Outdoor Treatment With Blinds in Melbourne

BAMBOO AND CANE IN THE HOME of Melbourne city area

The furniture is ideal for summer lounges. Its natural color is a perfect foil for bright cushions, and glazed materials look well against cane or bamboo. It takes high gloss paints well and can be sprayed any color.

Bamboo outdoor blinds should find a place in many Melbourne homes. They shelter interiors from hard glare, yet admit plenty of light and may be used with or without curtains. They make attractive screens and can be used effectively to break long walls or shelter corner nooks in outdoor living areas.

The living room, designed for informal living, opens through long French windows on to a smooth green lawn - which brings the outdoors almost into the room. On the floor of the room are outsize Fijian sleeping mats, collected during an overseas tour. Unusual notes are the small, shuttered white windows set into the wall on either side of the Swedish-designed fire place, to form 'ornament niches.' The walls of the living room are pale blue- an attractive backdrop to the lime covered chairs, and pieces of bamboo furniture. Incidentally the split bamboo lamp shades made. The long hall way leading off the living room is painted lime, and is 'broken' on the western side by split bamboo outdoor blinds. Adjoining the living room, and connected by a 'stable door' is the kitchen, painted cream with touches of red. One of the most striking bedroom color schemes is blue green walls, with blue and brown banksias designed covers, and furniture of Queensland bleached maple.

Freshen outside Furniture

During the warm weather sunroom and verandah furniture has to withstand a great deal of wear. If you're outdoor furniture is looking shabby, now is the time to rejuvenate it. For bamboo chairs and outdoor blinds, use warm water and salt. Apply with a small brush and then rub thoroughly with a soft duster until dry. The salt prevents the bamboo from yellowing. If your wicker chairs have become discolored, wash them thoroughly with warm, soapy water to which a few drops of ammonia have been added, using an old toothbrush for any crevices in the wicker. Rinse and set in the sun to dry. To improve the appearance of the chair, try giving it a coat of clear, varnish. Canvas deck chairs, outdoor blinds and awnings can all be treated in the same way. Brush off any surface dirt with a hard-bristled, dry brush, then scrub with warm soapy water to which has been added some cloudy ammonia. Rinse with clear, warm water. If chair canvas is very faded; remove it from the frame, wash it, then re dye with a good quality boiling water dye of the same color.