A new basala. Now it's not something you wear and it's not something that you put on top of your corn chips.
But it is something that suits the Queensland climate. I'll show you what it is in a tick, but first up let's see what's on the show.
We'll follow the makeover of this lounge room which features heaps of bright ideas.
Susie checks out the high tech way to plan your next renovation.
And I'll hit the workshop to knock up something special for the garden.
Okay, back to our sala. A sala is an outdoor room. If you've been to Bali you've probably seen something similar.
They've normally got no walls or half walls. That way you get plenty of natural light and it also allows the breezes to flow through.
Sala is the word from an ancient Indian language called Sanskrit.
And it means an outdoor room which is incorporated under the roof of the house.
It's a bit like a bagola, but I'm sure you'd agree it's a little more upmarket and really does blend in with the house.
This is one of a range built by Paradise Homes.
Basically the kitchen and meal rooms open onto the sala with glass doors and windows and the floor and ceiling follow the same line.
They certainly make the house look bigger and if you haven't got a view, and let's face it these days a lot of places don't,
the sala creates something that's outside in. What I mean by that, it looks great from the outside looking in, but it also looks great from the inside looking out.
Another option is to do like they've done here, which is to create a decorative feature along the fence line which is just outside the sala.
That way keeps all your focus in your own backyard.
These are also the perfect place to sit back on a hot balmy Queensland night and enjoy a beverage of your choice.
Anyway, it's time for us to get on with the rest of the show.
Trouble with this room is it's not bright enough.
Even during the day the brick and all the dark timber maintain a moody gloom.
So let's get some help from design consultant Nerida Nicholas.
Alright Nerida, consult with me. What do you think should be done to lighten this room?
Well, because it's a long narrow room with a common wall, you've only really got these windows here and the ceiling to use to bring in the light.
So the most obvious start is to put a skylight in.
With the windows you need to get the timber blinds off.
With the common wall, which is a lovely feature brick, that tends to absorb the light.
So we need to gyprock across there, paint it using nice light, light reflecting colours.
Washing the walls with light pushes the wall out.
An illusion.
So it's all about illusion.
So first off, the boys from Bright are installing a roof window.
A skylight that opens and closes either manually or electrically depending on available funds.
Notice there's a fly screen attached to keep out the peskies.
The house is more than a century old and as is often the case with oldies, the domino effect applies.
You start working in one area and reveal a weakness in another and another.
In this case, measuring up for the skylight revealed a failing roof, camouflaged by paint and more obviously failing guttering and downpipes.
Unfortunately, Bright Skylight Company also replaced roofs and that's exactly what they did.
Now work can begin plastering the exposed brick.
But nothing's ever easy.
As it turns out, the wall is totally uneven.
So we can't just stick plasterboard directly on top of the bricks.
We need to apply adjustable fastenings with metal battens as a backing.
This will give a totally smooth level wall.
Notice the electrician got in early with some wiring for a couple of new wall lights or sconces as they're known.
Getting back to the domino effect again, look what we discovered earlier lurking behind the bureau.
All the skirting and plaster was soaked and rotten.
Now before we can re-plaster, this will need some treatment.
The bathroom on the other side of the walls, the source of the problem.
Need to make over?
It'll be re-grouted.
Then we'll let this dry out before we apply some render to fill any gaps, some waterproofing membrane and the new plaster.
Now note well, this is a quick fix, not a permanent solution.
Feeling sorry for the owners yet?
Don't.
It all turns out for the best a bit later in the show.
The good medicine guide to anesthetics.
I thought I was having a nightmare.
I realized I'm awake in this operation.
How you can protect yourself, plus putting your eggs on ice.
A second chance for couples and giving tired eyes a better look.
Good Medicine, 8 o'clock tonight.
He's won! The unknown athlete from the tiny African Republic of Robota creates sporting history.
And today, they've got the gold.
I'm looking for the national anthem for Robota.
Folks, if I get a bit emotional, I just might.
I can't, I'm a few bars.
John Elf and Javi proudly march the podium.
Robota?
