Get it LIVING October 2019 by Get it Magazine

ASK AN ARCHITECT Three BIRDS How to create your ‘forever’ home

POOL TRENDS

Renovations

THE SECRETS TO THEIR SUCCESS

The secrets to creating cool outdoor living

Inspired

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WHATEVER YOUR STYLE, CONSIDER THIS YOUR DESIGN BIBLE... Like the weather, this edition of Get It LIVING is warming things up as we take you on a journey around the world to find inspiration you can bring into your home from places like Palm Springs, Mexico City and even Santorini. We catch up with the queens of the renovation world – Bonnie, Erin and Lana from Three Birds Renovations – who share some of their favourite tips and tricks, and take us on a behind-the-scenes tour of Santorini in Sydney (AKA Lana’s forever home). We reveal some of the hottest trends in the design world, from resort-like pools you can build for summer, to an iconic architecturally-designed hotel that can inspire your next interiors overhaul. And finally, our resident architect shares a step-by-step guide to creating your ‘forever home’. Enjoy!

The Calile courtesy of Sean Fennessy

Cover image: Image and furniture by Uniqwa Collections. uniqwafurniture.com.au All furniture is available from Village Stores Bundall

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The Man behind the Village Brand I understand Village has some very exciting upcoming direction and news! What’s the key thing you’d like your clientele to be aware of? Yes, absolutely we do! Village isn’t just about being a store, we’re about evolving and creating an environment where people are continuously inspired. Since 2009, your amazing brand has gone from strength to strength - what’s been the highlight and where do you see it heading in the future? For me, it has been the amazing people I’ve met throughout my travels and the wonderful tribe that have been part of carving the future for Village. I still pinch myself that all of this began back in 2009, Village will continue to be an Australian brand within a global market. What makes your brand extra special, is that while you’ve expanded, you’ve kept the store fresh and held on to the wonderful original values, for the clientele and for your staff. Do you think that adds to the Village experience? It’s nice to think we’re extra special! However, I genuinely believe we have some amazing stores on the Gold Coast. What I can say is that we are very grateful and humbled by the support we have locally and Australia wide. Perhaps it’s the combination of hand selecting every item for the brand and curating it to be visually inspiring to others, being unique and most importantly creating the overall experience in store. It’s everything from the luxurious global music, the smell of our signature fragrances, the beautiful one-off furnishings, but even more so our down to earth tribe, we are all full of passion and happiness here, with a history of experience in the industry.

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Was including skilled artisans’ work, and the best local and international wholesalers and retailers amongst Village, an aim from the beginning? Absolutely, and it always will be. It’s so easy to go off track when we are sometimes governed by the expectation of the market, however, it’s very easy to fight for what you believe in and we as a brand will always support the true skill of craftsmanship and authenticity. The brand possesses a conscious ethical mindset, with pieces sourced through fair trade and sustainable avenues. What does it mean to have this in your home? It’s empowering. For you to know that you are making a purchase based on emotion, yet you are consciously supporting the true values of fair trade is empowering, uplifting and socially responsible for our future generations. What’s the best advice to give those wanting to create a slice of heaven at home with the amazing selection at Village? Invest in key pieces first, build around them with a decorator and take your time to enjoy the process! Don’t be afraid to over layer the styles for impact.

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L IFE S TYLE

Santorini in

SYDNEY

THE STORY BEHIND LANA’S FOREVER HOME

AS THE GLAMOROUS BOSS LADIES OF THREE BIRDS RENOVATIONS, LANA, BONNIE AND ERIN ARE BEST-FRIENDS AND MUMS WHO ARE LIVING THEIR DREAMS THROUGH RENOVATING PROPERTIES, ONE STYLISH HOUSE AT A TIME. HERE, THE LADIES SHARE WITH US A SNIPPET FROM THEIR NEW BOOK – THREE BIRDS RENOVATIONS – TAKING US BEHIND THE SCENES OF CREATING LANA’S FOREVER HOME AND SHARING A FEW OF THEIR MUST-HAVE TIPS.

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Having lived in this house for 15 years, Lana knew she was finally ready to renovate her home, even though she had no idea what style to go with. Hamptons? Scandi? Coastal? Boho? … She liked them all! When envisioning your dream home, it’s awesome to dream big, but you also don’t want to be off with the fairies. You have to work with what you’ve got! By that we mean you have to look at the features and bones of your home and try to imagine them as better versions of themselves. That’s what Lana was eventually able to do with her Forever Home. Truth be told, it took her a pretty while to pick up on the Tuscan vibes the terracotta-coloured render and climbing bougainvillea were emitting. But, once she tuned into them, the penny dropped and Lana realised the best renovation for her home was going to be one that embraced its distinctly Euro origins. After a lot of vision boarding (a process we teach in The Reno School), she finally landed on the idea of a modern Mediterranean villa, or, as it’s more affectionately known around Three Birds HQ, #SantoriniInSydney.

been to have a Federation-style home with fretwork and a wrap-around balcony … well, no amount of renovating would have made that happen because her house just didn’t have Federation origins. To put it another way, if you’re born with the same colouring as Nicole Kidman or Naomi Watts, you’ll be forever disappointed if you keep showing inspo pictures of Eva Mendes to your hairdresser. The same goes for houses. Work with what you’ve got and improve on it.

