Outdoors
Designed for a land down under
WITH Australia Day tomorrow and all things Aussie - from plastic flags to toy koalas - suddenly becoming must-haves, there’s never been a better time to explore contemporary local design.
Mum shamed by neighbour
A MOTHER was told to ‘shape up or ship out’ by an anonymous neighbour. Her crime? Not planting enough shrubs in the front yard.
Langbroek’s message makes her appy
WHEN Kate Langbroek decides she doesn’t want to call you, believe me — you won’t be talking to her. She developed an app so she doesn’t have to.
Cripes, what have they done to our Esky?
IT’S the new take on an Australian classic that is taking us on at our own game. But are Australians buying it?
Our family lives on an island
WHILE you’re slumming it in traffic or at a boring desk job, this family is living it up on a stunning island off the WA coast. Here’s what life is like.
A KFC that won’t spook the chooks
A BRISBANE group has co-opted the acronym made famous by the fast food chain formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. But its purpose is decidedly more chicken-friendly.
50,000 donate to flawless design
AUSSIES have dominated London’s annual flower show with a stunning design made from 50,000 contributions and a silver medal. See the pics here.
Ikea launching its first flat-pack bicycle
YOU CAN eat, get lost, get found and buy a gazillion things at Ikea. And in August this year you’ll be able to buy a flat-pack bike. Yep.
What’s wrong with this house?
AT first glance, this newly built home looks completely normal. But if you look a bit closer, there’s one massive mistake.
Salim in turf war on his own doorstep
THERE’S a new headache for suspended Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, who is now in trouble with his own council.
‘I got treated like a dumb blonde’
ASK any woman what happened the last time she got her car serviced and chances are she won’t have many positive things to say. Here’s how car companies are trying to change.
This ad is a lazy person’s dream job
NOT a particularly active person and looking for a job that’s a walk in the park? Then this Craigslist ad is the gig for you.
Is this the world’s scariest slide?
THIS eye-watering and gut-wrenching addition to an LA skyscraper could be the whackiest office block renovation ever.
Quirky approach made this home a standout
A quirky design approach to heritage theme made this new home a standout on the inside without jarring with its neighbours.
Serial hoarder reduced to extreme measure
HOARDER Ralph De Masi owns a million-dollar property, but it’s full of rubbish and he can’t live there. His solution is not to clean it up.
Super storm could have been way worse
THE damage is in the millions and hearts are as broken as the roofs in Kurnell. But we were lucky that yesterday’s super storm didn’t cause more damage.
Australia can’t stop talking about this
IT’S a staple of pretty much everyone’s conversational repertoire. Whether it’s hot or cold, stormy or sunny, you just can’t stop talking about it. Why?
What’s a rope access technician?
BESIDE his wicked bone structure and adorable “cool bananas” jokes, fans of The Bachelorette are obsessed with Richie’s job.
Pool cabanas better than your pad
THEY have five-star kitchens, chandeliers and fireplaces so yes, these pool side cabanas are probably better than your whole house.
How where you live determines your fate
WHETHER you live in the inner city, the suburbs or the outback, there are pros and cons. This is what your choice of hometown says about you.
How the ‘Kama Sutra burger’ divided Australia
HAS the controversy over a huge wall-sized image of a burger, and its unique filling, highlighted our sensitivity about street art?
Inside Tom Cruise’s $70m mansion
AFTER selling his Hollywood Hills estate for $16 million, Tom Cruise is on to his next mission — this time, hoping to sell his Beverly Hills mansion for a cool $70million.
Australia’s most extravagant beach mansions
THESE houses are so fancy they come with private beaches and helipads. They’re up for grabs now, but you’ll need to pay a bit to claim them.
At home with comedian Shane Bourne
SHANE Bourne is a well-known actor and comedian, but he’s not joking when he says his previous house was next door.
Step in the right direction
WHERE some saw problems, one designer saw the opportunity for a stunning garden with a relaxed coastal vibe.
A design that lights the way
THE layout of a display home is crucial as it can determine whether it would suit your particular family situation.
Building blocks for a new home
There is a lot to consider when you take the first steps down the road to building your new house Robyn Willis looks at some of the things you need to consider.
Trampolining injuries jump
NEW designs have made them safer than they used to be, but you’d be surprised how many children are still getting hurt on trampolines.
Make room for mushrooms in your garden
FANCY fungi are yours to harvest at home with grow-your-own mushroom kits.
Begonias, lemonade trees and other gardening tips
NEED some gardening tips? Expert John Lamb is here is on hand to lend a few. This week, he looks at begonias and lemonade trees.
Grub’s on in the kitchen garden
KEEP a fresh supply of homegrown vegies at the ready for easy-to-prepare winter meals, writes Robyn Willis.
How to rescue your garden after hail
NURSING your garden back to health and beauty after storms can be managed, writes Robyn Willis.
The great Australian housing ‘sham’
IT’S the property fad sweeping Melbourne, and an architecture expert has slammed the whole thing is a “sham”.
Sheds like you’ve never seen before
THE UK are getting ready to announce their Shed of the Year 2015, and we’ve got a sneak peek into the weird and wacky creations.
Forget Eurovision! The other Aussie winning big overseas
THE only Australian entrant at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the UK has taken home the Silver-Gilt Medal.
Men, you are under threat
GUYS, I don’t want to overstate this but we are being attacked by that we hold dearest. No, not Friday night footy, it’s the missus. She’s stealing from you.
What makes a good cubby house?
THE humble cubby house has come of age with designs for the childhood favourite going to a whole new level.
Pay them to take out your bins?
IT’S a tiresome chore that nobody likes doing, and now two blokes are offering a ‘bins to kerb’ service — assisting people to get their bins to the kerb for collection.
Seven whales beached in South Australia
AT least seven large sperm whales have beached themselves on Souths Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, where they haven’t been seen in 25 years.
Garden design takes the path less travelled
THE design of this garden in Byron Bay was a bit of an afterthought and took an unexpected and creative turn, writes ROBYN WILLIS.
Out to dinner: Dine alfresco at home
OUTDOOR cooking is no longer only about the backyard barbecue, writes CHELSEA CLARK.
Growing pains: Be productive without pain
IT may seem a gentle pastime, but gardeners need to prime their bodies for spring, writes MICHELLE POUNTNEY.
Inside the world’s best building
THIS week, a big new Aussie building was named the world’s best. But is living in the world’s most sought-after pad really all it’s cracked up to be?
Grow your own fruit and vegetables
FOOD never tastes so good as when you’ve grown and harvested it yourself, Robyn Willis writes.
Living the big easy
A SYDNEY summer is the perfect time for making the most of the great outdoors. Longer days, warm weather and, of course, summer holidays make it almost mandatory to spend plenty of time outside.
Feather your nest and attract chirpy visitors
A BUSH-INSPIRED garden will encourage chirpy visitors to your home. Follow Tony Fawcett’s tips to create a your own private escape to attract feathered friends.
Flower power: Not your garden variety show
THE smiles say it all — spring is here, the flowers are in bloom and the Australian Garden Show is about to kick off.
Gates close on open gardens scheme
A GARDENING organisation that donated millions to charities has been forced to shut down due to plummeting visitor numbers and revenue
Aussie garden wins royal award
TWEETS from Australia are helping set off a running billabong in the grounds of a London palace, as part of an award-winning garden design.
Stunning nature photography
AN EXHIBITION of breathtaking photographs from the fourth Gardens in Focus photography competition will be showcased at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney.