Will all silence.
You have?
The Robota national anthem.
Just play it down the phone.
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, like a clatter of trees.
Can you resist a challenge?
Could you resist playing one game that could change everything?
Well, why not try your hand at Powerball?
You could win millions.
So why not take the challenge every Thursday night?
It could change your life forever.
Powerball. One ball could change it all.
This is no way to choose a great bed.
But this is.
Only Sleepmaker has Miracore.
That means better support for your back.
And a more comfortable sleep.
Better springs, better support.
You can't judge a bed by its cover.
How do you know you're always making the most of your home loan?
Does your lender help you get your savings working to reduce your home loan?
No.
Does your lender suggest a cheaper way to finance your renovations?
If not, get a complete home loan with a free home loan health check.
From Whichway?
Only Ford Explorer has ControlTrac.
A system that senses any loss of traction and automatically engages all-wheel drive.
Ford Explorer. The Intelligent 4-Wheel Drive from $39,990 drive away.
Did you hear the one about the lady who didn't check retrovision before she bought her new fridge?
Snap-up Fisher & Paykel 6.5-Kilo Washer.
Save $50 on Whirlpool's 392-litre fridge.
Retrovision. Buy anywhere else and you'll pay too much.
The blockbuster movie with all the ingredients of Titanic plus a very cool cook.
A cook? Oh my god, we're gonna die.
Action King Steven Seagal and Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones under siege tonight at 8.30 on Nine.
Now if you've got a father like I have, sorry about this dad, who cannot part with any old timber,
here's a way to get rid of some of that junk. A wheelbarrow planter made out of an old fence.
Start by making the wheel. Cut six pieces of piling and arrange them together so the top three sit at right angles to the bottom.
Then glue and screw them together.
Bingo, one square wheel, which is ideal if you're gonna take your barra up and down stairs.
I'm only joking. What we're gonna do is cut a circle now with a jigsaw, roughly 35 centimetres in diameter.
Then cut a hole in the centre of the wheel for the axle.
Well our little barra's taken shape. These are the main rails.
Little cross member up here, making sure that we leave enough space for the wheel to turn.
Bit of piling across this end. That'll be housed into the rail so it finishes flush.
And these legs will basically be fitted in underneath here a little bit later on.
Fit the rear cross member first. This will set the angle for the frame.
The front brace simply sits on top of the rails.
Round off the fronts of the main rails.
Then chisel off the edges of the handles.
And then clean up with a rasp or file.
Now for the wheel, the axle is just a dowel.
Put it in position so it doesn't rub anywhere.
What I'm gonna do now is just check that into the rail so that finishes flush.
Those little covers go on the top and that'll hold it in place.
Next, fix the legs to the rails by screwing in from the sides and the top.
Now our box that goes on the top will be made from old pilings.
It'll be angled at 25 degrees on the side and at the front and the back.
Once the bottom of the box is done, put together the front and back panels.
Then plane the front and back edges of the tray to about 25 degrees.
Now I need to transfer the same angles to the front and back panels and glue and nail them to the base.
The sides are made and fitted in exactly the same way.
I've also added a couple of braces to the outside of each panel for strength.
All I have to do now is screw that down into the rails, drill a couple of drain holes at the front and fill it with dirt.
So there you are, an unusual planter box.
And even if you have to buy the nails, some screws and glue, it shouldn't come to any more than $15.
Although the face may be familiar from acting,
Jeff Morell has added a few more creative strings to his versatile bow with assemblages, sculptures and collages.
So this is a pleasant break away from what are you doing at the moment?
Still doing a new series of Murder Call.
It's funny, I play a forensic detective who is also a crime scene officer.
And I think there are interesting parallels between this work that I do and a crime scene officer, straight forensic detective.
I remember thinking about that last year when I first started researching for the role.
When they tend to walk into a room, they wouldn't necessarily look for the things that you and I might look for.
We might be drawn to the obvious.
Dee, got a shot of the broken wine bottle?
Got it.
In relation to the body?
Yeah.
But wine glasses?
