouse

Heather and Sarah, the designers behind Oak and Orange, dreamt up a coastal Australian twist on modern American farmhouse style for this stunning façade.

“We added a few key features to give it that real farmhouse feel. We’ve used vertical Axon Cladding on the façade, which is a first for us. And then we’ve used cross details [on the walls] and on the garage doors,” Heather explains.

Nestled on a suburban corner block, the new build spanned 18 months in planning and 10 months in construction to achieve the unique, eye-catching design. The cladding itself is easy to install and durable, adding textural interest to external walls.

As the designers say: “We’re here to prove that turning a cookie cutter design into a dreamy masterpiece is not just a dream, but an achievable reality.”

Brought to you by James Hardie. Still not sure which transformation is right for your home? James Hardie has created a helpful guide that provides exclusive expert tips, pages of inspiration, and real-life examples. Learn more here.

The post Designer’s diary: How to achieve a modern coastal façade appeared first on Homes To Love.

Jonavan Roux, architect and designer at Shipping Container Pools (SCP), has installed over 500 shipping container pools over the past several years — including one in Sticks and Wombat’s backyard on The Block 2017 and another one on The Block this year on Rachel and Ryan’s sprawling country property.

When Jonavan first began a little side project of building a container pool next to his shed, he was also working on conventional in-ground pools with his father.

“Every time anyone came over to look at the in-ground pool designs and finishings, they showed more interest in the container pool. We even tried to cover it up in some cases!” Jonavan laughs.

With sustainable building on the rise and budget-friendly renovations forever on-trend, we’d never cover up a shipping container pool. Here are five reasons why.

1. Quick and easy install

“The pool is delivered in the morning, the customers have a water truck show up and fill it up in an hour or two, and the kids are in there by the afternoon and all having fun. That’s really unheard of in the pool industry,” says Jonavan.

The transport’s a no-brainer, given a shipping container’s initial purpose. They only need to be craned into the backyard, which will only take up to an hour.

2. Your budget won’t sink

Homeowners often forget that the costs of installing an in-ground pool can escalate beyond their expectations. If the site is unsuitable for digging or requires jackhammers, installation costs will grow. Add a few more bills once plumbers and electricians get involved.

Shipping containers need only sit on the ground, and many are designed with in-built plumbing, heating and electrical systems. “It’s usually a massive commitment to get a pool on your property, but we’ve removed those commitments,” says Jonavan.

3. Custom designs and personalisation

No matter how awkward a pool may seem in your backyard, shipping container designs can be personalised, like SCP’s classic six-metre plunge pool and larger 12-metre pool. The side of the container also becomes a creative space where homeowners can paint murals, apply patinas or even use acrylic panels to cut windows into their pools.

“It’s amazing to see people swimming inside,” says Jonavan. “And if the parents are busy in the kitchen, they can look through the pool window and see the kids. It really gives them a sense of safety and awareness.”

4. Low-maintenance and durable

The guarantee of a shipping container is that its welded steel body can really take a beating, from bearing huge loads to being pushed around different ports. When prepared for home installs, shipping containers like SCP’s are lined with fibreglass (which is also often used to protect yachts).

“Customers are getting an actual pool, not just lining a container with corrugations inside the pool because that would be a nightmare to clean,” says Jonavan.

5. A pool that comes to you

A shipping container can come with you when you move house.

Jonavan recalls, “We had people buy a pool who were living in a rental, and actually bought one of our pools with the intention of moving it once their house was built after two years. It can become a mobile, moveable product. The concept of a pool as a structure dug in the ground with pavings or tiles around it has never changed, but these pools have flipped the industry.”

How much do shipping container pools cost?

The cost of a pool from SCP starts at $35,000 for a 3-metre size, and for the 12-metre pool it’s from $45,000. Considering on average, Australian homeowners spend $50,000 installing a swimming pool in their backyard, so all in all that sounds like a done deal. Be mindful though that those quotes only cover the pool itself, as getting it to you and into your space will be different for everyone, and attract different costs.

What are shipping container pool dimensions?

The size of shipping container pools, as you can imagine, is the same as the standard size of a shipping container! You can choose between 6 or 12 metres in length, with a depth of 1.3 metres to swim in.

