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COLORBOND and the BlueScope brand mark are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. 2018 BlueScope Steel Limited ABN 16 000 011 058. All rights reserved.
EXPERTS & INSIDERS
INSPIRING HOMES WITH HEART
The word on planning, design, colour and materials Clever office spaces to inspire your side hustle
READY SET BUILD
Architects, designers & tradies – how to find your dream team
How to build a pizza oven at your place
SHOP THIS
La dolce vita Riviera-inspired decorating
real-life reno
How one couple flipped a dream Queenslander
Backyard goals
A tropical pool garden
INC GST
GET SMART MAKING TECH WORK IN YOUR HOME
EDITOR’S LETTER
FOL LOW US AT
For the best home ideas to spark your imagination insideoutAU
T
he idea of home is a pretty emotional concept for all of us. On the one hand, it’s just bricks, steel and concrete, but it’s also the place where we live and love and cook, and draw our friends and loved ones to us. Right now the bushfires in various parts of Australia are challenging our idea of home... with lives lost, thousands of homes have been wiped out and, at the time of going to print, this dreadful situation is still not resolved. As we’ve put the February issue together, the whole Inside Out team has been acutely aware of the fires and how so many people have suddenly and traumatically become homeless. As we’re all about homes, renovation and decoration, we hope to make the process of rebuilding smoother by bringing you stories covering the new building codes in fire-prone areas, fire-proof materials, water supply, wastage, sustainability and all the innovation that we can come up with. February is also our Experts & Insiders issue, where we call on friends of Inside Out to share inside info on what they’ve learnt from their particular areas of expertise. You’ll see their pearls of wisdom scattered throughout the issue, popping up with gems on everything from colour to construction. Their enthusiasm and passion is infectious – and may well inspire action on your homefront. Enjoy the issue.
Eliza O’Hare EDITOR / FOLLOW ME @ELIZA_OH
PS As part of the bushfire recovery process, Inside Out publisher Bauer Media has created
a #RebuildOurTowns campaign, a platform to support and donate and stay informed. Visit rebuildourtowns.com.au for town-by-town updates across the country.
8 | INSIDE OUT
Be inspired by our curated moodboards @insideoutpins
Your daily renovation and design goals @insideoutmag
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The latest news, inspo and ideas homestolove.com.au/ insideout
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PHOTOGRAPHY: KRISTINA SOLJO. ELIZA IS WEARING BASSIKE, BASSIKE.COM. HAIR & MAKE-UP: ELSA MORGAN. SHOT ON LOCATION AT IN BED, PADDINGTON, NSW
This must be the place
54
contents
60
February 2020 the cut 17 18 20 23 24 26 28 30 32 34 40 42 46
THE CUT This month, we’re feeling warm and safe with the
SOL furniture collection, Sarah Ellison’s tribute to the sun NEWS Our round-up of the hottest design finds plus places to visit, things to try and pieces to buy BEST BUYS: STRIPED LINEN Walk the line with chic new bedding BEST BUYS: GRAPHIC PLATES Conversation-starting crockery TOP 10 PICKS Tropical treasures to keep the summer vibe alive COLOUR TREND Why pink and red is the ultimate colour combo PERFECT PAIRS Compact study sets to spark big imaginations CULT CLASSIC Side tables from Zanotta and Hay DESIGN ADVICE Tech to update your living space WHAT I KNOW Our favourite industry insiders share practical advice to help you navigate your renovation DESIGN PROFILE: HEIMUR Nathan Lawrence, one half of this Melbourne design duo, on thinking globally and acting locally CREATIVE SPACES Whether it’s a home office or a co-working space, these work stations are guaranteed to inspire productivity THE ORIGINALS Interiors editor Deborah Bibby shares her favourite Australian beach houses and their unique charms
70 SET IN STONE This striking home in the Victorian countryside 80 90 100 108
116 120
124
inside: homes & renovation
127
54 THE MED SET Outdoor set-ups with a seaside sentiment
128
60 MODERNIST SENSIBILITY Architect Kerry Fyfe turned her tiny
mid-century home into a modern masterpiece
was a true labour of love for its hardworking owners THE LOW DOWN Keen to retain the charm of their Queensland worker’s cottage, this couple went below deck for high impact PERFECTLY IMPERFECT A dilapidated farmhouse in Puglia was all the inspiration a Belgian ceramicist needed to relocate RELAXED FIT The small footprint of this light-filled Art Deco apartment belies its spacious and serene interior PASSION PROJECT What was meant to be a quick flip turned into a longer, more considered stay for serial renovators who learnt to love it before they listed FINDING THE ONE The ultimate ‘experts and tradies’ guide, penned by our resident tradie, Shannon Vos GOOD THINKING No longer just a far-off dream, smart tech is making our lives easier — and our homes more efficient and eco-friendly — than ever before ASK AN EXPERT From choosing the right flooring and window coverings to finding sun-loving plants for a balcony, our expert panel answers all of your design dilemmas KITCHEN NEWS Fresh finds for the heart of your home, including slick surfaces, artisanal tiles and decorative touches BEDROOM NEWS From dreamy linens to statement rugs and beckoning beds, we bring you a raft of bold and beautiful pieces to update your sleep space
132
This month our favourite experts and insiders weigh in on how to make your renovation project a success
90
out: gardens, entertaining & travel 131 TROPICAL TREAT Who needs a holiday when you have a
resort-style set-up in your own backyard? 138 I’VE ALWAYS WANTED... A PIZZA OVEN Fire up your dinner-party game with a gourmet addition that’s guaranteed to impress 140 MORE PLEASE Easy-to-make recipes full of colour and flavour from Matt Preston’s latest cookbook 146 SRI LANKA The hot spot serving up serious design inspiration
24
regulars 31, 52 & 130 SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS Subscribe to Inside Out and
receive 12 issues for $64.99 plus a bonus Tupperware gift set. 154 LAST WORD Learn the art of relaxing at a new Byron retreat
on the cover 54 Shop this: La dolce vita — Riviera-inspired decorating 34 Experts & Insiders: The word on planning, design, 42 80 116 120 132 138
colour & materials Clever office spaces to inspire your side hustle Real-life reno: How one couple flipped a dream Queenslander Ready Set Build: Architects, designers & tradies — how to find your dream team Get smart: Making tech work in your home Backyard goals: A tropical pool garden How to build a pizza oven at your place
146 our cover look After their first renovation project was snapped up by an interested neighbour, Ben Schluter and his partner Lyndall were ready to move on to bigger and better things. They discovered a quaint Queenslander ripe for renovation and transformed it into this desirable, light-filled home while retaining its cottage charm.
Photography: Cathy Schusler Styling: CLO Studios
This ensuite is full of clever design ideas and we love everything about it MOST TAPPED THIS MONTH
EDITORIAL EDITOR Eliza O’Hare CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mia Daminato HOMES GROUP COORDINATOR Matilda Ringrose
ART & STYLE ART DIRECTORS Josie Smith, Katrina Yaxley JUNIOR DESIGNER Sophie Wilson IMAGE RETOUCHER Matus Kundrat MARKET EDITOR Natalie Johnson
FEATURES & COPY SENIOR COPY EDITOR Deborah Grant HOMES GROUP PRODUCTION EDITOR Tamarah Pienaar SENIOR DIGITAL WRITER Christina Rae
THANKS TO Darren Christison, Kate Hassett, Stephanie Hope, Virginia Jen, Sarah Pickette, Nate Vella ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION HEAD OF BRANDS Anna Mistilis (02) 9282 8111 HOMES COMMERCIAL MANAGER Rhonda Maunder (02) 9282 8687 HOMES BRAND MANAGER Kimberly Anderson (02) 9338 6103 ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Kate Orsborn (02) 9282 8364 VICTORIA, SA AND WA SALES DIRECTOR Jaclyn Clements (03) 9823 6341 DIRECTOR OF SALES — NSW Karen Holmes (02) 9282 8733 VICTORIA HEAD OF DIRECT SALES Will Jamison (03) 9823 6301 QUEENSLAND HEAD OF SALES Judy Taylor (07) 3101 6636 CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING Nick Carson (02) 9282 8369 NEW ZEALAND INQUIRIES +61 2 9282 8505 GENERAL MANAGER — PRODUCTION SERVICES Ian McHutchinson PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Sally Jefferys ADVERTISING PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Dominic Roy (02) 9282 8691 SENIOR EVENT MANAGER Cate Gazal (02) 8226 9342
MARKETING & CIRCULATION HEAD OF RETAIL AND CIRCULATION Andrew Cohn MARKETING DIRECTOR Louise Cankett SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER Jillian Hogan BRAND MANAGER Sarah Webster CIRCULATION MANAGER Nicole Pearson SENIOR SUBSCRIPTIONS CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Ellie Xuereb, Jesvin Vincent HEAD OF CREATIVE | STORY 54 Clare Catt
BAUER MEDIA CORPORATE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Brendon Hill CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Andrew Stedwell EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, PUBLISHING & DIGITAL OPERATIONS Sarah-Belle Murphy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Shane Sutton COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Paul Gardiner GENERAL MANAGER, SUBSCRIPTIONS & E-COMMERCE Sean McLintock BUSINESS MANAGER Georgina Bromfield SYNDICATION syndication@bauer-media.com.au
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SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES Phone 136 116 Online magshop.com.au/inside-out Email magshop@magshop.com.au Post Inside Out, Reply Paid 5252, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia Download our Inside Out app, now available on smartphones and tablets For Apple users, download from the App Store For Android users, download from Google Play Published by Bauer Media Pty Limited (ABN 053 273 546), 54 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. The trademark Inside Out is the property of Bauer Media Pty Ltd. © 2020. All rights reserved. Printed by Ovato Warwick Farm, 8 Priddle Street, Warwick Farm NSW 2170. National distribution by Gordon and Gotch Australia Pty Ltd. 1300 650 666. ISSN 1835-9631 (print). No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent from the copyright holders. Bauer Media Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage to or loss of freelance material submitted for publication. Allow several weeks for acceptance or return. For enquiries regarding subscriptions, phone 136 116, Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm AEST, email magshop@magshop.com.au or mail letters to: Inside Out Reply Paid 5252, Sydney, NSW 2001, or subscribe online at magshop.com.au/insideout. Subscription rate*: Australia $69.95 (one year, 12 issues); NZ A$79.95 (one year, 12 issues); other countries A$159.95 (one year, 12 issues). All overseas subscriptions sent air speed. *Recommended price
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARMELLE HABIB. STYLING: JULIE MISKIN
A playful mix of subway and square tiles, as well as a luxe marble benchtop and navy cabinetry, create a striking look in this Hamptons-style Mornington Peninsula home
Address Bauer Media, 54 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Phone (02) 9282 8000 Email insideout@bauer-media.com.au Online homestolove.com.au/insideout Facebook facebook.com/insideoutau Instagram instagram.com/insideoutmag Pinterest pinterest.com/insideoutpins
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INSIDE OUT | PEOPLE
our experts This issue, we’ve assembled a panel of insiders to provide the soundest renovation advice. Meet the team!