IMAGES AND TEXT FROM THREE BIRDS RENOVATIONS BY ERIN CAYLESS, BONNIE HINDMARSH AND LANA TAYLOR. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONIQUE EASTON, MURDOCH BOOKS RRP $39.99

Once her vision was nailed down, the rest of the design decisions were a breeze. We had an answer for everything. Lana’s vision board became our true north and her terracotta house became the whitewashed family home of her dreams.

Give it up for concrete roof tiles! Lana replaced her terracotta roof tiles with concrete ones and reckons they’re a winner on every front. Not only are they cheaper than terracotta tiles, concrete roof tiles also happen to be the most durable and economical option on the market – they actually strengthen with age and can last up to 50 years. (Believe us, not many things get better with age when it comes to renovating!) They are made from sand and cement, usually with a pigmented coat on top or mixed through for longer wear. They’re unglazed too, so it’s easier to change the colour of your roof down the track. Concrete tiles are pretty much the chameleons of the roof tile world as they can be created to resemble many other styles and materials.

Plan your window coverings, both inside and out. External shutters can bring your vision to life and provide accent ONCE HER VISION colour, while your choice of internal WAS NAILED DOWN, window coverings can also be seen from the street. THE REST OF THE

‘‘

DESIGN DECISIONS WERE A BREEZE.

Get real about your big vision Before you fall in love with a vision for your dream home, do a bit of research so you understand the original architectural style of the home you have, as this should guide you on what ‘looks’ may be easiest to achieve. For example, if your house is a 1920s Californian bungalow, you’re probably best renovating to a style that works with some of the original features of that home rather than trying to create something completely different. With Lana’s home, the original Tuscan render made it easy to create a modern Mediterranean-style look – it just worked. If, however, her dream had

Paint is your friend If you already live in a rendered or ‘bagged’ house (bagging is a lighter, easier version of rendering), a fresh coat of paint and change of colour might be all you need to transform the exterior. Lana loved her bagged home, but wasn’t in love with the terracotta colour, so she painted it using Dulux Weathershield in Casper White Quarter and nailed that Greek-island look.

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Any old pots get a makeover Before you buy any pots, look for old ones lying around your garden, then paint them to match your house using the same paint as the exterior, like we did here.

“JUST “JUSTONE ONEPIECE PIECE CAN CANTRANSFORM TRANSFORM AAROOM” ROOM”

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Splash ON THE SUNNY GOLD COAST, THERE’S NO BETTER ACCESSORY FOR YOUR BACKYARD THAN A GLISTENING POOL. IF YOU’RE THINKING OF INVESTING IN A POOL THIS YEAR, HERE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST POOL TRENDS OF 2019. 1. BOLD FEATURE TILES Gone are the days of basic paving around a pool, with statement tiles or pavers now the hottest way to make a splash. “For one project, we used black and white checker board tiles to complement the art deco style of the home,” said Kate Festa, Director of Rochele Decorating. “In addition to tiling the outside surface area of the pool, we also made extra impact by continuing this pattern for the submerged tiling inside the pool. A really unique coping tile design finished the pool off brilliantly.” 2. TIMBER If you’re not in to tiles then try decking around your pool for the ultimate resort feel. “You can even buy timber-look porcelain tiles to line the inside of your pool with, for a different take on the classic wood trend,” says Terraform Landscaping Director, Kris Power. “Earp Bro’s Starwood range of tiles imitate natural timber with ultra-realistic detail, right down to the wood knots and timber grain.” 3. PRE-FAB POOLS For those tight on space and after something unconventional, there’s a great range of pre-fabricated pools now available. These concrete towers come pre-tiled and are simply lifted by a crane and placed into the correct spot in your backyard.

4. LONG SWIM LEDGES If you have small kids then you’ll love this trend – the use of an oversized ledge is great for little people to wade on, but also perfect for adults who love to simply lounge in the water. Some pools are now being built with ledges up to two metres wide – which provides plenty of space for the whole family to sit back and relax. 5. BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BEST When it comes to pools, most people have realised that size doesn’t matter. “Unless you’re planning on swimming laps, a big pool isn’t necessary and going small can deliver big cost savings,” says Mark Hancock, Director of Geomancer Construction. “Many people install pools to add value to their properties, but the size of your pool doesn’t necessarily add any extra value to your property. The fact you have a pool at all is all that matters.” 6. POOL HOUSES “We’re loving pool areas with designated ‘living’ spaces,” says Kate from Rochele Decorating. “It’s good to have enough space to create an open area to recline and catch some vitamin D – and for the ultimate luxury you can’t go past a pool house where you can sit in shaded comfort to enjoy a meal with friends.”