Unfortunately, their shape can’t be modified, as they’re built around the container shell, but the plus side of this is that a generic shape keeps the costs down.

The post 5 reasons to consider a shipping container pool appeared first on Homes To Love.

While white and light greys have long been the go-to hue for home exteriors, more and more people are opting for dark grey, charcoal and even black finishes to give their homes a modern makeover and enhance their kerb appeal.

Paint is an easy way to provide a fresh lease of life to any home exterior and opting for a strong, modern colour will ensure that your house will remain elegant and timeless.

Whether you’re after a Scandinavian-style summer house aesthetic or an ultra-contemporary bold new look, these 19 examples show the incredible effects that dark exteriors can have on the look and feel of your home exterior.

DARK HOME EXTERIORS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT RENOVATION

dark-home-exterior

The extension in this nostalgic renovation is clad in battens painted Dulux Monument, a dark, harmonious match with the original bagged-brick home.

dark-home-exterior

Adrian Zipevski’s home in Sydney is a converted warehouse which was magically transformed for contemporary Australian life with a monochrome, New York edge.

dark-home-exterior

With their new guesthouse, TV personality and style aficionado Neale Whitaker and his partner David Novak-Piper put their own spin on country style with this dark farmhouse exterior.

dark-home-exterior

Cladding this renovated coastal house are Weathergroove Woodsman architectural panels from Weathertex, painted Taubmans All Black. The pitched ceilings upstairs look out to stunning ocean views.

dark-home-exterior

This Scandinavian-style shop and cabin sits on the coast of Newcastle, NSW, decked out to recreate the relaxed mood of a Nordic summer getaway. The home’s exterior facade is painted in Dulux ‘Domino’. “I really wanted the house to be dark, which is similar to the little summer cottages you see on the lakes in Sweden,” says Libby.

dark-home-exterior

The Cottage at Frieda’s Farm in Nashua, NSW is painted in the moody hue ‘Teahouse’ by Dulux. The owners enlisted the help of architect Chris Hills and interior designer Mary Durack, both based in Brisbane, to create an atmosphere of colour, warmth and serenity.

dark-home-exterior

When designing this modern new-build on an Adelaide Hills winery, the owners were adamant they didn’t want a “white house”. A dark exterior not only makes a striking statement, but helps the building blend into its surroundings.

dark exterior home

Originally built in 1859 in the Classical Revival style for Victoria’s first attorney-general, Sir William Stawell, this imposing mansion in Kew is one of Melbourne’s most significant homes. A custom-mixed Dulux blend matches the original colours trimming the exterior of the heritage bluestone house.

dark-home-exteriors

The exterior of this versatile Melbourne home was painted in a bold Resene Bokara Grey to make it a suitable gallery for the owner’s paintings and sculptures.

dark-home-exterior

Colorbond Monument external cladding emphasises the greenery, with decking in grey-stained blackbutt, on the contemporary exterior of this 1940s semi revived into a stylish family home.

dark-home-exterior

The facade of this tropical resort-style home is painted in bold ‘Black Caviar’ by Dulux, contrasting with the timber accents and ‘Dogal’ marble cladding from Surface Gallery on the front fence.

dark-home-exterior

Paint isn’t the only way to embrace the dark exterior trend. Here, treated, stained hardwood cladding links this holiday house in Noosa to its rainforest surroundings, helping it to recede rather than compete.

dark-home-exterior

A bright yellow front door painted in Dulux ‘Midas Touch’ pops against the dark exterior of this weatherboard cottage in Bowral which has been painted in Taubmans ‘Black Fox’.

dark-home-exterior

A shared love of the aesthetic of barns, particularly dark-coloured Scandinavian designs, inspired this modern barn style house with waterfront views on Lake Conjola. The home’s exterior is clad with Weathertex Woodsman sheets with timber battens laid on top and painted in Dulux ‘Monument’.

dark-home-exterior

The stark white window trim and roof contrast beautifully against the dark exterior of this pool house that also doubles as a stylish Airbnb. The exterior painted is in ‘Weathershield’ in ‘Black’ and ‘Casper White Quarter’ from Dulux.

dark-home-exterior

This Tudor style homestead with a dark timber exterior proves that even older cottage style homes can benefit from a bold exterior makeover.

dark-home-exterior

This old red brick home has been completely refreshed with a bright pink front door, retractable awnings, timber panelling on the balcony surround and fresh coat of Taubmans ‘Casino’ on every surface.

