Katrina Chambers

Posted: 28 Mar 2022 04:48 PM PDT

Feel like an easy DIY project this weekend? What about making a cactus or succulent bowl? Hard to kill these little fellas, they are cheap to buy and look great all clumped together. Now when I say “hard to kill” I mean it’s not impossible and I have killed my fair share of succulents, but there is a trick… On my Instagram a lovely lady by the name of @thatgirlinthatdress gave us all this advice and it’s probably the best advice I’ve received in regards to succulents:

“…most succulents require full sun – 4-8 hours of outdoor sunlight. This is quite different to the amount of light they would receive next to a window and even less if they are more than 30cms from the window. Most likely it developed root rot as the amount of water it was receiving was far too much for the amount of photosynthesising it was doing. I keep mine outside in full sun (sunrise to 1/2pm, where as all day sun is literally no shelter all day) and water them once a fortnight if they are lucky…”

Ah yes! Good advice. So they are not really designed to survive inside long term are they? Unless you are happy to pop them outside often, maybe they are best displayed on outdoor tables, or at the entry or in a corner on your back verandah? I have had great success with succulents and cacti outside, so there they shall stay.

So let’s take a look at a few succulent and cactus bowls…

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What you’ll need:

A variety of succulents/cacti
Rocks in the bottom
Good soil
A bowl or pot (the rocks are good if you don’t have holes in the bottom of your pot for drainage, but I recommend you do drill holes if you can!)

So there you go! Lots of cool looking centerpiece ideas. Or I love the HUGE pots on the ground filled with succulents. I have some pots filled with succulents at home, but they need a few gaps filled and a freshen up so that may be an Easter holiday project.

If you want some indoor plant ideas that will survive I wrote this one here.

KC.

The post Cactus & Succulent Bowls appeared first on Katrina Chambers.

5 Tiling Mistakes to Avoid When Doing a Reno

Posted: 28 Mar 2022 04:36 PM PDT

Tiles can cause headaches in a reno. Not having enough or choosing too many feature tiles which throws off the look of a space, are just some of the problems that crop up when renovating a bathroom. If you're about to embark on a new reno, here are 5 tiling mistakes to avoid.

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1. Not sticking to an overall theme

It's important to stick to an overall theme for the space you're about to renovate. What style are you trying to evoke? This will guide you with your tiling decisions. Themes are important when choosing tiles because they are the main visual grounder in a space. Once the tiles are laid down, you can't change the look of the space with fixtures alone. So choose wisely.

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2. Not buying enough

The golden rule when ordering tiles is buying 15% more than what you need. Even if you don't use all the tiles for your reno, they can be stored and used to replace tiles in the future. Tiling involves cutting, breakages and waste, so ordering more than 15% will cover these nuisances.

Over-ordering more tiles is a better problem to have, than not ordering enough. And heaven forbid you can't order any more of your tiles if what you've ordered was the last of the stock. Check with your supplier if more tiles can be ordered, before you set your heart on that particular tile.

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3. Too many feature tiles

Rule of thumb is to have one feature tile. If you do choose two, the second feature MUST be a smaller accent or used in the shower and bath niches. Even then, be selective of what you choose. You don't want your space to look like a patchwork quilt.

Too many features tiles in a small space will not only fight for your attention, but make it look crammed and small, which is not ideal.

Here are some ways to balance a feature tile:

Opt for a feature tile on the floor and a block/basic tile on the wall.
Vice versa – have one wall with the feature tile and the rest of the space with a basic neutral on the floor and other walls
Streamline your feature tile to niches or splash backs only.

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4. Underestimating tile size

If your bathroom has corners or narrow areas, that big tile may not work. While the tiles can be cut to suit, it may look odd with large tiles in the vast space, and then odd sized tiles to fit in the niches and cavities. Look at the overall space of your bathroom and get recommendations from your tiler or tile supplier on what you need to consider with your chosen tile. They may be able to offer an alternate solution to save a design headache, while still providing the right aesthetic for your space.

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5. Not considering ongoing maintenance and cleaning

It's important to consider how difficult it will be to keep the tiled floors and walls clean. More grout lines = more areas prone to mould and mildew.

Grout is porous so it will trap bacteria and mould. It requires regular cleaning to prevent it darkening from mould growth.

If you require less maintenance with your tiled areas, choose tiles which require minimal grout lines. Mosaic or mini subway tiles may not be the best choice for you, but a large square tile may be ideal.

To get the best of both worlds, keep smaller tiles for niche areas and larger tiles for bigger surface areas.

You might also like this bathroom reno checklist.

KC.

The post 5 Tiling Mistakes to Avoid When Doing a Reno appeared first on Katrina Chambers.

Food And Recipe Fusion

Wednesday, March 30, 2022