No.
But as you can see, there's probably something in that in the way I sort of look at a beach or a rubbish skip or something
and sort of see something that other people might really see as rubbish.
So where do you get all of this stuff?
It varies. I started off getting a lot of stuff from the beach.
I fish quite a lot on the rocks and on the beach.
You know, not bringing home any fish, but bringing home a bucket full of cuttlefish or wood, or as my kids call them, interesting sticks.
Do you have a real point of view about what you're going to do, or is it just sort of imagination?
It largely is imagination. I mean, sometimes I do. Some works happen absolutely accidentally.
But some of them have a very definite landscape point of view, for instance.
And the one over here, this is sort of like a headland or something, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah. Very much like the headlands around where I fish, actually.
But the stripes on it, for instance, they were as found?
As found.
Yeah.
And at some point, actually, I had other plans for that piece of wood.
And when I came down here and I lined up a couple of pieces of wood that I wanted to do something with, including those three,
I picked a couple of pieces off it to do something else with, and I almost did a double-take.
It was the other way around. And I looked again and I thought, that's amazing.
Is that a self-portrait up there?
A lot of people have said that, yeah.
I think all... I do a lot of heads and I think they're probably all self-portraits.
Anyway, this is not what you do for a living, really, is it?
No, no, no. And I wouldn't want to, really.
But you do exhibit and you do sell.
I do, yeah, yeah. And it's a... that's a more recent part of the process.
I've put that off for years. I've had people come into the studio, friends.
I tend to live a bit of a hermit-like existence here.
But when friends do come down, they've responded very positively and said,
you should exhibit. And I say, well, yeah, I should and I probably will.
Well, thankfully, Jeff is exhibiting.
So if you want to see his work, get down to the Waddy Gallery in Bondi, Sydney
on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
After the break, I'll show you how to design your dream home on your computer.
10 seconds.
National 9 News.
Could be a siege situation.
As quickly as possible, please.
Followed by a huge fireball.
Timing is critical.
From your wife, it's so important.
Have they got a reasonable case?
I think he's out came up just playing up the crowd a little bit.
Funding is tipped for waiting lists.
There's a big pot of gold.
Look at that.
After the first break, we crossed the bomber.
Can you use PCM?
It's a precision operation takes a fine.
That's how they.
Unforgettable.
That's what you are.
Unforgettable.
Though near or far.
That's why, darling, it's incredible.
That someone so unforgettable.
Thinks that I am unforgettable too.
Good day, Mom.
Free.
New craft free.
It's 97% fat free.
Craft free.
The lowest fat cheese slice.
After a while, drains develop this gunky buildup, which leads to blockage.
Powerful you.
Draino liquid pours through water to remove tough blockages fast.
Leaving drains running clear.
Draino liquid.
Go with the flow.
It's orange.
It's tandoori.
Tandoori.
Since when does this family eat tandoori lamb roast?
Mally jacking.
Lamb, the multicultural meal.
It's the movie Australia has taken to its heart.
I got a number.
How do you like their maps?
It's the one movie of 1998 you're always going to remember.
Good Will Hunting.
See it again this weekend.
Now is the time to list all your numbers like mobile, fax and email in the white pages directory.
Look for a leaflet with all the details in your letter box soon.
These days you can buy computer software that will help you design just about anything.
The building industry has been using them for years and there's a huge range of programs you can choose from.
Many of them are aimed at the professional architect or designer,
but we've come across one that costs less than $20 and is perfect to help you plan your renovations or your new home.
Home Design 3D will work on most PCs with a CD-ROM drive.
Once it's running, the mouse is used to draw your floor plan on the left half of the screen.
As you draw, three dimensional walls appear on the right side of the screen.
The program also has a library of 69 house plans from around the world that you can use or modify to suit yourself.
When you're ready to put in your doors and windows, it's easy.
Simply click on the appropriate icon at the top of the screen and place them where you want.
Then you can add floor coverings and paint the walls.
You can even fill your rooms with furniture and electrical goods from a selection of 500 items.