tiles
horticulture
furniture
Georgia Ezra
Melissa King
David Harrison
Director of Melbourne-based interior design practice Studio Ezra and artisan tile purveyor Tiles of Ezra, Georgia is a treasure hunter at heart. She takes her inspiration from a range of exotic cultures and is passionate about pushing the boundaries of modern design. She believes in crafting spaces that enliven the senses and mood, leading to better spiritual health. Her wise words appear on pages 38 and 125.
One of Australia’s most popular garden experts, Melissa has a passion for gardening that was formalised with a horticulture degree that she topped. After four years as host of the ABC’s Gardening Australia, she moved to Channel 7 to host the gardening segment on Melbourne Weekender. In addition to her TV work, she’s a proud ambassador for Northcote Pottery. Melissa’s thoughts on balconies are on page 124.
Sydney-based design journalist David is a regular Inside Out contributor. He’s been gracing the pages of Australian interiors magazines since 1999, and in recent years has applied his expert knowledge of furniture and lighting to his own furniture designs. David’s blog, Design Daily, shares his views on the latest design releases and local design talent, as well as important vintage pieces. Read what he says about buying new vs vintage on page 37.
bricks & pavers
kitchen appliances
interiors
Jai Sanderson
Mark Elmore
Lauren Keenan
At Inside Out, we love bricks and were delighted when Jai came on board. She is the general manager of marketing for PGH Bricks & Pavers at CSR Ltd. Offering real style and integrity, PGH Bricks & Pavers has a wide variety of products in myriad colours, shapes, textures and sizes to help people create a home that is truly theirs. Head to page 126 for Jai’s top tips on choosing the perfect product for your outdoor space.
The general manager of design at Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Mark has driven design-led thinking across the company. He has a keen interest in the physical and architectural evolution of kitchens, and the accompanying social and psychological impacts. Over his years at the company, he has overseen the transformation of its HQ to an impressive centre for research and development. He talks integrated appliances on page 76.
You might know Lauren from her award-winning design podcast, At Home With Lauren Keenan. Or from her work as an interior stylist and decorator, creating beautiful homes that reflect her clients’ lifestyles, tastes and budgets. She always approaches interior design with a sense of fun and a firm belief that everyone deserves a home they truly love. See her top tips for transforming a bedroom on page 125.
textiles
living
mid-century design
Greg Natale
David Hardwick
Tim Ross
Arguably Australia’s most famous interior designer, Greg is known for his masterful use of pattern and colour, and his bold application of both across a big portfolio of projects. Over the years, Greg has branched into other disciplines through signature ranges of rugs, wallpaper, tiles, furniture and homewares. He talks about pattern on page 37.
In his role as head of products at King Living, David guides development, ensuring KL furniture reflects the high standards of design and production that have become synonymous with the brand. Having been recognised with awards at both local and international levels, he is perfectly positioned to advise on choosing the right bed for a better night’s sleep. See page 105 for some of his insights.
Tim is an award-winning comedian, writer, broadcaster and self-proclaimed Mid-Century Modern design nerd. Renowned for the 2016 ABC series, Streets of Your Town, and live shows Man About the House and Motel, Tim also writes about architecture for leading publications and has had three books published. He shows us into his Mid-Century-style study on page 36.
bathrooms
entertaining
interior design
John Hoogendoorn
Alyce Tran
Tina Engelen
The creative design manager at Phoenix, John has had a 30-year career in the industry and been recognised internationally in major design awards, including the International Red Dot, iF Design Awards, Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award and the Osaka Design Prize. He’s overseen the development of hundreds of water-saving tapware and shower products, which is why his advice on page 66 is so welcome.
Leaving behind a career in corporate law to follow her passion for design and accessories, Alyce co-founded The Daily Edited in 2014 and has since become an international success story. As a side project to The Daily Edited, Alyce also co-founded tabletop homewares brand In The Roundhouse, which has quickly gained traction with customers. Head to page 36 where Alyce shares how to set a guest-friendly table.
Tina spent her formative years travelling with her parents, who imported architectural design products for Dedece, their family business. After studying interior design, she became features editor at Interior Design & Architecture magazine. She then co-founded Engelen Moore architectural practice in 1995. Tina was a jury member for the NSW Chapter of the AIA Awards in 2014 and 2018. Page 39 is where you’ll find her tips on lighting.
upcycling
flooring
design
Deborah Bibby,
Nicole Canty
Shannon Vos
Deborah has over 20 years’ experience as an editor-in-chief, leading teams across print, product and digital in the interior and fashion spaces. She was founding editor of award-winning magazine real living, and also Jones and Mr Jones magazines. Her first interiors book, The Originals: Beach Houses To Fall In Love With, is out in March. Her thoughts on buying furniture appear on page 37.
The product manager for leading flooring retailer Choices Flooring, Nicole lives and breathes all things homewares. With a love of colour and design, Nicole is passionate about helping the Choices Flooring team design beautiful homes for everyone. Nicole sources product locally and from overseas, ensuring the Choices Flooring team are always on trend. Her advice is on pages 83 and 124.
Shannon has always been fascinated by design and spent 10 years in the construction industry and studying interior design before winning Nine’s The Block: Glasshouse in 2014 with his brother Simon. Shannon is a regular Inside Out contributor and works on interior-design projects through his own business, Vos Creative. Pages 39 and 116 are where to find his insider’s take on renovating.
bricks & breeze blocks
window coverings
contemporary art
Brett Ward
Amelia Taylor
Kitty Clark
Brett Ward’s extensive knowledge of local and global design is unparalleled. The general manager of international marketing at Brickworks Building Products, he’s known for his commitment to sustainability and vast knowledge of building materials. Brett also hosts a yearly international study tour with a group of Australia’s design elite. On page 125, he flags the virtues of breeze blocks.
As head of product and marketing at Wynstan, Australia’s best-known company for blinds, doors, shutters and awnings, Amelia knows how to select both stylish and practical treatments to suit the interior or exterior of any property. Extensive experience has made her the go-to expert for window and door advice. Turn to page 124 for her sage advice on the coolest window coverings.
Four years ago, Kitty moved from corporate to the art world by founding Sydney’s Saint Cloche gallery. Now she’s at the epicentre of a growing community of like-minded creatives, promoting art, culture and contemporary thinking. With a knack for uncovering the ‘next big thing’, her gallery champions emerging and early-career artists, giving them an opportunity to present their work to new audiences in a design-led space. See page 35 for more.
gardens
colour
indoor plants
Adam Robinson
Megan Morton
Lauren Camilleri
Landscape designer Adam thrives on running his Sydney design studio, ARD, and working with his team to create beautiful, evocative and functional urban outdoor spaces for residential clients. When not designing stunning gardens, he also holds workshops on styling, decorating and other design topics. Page 36 is where he’s at.
Mega stylist Megan creates spaces that make people happy. She has been called on to work her house-whispering magic for celebrities, magazines and even her next-door neighbours. From bars to weekenders to forever homes, Megan works domestically and corporately, creating luxury atmospheres for special occasions. Her thoughts on colour run on page 34.
The co-founder of Leaf Supply, Lauren has worked for more than 12 years as an art director and graphic designer in the publishing industry. With a Bachelor of Interior Architecture, she also has a keen interest in design and the positive effects of plants. She lives for matching the right plant and pot with the nook where it can truly live its best life. For more on this topic, see page 39.
INSIDE OUT | 15
All the styles, all in the one place. That’s freedom. HIDEOUT king single bed & expedition canopy + Made from oak timber/engineered board + Choose from two canopy covers + Match it with the Kaspar bedroom furniture range
Let your little one’s imagination run wild. Made from solid oak and engineered board, the Hideout bed’s hitched roof design allows for exciting customisation. Choose the Expedition canopy for a camping adventure or a glamping fairytale with the dreamy Malibu tulle canopy. The kids will love making this bed their own.