DESIGN DIRECTORY ROCHELE DECORATING rocheledecorating.com.au | GEOMANCER CONSTRUCTIONS geomancerconstructions.com.au TERRAFORM LANDSCAPING terraformlandscaping.com.au

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YOUR OUTDOOR OASIS It’s no secret that Aussies love being around water, and this, paired with the hot weather we enjoy, means pools are the most popular additions to many of our local homes. A pool creates a tranquil, inviting space for family and friends to enjoy time at home. Maintaining your pool should never take away from this peace – it’s not meant to be hard work. Here’s how you can benefit from having a pool all year around, without any hassle!

1. LIGHT AND HEATING

When designing your pool, consider lighting. After a long day there is nothing better than a refreshing dip, and your pool area should be a sanctuary for unwinding and relaxing. Having spectacular pool lighting and quality pool heating can make a huge difference. When considering pool heating, look at the latest inverter technology that ensures your pool stays a perfect temperature all year.

2. BALANCE YOUR WATER

Maintaining your pool for a few minutes a week will save time and money. Improperly balanced water can turn your backyard oasis into hard work and increased cost. Mould, cloudiness, green water: the list goes on, but the solution is simple - talk to your local pool shop for their insider tips on how best to look after your water.

3. MAGNESIUM: A NEW WELLBEING OPTION

4. ENERGY SAVING

Did you know that a good pool professional can turn any pool into a magnesium-based health experience for under $300? The benefits include better sleep, recovery from exercise and the rigours of the day. Some mineral blends can enhance hair and skin condition too, making it silky and smooth.

Most pool shops will claim that certain equipment will save on electricity, but is it true? Potentially combining an 8-star efficient pump with an energy saving filter and chlorination specifically designed for energy saving, CAN save the average home over $500 a year in running costs.

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Incorporate elements like open plan kitchen/living areas and plenty of windows for natural light.

Ask an

ARCHITECT IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME OR EMBARK ON A RENOVATION PROJECT, SPEAKING WITH AN ARCHITECT ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS IS A PRUDENT FIRST STEP. GET IT LIVING’S RESIDENT ARCHITECT, GEORGE KOUPARITSAS, IS ON HAND TO ANSWER YOUR DESIGN QUESTIONS AND GET YOU STARTED ON THE RIGHT TRACK

QUESTION: We want to create our ‘forever home’ but have no idea where to start. What’s the process? Fiona, Mermaid Beach 1 2 | GE T I T L I VI N G

George Kouparitsas, Architect | gkarch.com.au

GEORGE SAYS: Creating your dream home, whether it’s a renovation or a new build, is an exciting time! It’s also one of the most important decisions – and largest investments – you will ever make. Remember, the process of designing and building is just the first part; you will have years of enjoying your home ahead of you, so you want to make sure you get it right and don’t compromise on quality or liveability. While there’s lots to think about, don’t feel daunted. Here are some tips to help you feel more confident going into the process. STEP 1: PICK AN ARCHITECT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH This may seem like a no-brainer, but the most important step of the design and building process is choosing the right expert to guide you through the journey. While there are many professions that can draw up house plans, I always recommend using a registered architect or a licenced building designer. You can search if someone is a qualified architect on the architects Australia website (architectsaustralia. com.au). Do your research by looking at their prior projects and organise to meet with your architect before you sign them on. You want to make sure you like them, trust them and are confident they understand your vision. If you’re working with a big architectural firm, make sure you have a clear understanding of who your project lead will be, as this is the person who you’ll interact the most with. STEP 2: GIVE A DETAILED BRIEF This is the fun part. Come armed to your meeting with your ideas, wish list and mood board. Don’t be afraid to set up a Pinterest account, or even just a scrapbook of images your architect can use as inspiration. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page. Have a clear idea of your musthaves, as well as those features you may be able to compromise on. Now is also the time to be honest about your budget. Architects are experts at creating designs to suit your budget, so you need to put all your cards on the table here to receive a realistic view of what’s possible. STEP 3: FINALISE PLANS Next, your architect will present you with plans for review and amendment. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions if you can’t visualise what is being proposed. Standard floor plans can be difficult for some people to interpret, so i always give my clients 3d visualisations, which provide a ‘real-world’ perspective of what your home will look like when