Okay, you've got your final design. Now this is the best bit.
If you click on these little feet up here, you can walk through your house.
If your PC is running Windows 95, by clicking on the helicopter, you can fly around and check things out from any angle.
There are some limitations in the program.
For example, you can't change specific measurements like covered doors, and sometimes the walls have gaps at the joins.
This is like a game. It's great fun even if you're not planning renovations or extensions.
Welcome to the world of Moorcroft, some of the most collectible handmade pottery in the world,
easy to recognize by its rich glossy colors and patterns highlighted with raised clay outlines.
Now we'll try just about anything once, and while we're not attempting to replicate something as magnificent as this,
we should be able to achieve at least a touch of the Moorcroft style using, among other things, ceramic chrome paints and paste.
The great thing about these, they don't need firing.
However, you will need to start with a piece of pre-fired ceramic available from Hobby Ceramic Studios.
This is an acrylic base coat called Nature Green, which you'll find dries super fast in preparation for a quick wipe over with a paint-dipped sea sponge.
This simply adds a delicate swirl pattern to the inside of the bowl.
Now for the design, and if you're not confident with your drawing, we will enclose a simple pattern with the fact sheet that you can then trace onto the surface,
although given the shape of this bowl, it's probably easier to do it freehand with a lead pencil, and that way you can rub out any mistakes.
Apply two coats of acrylic paint. We've chosen artichoke for the leaves and coral rose for the flowers.
Follow this with more lines to define the petals.
Shading's achieved when a stiff brush is jabbed at the surface. Its official name in painted finished circles is stippling.
Okay, there's perhaps a suggestion of Moorcroft about it now, but to really draw out that quality, we need to give it a raised outline with the decorating paste.
This gets applied with a piping bag. Cake makers will no doubt excel at this, and the rest of us may wobble about a bit, but don't worry, you can always wipe it off before it dries.
If you don't want a white outline, you can tint the decorating paste with coloured acrylics.
Once this is dried, which should take 24 hours, it'll get sprayed with a matte sealer for a satin finish.
Mmm, what do you think? I doubt that Sotheby's would confuse it with the real thing, but I guess it has a bit of that Moorcroft flavour about it.
And I'm determined that the next one's going to be even better.
Remember earlier we started brightening a dark lounge room? Well, it's time to get back into it.
This might not be the most attractive fireplace ever, but Nerida did suggest a few fairly painless improvements.
All we'll need is a can of heat-resistant paint, oven cleaner, a small number of feature tiles, and someone handier than me to do the tiling.
But I will stretch myself for the sprucing. This paint can be found in most wood-fire outlets for about $18 a can.
It comes in several colours and gloss types. This one is charcoal in a matte finish.
The glass hasn't been cleaned in years, so it's getting the once over with a scourer dipped in hot water and fire ash.
If this doesn't lift the built-up creosote, the oven cleaner is on standby. Mmm, seems to be doing just fine.
A nice, neat stove complements the new feature tiles.
With all the other work being done, it's a good time to replace these cheap old couches with something more lasting.
And there's quite a story to the search for replacements.
The owners scoured retail outlets, rejecting everything. Very fussy, I think.
But eventually they were tipped off about this place in Sydney South. Manufacturers who wholesale direct to the public.
They're not usually the showiest of showrooms, but the wonderful thing about them is flexibility.
They have all the basic shapes, but if you don't see anything you immediately like, you can mix and match.
You can have a back like this with arms like these. Oh, and cushions like these, thanks very much.
And you can replace foam with feathers. But best of all, they're very affordable, so you can spend more on better quality fabric.
Well, while they're sewing away downstairs, let's get back for some painting.
Oh, the owners are just loving this.
A new lighter colour scheme in Dulux Bastille Blue Half Strength for the walls,
and an off-white semi-gloss for the timber trims, ceiling and the old suspended bookshelf.
The new TV stereo unit was custom built to replace this mess.
The paint is just giving it a coat of protective varnish to cover a light lime wash underneath.
Some new cotton blinds here, and now it's time to unveil the couches.