Shop in-store or online at freedom.com.au
DESIGN | SHOP | PLACES | PEOPLE | SPACES
THE CUT sunny aspect Australian designer and stylist Sarah Ellison says “the world feels fragile right now”, which is why she’s created her SOL collection of furniture with warmth, safety and permanence in mind. SOL is a reference to the sun in Roman mythology and this stunning new range – Sarah’s third – combines exaggerated, sculptural forms in sensual and textual materials. Pictured here are the Muse Modular sofa in luxe Caramel Velvet, Huggy chair in Faux Shearling, Tide coffee table in Limestone and Royère lamp. sarahellison.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVE WHEELER STYLING SARAH ELLISON
THE CUT
JUST OPENED
GREG NATALE’S FLAGSHIP STORE He’s the King of pattern and one of Australia’s most-loved interior designers, so when Greg Natale opened his first flagship store along the charming Macleay Street strip in Sydney’s Potts Point last month, stylists, designers and loyal customers flocked to take a look. The gorgeous Art Deco space houses Greg’s range of home decor, objects and accessories, along with a few well-sourced pieces from design centres in France, Italy and the US. Definitely worth a Saturday morning visit. Find it at 115 Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. GREGNATALE.COM
PLANT NEWS
THE HOT POTS Nappula, the ceramic sister to iconic Nordic design label Iittala, shares its simple but adorable new curvy plant pots that come in a range of classic colours. From $149 each at selected Myer and David Jones stores and online. IITTALA.COM.AU
NEW RANGE
GR EEN L AU NCH Interior stylist Julia Green’s signature approach to styling is to start with colour, and then layer on more colour! So when she decided to launch her own range of homewares sourced in Morocco, colour was an essential part of the DNA. The range includes floor rugs, cushions, spoons, bowls and bags. GREENHOUSEINTERIORS.COM.AU
EDITED BY ELIZA O’HARE
HANG OUT
DREAM WEAVE These generous hand-braided lamps take raffia to the next level. The ’70s-inspired pendant lights from Ferm Living come in three organic shapes (Belly, Bottle and Lampshade) and range in price from $129 to $269. DESIGNSTUFF.COM.AU
IN BLOOM
ZI N N I A S The Zinnia is back, and it makes a hardy, cheerful bunch. In the garden, zinnias live for full sun and long warm summers, and in a table setting they deliver drama in a vase bursting with mismatched colours and bloom sizes. Behold their glory in this Insta image by flower lover @SOPHIA_KAPLAN
READING LIST
WOMEN ARTISTS FROM A TO Z
LIGHT IT UP
carved in stone We adore these beautifully carved Trani stone candleholders from Natuzzi, made in the image of the skyline of the town Alberobello in Puglia. Dandy candleholders, $1080 each. NATUZZI.COM.AU
COVET THIS
SCENT SPECTRUM
NIGHT SPACE The dreamy Dark Green candle is a delicious combination of mint, seaweed and juniper, made from a renewable coconut and soy wax mix for 90 hours of burn time. $65. SHOPNIGHTSPACE.COM
This adorable book by Melanie LaBarge, with illustrations by Caroline Corrigan, covers some of the most gifted female artists and their signature styles, and makes a great bedtime story for aspiring artists. $24.99; Puffin.
IN STORE
BLUE CRUSH Following the Pantone Colour of the Year announcement, prepare for a wave of Classic Blue to wash across interiors stores near you. Cresting the wave is this travel bag by Away, $295 for The Carry-On and $325 for The Bigger Carry-On. AWAYTRAVEL.COM
TOP TOWELS It’s official — towelling is the fabric of 2020, and these luxe Turkishmade beach towels in a soft muted palette by Laze Res are top of our list. LAZERES.COM.AU
THE CUT
BEST BUYS
striped linen
Lines can take you in all sorts of directions. Go solo or layer as many as possible
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Kennedy stitched king bedhead, $1215, GlobeWest. Jute round rug in Natural, $395, Aura Home. Bedside table, stylist’s own. HK Living 1970s-style dinner plate in Ceramic Frost, $29.95, House of Orange. OYOY ‘Confect’ velvet cushion in Rose/Aubergine, $129, Designstuff. Vintage stripe bed cover in Mink (260cm x 240cm), $299, Aura Home. HK Living striped velvet cushion in Peach-Cream, $99, House of Orange. Queen flat sheet in Marine Stripe, $185, I Love Linen. Cherry Stripe flax-linen sheets (in terracotta and red), from $199 for a fitted queen sheet, Society of Wanderers. European flax-linen pillowcase in Indigo Stripe, $90 for two, Cultiver. Heavy linen pillowslip set with stripes in Natural, $135, In Bed.
20 | INSIDE OUT
PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA SOLJO STYLING SOPHIE WILSON
FROM DENMARK. TO THE WORLD.
Designed by Henrik Pedersen, the Austin bed featured in camel cotton velvet is pure bedroom indulgence. The cocooning headboard hints at the comforting embrace- a snug room within a room. The look is characterised by clean, well-defned lines and soft cushioning to provide optimal lumbar support. Spend your nights and lazy mornings by relaxing in comfort and in true Scandinavian style. Choose from over 100+ premium leather and fabrics. BoConcept offers a coordinated one-stop solution. Ask about our interior design service and let us help you co-create your dream home. The 2020 collection is now available, view or order your free catalogue online. Pictured: Austin bed, Block Mirror side table, Curious foor lamp, Indulge bedspread, Indulge cushion, Los Angeles console table, Newport chair, Tone mirror and Simple rug.
Crows Nest Flagship Store - 575 Pacifc Hwy Tel. (02) 9437 0066 Moore Park - Shop GA03 Moore Park Supa Centa Tel. (02) 9697 2886 www.boconcept.com.au
| Open 7 days
THE CUT
BEST BUYS
graphic plates
It’s the era of the fabulous plate. Use one to add colour, humour and fun to your table CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Squares side plate, $19.95, Aura Home. Borosilicate goblets in Azure, $59 for four, and orange flute, $79 for two, Maison Balzac. Mangiamo bone-china plate, $29, In The Roundhouse. Sunflower Saffron bowl, $145, Bonnie and Neil. Carron French terracotta plate, $99, and Borosilicate pink flute, $79 for two, Maison Balzac. Resin stone dinner plate in Dark Turquoise, $160, Dinosaur Designs. Taos dinner plate in Yellow/Navy, $16, Freedom. Grazie Mille bone-china plate, $29, In The Roundhouse. Cyprus dinner plate, $55, Kip & Co. Centrepiece, Poho Flowers.
PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA SOLJO STYLING SOPHIE WILSON
INSIDE OUT | 23
THE CUT
3 1
2 TOP 10 PICKS
tropical 1 Fornasetti ‘Fior Di Lina’ plate, $1238, Farfetch. 2 Bitossi Home ‘Parva Repono’ porcelain box in Yellow, $1818, Wallpaper Store. 3 Cocos acrylic framed print (100cm x 100cm), $599, Interiors Online. 4 Bananas dog lead, $40 for small, Kip&Co. 5 Maite García ‘Kimbie’ cotton throw, $333*, Slowdown Studio. 6 Arch chair in American ash and velvet in Camel, $3803*, Douglas & Bec. 7 FontanaArte ‘Blom’ table lamp in Green, $223, Finnish Design Shop. 8 Bordallo Pinheiro ‘Watermelon’ earthenware bowl, $53*, Matches Fashion. 9 Resin Stone salad servers in Malachite, $125, Dinosaur Designs. 10 Parrot handmade porcelain-and-wood table, $3050, Lladró.
10
4 5 6
9 8
24 | INSIDE OUT
COMPILED BY NAT NATE VELLA
7
*CURRENCY CONVERSION CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING
Keep the holiday spirit going all year round with lively prints and equatorial colours
THE CUT
COLOUR TREND 2
red & pink
1
From first blush to hot stuff, summer’s happiest shades join forces for maximum appeal 4 3
12
11
5
6
10
9 8 7
1 Matin large table lamp in Red, $500, Hay. 2 Haymes Ultra Premium low-sheen acrylic paint in Revival Red, $92 per 4L, Bunnings. 3 True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier watch in Luminous Pink, $2900, Rado. 4 Pink, White And Red art print (A3), $64.33, Hotel Magique. 5 Red & Pink Bold Flower plate, $29, In The Roundhouse. 6 Colourblock Pink & Red 2020 diary, $39.99, Papier. 7 Melt candle holder, $39.90, Città. 8 Kartell ‘Componibili Smile 2 Round’ storage unit in Red, $220, Space. 9 Linen queen sheet set in Nude, $485, In The Sac. 10 Snowden stainless-steel coffee tin in Pink, $15, Hay. 11 Ridge side table with timber top in Blush Pink, from $544, Beeline Design. 12 Oiva/Unikko coffee cup in White & Red, $50, Marimekko.
26 | INSIDE OUT
COMPILED BY NATE VELLA
Lagerstroemia ‘Midnight Magic ’A The Magic Series®
Fill your garden with Magic® ‘The Magic Series’® Lagerstroemia are specially grown to be tougher, brighter, and more magical than any other. With beautiful displays of vibrant reds, popping purples, and vivid pinks all summer long, these magestic plants are the perfect addition to any Australian backyard.
