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APPEAL PLAYING OFF DESIGN IDEAS WITH HUDSON RIDGE BUILDERS PAGE 12
A Star News Group Publication
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BED 3
BED 4
3.24 x 3.40
3.09 x 3.39
ALFRESCO
BATH
4.20 x 4.54 (OPTIONAL)
RUMPUS 3.52 x 4.59
BED 2
3.35 x 3.40
WIP LAUNDRY W/M
KITCHEN
LINEN
MEALS/FAMILY
REF
8.55 x 6.02
THEATRE 4.39 x 4.00
GARAGE LINEN
6.00 x 5.50
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ENTRY MASTER BED 4.55 x 5.73
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COOL IDEAS FOR HOMES
Director Steve Maher launched Urbanedge with a single aim: to provide discerning homebuyers with an alternative to “mainstream” housing. And he achieved his goal, with Urbanedge establishing itself over the following decade as a builder specialising in iconic street appeal and modern, innovative design. The company balances its reputation for luxury with an emphasis on timeless appeal and attention to detail right from the design stage through to the finished product. More information is available at urbanedgehomes.com.au.
With more than 86 years’ experience and access to dozens of leading brands, National Heating & Cooling is the local expert in beating the heat. The Newtown store has all the latest cooling technology, with products to suit any requirements. Evaporative cooling, ducted reverse or split-system units and even add-on airconditioning ideas are all available, along with expert advice to make the right decision on the correct system. More information is available at nationalhc. com.au.
GEELONG COAST NEW HOMES & LAND 1/47 Pakington St, Geelong West, 3218 Phone 5249 6700 Email advertising@geelongindy.com.au
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Delivered to hundreds of locations to pick up free in Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Golden Plains Shire, and western Melbourne GeelongCoast New Homes & Land is a Geelong Indy/Star News Group publication
contents
THE EDGE ON QUALITY
EIGHT’S ENOUGH
RESORT-STYLE LIVING
Eight Homes has a unique sales structure to help first-time buyers get into the newhomes market. The company’s eight-step buying process requires an initial deposit as low as $888 to secure current prices. Clients then only pay a $1000 sales-accept deposit and $2000 at the signing of contract before building gets underway. With no further payments until the slab stage, Eight Homes makes it easy to build a quality first or second home. More information is available at 8homes. com.au.
An exclusive resort-style residents’ club, just minutes from central Lara plus future schools, sports grounds, restaurants, retail outlets, supermarkets, walkways and wetlands. Coridale is a signature Villawood masterplanned community in the heart of Lara’s growth area, making it perfect for first-home buyers, young families and downsizers. Close to rail and freeway links, 15 minutes from Geelong and surrounded by natural beauty, Coridale is the best in town and country living. More information is available at coridale.com. au.
Flexible building P10
‘Next gen’ lifestyle P19
A day in Armstrong life P12-13
All material appearing in Geelong Coast New Homes & Land magazine is subject to copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Geelong Coast New Homes & Land magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at the time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.
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Hot in the kitchen
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Looking into mirrors P16
FLEX
APPEAL PLAYING OFF DESIGN IDEAS WITH HUDSON RIDGE BUILDERS PAGE 12
A Star News Group Publication
ON THE COVER: Hudson Ridge Homes PHOTOGRAPHER: Louisa Jones
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Get ready for summer P18
Essentials for chefs P23
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First Home Buyers | Top Tips
Following the right process can smooth the way for first-time buyers hoping to crack the new-homes market.