completed. We do this using a specialist program called Revit, so if this is important to you make sure you check your architect uses Revit before you engage them. If your plans don’t look exactly how you imagined them, then don’t panic. An architect’s job is to take your brief and deliver the best design possible, which can sometimes be different to what you imagined. If you’re concerned, just talk to them and discuss your options. Changes can always be made, but once you understand why they’ve taken that path, you may be happy with the proposal. Open and honest communication is paramount – and again, it’s why you need to be comfortable that the architect you’ve chosen listens to you and understands your vision. STEP 4: SECURE YOUR TRADES AND SEEK APPROVALS Once your plans are finalised, it’s time to get quotes and lock in your trades. I recommend trying to get quotes from at least two different builders, as their pricings can vary greatly depending on a large number of factors. Again, as outlined in step one, make sure you pick someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Always look at their previous work and don’t be afraid to ask to speak to one of their past clients for a testimonial. Now’s the time to also pick any fixtures and fittings you want. If you’re not sure, your architect can assist with this, or you can engage an interior designer or interior decorator. This is also the stage where your architect will seek the necessary approvals for the build to begin (if you’ve engaged them to do this – you can always work directly with council or town planners if you prefer). Depending on whether you’re doing a renovation or a new build, you may need DA (development approval), BA (building approval), as well as engineering and certifications to ensure your home complies with all laws and standards. STEP 5: BUILD AND ENJOY You’re at the tail-end of the process now. Once all your trades are locked in and the build begins, you will start to see your vision become a reality. If you’ve employed your architect to manage the whole process then they will work with your builder to ensure everything goes to plan and iron out any issues as they arise. If you’re managing this part yourself then make sure you voice any concerns you have as soon as an issue arises, so there’s time to fix it. Always keep open lines of communication. OCTOBER 2019 | 13

DE SIGN & S TYLE

Easy, breezy resort-side style HOW THE CALILE HOTEL CAN INSPIRE YOUR NEXT DESIGN PROJECT

If you’re looking for an excuse for a sneaky weekend world… yet somehow made it look effortless. away, why not say you’re gathering design inspo Designed by leading architectural practice Richards for your renovation or styling project and head to and Spence, the hotel has been celebrated for Brisbane’s chicest new resort, The defining the look and feel of Brisbane’s Calile. iconic James Street precinct, starting WE LOOKED TO Chances are you’ve already come with the Street’s established white across the swoon-worthy style of The THE GLAMOROUS brick, breezy theme. Calile when scrolling through your BEACHSIDE CITIES, So what practical design tips can you Instagram feed – after all, the who’s LIKE MIAMI AND gather from a weekend at The Calile? who of the influencer world have all architects behind the project say MEXICO CITY, TO The taken snaps sunbaking by the resort’s when it came to establishing a resortlush pool, or sipping cocktails from SET THE TONE like feel, they looked to the glamorous Hellenika in one of the cabanas. beachside cities, like Miami and #thecalile #blessed Mexico City, to set the tone. Situated in the heart of Brisbane’s celebrated James “We looked to other hot weather cities with a resort Street precinct, The Calile is an architecturallyfocus to inform our design... Miami, Palm Springs, designed masterpiece that has drawn its inspiration Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City,” said Richards and from Queensland’s balmy, tropical climate and the Spence Co-Director, Adrian Spence. hotel’s unique urban location. Its interiors are a heady, perfectly-styled combination “In our opinion there is no other city-based Australian of champagne marble, American oak timbers, brass hotel conceived as a resort. City-based hotels in our hardware, cork wall panels, pink tiles and earthy country are pitched to a corporate market, focussed linen fabrics. Couple this with tall arched mirrors on the conference, rather than on the pool and the and breeze-block walls, and The Calile has captured hotel’s surrounds. The Calile will change that.” almost all of the hottest trends in the interior design And indeed the architects’ prophecy is right. The 1 4 | GE T I T L I VI N G

Images courtesy of Sean Fennessy THE CALILE 48 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY, BRISBANE PHONE: +617 3607 5888

WEBSITE: THECALILEHOTEL.COM

INSTAGRAM/FACEBOOK HANDLE: @THECALILEHOTEL

Calile has been pivotal for creating that resort feel and transporting guests to glamorous ocean-side cities. So too have the external naturally-ventilated corridors and lift lobbies with ceiling fans and planters. Operable windows and balconies continue the resort theme in the rooms. Beyond its spectacular design, the hotel also offers all the creature-comforts you would expect for a fivestar weekend away. There is shopping in abundance just seconds from the hotel’s door, and some of the country’s leading day spas are just a stone’s throw away (including the divine Water Lily Concept store on James street, which we highly recommend!). The hotel’s signature restaurant is Hellenika (yes – an expansion of the iconic Gold Coast dining hot spot), and there are countless other bars, cafes and eateries littering the James Street sidewalk. So do yourself a favour and book yourself in to The Calile – not only will you enjoy an indulgent weekend away, you can gather some glorious design inspiration while you’re at it. All in the name of research of course.

OCTOBER 2019 | 15

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