Flemings NURSERIES
flemings.com.au
THE CUT
1 FOCAL POINTS
why it works Pale wood and light gold work a treat and the desk’s circular pull is a perfect match for the translucent light globe. Charlie Tasmanian oak desk, $1450, Lilly & Lolly. Model 375 Medium table lamp, $1295, Great Dane.
A black metal lamp looks great with the metal-legged Albie desk, $399, from Incy Interiors.
PERFECT PAIRS
desk & table lamp
2
Work your design skills with one of these practical study sets – bound to please kids of all ages
BABY STEPS
why it works The stacked drawers give a vertical nod to the lamp and pink strengthens the link. Roxanne 3-drawer desk with rubberwood legs in Pink and White, $499, Harvey Norman. Rectangle FORM lamp in Pink, $129, Milligram.
3 28 | INSIDE OUT
AQUA SPLASH
why it works This desk happily shares its cool factor with the iconic lamp — for less than $700. Hipster melamine desk with oak finish in Aqua, $449, Snooze. Foscarini ‘Binic’ polycarbonate table lamp in Green Aqua, $240, Space.
COMPILED BY SOPHIE WILSON
Get inspired with Choices Flooring Enjoy fresh inspiration with the latest trends in carpet, timber, laminate, luxury vinyl, rugs and window furnishings to transform your home in 2020.
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THE UP-AND-COMER
Bowler side table by Shane Schneck for Hay The form A mobile side table with a
Get your online dose of design through David Harrison’s blog at designdaily. com.au
cult classic
Each of these handy side tables offers eye-catching form and attention-grabbing style THE ORIGINAL
Servomuto side table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta The form A circular side table with a central steel stem available in two different heights,
with laminate tops in two diameters and a choice of colours. What makes it special Yet another whimsical product from Italian design maestros Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the Servomuto (meaning ‘dumbwaiter’ in Italian) side table is part of the Servi collection designed for Zanotta from 1961 through to 1974 for a variety of uses in the hospitality industry. The first two objects – an ashtray stand and umbrella stand – were designed by the brothers for a beer hall and restaurant they had designed together. After the death of Pier Giacomo in 1968, Achille continued to design extra pieces for the collection. These included room dividers, flag stands, movable bollards to cordon off areas, coat stands and more – all with the Servi range’s signature central stem with ball top (to make moving more comfortable and intuitive) along with a round cone base in gloss black polypropylene. The side table is available in two sizes: an 86cm-high version with a 50cm-diameter tabletop and a table height 50cm from the floor, and a taller 104cm version with a 33cm-diameter tabletop set 67cm from the floor. The tables are available with a Black, White or Amaranth (dark red) steel stem/handle, and the tabletops in a choice of two-tone laminates: White/ Black, Amaranth/Grey or Terracotta/Grey Blue. The Servomuto side table is on display at Italy’s Triennale Design Museum in Milan and the Dallas Museum of Art in the US, among a number of important design museums around the world. Expect to pay $970 for the 86cm-high version, and $1000 for the 104cm version. Buy from Cult; 1300 768 626 or cultdesign.com.au 30 | INSIDE OUT
granite base and an integrated handle. What makes it special Referencing the quintessential bowler-hatted Englishman complete with umbrella, this new side table by Stockholm-based American designer Shane Schneck combines a lovely lyrical handle motif and an organic-looking base in natural granite. The handle allows the table to be moved from place to place while the stone acts as a counterbalance to prevent the table from being accidentally knocked over. Delivered as a flat pack for ease of transportation and a reduced carbon footprint, assembly consists of just two screws and a few washers. Released in 2019, the 70.5cm-high Bowler is available in six colours: Black, Cream White, Beige, Pale Brown, Fir Green and Tile Red. Expect to pay $470. Buy at Cult (as before).
PGH BRICKS
PAINTED BRICK Distinctive in character, Painted Brick is a style that ofers infinite possibilities and freedom, providing all the benefits of beautiful brickwork with unlimited colour options and applications. Whether you desire a sheer or opaque finish or wish to highlight the texture, be it rough, smooth, aged or sleek, Painted Brick responds beautifully to any style of architecture, and is an aesthetic that lends tself to a comfortable, and lived-in look. SCAN THE CODE TO TAKE THE PGH BRICKS STYLE QUIZ. LEARN MORE ABOUT PAINTED BRICK AND ALL NINE STYLES AT PGHBRICKS.COM.AU/STYLES
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GALLERY STYLE Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV offers QLED picture quality and a selection of more than 1200 artworks through its partnership with galleries and museums around the world. Pictured here is a work by Tommy Clarke called Playa Shoreline (2015) in the beige-wood bezel frame. The 55” version costs $2698.
DESIGN ADVICE
pretty smart Blending your personal style with home tech has always been a challenge – until now
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f you’re design-minded, the idea of sacrificing style for the
convenience of a connected home is never attractive. But now we’ve finally reached a tipping point, where tech devices are being seamlessly integrated into living spaces, and designers are aware that no matter how powerful, necessary or clever the device, we still have to look at it every day. As technology develops, perhaps the most obvious innovation is that the more powerful the new devices are, the smaller they have become – making them easier to incorporate seamlesly into your interiors. Charging stations have also traditionally been unsightly, so creating a single charging zone for all your devices is one way
to eliminate a device dump in your living room. New wireless charging opens itself up to so many cord-free design opportunities, such as smart combinations of desk lamps, night lights and cleverly designed furniture – all making messy cords a thing of the past. A particularly smart way of achieving both style and substance has been combining tech with art; case in point, Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV, which has expanded its genius concept of displaying artworks when not in use. It now has the unique ability to snap on a variety of bezel frames (in White, Beige and Brown) that reflect your interior style, essentially rendering the screen invisible when not in use. Adding a One Clear Cable will further minimise cords by combining the power and optical cable, leaving your walls streamlined and the tech invasion of your interiors averted.
WORDS ELIZA O’HARE PRODUCT SOURCING NATE VELLA
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FUTURE CLASSICS Our pick of the latest integrated products
1 Symfonisk Wi-Fi bookshelf speaker, $149, Ikea Perfect mounted on a wall as a bedside table or bookshelf, this speaker also provides rich sound quality. 2 Riggad LED work lamp, $99, Ikea Charge two devices at once with this clever lamp and charger combo. 3 BeoSound Shape speaker, from $8200 for a six-tile configuration, Bang & Olufsen This bespoke wall-mounted speaker system doubles as art and adds a luxe touch to your walls with its exclusive Kvadrat fabrics. 4 LEDlux ‘Poppy’ wireless charging lamp, $64.95, Beacon Lighting A handy table light that also charges your Qi-compatible device when you place it on the lamp. 5 Samsung 65-inch ‘The Frame’ 4K UHD QLED Smart TV, $3799 with Brown bezel frame, Harvey Norman The ultimate home-tech inclusion for style-conscious TV watchers. Artwork on screen is V&A ‘Cray’ furnishing fabric by English textile designer William Morris. 6 LiFX Tile Wi-Fi Smart LED light kit, $399, Harvey Norman This voiceactivated artwork of ambient light comes in 16 million colours — yep, you heard that right. So, matching any interior palette is a breeze.
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THE CUT | EXPERTS & INSIDERS
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Megan Morton
Stylist and The Studio owner
INDUSTRY SPEAK
what I know...
Twelve design and style insiders reveal their best tips for renovating, choosing furniture – and even setting a table COMPILED BY ELIZA O’HARE
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an ‘access all areas’ design value. Anyone can have a go. From wild, abandoned gestures to finely nuanced tone-on-tone schemes, colour can make a room feel alive, relaxed, passive, comforting or just plain magnificent. And the challenge of using (rather than abusing) it sits within this range. How does one room reign supreme in a cacophony of shades while another can look like a first-year visual merch project? It’s like cooking, where every ingredient helps to make that end-flavour outcome unique. Every colour does for the eyes what those ingredients do for the taste. But the real masterstroke is something people don’t usually talk about – that sticky question of what colours, and what combinations of colour, really make your heart sing. It’s a bit like when you wear something and feel it’s so very ‘you’, versus something someone else has worn and you have bought into. This is the magic. When you put down the Pinterest, or your favourite interior designer’s palette, and work from inwards rather than outwards, your colour scheme will be so beautiful – just like a great bowl of ragu that you make effortlessly while your favourite song is playing.” @megan_morton; the-studio.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHARYN CAIRNS (CASTLE). STYLING: TAHNEE CARROLL (CASTLE)
“What I know about colour is that it’s
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CENTRE OF ATTENTION Like Kitty Clark, designer Rachel Castle surrounds herself with art she loves. This eye-catching 1971 lithograph by Bernard Villemot is in Rachel’s living room.
Kitty Clark
Director, Saint Cloche Gallery “What I know about buying art is you should always follow your heart – if there’s
a place in your heart, there will be a place for it in your life. I don’t believe in buying art purely as an investment or only following popular trends. Buy something you love. Every. Single. Time. Something that thrills you and makes your heart skip a beat or feel something every time you see it. I fantasise about having a house which is a blank canvas, where I can start again with nothing. I’d begin with a single piece of art that I’m crazy for and let that work inspire me to go on from there and decorate the whole house.” saintcloche.com
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Alyce Tran
Co-founder, In The Roundhouse lifestyle brand
NO IMPULSE BUYS Deborah Bibby extols the concept of living with things you love and taking your time finding them. Fashion store owner Lynn Clay did this with a curated collection of vases (right) in her Melbourne home.