Clearing the new-homes hurdles GOVERNMENT GRANTS Buying a house is expensive. Fortunately, state and federal governments offer grants that can help cover some of the costs. Perhaps the most well-known of these is the First Home Owner Grant. A one-off payment of $10,000 is available to buyers who meet the eligibility criteria ($20,000 for some regional builds). To determine your eligibility, visit www.firsthome.gov. au. The Federal Government has also introduced its First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. Buyers can purchase a home with just a 5% deposit and the government will guarantee the other 15%, and lenders mortgage insurance will be waived. The scheme starts on 1 January 2020. Stamp duty is one of the biggest costs home buyers face. Stamp duty is a tax applied to certain property transactions, including when land is sold, transferred or leased, which the buyer has to pay. The amount of stamp duty depends on the value of the property and the amount for which it is sold, transferred or leased for and is calculated on its market value or the price paid by the buyer. Victorian buyers purchasing their first home on or after 1 July 2017 may be eligible for exemptions or concessions from duty as listed on the State Revenue Office website. GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
MORTGAGE BROKERS A mortgage broker acts as a go-between, dealing with banks and lenders to arrange your home loan. They can help explain the various loans available, calculate how much you can afford to borrow and manage the application process all the way through to settlement day. Some mortgage brokers receive a commission from lenders, while others get paid a standard fee regardless of which loan they recommend to customers. Others will charge customers a fee directly. A broker can make the process of buying a home less stressful - but be sure to check they are licensed to provide credit advice on ASIC Connect. GETTING A LOAN Your lender will assess your loan and your finances to estimate how much you can afford to borrow. It's important to sit down and work out how much you can comfortably afford by measuring your income against expenses. Don't over-commit. A rule of thumb is that no more than 35% of your gross monthly income should go towards servicing your mortgage. Remember to consider how your future plans, like a change in expenses, could impact your borrowing capacity. Factor in interest rate changes and how a rate rise could impact your ability to meet
repayments, the fees involved in buying a home (like stamp duty and solicitors’ fees) as well as ongoing payments like council rates, insurance, body corporate fees and utilities. PRE-APPROVAL Before applying for a home loan, buyers can apply for pre-approval. Pre-approval is an indication of how much you could borrow based on the information provided to your lender. While it is subject to terms and conditions, pre-approval is basically a green light on your home loan even if you haven’t yet chosen a property. They give you the confidence of knowing how much you can borrow, and allow you to act quickly when you do find a property you like. Most pre-approvals are valid for three months and to get it started you’ll need to provide some documents to your mortgage broker, such as proof of income and proof of existing loan agreements and credit card limits. LENDERS MORTGAGE INSURANCE Also known as LMI, this helps buyers enter the market sooner by allowing them to borrow a higher percentage of a property’s value. By financing a higher proportion of the purchase price, lenders take on more risk in the event the buyer fails to meet mortgage repayments and the property needs to be repossessed.
Therefore, buyers pay LMI to insure the lender against this loss. LMI does not offer any cover to the buyer. The bigger the percentage of the property’s purchase price that the buyer has to borrow, the greater the amount they pay on insurance. If the deposit is less than 20 % of the value of the property, buyers will need to factor in LMI. This can be paid as a one-off lump sum at settlement but can also be added into the loan amount and paid off over the life of the loan. A broker will be able to assess which path to take. DURING THE BUILD If you build a home, you will be expected to make payments at certain points. These are known as ‘progress payments’ and are made each time your builder completes a set stage of the build, including base, frame, lock-up and fixing. These payments will be outlined in your contract. Your builder will send you an invoice which you provide to the bank, and the bank will make the payment on your behalf. You will also begin making payments towards your loan after settlement, so remember to factor this into your expenses if you are renting whilst building. ● - Some information courtesy MY EXPERT SUMMER 2019/2020
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Local Builders | Hudson Ridge Builders
The quality of Hudson Ridge home is apparent from any angle.
Flexible approach to building FLEXIBILITY and versatility are two enormous benefits clients enjoy when they build with Hudson Ridge Builders, sales manager Jamie Gepp explains. “Whilst we have Hudson Ridge designed floor plans, we're happy to work with our clients and make changes, which means clients are able to build exactly what they want,” he says. “We all know what we can’t do, but often the solution is delivered when instead we ask ourselves, ‘what can we do?’” Hudson Ridge is a family-owned business building homes across Ballarat, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast. The company’s founder, Darren Fraser, is a registered builder who has been constructing quality homes, predominantly in Ballarat, for more than 20 years. With an eye for quality and innovation Darren has helped many people and families in Ballarat realise their dreams of building their own home. The combined experience across the Hudson Ridge team means they can add unique elements to each build to suit the client’s vision for their dream home. “Whilst we are a traditional builder, who values proven building methods and practices, we also see ourselves as innovative,” Jamie says. “When we are presented with a challenge, as often occurs in building, we can turn this into an opportunity to achieve an outcome that is industry-leading. “Working with our suppliers and closely monitoring market trends allows us to offer industry-leading knowledge with traditional relationship-based building.” Clients love the company’s standard inclusions like re-engineered timber flooring and Caesarstone kitchen benchtops, Jamie explains. “They are not only impressed with the amount of standard inclusions that we have in our homes, but also with the level of those inclusions,” he says. After two years with the company, Jamie says the best part of the job is working with its people. 10
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"It’s a cliché that you’re only as good as your people, but we have buy-in from all of our staff, from admin and sales to construction and right up to our director Darren.” “For this to happen, every step along the way we make sure that everything we do is aimed at achieving the best possible outcome for the client.” The company also has strong partnerships with some of the highest quality tradespeople available, Jamie says.
