Bayette Sales

If you are looking for a real bargain in Cape Town contact Lance, from massive full timber cold room doors, vintage ornate wrought iron table tops, job lot tiles, shopfitting fixtures and fittings to wonderfully quirky once off items like an “old-school” dentist chair they have something for everyone. Every piece seems to have personality – especially the mini braai’s  - so if you re looking for something far, far away from the mass-produced flat packed furniture and something overflowing with character give these guys a try. Lances cell is 076 486 0462 or browse the shop in La Belle rd, Stikland opposite Barnetts. These are just a couple of the items currently in store.

Ornate Wrought Iron Gates

Dentist’s Chair – Very Quirky

Window Frames Ideal for Rustic Frames

Mini – braais – perfect for 2

Outdoor Table Top

Timber Table Top in Steel Frame

 

Introducing Giancarlo Villarini

Here are a couple example’s of Giancarlo’s work – Glass, Aliminium, Stainless Steel, Decking, Steelwork etc. If you need work done or just a quote contact him directly on 079 395 5583 or via n.villarini@mweb.co.za

Deck it out!

With glimpses of summer appearing and that sudden rush to make sure the pool will be blue for those scorching temperatures it is perhaps also a time to look at decking. The days of brickpaving around your pool are long gone, the natural look of timber around a crystal clear, sparkling pool is what we are all striving for.

There are pluses and minuses to decking though, firstly decking requires a lot of maintenance and it can become pricey over the long run, it is fairly expensive and if not done properly can give you a couple headaches. But to me the advantages far outweigh those, firstly you can’t beat the look of timber, it is sensational when installed, it is naturally abrasive and there won’t be slipping around water, because of the gaps between the planks water runs off and so does dirt and dust.

In South Africa we normally use a timber called balau, it is perhaps the cheapest decking but is fairly good considering, we normally use yellow balau which has a striking appearance at first and with age greys and weathers a bit which in itself can be beautiful.

Balau decking

Weathered Balau Decking

The more exotic (and pricey) alternatives are Jatoba which has a cherry colour and Cumaru which is an incredibly rich colour and is very durable and strong. The natural oils in these wood means that the colour normally stays and requires very little maintenance. While the cost of the sub-structure remains similiar (normally using treated pine), the actual planks are expensive as they are imported mainly from Brazil, but to me worth the extra money as they will last you a good 20 years.

Here is an example of Jatoba:

Jatoba Decking

In 2010 we completed the Salt Vodka Bar and used Cumaru for the floors and ceilings which came out beautifully in my opinion

Cumaru Decking and Screen

Cumaru floors, ceilings and benches

Use of Cumaru at the Salt Vodka Bar, Bantry Bay

If you have any questions about decking, or are looking for installers or suppliers contact me on the details found on this site, and I would love to help you make your dreams for your home become reality,

Ryan

Lounging on the deck

Summer is around the corner and to me there is nothing more stress busting that lounging on the deck, with the smell of braai wafting in and the occasional splash into the pool. If you don’t have a deck or are tired of maintaining one, then there is a new product on the market that might interest you.

Composite Decking

It’s actually produced from recycled plastic, so it requires very little maintenance in comparison to timber and also never splinters or fades, plus you’ll never have to worry about termite, fungus or water damage.

It’s a bit more expensive than balau, but in the long run does not require the annual treatment that wood needs.

On the minus side when it gets hot, it gets very hot and it doesn’t have that timber feel under the foot.

It uses a clip system which makes it quick to install and can be screwed into a timber sub-structure so if you want to replace your existing deck it’s fairly simple. You can get it in brown or grey, so it looks incredibly natural (considering your old plastic bottles and packets are used in this product).

Tomorrow I ll show you the timber variations of decking and how to create your own deck, trust me, it’s not as complex as you think.

For any advice or recommendations on suppliers or contractors, give me a shout on the contact details provided on the main section of this site.

Cladding your feature wall

A very modern way to create an effect on a wall is to clad it with a natural stone, wood or even to tile it.

The essential thing in doing this is to make it feel natural and organic,

In using natural stone as a feature wall:

Always remember that if you have a fireplace in your main entertainment room it almost always becomes the focal point and therefore the feature wall. If it looks antiquated so will your whole room. So make a feature of it.

Riven stone and slate are the perfect materials to clad your fireplace, they are pretty heat resistant and create a very natural and bold look.

 

Charcoal Slate Feature Wall

Stone clad fireplace

But there are other ways of cladding your walls and one of them is using timber – rustic timber is now very much in, even pallet boards can be used and they are incredibly cheap, but need to be treated as they could be a major fire risk.

Especially in offices wood cladding is used, in the illustration below – look at how they incorporate a lot of natural elements from travertine floors to marble counters and stainless steel – all framed with a dark wood.

In the bedroom wood cladded walls can be used to create a massive head board, which fills the room. But then be careful to use very neutral walls – as it can became very dark and masculine.

Wooden headboard

Wood cladding

Another way of using natural elements is to use a leather headboard in the bedroom, most are obviously not genuine but can create a lot of atmosphere if used correctly, the more intricate the detail or the texture the more drama it creates.

High leather headboard

And then to me there is nothing more exquisite than walking into a bathroom where a wall has been beautifully cladded, as the shower and bath physically refreshes, the interior of a bathroom has to refresh the mind and soul. Using mosaics, small bevelled tiles and natural stone can add sensual pleasure to a bathroom.