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“What I know about setting a great table is it must surprise and delight. I always start
Tim Ross
Mid-century design expert and author “What I know about buying a mid-century home is, if you have a house
with anything remotely resembling a flat roof, there’s a good chance you’ll have issues with leaks. It’s a small price to pay for all the feels you will get from living in a light-filled gem from the last century. Most of the time, the issue can be solved with overflows on your gutters or downpipes, or a well-placed bucket inside. I can also almost guarantee you won’t have enough storage. People didn’t have as much stuff back then so they had less cupboard space. Get around this by putting in more cupboards, having a garage sale or getting a time machine to go back to 2019 when Marie Kondo was a thing. More than anything, I know you will have a better life.” themanaboutthehouse.net; @modernister. Tim’s new design book, Motel, is available at modernisterbooks.com
FIFTIES FLASHBACK Tim Ross had a 1950s-style wall unit custom-made for this room in his home on Sydney’s northern beaches.
36 | INSIDE OUT
Adam Robinson
Landscape horticulturist/stylist “What I know about small outdoor spaces
is that, generally, balconies, courtyards and patios are in close proximity to the home, so it’s important to draw design ideas from the architecture and interiors when you select materials, colours and furnishings. Keep the design simple yet strong. Use good-quality raw materials and don’t mix too many together – simplicity is key. Ensure the palette is easy on the eye and comfortable to live with. On the other hand, a varied plant palette allows the space to feel soft, lush and less rigid. I find dark, moody colours allow the boundaries to recede and give depth to plant foliage, which also helps to make a small space appear larger.” adamrobinsondesign.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY: SEVAK BABAKHANI (ALYCE), SCOTT HAWKINS (CLAY HOME), MICHAEL NAUMOFF (ROSS HOME), NATALIE HUNFALVAY (ROBINSON GARDEN). STYLING: SARAH ELLISON (ROSS HOME)
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with coloured or patterned cloth. I like unusually shaped side plates and serving platters, and bowls filled with inexpensive details like grapes. For my last birthday, I did a Capri-themed party with a pink-and-white gingham cloth layered over a pink base cloth, made custom keyrings for the place settings and printed Capri-themed A5 menus the same size as the napkins. When it comes to flowers, I like sparse but luxe florals because I like sharing food and they can get in the way.” intheround.house
Deborah Bibby
Interiors editor and writer “What I know about thrifting is you
should look for great shapes, classic pieces, neutral colours and natural fabrics. I lean to a 1970s influence, and anything with good design bones that is made well. My best tip is to buy the best you can afford. Think of furniture as an investment and try not to buy interim cheap furniture because you’ll end up throwing it out. Instead, think sustainably and wait for the perfect piece, which you’ll have forever. I don’t buy because I think an item is valuable. I buy because it’s a beautiful shape, well made and I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s about hunting out those unique special pieces and living with things you love. Buy once. Buy well. Buy forever, as trends come and go. Buy what you love.” @deb_bibby; see Deb’s new book on page 46
CULT FOLLOWING David Harrison is a fan of the classics, such as this 1996 Knotted Chair by Marcel Wanders, manufactured by Cappellini and sold through Cult. Noguchi lamp. Paper work by Lizzie Buckmaster Dove.
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Design writer and vintage-furniture obsessive “What I know about buying classics is research is key, but swotting up on designs
from the past is no hardship. When you decide which classic strikes a chord, the next question should be: do you want a vintage piece or the current production version? When a design is deemed a classic, it is invariably reissued so, rather than scour auction houses and vintage stores, you can order one in your choice of colour, finish or wood. Sometimes the reissue is every bit as well-made as the original – but much of the time, an original has the added benefit of rarity, patina and other little differences that set it apart. Go for the version that makes you feel most excited. For me, this is usually vintage, but many find the lived-in nature of vintage pieces a little off-putting. Opting for a newly made but properly licenced version ensures you benefit from the design pedigree without the fading, dints and scratches that are inevitable with older examples. Don’t be tempted to buy replica versions to save money. They’re essentially worthless once you have purchased them, and while some may be quite close to the original in terms of shape, they are typically made to a lesser standard.” designdaily.com.au
Greg Natale
Interior designer and retailer “What I know about pattern is that it helps
balance a space. I first became aware of pattern in my family home as a child. There was pattern in every room. I guess you could say it’s in my DNA. When I approach pattern in a project, I have a bit of a formula. I like an injection of pattern with a fantastic rug. Currently, I am loving an oversized French Art Deco style with a block colour sofa. I then layer pattern by using cushions that are block colour, geometric, and botanical. But I have been known to break my own rules from time to time. If I use wallpaper, the curtains need to provide balance. Always pay attention to the ceiling, treating it a bit like a fifth wall, with more decorative finishes and pattern. gregnatale.com.au
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Director, Tiles Of Ezra “What I know about choosing tiles is
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there is no such thing as right or wrong. Design is personal, and it is for this reason that I’m passionate about the idea of embracing one’s own unique aesthetic. When choosing tiles for your home, a timeless choice is one that speaks to your soul, not the by-product of a trend. Listen to, and trust, yourself and think about how you’d like to feel every morning when you enter the space. If you make your decision based on the feeling you wish to feel, rather than matching a specific look, you will certainly choose a tile that you will connect to for a far longer time. Understand who you are and what is important for your needs, but remember that your tile choice needs to be practical, too. For example, if grout lines bother you, choosing a small mosaic with many grout lines will ultimately cause frustration. Success is about being able to marry your practical needs with your aesthetic dreams.” tilesofezra.com
WINNING WAYS Interior architect Georgia Ezra designed this kitchen and the tiles featured in it. Her work was voted Best Kitchen of the Year for 2019 by Australian House & Garden magazine.
PHOTOGRAPHY: AMELIA STANWIX (EZRA), LUISA BRIMBLE (LEAF SUPPLY), ROSS HONEYSETT (TINA ENGELEN)
Georgia Ezra
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Shannon Vos
Builder and design writer
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“What I know about renovating is that,
Tina Engelen
Architect and lighting aficionado “What I know about light is that Australia is in the southern hemisphere, and living
in a north-facing home offers the most benefit. The sun’s arc is higher in the summer, providing natural shade to the interiors, and lower in the winter, providing deep, penetrating sunlight and free heating. Depending on the weather, we can control natural light by installing curtains, roller blinds or shutters on the interior windows, and awnings or pergolas on the exterior. Use a mix of lights to balance night-time illumination: ceiling-mounted lights aimed to wash the walls and highlight artworks; wall or floor-mounted uplights to wash the ceiling plane; and table and reading lamps to provide ambient and task light. Prevent glare and keep naked light bulbs concealed from view. Have dimmer lights that can be turned up to perform tasks and turned down to relax.” co-ap.com
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as OutKast once sang, ‘…you can plan a pretty picnic but cha can’t predict tha weatha’. Not great gramma, but pretty spot on for most renovations. The Southern rappers (yeah, I’m that old) must know a thing about renovating and building because their lyrics personify two of the biggest factors: the unknown and the unplanned. They have the power to break the most hardened tradie and blow any budget, so they must be considered before anyone straps on a toolbelt. While you don’t necessarily need to budget for it, you should plan for things like busting through a water main, tradies not turning up on time and not getting the right order of tiles. Planning for all types of mishaps ensures you’ll know what to do if the proverbial hits the fan.” voscreative.com.au
Lauren Camilleri
Co-founder, Leaf Supply “What I know about plants at home is
they make me happy. They’re enthralling, grounding, their presence promotes productivity, they can detoxify the air, and the act of caring for them and watching them thrive (or nursing them back to health) is incredibly therapeutic. The advantages of keeping these leafy beauties go far beyond just the aesthetic. Humans truly benefit from a connection to nature, particularly those of us living in a densely populated city landscape with limited access to green space. To keep your plants happy and healthy, choose varieties suited to the conditions of your space and lifestyle. Also, embrace the process of tending to your indoor garden. Indoor plants rely on us to provide the water, nutrients and light they need to survive. Check in regularly to ensure their needs are being met and respond to problems quickly.” leaf-supply.com; Lauren’s co-authored book, Indoor Jungle, is out now
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DESIGN PROFILE
heimur
Self-taught furniture maker Nathan Lawrence believes in creative company and time to workshop Talk to us about what led you to co-found Heimur? I was doing
this as a hobby before I set up my business under the name of Heimur with Luke Van Aurich in 2015. I was teaching myself to make furniture, mostly making for friends and family. It quickly turned into friends of friends and so on. Eventually, it was more than I could handle, so I quit my job and focused on it full-time. What is Heimur known for? What are some of your signature designs? Last year, we released our newest range: rattan. This
quickly became a style we’ve identified with. It’s a contemporary approach to bentwood with cane. Designs like our Ralph stool and Lenny bed encompass our style perfectly. How does producing made-to-order pieces affect your design practice? Having our pieces made to order gives me incredible
freedom in small customisations. I don’t treat my designs as set in stone with the detailing; I don’t mind changing dimensions, materials and smaller components to fit the client’s needs. I just see this aspect as a way to further ensure every piece is exactly what the client is after. How does social media impact your design process and the business generally? Almost all of our attention comes through
Instagram. This is definitely intentional; we use this as a means of being a continuous portfolio of our work, running alongside our website. I can’t say it influences how designs come about, but it does allow us to be a bit more personable with our audience. What/who are you influenced by? I swear it changes every week. Constant influences are the old greats of the Mid-century era 40 | INSIDE OUT
– Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, etc – but my day-to-day influence is almost always drawn from my surroundings. My friends are all super creative and ambitious in their fields. Having that sort of environment seems to normalise the same traits in me. It’s a very positive cycle. What is the hardest thing about your job? The hardest thing about my job is finding balance. Obtaining and maintaining a perfect workload can be really tricky. I have become a lot better at it recently, but it’s still a tough one to manage. Also, ensuring the staff all spend enough time outside of the Heimur workshop is a hard lesson to learn. It seems furniture making is an industry that you can easily overwork yourself in. Making sure we have enough time off is essential because it makes us all more passionate and engaged with our craft. How would you describe your design ethos and why is it so important to you? I find my designs are always the result of
experimenting in the studio. Having a workshop that I can use just for fun is fundamental to how I design. While designing for clients, I like to make designs based on what I’ve done before. When I’m just playing around in the studio, it’s just for me, and it doesn’t matter if they don’t work out. This mindset is crucial for experimenting and developing ideas. This is how all of our products have come about really. What is your favourite aspect of your job? I love that my hobby became my career. Something I used to fill all my spare time with is now my full-time job. In many ways, Heimur is a huge creative
This page (clockwise from top left) Origins side tables, $750 each. Alex mirror, $760. Lenny bed, $3200. Morgan dining table, $4200; Mia bench seat, from $790; and Ralph stool, from $390. Amalia coffee table, $2600. Wallace room divider, $3200. Opposite (clockwise from seated) Heimur cofounder Nathan Lawrence with team members Lucie Howson, Luke Van Aurich and Amalia Holmberg, with items previously captioned as well as the Snoogy entertainment unit, $4200.