“When highly skilled people put in genuine effort you tend to get fantastic outcomes.” Hudson Ridge’s Nevada display home, located at 11 Rosser Blvd Quay 2, Torquay, showcases the expertise the company’s trades and design team have to offer. The display home has won praise for its open, light-filled floor plan and stunning kitchen, dining and living areas. Hudson Ridge is currently in the final stages of design for its second Torquay
display home, which will be located in Quay 2, opening mid-2020. “We feel we have a great understanding of the expectations of the market and want to deliver a worthy product that will further enhance this,” Jamie says. “If you have a building project that you would like to discuss, whether it be the first home builder or an architecturally-designed custom home, please feel free to contact us to gain a greater insight into what we can achieve together.” ● GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
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New Communities | Armstrong
Armstrong's community garden provides a leafy meeting space for residents with a shared interest in tending their own patch.
A day in the life of new residents IT’S 7pm Tuesday upstairs in the Club Armstrong function room overlooking beautiful Bunjil’s Nest and it’s all stretch, relax and breathe deeply. Yes, it’s yoga time. And the perfect time and place to charge the batteries for your full, busy lifestyle. It doesn’t matter what day it is, or what time of year, a day in the life of Villawood Properties’ Club Armstrong residents’ club is an exciting and interesting day. You can chat over a coffee, work out in the gym or rip through a group exercise session. Maybe play Mini Maestros with the kids, meet up with the mums, or hit the pool or the tennis court. You could tend a plot in the community garden, host a kids’ party, stage a presentation, soak up some Vitamin D while the kids swim … you could even fire off some work emails in a relaxed café environment. Pilates, Zumba, boot camp, yoga, it’s all there – and so much more. Take a look at just some of the activity that regularly unfolds on any given day at Club Armstrong. 5AM MONDAY Club gym:
Headphones, waters bottle and towels in hand, gym-goers file into Club Armstrong for a pre-dawn burst of energy in preparation for a full day. Music pounds out a solid backdrop as they slide into a steady rhythm of running, riding and pumping. Routines finished by 6am, these early-birds hit the showers before heading for breakfast. 6.00AM WEDNESDAY Upstairs function room:
Pilates with Alex provides a total body workout that will get you trim, taut and terrific. The early start means you’ll be feeling fresh and revitalised to get the most out of your day. 12
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Armstrong's pool certainly makes a splash with residents of all ages. 7.00AM TUESDAY:
9AM, SUNDAY:
Library: Just finished a gym workout and showered, and waiting on a café coffee before heading for the station and your daily commute? Drop into the club library to grab a book for the trip. Fiction, biographies, white-knuckle thrillers … the Club Armstrong library has a wide selection to choose from,
9 Grams Café: Mums, dads and kids settle inside for brekkies, brunches and drinks. Seats and tables are humming to happy sounds on the outside decking. Chefs are churning out brioche buns, sourdough and French toast, avocado and eggs, pancakes, corn and falafel fritters, cereal, fruit and lots more.
8AM, SATURDAY
Tennis courts: Yes, it’s your very own boot camp. Fitness followers dig deep in boxing sessions, running drills and cardio obstacle courses. Get that heartbeat up and stay fit in your own club.
