Australian House & Garden

Question: I’ve inherited four cane chairs, which I intend to paint black. I’d like to update the canvas cushions too – I have in mind a scheme of black and cream stripes – but don’t want to reupholster. What do you suggest?

Answer:

Permaset fabric paints would be perfect for this project, advises Tolly Vostanis, Sales Associate at Tilly’s Art & Office Suppliesin Rozelle, NSW. “If your canvas cushions are a dark colour to begin with, or you intend painting white over black, use Permaset Supercover,” he says. “This is a special paint that stops the background colour from bleeding through.” After you’ve created the stripes, heat-set the painted surface with an iron to render it permanent and washable. Expect to pay around $13 for a 300ml container of regular Permaset paint or $22 for the Supercover formula. Tilly’s Art & Office Supplies; (02) 9810 8309.

Photograph Altrendo Images

Question: Can you tell me the best sofa options for an active family, in terms of both material and style? I like the idea of leather upholstery, but how durable is it? And is modular seating still popular?

Answer: Leather sofas will take all sorts of punishment, especially the kind that children regularly dish out. Even serious cuts and grazes can be repaired with the help of a specialist leather repairer. “You simply can’t go past a leather sofa for an active family,” says Victer Severino, Store Manager at Nick Scali, Campbelltown, NSW. “One leather sofa will outlast three fabric-covered sofas. In terms of style, a three-seater sofa with a chaise is ideal because it can be arranged to suit most families and most rooms. Home theatre has continued the popularity of modular seating and good options incorporate a recliner, a chaise and storage for remotes. Nick Scali, (02) 9748 4000.

Photograph by Steve Ryan

Question: I’d like to install solid timber floating shelves but am unsure how to mount them on the wall, and I’m having trouble finding the correct brackets to hold the weight of the shelves. Can you help?

Answer: You can readily source the correct type of support bracket you need from companies that supply architectural and technical hardware. “You will need a steel timber shelf support that’s invisibly mounted and designed to take the weight of heavy timber shelves,” says Sharon Sanders, Key Account Development Manager at Häfele Australia. Look at Häfele’s online catalogue titled ‘furniture fittings’, and you’ll find invisible steel brackets, with instructions on how to use them. Secure these brackets to masonry or to studs in a plaster wall, following instructions, and the result should be a sleek and elegant look.
Häfele Australia; (03) 9212 2000 or www.hafele.com.au.
Photography by Sharyn Cairns/ACP Digital Library

Question: We have recently painted all the walls of our house in Dulux Natural White. Could you please suggest a suitable neutral colour that we can use for our ceilings?

Answer: The idea is to achieve a seamless look in each space, so use white again to avoid a stark contrast between the walls and the ceiling. “Most professional painters use a generic colour known as Snowdrop for ceilings,” says Michael Matchett from Mercatroyd Painting & Decorating in Sydney. “It’s a white with just enough tint in it to remove the brightness, which makes the coats look fuller and gives good coverage.” As for the finish, specify flat paint for your ceilings. “A flat finish gives better coverage than matt,” says Matchett. Despite its name, matt paint actually produces a low-lustre eggshell finish. Mercatroyd Painting & Decorating; 0438 212731 or mercatroyd60n@msn.com.

Photography by Andrew Lehmann/ACP Digital Library

Question: We have installed a new dormer window with glass louvres in our attic and are concerned about sun protection. What kind of external window treatment would be suitable?

Answer: All dormer windows require a customised approach to their shading. An important consideration is which direction the window faces. Generally, the best solution for both heat and light control is an external window treatment. “You could use either a vertical sunscreen or a pivoting-arm system,” suggests Ross Johnston, principal of Grovewood Shade Systems. “Both give the traditional look that suits dormer windows and allow excellent air circulation through the louvers.” The pivoting-arm system, pictured left, will reduce glare and heat by up to 95 per cent as well as block out UV rays. Plus, they are available in a great range of colourfast acrylic fabrics that are also water resistant. Grovewood Shade Systems; (02) 9817 2481.

Photograph by Maree Homer