outlet for me, especially during the prototyping/designing process. My favourite thing about Heimur is watching a new idea come to life and then sculpting it into a workable product. Where would you like to see Heimur in the next five years?
I’d really like to see Heimur grow further down the path we’re on. Keeping true to locally made, low-quantity/high-quality – just on a slightly larger scale. I’d love to grow our team and even have a showroom for our products. What materials would you like to work with in the future? I’m working with a lot of different materials at the moment and have been playing around with fabric designs for lamp shades. I’d really like to spend a bit more time with this, and hopefully we can have some more lamp designs coming out of our shop. When did you start making frames and how does this fit into the Heimur brand? We started making frames at the same time as
Luke Van Aurich joined the team. I was framing a lot of his exhibitions. He eventually joined the team and we founded the framing team together. Until then, our passions for visual arts and furniture were pretty separate. This was a way of bringing a few of our interests together. Framing allows us to collaborate with the wider artistic community, too. How would you describe the way your furniture and accessories make people feel? I’ve had a few customers tell me that their
Heimur furniture makes them feel more at home. I think that is the ultimate compliment for us. Heimur is in Coburg North, Victoria; heimur.com.au WORDS KATE HASSETT
OBUS OFFICE (clockwise from top left) Fashion designer Kylie Zerbst at her desk, which is painted Mademoiselle, a pink shade by Haymes; it’s complemented by an Aluna velvet chair from West Elm. (“Office chairs need to be functional, but that doesn’t mean they should be boring!” says Rhys Duggan, who created the look.) The meeting room in the open-plan office is on a mezzanine overlooking the studio. A detail of Kylie’s desk. Pictures of Kylie’s partner Simon and son Orlo feature on the moodboard near her desk. A West Elm chair in an Obus print called Castillo; the mirror is also from West Elm. Well-organised shelves.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE BAKER. STYLING: RHYS DUGGAN. KYLIE WEARS OBUS ‘BITTERSWEET’ DRESS. ON THE MEETING-ROOM WALL IS A ‘UNISON’ TOP AND ‘SANTA RITA’ SKIRT. SHOES ARE OBUS ‘SISTERS’ HEELS. ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATALIE JOHNSON
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creative spaces Whether you’re based in an office, a co-working space or your own home, well-considered design can supercharge your productivity. Here are three hard-working examples WORDS DAN F STAPLETON
Business space: Obus
get the look
When fashion designer Kylie Zerbst decided her clothing
label, Obus, needed a new look for its Melbourne office, she turned to her friend, Rhys Duggan, the national visual lead at West Elm Australia. “Kylie and the Obus team wanted a workspace that reflected the fun and originality of their brand,” says Rhys. “It also needed to be really flexible for a variety of activities, such as meetings, clothing fittings and staff events.” Rhys began by selecting playful shades from Haymes Paint – pale pink Woodrose and the more commanding red Comanche Dust – and chose seating that could be easily moved around. “We took West Elm’s ‘Modern Stacking’ stools and had an upholsterer re-cover them in Obus prints,” he says. “It was a fun way to stamp the Obus brand on the space. There’s also a pink swivel chair that I hope will inspire Kylie to keep being the boss that she is.” obus.com.au
how to decorate with colour Rhys Duggan, West Elm’s visual lead, on making colour work in your home + Palette Create a palette for your room or home in advance, to ensure the colours complement each other. Collect paint chips, fabric swatches and inspirational images to visualise your palette. + Focus A bold colour is a fantastic way to add a focal point to a room — it could be a feature chair, a painted fireplace or a favourite artwork. Just remember that bold doesn’t necessarily need to be bright; think of rich, moody colours, too. + Texture When decorating with a subtler colour scheme, use other elements (such as textural fabrics, noteworthy timbers and eclectic decor) to maintain visual interest.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Slope dining chair in Midnight, $299, Cordoba rug (305cm x 244cm), $1199, Modern Stacking stools in Horseradish, $119 each, Glass knots in Pink, $39, and Blue Teal, $89, and Asymmetry ceramic table lamp, $229, all West Elm.
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get the look
Painter and illustrator Madeleine Stamer’s family
home in Melbourne is a treasure trove of natural ephemera, second-hand finds and diverse artworks – and her studio is the most impressive room of all. Madeleine describes the space as a sanctuary where she can retreat “for a minute of respite” or a longer work session. “I hand-painted the front windows for privacy because the room faces a busy road,” she says. “During the day, when the light streams through, the mini-mural becomes semi-translucent and resembles leadlight panels. The glowing colours make me happy.” Other notable features include an antique Anatolian rug from Turkey and an exceptionally detailed ceiling rose that Madeleine often gazes at when brainstorming. Surprisingly, there’s also one wall painted entirely black. “It’s the perfect backdrop for all the colour,” she says. “My intention was to make it a blackboard wall for sketching, but I like the intensity and flawlessness of the black so much that I can’t bring myself to draw on it!” madeleinestamer.com; greenhouseinteriors.com.au 44 | INSIDE OUT
STAMER STUDIO Madeleine (top) in her art space with cat Hug. She found the trestle table (top left) on eBay and imported the Anatolian kilim rug from Turkey. She made the wall flowers on the black background. The artworks prominently displayed are Pink Cacti and Wildflower. Madeleine’s mother made the Folk Wedding tapestry. FROM ABOVE Souk City vintage wool rug (181cm x 125cm), $995, Greenhouse Interiors. Odger chair, $99, Ikea. Muuto ‘E27’ pendant light, $115, Arrival Hall. Old Man Banksia print (available in three sizes) by Madeleine Stamer, from $66, Greenhouse Interiors.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARMELLE HABIB (THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE). STYLING: JULIA GREEN (THIS PAGE). ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATALIE JOHNSON
Home space: Madeleine Stamer
get the look
Shared space: The KO Creative Studio “Some of the co-working spaces I’ve worked in over
the years have felt quite corporate and sterile,” says Olivia Fleetwood, a former marketing manager who co-founded co-working space The KO in Geelong, Victoria, last year. “We wanted ours to be beautifully designed and considered.” With business partner Karina van de Pol, Olivia set about curating different moods on site. The main co-working room and the adjacent event space are airy and pared-back to aid concentration, while the ‘non-work’ areas, such as the reception and the kitchen, are more expressive. In the reception, the duo opted for an unusual palette of olive green – chosen to reflect the landscape around Geelong – paired with pink and light wood accents. The eucalyptus green is a paint by Haymes called Gunpowder Grey. “It’s a beautiful, soft shade,” says Karina, who also works as a food stylist, “and not over-stimulating.” theko.com.au
KO WORKERS The KO founders Olivia Fleetwood (left) and Karina van de Pol carefully selected pieces for their co-working space in the Geelong suburb of Newtown. In the reception area (below) are a custom workbench and seat by local maker Lumberjack Furniture. FROM TOP Dr Spinner copper pendant light, $500, Dowel Jones. Round mirror, $30 (large), Kmart. Herman Miller ‘Eames Moulded Fibreglass Side' chair with Eiffel base in Red Orange, from $740, Living Edge.