10.00AM, TUESDAY
Bunjil’s Nest: This is the best adventure park this side of Melbourne so think kids, picnics, barbecues, parents and group outings. Toddlers hop, skip and tear about as they tackle slides, swings, rides, tunnels, trees, flying fox and more. Mums
gather about tables and across grassed areas with their strollers and bags. “Watch this, Mum! Watch me!” echoes across the park. Kids learn all about tactile issues, heights, enclosures, rocks and trees and the eucalypt-scented wind in their faces. Playing and learning at the same time. 11.00AM WEDNESDAY
Parents’ room, Mini Maestros: It’s music time for tiny tots. Guitars, ukuleles, lots of instruments, songs, dance and play. Mums sit cross-legged in a circle on the carpet. In the middle of them, toddlers bounce from side to side, as session leader Kate takes them a musical journey of discovery and fun. The verdict: gurgles of delight. GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
Club Armstrong presents next-level community facilities.
living the dream at Armstrong cyclone of fun tearing about, catching up with friends and making new ones. 2.00PM WEDNESDAY
Function room: Kids from Geelong Lutheran College go through their paces before a national science competition presentation. On their agenda: robotics, hydro-dynamics and saving household water, a Shark tank performance and some sassy dance moves. They’ll win, of course. 3.00PM SUNDAY
Party time, upstairs: Yes, it’s party time! One-year-old’s party time, actually. So … lots of balloons, streamers, baby monitors and over-excited parents. Yes, first birthday parties really are the most common party staged at the club. But there are many others, too, for kids of all ages. The club’s even hosted weddings. No need to travel to find a venue when you have your very own. 4.00PM MONDAY:
The parents' group meets to share tips on bringing up baby. 12.00AM, THURSDAY
Park deck, 9 Grams: A mum with toddler, toys and change bag, runs her hands through her little girl’s hair as they share a drink and cake. Her girlfriend arrives with another toddler. The conversation is all laughs and kids, spooning food and wiping little faces as the tots wriggle and giggle. A young girl with purple hair waits, with pot of tea, for her friend. A dad ushers a little boy and girl and their takeaways towards the playground. Two tradies shoot the breeze over coffees as a truck driver pulls up and makes his way to the café. A border GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
collie walks its owner past. A cyclist rides by, waving, and whistling loudly to a friend. 1.00PM FRIDAY Tennis courts:
It’s club event time with hundreds of kids in a wonderworld of snow cones, fairy floss, unicorn and cat faces, jumping castles, snags and hamburgers. This one’s Grand Final Eve and young footy fans are kicking balls around the club. A handball contest, a bucking bronco footy ride, burgers, sausages and vegie options feed the hungry hoards as kids whip up a minor
Swimming pools: Here they come, fresh out of school and just itching to throw themselves into the club’s two pools to cool off. Mums have had the little ones in the pool during the day, laps swimmers have been regularly plying the lanes – now school’s out and the kids are rearing to splash up a fun storm. 5.00PM: SATURDAY
Tennis courts: Gentle sledging between two competitive neighbours with the loser to play barbecue host next weekend for their two families. “Is that the best you can do?” laughs the winning player. ”I could go to the supermarket and get the snags for you now and I’d still win ...” 6.00PM, WEDNESDAY
Community garden: Green thumbs, kitchen gardeners and kids alike throw themselves into this special club activity – planting, propagating, feeding and
nurturing and ultimately harvesting. There’s basil, lettuce, strawberries, yellow cucumbers, capsicums, tomatoes, pumpkins, lettuce, sunflowers, herbs and loads more. Some people arrive daily to maintain or pick produce to enjoy for dinner. 7.00PM: MONDAY
Upstairs function room: Jessica puts her Zumba class through its pace; Latin-styled dance aerobics. Step it up with some salsa, mambo and rumba rhythms to help tone your body and swing your way to fitness as the pretty lights of Mount Duneed twinkle through the club’s upstairs windows. 8.00PM, TUESDAY:
Club gym: The music’s pumping to the huff-puff of runners, rowers, riders and some two dozen sweat-soaked fitness lovers doing their thing. Outside it’s 18 degrees and gym users have a gentle sun streaming in through the wide tinted window and can see folks as they flood into the café and the park next door. 9.00PM, WEDNESDAY:
Swimming pool: The water’s a comfy 28 degrees as swimmers freestyle up and down with the steady engine-like rhythm of a marine craft. Overhead, a curious sparrow flutters about investigating the nooks and crannies of the indoor/outdoor pool’s roof. It is an outdoor heated pool, after all. 10PM, MONDAY:
Club gym: It might be getting late but that doesn’t mean the gym’s not being used. Club Armstrong’s well-equipped gym will be running to midnight. We know your busy lifestyle sometimes means you can’t get where you want earlier, so the gym is open until midnight. SUMMER 2019/2020
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New Communities | Bellarine Springs
Residents enjoy resort-style facilities including a tennis court.
