The Tiny House Opportunity
The tiny house movement is gaining a lot of traction in the USA, Canada and Australia. The size of the average home and the consequent deposit gap are major factors. While the following infographic is clearly USA-centric, the message and meaning are just as relevant to every aspiring home-owner, regardless of domicile. Click to Enlarge […]
How is your driveway looking?
Apart from your house, your driveway is probably the most dominant feature of your landscape. Even if the distance from the road to your garage or carport is only 10 m, assuming your driveway is 3 m wide, that is a 30 m² surface area staring you and your guests in the face every time […]
Inexpensive 7 Steps Green Coffee Table – from reclaimed timber and glass bottles
Another project by Roy Shearer of Zero Waste Coffee Table? Well, function before form, any interior decorator will tell you. That’s why it’s so important to establish how you’ll use a space before you start shopping. In your living room, you’ll likely be watching television, entertaining guests, and relaxing. It’s a room meant to be […]
Awesome Pallet Playhouse: Fun Play Space
Have you got kids and some time on your hands? Do you want a fun project that won’t cost a lot to do? Then why not use unloved pallets and reclaimed wood to build your kids this great cubby? What’s that… you don’t need a cubby? Then why not build it as a shed or workshop? This pallet […]
Free-Standing Decks: Versatile Structures
One of the first considerations an owner-builder needs to make is what type of deck you want to build. Decks come in all shapes and sizes, and functions. Could a free-standing deck be the right one for you. What is a free-standing deck? Free-standing decks are not directly attached to a house or other structure. […]
Beautiful Natural Plunge Pool: 3 Expert DIY Tips
With all that we’ve written about natural swimming ponds, it’s easy to look at some of the photos and assume that they only suit large yards. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today we’re going to cover natural plunge ponds.. The reality is that most pools are not used for swimming. They are used for entertaining […]
Build your own natural swimming pond – The Basics
Last week I covered the basics of natural ponds and the many reasons you might consider either installing one or converting an existing conventional pool. If you didn’t catch the post, you can find it here. As promised, today is all about getting your hands dirty. Remember that this is a guide, not a bible. Soil […]
Is a natural swimming pond the solution to swimming pool headaches?
If you’ve got a pool, you know the routine. Everyone’s happy to use it but you’re the bunny that has to maintain it! Doesn’t it make you wonder that while many homeowners consider it a necessity, others see it as a daily burden and a disaster waiting and begging to happen? It’s a fact that […]
Brain-eating Amoeba and other possibilities
If you’ve followed this blog from the start (a big thanks for that), you’ll know that it has been a long series of holes being dug and then being filled again. And the reed bed is no different, except for the fact that it is the last hole! I’ve read the comments from people worrying […]
Our Natural Swimming Pond Build: The day the pond got car jacked
We’ve certainly had our ‘moments’ during this project. It started as an idea, became a dream and at times came close to becoming a nightmare. But three daughters asking ‘can we have a swim yet?’ has kept my determination up. Our very limited budget has needed us to innovate more times than I want to count, […]