Grand Designs Australia Issue 2.4

PETER MADDISON

7th edition

ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

Inspiring you to create your dream home EXPERT DESIGN TIPS & TRICKS TO ACHIEVE A COORDINATED INTERIOR

BREATHE Flexible spaces for happy people

STREET APPEAL Create a great first impression with a fabulous faรงade

Issue 2.4

AUS $8.95* NZ $9.95

(Both incl. GST)

Living the dream 70 PAGES OF REAL HOMES & FABULOUS DESIGN IDEAS

LOCAL HEROES Meet the designers and style makers from the architecture and design worlds

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GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

CONTENTS

CONTENTS ISSUE #2.4 24

UP FRONT 17 19 20 22

Editor’s letter Editor-at-large Contributors Credits

BULLETIN 23 26 28 30 32 36 38 41 44 46 48 50

Summer florals Spot-on design Colour palette Eco-friendly finds Functional flooring Gabian walls Fab facades The home office Pools & spas Architecture awards Technology review Book reviews

MEET THE DESIGNERS 72

62 63

194

62

64 65 66

Scott Weston & Gregory Phillips Danielle & Marcus Balscheit Adam Scougall & Benjamin Napier Melanie Tomlinson Paul Hecker & Hamish Guthrie

FEATURES 52

164

171

INTERIOR DESIGN How to create a coordinated interior DESIGNING FOR CHANGE Creating flexible and adaptable spaces ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING Small steps that make a big difference

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

122 122

180

188

194

OUTDOOR LIVING & ENTERTAINING Here comes the sun 25 KITCHEN BEST BUYS Everything you need for a stellar kitchen makeover BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS How to get the perfect match

EXPERT ADVICE 204

206 208

217 218

ARCHITECTURE The benefits of installing courtyards REAL ESTATE Considering mass appeal LANDSCAPING Keeping cool with water features ASK OUR ARCHITECT Readers’ questions answered ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

HOUSES 72

84

96

110 122

134

148

UK TV KENNING TON WATER TOWER The high life TV IN VER LOCH SAND DUNE Part of the scenery TV RI CHMOND INNER CITY Space in the city CHADS TONE MODERN Redefining suburbia DOVER HEIGHTS CLIFF HANGER At one with mother nature CLARE VILLE CONTEMPORARY On the edge COMPACT DESIGN Less is more

15

athena_ the luminous depth and ancient allure of marble meets the durable qualities of quartz, engineered for modern living.

Athena (pictured), one of six new colours in the Smartstone collection. To ďŹ nd out more, call 1300 888 607 or visit www.smartstone.com.au

EDITOR’S LETTER

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

17

FROM THE EDITOR W

elcome to this, our seventh issue of Grand Designs Australia magazine.

During the last two years we’ve presented an amazing range of bespoke house designs and this issue is no exception. You’ve probably seen the UK Water Tower House on TV. I think it is one of the more exceptional projects on Grand Designs and as a huge fan of adaptive re-use it ticked all my boxes — apart from its budget! We’re lucky to be able to show you that project this issue and I think you’ll agree that London is all the better for retaining this landmark building that was rescued and reused

by Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce.

In Australia, we don’t have as many old buildings to adapt for accommodation and I guess that’s what makes Grand Designs Australia so different from its UK cousin. Here we are blessed with available land and fairly

Talking about design styles, this issue Andrew Winter discusses the issue of mass appeal. Is this a good thing or not and should we be looking to appeal to the masses if we plan to eventually sell? Find out more on page 206.

I’ll be interested to know what you think.

Decorating your grand design is an equally important part of your new home. This issue I asked Kylie Jackes to look at the topic of coordinated interiors. This style of decorating, far from being “matchy-matchy”, can provide structure and cohesion to a scheme and I think you’ll find Kylie’s advice, along with the many examples she’s chosen to illustrate this style, very beneficial.

When I started editing Grand Designs Australia I was living in a modern home that probably suits the “mass appeal” tag. Since then I’ve moved into a 120-year-old formerly gracious

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HERE WE ARE BLESSED WITH AVAILABLE LAND AND FAIRLY UNRESTRICTIVE DESIGN RULES WHICH ALLOW US TO CREATE BUILDINGS OF GREAT INDIVIDUALITY, SHOULD I SAY EXPERIMENTATION EVEN. AND WHILE NOT ALL NEW BUILDS I SEE EXCITE ME, THERE ARE MANY THAT DO unrestrictive design rules which allow us to create buildings of great individuality, should I say experimentation even. And while not all new builds I see excite me, there are many that do.

This issue all of the Australian houses presented are new builds. From inner-city Richmond in Melbourne to Sydney’s Northern Beaches, they are as diverse in their designs are they are in their location. I love the way each one sits perfectly within its setting, designed for its space and not just plonked down, regardless of surroundings. I also love the way different materials are used, including timber and concrete, zinc and timber, brick and steel, glass and rock, timber and marble. Such diversity of materials expertly crafted makes for truly unique styles. And then there are the sustainable considerations, including passive and active elements. We’ve certainly come a long way from the triple-frontage on a quarter-acre block!

Victorian terrace house that needs lots of hard work and TLC to bring it back to its earlier glory.

While I’ve only been in that house a little more than 12 months, I’m already looking for the next project, hopefully one that I can build from scratch from a design of my own, built from that mix of materials and sustainable solutions I referred to earlier.

For me, building, renovating and creating beautiful interiors is a way of life that I enjoy enormously. I hope you are inspired by the projects in this magazine and take that leap of faith to create your own grand design.

Happy building.

Kate St James, FDIA Editor-in-Chief

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EDITOR-AT-LARGE

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

19

FROM PETER MADDISON

W

THE GREAT THING ABOUT INNER-URBAN LIVING IS THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO RELY ON A CAR, SO CONSIDERING BIKE STORAGE IS A GOOD IDEA

elcome to the final issue for the year.

It’s been a busy one. The television series is roaring along and I’ve now wrapped five episodes for Series Four, in which we’ll be featuring houses from all over Australia. What distinguishes them is that the majority of owners have not only given up their day jobs to take on either the design and/ or the construction, but they have applied great sensitivity to the architecture. This series shows houses that are environmentally aware and carefully crafted. For some, the name gives the story away, such as the King Island “Whale Tail” house, Hunters Hill “Textural” house, Forest Lodge “Eco” house and the Inverloch “Sand Dune” house.

In the previous two issues I spoke about coastal and alpine design. This time I’d like to talk about city architecture, which is different from any other because the environment is usually highly developed and the structure locked into a grid of surrounding buildings. This often results in limitations in orientation and access to outdoor spaces. Issues of overlooking, overshadowing, sound, privacy and security usually override environmental concerns.

We profile an inner-city Melbourne house this issue, designed by Neil Architecture. If you turn to this feature you will see how the owners, Darren and Ruth Rogers, have responded to a very dense part of Richmond with a three-storey townhouse on a land-locked block. Darren and Ruth have adopted design principles from which we could all learn. They have located the house on the south side of the block, which has opened up the north side for perfect solar orientation.

Deep recesses in the northern facade, along with motorised louvres, control solar gain, particularly on the west side. Exposed concrete on the lower levels provides good thermal mass.

The block of land had never been built on because it is locked away down a small lane with no street frontage. Darren and Ruth have unlocked its potential by going up three storeys, and can now look out from the upper level and roof to get distant views, especially to Darren’s beloved Melbourne Cricket Ground. The remaining land on the north side fulfils Ruth’s dream of having a vegetable garden and chicken run, along with soft grass and a pool for their son, Raymond, to enjoy with his mates. They have created a very contemporary house with large openings that connect to this north-facing oasis.

The architect’s creativity and experience have been embraced in this design, which

has an outside skin that celebrates the textures of laneways. The materials employed are robust and textured, including rendered concrete, timber paling fencing, dark-stained timber battens, industrial metal louvres, and setbacks for landscaping that are a neighbourly gesture.

Meaning in city architecture can come from the language the home uses to connect with the buildings around it, and the way it captures natural daylight from above and how it employs roof design to access amenity. The great thing about inner-urban living is that you don’t have to rely on a car, so considering bike storage is a good idea. There’s a garage in Darren and Ruth’s home, but there doesn’t have to be.

Another house featured in this issue is a holiday home in Inverloch, designed by James Stockwell. It’s a wonderfully innovative building that has gained architectural accolades in Victoria. It has just received the top award in the Sustainable Architecture category at the Victorian Australian Institute of Architects awards and a commendation in the Residential Architecture (new) category. This is one of the best constructions I’ve followed in Grand Designs Australia.

I’d love to know what you think of these two homes. Write to me with any questions you have about city architecture, or any of the houses we feature in Series Four. I’d also love to hear from you about my new book, Grand Designs Australia Handbook, available now in bookshops. The book references pretty much everything I know and have learnt during my career studying and practising architecture and design.

Enjoy the issue.

Peter Maddison, Editor-at-Large

PS: If you have questions about city architecture, Series Four or my new book, write to me at homedesign@universalmagazines.com. au. I will answer a selection of your questions in the next issue.

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CONTRIBUTORS

MEET OUR TEAM

CONTRIBUTORS

MARIAN RIABIC has been a photography enthusiast for more than 30 years. His interest in architecture and the interaction of people with the urban landscape is a theme present in most of his early fine-art photographs. It was only a matter of time before his skills were recognised by local architects, who began commissioning photography from him, followed by a collaboration with Universal Magazines, which continues today.

KYLIE JACKES is a writer and stylist with a love of houses in every shape and form. A journalist for Australian home magazines, she has a passion for interiors, architecture and design, and has followed hundreds of renovations, while documenting the highs and lows involved in transforming a house into a well-loved home. Her own beach house is a work in progress.

KRISTIN UTZ is part of an awardwinning architectural practice that focuses on delivering high-quality residential projects. She has broad experience working in London, Hong Kong and Australia. Kristin is passionate about creating beautiful and innovative buildings that have design integrity and can enhance everyday life.

Karen Miles’ diverse career includes more than 15 years’ experience in media and publishing, which encompasses TV presenting, authoring several books and radio commentary. With a keen eye for style, innovation and trends across Australian and international markets, she brings a personal passion for home design to her work. Karen is also a keen renovator and interior decorator whose “weekend tradition” includes scouring homeware and antique stores for her personal projects.

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GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kate St James, FDIA EDITOR-AT-LARGE Peter Maddison FEATURES WRITER Karsha Green EDITORIAL ASSISTANT April Ossington CONTRIBUTORS Charlie Albone Ian Cleland James Cleland Marg Hearn Kylie Jackes Karen Miles Emma Mulholland Danielle Townsend Kristin Utz Andrew Winter FLOORPLANS Ian Cleland SUB-EDITOR Michelle Segal PHOTOGRAPHERS Marian Riabic Rhiannon Slatter Andrew Lecky DESIGNER Luba Bosch

CREDITS

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Anna Cindric Rebecca Eastman ADVERTISING SENIOR DESIGNER Martha Rubazewicz ADVERTISING ALL AGENCY ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS: NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Julie Jackson P: (02) 9887 0333 M: 0411 424 072 E: jjackson@universalmagazines.com.au SALES MANAGERS NSW Isabella Severino M: 0457 102 888 E: iseverino@universalmagazines. com.au NSW KITCHEN & BATHROOM Bev Hackett P: (02) 9887 0363 M: 0411 424 194 E: bhackett@universalmagazines.com.au NSW OUTDOOR Rosemary Wood P: (02) 9887 0619 M: 0404 306 050 E: rwood@universalmagazines.com.au

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CHAIRMAN/CEO Prema Perera PUBLISHER Janice Williams CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Vicky Mahadeva ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Emma Perera ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Karen Day CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Mark Darton CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kate Podger HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Lundi Bronkhorst EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Karina Piddington PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER Lillian Ohanessian PREPRESS MANAGER Ivan Fitz-Gerald SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Chelsea Peters LICENSING & EXPORT MANAGER Samantha Roberts EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES homedesign@ universalmagazines.com.au CIRCULATION ENQUIRIES Sydney head office (02) 9805 0399

This magazine is printed on paper produced in a mill that meets Environmental Management System ISO14001.

Grand Designs Australia Issue 2.4 is published by Universal Magazines, Unit 5, 6–8 Byfield Street, North Ryde, NSW 2113. Phone: (02) 9805 0399, Fax: (02) 9805 0714.

Melbourne office, Level 1, 150 Albert Street, South Melbourne, Vic 3205. Phone: (03) 9694 6444, Fax: (03) 9699 7890. Printed by Toppan Leefung, China, distributed by Network Services, 175-183 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Distributed in Singapore and Malaysia by CARKIT (FE) Pte Ltd, Singapore, Phone: 65 62821 960.

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers. The publishers believe all the information supplied in this book to be correct at the time of printing. They are not, however, in a position to make a guarantee to this effect and accept no liability in the event of any information proving inaccurate. Prices, addresses and phone numbers were, after investigation, and to the best of our knowledge and belief, up to date at the time of printing, but the shifting sands of time may change them in some cases. It is not possible for the publishers to ensure that advertisements which appear in this publication comply with the Trade Practices Act, 1974. The responsibility must therefore be on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisements for publication. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. * Recommended retail price ISSN 2200-2197 Copyright © Universal Magazines MMXIII ACN 003 026 944 www.universalmagazines.com.au Please pass on or recycle this magazine.

ABOUT THE COVER PROJECT: Inverloch Sand Dune PHOTOGRAPHY: Rhiannon Slatter COVER DESIGN: Kate Podger

Grand Designs® is a trademark of, and is licensed by, FremantleMedia Australia. All rights reserved.

Grand Designs® produced by FremantleMedia Australia Pty Ltd for XYZnetworks. ©2012 FremantleMedia Australia Pty Ltd. Licensed by FremantleMedia Australia. All rights reserved.

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GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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FRESHLY PICKED Brighten your mood with a punch of floral colour EDITED BY / Karen Miles

01 EAST WEST Fashion duo Easton Pearson reference their travels and the rich histories and cultures of India, Africa and Europe in their Arcadia rug, which is part of their second collection with Designer Rugs. It’s made of 100 per cent New Zealand wool and measures 200x300cm. designerrugs.com.au

04

04 STEAL THE LIMELIGHT Lamps are the perfect medium for introducing a bold floral to your interior without over-committing. These large, brightly-coloured ginger jar lamps — Lipika, Georgia and Claudia — feature botanical prints and are hand-painted and glazed in Australia. steal-the-limelight.com.au

02 IN FLO Florence Broadhurst is synonymous with iconic Australian flora, captured in bright colours and bold patterns. In this elegant Fingers wallpaper, the vermillion-red

05 HELLO SUNSHINE 03 detail dances across its metallic base — perfect for encouraging conversation in a lively dining space. signatureprints.com.au

Jimmy Possum’s Lopez carver takes centre stage with its pop of bright yellow in the front and painterly floral burst across the back. We love the nod to mid-century modern styling with the pointed leg and hugging arm rest. jimmypossum.com.au

03 SIGNATURE AKIRA

06

05

Perfectly reflecting Akira Isogawa’s leaning towards delicate traditional Japanese icons, patterns and colours is this textural rug in cherry with turquoise highlights. It’s made of 100 per cent New Zealand wool and measures 200x300cm, or can be made in a custom size. designerrugs.com.au

06 FINE ART If you’re a fashion illustration aficionado, the work of Australian fine-art illustrator Sarah Carter Jenkins will impress. Her work Blue Girl is created with watercolour pencil and gouache with an overlay of collage. It’s available in several colourways or by commission. sarahcarterjenkins.com

TAUBMANS Great Divide

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BULLETIN

DOTS 02

01

SPOT ON Work a neutral palette and smart designer spots into a cheery summer home EDITED BY / Karen Miles

03

04

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01 ON A PEDESTAL

04 BUTTON UP

Sean Dix has worked and lectured internationally from Milan to Hong Kong, and the Sean Dix tripod and Pedestal coffee table is the final piece in his self-titled Tripod collection. We love the quirky, modern styling, with three pedestals offering three surfaces at differing heights. connectfurniture.com.au

Pattern and colour play together nicely in this shapely three-seater Festival design by Designers Guild. The repetition of the button detail on both the lounge and throw cushion is at once playful and smart. radfordfurnishings.com

02 VIEW FINDER Nothing says cool summer breeze like ceiling-height sheers. Warwick Fabrics has released its Horizon fabric in a classic linen colour (pictured) plus three further colourways in a 134gsm weight, 300cm-wide, 100-per-cent polyester jacquard. Heaven. warwick.com.au

03 BIG SPOT A standout of the summer 2014 collection from Aura by Tracie Ellis is this moody yet fun 50cm Big Spot cushion in charcoal. It’s just the thing to upgrade a classic white linen bedroom. aurahome.com.au

06

05 CLOCK IN The H-M-S wall clock by experimental clock manufacturer Progetti breaks time apart by the hour, minute and second on individual painted wood discs that can be positioned in a pattern to suit your space. top3.com.au

07 JUST ADD WATER 07

06 BRUSH STROKE Summer casual and comfort come together in this neutral spot Panama cushion by King Furniture. A beautiful blend of stone on white, aptly named Rocky, makes this cushion ideal for a boy’s bedroom or a spot of fun on the couch. kingfurniture.com

The round Nel Lusso miniature vase with its modern and simple aesthetic is perfect as a stand-alone piece or grouped in an eclectic miscellany. zimba.com.au

08 HANG UPS

08

Create your own collage of fun and functional hangers with hooks in neutrals (and pretty pastels) by Australian design collective DesignByThem. thedesignhuntershop.com

The perfect solution for every home.

Gary Mehigan, leading chef, restaurateur and MasterChef judge says: “Rice is fluffier and naturally whiter. Pasta smells and tastes fantastic. Vegetables are bursting with colour and flavour. Improves the taste, aroma and quality of water, tea and coffee.”

3-Way Water Filter Dispensers The BRITA® water filter jug has been an icon in many family kitchens, and now there is an even easier way to get filtered water, thanks to BRITA’s new 3-Way Water Filter Dispenser. It is so easy you just replace your existing tap with a BRITA® 3-Way Water Filter Dispenser and you have great-tasting filtered water at your fingertips.

The filter sits below the sink and delivers great-tasting water for six months. The filter is available in hardware and appliance outlets and is really easy to change yourself.

You don’t have to drill your bench top as BRITA’S 3-Way Water Filter Dispenser replaces your existing tap. It not only looks good, it is really clever and easy to use: you have one lever for filtered water and the other lever for your unfiltered hot/cold water.

Now you can enjoy the benefits of using easily-filtered water in your cooking as well as in your coffee, tea and drinks.

Gary Mehigan, leading chef, restaurateur and MasterChef judge, knows the importance of using the best ingredients to make the best meal and filtered water is an important ingredient.

3-Way System Features: • European designed and manufactured.

• Cost effective, easy to install.

• Innovative 3-Way Dispenser allows filtered or unfiltered water.

• Filter change reminder.

• Easy to change the filter yourself.

• Kit includes water filter, all components and a BRITA® dispenser.

INNOVATION One lever for BRITA® filtered water and the other lever for your unfiltered hot/cold water. With no drilling of your bench top, you can replace your existing tap and have filtered water at your fingertips. No fuss and no clutter!

STYLE Sophisticated European design and quality. There are four models to choose from to suit your kitchen. The taller ones are great for filling up large saucepans and there is also a compact, space-saving 45° model.

TASTE Cleaner, clearer, great-tasting water for you and your family. Filtered water is a chef’s secret weapon as it serves many functions in cooking. Filtered water makes rice fluffier and whiter, boosts the aroma of pasta, and helps retain the colour and flavour of veggies. It also improves the flavour, aroma and crema of your coffee.

EASY The essential ingredient for your food and your kitchen.

The BRITA® 3-Way Water Filter Dispenser is welcome news for families and anyone who wants better water, as it’s a very cost-effective option. You get great-tasting filtered water without any bottle waste. It comes in an installation-ready kit with everything you need.

Filter & filter head

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For more information or stockist details, visit www.brita.com.au

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BULLETIN

COLOUR

TANTALISING TEAL Introduce colour into your space with these gorgeous, bright designs EDITED BY / Karsha Green

02 03

01

01 OLD AND NEW Illustrating the struggle between traditional and modern design and architecture in the city it’s named after, the Piccadilly cabinet by Boca do Lobo is an exquisite collector’s piece. Made from poplar, the cabinet has six different finishes, including various tones of green and gold leaf. bocadolobo.com

02 BEACHY BLUES The textured ceramic base of the Azure table lamp from Amalfi will add an ocean-inspired aesthetic to your home. Position it in a bedroom, living area or study for lighting purposes or simply as decoration.

For extra effect, replace the white linen lampshade with a multicolour patterned one of your own. amalfihomewares.com.au

03 GEOMETRICS The Greek Key sisal wallpaper from The Elephant Room has fabulous colours and an intriguing texture.

Combining matt and shine, the

05 04 motif is hand-printed in a raised pattern against a fine natural sisal background. The blending of textures and an almost threedimensional design results in a dramatic and modern wallpaper. theelephantroom.com.au

04 SCULPTURAL LIVING Jamie Hayon created the Elements collection, inspired by the shape of a cactus, for Moooi. Each piece was designed as a beautiful, versatile and functional sculpture. Each leg in the Elements 002 is a different size and shape. Made of fibreglass, it could be used as a coffee, side or occasional table. moooi.com

05 DIP IT AURA’s summer range offers a selection of bright and beautiful bed linen. From fluoro yellow to mouth-watering mint, pieces can be effortlessly combined to create an ultra-modern bedroom interior. The Dipped cushion in teal is a personal favourite. aurahome.com.au

06 LOUNGE AROUND Made from recycled materials, the South Beach Adirondack chair from Polywood Australia is built to last.

Its curved back, wide slats and oversized design make it perfect for lazing in the warm summer sun. polywoodoutdoors.com.au 06

SPACE

SAVING

SOLUTIONS On the forefront of modern design PARISI have curated a range of innovative space saving bath and sanitary wares, embracing the shift to modern living and the increasing demand for space.

The DEGRADÉ Collection

The DEGRADÉ Collection

Made in Italy and designed by renowned Italian based designer Terri Pecora, the DEGRADÉ collection from Simas offers supreme contemporary styling and divisive space saving design. Creating a noticeable aesthetic impact whilst remaining highly functional, DEGRADÉ is a sophisticated slot into modern living.

The Quick Pass collection,

by Flaminia, also embodies space saving principles, without compromising on quality, comfort or aesthetic. Wanting to maximise practicality whilst maintaining moderate dimensions, this Italian-made range is at home in contemporary living.

The Quick Pass Collection

The Quick Pass Collection

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BULLETIN

ECO PIECES

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03 04

01

06

07 RECORD TIME Sing your favourite Beatles number while keeping time with this wall clock by Kellie Jackson. Made from a vinyl LP record, it’s the perfect gift for lovers of the Fab Four. whodhavethought.com

02

GET YOUR ECO ON

08 CAR FRIDGE

Made from bamboo, twine, salvaged wood — even an old Fiat — these eco-friendly homewares are anything but garden variety EDITED BY / James Cleland

01 TAKE SOME TWINE New from Armadillo, twine weave rugs are made using an ancient dying process called abrash, which gives a muted and inconsistent effect. They’re available in three colourways. armadillo-co.com

02 DAILY GRIND Love your coffee? The Coffee Bag Company turns fair-trade coffee sacks into a range of products including this Black Queen Bee cushion, which features a hand-stencilled design with black-and-white ticking on the reverse. whodhavethought.com

03 BUILD IT Change the look of your home or office in no time flat. Environmentallyfriendly BUILD shelving can be stacked in a seemingly endless variety of configurations, either freestanding or wall-mounted, and the manufacturer

promises “no instructions, no tools”.