Bellarine Springs the right move MORE and more people aged 55 and over are saying goodbye to the maintenance and upkeep of their big old family home, and making the move to a brand new, modern brick home at Drysdale’s Bellarine Springs Retirement Village. Kent Hodgson, village manager at Bellarine Springs, said people in the over-55 age bracket are coming to realise that selling their large family home and moving to a quality village can free up money, and enable them to enjoy an active, independent lifestyle with more free time and fun things to do. “While there’s an array of resort-style facilities and group activities on offer in the village community, residents have the independence and freedom to do their own thing, or get involved as much as they like,” Mr Hodgson explained. “They get the benefits of privacy, security and freedom, as well as the opportunity to meet new people and try new things ... ensuring they’ll always have someone to talk to and plenty of ways to enjoy themselves.” First opened in 2016, and growing ever since, Bellarine Springs is now home to more than 150 residents, with new residents moving in each month. “We have a number of brand new, architect-designed homes which are ready to move into now,” Mr Hodgson says. “There are five different home styles available, starting from just $420,000, and they’re already selling quickly. “One of the key differences to buying a home in a genuine retirement village like Bellarine Springs is that the homes are quality-built in brick, there’s a lot of variety in the village layout and housing styles, and residents enjoy the protections 14
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Bellarine Springs offers privacy, security, freedom and community.
afforded by the Retirement Villages Act.” He said the new homes at Bellarine Springs are located close to the state-ofthe-art community centre and resort-style facilities, including a heated pool and spa, gym, library, lounge, bar, theatrette,
bowling and golf-putting greens, tennis court and more. “Here you’ll find a welcoming community, a fantastic lifestyle and facilities ... all close to everything – and everyone – you know and love,” he said.
Bellarine Springs is located at 101 Central Road, Drysdale. It is open 10am4pm Monday to Friday, or call 5253 0111 to make a weekend appointment. To find out more, visit www. bellarinesprings.com.au. ● GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
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Great Indoors | Mirrors
Stylish mirrors can become a special feature in any room, especially bedrooms and bathrooms.
Mirror, mirror on the wall AS the saying goes ’life is like a mirror’ and the clever use of mirrors in a home can reflect a lot about the lifestyle of the people who live there. Mirrors come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. They can be modern or traditional, big or small, hung or placed on a lean against walls for effect. As a rule of thumb, rooms with high ceilings benefit from vertical mirrors, while horizontal mirrors work better in long rooms. One of the first things to consider when deciding where to place a mirror is the reflection. Stand where you plan to hang the mirror and consider what will be reflected in it. Mirrors can accentuate works of art or special pieces of furniture that may be placed opposite. Also, think about where light enters your room. It’s best to position a mirror opposite a window, especially in north facing homes to make the most of the afternoon and evening light. If you are going to hang a mirror, consider placing it on a slight tilt that way it will reflect more of the room. Also consider if the mirror is going to serve a practical purpose or will it be merely decorative. If you want to be able to check your lipstick on the way out the door make sure the mirror is hung at eye level. To securely fasten a mirror to a wall, each hook on the back needs its own hook in the wall. A cable wire hung across a single hook or nail won’t do the job, especially with large, heavy mirrors. Mirrors can be used throughout your home. They add a welcoming feel to a foyer or entry hung above a stylish hall table. An obvious place for a mirror in older homes is above a mantel. Experts advise positioning the mirror 10 to 15 centimetres 16
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above the mantel for maximum effect. An instant hit of glamour can be added to a bathroom or ensuite by a gorgeous mirror. Look beyond the frameless mirror mounted above the basin and consider a frame for visual impact. Dining rooms are the traditional place for mirrors. Think grand Victorian homes with thick gold frames. A mirror in a sleek, modern frame would work just as well strategically placed over a buffet. Mirrors can also be arranged in groups for added visual impact and character. Take care to ensure the space between each mirror is even, making it visually pleasing to the eye. Play around with different shapes and sizes, or hang a set of mirrors for visual uniformity. Think about a group of mirrors the same way you would a collection of art work. The style of frame will depend on your individual aesthetic. A modern home will suit sleek, unadorned frames. A colonial or country homestead style home suits a rustic wooden frame, or a period home a more traditional gilt, decorative frame. Don’t be afraid to use a large mirror in a small space. Designers often use full length mirrors leaning against a wall in apartments or smaller homes. ●
GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
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National Heating & Cooling is the local leader in the sale and installation of quality heating, cooling and hot water products. Established in 2011, we pride ourselves on providing customers with great advice, customer service and the right products at the best possible price. Our team of professionals has over eighty five years of combined knowledge in the industry. Our mission is to ensure that the entire process, from start to finish, is easy, professional and free of complications. We’ll find the best product that fulfils your needs and will provide professional installation services as well.