“The green wall colour is timeless. We didn’t want anything too on-trend” OLIVIA FLEETWOOD, THE KO
the originals
Interiors editor Deborah Bibby has a passion for the great Australian shack and shares a few favourites in her first book — a celebration of simple yet special holiday homes in beautiful places
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S PHOTOGRAPHY: SHARYN CAIRNS AND MAREE HOMER (PORTRAIT)
o, when the peeps at Inside Out magazine asked
ABOVE Totally in harmony with the landscape and sea surrounding it is this historic cottage on Tasmania’s Bruny Island. Owned by architect John Wardle and his wife Susan, Waterview features joinery, floors, walls and ceilings crafted in Tasmanian oak from a single mill. INSET Deborah Bibby has lived in her own beach shack at Clareville, NSW, for more than 20 years.
how they could get into my ‘shack-loving’ head, I thought, holy moly, but here goes... I am an unofficial interior designer for quirky beautiful shacks, a creative alchemist of sorts, a lover of architecture, a curator of forever things and a mum. I have always had a passion for ‘original’ houses in both senses of the word – original in architecture and original in their interior-design aesthetic. I have never understood why anyone would want to live in a ‘cookie cutter’ perfect house complete with replicant kitchen. Houses are starting to all merge into one Hamptonesque look and it’s getting so boring. Give me a character-filled home with honest materials and features any time. That means worn floors, interesting storage, overstuffed sofas, a few cool hero chairs, art on the walls, books on the floor and, of course, music flooding out the door. To me, that is utterly beautiful. Heaven and home at the same time. I recently did the interior fitout for a friend’s beach house and pretty much shopped all the big furniture pieces from Salvos stores, so now they have ‘real’ furniture. Thus, The Originals was created to inspire everyone to live in a way that’s a little more flawed and definitely more sustainable. I hunted out (not joking about the ‘hunted’) seven creative owners that have found beauty in imperfection. They’re homes that evoke memories and genuinely make the occupants smile when they walk through the door. Yes, the houses are all sited in amazing locations, but they are still humble heroes. And let me say, they will eventually be worth more bags of gold than any McMansion built today, that I can promise you. INSIDE OUT | 47
LEFT Craigie Lee bush bungalow is owned by Sarah Blair and Jeff Darling (pictured). Nestled into eucalypts on Sydney’s northern beaches, the home is their main residence. BELOW In Craigie Lee’s kitchen, the original wallmounted dish rack is still going strong. A metal sink and furniture reinforce the forever vibe. OPPOSITE Garden taps suit the decades-old family bath.
The Originals was first inspired by my good friends, the Darling Blairs. Their house in Palm Beach, NSW, hasn’t been featured anywhere before, and you’ll see it for the first time in print in the book. Ten years ago, I asked them if I could feature their house in a volume about beach houses and, as a favour, they said ‘yes’ way back then. Their house has stayed in my shack-loving head all that time. It took resigning from my job to finally have the opportunity and space to do the book. The Darling Blairs and all the other talented homeowners I have profiled share their story of finding and restoring their homes. They also reveal (after much chasing) their best advice and some of their secret sources, down to exact paint colours. These homes are all an escape from reality; they are packed with emotion and with inspiring ideas. My dream is that The Originals inspires a search and rescue of these houses – they have integrity, beauty and a quality that is irreplaceable. If a home already has a story, we should acknowledge it and honour the architecture of the past instead of ripping it down, unless of course it’s impossible to save – and sometimes the cost of repair makes that impossible. 48 | INSIDE OUT
PHOTOGRAPHY: FELIX FOREST
bush bungalow - mentioned in story Darling Blair
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bush bungalow - mentioned in story Darling Blair
“I was immediately enchanted by this house... and that something so unsuburban could still exist. It sits on old Spin Hill, named after the spinsters who once lived there� SARAH BLAIR, HOMEOWNER
Another of the houses featured in the book is owned by architect John Wardle. Perched on a clifftop along the rugged Tasmanian coast, it was Captain James Kelly’s Cottage in the early 19th century – imagine if we had lost that? John has renovated so gently and added to it with such grace. It has won many accolades and is simply beyond words when you open the front door. I recently went to an open house, an original 1930s cottage, and the queue to view the house was out of the door! Everyone was imagining themselves owning it. Shacks from way back are forever houses, aren’t they? Like the place in Simon Baker’s movie of the Tim Winton novel, Breath, and the one in The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair – now they are idyllic. That’s ‘shack love’ much like the imagery of The Little Black Shack in The Originals. You might have seen it on social media, but in big glorious print it will literally take your breath away. These are honest, intimate houses; they’re casual, cool and fashionable. You don’t often hear about interiors being fashionable, but let me tell you, even though fashion stole Victoria Beckham’s smile, a touch of fashion is essential in a home, especially a classic shack. While you’re embracing the passage of time, you also have to bring it up to speed with cool pieces and that’s what The Originals is all about: architecture and interiors cutting through the jargon and pretence. That’s why I love beach shacks – they don’t lie. 50 | INSIDE OUT
TOP LEFT A 1920s home overlooking Sydney’s Pittwater, where barefoot nonchalance is actively encouraged. The contemporary Carrara marble kitchen is offset with customised timber furniture from Bali and local suppliers such as MCM House. TOP The western deck of the Pittwater getaway, showing one of its fireplaces. ABOVE Paint layers stripped back in the main bedroom at Waterview reveal the original patinaed boards. OPPOSITE Visitors look left for the wonderful timber folly screen on Waterview’s verandah..
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHARYN CAIRNS. BEACH BUMS PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT (IN KITCHEN) BY AKILA BERJAOUI. PAINTINGS IN WATERVIEW BEDROOM BY JULIA RITSON
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“This is a home built by many hands – from traditionally trained carpenters to ship builders and whale-crew carpenters” JOHN WARDLE, ARCHITECT/OWNER
This story contains extracts from The Originals: Beach Houses To Fall In Love With by Deborah Bibby, published by Bauer Media Books in March. Order the book for $49.99 by calling 136 116 or visiting magshop.com.au
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INSIDE beyond amazing
Every transition space needs lovely things to look at
Having a large plot of land allows you to spread out, which is how it’s played out for the owners of this incredible contemporary home in rural Victoria. While interior designer Jessica Bettenay specified art for many of the walls, she wanted this gallery space (in what will eventually be the lift area) to “have something more interesting than another square or rectangle on the wall”. She chose three much rounder pieces: a plane-defying rug, moulded chair and oversized antique urn.
WALL CARPET, LOOM. DRIADE ‘ROLY POLY’ CHAIR, HUB FURNITURE. URN, GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES
See page 70 for more details.
PHOTOGRAPHY ARMELLE HABIB STYLING HEATHER NETTE KING & JESSICA BETTENAY
INSIDE | DECOR
This season’s best-laid tables, most coveted cushions and low-key accessories all have one thing in common — a strong Mediterranean influence and an earthy finish PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA SOLJO STYLING NATALIE JOHNSON
54 | INSIDE OUT
STYLING ASSISTANTS: NATE VELLA, PALOMA MAINE, ANISHA GITTEN
the Med set
TERRACOTTA MANUAL BASES FLOOR TILES THROUGHOUT, $131 PER SQ M, EARP BROS. FLORAL STYLING (EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED) FROM MY VIOLET. WALL PAINT COLOUR IS TAUBMANS BRILLIANT WHITE
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56 | INSIDE OUT
Start with a minimalist table and layer an eclectic mix of joyful pieces to create a perfect lunch moment
INSIDE | DECOR
PAGE 54: ON FLOOR, FROM TOP Fortuna jug, $125 (large), Coco Republic. Raawii ‘Strøm’ ceramic vase in Yellow, $141*, Matches Fashion. Paradiso X glazed earthenware sculpture in Blue/ White by Matilda Kubany-Deane, $680, Saint Cloche. HK Living ceramic vase with ribbed base, $99, House Of Orange. Objet Aimée ‘Pirouette’ ceramic vase, $150, Bed Threads. ON BENCH, FROM TOP Ichendorf Milano ‘Bouquet Colore’ vase in Blue/White, $150 (medium), Space Furniture. Large white urn, $250, @ukitu__. Face hand-painted ceramic vase by Venetia Berry, $566*, Matches Fashion. Ichendorf Milano ‘Tutu Colore’ water glass in Amber, $35, Space Furniture. HK Living recycled glass vase in Cobalt (part of a set), $69 for three, House Of Orange. Como double vase, $180, Fenton & Fenton.