BUILD can also insulate food and it’s toxic-free, so you can even eat it — if you really want to. hellobuild.com

07

09 TABLE TALK The Rolha side table takes its name from the Portuguese word for the cork used in wine bottles. Environmentally-friendly cork is used to great effect in this piece, which has been designed with the ritual of wine enjoyment in mind. Simply twist the legs into the cork top for easy assembly. goncalocampos.com

04 LIGHT LOGS Duncan Meerding’s Cracked Log lamps are mood-enhancing lights made from salvaged logs. Legally blind, Duncan loves the tactile nature of wood and says the light emanating from these logs reflects the sensory world in which he designs. whodhavethought.com

05 FLYING HIGH Created by the team at Six Hands, Bird Kite wallpaper is digitally printed on high-quality, non-woven wallpaper that is mould- and mildew-resistant. The unique design is based on traditional tribal construction methods and early flight engineering. sixhands.com.au

06 HANG IT UP 09

Short of hanging space? These bamboo ladders, available in brown, white and natural, are a unique touch for furnishings and are great for hanging extra towels or clothes. ecochic.com.au

Those crazy designers at Smeg and Fiat have come up with what must be the most original reuse for a car body yet. The Smeg 500 fridge keeps food and drinks chilled under its “bonnet”. The fridge is aimed at both the residential and commercial market and is sure to appeal to lovers of retro design, or those who appreciate something a little off the wall. smeg.com

08

Woolarina

n. Someone who feels

the urge to pirouette barefoot on pure wool carpet.

Foss is a step up in comfort – a luxuriously chunky, felted wool loop pile using our world-ďŹ rst Flashbac recycled wool carpet backing.

Soft and inviting, Foss is made for anyone who loves walking barefoot. See our complete carpet range at www.cavbrem.com.au or phone 1800 251 172 for store locations.

CAV0 AV V 405_ 405 GD_F D_ P

32

PROJECT

FLOORING

01

02

03

04

GROUNDED Innovations in flooring materials have produced some durable designer options EDITED BY / Karsha Green

05

01 FLOWER POWER The Passion Flower rug is from the second collaboration between Easton Pearson and Designer Rugs. Its warm, bold design will spice up any space and will add a cultural influence, which Easton Pearson drew on during extensive travels in India, Africa and Europe. designerrugs.com.au

02 SOFT TOUCH Foss from Cavalier Bremworth is a textured loop-pile carpet made from 100 per cent New Zealand wool. The chunkiness of the wool creates a texture and comfort that is incredibly pleasant underfoot. cavbrem.com.au

03 MARVELLOUS MARBLE When choosing floor tiles, there are three main things to consider: colour, size and material. All elements need to work well with the rest of the room. The most common tile types are ceramic and stone,

both of which are highly durable, easy to clean, and as they are raw materials, fairly eco-friendly. The Carrara Blanco floor tiles from Earp Bros are made of porcelain and have a beautiful marble look that will add an elegant touch to your interior. earp.com.au

04 LIMITLESS DESIGNS Barcode flooring by Pergo in black and silver is an example of just how versatile and unique vinyl flooring can be. pergo.com

05 SMOOTH SAILING PANDOMO by ARDEX is a modern surfacing system that can be applied to ceilings, walls and floors. PANDOMO’s cementitious base produces its sleek aesthetic and thanks to PANDOMO’s colour concentrates, the colour options are infinite. The latest range of PANDOMO flooring comprises off-white tones that enhance natural light within a space. pandomo.com.au

Villa Natralis luxury on your floor At International Floorcoverings we love natural fibres, colours and textures. We source and distribute different styles of carpets that we believe will add style and function to a home. Above all we take pride in being innovative and different, we also believe in selling carpets, rugs and runners; that have been produced using environmentally sound and ethical production practices, without compromising the quality, design or style.

Our weavers have combined years of expertise and care to produce a beautifully natural coloured wool carpet aimed at today’s living requirements, that we really can be proud of.

The yarns used in a VILLA NATRALIS woven carpet are 100% pure UN-DYED natural wool fibre.

These fibres are graded and blended together to give us these luxurious, 100% natural colour tones. The fibres are then spun and woven on Wilton Looms. This method of weaving carpet dates back hundreds of years, the end result is a durable woven product, which is extremely hard wearing and dimensionally stable. Also this weaving process means the carpet does not suffer from the delamination or stability weakness often associated with standard tufted carpets.

Contact us For samples or for more information on this fantastic product, contact our showrooms: SYDNEY 2 Hordern Place, Camperdown NSW 2050 BRISBANE 2/787 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm QLD 4009 MELBOURNE 310a Bay Road, Cheltenham VIC 3192

Australia wide: 1800

339 379

www.interfloors.com.au Find us on Facebook!

34

BULLETIN

FLOORING

07

08 06

06 DIY Vinyl is very durable when installed correctly — that is, when it’s installed on top of proper subflooring. This makes it a great option for high-traffic areas or those that require a lot of maintenance. The Laneway collection by Carpet Court is a range of DIY vinyl flooring that doesn’t require adhesives or sealing. It’s 100 per cent recyclable and is available in floorboard or tile designs. carpetcourt.com.au

07 HEADING HERE Armadillo&Co’s Pebble Weave rug has been hand-woven by artisans in India using a combination of wool and cotton. The weaving process creates a pebbly surface and the neutral tones allow for a soft and subtle flooring option. armadillo-co.com

08 HEADING HERE Bold, bright and refreshing, Bayadere Pink by Missoni for Bolon clearly portrays Missoni’s signature design. Available in various colours and patterns, the Missoni/ Bolon collection utilises the latest weaving technology to create a comfortable and playful flooring option. bolon.com 11

09

09 COLOUR CONSULT For a unique flooring option, consider Dalsouple rubber flooring. It’s resilient, durable and commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Rubber flooring has endless design options, plus it is warm, comfortable, anti-slip, great for allergy sufferers and animals, and is easy to clean. dalsouple.com.au

10 HEADING HERE Using Felted New New Zealand Wool, The Opal range from Tsar Carpets has an extremely soft feel. Hand-tufted to your specifications either as a rug or carpet, Opal is available in a range of colours and combinations. tsar.com.au

11 STONE AGE When you think of concrete flooring you probably worry about its thermal properties, however innovations in underfloor heating mean this is no longer a concern. Textured, durable and easy to maintain, Boralstone is a great flooring solution for family homes. Available in several colours and textures, there’s sure to be a Boralstone floor to suit your interior. boral.com.au

10

“Impressionable outcomes are accomplished through an understanding of client expectations, detailed project knowledge, the selection of quality materials & finishes, the utilisation of experienced trades people and the application of professional management.”

PHONE. FAX. EMAIL.

(02) 9807 5307 (02) 8324 6389 info@buildridge.com.au

PO BOX 816 DRUMMOYNE NSW 1470 ABN. 46 135 172 388 LIC NO. 214 179C

0410 663 090 www.buildridge.com.au

36

BULLETIN

GABION WALLS 02

01

GLORIFIED GABION No longer just the domain of commercial engineers, the gabion wall is being incorporated into residential sites, bringing numerous advantages 03

EDITED BY / Karsha Green

04

05

01 BOLD BOULDERS The modern, industrial facade of this home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is complemented by the set of gabion walls that flank the garden’s perfectly manicured pockets of greenery. Designed

by Continuum Landscapes, the walls make for a bold entry, generating anticipation for the home that lies beyond. continuumlandscapes.com.au

02 HOLD THE FORT Gabions can be used as an interesting feature element in your outdoor space.

Think Outside has used a yellow granite gabion wall as a base for this cast-iron

fountain. Not only do the stones add an industrial aesthetic, they provide an extremely durable fort for this fountain. thinkoutside.biz

03 NOT JUST LOOKS The makeup of a gabion wall is 30 per cent air and no cement, so it’s a low-fuss edging option offering great drainage.

This wall uses Cubis bricks from Think Outside. thinkoutside.biz

05 THE INSIDE COUNTS Having the right materials is very important when constructing a gabion wall. Permathene Australia offers kit sets that include 10 per cent aluminium Galfan gabion mesh, as well connectors to join the cages. You must ensure the rockfill you choose is dense, stable, and will not crumble under the weight of the structure. permathene.com.au

06 MIX UP 04 MULTIFUNCTIONAL A gabion wall enhances the backyard’s rough landscape in this project by Prospect Contractors. By sealing timber panels on top of the structure, the wall has also become a bench seat. prospectcontractors.com.au

One of the most appealing features of gabions is that they can be modified to create a specific look. This can be achieved by mixing the size, colour and type of stone, like this gabion front wall, which was built with aluminium Galfan caging from Permathene Australia. permathene.com.au

06

15cm Base pull-out

Comfort pull-out

Base Cabinet Solutions Brought to you by Häfele

Portero

Whether it’s baking trays or cleaning agents, a mixer or a pressure cooker, application-oriented - Kesseböhmer Base Cabinet Solutions allow you easy access to whatever you need.

How? The Base Cabinet COMFORT pull-out - a solution with height adjustable shelves suited to 250, 300 and 400mm cabinet widths. The 15cm Base pull-out is more than just a welcome filler.

When placed by the oven, the 15cm Base pull-outs are the convenient solution for spices, baking trays or the indispensable towel.

Then there’s PORTERO, a cleaning agent pull-out that caters for spaces under the sink for storing cleaning agents, utensils, dustpan and brush, hand-towels and more.

When it comes to Clever Storage Solutions, Häfele really does have an answer for almost everything!

To help find a place for everything in your kitchen, visit www.hafele.com.au in fo@h afele.com .au

www.h afele.com .au

1300 659 728

38

BULLETIN

FACADES 02

01

FAB FAÇADES

03

First impressions are important and with these unique façades, you’re guaranteed they’ll be good

03 HERO HEBEL

EDITED BY / Karsha Green

01 NEW AGE

02 NEW TRADITIONS

Constantly pushing the boundaries, Yellow Goat Designs’ latest innovation is the modular wall. Comprised of highpressure compact laminate and laid out in a tile format, the look is only limited by your imagination. And it’s right ontrend, thanks to the monochrome palette and geometric design created with extremely accurate cutting techniques. yellowgoat.com.au

Terraçade TN takes the tried-and-tested characteristics of terracotta and gives it a modern look. A highly-sustainable building product, it’s made from natural and some recycled materials. The Terraçade tile is re-usable and can be recycled by being ground down and put to use in another part of the manufacturing process. It’s available in several finishes and pictured here in the sandy-coloured façade. terracade.com.au

06

05

Showcasing the latest innovations in masonry, the Hebel PowerPanel is comprised of steel-reinforced aerated concrete and acrylic-coated panels that are strong, durable and fire-resistant. It also boasts exceptional thermal, acoustic and sustainable qualities. Installation takes half the time of bricklaying and patterns can be embedded in the panel for a textured finish. hebelaustralia.com.au

04 URBAN ABODE Cemintels’ Designer series of panels will give you the industrial look without the difficulties of using concrete. The range features pre-finished, cement-bonded, fibrous, wood-particle panels, including this Urban Grey wall system. It’s a lot lighter and easier to handle than its cement counterpart but still provides that natural raw-cement look. cemintel.com.au

04

05 PACKS A PUNCH Bricks are anything but boring when it comes to PGH Bricks & Pavers’ Vibrant collection. Coated in a full ceramic glaze, these bricks can be used for internal or external purposes and come in a range of colours. Whichever tone you choose, the bright, glossy finish of this façade will certainly grab the attention of passers-by. pghbricks.com.au

06 ON TOP In the past, roof facades have been chosen for their functionality instead of their aesthetic, however, this needn’t be the case. The Monier Terracotta Nouveau tile is a modern, streamlined design that comes in a sleek onyx finish. It’s a trendy roofing solution that doesn’t compromise on functionality. monier.com.au

Your kitchen’s best kept secret Fully integrated bottom mount refrigerator with two freezer drawers – hidden behind your kitchen cabinetry At 75 cm wide, large platters and dishes fit easily on glass refrigerator shelves With BioFresh, food retains its healthy vitamins, fresh appearance and full flavour for much longer than in an average refrigerator compartment LED lighting in the refrigerator, BioFresh & freezer compartments makes it easy to locate items within Professional quality freezing performance thanks to NoFrost technology in the freezer compartments: Never defrost again!

Automatic IceMaker Email www.premiumapp.com.au or call 1800 685 899 now for more information and your nearest stockist.

biofresh.liebherr.com

any position. Experience perfection at www.aeg.com/au

HOME OFFICE

BULLETIN

41

WORK WONDERS Let your home office be an extension of your personality and a platform for inspiration WORDS / Karen Miles

ELEGANT START WITH THE DESK The clean, straight lines of the Malval desk spell elegance and simplicity with loads of built-in functionality. Three drawers plus a slide-out shelf provide storage and flexibility. Available in Ebony and Antique White. lamaison.net.au

THEN GET FOCUSED WITH TASK LIGHTING Appropriately named, this Audrey table lamp exudes glamour with its metallic finish and the geometric detail that echoes the lines in the monochrome rug. beaconlighting.com.au

+ ORGANISATION + CHAIR

CREATIVE START WITH THE DESK The Scandi lines of the Isabella office desk are at once fun, energising and practical. The desk features a two-tone design, tapered legs and multiple drawers that resemble neat pockets. retrojan.com.au

+ CHAIR Work becomes serious fun in a Kartell by Philippe Starck Ero|S| swivel chair. The organic egg shape and transparent

polycarbonate material are perfect for dreaming up that next big idea.

Choose from three colour options. spacefurniture.com.au

+ RUG Aqua, turquoise and neutral wood tones are made for each other and this hand-knotted Bias rug by Designer Rugs, in collaboration with Bernabeifreeman, offers the perfect foundation for creative play. designerrugs.com.au

The Lenoir chair is a graceful home office seating option that comes fully upholstered or with a rattan back. It’s available in five colour options but we love the classic ebony/charcoal colourway. lamaison.net.au

Kikki-k’s Vision Board is the perfect tool for showcasing your ideas and dreams. It’s also ideal for de-cluttering your desk and capturing important to-do lists.

The canvas board and coated wood frame measures 950mm x 650mm. kikki-k.com

+ RUG

+ INSPIRATION

Create an instant style statement with a monochrome pattern like this Quatrefoil black & white rug.

It’s a design classic with an on-trend pattern in premium acrylic pile with cotton backing.

Available in lengths of 150cm or 200cm. thehome.com.au

If you love fashion illustration, you’ll adore this limited-edition print by Megan Hess from her Diamonds and Tulle collection.

This giclee is printed on Canson Arches Museum Velin; it’s signed and the edition is marked. lamingtondrive.com

42

BULLETIN

HOME OFFICE

CREATIVE THEN GET FOCUSED WITH TASK LIGHTING The Funky table lamp in clear acrylic with three chrome feet is not your average desk lamp and that’s why we love it. This circular light with exposed bulb beckons you to play ball. crompton.com.au

+ ORGANISATION Iittala’s new Vakka compressed plywood box offers multipurpose desktop storage in a stackable container with designer

aesthetics. The design heralds from Finland and is available in two sizes and in white or natural plywood. designmode.com.au

+ INSPIRATION Keeping the art of traditional handmade bookbinding alive is the DODOcase. Design your own high-end custom iPad cover and the company’s craftsmen will bring your design to life using age-old techniques that need preserving. dodocase.com

INDUSTRIAL START WITH THE DESK The stunning Bird Leg Console is made from dark-brown recycled wood and stainless steel from old ships. Its asymmetrical design and mix of materials is a talking point. vavoom.com.au

+ CHAIR The new-school look of this traditional classroom-style industrial leather chair is adored for its tan leather, exaggerated stitching and press-stud detail. rockettstgeorge.co.uk

+ RUG The geometric pattern of the Starlink hand-tufted wool rug is masculine and energising. The rug has a luxurious pile weight of 3000g/m² and pile depth of 12-14mm. Made to measure, it’s available in sizes up to 500cm x 1200cm. bespokerugs.com.au

THEN GET FOCUSED WITH TASK LIGHTING If it’s not the architectural lines, angular black shade or elegant detail of the joints that grab you, then the antique burnished brass will. The Engraver’s adjustable desk lamp will satisfy the most serious home worker. laurakincade.com

+ ORGANISATION We know you need a special spot to store your copies of Grand Designs Australia magazine and this high-shine magazine holder in black with metallic gold internals will impress. typo.com.au

+ INSPIRATION Need your career to take a major leap forward? Be inspired by the Quantum Leap, a standout yet graceful desktop sculpture created with hand-painted steel. nextleveldecor.com

44

BULLETIN

POOLS & SPAS

03

01

02

SUMMER ESSENTIALS Splash out on these deluxe pools and spas to get the most out of summer EDITED BY / Karsha Green

04

05 AESTHETICALLY SPEAKING A pool’s aesthetic is mainly determined by its tiles. Launched earlier this year, Surface Gallery’s Fusion collection is a range of specialty glazed mosaic tiles. The Galapagos tiles have several gorgeous tones of blue that reflect the light beautifully. surfacegallery.com.au 06

01 WIN WIN

03 TIGHT SPACES

Want a pool and a spa but don’t have room for both? Endless Spas offers a range of swim spas, both in-ground and freestanding, that will give you the best of both worlds. They start at approximately 4m long and are available in a range of colours. endlessspa.com.au

This plunge pool proves you can incorporate a pool or spa into the smallest of spaces. It was built by R + M Builders for the Grand Designs Australia Annandale House. randmbuilders.com.au

02 BACKYARD MASTERPIECE In many homes the pool is the feature of the backyard, so creating an environment around the pool that enhances its function as well as its aesthetic is very important. This island-inspired backyard, complete with a waterfall and shallow pool corner for the kids, was created by Queensland Family Pools. queenslandfamilypools.com.au

04 HOT TUB Fitted with all the latest technologies, the Lifestyle outdoor/indoor spa from Innovation Square is more like a gadget than a spa bath. It features 89 stainlesssteel jets, three pumps, an Ozone purifier, Bluetooth and AUX music input, its own sound system (two 300W speakers), a waterfall feature, programmable multicolour light, a hard leather cover and a hydrotherapy system for the ultimate massage. innovationsquare.com.au

05

06 LUXE LIVING

07 SEE THROUGH

The colour palette of this outdoor space was a major influence on the pool’s design. Built and designed by Pride Pools, the turquoise pool contrasts exquisitely with the surrounding travertine tiles and aubergine feature wall. pridepools.com.au

Glass balustrades have become increasingly popular in outdoor spaces as they don’t compromise views or openness.

Clearwater Acrylic’s structural acrylic panels can be moulded and cut to any size and shape. clearwateracrylic.com.au

07

Interaction... Inspiration...

Clipsal iSelect.

With Clipsal iSelect, finding the right switches, power outlets and electrical accessories for your new home or renovation has never been easier – or so much fun.

Using photographs of rooms built directly into the app, or the choice of uploading your own photos, you can select, mix, match and move a huge range of products from Clipsal by Schneider Electric, to see how they would look in your home.

You can then get more information and close up views of products that take your fancy, create an itemised list for your builder or electrician; and even share images of your rooms with family and friends to get their opinion.

Easy and fun to use, Clipsal iSelect is the essential iPad app if you’re planning to build or renovate. Even better, it is completely free to download.

Discover more!

Simply visit www.SEreply.com and enter key code 53358K to download the app and receive a free copy of the Clipsal Essential Checklist.

* iPad and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc. CLIPCOM26727

©2013 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved.

Look for this icon at clipsal.com/iselect to download.

Available for Apple iPad.*

46

BULLETIN

ARCHITECTURE

01

02

03

WINNING WAYS Take a look at these standout designs from the Australian Architecture Awards EDITED BY / James Cleland

01 ASIAN INSPIRATION

02 GOOLWA BEACH HOUSE

Named after the Gaelic term for “otherworld”, Tír na nÓg mixes man-made space and natural features to create a varied and interesting visual geography.

Inspired by a trip to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, architect Drew Heath has used timber and steel structures to present a carefully planned residence with a verdant green backdrop. The central outdoor space is reminiscent of temples and shrines in Asia. This outstanding project won the coveted Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture at the New South Wales Architecture Awards.

Photography Brett Boardman

Winner of the sustainability category at the South Australia Architecture Awards, Goolwa Beach House is nestled among the dunes at the mouth of the Murray River.

Designed by Grieve Gillett, this home has an intimate relationship with its environment 04

that is immediately apparent. The design allows passive thermal regulation yearround and resistance to unfavourable conditions, while also serving as a platform to enjoy the fine coastal weather to its fullest. Timber decking provides plentiful outdoor living space and variable shading to the north adjusts easily for each season.

This project proves that with the right design, a home can be comfortable year-round and environmentally sound.

Photography Peter Barnes

03 CITY ESCAPE Designed by Fox Johnston and situated in the Sydney suburb of Balmain, this project takes an elegant approach to a restrictive inner-city block. Using sustainable design practices and materials, the design team has managed to create a home that not only feels spacious and luxurious, but also works within the context of its surroundings. The sculptural timber structure is a defining element of the

design and the original cottage within it creates a mixed internal landscape that affords great views and intimate comfort.

The project won an architecture award in the Residential Houses (Alterations and Additions) category at the New South Wales Architecture Awards.

Photography Brett Boardman

04 NATURAL BEAUTY Located on the sandy shores of Tasmania’s east coast, this property took out the state’s Australian Institute of Architects Esmond Dorney Award for Residential Architecture.

Designed by Rosevear Architects, the home is the perfect platform to take in the aweinspiring natural surroundings. Built as two pavilions separated by a central courtyard and deck area, yet joined by an upper viewing deck, the design sits comfortably in its environment. Concrete and glass give the home a sturdy, weather-resistant and comfortable physicality.

Photography Jonathon Wherrett

quality frameless glass concepts

48

BULLETIN

TECHNOLOGY

01

02

03

SIGHT AND SOUND Feast your eyes and ears on these tech innovations

04

EDITED BY / James Cleland

08

01 TURN IT UP Delivering outstanding-quality audio, the Fazon 5 from Dali merges great visual design with a full layered soundstage.

This loudspeaker is set to handle any task and look great while doing so. audioconnection.com.au

02 BRIDGING THE GAP This music bridge from Control4 is another media streamer that works perfectly for multi-room audio entertainment. It streams music to and from a broad range of devices found in the modern home. control4.com

03 COMPUTER TUNES

06 SOUND STORAGE

These little beauties from KEF merge usability and convenience with greatsounding audio reproduction. Utilising the ease of plug-and-play via a USB adaptor, KEF has created a great hi-fi system for your home desktop computer. kef.com

This little black box will allow you to stream a multitude of audio to your home devices through a home Wi-Fi network or directly to local sources. Supporting online streaming services and cloud storage, the Mirage Media Centre is a perfect media unit for any home theatre owners looking to expand their media library. autonomic.com

04 SWEET SPEAKERS Part of Artcoustic’s artistic loudspeaker range, these pastel-hued creations offer a modular audio landscape that is sure to take quality audio signals to the next level, creating sweet, beautiful music while also remaining easy on the eye. artcoustic.com

05 FAULTLESS SOUND A sleek tower of audio perfection, the Linn Akubarik stereo system combines years of high-end audio experience and technology in a simple package. With faultless audio reproduction, the Akubarik is another brilliant addition to the Linn family. linn.co.uk

07 EASY LISTENING Designed for sound lovers on the move, or for those who wish to enjoy their audio entertainment without disturbing others, KEF’s M500s are a perfect match of comfort and high-end audio fidelity. They can be used with all modern devices. kef.com

08 BUILT TO LAST Control4 home automation lighting controls are designed to last the life of a home’s automated technology. Effortless interfacing with the automation control system and complete customisation mean these controls are here to stay. control4.com

05 06 07

All Weather Outdoor LCD TV SunBriteTV LCDs handle the splashing, hosing, downpours and dust that come with outdoor venues, and deliver a great image. SunBriteTV gives your patrons something to watch while they relax and enjoy a drink outside in the beer garden this summer.

Call us on 1300 730 025 for your nearest SunBriteTV dealer. www.herma.com.au

50

BULLETIN

BOOK REVIEWS

WORKING SPACE: AN INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE HEART MARTYN THOMPSON PUBLISHED BY HARDIE GRANT BOOKS RRP $69.95 If you’re lucky enough to work from home, you might as well create a beautiful working space. With typewriters and quill pens things of the past, the modern work space can be anything from a painting studio in a Parisian attic to a notebook on a bed in Sydney.

In Working Space, photographer Martyn Thompson introduces 24 unique takes on the modern work space. From dancers and designers to poets and painters, each image portrays a different take, expressing an individual’s passion for their profession. Join Martyn as he travels the globe in his own portable office in pursuit of these diverse and inspiring work environments.

HIGHTIDE: QUEENSLAND DESIGN NOW

INSPIRED HOMES: ARCHITECTURE FOR CHANGING TIMES

JASON BIRD PUBLISHED BY URO MEDIA RRP $55

DR AVI FRIEDMAN PUBLISHED BY IMAGES PUBLISHING RRP $59.99

Perhaps best known for its beaches and tropical climate, over the past decade Queensland has also become a hub for innovative design. The first book to successfully capture this exciting development, Hightide showcases a decade of design excellence in the Sunshine State.