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Great Outdoors | Get Summer Ready
The right lawn care can deliver a soft, green experience underfoot during the summer holidays.
Get ready for summer AERATE Don your aerating sandals. Loosen up your compacted soil and allow water, nutrients and air to get to your lawn’s roots. BARBECUE Dust off the cover. Check you’ve got gas (after your tidy up, you may want to fire your barbie up). Clean the grill and plates. Don’t forget to clean the fat catcher. COMPACTION BONUS If you’ve already aerated, you’ve taken care of compaction. If not, see aerate. DECKS Clear them and scrub them. If you’ve got to reseal, then you’ve got a little more work to do. DETHATCH What’s thatch? If your lawn is really spongy, you’ve got a build-up of thatch. If you can wait (or want to skip a job, because you’re keen to prepare your beef for a barbecue), hold off until the end of spring, as this is the best time to dethatch. Mow low to remove the thatch, but always only on warm season grasses. FERTILISE If your soil’s consistently above about 14 degrees, then it’s time to give your lawn a feed. A slow-release granular fertiliser, such as Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser is recommended. FURNITURE Knock off the cobwebs. Dampen a rag and wipe off the dust and debris. Your wood furniture may need a reseal. 18
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LEAVES Rake up your leaves and place them in your compost. MOWER Now’s the time to service or get it serviced. If you’re doing it yourself, sharpen the blades and discard your old fuel. PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE If your lawn is free of weeds, good job! To keep it that way, apply a pre-emergent herbicide, such as OxaFert to combat potential infestations of, for example, oxalis or summer weed. SOIL If you’ve aerated and taken care of compaction, you’re almost done. You can consider using wetting agents or water storage crystals to maximise water efficiency. TOP-DRESS If your lawn’s a little uneven, throw a bit of soil on top. Make sure the leaf blades are still poking through. Top dressing helps to reduce thatch and improves drainage, too. You can delay this task, too, as the best time to top dress is in late spring/early summer. UMBRELLA Hopefully you have no more than a little dusting to do here. WEEDS If you’ve got any, then pull them out by hand. If you don’t have any, apply a pre-emergent herbicide so you don’t get any!
