Qh spring 14 the american dream

The American Dream There’s no doubt about it – from beginning to end, this Wilston home was destined to embody an American feel.

WORDS: Natasha Pavez PHOTOGRAPHY: John Downs

Don't believe us? Owner Kathryn let QH in on the house's past – this double block once housed a 1960s Californian bungalow.

"It had a beautiful feel, but was in need of renovation," she reveals. "Once we got our quote for a renovation, our builder kindly told us it would be much cheaper to knock it down and start again."

Luckily, Kathryn and her husband Graham weren't fazed by this, knowing exactly what they wanted their new home to look like.

Downstairs living, an upstairs loft, and plenty of space for a family to grow – and, of course, the American touch outside, which Kathryn describes as an absolute must-have. Knowing she wanted a similar bungalow theme in her new home, hunting for designs to fully capture this became a priority. "We looked everywhere for images and it was really hard to find. Eventually we found it," she says, laughing. "It was a house on TV and I snapped a picture with my phone!"

Other than these specifications, building designer Ben Phillips from Lifebox was given free reign to design a home that absolutely suited the family's needs. "The site itself was easy, as we could remove the existing house on-site without too many planning issues," Ben recalls. "We organised and managed all consultants involved with the pre-building approvals." In addition to this, Lifebox completed an initial concept design, town planning drawings and building approval drawings, ensuring every detail was managed for the project to progress without a hitch.

From there, the reins were handed to Nutide, helmed by Ray Toaldo. "I could not have asked for a better builder," says Kathryn. "He really thinks about things. When there was a slight hiccup, he would come up with something to remedy it." Ray helped the couple make decisions along the way, from the smallest essentials (think door locks and handles) to the large, such as including a stunning wooden

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ESTELLE ELLIOTT DESIGNS, NUTIDE CONSTRUCTIONS & LIFEBOX DESIGN | PROJECT

seat out on the back deck. Once again, every little detail was considered, creating a house that Kathryn and Graham (along with their children Evie and Sam) love to call home. "Ray had extra people and extra time, so he did everything for us, including building the cubby house."

Kathryn's dream loft was crafted beautifully, enhanced by frameless glass from Euroglass. The upstairs bedrooms look down onto the downstairs living area, creating a sense of seamlessness which flows with ease onto the deck outside. Here, a large play area for the children – and large entertaining area for the adults – can be found. Resting alongside the beautifully manicured yard is a pool, matching the home's grey tones through silver Travertine tiling and additional frameless glass from Euroglass. The waterslide is also a “huge hit” with Evie and Sam! The yard can be used year-round, thanks to Kathryn and Graham's insistence on a north-facing aspect. "We'd go to inspect houses that we loved, but because the back wasn't facing north, it wasn't the right house for us." Summertime sunlight creates a beautifully bright space for the family to enjoy, especially due to large skylights indoors; in winter, the interior is toasty warm.

The home definitely takes full advantage of Queensland's bountiful light!

Adding those little details that transform a house to a home is incredibly important, especially when trying to incorporate a theme throughout. Enter Estelle Elliott Designs, on Ben's recommendation, who gave the home the interior touches it needed. "I met with Estelle and just instantly knew," Kathryn says. "We ended up trusting her with everything!"

Estelle was commissioned to provide colour features and concepts to fully reflect that Californian, Hamptons-esque 129

theme, providing on-call services throughout the entire build. Kathryn is particularly enthralled by Estelle's cabinetry designs (“Totally worth it!” she enthuses), and the stairs leading to the upstairs bedrooms. "They're classic but interesting," says Estelle, adding that this focal point was crafted by Slattery & Acquroff Stairs.

When asked about their favourite elements in the home, Kathryn and Estelle answer differently, though both agree it's incredibly difficult to limit themselves to one feature! "I love the chair out the front," says Kathryn – and it's no wonder. This swoon-worthy hanging chair is reminiscent of American farm-style homes, and is the perfect place to snuggle up with a blanket and cup of tea. Estelle, meanwhile, loves the custom designed archway; its moulding detail provides an 'ornate grandness' as you enter the home. Another feature the family adores is the dining room's feature wall, designed in tandem by Ray and Estelle. "Wallpapering the dining wall and hanging three heavy gold mirror elements on a wall that had a sliding door and no line to finish the wallpaper was a challenge," Estelle reveals.

Working together, a large panel was constructed to take the mirrors' load without interfering with the sliding doors. "It was the perfect solution – and a unique wallpaper feature!"

For Estelle, working with Kathryn, Graham and Ray was wonderful.

"They were open to ideas and suggestions, and Ray's attention-to-detail provided an exceptional, outstanding home." Kathryn agrees, loving what the design and build team created for her. "Coming home and having a place that's really easy to live in is an absolute joy," she says. "And I love how it looks out the front!"

This home will certainly stand the test of time, taking this family through every stage of life with ease. And, of course, with that laid-back Californian feel.

INTERIOR DESIGN: ESTELLE ELLIOTT DESIGNS Phone: 07 3892 7776 BUILDING: NUTIDE CONSTRUCTIONS Phone: 07 3861 4676 BUILDING DESIGN: LIFEBOX DESIGN Phone: 07 3315 5611 130