Superbly presented, it features furniture, objects and industrial design by some of Australia’s most highly-regarded creative talents including Alexander Lotersztain, Christina Waterson and Marc Harrison.

Complete with comprehensive product specifications, photography, a product index and insights from designers, this book is an ideal resource for both design hunters and professionals.

Changes to the environment, economy and society mean it’s time we rethink residential design and put a renewed focus on sustainability. In Inspired Homes, Dr Avi Friedman explores modern sustainable design concepts, illustrating them with examples of exceptional design. Created by leading architects and builders, the designs featured in this cutting-edge book include solar-powered homes, net-zero residences (homes that produce as much or more energy than they consume) and homes with a minimal physical footprint.

A BLOCK IN A HARD PLACE DARREN NAFTAL PUBLISHED BY COURTNEY RRP $34.95 The search for the perfect inner-city property might seem impossible, but it’s just got a little easier thanks to award-winning architect Darren Naftal, whose new book reveals real estate’s best-kept secret to smart home buying. Once overlooked, properties that are too small, narrow, steep, oddshaped, dark or noisy are becoming today’s best real estate opportunities. Not only are they cheaper, but Darren says difficult blocks can result in the best designs. This how-to book covers the common issues that arise with difficult blocks, including what to look out for, when to seek professional help and when to walk away. By buying a difficult block, you can get the best of both worlds — an ideal location and an innovative home design.

52

FEATURE

THE COORDINATED INTERIOR

CREATING A

Coordinated INTERIOR

The key to creating a coordinated interior is a clear concept, coupled with expert design tips and tricks WORDS / Kylie Jackes

Toorak Residence by David Hicks

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

53

54

FEATURE

THE COORDINATED INTERIOR

Toorak residence by David Hicks

Project by Greg Natale Design

GETTING STARTED — CREATE A CONCEPT Some interiors simply work. Often it can be hard to pinpoint exactly why they feel effortless and so beautifully resolved, but if you look closely there’s often a cohesive thread which seamlessly links every element. Whether you are renovating an entire house, looking to redecorate a room or have a new home which is an entirely blank canvas, developing a clear vision of what you want to create is the first step towards achieving a coordinated interior. “Selecting a starting point from which to build an overarching concept is something people often find quite difficult as we’re all inspired by many different things,” explains interior designer Greg Natale.

“However, a good decorator is ruthless and must commit to a colour scheme or key concept from the outset to provide a reference point for everything to follow.”

When looking for a foundation for an interior style, avoid the temptation to simply replicate a fleeting trend and instead reflect on the things you love, the colours you gravitate towards, the mood you want to evoke and the space you want to create. It may be something as simple as a travel memento or a favourite artwork which inspires a colour palette or overarching theme.

For one of Greg Natale’s projects, a David Bowie

artwork provided the inspiration for a glamorous interior filled with pieces which referenced the ’60s and ’70s. “Everything from the wallpaper to the furniture tied back to the owner’s retro art collection,” explains Greg. “The key to a great interior is consistency, cohesion and balance.”

Also consider the era and architecture of your home and the surrounding environment when looking for design cues, suggests interior designer Tracey Leeson of Porchlight Interiors. “Whether you live in a coastal or country area it can often be really beneficial to choose a style which references your location. Often we like to use natural materials such as timbers, grass cloth wallpaper and natural fibres combined with a colour palette drawn from the landscape,” explains Tracey. “This helps connect your home and interior with the surrounds and creates cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces.”

DIFFERENT THEMES TO CONSIDER COLOUR — Decide if you like bright, vibrant hues, block colours and prints, a refined scheme based around two complementary shades such as black and white, or prefer a subtle monochromic neutral theme enhanced with textural accents.

Masters chair in black from Space Furniture

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North Curl Curl project by Darren Palmer

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FEATURE

THE COORDINATED INTERIOR Toorak residence by David Hicks

Smoke chandelier from Space Furniture TIP: Whichever colour combination you choose, remember contrast is key. Break up a predominantly neutral scheme with a burst of print and living colour introduced through potted plants and flowers. And balance a vibrant scheme with relief shades such as grey, white and black.

STYLE — Spend time compiling a look book of styles which appeal. Interior magazines, blogs, Pinterest, catalogues and real estate sites offer great examples of myriad themes ranging from industrial, rustic and Scandinavian to more avant garde glamorous styles such as Hollywood Regency.

TIP: Make sure the style you choose is meaningful and add individual touches when decorating, otherwise your interior may look too contrived and impersonal.

ERA — Referencing the era of your home can tie in nicely with a decorating style, which picks up stylistic elements from the period in which it was built. Older homes may suit a vintage feel, architectural homes with simplistic lines can be enhanced with mid-century modern furniture and artwork, while daring, bold colour schemes and retro styling can work well in ’50s and’60s homes.

TIP: Create authenticity with original pieces rather than poorly-made replicas. Look for furniture and interior companies which specialise in pieces from the era you’re after and track down hard-to-find items through -eBay and collectors.

WORK WITHIN YOUR PARAMETERS With such a vast range to choose from when it comes to paint colours, fittings, finishes and furnishings, the many options can seem overwhelming. However, one of the best ways to refine the selection process is to establish your budget and the parameters you need to work within. “A large part of design is ensuring that spaces not only look good, but are functional and feel comfortable to live in,” explains interior designer David Hicks. “Think about how you intend to use the space, requirements relating to lighting, space, layout and location to prioritise

Potts Point project by Darren Palmer

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Project by Greg Natale Interior Design

Left Manhattan four-light floor lamp

A calm colour scheme by Dulux Paints

all the fundamental elements and plan how you can achieve your vision within your budget.

Often it is not how much you spend, but the way in which you allocate funds which can make the difference between a successful interior and one in which there is a real mismatch in quality and feel of the various components,” advises David.

Rather than restricting the creative process, interior designer Darren Palmer believes working with a set of parameters often helps to achieve a look which is refined and coherent.

“It’s the combination of each individual element within an interior that adds to the effect of the whole space, so when selecting inclusions, the more constraints you can give yourself in terms of functionality, style, colour, textures, materials, scale and cost, the tighter and more successful your result will be.”

SHOP AROUND Once you have got a clear vision of what you’d like to achieve and how much you have to spend, it’s time to thoroughly plan and research every element you need to source, from the flooring and furniture through to the light fittings and artwork.

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Project by Porchlight Interiors Right Sunflower clock, Space Furniture

“Good planning is the best way to avoid making costly mistakes and buying a house full of mismatched pieces,” advises interior designer Judy Elliott of Verandah House Interiors.

Before heading out to shop, arm yourself with important details such as room measurements, swatches of materials you’d like to match and colour samples. “It’s always a good idea to shop with your phone as well so you can collate pictures of items that fit your brief and your constraints. This allows you time to consider what will suit the overall vision before you purchase anything,” adds Darren Palmer.

If you need to build your confidence when it comes to coordinating pieces, Greg Natale suggests decorating a room one layer at a time.

“Knowing what works comes with having a good eye and a great deal of experience, so start by selecting the foundation such as paint or wallpaper, then add flooring, whether it is carpet, timber or tile, and gradually start to introduce larger pieces of furniture such as the bed or lounge.

Once you’re happy with these elements, look to add the small but very important details such as cushions, rugs and beautiful accessories.

If you’re out shopping and like something but need to see it in-situ, ask the store if it is possible to borrow the item to trial it,” advises Greg.

“Only commit to it if you love it and you feel

it works. If a piece doesn’t quite fit, don’t try and work around it; be ruthless and replace it with something that does suit the space,” advises Greg.

Finally, have fun with whichever look you choose. A space should reflect the people who call it home and in many cases it is the individual, personalised touches which add a feel-good factor to any room.

COORDINATING A LOOK ROOM BY ROOM LIVING ROOM “Natural elements such as stone benchtops/ fireplace surrounds, stained-oak timber floors, timber doors and windows, linen-covered sofas, wool or natural sisal floor rugs will create a grounded, comfortable interior,” explains interior designer Hayley Hayes of Porchlight Interiors. “Once the fundamental elements are coordinated you can play with colour and pattern and add individuality. I find fabrics are the best way to add the perfect finishing touch as scatter cushions, ottomans, window coverings and beautiful details such as trims create cohesion and bring all the elements in the room together.”

According to David Hicks, “Side tables and coffee tables are great places to display

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Above Stockholm pendant, Beacon Lighting beautiful objects combined with books and flowers, however this final decorative layer can sometimes make or break a room so it pays to be selective. It’s all about fi nding what appeals to you and presents well to the eye.”

BEDROOM

Project by Greg Natale Interior design

Project by Darren Palmer

“In a bedroom, linen selection is the most important decision apart from the layout,” advises Darren Palmer. “Consider the colours, textures and sizes of all your linen and whether you contrast the layers. The test of a welldressed bed is whether you can resist the temptation to dive into it.”

According to Judy Elliott, “The bed should be the focus of the room so it needs to be beautifully presented and finished with a valance which conceals the bed legs and just skims the floor. For a designer touch, I also like to add trims or contrast banding. If you can’t find what you’re after off the shelf, have it custom-made in a quality fabric which will stand the test of time.”

Toorak residence by David Hicks KITCHEN “Don’t be afraid to approach this space as an extension of the living room rather than simply a place for food preparation,” advises David Hicks. “We often incorporate beautiful antique or modern furniture, such as credenzas or tables and chairs, along with artwork into the kitchen, which can help integrate it within large openplan living and dining space.”

“Repetition of key materials is a great way to create a cohesive feel throughout your entire home,” suggests Hayley Hayes. “I love to use marble or granite benchtops in both the kitchen and bathroom and use a similar colour palette to link the two together. Fresh herbs can look lovely in a pot or vase in the kitchen, while in the bathroom a potted orchid or bunch of flowers can add a similar burst of colour and a touch of luxury.”

BATHROOM Think about coordinating shapes when fitting out bathrooms. For a soft organic feel, consider sculptured baths and curved forms paired with smooth accessories and luxurious towels.

Alternatively, if you are after a more modernist look, square-edged vanities, large framed mirrors and geometric tiles will suit. Scale is also important. “In every space you create,

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Coordinated apartment featuring Swing vase and Norm pendant from Nordic Fusion

every fi xture and furnishing must be perfectly scaled to suit the proportions of the space,” advises Greg Natale. “To help achieve this, think about balance: will two smaller items sit more comfortably than one large centrepiece, or vice versa?”

COORDINATED INTERIORS 101: WHAT TO DO “Take your time to develop a clear decorating concept and carefully plan the individual components which will be used. To create a more personalised look, layered with interest, shop around and select pieces from different sources.” — Tracey Leeson “Choose furnishings and finishes that suit your lifestyle and how you plan to use the space. Consider wear and tear, traffic and longevity. If it’s not functional it is not a successful interior.”

— Darren Palmer “Always incorporate a pop of contrast colour and pattern to create interest and balance. It is these elements which ultimately make a room.”

— Greg Natale

COORDINATED INTERIORS 101: WHAT NOT TO DO “Don’t start ordering works or buying big ticket items until you have costed everything and have a thorough plan how you’ll achieve the desired look within the budget.” — David Hicks.

“Avoid buying ‘matching’ furniture suites as they can create a very boring ‘matchy matchy’ look which lacks soul. Even in a coordinated interior, subtlety is key.

The objective is not for everything to match but for each element to complement the other.”

— Tracey Leeson

Coordinated room setting

by Verandah House

“Don’t compromise your overall scheme by including items which don’t match the quality of the other elements. Invest in quality furniture, hardware and soft furnishes which are sophisticated and enduring.” — Greg Natale “Avoid simply replicating a current trend in its entirety as this will date stamp your interior.

Instead, incorporate on-trend elements in small items such as cushions and accessories which can be easily changed if your taste changes.”

— David Hicks “Avoid minimal styling; a coordinated interior must have a mix of interesting objects, complementary textures, finishes and contrast, otherwise it will run the risk of looking bland.”

— Judy Elliott

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BULLETIN

MEET THE DESIGNERS

Introducing the movers, shakers and style makers of the design world PRODUCED BY / Kate St James, FDIA

— DANIELLA & MARCUS BALSCHEIT

M

arcus and Daniella Balscheit are partners in business and in life. Their exciting and innovative approach to interior design began with the House of Balscheit, one of Melbourne’s fi rst original vintage retail stores. The couple’s love of design and their confident and adventurous approach to interiors has seen them go on to establish Surround Interiors, along with a successful advertising business and jewellery label.

“Our approach to interior design is to create an environment and mood that evoke a sense of warmth and individualism. In this room the bed was the key element which determined the overall direction of the look; vintage French fused with contemporary elements. Florence Broadhurst wallpaper on the ceiling ties in with the colour of the bed’s upholstery and the dark wave snake-like wallpaper adds a contrasting element. The dark carpet complements the rich speckled curtain fabric, which helps to cement the ambient tone in the room, making it a warm and romantic environment to relax in and enjoy.”

Photography: Andrew Lecky

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— SCOTT WESTON & GREGORY PHILLIPS

A

rchitect Scott Weston graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney, with first-class honours and the university medal. He spent two years travelling abroad and won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Art in London.

Designer Gregory Phillips joined Scott’s company following a six-month internship, which he did while studying at the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales. Borrowing from the past and reinventing an idea to suit a modern context is what Scott and Gregory do best. They have a flair for rich and dramatic architectural concepts based on a rigorous set of design rules.

“This photo was taken inside the alterations and additions to a grand Victorian terrace, where the bones of the residence were respected and a contemporary addition added that brought refined planning, aesthetic delight, natural light and ventilation to the client’s home.”

Photography: Nicholas Watt

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MEET THE DESIGNERS

— ADAM SCOUGALL & BENJAMIN NAPIER

A

s You See It Interior Solutions was formed by Adam Scougall in early 2010 after he completed his studies in colour and design, followed by a diploma in interior styling at the International School of Colour and Design in Sydney. After 10 years in the corporate sector, Adam launched his business and it grew in late 2011 with the introduction of Benjamin Napier. With a background in the IT industry, as well as experience in landscape architecture, Benjamin was the perfect addition to the growing business.

“We wanted the living room to play off the abundance of natural light that flows through this area of the home. As a stark contrast to much of the rest of the home, where we used a dramatic Gunmetal Grey from Porter’s Paints, we went for almost a ‘coastal vibe without the coral’ approach. We saved money by being creative with paint [see striped wall in this picture] and worked with Designer Rugs to create the oversized rug design featured here. The rug houses a number of seating options, including the oversized sofa, two love seats and an ottoman that is almost an inlay within the design of the rug.”

Photography: Yie Sandison

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— MELANIE TOMLINSON

W

ith more than a decade of local and international experience, interior designer Melanie Tomlinson has a breadth of expertise that blankets every facet of a design and construction project. After working for a large design firm in Silicon Valley, California, Melanie returned home in 2009 and assisted interior designer Thomas Hamel for a short time. She then established a boutique design company, Design Bubble, in the heart of Sydney’s Potts Point and specialises in residential, commercial and hospitality design and architecture.

“As you stand in this corner apartment high above Darlinghurst, gazing across Sydney Harbour and its skyline, you have a sense of big-city buzz and culture. But it’s when you sink into the sofas and only see the skyline and the glint off the water below that you are transported to a Mediterranean escape. This is the feeling our clients wished to create, having fallen in love with the Med on their travels; their own sanctuary of calm luxury and timeless sophistication. An entertaining lifestyle and hectic work schedule saw finishes and furniture designed to be both luxurious and practical. You instantly feel connected and comfortable when you enter the apartment and simply don’t want to leave. ” Photography: Georgina Egan

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MEET THE DESIGNERS

— HAMISH GUTHRIE & PAUL HECKER

H

amish Guthrie studied interior design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. In the years that followed, he developed a strong architectural and design sensibility. Hamish has an interest in art, food and wine but he quotes his love of travel as one of his main sources of inspiration. In his spare time, he loves to be with his daughter and photographer wife at his farm where he “chops wood, explores design and contemplates life”. The interests of his business partner, Paul Hecker, span travel, design, fashion, politics and film. He is a “collector of beautiful things with a love not only of an object but the story it tells”. Their company, Hecker Guthrie, approaches design by conceiving a unique identity for each project and then creating cohesive, honest and authentic spaces.

“This is our most recent residential project. It was highly collaborative with the client and the architect. The client has a strong design aesthetic so on many levels we challenged her and she challenged the studio. She was quite the risk-taker and thus the project has a unique personality.”

Photography: Sean Fennessy

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BULLETIN

NEWS

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA HANDBOOK

Each year more than 150,000 new homes are constructed in Australia. The majority are built by developers on housing estates, with only a small percentage designed by architects or built from scratch. This practical and visually stunning book celebrates those brave souls who take a leap of faith and design and build homes that are out of the ordinary. Building a new home can be frustrating and tricky, as well as exhilarating and incredibly satisfying. As the book illustrates, people embark on this journey for many different reasons.

A must-have for all homeowners, builders and renovators, the Grand Designs Australia Handbook showcases the remarkable homes featured in series one to three of the television program. From sleek, modern homes to charming country escapes, the book is filled with stunning images, useful advice and inspiration for anyone who dreams of renovating or building a home. From an inner-city pad in Sydney’s Surry Hills to a sustainable South Australian abode, you’ll find plenty of innovative projects to get your creative juices flowing.

Television presenter and editor-at-large Peter Maddison leads you through each important step of construction, from the initial idea to the development, building and concluding stages. This comprehensive guide includes the philosophies and realities of creating the home of your dreams.

Australian architectural design is going through a period of experimentation so there’s never been a better time to embrace your exciting, risk-taking spirit and create something extraordinary.

This book is published by HarperCollins, RRP $35.

Experience Blum When investing in your new kitchen, make sure you benefit from our experience.

Blum has been observing the way people use their kitchens all over the world for over 60 years. As a result, we have designed clever cabinet hardware solutions to help you create a kitchen that will provide years of satisfaction and enjoyment.

Learn how you can benefit from Blum’s experience at your nearest Blum showroom.

Visit blum.com BM07GDEX0813

style | comfort | space | quality

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the perfect place to unwind and indulge

Reservations or enquiries: T 1300 539 559 M 0437 844 407 info@indulgeapartments.com.au www.indulgeapartments.com.au

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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HOUSES

Project by Greg Natale Design.

Photography by Anson Smart

UK TV KENNINGTON WATER TOWER

p72

TV INVERLOCH SAND DUNE

p84

TV RICHMOND INNER CITY

p96

CHADSTONE MODERN

p110

CITY CLIFFHANGER

p122

CLAREVILLE CONTEMPORARY

p134

COMPACT DESIGN

p148

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THE HIGH LIFE With an equally ambitious budget and timeline, this water tower conversion in central London is one of the bravest projects we’ve ever featured WORDS / Luke Tebbutt PHOTOGRAPHY / Jefferson Smith

This London water tower was sold with planning permission for the glass cube and the lift tower addition

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Mike Collier replaced the fixed glazing in the Barry opted forArchitect double-glazed, argan-filled faceted panes throughout original design with double-height sliding windows so owners Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce can open up the kitchen-diner and living room

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This living room — known as the “prospect room” — offers 360-degree views over London, taking in The Shard, Big Ben and the London Eye

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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75

his is going to be party central,” says Leigh Osborne from what was — only months ago — a huge empty tank atop a Victorian water tower in Kennington, London. Now it’s a spectacular living room that soaks up panoramic views of the London Eye, Big Ben and The Shard in one clean sweep. “It’s probably the best living room in London,” he says. “I know where everyone’s going to be this New Year’s Eve.” It certainly makes the climb, both literal and metaphorical, worthwhile. “I’ve never done anything on this scale — this was frightening,” says Leigh, who develops and manages investment rental properties for a living. So frightening, in fact, that he and his partner of 10 years, Graham Voce, nearly let the building pass when it came on the market for £380,000 ($AU650,000). If it weren’t for the calming words of architect Mike Collier, with whom Leigh has worked for years, the 30m tower would probably still be on the English Heritage register of buildings at risk.

“Mike was more important than we were in this project,” says Leigh. “He reassured me that we could do this. Without him it would never have happened. He’s been obsessed with the detail and done all the fi nishing. He’s been terrific.”

And he needed to be. The tower, which Grand Designs UK presenter Kevin McCloud referred to as a “monster”, a “beast” and a “crumbling giant”, was built in 1877 and had been empty for decades. There were gaps between the bricks, trees inching their way through the walls and hundreds of dead pigeons inside (plus the poo of many more, still alive). There were also two extensions to incorporate into the renovation: a four-storey cube for the kitchen-dining-living spaces and a new tower for the lift and all the bathrooms, with a glazed link connecting it to the water tower.

And then there was the crazy deadline. Leigh had negotiated 12 months’ access across vacant land owned by the freeholder so trucks, cranes and a small army of builders

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The new addition is designed with entertaining in mind and provides the main living and dining spaces for the home. “We can fit 18 people in here. It’s the first time we’ve lived somewhere big enough for both our families,” says owner Leigh Osborne

“It’s like living in a tourist attraction.

People take photos from the ground and everyone who visits wants to go to the top” — Leigh Osborne

An all-white colour scheme in the kitchen helps to anchor the space visually and reflect light around the room

could get onto the site. However, this was whittled down to five months by the time he got surveys, drawings and planning permission in place. In the end, there was a bit of give in the agreement and the work was fi nished in eight months, but it was still a sprint of Usain Bolt velocity for such a complex project.

Leigh says there were several factors that allowed him to complete the project so quickly. “First, I’ve had great builders and a great architect. Second, I’ve had no hold-ups with planning or the local conservation officer. Third, I’ve had the money. And fourth, it’s had me pushing it.”

Graham, who runs a conservation charity and sourced much of the interior for the project, says Leigh’s talent is to expand the limits of what’s possible. Leigh says Graham’s talent is to hold him back. “I don’t have any patience and I can get completely carried away,” Leigh says. “Graham is opposite to me in every way, which is why we work. And, luckily, Mike Collier is the same.”

The downside of having to rush the work was that they had to hire a builder quickly, based on rough costs, rather than have a competitive tender between a few companies and get a quantity surveyor to finalise the costs. Mike hired builders he knew and trusted, with experience in conservation and steel work (essential for the large spans in the extension) and Leigh was a decisive client. But the loose budget spiralled on site and Leigh and Graham had little bargaining power to keep down the costs.

“Before you enter into a contract there’s an element of competition,” says Mike, “but once you’re on site your hands are tied. There’s nothing particularly bad about that — it’s just the way it works. And the final figure is one that everyone is reasonably happy with. There’s always a premium when you rush, I suppose.”

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Glazing alone cost £240,000 ($AU407,000), scaffolding hire was £60,000 ($AU102,000) and within the first halfhour on site the price for the foundations went up by £25,000 ($AU42,000) when the builders realised they would have to dig deeper. Plus Leigh and Graham spent £35,000 ($AU59,000) on a hi-tech audio-visual system that lets them talk to each other in different rooms, making this seemingly impractical home easier to live in. They also spent £25,000 ($AU42,000) on an air-source heat pump, which provides all their hot water and heating. In total, Leigh says they spent £2000 ($AU3400) more than the original budget for every day of the build.

Luckily, Leigh has deep pockets, thanks to a property portfolio built up in the 1990s when prices were low. “I had a well-paid job as a fashion-recruitment consultant and I was buying a property virtually every month for a year,” he says.

He was able to remortgage and sell some properties, borrow money from friends and max out a scary amount on seven credit cards to get the building to its current state, where he can now get a mortgage.

So is the tower worth more than he spent? “No comment,” he says. “And the fact is, nobody knows. The estate agent who sold it to me gave me a figure based on a hunch. But it doesn’t matter because we’re not selling. We’re not going anywhere.”

And how has the reaction been? “Crazy,” says Leigh, who has been recognised in the street and had hundreds of emails and Facebook friend requests since the program aired on British television. “It’s like living in a tourist attraction,” he says. “People take photos from the ground and everyone who visits — even for deliveries — wants to go to the top. I’m humbled.”

And as a self-confessed showman, he’s also clearly chuffed. “It’s been the most amazing journey. I’ve loved every minute of the filming and of doing this building and sadly they both finished at the same time. I keep thinking, now what?” Perhaps a more beastly conversion? “Definitely,” he says. “I’ve got the bug. I’m ready to do another one.”