WATER Water your lawn as little as possible and when you do, water deep. Long, infrequent soaks are better than light, frequent applications. ZOYSIA If your lawn is beyond repair, then take a look at Sir Grange (Zeon Zoysia). It’s great in the shade and drought tolerant too. Or for a more affordable option, consider the ever popular Sir Walter. Congratulations on making it to the end of the list! Celebrate and get on to sizzling your steaks for your first barbecue of the season. - Article courtesy Lawn Solutions Australia ● GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
Over-50s Living | Lifestyle Mount Duneed
‘Next-gen’ living at Mount Duneed
Over 50s Resort Living
A concept image of Lifestyle Mount Duneed's stunning clubhouse, sans roof to allow a sneak peak of its interior. putting greens, as they enter the clubhouse. The building is cleverly designed into discrete spaces for social interaction in the west wing, and quieter pursuits in the eastern library and business centre. Ms Rosenwax says the clubhouse
is a “next generation facility, offering homeowners the best in communal recreation offerings” where homeowners may gather with friends or find a quiet nook to relax. Homeowners will begin moving into
OWN YOUR OWN HOME
FROM $324,500
Lifestyle Mount Duneed this December, with the clubhouse slated for completion in August 2020. To find out more about Lifestyle Mount Duneed phone 1300 50 55 60 or visit lifestylemountduneed.com.au.●
Downsize to
a bigger life! Downsize to a brand new, low-maintenance home and enjoy life with more money in the bank. Live in a secure, gated community with 5-star resort-style facilities and like-minded neighbours you can rely on. TO FIND OUT MORE, CALL 1300 50 55 60 LIFEST YLEMOUNTDUNEED.COM.AU
NO STAMP DUTY
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AN exciting residential development in the Geelong area is fast-approaching completion for working, semi-retired or retired over 50s. Lifestyle Mt Duneed promises beautiful living spaces amongst 5-star, resort-style facilities with the right amount of ‘wowfactor’ to make the kids jealous. The jewel in the crown of Victoria’s 18 Lifestyle Communities is its multi-milliondollar clubhouse facility. Award-winning architecture firm DKO is helping Lifestyle Mount Duneed take the clubhouse to a new level of next generation design by incorporating feedback from other Lifestyle Communities to better understand how homeowners use and interact with facilities. The result of this research and design expertise is a brand-new, significantly enhanced clubhouse, melding a practical indoor and outdoor vibe with plush furnishings and five-star hotel luxury. DKO senior architect Rochelle Rosenwax explains that the clubhouse was planned in the round, abstracted into a curved building that takes cues from local aboriginal artwork depicting people gathered around a camp site and watering hole, a wonderful analogy for a place that is all about bringing community together. Curved around a mature 14-metre-tall scarlet oak and using all-natural materials that complement the beautiful Australian landscape, the stunning building will house a 30-seat cinema, communal library, heated pool, spa, gym, and games room featuring a bar, billiard tables, and dartboard. Further showcasing the beautiful surrounds, homeowners look out onto landscaped communal gardens, and outdoor pickleball court and bowling, croquet and
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Outdoor Cooking | Pizza Ovens
Everyone has a barbecue but the new trends is cooking up delicious home-made pizzas in an outdoor backyard oven.
A delicious slice of heaven PIZZA ovens are becoming popular additions to Australian backyards alongside the ubiquitous barbecue. Devotees of pizza ovens love the simplicity of authentic Italian-style pizzas, which can be healthy, quick to make and delicious. Because the high heat generated in a wood fired pizza oven, food cooks extremely quickly making them great for feeding large groups of people. And only wood fired brick ovens infuse that smokey, charcoal flavour that can’t be replicated in a normal kitchen oven. There are a number of things to consider when choosing what sort of pizza oven is right for your home. Firstly, what material to use in constructing the oven. BRICK Brick ovens are fuel efficient, as they retain up to 85 per cent of the heat generated by a wood fire. Bricks are also cheap making them a popular choice . To get an authentic rustic look, the brick can be rendered in cement with the added benefit of retaining extra heat for faster cooking. STONE Stone has very similar heat efficiency to brick but it can be an expensive option. If you like the look of natural stone use it on the facade as decoration rather than using it for the baking chamber. COB Cob is a mixture of natural building materials made from things such as clay, sand, straw, rocks and recycled materials. It is one of the oldest building methods on earth. A cob oven is cheap to construct and fuel efficient. It cooks with all three heating methods: convection, conduction and radiant heat. Be careful to ensure the baking chamber is fired properly or it will crack. There is plenty of advice on the internet about how to construct a cob oven. 20
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A pizza oven makes summer dining extra delicious.
STEEL In modern homes stainless steel is a popular choice for pizza ovens. They are low maintenance and can be connected to gas as a fuel source eliminating the long heating time needed for wood fired models.
authentic way of cooking used by humans for thousands of years. It can take up to four hours to get a wood fired oven to the correct temperature for cooking so patience and planning is required if you choose wood.
PORTABLE OVEN For those with a small backyard a portable pizza oven or even a bench top oven may be a better option. Portable ovens can be wood fired or gas powered. They can be moved out of the way when not in use or even taken to a park, the beach or a friend’s house. The other main consideration is which fuel to use to fire your pizza oven.