Pretty fabulous, eh, considering they cost not much more than a thousand each.
Only trouble is now the owners are panicking that they're going to get dirty easily,
so they'll probably spend most of their lives under old sheets.
Except for special occasions like today, when all is revealed.
7th of Friday at home with the boy from Oz.
Well, you've certainly picked the perfect place to live.
The extraordinary Garden of St. Earth, plus Jeff's recipe for a Thai food favourite.
It's a green chicken curry.
Virg's Backyard, 7th of 30 Friday.
It's happy! It's sad!
What?
Happy!
Maybe it's the really cool colours.
Maybe it's the fantastic $19.99 price tag.
Or maybe it's the free air.
Whatever, one thing's for sure, people are happier with a corolla.
So, get a corolla, get happy!
25 minutes after closing shop, Stan has fresh lasagna on the table.
Wendy works nine to five, but still sits the family down to a delicious roast.
And Mike and Sandy always find time for a home-cooked meal.
Fact is, not everyone has a lot of time these days.
But when they ask what to eat, they can always find something quick and easy at Australia's Woolworths.
The fresh food people.
For four generations, we've hoped to celebrate more Mother's Days than anyone else.
And these are just some of our beautiful gift ideas to spoil her with.
Because no one else has more to give than Wallace Bishop.
World champion at 15!
It took me two times to look up at the board and to realise what I'd just done.
We were just so proud. Proud of his achievements and what he had done for his country.
Every time he's been away, he's come back taller.
Went away with pants that fitted and came home with pants that were halfway up his legs.
From the time he was born, he loved milk.
I couldn't give him enough.
But I wish you wouldn't drink out of the carton.
Advanced Warning. Starting this weekend, lounge and dining furniture will be sold up to half price.
Bedding will be sold up to half price. Outdoor will be sold up to half price.
We've cut half a million dollars off our normal low prices this weekend at the Wool Store.
The Teflon pan on the left was cleaned with hot water and a kitchen towel.
The Teflon pan on the right was cleaned with a Chuck's Super Scrub.
Chuck's Super Scrub. Because today's food shouldn't taste like yesterday's.
Next, a guide to anaesthetics. Plus, a second chance for couples.
And giving sagging eyes a better look. Good Medicine is next.
If you watch Channel Line's Our House, you'll love the Our House Lift Out magazine and the Courier Mail.
Chad-packed full of great ideas for building, renovating or decorating your place in the Sunshine State.
The Our House Lift Out magazine. Grab it in Tuesday's Courier Mail.
If you'd like more information on our stories, call us on 1900 185035 and we'll post it to you.
To get information from our fax service, telephone 1900 185033 and follow the instructions.
If you have a phone fax, ring this same number, once again follow the instructions and we'll fax it straight back to you.
Or you might like to visit our website.
Wouldn't it be great if you could say goodbye to petrol stations and fill up the tank of your car in your own backyard or driveway?
Well, if you happen to have a vehicle that runs on natural gas, you can.
This home refuelling unit can be plumbed into your domestic natural gas supply, just like a cooktop or oven.
It's very easy to operate, however not as fast as a petrol pump.
You'll need to keep it running overnight to completely fill a tank.
Now according to Planet Arc, natural gas is an abundant Australian resource,
which in most cases costs around half the price of petrol and doesn't create as much pollution.
Also, it's not to be confused with LPG. They're two different products.
If you're interested, a unit like this can cost up to $8,000 or in some areas you might be able to rent one.
Remember earlier in the show I showed you that nifty addition to your house called the Salah?
Well, if you'd like to see it for real, next time you go and see the Brizzy Lions play at the Gabba,
call into the Paradise Homes display centre in Stanley Street just around the corner.
Well, that's it for another show, but before we go, let's see what's on next week.
Rich will have a few tasty tips to revive those leftovers.
We'll check out the favourite room of rugby sensation Tim Horan.
And talking about favourite rooms, I'll be back in mine to knock up a budget timber bed.
So, we'll see you then, but stand by for good medicine.