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Graham chose a striped theme for the four bedrooms, linking them with bold wallpaper and graphic rugs. “We didn’t want it to feel completely random,” says Leigh

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So is the tower worth more than he spent?

“It doesn’t matter because we’re not selling. We’re not going anywhere” — Leigh Osborne

The bathrooms are all contained in the new tower, which also houses the lift shaft. “All the bathrooms are exaggerated, all the fittings are big, because this is not a normal house — it’s an exaggerated building,” says Leigh

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

LEGEND GROUND FLOOR 1 Garage 2 Lift 3 Utility 4 Plant room LOWER FIRST FLOOR 5 Stairs 6 Kitchen 7 Dining 8 Gym FIRST FLOOR 9 Living room 10 Bedroom SECOND FLOOR 10 Bedroom 11 Roof terrace THIRD FLOOR 12 Dressing room 13 Ensuite UPPER THIRD FLOOR 10 Bedroom 14 Bathroom FOURTH FLOOR 15 Study FIFTH FLOOR 10 Bedroom SIXTH FLOOR 16 Prospect room

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LOWER FIRST FLOOR PLAN

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SECOND FLOOR PLAN

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FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

UPPER THIRD FLOOR PLAN

■ STRUCTURE Sliding glazing Fusion PROJECT TEAM ■ ARCHITECT ACR Architects

(acrarchitects.co.uk) Contractor Project 1 Design and Build (project1db.co.uk)

■ RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION

■

Arc Restoration (arcrestoration.co.uk) INTERIORS CONSULTANCY Sue Timney (suetimney.com)

SIXTH FLOOR PLAN

■

Glazing Systems (fusionglazingsystems. co.uk) Glazed link Fusion Glazing Systems (fusionglazingsystems.co.uk) Glazing for prospect room Littleman (littlemancontracts. com) Replacement metal windows Fabco Sanctuary (fabcosanctuary.com) New-build cladding Alucobond aluminium system installed

by Paneltec (paneltecservices.com) Water tower roof Westmoreland Roofing Company (07 831 532 046) Garage door Doormatic (doormatic.co.uk) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Kitchen Leicht by Enclosure (enclosureinteriors.com) Kitchen taps Icon Appliances (iconappliances. co.uk) Bathrooms Prestige Bathrooms (prestigebathrooms.com) Bathroom wall and

■

floor tiles Rogers Ceramics (rogers-ceramics. com) Showers and bathroom taps Boffi (boffiuk.com) Bathroom basins Not Only White (notonlywhite.com) Roll-top bath Ashton and Bentley (ashtonandbentley.co.uk) Bathroom towel rail Vola (vola.com) Lighting Delta Light (deltalight.co.uk) Oak flooring Türgon Flooring (turgonflooring.co.uk) Ironmongery Haf (hafinternational.com) Electric blinds Controliss (controlissblinds.co.uk) FURNITURE & FURNISHING Living-room sofa OKA (okadirect.com) Living-room coffee table OKA (okadirect.com) Bespoke joinery Mario Pisano (creativedgefurniture.co.uk) Prospect-room sofa IKEA (ikea.com.au) Chevron rugs The Rug Company (therugcompany.com)

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01 02

GET THE Look

04

Want the funky designer interior of the Kennington water tower? Here’s how to get the look 01

Plumen drop cap pendant in red from Surrounding. surrounding.com.au

02 Tolix Chaise A in Brut Verni finish from Thonet. thonet.com.au

04 Amalfi Prisma Lamp from Albi. albi.com.au

05 Aegean – Metallic bath in a silver finish from Ashton & Bentley. ashtonandbentley.co.u

03 Damascus Blue and Haveli Chevron Black rugs from The Rug Company. therugcompany.com

06

06 DePadova Pillow three-seater sofa, available from Dedece. dedece.com

05

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PART OF THE SCENERY Set on Victoria’s windswept south coast, the award-winning Croft House is a mix of heart and hard edges inspired by the elements WORDS / Emma Mulholland

PHOTOGRAPHY / Rhiannon Slatter

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Set against the prevailing wind, Croft House takes the form of a barchan dune. It’s an ideal structure for capturing views and blending into the eight-hectare block

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Kate and Glenn Morris enjoy the home’s open, uncluttered lounge room, where nothing but the view detracts from the spectacular ceiling made of Victorian ash

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Owners of Inverloch Sand Dune House, Glenn and Kate Morris, in their dining room, which has been furnished simply to allow the view to take centre stage

This stunning two-storey holiday home almost appears to rise from the earth

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hen she first saw the lime-zinc roofing on her Inverloch home, Kate Morris admits to a moment of sheer panic. “I thought, I’m going to be living in a spaceship. What will people think?” she laughs. Now she loves seeing that same reaction when guests arrive at Croft House. “When they approach the home they see the industrial exterior, but they don’t realise what it’s like inside; how soft, warm, natural and earthy it is. And when they see that, they get it. They realise why it has been oriented and designed in this way — it’s all about the majestic panorama.”

Kate’s husband Glenn, a retired engineer, also loves this contrast. He describes one of his favourite moments of the 10-month construction process as being towards the end of the filming of Grand Designs Australia, when he sat on the lounge with presenter Peter Maddison and noticed how the tapered ceiling becomes part of the interior. “You look out the window and you see this sturdy, beautiful structure,” he says. “You see how it lines up with the inside of the home and how the contrasting feelings work together.”

Almost two years earlier, while in transit at Sydney airport, Glenn noticed a magazine with one of architect James Stockwell’s designs on the cover. He was looking for an architect to design a unique, sustainable home for the eighthectare block he and Kate had bought eight years earlier.

He was so impressed with James’ design that he arranged to meet the architect while he was in town. But James turned down the job, saying he’d be busy for the next six months.

Glenn told him they would wait.

Six months later, James travelled to Inverloch on Victoria’s south coast and camped out for two nights to get a feel for the area’s wind patterns. The home he came up with — a low-slung, two-bedroom place that turns against the prevailing wind — makes for a unique holiday home. But, as he later discovered, it’s not a unique form in this windswept corner of Victoria.

■ HOUSE Inverloch Sand Dune ■ LOCATION Inverloch, Victoria ■ DATE COMPLETED September 2012

■ EPISODE 1 SERIES 4

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Owners Kate and Glenn Morris have chosen minimal lighting to lessen the home’s visual impact on the landscape. Just a few lights above the dining table and some LEDs in the kitchen provide all the lighting the home needs

The home collects its own water, has its own worm farm and has plenty of eco cred, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Institute of Architects, which awarded Croft House this year’s Allan and Beth Coldicutt award for Sustainable Residential Architecture

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Swivel seats and large glass walls offer a choice of views in the small sitting room. This has become one of Kate and Glenn’s favourite rooms

Once James had made a physical model, he spoke with his geologist brother and told him about the Inverloch environment. His brother said it was likely the area housed barchan dunes, a type of sand dune that forms in windy locations. When James looked at his model, he realised he’d designed a barchan dune.

“When I heard that, James struck me as someone who can understand the environment and design for it, not against it,” Glenn says. All went smoothly during the design process, which took about five months, until he and Kate started to worry there wouldn’t be enough head room in the tapered ends of the home which house the laundry and sitting room.

They decided to increase the size of the entire home by 10 per cent, bringing the floorplan to 200m² — still not huge, but bigger than they’d planned for their eco escape. “If we had our time again, we probably would have got away with it at the size it was, but now they are very comfortable spaces to be in,” Glenn says.

Another worry was finding a builder in the remote town who would be up to the task. “That was a big concern for us

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The home’s sturdy exterior is visible through window views, while a rug softens the concrete flooring and keeps things cosy

because we needed someone who could translate the plans with an architect who would be working from a distance,” Glenn says. “It’s a complex design and it’s never been done before, but we found David Martin, a really capable young guy who was enthusiastic and passionate about the project — and a perfectionist.”

The result is a gorgeous home that not only embraces the spectacular view of the sea and nearby duck pond, but has minimal impact on them and their residents. So far, the couple has had visits from curious koalas, kangaroos and a stray sheep from the neighbouring farm, and they want to encourage this interaction. “You’re a part of the environment rather than being in a house,” Kate says.

To lessen the home’s visual impact, they’ve opted for minimal lighting — just a few lights above the dining table and a couple of LEDs in the kitchen area. As time goes on, they may add standing lamps to provide ambient lighting, but Kate says she’s mindful of having too much furniture in the home.

“I want people to look straight outside — I don’t want to distract from that,” Kate says. The home’s few furnishings are mostly built in, such as the seat by the entrance where guests can sit down and take off their shoes. They’ve also had a cupboard and desk built into the study nook and a bedhead and bedside tables added to the master bedroom. Even in the living room the furnishings have been kept to a minimum, which means Kate and Glenn can re-orient the entire room,

A built-in desk and cabinets provide practical storage and work space in what could be Australia’s most scenic home off ice

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A built-in headboard and bedside tables maintain the no-fuss look in the master bedroom

choosing either a view of the pond or the sea, just by moving the lounge suite. Kate says she may add a few large artworks, but at the moment she’s happy gazing at the pond and its busy birdlife.

If there’s one thing that almost rivals the view, it’s the stunning ceiling made of Victorian ash. It wasn’t cheap, but Kate insisted on using the native wood — a stance that has paid great dividends, with the ceiling setting a sophisticated, earthy tone and injecting the space with just the right amount of pattern and colour to prevent it from feeling all too sparse.

Kate was just as firm when it came to selecting the roofing material, which was originally going to be zinc aluminium.

“I really pushed for lime zinc,” she says. “It’s 99 per cent pure zinc and we had to get it brought over from Europe, but because we are so near the sea I really wanted something that wouldn’t rust — that would look awful. When James realised we were happy to pay for it, he was delighted.”

Kate and Glenn have avoided any product that requires regular painting and they’ve tried to stick with natural surfaces throughout the home. This includes the interior’s

dividing and feature walls, which are made of rammed earth. The concrete pad the house is built on is larger than the home, offering plenty of patio space, but also absorbing sun and warming the residence throughout winter, when temperatures in Inverloch drop to single digits.

Kate and Glenn have installed coils for underfloor heating, but at the moment they’re still tossing up whether they’ll have it connected. For now, a fireplace does the trick and having planted 150 native trees (each one 6cm high), they expect to have plenty of firewood in five years’ time.

“For us, it is about more than just having solar panels — we have them — but it’s about letting nature do the work,” Glenn says.

The home collects its own water, has its own worm farm and has plenty of eco cred, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Institute of Architects, which awarded Croft House this year’s Allan and Beth Coldicutt award for Sustainable Residential Architecture.

The prize was awarded to James, but for Kate and Glenn it’s an acknowledgement that they’ve achieved everything they set out to do. “What we have is not just a statement house, it’s not just an architectural fancy,” Glenn says. “It’s a beacon of sustainable residential design and a statement of what you can do if you push the boundaries.”

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“You look out the window and you see this sturdy, beautiful structure. You see how it lines up with the inside of the home and how the contrasting feelings work together” — Glenn Morris

With such a remote site, there’s no need for curtains, which means bathers can enjoy sweeping views from the tub

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LEGEND 1 Entry 2 Foyer 3 Kitchen 4 Dining 5 Lounge 6 Studio 7 Bedroom 8 Bathroom 9 Ensuite 10 Study

FLOOR PLAN

PROJECT TEAM ■ ARCHITECT James Stockwell

■ STRUCTURE Curved glulam timber beams

(jamesstockwell.com.au)

■ BUILDER Martin Builders (martinbuilders.com.au)

■ ENGINEERING/ESD CONSULTANT

■

Meinhardt Australia (meinhardtgroup.com) BUILDING SURVEYOR TJ Building Consultants (tjbc.com.au)

■

VicBeam (vicbeam.com.au) Roof trusses Capeview Building Products (capeviewbuildingproducts.com.au) Concrete/ burnished slab Lou Zanella Concreting (0408 136 418) Site works Chapman Contractors (03 5657 4339) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Rammed earth StabilEarth (stabilearth.com.au) Double glazed windows Viewtech (viewtechglass.com.au, Glassworks (glassworksaus.com.au) Rheinzink roof & cladding Craftmetals (craftmetals. com.au) Joinery & cabinets Award Cabinets (awardcabinets.com.au) Plumbing fixtures Reece (reece.com.au) Lighting Lightproject

■

(lightproject.com.au) Fireplace Wignells (wignells.com.au) Electrical appliances E&S Trading (estrading.com.au) Sashless window units Aneeta (aneetawindows.com) Door hardware Knobs & Brass (03 9796 3111) SERVICES Electrician Houston Electrical (0409 568 377) Plumber Jamar Plumbing (jamarplumbing.com.au) Waste Treatment A&A Wormfarm Waste Systems (wormfarm.com.au) Tiling Dumbalk Tiles & Stone (0418 129 981)

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03 Eames moulded plywood folding screen from Herman Miller. store.hermanmiller.com

07 Lucia cast-stone bath in Matt

04 Cappuccino sheepskin rug from Cowhide Rugs Online. cowhiderugsonline.com.au

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08 Pair of director’s chairs from ECOCHIC. ecochic.com.au

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SPACE IN THE CITY By compromising on street access, Darren Rogers and Ruth Frey got the backyard, swimming pool and industrial style they dreamed of WORDS / Emma Mulholland PHOTOGRAPHY / Rhiannon Slatter

Deep recesses in the home’s northern façade, along with motorised louvres, control solar gain in this inner-city home.

The backyard and swimming pool are an untold luxury in this neighbourhood

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Darren Rogers and Ruth Frey in the dining room of their inner-city home

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ith its black furnishings, dark walls and an entrance wrapped in dark-timber cladding, the laneway home of Darren Rogers and Ruth Frey embraces all things black and moody in a way Melburnians do best. But that’s where the clichés end.

Just down the road from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the three-storey home is a far cry from the quaint Victorian terraces that dominate the neighbourhood. For a start, residents include four chooks and a 12-year-old. There’s also a swimming pool big enough for a pool party. Add to that a backyard, a blossoming vegetable garden, water tanks, a gym, media room, lift, rooftop deck and a cellar with storage for up to 1500 bottles of wine.

“We’ve always loved Richmond, but one thing we lamented about it is that you often don’t get any backyard space. So it was just a freakish event that we found out about

■ HOUSE Richmond Inner City ■ LOCATION Richmond ■ COST $3.3m ■ DATE COMPLETED 27/02/2013 ■ EPISODE 5 SERIES 4 this block,” says bank manager Darren. At 440m² the block is about two-and-a-half times the area’s average size but it came with a catch: no street frontage. This turned out to be both a blessing and a curse, as the couple quickly discovered in the four years it took to have the home designed, approved and constructed.

“You can build on a difficult block like this but everything takes a bit longer and is a bit more expensive. We weren’t prepared for that,” admits Darren, who is still reeling after a budget blowout that added six months to the construction process. Much to his wife’s dismay, Darren had insisted on a basement to house a media room and wine cellar. But with

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Raymond Rogers, 12, arrives at the beautiful industrial-style home his family has constructed in inner-city Melbourne

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Portholes in the living and dining rooms allow light to filter from the ground floor into the basement. At night, when the lights are on in the basement, the light shoots through the portholes into the upstairs living spaces

“The outdoor space is just as important to us as the indoor space. We tried to build on half the block and keep the other half open” — Darren Rogers

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Darren and Ruth Rogers enjoy a glass of red in their dark, modern kitchen, which is perfectly offset by timber touches 1100m³ to be excavated and the only access to the home via laneways too narrow for heavy machinery, the construction team had to use bobcats — a slow and costly process.

But the great advantage of buying this block with no street access is that there were no heritage restrictions, so Darren and Ruth could think beyond the neighbourhood’s standardissue period-style terrace. “We could really do whatever we wanted,” Darren says. “We love that dark-grey, cement-style, industrial look so we went for that.”

They’d been living about 400m down the road and Darren had had his eyes on the site for some years. It was originally part of an even larger block which had been divided in two and the half with street frontage sold. The second block was harder to sell and Darren was still thinking about it when, in 2008, a builder purchased it and drew up plans for a client in London. Months later, while lunching with mates, Darren heard the builder was having problems with the client. He got in touch and offered to buy the site.

The sale included the laneways on either side of the home, which came with all sorts of extra taxes. But because the laneways are included as part of the property’s boundary, purchasing them meant Darren and Ruth could capitalise on almost all of the space offered by the actual block.

Not that they were after a sprawling monstrosity. “The outdoor space is just as important to us as the indoor space,” Darren says. “We tried to build on half the block and keep the other half open. All up, we have 320m² of open space.” That includes the crafty use of built space, including the rooftop, which has been developed into an outdoor entertaining area with a 10m-long vegetable garden.

The couple has capitalised on the northern sun by building the home on the south side of the block. Deep recesses in the northern façade, along with motorised louvres, control solar gain, particularly on the western side.

In winter, the sun warms the home’s concrete base, providing

Set in the basement, the wine cellar has room to store 1500 bottles of wine. So far Darren has collected 300

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The main bedroom gets plenty of sunlight — even glimpses of Darren’s beloved Melbourne Cricket Ground. The styling is much lighter and brighter than the rest of the home

At the last minute, Darren decided to embrace the cosy, cave-like feel of the basement and paint the media room grey, a risky move that has paid dividends

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In winter, the library is the perfect place to enjoy a good book and the wood fire. In summer, the streaming sun and the sound of children splashing in the pool make for an entirely different space A window seat offers a perfect pool view without the sunburn

good thermal mass to the lower levels. And with all 23m of the façade taking in sun, there’s no shortage of light in the upper two levels.

This meant Darren and Ruth could afford to install concrete flooring and dark feature walls without any risk of the home becoming cold and dingy. They’ve added portholes the size of dinner plates to the floor of the living and dining rooms, allowing light to filter from the ground floor into the basement. Alternatively, when the lights are on in the basement, the light shoots into the upstairs living spaces, giving them what Darren describes as “a space-age feel” at night.

He and Ruth were originally going to paint the media room a crisp white to compensate for the lack of natural light, but at the last minute they decided to embrace the cosy, cave-like feel of the space. “The painter called and said he was just about to get started, but at the very last minute I told him I wanted to go for grey — what he calls ‘nightclub grey’,” Darren says. “He said it would take about 10 years to paint over it if we didn’t like it, but I’m glad we did it.”

And Darren and Ruth aren’t the only ones. The home has already been booked for a couple of advertising shoots and Darren is as proud as punch. He’s also thinking about his next big project but it’s likely to be an investment property because he and Ruth don’t plan on leaving their Richmond home anytime soon.

With a bit of convincing, Ruth agreed to a lift, which opens on the roof through a Willy Wonka-style trapdoor.

It’s mostly to make sure her mum is comfortable when she comes to stay, but looking to the future, Darren reckons it might give them an extra 10 years in the home. “That’s if my son doesn’t kick me out of it,” he laughs. “With the rooftop bar and the media room, this place would make an excellent bachelor’s pad.”

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A timber vanity adds a natural touch to this sleek, simple bathroom

The block is about two-and-ahalf times the area’s average size but it came with a catch: no street frontage

Louvre windows allow light and fresh air to flood into the sunny bathroom

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LEGEND BASEMENT 1 Entry 2 Garage 3 Garbage storage 4 Lift 5 Storage 6 Gym 7 Cellar 8 Media Room GROUND FLOOR 9 Powder room 10 Kitchen 11 Laundry

12 Dining room 13 Living room 14 Study 15 Lounge room 16 Terrace 17 Pool FIRST FLOOR 18 Bedroom 1 19 Walk in robe 20 Ensuite 21 Bathroom 22 Bedroom 2 23 Bedroom 3

PROJECT TEAM ■ ARCHITECT Neil Architecture (03 9427 9833 or neilarchitecture.com.au)

■ DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

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■ STRUCTURE Pool Personal Pools Chris Howley ■

Foster Kelly Design (0419 331 160 or fosterkellydesign. com.au), Velocity Investment Group / Domicile Group (0413 518 600 or domicile. com.au), Building Wright — Jim Wright (0403 104 410)

■

(0419 376 451 or personalpools.com.au) Timber finishes Eco Timber Group (03 9421 6866 or ecotimbergroup.com.au) FIXTURES AND FITTINGS Kitchen and laundry appliances Asko — James Vogdanos (03 8551 2200 or asko.com.au) Domestic appliances Griffiths — Peter Patisteas (1300 263 332 or griffithscoffee.com.au) Lift Prestige Lifting Services — Ron Van Munnen (03 9879 3877 or plslifts.com.au) Wine storage MacPhee’s — Craig MacPhee (03 9696 5200 or macphees.com.au) Audio visual equipment Leigh’s Audio Visual — Leigh Smith (0409 524 433) FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS Rugs Hali Rugs — Ian Swart (03 9509 7200 or hali.com.au) Pendant lights Ross Gardam — Ross Gardam (03 9329 4145 or rossgardam.com.au) Framed prints Vintage Posters Only — Samuel Johnson (03 9500 2505 or vintagepostersonly.com) Billiards table B&K Traditional Billiards — Damien Salopek (03 9795 3888 or bkbilliards. com.au) Various Harvey Norman Chadstone — Nick Pappa (03 9567 6666 or harveynorman. com.au) Homewares Established For Design — Anna Krincevski (establishedfordesign.com.au) Photos Mein Photo — Trevor Mein (03 9859 5699 or meinphoto.com)

■ SERVICES Electrical RP Electrical Ralph Pollehn

— (0439 322 311 or rpelectrical.com.au) CTM Electrical — Chris McDowell (1300 286 476 or ctmelectrical.com.au) Joinery Grange Joinery — Jay McDowell (03 9770 8777 or grangejoinery.com.au) Painter Halo Painting — Elliot Miller (0410 236 596) Landscaping Bright Landscapes — Andrew Bright (03 9511 0427 or brightlandscapes.com.au) Plumbing Motion Plumbing — Ben Dixon (1300 554 045) Plasterer Ridis Plastering — Steve Ridis (0412 335 373) Stonemason Established Stone (03 9706 5061 or establishedstone.com.au) Real Estate Services Craig Hillis (0413 831 311) Excavation Trelawney Excavations — Paul Mitchell (0415 965 423)

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01

02

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GET THE LOOK

04

Get the look of this inner-city home with a mix of subtle tones and vibrant colours 01

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02 Madison throw in Lemon by Madras

06 Florence Knoll sofa by Knoll,

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03 Emporium Saray vase in red from Emporium. emporiumhome.com.au

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04 Small Iris Hantverk bowl from The Design Gift Shop. thedesigngiftshop.com 06

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Part of the home’s natural light “secret” is that light emanates from more than one direction in almost every room

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REDEFINING SUBURBIA Architect Taras Wolf has designed a home that connects his family and embraces suburban Melbourne’s large block size and relative affordability WORDS / Marg Hearn

I

PHOTOGRAPHY / Andrew Lecky

nvestment in architect-designed houses is more often the domain of inner-ring, higher-price-tag suburbs than those on the outer periphery of the CBD. But architect Taras Wolf is passionate about transforming suburbia. That’s why he and his wife, Rebecca, sold their inner-city Collingwood warehouse to build a new home on a generous 905m² block in Melbourne’s south-east.

An interest in cars was another catalyst, along with the desire for space to raise their children. The couple has a 40year vision for their new home, which includes providing their children with the opportunity to live there well into their 20s and, in keeping with their Chinese heritage, the ability to accommodate extended family.

With so many plans, they decided to build a new dwelling rather than renovate the block’s existing 1940s home. “Unless a house is heritage-protected or historically substantial, building new can be more cost-effective and involve fewer compromises,” says Taras. They did, however, retain a section of the home as a way of “preserving memories” and took care not to exceed the original home’s footprint.

The product of 10 years of idea gathering and two years of design and construction, this house “guards against the waste of premature renovation”. Taras designed each space so it can be used in different ways and can evolve with the family’s changing needs over time.

To resolve the hurdle of the north/south running block, the living spaces have been designed to open onto the front garden towards the street, instead of the backyard norm, and the southern end of the home has been opened up for unimpeded circulation. A central vertical corridor has been incorporated to filter northern light through to the rear of the house. The device doubles as a thermal chimney, allowing rising warm air to keep upstairs thermally comfortable without the need for additional heating. On hot days, opened windows provide an escape route for this warm air. On the flipside, cool air emanating from the air-conditioners at the top of the house travels downwards.

From the street, the external architecture has a commanding presence. A strong concrete shell, likened to that of a hermit crab, encases the building. London bricks laid flush wrap around the front of the home to the western side, making reference to the architecture’s subtle eastmeets-west theme. The house is, however, “more about the interior”, says Taras.