Mosaic finish wall

Textured tiles bathroom

For any other questions, advice or to get hold of a quality contractor – give me a shout on 021 801 5961 or ryan@4dretail.co.za

Keep Dreaming…

Ambassador Hotel, Salt Deli and Vodka Bar Revamp

This is a new video we posted to show the renovation to the Ambassador Hotel Luxury Suites and how we transformed 2 store rooms into the Salt Deli and the Salt Vodka Bar

Link to the YouTube video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ALxURy5v2U

You too can transform your own space into something sensational,

 

For any questions or advice contact me through the blog or ryan@4dretail.co.za or on 021 801 5961

Feature Walls – Wallpaper

Wallpaper has made a come back in a pretty big way – no longer is it the thing that will cause potential buyers to flee in horror, but if used correctly can bring character and sophistication to a room. While it is technically possible to do it yourself, I don’t recommend you try. If you flop it, you ll feel it hard in the pocket, and their is nothing worse than a bubble in the wall to remind you of your flawed skill in hanging your wallpaper.

These are a couple of examples of good use of wallpaper on a feature wall,

Grey pattern Feature Wall

 

Bold Wallpaper - Feature Walls

These are classic examples of using wallpaper to good effect, it is pretty important that it doesn’t clash with your current furniture, if you have intricate designs already often it will create an explosion of overkill and totally wreck the look. It works well with modern, neutral furniture.

The other big shift in wallpaper is the use of personalised design taken from photographs, if the resolution is good enough – it can be a brilliant way of bringing yourself (literally and figuratively) into the space. Just remember there are a lot of companies that do it, but only a few who do it well. Be careful not to be too narcissistic as it can be a real turn-off but if used correctly it can be really classy. It can also be a way of bringing a natural feel to a room – a real way of bringing the outside in (think naturescapes, city skylines, views from your favorite places etc.)

Examples of personalised wallpaper

Memories

Bringing the outside in

Bringing spaces to life

As you can see wallpaper has entered a new age and it is not only for the over 70s, the downside is wallpapering can be very technical and precise and costs a bit more than paint, but also it can transform a room and is easily taken down and can be replaced as styles change.

If you need any more advice or have any questions mail me at ryan@4dretail.co.za or call 071 885 4377

Tomorrow I ll look at cladding your walls,

Feature Walls – making a statement

One of the best and cheapest ways of taking your main room from OK to magnificent is the use of a feature wall. If used in the right way you can create a sense of space, of drama or it is an interesting way of bringing the outdoors inside.

In the next couple of days I will give you a couple ways to use your feature wall and the contacts in order to do it,

Let’s  start with the most basic, paint.

Firstly choose a feature wall – normally it is the focal wall, so the one where you hang your flatscreen or have put up the family photo frames.

Texture and Colour are the 2 crucial elements when you paint, don’t skimp on the cost of the paint – either you can go with a high sheen Velvaglo or Pearlglo (available at most paint stores and hardwares), if you have a lot of light coming straight onto that wall then this is not the best option, rather go with a more natural textured Double Velvet (Plascon) or HydroSilk (Dekro branches).

Painted feature wall - high gloss

The main thing with the colour of a feature wall is to go at least 2 shades darker than your other walls or to go completely opposite on the colour chart – burnt oranges, maroon, deep purples and coral are the most common non-neutrals to be used as focal colours.

The other thing you can use is texture, one of the more beautiful and natural ranges I have found is from Midas Earthcote – some can be painted on using a block-brush and others need to be plastered on, from suede finishes to wall finishes with sand, shell and coral mixed in, it adds a depth to your feature wall, which is quite understated, yet beautiful.

Below are 2 examples of using textures for your feature wall,

Leather-look natural finish

Dark Grey Iron Finish

So for paint finishes:

Dekro South Africa – go to www.dekro.co.za for contact details

Midas Earthcote – go to www.earthcote.co.za has interactive menus and contact details

Plascon – go to www.plascon.co.za – check out the “inspire me” link - can help with colour selections

Painters: 4D Painters – Lance on 076 486 0462

Earthcote Application: Primadek Coatings

Tomorrow I will be going through wallpapering your feature wall -

If you need any more info or advice call me on 071 885 4377 or email  ryan@4dretail.co.za

Tip for the day: Your average coverage with paint on a smooth wall is 8 sq meters per liter, on a rough wall, its about 6 sq meters per litre, a good way to save money is to get your primers or undercoats tinted to the same colour as your finishing coat, this could save you on an extra coat. 

Stop wining about your floors

While distressed wood is very much in, this is a bit much, the website: http://www.fontenay.us/cooperageFlooring.cfm introduced  me to floors, furniture and fine carpentry made out of aged wine barrels – absolutely stunning

These floors should cost around R 1200 per square meter, which should frighten off most of us, but there is hope.

While walking through Floors Direct in Northgate Island they had laminate flooring with a similiar feel, while not the same feel under foot, it does have a lot of character and is extremely affordable at around R 149 per square meter supply only.

Laminate Option

Their website (http://www.floorsdirect.co.za) is actually pretty user friendly and has some nifty features like a “Floor Visualiser” to see how your selection might look in your home or office. And it currently has specials via there site.

Hope that helped in your home renovation process, if you want  to leave a comment please do so, also my contact details are on the home page so if you want your place to transform into a magazine cover, let me help you do it in the way that the best value for money.

Sometimes in life

Everyday we are flooded with tons of commercials, flyers and adverts and it’s so difficult to pick out what’s a bargain and what is just an image. Having worked as a buyer in the construction and interior fields and trained in marketing I have tried to highlight what really is value for money.

So if you are into D.I.Y or interior design this is for you. I will upload as many of the best value for money products on the market and tell you why they re right for you.

I receive no kick backs from any brand, so I am completely neutral when weighing these products up. After seeing so many clients get taken for a ride and steam-rolled by sales lingo – I hope this will help you to make informed decisions into investing in your most expensive asset your property.

Also if you have any questions about a certain product or plan that you intend considering let me know and I ll give you my honest advice.

Regards,

Ryan

Salt Vodka Bar at night