BetterHomesAndGardensAustraliaDecember2015_

Photography Brent Wilson; garden design Katie Burgess; styling Chris Cort (TV)

Lavandula‘Avonview’ Pittosporum‘Silver Sheen’ Euphorbia wulfenii

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

steps

Jason’s easy bench

Decorative and very easy to make, this

hardwood beam-turned-bench makes a

fabulous addition to a garden setting. Look

for hardwood beams or sleepers at your

local landscaping yard or recycling centre.

Measure and cut two legs from a beam

and position in or on the ground. Check

and make level. With assistance, position

remaining length on top. Lightly sand

edges of legs and bench for a smooth finish.

5.Use your clever eye and

imaginationto help decide on the

layout of the slats on your screen –

there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

Projec t 2

privateretreat

For project supplies,

see Stockists page

STAR WITH A SCREEN

Gather your supplies

■ 100 x 100mm H4 treated

pine posts (4)

■ 65 x 20mm cypress pickets

■ Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen

Acrylic in black and white

You’ll also need:

Shovel; quick-set concrete; spirit

level; rubber glove; bucket; cloth;

circular saw or handsaw; nail gun

(or hammer) and nails

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use shovel to dig four

600mm-deep evenly spaced holes.

Prepare quick-set concrete according

to manufacturer’s instructions.

Position 1 post in hole and fill with

concrete. Check plumb and adjust if

necessary. Repeat for remaining

posts. Paint posts in black

Weathershield and let dry.

STEP 2 Wearing rubber glove,

mix half-and-half water and white

Weathershield in bucket. Dip cloth

in mixture and wipe over pickets for

a whitewash finish. Set aside to dry.

STEP 3 Use circular saw or

handsaw to cut cypress pickets to

random lengths. Place 1 length near

bottom of posts, check level, and

use nail gun or hammer and nails

to secure. Ensure even spacing

between pickets by placing pieces

of offcuts in between and making

level before securing next piece.

STEP 4 Continue securing

pickets along height of posts,

varying placement of pickets

for a random effect.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, DECEMBER 2015 bhg.com.au 135