Instead of having prescriptive room functions, the abode comprises 28 spaces over 10 split levels. And while the floorplan could be summed up as being two levels plus an

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Every space in the home, even this small sitting room, There’s abundance wall space for offers an light, views andofconnectivity to other rooms paintings and nooks for objets d’art

Taras and Rebecca Wolf with children Ariana, 8, Kiara, 4, and Arakai, 2, at their sophisticated home in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs

“Unless a house is heritage-protected or historically substantial, building new can be more cost-effective and involve fewer compromises” — Taras Wolf attic, that’s an over-simplification of the intriguing spaces that unfold at every turn, each of which has been solicitously detailed.

Every space point offers light, views and connectivity to other rooms. The house has been designed so that each person is aware of what other occupants are doing, but in such a way that privacy isn’t intruded upon. As Taras explains, whether you’re washing the car or watching TV, the home encourages the family to engage with each other’s interests.

The dining room is located in the middle of the building underneath a towering double-height void. “It’s a sacred, ceremonial space where we have dinner together as a family every night,” Taras says. The strategically positioned kitchen, tucked behind the entry wall, allows vision outdoors, while the unconventional placement of a spacious laundry, set off the living space, doubles as a transitional “mud room” and service entry from the carport.

After the experience of walking through a maze-like contemporary Chinese garden at the front of the house, Taras’ architecture clients can continue to the right of the home where there’s an unobtrusive home office. Family and friends will find a formal entry immediately to the left, which opens to a spectacular artwork by Taras. Forming part of the wall, it’s a work in progress which features leftover pieces of balsa wood from many years of architectural model-making.

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Changes in floor materials define different spaces throughout the house

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The kitchen’s Caesarstone benchtop has a wedge profile and appears to hover above the bench

The office, dining, kitchen and living space are four different rooms with no walls — yet separation and comfort have been achieved through clever design

The strategically-positioned kitchen is tucked behind an entry wall and has a good view of the garden

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But even more surprising is the 1968 Mercedes-Benz Pagoda (one of five cars owned by the couple) that sits grandly in the large multifunctional space at the back of the house, which also accommodates Taras’ study.

The architect meticulously restored the Mercedes (the same model that his father once owned), cleaning every component over two-and-a-half years. While not advocating that everyone should incorporate a spot for a car inside their house, Taras says, “It is okay to give cars some respect and to give more consideration as to how they’re integrated into the home’s design.”

Collectables are an intrinsic part of the home’s decor.

Some of the fascinating collections on display include Star Wars figures, every model of the Mercedes Pagoda ever built (from 1963 to present day), Lego, and vintage synthesisers and electronics, especially those that were iconic or groundbreaking, such as the world’s first Walkman, Discman, portable TV and Polaroid camera.“To me, they’re not simply collectables,” Taras says. “They are things that I grew up with and are to be used, enjoyed and integrated into the architecture as embodied memories.”

Drawing a parallel between these innovative, hardwearing and well-designed objects and his own design philosophy, Taras adds, “Like the collectables, the houses we design should appeal to a large number of people. We should be able to deliver at different price points and they should be of a quality that can withstand everyday use. Hopefully they too will become collectables.”

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Each of the 28 spaces throughout the home has been designed so occupants are aware of what others are doing, but in such a way that privacy isn’t intruded upon

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Car-lover Taras Wolf designed the large multifunctional space at the back of the house to accommodate his 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL, which he meticulously restored over two-and-a-half years

From the street, the external architecture has a commanding presence. A strong concrete shell, likened to that of a hermit crab, encases the building Taras and Rebecca have bought quality furniture over the years, which they’ve repaired as needed and allowed products to “last their natural life”, which meant no new furniture was needed for the home. It has infused the place with a friendly feel.

Upstairs, a rumpus retreat overlooks the void. The master bedroom to the front of the house has a generous walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom that opens onto a large balcony.

Along the passage, two uniquely-shaped rooms for the children each have an ensuite and share a private outdoor court with a feature Corten steel wall. Inviting exploration up another flight of stairs is a light-filled studio and a music room that opens to another sublime outdoor space.

It’s a house that has been designed for playful pursuits, with each space providing a stage for the children. Easy maintenance, timeless appeal and a colour palette reminiscent of tropical South East Asia informed the home’s material selection, which includes cement render, polished concrete, kiln-dried merbau battens and red ironbark decking. The creative application of materials adds another layer of interest. Flooring, for example, gets lighter and softer on the journey through the house, beginning with dense concrete and dark-stained American oak and transitioning to lighter timbers and eventually cork in the attic.

While this home has been customised for the Wolf family, it’s easy to imagine yourself living in this space. Taras, who also lectures at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, hopes that more people will see the benefit of investing in tailor-made design to diversify architecture in the suburbs. The challenge for architects, however, is to make sure that good design aligns with client budgets.

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In keeping with the home’s open feel, this ensuite incorporates a glass cubicle for the toilet and a glass cubicle for the shower

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN LEGEND GROUND FLOOR 1 ‘Wolf Room’ 2 Office 3 Bathroom 4 Bedroom 5 Kitchen 6 Dining

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

7 Living 8 Laundry FIRST FLOOR 9 Bedroom 10 Ensuite 11 Walk in robe 12 Media room

ROOF PLAN

13 Void 14 Stairs to roof ROOF 15 Entertainment

deck

■ STRUCTURE Builder Toeblemann PROJECT TEAM ■ ARCHITECT Wolf Architects (wolfarchitects.com.au) ■ BUILDER Toeblemann ■

Constructions (toebelmannconstructions. com.au) INTERIOR DESIGN Wolf Architects (wolfarchitects.com.au)

■

Constructions (toebelmannconstructions. com.au) Decking Landscape Shape and Form (landscapeshapeform.com.au) Kitchen joinery Morcraft Kitchens (morcraftkitchens.com.au) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Internal and external render Toscano Roman Render (toscanoromanrender.com.au) External brick Daniel Robertson (danielrobertson.com.au) Cladding James Hardie (jameshardie.com. au) Internal feature brick Daniel Robertson (danielrobertson.com.au) Dining room lights Coco Flip Design (cocoflip.com.au) Kitchen benchtop Caesarstone (caesarstone.com.au)

■

Master ensuite bath Rogerseller (rogerseller. com.au) Master ensuite washbasin Minosa (minosa.com.au) SERVICES Kitchen joinery Morcraft Kitchens (morcraftkitchens.com.au) Landscaping Landscape Shape and Form (landscapeshapeform.com.au)

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GET THE Look

Copy the Wolf family’s sophisticated suburban home with these bright designs 01

Coco pendant from Coco Flip. cocoflip.com.au

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03 Caesarstone Classico in Ocean Foam. caesarstone.com.au

06 Scoop bathtub from Rogerseller. rogerseller.com.au

07 Herman Miller Classic Eames lounge and ottoman in black leather and walnut from Living Edge. livingedge.com.au

04 London bricks from Daniel Robertson. danielrobertson.com.au

05 SoHo bar stool from Ghify. ghify.com.au

07

04

Storybook D E S I G N E R

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DOVER HEIGHTS CLIFFHANGER

AT ONE WITH MOTHER NATURE Perched against a rocky cliff face, this home embraces its surroundings and captures nature’s beauty in its entirety WORDS / Karsha Green

PHOTOGRAPHY / Nicole England

The multifaceted front façade contrasts tone and texture to create an overwhelming visual effect

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Accent lighting into the kitchen and living area was achieved by the colour-changing LEDs in the adjoining exterior pool

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The kitchen utilises James Bond-like technology, including electronic storage which hides all the appliances and kitchenware to match the minimal and sophisticated style of the home

■ HOUSE Dover Heights Cliffhanger ■ LOCATION Dover Heights, NSW ■ DATE COMPLETED July 2012

The two-tone veneer cabinets are a feature in this open space, contrasting with the harsh concrete ceiling and basalt flooring to establish a sense of balance and warmth

S

itting on the ledge of a Dover Heights cliff face is this six-tier stunner, boasting clean lines and a multifaceted façade. Looking at the front of the house, your eyes dart from the dramatic black door to the multiple glass panels, from the stone garden wall to the rustic timber veneer to the off-form concrete — like an impressively-wrapped present at Christmas, your mind boggles at the idea of what you will find inside.

Homeowner and builder Rob Rogers and his young family had their minds set on a home that embraced the view, made the most of the cliff face and, most importantly, demonstrated cutting-edge design. To achieve this, architect Andre Baroukh and interior designer Darren Genner of Minosa used numerous large panels of high-performance glass, off-form concrete, sandstone and basalt tiles. Off-form concrete was a material the homeowner wanted to utilise as much as possible, especially for the ceilings, creating a modern, industrial style in the home. The problem with this request was that the building faced west, so how to maintain temperature as well as an overall feeling of warmth was the challenge.

The dropped ceiling in the kitchen and all the surrounding joinery, even the entertainment unit in the adjoining living area, all stylishly house the home’s temperature controlling system. The two-tone veneer unites this whole space, finishing the storage units and suspended bulkhead, instantly generating comfort as you enter the home. “The dropped ceiling in the kitchen had to look purposeful as a set white ceiling was just not going to cut it in this home,” says Darren.

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Exquisite, large Skygarden pendant lights hang over the eight-seater dining table that was requested to cater for international guests and long family visits

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Off-form concrete ceilings, basalt flooring and high-performance glass windows have an industrial influence on the space but is offset by the leather and cowhide textures

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As though you are standing underneath cascading waterfalls somewhere in the tropics, the edge of this bathroom is exquisite.

Frameless bifold doors act as a barrier during the colder months but can be opened for the ultimate relaxation retreat

A floor-to-ceiling mirrored cabinet makes this bathroom feel bigger, bouncing natural light around the room

The children’s bathrooms were designed to cater for their growth into adulthood. The Corian shower was used, not only for its low maintenance function, but also as a focal point to refract light and lift the space

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Hidden storage is key in the master bedroom. Luxurious pop-and-slide doors conceal 7.2m of closet space, including a private Hollywood-lit beauty bench, with space also available in the sides of the bedhead and the tall mirror divides

As an integral part of any family home, the kitchen needs to be welcoming and highly efficient — a place where the family can spend time together and enjoy being in the space.

As the kitchen is the first thing to be seen after walking through the front door, the homeowners wanted it to have a wow factor — and a large bin. To keep with the minimal and sophisticated style of the home, everything had to be able to disappear. The timber veneer cupboards conceal two fridges, a dumbwaiter, an everyday home office and a secret glassware cabinet. Two pods either side of the oven house tea and coffee machines, kitchen paraphernalia, even a benchtop and its own internal drawers. These electronically controlled zones, “with a touch of a button, are completely concealed in the joinery adding a touch of James Bond-like class to this space,” says Darren. Not to mention the effortlessness needed to tidy up before rushing the kids to school! Even the

rangehood is disguised. “We decided to custom make the hood’s cover and clad it with smoked mirror so the off-form concrete ceiling would reflect and disguise the appliance,” says Darren. Though a masterpiece in itself, the kitchen doesn’t detract from the real hero — the view — it seamlessly integrates with the surrounding spaces and reflects the outlook wherever possible.

“The way this house appears to be two levels and then just keeps on going is unique,” says Darren. The master bedroom was another feat for the architect and designer with a brief to create a resort-style retreat that incorporated the natural beauty of the cliff face. Both self-employed and with two young girls, the homeowners wanted a place for relaxation and rejuvenation after the daily grind. With the exterior rock face hugging the edge of the building, Darren knew this had to be a main feature in the space. “This (the rock) was

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In an effort to ensure the view at opposite ends of the bedroom could always be seen, an open-plan space was designed with floor-to-ceiling mirrored divides being the only room segregation — the mirrors still enabling the reflection of view and light inspiring, however difficult at the same time. It dominated every design thought and walls were removed so the cliff would be visible from every stand point. It was decided that the entire space needed to be thought of as one whole floor, rather than one room,” says Darren.

A 7.2m-long storage unit is cleverly concealed by popand-slide doors and features a central personal vanity with Hollywood make-up lights and designated space for hair equipment, jewellery and beauty products, all of which the woman of the house was “absolutely delighted” with. Extra storage is included in the bed head, as well as in the side of the 1.2m-wide walls wrapped in a custom-made Corian wash basin. “Each wall was clad in mirror to refract the view and the light. These two central walls define the bathing space from the sleeping and dressing areas without obstructing the flow or outlook,” says Darren.

On the opposite side of this divide, tucked behind a panel of opaque glass is the hero of this space, and funnily enough it is the amenities area. As if it is a part of the building’s structure, the rock face offers an organic and rich aesthetic.

“Bifold doors were designed to fold away so that during the warmer months they could be opened to create amazing cross-ventilation but to also connect with nature while relaxing in the bath with a glass of champagne or taking a cleansing shower — one’s own private wellness retreat,” says Darren.

The success of the open-plan master bedroom but also of the whole interior is thanks to the individual areas seamlessly integrating through continuous use of finishes and the playfulness with the view beyond the glass. The simple and clean palette of this home creates aura yet always plays second to the surrounding environment, complementing its earthy tones.

Like a cliffhanger mapping its way around the rock face, this architectural feat contours the jagged edges, sitting harmoniously with Mother Nature’s most beautiful asset.

The Hollywood-style beauty parlour was a hit with the female of the house and the custom Corian double basin was designed to wrap around the mirrored divides, continuing the incredible design elements of this space

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BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN LEGEND BASEMENT 1 Bedroom 2 Walk-in robe 3 Ensuite 4 Toilet 5 Shower room 6 Lift 7 Front deck GROUND FLOOR 8 Back deck 9 Dining 10 Living room 11 Kitchen 12 Study 13 Bathroom 14 Balcony 15 Pool 16 Lift FIRST FLOOR 17 Toilet 18 Formal living room 19 Food preparation area 20 Balcony 21 Void

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PROJECT TEAM ■ INTERIOR DESIGNER ■ ■

Minosa (minosadesign.com) or (02 8090 9039) ARCHITECT Andre Baroukh (andrebaroukh.com.au) BUILDER Rob Rogers of R&K Luxury Homes (0416 222 244)

■ FIXTURES & FITTINGS Joinery Panache

■

Kitchens (panachekitchens.com.au) Corian Advanced Solid Surface (0419 206 897) Lighting Special Lights on Crown (speciallights.com.au) Led lighting Opal Lighting (opallighting.com.au) Feature tiles Academy Tiles (academytiles. com.au) Tapware Minosa (minosa.com.au) Basins & vanities Minosa (minosa.com.au) Fireplace Cocoon Fires (agnews.com.au) FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Blinds & curtains Simple Studio (simplestudio.com.au) Pendant light & floor lamp Euroluce (euroluce.com.au) Dining chairs Space Furniture (spacefurniture. com.au) Armchairs Dedece (dedece.com)

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GET THE Look

04

Get the contemporary aesthetic of Dover Heights with a basic colour palette and these simplistic designs 01

Kaleidoscope Tunnel by Jerome and the Snake Photography. jeromeandthesnake.com

02 Skygarden pendant light from Euroluce. euroluce.com.au

03 Scoop washbasin by Minosa. minosa.com.au

04 Satin Heartwood finish from

06 Kartell Masters chair in black from Space Furniture. spacefurniture.com.au

07 Aeris Hanging gas fireplace by Cocoon Fires, available from Agnews Fireplaces. agnews.com.au

08 Knoll Wassily Chair in Haired Hide from Dedece. dedece.com 06

Laminex. laminex.com.au

05 Spun Light floor lamp in black by Sebastian Wrong from Euroluce. euroluce.com.au

08

07

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CLAREVILLE CONTEMPORARY

ON THE EDGE Sitting on a crossfall, overlooking the glassy waters of Pittwater, a block of land is transformed into a work of art WORDS / Karsha Green

PHOTOGRAPHY / Anson Smart

The views of glistening Pittwater were to be the focal point from wherever you stood

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The pre-finished metal cladding and ribbed Colorbond exterior creates an interesting texture, almost allowing the home to blend in with its raw surroundings

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■ HOUSE Clareville Contemporary ■ LOCATION Northern Beaches, NSW ■ DATE COMPLETED December 2012

T

he empty-nesters who bought this beautiful block on Sydney’s Pittwater intended for it to be a weekender, a holiday house for others to enjoy the never-ending water views and striking Australian landscape. The last thing on their minds was that their 150-year-old country cottage in Orange, NSW, would be a part of their past and this stunning coastal dwelling would be their new family home.

The brief for a three-level, four-bedroom abode on Sydney’s Northern Beaches was simple: nothing was to detract from the stunning views, not even the home’s interior. Fairly open to the architectural design of the new build, the homeowners presumed it would be something similar to their old cottage. However, one look at the steep terrain and its crossfall and architect James de Soyres said they would have to go for something a little more adventurous. “Even the modern design we went for was a

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The blue and green hues from outside have been incorporated into the interior using soft furnishings. Surrounded by glass and full of light, this living space will be enjoyed year-round

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With such a minimalist palette, warmth was achieved in the kitchen through the use of a natural stone benchtop, timber accents and a bold piece of artwork

long process,” says James, though “once we decided to go down the contemporary path, the homeowners went for it completely, and for the interiors as well”.

With the one rule in mind (nothing detracts from the view), building began at the end of 2007. Laying the foundations was difficult and slow. To ensure sturdiness and a balanced descent for the upper levels, the bottom two floors were constructed in the ground with the rest of the home protruding out above it. Due to the treacherous surrounds, other key influences of the build included a lift and lowmaintenance materials. Running a lift down a cliff that is also a large crossfall (a block that slopes in two different directions) is no easy task, particularly due to a lift’s natural, vertical form. “More and more people are going for lifts because they are becoming increasingly economical and the contracts for maintenance are not as big as they once were,” says James. “For these homeowners, the lift was important because they want to keep this place as their home for the rest of their days.” The solution was to excavate at the back of the site, place the lift there and then design the house around it.

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The outdoor area floats above the trees, engulfing the views.

The Vergola louvre roofing system maximises this space, allowing full control of temperature and light

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Instead of using a native hardwood, Greg convinced the homeowners to use oak due to its nicer grain and easy staining capabilities

The landscape and external finishes were also a key consideration as this would determine maintenance requirements. Pre-finished metal cladding that can last 25 years without having to be painted was used, as well as aluminium flat cladding, aluminium tile and ribbed Colorbond. Incorporation of rainwater tanks and regenerated bushland on the property have also resulted in an exquisite, low-maintenance native garden.

The tones and textures of nature from the garden and views of Pittwater were integrated into the interiors by designer Greg Natale. With the key rule of the build also affecting the way the home was furnished, a minimal style was employed. “I think minimalism is harder than overly decorated spaces because in those spaces you just keep layering until you get it right. But in a house like this, where minimalism is the focus, everything becomes important.

The skirting is important, the ceiling and wall junction, even the shape of the sofa,” explains Greg.

Gorgeous natural oak, Carrara and limestone materials finish the interior surfaces, while earthy tones of blue, green and red speckle the otherwise neutral colour palette. While imitating the glassy water and feathery foliage outside, the

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The bedroom and living spaces draw on the colours and textures of the environment ensuring a warm and comfortable interior

“I think minimalism is harder than overly decorated spaces because in those spaces you just keep layering until you get it right. But in a house like this, where minimalism is the focus, everything becomes important” — Greg Natale

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Minimal yet marvellous, the surfaces used throughout the home carry on into the bathroom to ensure continuity and flow

soft furnishings also add warmth and comfort to each space.

Hanging on to a part of the homeowners’ old lifestyle, Greg has adapted the Persian carpet from the former cottage and created a rug for the children’s rooms on the bottom level.

Although the children are grown up and no longer live there, they still wanted space for when they came to visit. When it is not being used, this ground floor can be shut off from the rest of the home. By accompanying the Persian carpet with tribal and sea prints, the result “is very organic and a bit more beachy”, says Greg.

Using just three natural surfaces throughout the home was a feat by the architect and interior designer to make this vast and minimal home feels as one. James’ favourite part of the design is the staircase because of the large 3D element and the same use of timber on the steps as on the floor, uniting all the levels. Almost all the furniture is new, besides the table, which has been finished to fit in with the clean scheme.

“The natural stone really helps bring depth to the kitchen; it’s quite rich and it lifts everything,” says Greg. The large windows complement the sense of depth, allowing in rays of light and the to-die-for view. “I like that it’s understated and light. A lot of my work is very bold so it was nice to do something more subtle,” says Greg.

The homeowners are incredibly happy with the end result; one that’s rich with textures and warm with tones.

Thankfully the rule about the view wasn’t broken but was enhanced by the craftsmanship of both architect and interior designer. From a basic idea and an exquisite block of land, this coastal dwelling has evolved into so much more, being at one with the landscape as though it has always been there.

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LOWER FLOOR PLAN

N LEGEND LOWER FLOOR PLAN 1 Bedroom 2 Bathroom 3 Ensuite 4 Lift 5 Void 6 Jetty 7 Slipway and boat shed MIDDLE FLOOR PLAN 8 Kitchen and dining room 9 Entertainment 10 Living room 11 Laundry 12 Inclinator UPPER FLOOR PLAN 13 Master bedoom and ensuite 14 Deck 15 Garage 16 Driveway 17 Roof

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UPPER FLOOR PLAN

■ STRUCTURE Structural engineer Waddington PROJECT TEAM ■ INTERIOR DESIGNER Greg Natale (gregnatale.com) ■ ARCHITECT James de Soyres & Associates (02 9979 1823)

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Consulting (02 9976 0070) Contractor RW Stidwill Constructions (rwstidwill.com.au) Cladding Composite Fabrications (02 9559 2340) Opening Roof Vergola (vergolansw.com.au) FIXTURES & FITTINGS Appliances Winning Appliances (winningappliances.com.au) Window coverings Absol (absol.com.au), Blindmaster (blindmaster.com.au), Safetyline Jalousie (safetylinejalousie.com.au) Doors and windows Add-Vantage Systems Pty (avswindows.com.au) Fireplace Real Flame (realflame.com.au) Elevator PR King & Sons (prking.com.au) Joinery Janz Designs (02 9979 2538) Lighting Corporate Culture (corporateculture.com.au), Euroluce

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(euroluce.com.au), JSB Lighting (jsblighting.com. au), LA Lounge (lalounge.com.au) Tiles Sareen Stone (sareenstone.com.au) FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Rugs Designer Rugs (designerrugs.com.au) Beds De de ce (dedece.com), Globe West (globewest.com. au), Boyd Blue (boydblue.com) Bedside tables Poliform (poliform.com.au), Naturally Cane (naturallycane.com) Sofas De de ce (dedece. com), Jardan (jardan.com.au) Coffee table De de ce (dedece.com) Ottomans De de ce (dedece. com), Jardan (jardan.com.au) Dining chairs De de ce (dedece.com) Outdoor chairs Space Furniture (spacefurniture.com.au)Outdoor table KE-ZU (kezu.com.au) Side table Globe West (globewest.com.au)

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04

03

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02

GET THE Look

Combine simplicity with colour to get the suave style of this Greg Natale project 01

Le Soleil suspension lamp in red, designed by Vicente Garcia Jimenez for Foscarini, available from Space Furniture. spacefurniture.com.au

02 Tom Dixon spin table candelabra, available from Dedece. dedece.com

07 Stella table lamp in white from Zimba Innovative Homeware. zimba.com.au

08 White ceramic stool from Orson & Blake. orsonandblake.com.au

09 DePadova Lavenham executive chair in white, designed by Patricia Urquiola and available from Dedece. dedece.com

03 Fiori bevel mirror by Deknudt Home, available from Mostly Mirrors. mostlymirrors.com.au

10

Ray sofa with right chaise, designed

by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, available from Space Furniture. spacefurniture.com.au

11

New York black and white rug from Designer Rugs. designerrugs.com.au

04 Ikat blue-printed cotton cushion cover from Amber Trading. ambertrading.com.au

05 Clara glass side table in grey, beige and mocha from Beyond Furniture. beyondfurniture.com.au

05

06

06 Colour blocks hand-painted artwork from United Artworks. unitedartworks.com.au

07

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AUDACIOUS APARTMENT

LESS IS MORE This innovative design proves that a small space should never be underestimated WORDS / Karsha Green

PHOTOGRAPHY / Scott Burrows

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Rounded corners have been used to create a softness in a space that is almost void of soft furnishings

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AUDACIOUS APARTMENT

Although highly-reflective surfaces spread the natural light, LED lighting has been integrated into the joinery in task areas. One switch at the front door turns off all lights to save on energy consumption

Integrated lighting in the joinery subtly lights spaces while highlighting the geometric lines and additions to the existing building

W

e all want to maximise the space we have but the big question is, how do we do it? How can we make a small area appear bigger? Can we enhance natural light with minimal windows?