The post 19 dark home exteriors that dare to be different appeared first on Homes To Love.

“It’s surrounded by the Australian bush,” says garden designer Tim Pilgrim, “and my clients’ brief was to create something that would both speak to its heritage and harness those beautiful views.”

It sounds simple, but it was in fact a formidable task. In 2016, when Tim’s clients bought the 20-hectare property, it consisted of a tumbledown shack, remnants of ruined outbuildings, a scrappy orchard, a leaky dam and some grapevines. Not only did he have to incorporate as many of these existing elements as possible into a new and harmonious garden design that would sit well in the landscape, he also had to contend with the harsh climate.

“The Yandoit Hills are only about 400 metres high, but they’re very open,” explains Tim. “In the dead of winter, on a frosty night, it can get to minus six, and then up to 45 degrees in summer. So, it’s about choosing a palette of plants that can cope with both those extremes.”

Perennial grasses proved a good solution to that problem. “They’re a real key element,” says Tim, who loves the sculptural seed heads that look as beautiful in their winter decay as they do in their fluffy prime, as well as the way they bring the wind to life in the garden.

The other key element of the grounds is sandstone, which forms part of that history the owners were so determined to retain. “There were piles of old stones from toppled chimneys and buildings that were built in the 1850s, when the Swiss Italians settled here,” says Tim. “So, we used those as garden edging and retaining walls. I love reclaiming whatever I can from a site – it really gives the garden a sense of place.” Tim also rescued old rusting farm machinery from around the property and recycled it into site-specific sculptures; another method of incorporating history into the present.

As an adherent of the naturalistic school of garden design, Tim’s aesthetic made him the perfect person to take on this project. “The naturalistic movement is taking inspiration from nature to create a picture that makes you question whether a garden is natural selection or if it’s been put there,” he explains.

Tim’s nature-inspired solution to settling the garden into the landscape was to echo the plants around it, with his beloved grasses, for example, mirroring the pasture grasses of the surrounding farmland, and a cloud hedge of grey-white Teucrium fruticans drawing this open country’s big sky closer to the ground.

“I like to design gardens that are ecologically sensitive, so they don’t need to be irrigated – and certainly don’t need to be irrigated off town water,” says Tim.

His principles are evident in all the areas he’s created across this ever-evolving 2000-square-metre garden, from the traditional lawn and borders, to the kitchen garden and orchard, the planting around the new-build pavilion, and the most recent additions – a native bush garden and a natural pool by Daylesford company Bells Water Gardens.

However it grows and changes over the coming years, this garden will always have its roots firmly in the Yandoit soil. And there’s a very special kind of beauty in that.

Visit tpgardens.com.au for more about Tim’s work.

The post A romantic, wild garden that stands up to Yandoit’s harsh climate appeared first on Homes To Love.

That’s why street appeal is so critical, and a quick exterior renovation can add considerable value to your home.

To help you add value to your home with an exterior makeover, we share five easy ways to upgrade your house facade.

Spruce up your fencing

When it comes to pulling together all the elements of your home’s exterior, one of the most important components is undoubtedly your fencing. To instantly step up your home’s kerb appeal, consider sprucing up your existing fence or replacing it with a new one entirely.

Not only does your home’s fence help to clearly mark out boundaries between your house and your neighbour’s, but a neat and stylish fence instantly adds a polished touch to your abode – after all, there’s a reason why the white picket fence is such a classic!

“If you are wanting to add instant impact to your outdoor space and have a couple of days to spare, painting your front fence is the ideal project,” says The Block’s Josh and Jenna Densten.

If you’re planning on refreshing your existing fence, you can’t go wrong with a new coat of paint – just be sure to thoroughly clean and sand down your fence, You’ll also want to make sure you choose a hard-wearing weatherproof paint like British Paints 4 Seasons that will stand the test of time.