CHARCOAL/COAL Wood-fired ovens can also be fueled with either charcoal or coal for a different flavour, though these options are often considered to be less efficient, and less eco-friendly.
WOOD For purists wood is the only way to go. Wood fired is the
GAS/ELECTRIC More contemporary in style, a gas or electric pizza oven is a cleaner option, particularly for an indoor or enclosed kitchen. Gas is also faster but they do need to be connect to a mains supply or bottled gas. ● GEELONG COASTnew homes&land
Hot in the Kitchen | Tulip kitchens & design
Kitchens and so much more TULIP kitchens & designs has 26 years of expert advice to draw upon. But despite its name, Tulip kitchens & designs isn’t just all about kitchens. Tulip kitchens & designs also specialises in bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and living areas. Erik Wirtz is proud of the fact that Tulip kitchens & designs is a locally owned and operated business. “We partner with our clients to make their dream a reality,” he says. “Most importantly, we listen to our clients. “After all, they are the experts in their own environment and they are the ones to enjoy their new cabinetry for many years to come.” To ensure it meets its clients’ expectations, Erik says a brief is created based on their requirements and wishes, but also budget and personal style. “This brief is the foundation on which we base all our designs,” he says. “Our quality cabinetry is custom designed and has a lifespan that often lasts several decades. “So to us, trends and fashion are only partially important. We rather draw inspiration from contemporary and timeless designers and brands to ensure we add lasting luxury, emotion and beauty to a home or office.” Erik says while craftsmanship is paramount and the aesthetics of the final product are important, there’s more to it than that. “We always design and construct our cabinetry with practicality in mind,” he says. “Function usually gets precedence over form. That is likely why we are best known for our innovative, ergonomic designs.” Originally established in 1993 in the
A sleek, modern Tulip kitchen. Netherlands, Tulip kitchens & designs’ 26 years in business gives it the expertise to manage all facets of home and office
renovations, says Erik. “We offer total project management, covering all required trades,” he says.
“This makes the whole renovation process a stress-free experience from start to finish.” ●
“The pleasure of good quality lasts longer than the joy of a low price.” - Michael Sonntag ͻ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĂů ĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ ͻ ĐĂďŝŶĞƚƌLJ ĨŽƌ Ă ůƵdžƵƌLJ ůŝĨĞƐƚLJůĞ ͻ ĐƌĞĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ͻ Ϯϲ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ
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217 Moorabool Street, Geelong VIC 3220 phone 0433 235 127 sales@tulipkitchens.com | www.tulipkitchens.com.au 12433190-NG49-19
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Hot in the Kitchen | Chefs Essentials
Summer tools for home chefs SUMMER is an inspirational time for experimenting with home cooking recipes and ideas. And only one store has the products and the most-informed advice to help customers make their sunny season meals a special treat for the whole family. Geelong-owned kitchenware retailer Chefs Essentials operate under the motto ‘Cookery for every kitchen’. Showcasing the most extensive kitchenware supplies across the region, Chefs Essentials is the home for all kitchen needs. With the story founded in Geelong in 1999, the family behind the business has been leading the way for almost 20 years. Stocking a variety of professional grade commercial kitchen tools, appliances and utensils, Chefs Essentials can point customers in the right direction to complete any culinary task. The wide range at Chefs Essentials includes all the big brand names customers know and love such as Magimix, Wusthof and Esteele. The range is complemented by the best possible service. The staff at Chefs Essentials love getting in the kitchen, too, so clients know they can trust them to give the right advice suited to their particular needs. Chefs Essentials believes in great chefs, happy staff and family fun. Whether customers are professional cooks or just like creating treats on weekends, Chefs Essentials has everything needed to bring home-cooked meals to life. Customers are invited to find new inspiration in the kitchen today by visiting Chefs Essentials at 138 Ryrie St, Geelong, phone 5229 9923. ●
An exciting range of top-line kitchenware is available at Geelong's Chefs Essentials.
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To advertise in the Autumn 2020 edition of the New Homes & Land Magazine and be seen in 20,000+ copies, contact the Geelong Indy office on 5249 6700.
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