Can it still be a comfortable home for a young, growing family?

These were the challenges Rod and Simone Barr, of Daarc Architecture & Interiors, faced when they renovated their own family home. Being both the clients and the architects, Rod and Simone were able to push the boundaries of design, ignore trends and focus on creating a space that showcases solutions for compact living and, more importantly, represents who they are. “Adopting the attitude that bigger is not necessarily better, we were keen to explore the possibilities of overcoming some of the typical limitations of family life in high-density residential living,� says Simone.

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Beautiful Random Plank XL Graphite Slate Amtico tiles have been installed throughout the living area, with white grouting to continue the black-and-white contrast

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AUDACIOUS APARTMENT

A fish tank was installed between the kids’ room and the bathroom to allow natural light to flow into the bathroom while maintaining privacy

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

A combination of reflective surfaces and mixed finishes has turned their 130m² residence into a modern home that feels spacious. Simone describes the original ’90s-style apartment as having “lots of small, cramped spaces, a lack of cross ventilation and extensive use of mint-green laminate and beige/cream finishes”.

The couple converted the three bedrooms to two plus a home office, a move that instantly opened up the apartment.

This reconfiguration has also maximised ventilation and made good use of the few existing windows, enhancing natural light and allowing the outside world to be enjoyed from almost every angle.

Rod and Simone chose a dramatic aesthetic for the interior, including a monochrome palette and sharp lines.

Reflective surfaces are another key element, with each glossy facade mirroring light and scenery, a play that creates an illusion of vastness and amplifies natural light in the apartment.

“Reflection was the primary method used to make the space look bigger,” Simone says. “We’ve used it to make the best use of natural light and capture the external views from selected locations, whether from the ‘ghost’ reflections

Floor-to-ceiling mirrored wardrobes maximise the sense of space in the master bedroom. In hindsight, one thing Simone says she would do differently would be to “make the drawer wall in the bedroom deeper, allowing for even more shoes!”

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AUDACIOUS APARTMENT

“Adopting the attitude that bigger is not necessarily better, we were keen to explore the possibilities of overcoming some of the typical limitations of family life in high-density residential living” — Simone Barr on the walls, the ceiling bulkhead or the kitchen joinery ... even the fish tank that divides the kids’ rooms and the bathroom allow for natural light to pass into the bathroom, creating a positive energy in what is a very non-conformist but relaxing bathroom.”

Putting sharp aesthetics and quirky character aside, the couple also wanted to ensure the apartment would be comfortable to live in. But how do you make an almost allblack interior comfortable? While the new floorplan made the most of what the original building had to offer, the existing light fittings were replaced with LEDs and a “less is more” approach to furnishings has kept the space clutter-free.

Wherever possible, they’ve used finishes and materials free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

“Blue-light LEDs have been used to mimic — as close as possible — daylight conditions,” says Simone. “Low-VOC MDF (medium density fibreboard) was used for the joinery, as well as low-VOC paint finishes and carpet tiles. These achieve the Ecospecifier Green Tag, a green-rating-level ‘A’ certification. LED lighting has also reduced the energy bill by approximately 50 per cent.”

Bigger is not necessarily better. Not only does this compact design demonstrate you can make a huge impression with a small space, it proves you can maximise your interior without the use of light and bright colours.

The kids’ bedroom has more colour than any other room in the house. The Astro Turf wall and the carpet tiles with low-volatile organic compounds create a room that is more cosy than its monochrome counterparts

LEGEND 1 Entry 2 Kitchen 3 Lounge 4 Office 5 Kids’ room 6 Bathroom 7 Ensuite 8 Main bedroom 9 Balcony

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Advertising Feature

CONSTRUCTIONS With every new project it undertakes, the Jakin Construction Group is building more than bricks and mortar... it is building its reputation.

THAT REPUTATION IS ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED AND IS forged on quality craftsmanship, innovation, diversity, attention to detail, an ability to offer a total concept to completion package, and 100% customer satisfaction.

Jakin Construction Group is a multi-faceted company that operates as three separate entities; Jakin Constructions, Jakin Pools and Landscaping, and Jakin Excavations and Contracting.

Specialising in luxury home building, renovations, commercial development, pool & landscape design, construction & excavation contracting services in the Sydney region, no challenge big or small is too daunting for the Jakin Construction Group.

Owner James Watkin says the company was established in 2005 on the ‘I love a challenge’ philosophy.

“We do a variety of big and small projects but the more difficult the project; the more I want it and the more I enjoy it,” James said. “I like to think and be challenged; that keeps things interesting.”

Jakin Construction Group is unique in offering total project management from concept to completion, with an in-house architect and 23 expert staff.

“All our companies work together so we can offer a total package – one fixed quote, one warranty and one point of contact which is important for busy people,” James said. “I’d say 60 to 70 per cent of the houses we build will also want a pool so there is a natural synergy between our companies.”

Jakin Construction Group is willing to take on jobs that other companies might consider too challenging.

“I like projects that are a bit out of the ordinary,” James says. “We do a lot of difficult-to-access sites that are tight or hilly. We had one recent pool excavation where we had to use a crane to get an excavator over a house then down a 45-degree slope hill to work on site but we got it done.”

The company works mostly in high-end construction with an eye to innovation in building materials and methods.

“We like to use innovative materials and methods as they come on the market, this keeps us ahead of the competition and ensures our clientèle are always offered the best possible options, every time,” James said.

WWW.JAKIN.COM.AU Jakin Constructions is part of the Jakin Constructions Group.

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AWARD WINNER Jakin’s innovation and quality of work hasn’t gone unnoticed. James has been nominated three years in a row as the Master Builders Association of New South Wales Young Builder of the Year and his projects have been regularly lauded with a host of industry awards and nominations. In 2012 Jakin won the MBA award for the best house additions/alterations/ renovations worth $550,001–$650,000. The Naremburn renovation was recognised for its innovative use of non-standard building materials and expert blending of an existing cottage and a large modern extension. The extension includes a large amount of exposed steel beams, hardwood flooring and inventive use of Australian blue stone cladding.

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COST-SAVING INNOVATION A new project at Middle Cove has employed a variety of composite roofing materials and designs that result in not needing beams to support rafters. While sometimes employed in commercial developments, in this case the technique has been successfully transferred to a private residence. It is aesthetically pleasing and also cost efficient, saving about $35,000 for the client. Word of mouth endorsements have been fruitful for Jakin in the area –the company has completed five projects in one street in Middle Cove!

Advertising Feature ROOFTOP REFUGE Jakin recently completed a first for Mosman – a rooftop garden that provides a rare oasis in inner city Sydney and a relaxing view from the split level house’s master bedroom.

Not only does the ‘green’ roof over a rear extension look beautiful, it also has thermal and acoustic benefits and aids storm water retention. The roof is complemented by other energy-efficient features including specific glazing and ventilation, and rain water tanks.

Advertising Feature

PART OF LIFE The primary purpose of a Jakin pool is for swimming but that shouldn’t mean the pool area can’t be used around the year. A recent project in Arcadia created a pool, spa, fishpond and outdoor living area that flow seamlessly from the existing house and deck. “We design and build a pool for swimming but when it’s not in use it should also be a nice backdrop for functions or just relaxing and as part of your life,” James said. “Everything we do, we try to value add,” he added. Like all Jakin projects, high quality materials are used to ensure there are no problems. “The pools are set up so owners don’t have to worry about cleaning or chemicals. People are busy and pools should be about pure enjoyment,” James said. James and his team enjoy spreading their expertise. “I love building; it is my passion,’ he said. “I still get a kick out of seeing a finished product with a client that exceeds their expectations.”

CONSTRUCTIONS WWW.JAKIN.COM.AU Jakin Constructions is part of the Jakin Constructions Group.

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p164

ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING

p171

OUTDOOR LIVING & ENTERTAINING

p180

KITCHEN BEST BUYS

p188

BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS

p194

The freestanding Toulouse bath is a deep, double-ended bateau bath, shown here with the Amalfi 55 basin. vandabaths.com/aus

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A prefabricated garden room by Backyard Room makes for a perfect home office. Add a rooftop garden and you’ll get better insulation and will replace the garden space used for the structure

DESIGNING FOR CHANGE A family home should be able to grow with your family’s needs. Flexible spaces and a prefab addition will ensure your home is always a happy one WORDS / Kristin Utz

PHOTOGRAPHY / Marian Riabic

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s society changes, so do our housing needs. Factors such as the increasing cost of land and housing, a shortage of rental properties near the city, our ageing population, the increase of home-operated businesses and adult children living at home all play a part in the way we live and what we need from our homes.

Planning for these changing needs requires flexibility and lateral thinking to ensure each space can be adapted over time. You’ll need to make the most of the space you have and make every millimetre count, whether it’s as simple as installing built-in furniture or as complex as a major alteration and addition.

A well-designed prefabricated home off ice will integrate with your garden and give you the space — and peace and quiet — you need

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Before you buy your first home or complete your first renovation, it’s worth spending some time thinking about the future, such as where you would put a second bathroom and laundry and whether the site is suitable for a prefabricated addition. Think about rooms that could have multiple purposes, such as a baby’s room that could also be a study, a guest bedroom that could be a rumpus room or a garage that could be a granny flat.

BUILT-IN FURNITURE

A child’s bedroom doesn’t have to be big — not if it’s well designed. This bed includes integrated storage, which will make it easy to adapt the room as the child gets older. Project

by Utz Sanby Architects

Having a place to put things at the end of the day (or at least at the end of the week) will make a huge difference to how you feel about your home, particularly if you have small children with a lot of toys.

A built-in window seat or sofa, with storage drawers underneath, is a great way to make use of otherwise “dead” space. A seat can be installed along a wall or under a window, and bay windows can be built into existing walls. Both will provide additional seating as well as storage.

Built-in wardrobes and storage units are worth the additional cost if you can have them tailored to the exact size of your room or under-stair space. You’ll get the storage you need and they will integrate well with the overall look and feel of your home.

It is worth remembering that kids’ bedrooms do not have to be big if they are well designed. Shelving, lighting and beds with integrated storage can be adapted as your children get older. As with all investments, it’s worth doing some homework first. Give thought to what you want to store, take measurements and get some drawings done.

The built-in seating in this open-plan living room by Utz Sanby Architects offers a comfy place to sit and plenty of hidden storage. Just the thing for a growing family

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Built-in joinery is perfect for dividing rooms and saving space. This kitchen’s built-in seat features storage drawers that are opened by a recessed finger pull, avoiding the need for handles. Project by Utz Sanby Architects

With five generous storage drawers, the built-in sofa under the window keeps this coastal home clutter free. Project by Utz Sanby Architects

ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS When buying or renovating your home, you need to be careful about the location of the bathroom and laundry.

Make sure they are in a position where they can stay. If you decide to add to the home in the future, it’s best not to have to move any space that requires plumbing.

If you plan to eventually add a second storey, it is worth deciding early where the stairs will go. You will require a minimum width of 900mm and a length of at least 3m for a straight run of stairs and approximately 2m x 3m for a return stair with a landing, depending on the height between your floors.

If you are using an architect, it’s a good idea to look at different options for the future and get development approval for the whole scheme, including the future garage, cabana, pool or first-floor addition. You can then build in stages as your budget allows.

Be flexible and open to suggestions from professionals.

Sometimes using space in an unconventional way will give you more for less. If there is ample roof space, for example, a mezzanine could be built and used as a rumpus room, study or guest bedroom. You’ll save money by leaving the existing roof intact. Ceilings over bathrooms and kitchens can be lowered to 2.2m, which will give you extra head height for the rooms above.

MODULAR AND KIT HOMES With one in 10 workers operating from home and one in 12 employees working from home a couple of days a week, home offices are becoming increasingly important. There is also a need for additional accommodation for adult children (33 per cent of 24- to 34-year-olds still live at

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The built-in sofa in this Kangaroo Valley home is a real space saver, featuring a double bed within the base and large storage drawers for linen either side. Project by Utz Sanby Architects

Architects have tackled these challenges with good modular and kit homes, which are easily extended; you simply add more modules as you need them. The modules are a fixed size, usually determined by the method of construction or transportation used to get them to your site.

Christine McCorkell of The Backyard Room, which specialises in prefabricated home offices, garden rooms and studios, says times are good for the industry. “In the past five years, the Australian prefab homes industry has grown by almost 10 per cent as sea- and tree-changers, city slickers and apartment dwellers warm to factory-built housing,” she says.

Adding a new modular living room will allow you to convert your existing dining and sitting rooms to additional bedrooms or you could install a kitchen and have your current one converted to a bathroom and laundry. Among the benefits of renovating this way is that you have much greater control over your budget. You’ll save time because large components are built off-site in a factory that also installs your finishes, fixtures and fittings. Most modules are designed to meet fast-track planning criteria so (ideally) the approval process will take just three weeks. You will also save money because features such as the structural frame, doors, windows, cladding and internal finishes are built with standardised components.

Think about rooms that could have multiple purposes, such as a baby’s room that could also be a study, a guest bedroom that could be a rumpus room, or a garage that could be a granny flat The Pod System, designed by architect Kim Crestani, has different modules including a living room and kitchen, garage and rumpus, a granny pod and a parent getaway. Architects Bill McCorkell and David Martin from ArchiBlox in Victoria also create compact extensions, starting at just 2.2m x 2.4m. These can be used as a home office, studio, guest room or teenage retreat.

Depending on your home’s access and location, these extensions will arrive on the back of a truck either fully assembled or as a flat-pack to be constructed on-site in a few days. The first option has an even faster turnaround, with only joinery and connection to utilities required once the extension is on-site.

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A perfect example of a room with a dual purpose, this combined study and guest room has a combination of wardrobe space and drawers. Project by Utz Sanby Architects

“The Australian prefab homes industry has grown by almost 10 per cent as seaand tree-changers, city slickers and apartment dwellers warm to factorybuilt housing” — Christine McCorkell days. The first option has an even faster turnaround, with only joinery and connection to utilities required once the extension is on-site.

THE PREFAB PROCESS Prefabricated modules allow your existing home to remain untouched, which means you can live in your house while the extension is added. Key areas to consider are access to your site, planning requirements and the position and orientation of the addition. Professional advice is usually available as an optional extra to the delivery and selection of the right product for your site.

Christine of The Backyard Room talks with her clients to determine the best design and sustainability options for them, including the size, budget and orientation of

the addition. Then it’s down to details such as the choice of windows, layout and inclusions such as plumbing and electricity. Backyard rooms come with a rooftop garden option which has proved popular; it not only looks good and provides better insulation, it replaces the space in the garden that you’ve used up, thus maintaining biodiversity on the site.

A prefab addition is most cost-effective when it is built on a flat block and does not require modifications or changes.

If you have a sloping block, you will probably need to retain part of the site to provide a level platform for the prefab home. Earthworks more than 1m deep and retaining walls higher than 1m usually require planning permission and you’ll need to get advice from a structural engineer. As with all building projects, do your homework first and get a full costing before you start.

By using architect-designed prefabricated homes or modules, you’ll get the benefit of a well-planned space, quality materials and detailing, and excellent environmental design — aspects that project homes typically neglect.

The architect and builder will have collaborated to ensure the product satisfies design, environmental and aesthetic criteria, and is constructed with clever building techniques and appropriate materials.

For more information visit backyardroom.com.au, thepodsystem.com, prebuilt.com.au, maynardarchitects.com, quicksmarthomes.com.au

The Range

Real Flame are the industry leaders in fireplace design and manufacture.

Conceived, designed, researched, developed and built in Australia.

All of our products have been meticulously finished using only the highest quality materials, with style ranging from classic to contemporary.

We have a fireplace that will add value, warmth and ambience to any home.

Head Office 1340 Ferntree Gully Road Scoresby T 03 8706 2000 F 03 8706 2001 Richmond VIC 300 Swan Street T 03 9428 4443 F 03 9428 4445 Geelong VIC 2a Gordon Avenue T 03 5229 0844

Chatswood NSW 654 Pacific Highway T 02 8905 0189

Milton QLD 46 Douglas Street T 07 3368 2011

Miranda NSW 36 Kareena Road T 02 8513 6202

Osborne Park WA 47-53 McDonald Steet East T 08 9444 9900

Dandenong VIC 9 Lonsdale Street T 03 9791 9285

Fyshwick ACT 88 Wollongong Street T 02 6280 5522

Norwood SA 173 Magill Road T 08 8132 0371

www.realflame.com.au www.realfla

Leaders in Gas Fireplace Technology

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

THE GREEN LIGHT Opting for eco-friendly lighting is a small step that can make a big difference to the world we live in WORDS / Alexandra Longstaff

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hoosing lighting that is good for your home as well as the planet can be challenging. You’ll need to think about the materials used, electricity consumption, ethical production and transportation methods. It might seem confusing at first, but it’s actually as clear as mud, so to speak. Over the following pages we talk to some of Australia’s best designers and producers of eco-friendly lighting and take a peek at some of the innovative and beautiful designs currently available.

The LEDlux Livino 21W 138cm modern LED moulded pendant with warm white globes and a matt finish. beaconlighting.com.au

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Seed by Grandelier. stateofgreen.com.au

ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING

IN THE KNOW Grand Designs Australia asked four eco-friendly lighting experts what to look for when shopping for sustainable lighting.

Here are their thoughts on the matter

Upcycled bike-part chandelier by Carolina Fontoura Alzaga. facaro.com

IN FOCUS WITH JENNY TRANTER OF STATE OF GREEN

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here’s no need to stay in the dark when it comes to eco-friendly lighting options. There are so many effective lighting solutions available today that can lower your carbon footprint, reduce your household energy consumption and, in the long-term, lessen the load on your hip pocket.

Eco light fittings and globes have come a long way in terms of style and functionality in recent years. Sustainable timbers, recycled plastics

and upcycled designs can now be paired with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED bulbs that complement a wide range of architectural styles and applications.

Of course, the most eco-friendly form of lighting is natural light but when it comes time to flick on the switch, CFLs and LEDs are the way to go. The traditional incandescent globe may be cheap to purchase but this is soon outweighed by its high level of heat emission, energy consumption and its relatively short lifespan, which drives up the cost of electricity.

LED globes can last an amazing 60,000 hours (up to 50 years based on two-and-a-half to three hours of daily use) and CFLs can last up to 15,000 hours. Not bad when stacked up against the 2000-hour lifespan estimated for an incandescent globe.

In style and functionality stakes, LED and CFL lights were once the ugly ducklings of lighting design, often hidden deep within their light shades. They weren’t dimmable and their aesthetics fell far below smart architectural incandescent designs. Thankfully, a broad range of options is now available in the form of downlights that feature warm and cool light, are dimmable, directional and offer a choice of coloured rims.

Exposed globe pendants are on-trend at the moment and to complement this, you can get what looks like a traditional incandescent-style globe with glittering diamond-like LEDs that make the globe a standalone feature. Equally, CFLs are now available in eye-catching organic spiral twists that have proved so popular they have been added to the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. But eco lighting goes beyond the globe.

Inspiring designers are increasingly examining the product’s entire lifecycle and are incorporating sustainable design principles into every aspect of the light’s production. Designer Loz Abberton of Who Did That uses Chain Of Custody certified Tasmanian blackwood and oak throughout her laser-cut pendant range, which requires no tools for construction, is flatpacked and easily shipped to its destination.

Off-cuts are transformed into delicate brooches, minimising waste and maximising the use of every piece of timber.

Companies are also doing innovative things, such as the Sydney firm Design By Them, which runs a product stewardship program that accepts the return of its products for repair, reuse or recycling. US-based artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga is putting an entirely

Cotton by Grandelier. stateofgreen.com.au

new spin on eco lighting by transforming discarded bike parts into huge statement chandeliers. Meanwhile, other designers are using traditional Japanese origami techniques to create modern paper-based shades. These pair perfectly with cool LED light globes and are recyclable at the end of their use.

So there it is in a nutshell. There really is no excuse for sticking to older styles once your incandescents blow. Eco-friendly lighting will save you money in the long-term and, more importantly, you will be contributing to a better environment for everyone.

For more information, visit stateofgreen.com.au

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Plumen Drop Cap pendants. surrounding.com.au

Snowpuppe paper origami shades. studiosnowpuppe.nl

Cotton by Grandelier. stateofgreen.com.au Plumen bulbs with Boskke sky planters. surrounding.com.au

Edison light globe. edisonlightglobes.com

Plumen Drop Cap pendants. surrounding.com.au

D900 2.0 fascias. brightgreen.com

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IN FOCUS WITH LAURENT DEMAY OF TEXTURA

I Decafe Kojis suspension light, designed by Raul Lauri. textura.com.au

n response to today’s environmental concerns, we’re seeing more and more sustainable and eco-friendly lighting options. Designers have been challenged to create new designs that use sustainable materials without compromising on functionality and aesthetics. Of course, the most eco-friendly source of lighting we know of is daylight. But once the natural light has been assessed in a specific area, electric lighting can be designed to complement the day’s light and take over when the daylight fades.

Natural and electric lighting should be considered an extension of the architecture, not just something installed to enable people to see. It’s one of the most critical — and visceral — qualities of an indoor space. Good and bad lighting can make or break comfort, mood and overall happiness in your home.

One of the best examples of sustainable and eco-friendly lighting is the range released by young Spanish designer Raul Lauri. With coffee being one of the most traded commodities in the world and playing such an important part in people’s lives and habits, Raul came up with the fantastic idea of creating homewares and lights out of used coffee grinds.

He uses traditional culinary techniques and a natural binder to retain the beautiful texture and aroma of the coffee grinds. His lights are aesthetic, functional, sustainable and eco-friendly, all in one. The result of much experimentation, lots of patience and enthusiasm, they won the 2012 Salone Satellite Award in Milan.

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Decafe Kamaria suspension light, designed by Raul Lauri. textura.com.au

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IN FOCUS WITH NIKKI LISLE OF SALA VERDE

Basket pendants from Sala Verde. salaverde.com.au

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hopping for eco-friendly lighting can shine a light on a range of issues, not least the costs we all pay for cheap production methods. To make a sensible choice, you’ll need to begin by considering the space you want to illuminate and what you want from your lighting. From here, you’ll need to choose a light fitting or luminaire (the complete light unit).

And then there’s the globe. This aspect gets quite technical but thankfully there is a lot of information out there about the energy and money you can save with compact fluorescents (CFLs) and LED globes versus the old energy-sucking incandescent and halogen options.

You’ll also need to ask just how eco-friendly the luminaire itself is. When purchasing a light fitting (or any homeware) there is so much more to consider than simply the design and the price. Our ethos at Sala Verde is to tread lightly and ethically when it comes to the products we source or have made. There is a string of questions we ask that help us consider the whole cradle-to-grave effect that the product has on the environment and its makers. These questions may also help you make better buying decisions.

WHAT’S IT MADE OF?

Curly rattan pendant from Sala Verde. salaverde.com.au

Look for products that are made of natural materials such as rattan, wood, bamboo, cane, linen, hemp, abaca (a leaf fibre), rubber and paper. These are renewable, biodegradable materials that require little, if any, energyintensive or chemical manufacturing processes. If choosing wood products, it’s wise to research the origin of the wood. At Sala Verde we look for Forestry Stewardship Council certification so we know that the wood is from a responsibly managed forest. We reject products made from illegally forested or

endangered wood and we encourage our suppliers to use more sustainable alternatives.

IS IT RECYCLED? Choose products that have been wholly or partly reused or recycled. This particularly applies to products made of metal, glass or plastic. Extracted from the earth at great environmental cost, metals are a fi nite resource and should be recycled at the end of a product’s life. Plastics are also problematic. They can choke marine life and leach parabens and toxins, so you should think carefully about the plastic products you buy. Try to buy items made from recycled plastic.

DOES IT SMELL BAD? If a product smells bad, it’s probably giving off toxic chemical vapours. They’re called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can cause problems ranging from headaches to more serious organ damage. VOCs are found in many paints, varnishes, fabric protectors and foams.

If you can’t avoid a product with VOCs, make sure the room it’s in is well ventilated; many VOCs keep “off-gassing” for months.