Tidy up the garden

Scrappy garden beds, random tufts of greenery, and an unkempt lawn can all give the impression of a neglected, unloved front yard. Neat gardens are a great way to add value to a house, and luckily, it’s pretty easy to remedy this with a quick weekend of hard work.

First things first, trim your lawn to instantly neaten things up, and then consider pruning dead branches and foliage to give your front garden a more verdant look. Pull up overgrown weeds and plants that aren’t thriving.

If you have the time, consider investing in trees that will add value to your home, or even adding plants that will improve the privacy of your home.

Refresh your front door

There’s nothing that says “home sweet home” more than a welcoming front door, and there’s also no better way to breathe new life into your home’s facade than by giving your front door a new coat of paint.

Whether you prefer a bold statement colour, or would prefer to stick to a classic neutral, there’s no denying the sharp appeal of a freshly painted door.

Before you paint your front door, be sure to give it a thorough clean and sand down the surface to ensure an even coat. You’ll also want to double check whether or not you’ll need to paint a coat of primer beforehand – not all paints are created equal.

Deck maintenance

Whether your home has a grand walkway up to the front door, a compact verandah, or an entertainer’s front balcony, sprucing up your decking is an easy way to give your home that brand-new look.

Once again, you’ll want to give your timber decking a thorough clean while removing and replacing old boards that are falling apart. From there, the next step will be re-applying a layer of varnish or perhaps even restaining your deck all together.

The full treatment

If you have the time for it and the dedication, the best way to instantly refresh your home’s exterior is, by of course, updating the facade.

If your home is made of brick, you could consider rendering it for a decidedly modern look or painting the bricks to create a dramatic dark exterior. For weatherboard houses, consider painting your home’s exterior a crisp white for a fresh Scandi-style or Hamptons-inspired look.

“When painting large surfaces outdoors, you’ll want to make sure that you pick a day when the weather will allow for you to complete the entire project,” says Josh. “Summer makes for the perfect time to refresh your outdoor space as the weather is warm and dry and will allow for the paint to stick well to your surface and dry quickly.”

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A timber deck is a great place to relax with friends and family, read the paper or play with the kids, but due to our harsh climate, a deck can also take a beating from the elements, so regular maintenance is needed.

Here’s some handy advice to make your deck “spruce up” a cinch.

1. Clean it up

Sand away any loose fibres and give the weathered boards a good clean using White Knight “Renew It! Deck Cleaner”. Always follow the instructions on the bottle and allow the boards to dry.

2. Damage control

Check for any loose nails, screws or loose boards, and if required replace any damaged ones, especially near stairs or railings.

BIRD WATCH Maintain your deck by removing, and hosing off, bird droppings as often as you can. This will help prevent them from staining the timber – it gets worse the longer they stay.

UNDER PRESSURE Using a pressure washer can be another great way to clean up your deck ready for a restain. However, be careful with pressure washers as, depending upon the age of your deck, they can splinter the wood and remove the protective coating.

MIND THE GAP If there are any cracks in your deck deeper than 5mm fill them with an exterior paintable sealant chalk. When dry, give the area a light sand for a smooth finish, using a 120-grit abrasive or similar.

3. Prep it

Apply two coats of White Knight “Renew It! Wood & Concrete Resurfacer”, following the label directions.

It has a thick consistency, which rolls on really easily, so you can’t go wrong. Make sure you allow it to dry thoroughly between coats.

4. Colour match

There are hundreds of Taubmans colours, so you can match your deck to the rest of the house. This process is easy and the end result so amazing that the transformation will make your friends think you have a brand new deck. A great colour to consider is Taubmans “Fudge Truffle”.

HOW TO: OIL & STAIN

• OILING Clean the deck with warm water and some detergent, and give it a good scrub, making sure it’s completely dry. Use a roller to apply a water-based decking oil with advanced UV protection. Oils dry quickly, and are usually resistant to mould and fungus.
• STAINING You can apply stain the same way as the oil, but make sure it’s completely dry between coats, so you don’t get any drips or blotches.

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