WHO MADE IT? Where possible, try to find out if the makers of the product are paid fairly, treated well and work in a safe environment. Often when you buy a cheap product, the person who “pays” for your discount is the one who made it. Stop and think about them. We’d all rather buy things made by happy people.

GET THE FULL STORY The more you know about the origins and provenance of the product, the more interesting it will be to you and others who admire your style. Invest in something well made and you’ll have it and love it for longer.

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Garlic pendants from Sala Verde. salaverde.com.au

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ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING Touch glass light

by Ross Gardam. rossgardam.com.au

IN FOCUS WITH ROSS GARDAM

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hen I design furniture and lighting, I always consider the environmental impact of the materials I use, plus the use of the product, its durability, manufacturing process, energy use and the transport it will require.

These things are all factored into the design process and ideally the outcome is a product fit for market.

Everything I produce is manufactured in Melbourne. Local artisans use traditional manufacturing techniques to craft all of my lights. My Oak lights are made using timber certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council.

The manufacturer that processes the timber has a Chain of Custody document that explains where the timber has come from during each stage of production, from plantation to product.

The manufacturer also has an environmental management system that ensures best practice in manufacturing. All these things are important to me when setting up manufacturing processes for my products.

My glass Touch lights are hand-blown in Melbourne and if there are any seconds in the process, the glass goes straight back into the melting pot. Glass, like the stoneware material used in my Glaze light, is a natural material.

Obviously, I also need to consider the energy consumption of my lighting products. Heat is a concern with my Oak lights so they can only be used with a compact fluorescent or LED globe, which are both eco options in terms of energy consumption and the life of the globe. With the Touch lights, I offer a filament globe and an LED globe. The LED globe consumes less energy, has a longer life and does a good job of mimicking the filament, but it is still not as beautiful. This will change as LED technology gets better and it’s moving fast. No doubt, I will be dealing with completely different globes in two years’ time.

Oak light by Ross Gardam. rossgardam.com.au

Glaze light by Ross Gardam. rossgardam.com.au

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Hybrid-Fyre™ Technology

The Very Latest In Wood Fire Technology

The Large Flush Wood Insert is by far, the cleanest burning, large insert on the market. Featuring the cutting edge, Hybrid-Fyre™ Technology. The fusion of advanced wood combustion and Catalytic technology have given us the ultra-green, Hybrid-Fyre™ .

Available With

One Touch Igntion O

You Can Now Start a Wood Fire with the Push of a button...

GreenSmart™ Technology - 4 Media Options, Multiple Face Options

Lopi - Fireplaces for a changing environment LOPI WOOD & GAS FIREPLACES AVAILABLE FROM Over 60 outlets nationally

APPLICATIONS Residential and commercial

FOR MORE INFORMATION Telephone: 1800 064 234 Email: info@lopi.com.au Web: www.lopi.com.au

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OUTDOOR LIVING & ENTERTAINING

HERE COMES THE SUN Summer is on its way, so it’s time to extend your home’s entertaining space and head outside WORDS / Danielle Townsend

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HEATING Not all parts of Australia are scorching hot in summer. On those chilly nights, or even just to add atmosphere, try these outdoor heating options 01 ECOSMART Standing 137cm high, EcoSmart Fire’s FLARE outdoor fire commands attention with its elevated, luminous flame.

Housed in a tough, mouth-blown glass cylinder and featuring a textured, powder-coated black finish, FLARE produces a warm, ambient and inviting flame. Powered by environmentallyfriendly bioethanol, the flame originates from the efficient AB3 burner and delivers up to eight hours’ use, with no flue or chimney required. Use as a solitary centrepiece or group together for impact. ecosmartfire.com

02 BLACK AND STONE Extend your living space year-round with designer-style outdoor heating. VioFlame’s range creates an elegant outdoor living space, regardless of the season. Fuelled by ethanol, the latest VioFlame firetables are clean-burning and eco-friendly, 05

providing immediate heat without mess.

The firetables are visually exciting, with bright-burning flames and functional due to the warmth they generate.

Left: The VFFTM43SQ firetable is square in design with a wide marble tabletop.

Centre: With its ornate design, the VFFTM13 outdoor heating solution is great for patios or smaller outdoor entertaining areas. With a marble top and black metal finish, this functional firetable can be moved easily. Right: The VFFTM26R firetable is a statement piece, with an ornate marble tabletop and a rustic brown metal base. This is a beautifully warm outdoor centrepiece to gather around. blackandstone.com.au

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05 JAMIE DURIE PATIO

03 BRASA – BEYOND COOL A Brasa ventless fireplace is fully portable, can be used indoors and out and is a simple way to add fire to any setting. Place it in an existing masonry hearth as a replacement for a traditional

fired outdoor heater that adds atmosphere and warmth to outdoor entertaining areas.

This heater has an optional barbecue pizza oven attachment that slots on top of the chimney to convert it to a wood-fired oven. Bottom: his cast-iron fire pit bowl comes with the stand and is available in either 80cm, 100cm or 120cm diameter. aussieheatwave.com.au

log or gas fire or use it as a portable fireplace. The sleek design with glass panels allows for maximum fire visibility.

Made of powder-coated carbon steel with tempered safety glass, this design is available in slate and white. beyondcool.com.au

04 AUSSIE HEATWAVE FIREPLACES Top: The Aussie Heatwave Chiminea is an Australian-made cast-iron wood-

Left: The cast-iron fire pit from the Patio collection by Jamie Durie is a perfect feature piece for an outdoor space. Its open circular bowl is 60cm in diameter and has a heat-resistant finish that makes it low maintenance.

Suitable for burning wood and charcoal, this fire pit is the perfect shape for a cosy gathering around the open flame. Right: This square fire pit, also from the Patio collection, has stainless-steel legs and doubles as an outside heater and open-fire barbecue.

You can keep the fire enclosed and enjoy the heat it radiates with a removable lid or remove it for cooking.

Use with firewood and barbecue briquettes. bigw.com.au

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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ALFRESCO DINING

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Enjoy everything an Aussie summer has to offer by dining outdoors 01 MYALFRESCO MyAlfresco has launched Australia’s first all-weather outdoor kitchen. The range allows you to mix and match items to create your desired look and includes barbecues and hoods, glass-back bar fridges, pizza ovens, kitchen sinks and taps. This means you can design a tailormade outdoor kitchen to complement your outdoor space. The outdoor kitchen system is highly flexible, with a variety of colours for benchtops and cabinetry. A range of modules allows for the perfect configuration. myalfresco.com

02 OPTOCO The compact 12-inch barbecue from Optoco, with black plastic handles, food grill and stainless-steel feet, is easy to move. optocoonline.com

03 SPIRAL CELLARS Spiral Cellars’ underground wine cellars offer a flexible and unique system for storing fine wines. A watertight cylindrical concrete system is sunk into the earth through the ground floor of a house or from the convenience of a garden room.

The size options offer great flexibility. spiralcellars.com.au

04 LOTUS GRILL The smokeless charcoal barbecue from LotusGrill will have you cooking in just three minutes. Now in a larger 44cm x 26cm size and with a firm-fitting thermostat lid and a pizza/teppanyaki stone, the LotusGrill XL allows you to cook for the whole family on a balcony or backyard, at the beach or when camping and picnicking. Combining all the features of the original model, the LotusGrill XL features new colours, an extra-tall lid and an extra-large cooking surface. Use it to smoke meat, grill, cook a pizza or roast a chicken. lotusgrill.com.au

400°C thermostat. This sleek, beautifully designed built-in appliance is crafted from high-quality marine-grade stainless steel.

Right: The Smeg BIBQ1205AF has a sleek lid (in place of a hood) that doubles as a splashback when the barbecue is in use and a protective cover when it’s not. All outer surfaces are made from 316 marine-grade stainless steel, while the cooking surfaces are 304 commercial-grade stainless steel. smeg.com.au

05 IKEA KLASEN is a new modular-type barbecue and storage trolley range with a stainlesssteel or solid eucalyptus top. ikea.com.au 04

06 SMEG Left: The Smeg BIBQ1205AH barbecue features a double-insulated hood that provides a safe-touch exterior, plus a stainless-steel warming rack and a

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OUTDOOR LIVING & ENTERTAINING

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ACCESSORIES The designer touch isn’t limited to a home’s interior; add it to your outdoor space too 01 THE TOUCAN SHOP Made from 100 per cent soft cotton, this handmade hammock is elegant, stylish and comfortable. Its production supports fair trade and traditional cultures. thetoucanshop.com

02 THE TOUCAN SHOP This red crochet hammock with beautiful crocheted edge was handmade by Nicaraguan artisans using a double-weave technique. thetoucanshop.com

03 TAIT Tait’s Orbit is a custom-designed outdoor screen that is modern yet artistic and injects colour and personality into an entertaining space. Designed by Gordon Tait, the delicately patterned piece can be hung flat like a piece of art or suspended from a tree or verandah beam. Made from

powder-coated aluminium or Corten, Orbit is available in a range of colours and two standard sizes of 600mm and 1200mm, with custom sizes available. madebytait.com.au

04 FLORENCE BROADHURST Right: The reversible Cockatoo 55cm cushion in yellow is made of 400-hour UVand mildew-resistant outdoor polyester fabric. From Florence Broadhurst Home.

Left: Made of 400-hour UV- and mildewresistant outdoor polyester fabric, the Cockatoo 55cm cushion in red, from Florence Broadhurst Home, is reversible. florencebroadhursthome.com.au

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05 KUSH LIVING The Lauren Stripe cushion and floor cushion are suitable for the outdoors and are available in three designs and two styles. kushliving.com.au 05 04

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09 NEOPOLITAN HOMEWARES

Sourced in India and made from 100 per cent recycled polypropylene plastic bags, these colourful fair-trade rugs really do reuse, recycle and reduce. The crisp colours and coral motif make this Marbella rug a very versatile piece. One side has more aqua, while the other has more white. ecochic.com.au

RICE’s hanging metal lanterns, designed in Denmark, are perfect for any day or night of the year. Illuminate your garden with soft candlelight and create a fabulous summer feel in the warmer months. Available in jade green, dark lavender and magenta. neapolitan.net.au

07 FABRIC TRADERS Outdoor chevron cushion cover in Blue Moon. Made from 100 per cent polyester, this is a hard-wearing cushion cover.

Available in 45cm x 45cm and 55cm x 55cm. fabrictraders.com.au

08 RAPEE Top: Rapee cushions in double-sided Resort Stripe (in Mandarin, Fuchsia and Laguna) and Amazon polyester. Left: Rapee’s summer 2014 outdoor collection features bold geometrics and botanicalinspired motifs. This bright and colourful outdoor range will create an inspired outside area. Shown here are the Resort Diamante and Resort Botanical cushions.

Right: Rapee’s double-sided Resort Diamante and Resort Botanical polyester cushions in Laguna. rapee.com.au

10 FABRIC TRADERS Outdoor cushion cover in Bell Meridian Blue. Made from 100 per cent polyester, this cushion is perfect for outdoor conditions. Available in 45cm x 45cm or 55cm x 55cm. fabrictraders.com.au

11 AERO DESIGNS With UPF50 UV protection and waterrepellant fabric, this beach umbrella provides protection from the sun and rain.

Available in blue, green, yellow and red. aerodesigns.com.au

12 FURNITURE RUNWAY Add colour with the bold Bells Beach Sunshine round ottoman. The durable 100 per cent Olefin fabric withstands outdoor use. Arrange a few around a coffee table for casual seating or around the pool. furniturerunway.com.au

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13 KUSH LIVING The Scarborough box cushion has handy carry handles and is available in two striped designs. kushliving.com.au

candle holders and votives puts traditional craftsmanship in a contemporary setting.

The large lantern shown has a 44cm diameter. papaya.com.au

14 THE TOUCAN SHOP

18 ECO CHIC

This green handmade hammock in 100 per cent cotton is available in a range of colours and sizes. thetoucanshop.com

The geometric motif of the Madrid rug makes it a versatile two-way design. It is reversible and looks equally good on both sides; one has more yellow, one has more white. Robust and versatile, the rugs are at home on the deck, at the beach or in the garden. ecochic.com.au

15 THE TOUCAN SHOP This cream hammock has been crafted with a double-weave technique. It has a beautiful crocheted edge and is crafted in 100 per cent soft cotton. thetoucanshop.com

16 THE TOUCAN SHOP This turquoise-blue hammock is graceful, stylish, comfortable and handmade by Nicaraguan artisans using a double weave technique. thetoucanshop.com

17 PAPAYA The Marrakesh range of metal lanterns,

19 FABRIC TRADERS The giant palm leaf cushion cover from Fabric Traders is 55cm x 55cm and made of heavy-duty outdoor fabric. fabrictraders.com.au

20 KUSH LIVING The Lauren Stripe box cushion is an outdoor seating accessory for the floor. It’s available in two striped designs to match other coordinated items. kushliving.com.au

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GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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FURNITURE Outdoor furniture has forged ahead in recent years and can be a real statement piece in any outdoor space 01 POLYWOOD AUSTRALIA

05 RETYRED FURNITURE

This reclining Adirondack chair is constructed from eco-friendly Polywood and has all the appeal and strength of a real timber chair without the splinters, warping or cracking. polywoodoutdoors.com.au

These pool chairs are made from recycled tyres. retyredfurniture.com

02 POLYWOOD AUSTRALIA The Chippendale garden bench, made of eco-friendly yet durable HDPE Polywood, provides the look of painted timber without the maintenance. polywoodoutdoors.com.au

03 AMORY LOCURA The retro-style Solair chair is comfortable, durable and fun. Created by designers Fabiano and Panzini in 1972 in Canada, the chair is made from an enamelled steel frame with a UV-protected moulded plastic seat. Available in black, white, grey, beige, apple green, orange, yellow, sky blue and berry. amorylocura.com

04 POLYWOOD AUSTRALIA The hardy Chippendale dining setting is made of eco-friendly Polywood. polywoodoutdoors.com.au

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06 JAMIE DURIE Top: Metropolitan is a four-piece setting from the Patio collection by Jamie Durie.

The easy-to-assemble, compact design makes it ideal for a balcony, courtyard or outdoor space. Made of FSC-certified eucalyptus with a balau oil finish, the setting includes two chairs, one coffee table and one two-seater. Bottom: The Fremantle modular armless chair and Fremantle modular ottoman from the Patio collection is also made from FSCcertified eucalyptus with a balau oil finish.

They come with turquoise-and-grey-striped scatter cushions to complement the brown linen fabric and sturdy timber construction. bigw.com.au

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07 BAY GALLERY FURNITURE The oversized Sahara 8 dining suite has a 1.7mm-thick powder-coated aluminum frame, a genuine solid teak tabletop and is woven with UV- and weather-resistant PE wicker. baygallery.com.au

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OUTDOOR LIVING & ENTERTAINING

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08 BAY GALLERY

09 IKEA

The Oasis outdoor lounge set (two single armchairs, a centre sofa and coffee table) is pictured here in charcoal with off-white cushions. It’s made with 1.7mm-thick powder-coated aluminium and woven with weather- and UV-resistant PE wicker. The coffee table has 5mm-thick tempered glass and a cushion converts it into an ottoman.

Ten modular pieces can be arranged to suit your individual area. baygallery.com.au

Applaro gazebo, Applaro sofa combination and Skarpo chair in white. ikea.com.au

10 FANULI FURNITURE Left: The Compas seat, designed by Patrick Norguet and available from Fanuli Furniture, offers a polypropylene seat and back, and legs that are made of pressure die-cast aluminium with a

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Low-maintenance, durable finishes are ultra important for furniture and accessories that are fully or partly exposed to nature’s elements weatherproof epoxy lacquer finish. The Compas stackable dining chairs can be used indoors and out.Right: The TNP table from Fanuli Furniture was designed by Christophe Pillet. It has a cast-iron finish and all parts are lacquered in three colours: white, black and red. fanuli.com.au

11 AERO DESIGNS This lightweight yet sturdy outdoor chair is made from aluminium and outdoor mesh, and features a unique laser-cut floral design in the back. Available in white, silver, black, yellow, red and blue. aerodesigns.com.au

12 CONCREATE The chunky, tactile Concreate Harvest table in Raw with live wheatgrass is a replica of the Emily Wettstein timber table.

Choose your own specifications including the option of a herb garden that will give you the chance to dine with fresh herbs at your fingertips. concretebenchtops.com

13 ECO CHIC Functional and fabulous, these director chairs are made of white bamboo. The striped fabric sling will add seaside chic to any pool area. Available in yellow, blue, green or red stripes. ecochic.com.au

Turn your house into a home.

www.completehome.com.au pinterest.com/completehomeau

twitter.com/completehome

facebook.com/completehome.com.au

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KITCHEN BEST BUYS

25 KITCHEN best buys What do you need for a stellar kitchen makeover? Here’s our top five sinks, splashbacks, ovens, appliances and cabinetry WORDS / Karen Miles

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SINKS & TAPS 01 ALL LIT UP Franke’s Pyra light has a unique watergenerated coloured light that changes progressively from blue for cold to red for hot, indicating the water temperature. renovationboys.com.au

02 BLACK LABEL This limited-edition high-gloss Acquello single black fireclay sink is the new Mercedes of kitchen design. The sink’s generous size accommodates large pans and oven trays and pairs to perfection with Perrin & Rowe’s new Black Collection ceramic tapware. englishtapware.com.au

03 MAKE MINE SPARKLING Why have a tap at home that offers boiled,

filtered and chilled water when you can add sparkling to the mix? Drink up — it’s a fraction of the cost of bottled water. zipindustries.com

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04 MIX IT UP The Pegasi mixer in Midnight Black is an Australian creation by Faucet Strommen. It comes with a standard 15-year guarantee and a welcome price tag. mitchamplumbtec.com.au

05 TO BE FRANKE Franke’s single-bowl sink inset in black is a modern, industrial-inspired top-mount sink made from tectonite carbon. Its good looks equal its scratch-, stain- and chipresistance. masters.com.au

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SPLASHBACKS & TILES 01 SPLASHBACK TV

02 TILE PLANKING

Don’t limit your TV time to the lounge room when you can watch your favourite cooking program with a TV “hidden” in your splashback. Select your screen size from 21in up to 64in+ and the size and opacity of the glass, then watch your TV disappear when switched off. rabonesystems.com.au

Plank format tiles offer an elongated tile option that re-imagines the look of timber flooring. This durable porcelain tile draws inspiration from the qualities found in natural stone and offers a seamless indoor/outdoor transition. ambertiles.com.au 05

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03 MOSAIC SLABS Trend mosaic slabs add multiple dimensions of light, texture and colour to traditional mosaic splashbacks with their sparkling combination of tile sizes mounted on a thin and flexible backing board that can be quickly installed directly over existing surfaces. granitetransformations.com.au.

04 IN THE BLACK Brick is most definitely back with this stunning glazed Nobel brick splashback that takes centre stage in this awardwinning Teneriffe warehouse apartment.

Developed with leading colourists and design houses, the bricks are available in a limitless range of colours and textures. pghbricks.com.au

05 NEW FORM Love the look of distressed industrial concrete and lush polished marble?

Create this contemporary studio look with Formwork Grigio — an innovative Italian collection of porcelain tiles that recreate the look of natural stone. perini.com.au

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KITCHEN BEST BUYS

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HOME COOKING 01 COOKING FREEDOM The Siemens 80cm Free Induction Cooktop offers one large cooking zone for pots, pans and trays of all sizes, plus automatic pan recognition. Together with the 6.5in coloured touchscreen control panel and integrated cooling fan, this is seamless integration at its best. siemens-home.com.au

02 CUSTOM OVEN Cook three items at once without mixing aromas and flavours, customise your oven by uploading your recipes and family

photos via USB, choose from 82 cooking programs and cut down on clean time with nano-coating technology in the glass door. All this is possible with Beko’s European-made InnovaChef 60cm built-in multifunction oven. beko.com.au

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03 AUSSIE ICON

04 BBQ BUILT-IN

05 HOME CHEF

If your cooking talent is limited to eggs on toast, make it a Florence Broadhurst work of art. Adorned with Flo Bro’s iconic Japanese floral print, this Sunbeam appliance is retro inspired. davidjones.com.au

If you’re a barbecuing type, check out this stylish take on an indoor built-in barbecue with five burners, perfect heat distribution, lean design and a clever grease dispersal system that drains oil away from your cooking. smeg.com.au

In need of an oven that advises the best temperature, shelf height and cooking time for 50 recipes? Smeg ensures perfect cooking results via a touch-me LED display. smeg.com.au

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GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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APPLIANCES & ACCESSORIES 01 SHOW OFF If you’re a MasterChef, then get your knives out on display and ready for a cook-off with this clean-lined Softtouch magnetic knife rack. The special Softtouch skin won’t scratch your knives and will hold up to five blades at a time. cambur.com.au

02 URBAN CULTIVATOR This indoor home garden grows sprouts, herbs and fresh vegies year-round. Your greens will be pesticide- and herbicide-free and packed with twice as many nutrients

as store-bought greens. Choose between a cutting-board top, freestanding or underbench option. urbancultivator.net

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03 FASHION FOCUS Chanel, Gucci and Derek Lam’s Spring/Summer collections glittered with embellished garments — and so too does the black mirror-effect finish of the LG 951L five-door, door-in-door refrigerator with Swarovski crystals. This design recognises the importance of personal style in the kitchen. lg.com/au

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04 WI-FI FRIDGE

05 SCRUB UP

When even your fridge comes Wi-Fienabled and preloaded with apps, you know you’ve moved on from the coveted 1980s ice dispenser (which this fridge has as well). Samsung’s 801L Wi-Fi four-door fridge has four temperature zones, LED lighting, a foldable shelf and spill-proof tempered glass. appliancesonline.com.au

Get your dishes clean and dry in less time and with less energy with Siemens’ speedMatic tallTUB XXL dishwasher. It handles plastic, comes fully integrated and has a colour display that shows wash program selection, water and energy consumption, and a time light that projects the remaining wash time on the floor. winningappliances.com.au

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CABINETRY & HARDWARE 01 CLOSED CASE

02 STORE IT

For a smooth, soft-close drawer system, check out Hettich’s ArciTech. This system allows for effortless opening and unparalleled smooth and uninterrupted closing, plus unequalled stability and strength on runners with 40kg, 60kg and 80kg loading capacity. hettich.com.au

Create extra storage space in your existing kitchen cupboards and under-sink nooks with stainless-steel wireware. You can transform cabinets of just about every shape and size, plus they’re a DIY install with a lifetime warranty. tansel.com.au

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03 SO NEAT Keep your cabinet handles, wireware and the internal hardware of your kitchen drawers and doors grime-free with Spit & Polish Chrome & Stainless Steel Cleaner, a natural cleaning option designed specifically for stainless steel and chrome with no nasty chemicals. murchison-hume.com

04 LIFE SORTED We know that equipping your base cabinets with drawers and pull-outs optimises space and ergonomics but now you can get Martha-Stewart-organised with Blum’s Tandembox antaro drawer system, which allows you to see the contents at a glance. That means no more digging out things from the back of your cupboard. blum.com.au

05 JAPANESE PEAR Featuring a luxurious 3D edge, this high-gloss Japanese Pear acrylic door finish offers an exceptional modern glass effect and a deceptively glazed appearance. masters.com.au

Stainless Steel Grates & Drains at an Affordable Price.

Available in 5 designs.

Suitable for both Internal & External use.

Stock lengths: 600mm, 700mm, 800mm, 900mm, 1000mm, 1200mm, 1500mm, 1800mm. We also do Custom Drains. Fast delivery Australia wide.

BUY ONLINE & SAVE www.showerdrains.com.au Why buy plastic when you can get Stainless Steel at a better price!

82-88 Benaroon Road, Belmore NSW 2192 I (02) 9740 1500

w w w. s h o w e r d r a i n s . c o m . a u

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BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS

AND SO TO BED Three stunning master bedrooms meet their perfect ensuite WORDS / Karen Miles

BYZANTINE Byzantine queen-size quilt cover set from Linen House. linenhouse.com.au KEY ELEMENTS TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK… Velvet adds classic luxury and warmth Mirrored surfaces create a measured sparkle Blues — navy in particular — introduce a calm grandeur Layering colour and texture creates discerning detail Button detailing on a French-inspired headboard defines this style

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

FRENCH CHIC A spacious, French-inspired bathroom is the ideal ensuite for an elegant bedroom

TOULOUSE The freestanding Toulouse bath is a deep, double-ended bateau bath, shown here with the Amalfi 55 basin. vandabaths.com/aus DESIGN YOUR BATHROOM TO INCLUDE‌ A traditional but simple-statement tub A colour palette with soft whites and neutrals Freestanding, hand-carved furniture with modest fixtures Exposed brickwork to add authenticity Whitewashed floorboards and boiserie (ornate panelling)

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Bathroom designed by Tonka Andjelkovic

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HANSGROHE Hansgrohe PuraVida tapware. hansgrohe.com.au

The perfect ensuite for a modern bedroom is a restrained white-onwhite bathroom

DESIGN YOUR BATHROOM TO INCLUDE‌ Freestanding tub and tapware Contemporary chrome finishes White porcelain and marble surfaces Angular accessories that add movement and drama Tidy spaces with hideaway storage

MODERN MINIMALIST Milano Furniture Dylan bed insoft leather. milanofurniture.com.au

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

DYLAN KEY ELEMENTS TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK‌ Furniture with clean and contemporary lines A colour palette based on white, black and greys Pared-back artworks and decorative detail Beiges through to chocolate tones will bring a cosy warmth Stainless steel and crystal will add the final polish

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ISLAND HOME CHINTZ The KAS Chintz quilt set is handpainted with tailored pleating. kasaustralia.com.au

KEY ELEMENTS TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK… Neutral walls and flooring create a blank canvas for colour Flashes of oriental, garden-inspired fuchsia, lime and turquoise Hand-painted finishes and floral accents Mixed patterns such as a contemporary chevron and tropical weave Carefree styling like you’ve just arrived back from the beach

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SCAVOLINI The bathroom becomes a haven in glossy turquoise glass by BLU Scavolini. bluscavolini.com

DESIGN YOUR BATHROOM TO INCLUDE‌ Colour blocking, like turquoise on white Cantilevered, minimalist cabinetry Fresh oriental flowers to soften the space Reflective surfaces such as mirrors and chrome A floor-to-ceiling window with a private view

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Glasshouse OAHU hand crème and triple-scented candle, glasshouse.com.au; Urban Rituelle pomegranate lip balm and soy wax candle, urbanrituelle.com.au; MOR marshmallow sugar body scrub, morcosmetics.com; Tulip pressed-tin splashback, pressedtin.com.au; Caesarstone London Grey benchtop. caesarstone.com.au

LITTLE LUXURIES Decorate your bathroom with beautiful arrangements of exquisitely packaged beauty products

Cocco organic macadamia hand & nail crème, cocco.com.au; MOR candied vanilla almond soap, blood-orange soapette and perfume oil, morcosmetics. com.au; Cosentino Silestone Blanco Matrix splashback, silestone.com/oceania; Caesarstone London Grey benchtop. caesarstone.com.au

Cocco Astoria shower and body wash and intense beauty crème, cocco.com. au; MOR honey nectar soap, morcosmetics.com.au; Scottish Fine Soaps Rose triple-milled soap, beautyandme.com.au; Cosentino Silestone Blanco Matrix splashback, silestone.com/oceania; Caesarstone Frosty Carrina benchtop. caesarstone.com.au

Cocco Wild Bushland Eucalyptus body mousse, nail crème and organic olive oil body lotion, cocco.com.au; Urban Rituelle white peony and rose buds hand therapy, urbanrituelle.com.au; Tulip pressed-tin splashback, pressedtin.com.au; Caesarstone Frosty Carrina benchtop. caesarstone.com.au

Award-winning design.

Seamless installation.

Optimal performance.

Prepare for the Best

2012 CEDIA AWARDS

Len Wallis Audio design and install electrical, networking, security, access control, telephony, distributed audio and video plus automation to control all of it.

Even if you’ve got the installation covered, we can prepare you for success with the right system design down to the finest detail.

Call now for a free consultation

The cabling network and the overall design for this must be meticulously developed prior to commencing work before it’s too late.

Open 7 Days 64 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove Phone 02 9427 6755 www.lenwallisaudio.com

Winner Best Integrated Home Installation over $500,000 Best Integrated Home Installation $150,000 - 250,000 Best Home Theatre over $150,000 Best Dressed System - Residential Highly Commended Best Media Room over $55,000 Plus Crestron ‘Domestic Installation of the Year’

maximum

Being your best. A grooming routine designed to inspire men to excel at work and play. Like most men, the signature Maximum fragrance is a play of opposites. Understated but powerful. Modest but self-conďŹ dent. Laid-back but bold. The scent combines crisp Citrus with Olive Flower and earthy Guaiac Wood.

Natio for Men Maximum products start from RRP $9.95. www.natio.com Available at Myer, David Jones and selected Pharmacies.

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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ASK THE EXPERTS

Project by Utz Sanby Architects

ARCHITECTURE

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REAL ESTATE

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LANDSCAPING

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EXPERT ADVICE

ARCHITECTURE

KEEPING COURT — Courtyards are not very common in Australian homes, but there’s every reason why they should be. They’re great for extending a home and letting the light fl ood in

T WORDS / Kristin Utz PHOTOGRAPHY / Marian

and Ray Clarke

Riabic

he courtyard has a long history in Mediterranean and Moorish architecture, but despite our similar climate, it’s not a common feature in Australian homes. Instead, we have tended to emulate the British and American “garden suburb” design, which has led to planning controls that dictate a garden to the front and rear with the house in the middle of the block.

But whether it is big or small, a courtyard can be a great addition to the home, introducing light, facilitating cross ventilation, forming a natural extension to living areas and providing shelter from harsh wind and sun. Courtyards are also fantastic spaces for small children and pets because they are usually contained and can be easily seen from inside the home.

SIZE MATTERS A courtyard does not have to be large; it can be adapted to suit the aspect and size of the site.

It’s a contained space, often described as an

“outdoor room”, and will work best by having walls (or screens) on at least three sides. Small courtyards can be used as a visual focus and may contain a water feature, sculpture, tree or other plantings to extend the indoors and add light to the home’s interior.

In larger projects we use courtyards for outdoor living and they often include an operable roof, sun-shade system or partial roof.

They work well to separate the main living area from a rumpus room, a quieter reading or sitting room. They provide a visual link to the rest of the house yet offer acoustic separation.

On coastal sites, larger courtyards provide a sheltered area that can be protected from strong north-easterly sea breezes which often ruin outdoor entertaining in the evenings during summer. A courtyard can provide a welcome retreat from strong wind and sun, while still offering a sea view through its glass doors or windows. It is important to provide shade in a courtyard with a northern aspect.

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

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A COURTYARD CAN BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE HOME, INTRODUCING LIGHT, FACILITATING CROSS VENTILATION, FORMING A NATURAL EXTENSION TO LIVING AREAS AND PROVIDING SHELTER CREATING A TRANSITION Courtyards work well in alterations and additions to terrace houses or bungalows because they can be positioned to separate the addition from the existing part of the house while providing light, ventilation and an outlook for hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms or dining rooms (or all four). A courtyard can also be positioned on a boundary where there is minimal width. In this instance it will provide visual space rather than additional living space, but its effect on a room or hallway is enormous.

Courtyards are good transition spaces that can help define where the old part of the house ends and the addition begins, or to accommodate a change in level between the garden and the house. Steps make great seats and retaining walls can be extended to house a built-in barbecue or an outdoor benchtop.

A MATTER OF STYLE The choice of material and plantings is very important when creating the right ambience

for a courtyard. Sometimes the home’s internal flooring can continue into the courtyard, particularly if that flooring is stone or tiles. This can extend the living room and create a seamless transition of internal and external space.

Timber decking and planting is functional and more economic and can be used to raise the area so that it matches the height of internal floors. A more visual courtyard could contain pebbles and planting, water or sculpture, and can be lit at night to great effect.

Make sure any materials used externally are marine-grade, weather-proof and sealed correctly, and that lights have the correct IP rating (IP 65) to protect against moisture. It is also important to choose plants and grasses that do not require full sun and will not grow too high. Do not over-clutter the space with furniture or plantings; a courtyard should be a calm, contemplative space that offers a visual and acoustic retreat, while extending and enhancing the interior spaces that surround it.

206

EXPERT ADVICE

REAL ESTATE

FOR THE MASSES — Classic designs and quality fittings have what real estate agents call “mass appeal”.

You’ll need to consider these things if you plan to sell your renovation project

“M

WORDS / Andrew Winter

A DESIGN TREND OFTEN STARTS AT THE UPPER END OF THE MARKET, OFTEN IN EUROPE OR NEW YORK, AND IT IS ONLY SEEN IN THE UPPER SECTOR OF OUR MARKET FOR A FEW YEARS. AT THIS POINT IT WILL BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU CAN STILL TAKE INSPIRATION FROM IT

ass appeal” simply means something which appeals to most people. But if it’s just another way of saying “really popular”, then surely most people design or refurbish their homes in a way that has mass appeal — don’t they?

I could fill a novel attempting to define mass appeal in house design. It’s a complex topic because it involves human emotions and perceptions rather than facts and figures.

Luckily, there are a few fundamental elements that define what your home should encapsulate to give it broad appeal. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all crave a house with mass appeal because we want people to love our homes — that’s one of the basic reasons for renovating.

Why do I feel qualified to comment on this?

Twenty-five years of selling real estate alone would not be enough. What has really helped me understand mass appeal is the diversity of areas and demographics I have been involved with during those two-and-a-half decades.

A TIME AND PLACE If you plan to build or renovate and you really don’t care what people think about your home design, mass appeal doesn’t matter. But if you plan to sell or want people to actually like your home, then understanding what appeals will help you build or renovate successfully. Your chances of selling for a top price are considerably increased if you have a home with mass appeal.

House designs that are typical for an area and appropriate for the climate and location vary widely across the world. Imagine a Queenslander in the middle of a quintessentially English country village; it would look ridiculous. Yet that same house design in an established, older-style inner-Brisbane suburb would arguably command a price premium and would be considered a home with mass appeal for that area in this time. I add time into the equation because in decades gone by, a classic Queenslander may have been totally unappealing to most.

THE CLASSICS The first principle to understand is that there are few, if any, home designs that work for everyone, everywhere. In my opinion, the

only Australian design elements that seem to spread their wings are classic styles, such as the simplicity of an inner-city terrace, the grandeur of larger terraces, the Queenslander and the Californian bungalow. Most people love these styles as long as they are presented in good condition and have not been massacred with revolting windows or hideous add-ons.

We love these homes because in them we see something that has stood the test of time.

We can see the beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail — all rare elements in today’s fast-paced housing market. The other reason we embrace classic housing is the materials used, which we associate with quality such as dressed or hand-cut stone, beautiful detailed brickwork, ornate metalwork, hardwoods, timber windows and stained glass.

LOOK LOCAL The second principle of mass appeal is about following the local vernacular. Vernacular architecture is house design that follows a local theme and style. That design may be borne from a climatic condition or the type of environment the home is located in, such as an inner-city or country environment. Following the style of the local area is always a safe bet if you’re after mass appeal. Of course, you can interpret that style in many different ways, but taking it into account can add those extra appeal ingredients.

Building a typical project home in a pretty old country town is a classic mistake and such a shame. Buyers may be moving to the area from an estate house, so what they want is a home that says “country town”, not “out-of-town” suburban.

Also, don’t forget about scale. A big mansion in one suburb may look stunning, but in a street of small, modest homes it will look ridiculous.

Sometimes it is possible to break the mould in an area, however this is very tricky and even if it does appear unique, the design should still pay homage to the local vernacular.

LINE IT UP The third principle concerns symmetry, shape, scale and thinking about the home’s design from all angles. To achieve symmetry, you need to have some form of balance between the window placements and sizes, and consider how features

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

207

When you design from scratch you can choose the position of every window, entry and exit point, so think about the aspect of each one; you may have trees, neighbours or a road to take into account. Link your floorplan layout correctly so the best aspect for the home is not from the laundry or the entry next to the washing line (unless the line is successfully screened).

GO FOR THE TRIMMINGS The fifth principle is vital for the pursuit of mass appeal. Never sacrifice specification for an extra few square metres. A bedroom that is 4m x 4m with a basic specification will not be more popular than a room measuring 3m x 4m that has great lighting, stylish robe fittings, mouldings, bulkheads and higher ceilings. This focus on quality and style rather than a few extra square metres shows a fairly recent shift in public attitudes and mass appeal.

PLAN AHEAD

Paddington House by Architect Prineas. Photography by Brett Boardman

or design elements are located on the building’s facade. The shape of the home and the look of the roofline from the street play a key role in the home’s aesthetic. Watch out for flat roofs that can “squash” a building if not integrated correctly, or can simply look like the roof is missing.

The scale should be driven by the home’s surroundings — you don’t want it to look too big or too small. With sloping blocks, you must understand how that slope will impact the design. On a downwards block, your singlelevel home could look like it has disappeared.

Alternatively, upward-sloping land tends to

magnify your home, which is only good if you have the proportions right.

The sixth principle is a tricky one. It’s about knowing whether or not to follow a trend. After establishing what the latest styles are, you’ll need to think about whether they’ll have any longevity. Desirable colours and materials are ever-evolving so choose wisely and you may get more than 10 years out of your choice. If you join a trend towards the end of a cycle, your design may look “last year” before its third birthday!

The only design trick I know that seems to work is to try researching house designs, materials and features of new homes and renovations at the very upper end of the market.

Study magazines such as this one and look for trends in property adverts. A design trend often starts at the upper end of the market, often in Europe or New York, and it is only seen in the upper sector of our market for a few years. At this point it will be prohibitively expensive but you can still take inspiration from it. What eventually happens is that many of these trends become more affordable and more readily available, or perhaps even toned down.

However, once they reach the bargain DIY stores the trend is beginning to wane. To add to the confusion, some trends have years of life left in them even after hitting the DIY stores, while others die off pretty quickly.

GO YOUR OWN WAY KNOW YOUR BLOCK The fourth principle is to acknowledge the features of your block. Never design your home without taking into account your land, the aspect and, of course, the orientation. A good design can be ruined by windows that miss out on views or a layout that does not allow plenty of natural light into the home. Consider everything, from how you can hide your washing line and bins to the amount of sun in your outdoor areas.

These six principles should help you create a home that you — and the market — will love.

Of course, when choosing a design it’s important you are happy with it; if you really don’t care what people think, you actually run the serious risk of not liking it either, so beware. Mass appeal has its place. When people see your new home, there is nothing better than receiving numerous — often unexpected — compliments.

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EXPERT ADVICE

LANDSCAPING

KEEP IT COOL — A water feature can be the perfect touch for a garden setting, but you’ll need to think carefully about the design. A poorly landscaped fountain will look like a tacky afterthought

Natural swimming pools are a huge trend right now. Plants and other natural filters are used to create crystal-clear, chemical-free water that is perfect for swimming

W

hen designed properly, a water feature can improve most landscapes and gardens. It will cool, relax and enhance the garden’s colours, and the reflective quality of water can create a more spacious feel. However, using water in a landscape can be tricky; often it seems like an add-on, an afterthought or, in some circumstances, even a bit tacky.

THINK BIG

WORDS / Charlie Albone

To get the most out of a water feature, you will need to introduce it into the garden’s design as early as possible — and don’t be scared to think big. Knowing water will be used in the landscape will allow you to showcase it well and accommodate all the other elements that go with it, such as pumps, filters and fences.

There’s no doubt large-scale water features have the most impact on a landscape, but first consider the effect you are after. Do you want a large expanse of still water to calm and reflect upon, or do you want a gushing waterfall that will bring drama, movement and noise into the garden?

Natural swimming pools are a huge trend in the landscape industry and use plants and other natural filters to create crystal-clear, chemicalfree water that can safely be used for swimming.

SUBTLE TOUCHES

Small fountains bring sound and movement to a garden, but if designed poorly they can look like an afterthought. Create a setting with greenery and pavers to ensure your fountain looks right at home

Large-scale water features are perfect for creating impact, while smaller features are better for adding subtle highlights that promote relaxation. If you simply don’t have the room for a big water feature, there are some stylish alternatives available. Large pots, for example, can be waterproofed and planted with water-loving plants like lotus or iris. However, these can stagnate and attract mosquitoes so to combat this, introduce some small native fish like mudminnow to control mosquito larvae and add biodiversity to the garden.

Rills throughout the garden add movement and are great for kids to dip their toes and splash around in. From a design point of view, they can add direction to an otherwise still space.

Small wall-mounted fountains will bring sound and movement to the garden, but make

sure they fit in with the surrounding scheme.

Having a water feature standing alone against a wall will make it look out of place and like an afterthought, so surround it with some plants (potted, if need be) to soften the area and make it look professionally designed.

GETTING TECHNICAL Any water feature, be it large or small, will need three elements to work: a waterproof membrane to hold the water, a filter to keep the water clear, and a pump to circulate the water.

A waterproof membrane can be made of various things. A flexible pond liner is easiest to handle on naturalistic water features as it easily bends and flexes to any shape. Fibreglass liners are good for small formal shapes like squares, rectangles and circles, but if these shapes are to be used on a larger scale, then blockwork with the application of a waterproofing agent works best.

There are lots of filters and pumps on the market. Their main use is to keep the water clear and moving, but as ponds differ in volume and distance of movement for the water, it’s best to speak to a specialist supplier to get the best hardware for your project.

DOING IT RIGHT Check with your local council before installing a water feature as there are rules and regulations you’ll need to follow. As a general rule, any water deeper than 300mm will need a pool fence — it sounds drastic but it’s a safety requirement for children. If you are after deep water for planting, grates can be installed at a depth of 300mm. Alternatively, stacking deep areas with large rocks will allow you to retain additional litres of water between the gaps in the rocks and will help reduce evaporation and regulate the water temperature.

If you do need to install a pool fence, be aware that regulations have recently changed.

The major change is that you cannot have any plant material considered climbable by children within 900mm of the fence. It is always advisable to consult your local council about pool fencing.

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA

Incorporating a water feature into your garden from the early stages of design will allow you to make the most of it, as has been the case for the owners of this dramatic pool in this formal garden setting

LARGE-SCALE WATER FEATURES ARE PERFECT FOR CREATING IMPACT, WHILE SMALLER FEATURES ARE BETTER FOR ADDING SUBTLE HIGHLIGHTS THAT PROMOTE RELAXATION

209

TYLISH INTERPLAY

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217

READERS’ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Peter Maddison, presenter of Grand Designs Australia, answers your design questions

Q A

Q A

WE’RE ABOUT TO MOVE INTO OUR NEW HOME. WE THINK IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1970S AND ALL OF THE FLOOR COVERINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE A BABY, TWO YOUNG BOYS AND AN INSIDE DOG. MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A MUSICIAN, WILL BE TEACHING FROM HOME. WHERE DO WE START? Let’s start with hubby. If your budget allows, I suggest you install an acoustic floor. This will isolate the finished floor surface from the sub-structure. It’s generally achieved with the use of an elastomeric underlay or rubber spacers. An acoustic ceiling will further reduce noise transmission. If a proper acoustic floor is beyond your budget, I recommend you install a plush-pile carpet on a suitable underlay.

While your children are small, it’s worth considering more robust flooring such as vinyl, tiles or even exposed concrete. This combination of flooring is easy to keep clean and you can add warmth with rugs. It’s cheaper to replace soiled rugs than carpet.

That said, you can’t beat carpet in bedrooms. It’s such a nice feeling to wake up and put your feet on a lovely soft surface.

OUR HOUSE IS DARK AND DINGY, INSIDE AND OUT. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO MAKE ANY STRUCTURAL CHANGES YET, BUT WE’D REALLY LIKE TO BRIGHTEN IT UP WITH SOME DECENT LIGHTING IN THE LIVING/DINING ROOM, KITCHEN AND OUTDOORS. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? Well-designed lighting will make a huge difference, but you should also consider a coat of the right-coloured paint. This could dramatically brighten these spaces without the cost of a structural change.

A pendant light suspended above a dining room table can add significant drama and improve the room’s general light level. In the kitchen, installing concealed strip or recessed lighting

under your cupboards will highlight your benchtop surfaces.

Uplights embedded in the garden can be used to highlight specific landscape features such as decorative walls, sculptures and established trees. Path lights dotted along the perimeter of walkways will provide illumination, as well as character and safety.

Q A

Q

WE ARE AN OLD COUPLE AND MY WIFE IS HAVING TROUBLE CLIMBING THE STAIRS IN OUR HOUSE AT NIGHT. NEITHER OF US WANT TO MOVE AT THIS STAGE. WE’VE SEEN THOSE ELEVATORS THAT ATTACH TO THE BALUSTRADE ON A FLIGHT OF STAIRS BUT WE’RE NOT KEEN ON THAT IDEA. IS A LIFT A GOOD OPTION? Installing a lift will be expensive, but modifying your home is generally better value than moving house. Domestic lifts come in a range of sizes, starting with those that can accommodate just one person. The interior can usually be custom fitted to suit your tastes and the decor of your home.

These days there is a variety of lifts available, ranging from conventional options fitted within masonry or steel shafts to more modern lifts that have integrated, self-supporting shaft structures. If the lift is to be completely contained inside your home, with no aspect visible externally, you usually don’t need a planning permit.

I suggest you make contact with a lift contractor who can advise you on the best lift for your needs.

I’VE JUST PURCHASED MY FIRST HOUSE IN INNER MELBOURNE. IT’S ON A MAIN ROAD AND I’M NOT GETTING MUCH SLEEP BECAUSE OF NOISE FROM TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE OUT LATE AT NIGHT. HOW CAN I REDUCE THIS STREET NOISE?

Q & A — NEED PETER’S HELP?

A

First, congratulations on the purchase of your new home. Excessive traffic noise is one of the biggest problems with innercity living, however it is possible to reduce the impact. Constructing or increasing the height of a fence could result in a noticeable decrease in traffic noise.

Planting trees and hedges between your house and the street is another great way to reduce noise transmission.

Single-glazed windows can let in a lot of noise, even when they are closed. If your house does not have them already, I recommend installing double-glazed windows. Double glazing and laminated glass are both highly effective at reducing noise and they provide fantastic thermal benefits. Carpeted flooring and heavy curtains will reduce noise reverberation within the apartment.

Depending on your existing windows, you could install laminated glass with an acoustic interlayer, which will keep the overall glass thickness to a minimum (around 7mm or 8mm, compared to double glazing, which is 1520mm in thickness). Don’t forget, any air gaps will allow sound to come in, so sealing the perimeter of your window is just as important as the glass itself.

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218

INDEX

PROJECTS & ADVERTISERS

INDEX BoConcept

PROJECTS

61

Gremmo Homes

4

Malcolm St James

155

Natio

202

Chadstone Modern

110

Brickworks

51

H2O Heating

Compact Design

148

Brita Water

27

Hafele

37

Parisi Bathware

29

Dover Heights Cliffhanger

122

Buildridge

35

Herma Screen Technologies

49

Popcorn Interiors

67

Cavalier Bremworth

31

Ikea

10

Real Flame

Inverloch Sand Dune

84

Classic Country Cottage

107

133

Indulge Apartments

70

Richmond Inner City

96

Clearly Frameless

47

International Floorcoverings

33

UK Kennington Water Tower

72

Clipsal

45

Jakin Constructions

Coopers Store

43

Clareville Contemporary

134

ADVERTISERS

210

156

Storybook Cottages

121

James Hardie

187

Suzuki Australia

IFC

IBC

Jetmaster

146

Taubmans

CSR Monier

145

Len Wallis Audio

201

Vincent Buda

6

AEG/Electrolux

40

Dan Kitchens

Apollo Patios

162

Daniel Robertson Bricks

Australian Architecture Association 216

Fanuli Furniture

Blum

Grant Elevators

8 169 12 108

16

Star Casino

CSR Bricks & Pavers

Advance Audio

69

Smartstone

170

24 193

Liebherr

39

V-Zug

83

Link Edge

95

Wildwood

18

Lopi Dragon Wholesaling Luxaex

179 21

Zip Heaters

OBC

Colours that shine

ColourPicker allows you to select a specific colour from an image and match it to CSR Bricks & Roofing products.

The NEW Urban Metal collection of four fully glazed metallic finishes from PGH Bricks & Pavers™ literally shimmers with sophistication. The finishes available include Zinc Shimmer, Copper Lustre, Silver Spark and Bronze Sheen. Each finish slightly varies in colour as the light hits the surface in different ways and at different times. Available for use internally and externally, these bricks brave the elements without losing their metallic colour and shine, providing a unique look that catches the eye.

Call us on 131 579 or visit www.pghbricks.com.au

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