PAGE 56 India Mahdavi ‘Candy’ cane and metal chair, $1200, Studio Alm. Moooi ‘Container’ dining table (120cm x 90cm), $1630, Space Furniture. ON TABLE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Sabre ‘Panda’ bamboo dinner fork and spoon, $30 each, and cheese knife, $65, all Becker Minty. Cabana Magazine x Carolina Herrera ‘Jasmine’ water glass in Orange, $245*, Matches Fashion. Objet Aimée ‘Forme’ ceramic vase, $150, Bed Threads. Tube glass jug (as before). HK Living engraved glasses in Chartreuse, $19.95 each, House Of Orange. Tsé & Tsé ‘Kashgar’ plate in Blue/White, $75, Space Furniture. Lobster mat, POA, Becker Minty. Apulian side plate, $45, and espresso cup and saucer in White/ Mustard, $45, both Alex And Trahanas. PAGE 57 India Mahdavi ‘Candy’ chairs and Moooi ‘Container’ dining table (both as before). ON TABLE, FROM LEFT Runner made with Annie Coop ‘Altona’ linen, POA, Style Revolutionary. Apulian risotto bowls (as before). HK Living glasses in Cobalt Blue, $14.95 each, House Of Orange. Objet Aimée ‘Forme’ vase (as before). Apulian side plate and espresso cup and saucer (all as before). Sabre ‘Panda’ bamboo dinner fork, spoon and cheese knife (as before). Tuscan Path terracotta pot (as before). ON BENCH, FROM LEFT Terracotta trough, stylist’s own. Begonia plants (also in pot on
floor), $6.45 each, Bunnings. Woven basket with handle, $80, @ukitu__. White urn (as before). ON WALL Orange & Pear Segments artwork by Esther Eckley (39cm x 30cm), $800 (framed), Walcha Gallery Of Art. Manifest artwork by Gabrielle Penfold (40cm x 40cm), $1100 (framed), Clare Gallery. THIS PAGE Rigid vase, $120, @ukitu__. Poseidon glass tumbler (as before). Sol paper yarn sunhat (includes ribbon), $130, Avenue. OPPOSITE PAGE Benchseat upholstered in Axella fabric in Denim, $132 per metre, Warwick Fabrics. ON SEAT, FROM LEFT European cushion in Faro linen in Apricot/Crimson, $220, and bolster cushion in Bo linen in Apricot/ Crimson/Cobalt Blue, $235, both Annie Coop. Roy cotton cushion in Burnt Orange, $160, Jardan. Summerill & Bishop hand-painted striped linen cushion (as before). ON FLOOR, FROM TOP LEFT Rigid vase and Sol sunhat (both as before). European striped cushion in Sagres Blue linen in Sky Blue/ Alabaster, $220, Annie Coop. Carlos cotton rib cushion in Amber, $59.95, Weave. Lumbar cushion in Mez linen in Blush, $208, Annie Coop. Striped polyester outdoor cushion in Navy, $31, Domayne. Dagar planter pot, $425 (small), and Opuntia ‘Burbank Spineless’ cactus, $225, both Garden Life.
*CONVERSION CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT
PAGE 55 Antique Odemis urn, $695 (small), Garden Life. Fairfax linen armchair in Ivory, $1695, Coco Republic. Paloma coffee table in Pepper Terrazzo (90cm x 42cm), $1375, GlobeWest. Terracotta hanging pot, $195, and helichrysum mixed plant, $50, both Garden Life. ON TABLE, FROM LEFT Poseidon glass tumblers in Blue (part of a set), $100 for six, and Tube glass jug in Yellow, $75, Jardan. Apulian risotto bowl in Yellow. $85, Alex And Trahanas. Yali Glass gelato spoons (part of a set), $443* for eight, Matches Fashion. ON FLOOR Tuscan Path terracotta
pot, $26.70, Bunnings. Summerill & Bishop hand-painted striped linen cushion, $311*, Matches Fashion. ON WALL Lemon & Pear Segments artwork by Esther Eckley (54cm x 54cm), $1400 (framed), Walcha Gallery Of Art. M brass curve mirror, $180, Tigmi Trading.
58 | INSIDE OUT
MODERNIST A DESIGN EXPERT TRUSTED HER INSTINCTS WHEN IT CAME TO THE CREATIVE REINVENTION OF HER MID-CENTURY SYDNEY HOME
SENSIBILITY
DINING Suspended above a Koskela ‘Maudan’ table and Panton chairs from Space is a Sphere pendant by Toss B from Hub Furniture. The red glass Tali Dalton sculpture is called Passion, sold through Sabbia Gallery. FRONT ASPECT (opposite) From carport to light-filled entry, the new garden and contemporary-modern interiors are revealed.
WORDS JACKIE BRYGEL PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA STYLING MEREDITH CLARK
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cheat sheet Who lives here Interior architect Kerry Fyfe, director of interiors at PTW Architects; her husband David Hislop; and their now-adult children, Madison and Will Hislop. Style of home A fully renovated and extended early-1950s home furnished with classic Modernist pieces and striking works of art. The extension and renovation of the home took place over the course of several years. Approximately $500,000 on the building $$$$ works and swimming pool.
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LIVING Surrounded by nature courtesy of barely there windows, this space is furnished with iconic pieces. Moroso ‘Lowland’ leather sofa, Hub. Poul Kjaerholm ‘PK22’ wicker chairs from Cult. M-Side Table by Daniel Boddam from Dunlin Home (on left) and Eero Saarinen ‘Tulip’ side table from Dedece. Cushions, Mr and Mrs White. Mood At 8am artwork by Rachael McCully Kerwick, Curatorial+Co.
This is now a sun-dappled home that lives and breathes its stunning location, including the freshly landscaped garden that appears to wrap around its walls
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T
he irresistible pull of potential was palpable as
soon as architect and interior specialist Kerry Fyfe spied this early Modernist home on Sydney’s lower north shore two decades ago. It was destined to become a long-standing and personal passion. With inspiration aplenty, Kerry wasted no time putting pen to paper. “The design began before we even bought the house,” she says, “on a serviette at a cafe!” On a triangular plot of land overlooking a nature reserve and river, there was always much to love about the tiny house, its light-bathed rooms and expansive vistas. “I’d always been passionate about early Modernist architecture and the original house was a 1950s gem,” says Kerry, who moved in with husband David Hislop and their two children. “We knew and loved the area as it’s surrounded by bush, with access to running trails, kayaking on the river and cycling.” However, there were a few downsides to the “original condition” residence. “The kitchen was tiny and the toilet was a separate room outside,” says Kerry. “The house was just 77 square metres and had a pink and maroon tiled bathroom with pink sanitaryware. The rest of the house was white fibro and glass. Our garden was also very 1950s and dominated by giant strelitzia.” Moving into the three-bedroom home when their son Will was just 10 days old and daughter Madison was two, the couple found themselves putting their renovation dreams on hold for over a decade as their daily life became increasingly busy. Yet Kerry’s commitment to realising her dream never faltered and eventually they were ready. “The plan was to complement the existing architecture, to take advantage of the views and to create spaces that connected to the outside. We wanted places to sit and infuse the warmth of the sun on cool days, and to catch the breeze on hot days,” she explains. “We’d always entertained large numbers of people in our tiny house and felt it would be nice to finally do it comfortably.” Twelve years later, the long-awaited transformation was underway. First on the agenda was the construction of a pool in the front garden. “We knew that had to go in first, or it wouldn’t be possible to build it later,” says Kerry. “Three years after that, we began the additions to the house. We added to the side of the existing house and across the front of the site, with a new living and dining space as well as stairs down to the pool. All of the spaces are now connected to each other and the outside. The majority of the work was completed in nine months but, as we took on some of it ourselves, many things were completed on weekends over the next five years.” When it came to revamping the home’s interiors, Kerry knew exactly where to begin – with her favourite colour, white, and favourite material, concrete. Kerry then handpicked Mid-century furnishings and artworks. “Much of the furniture I’d owned for many years,” she says. “Classic Modernist pieces like the Arne Jacobsen ‘Swan’ chair, the Poul Kjaerholm ‘PK22’ chairs, the Moroso ‘Lowland’ sofa and Saarinen coffee table. Most of the artwork I’d painted myself, or my daughter had.” While Kerry and David were very satisfied with the end result, the real joy had been in creating the garden, especially the retaining walls, stonework and planting. “Once it was established, I felt good every time a flower bloomed or a plant flourished,” says Kerry. Despite their dedication and hard work, in 2019 it was time for Kerry and her family to move on and start a new chapter in their lives. But for all concerned, their stunning 1950s home in the trees will always hold the fondest of memories.
KITCHEN/CASUAL DINING “Everything is integrated and hidden away so there’s plenty of work space and it’s easy to keep things clean and uncluttered,” says Kerry of her kitchen. The mid-1800s Kauri pine table is paired with Zee chairs by Sarah Ellison. “I found the table at an antique shop in Sydney many years ago and love its warmth and patina,” says Kerry. White bowl by Leslie Doe, through Dunlin. Aalto vase, Iittala. Overhead cabinetry in Navurban New Age Veneers contrasts with the white Corian benchtops and under-bench cabinetry in two-pack quarter-strength Dulux Whisper White.
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Inside Out expert advice John Hoogendoorn, creative design manager of Phoenix Tapware, on water-saving products BATHROOM Classic white penny-round mosaic tiles from Skheme with practical black grout ground the floor of the family bathroom. The basin is a Solid Surface design from Cibo. BEDROOM (opposite) The leafy garden inspired the decor of this serene sleep space. Pink and mustard bed linen from Jardan. Black velvet pillowcase from Castle. Lesley Doe Ceramics vase and M-Table by Daniel Boddam, both Dunlin.
+ Make sure you always use fittings from reputable companies that are WaterMark certified. Next, you will need to check the WELS rating of the product, which will be prominently displayed near the product at the store or on the box. The higher the star rating, the less water you will use. This is where things get tricky, as efficient showers will use 8—9 litres per minute and this will provide the best trade-off between water conservation and an immersive experience. Showers are the hardest to get right because they need to be invigorating at the start of a day and relaxing at the end of the day while still being water efficient every day. + When choosing fittings, be clear about the design of the whole bathroom. Most bathroom companies have ranges to suit all tastes and don’t be afraid to mix it up. I have seen wonderfully opulent Victorian interiors with ultra-modern fittings. Twin Showers will be our most popular shower variant in 2020 as they provide good flexibility and are a great statement piece. Most ranges are available in a range of finishes so you can mix and match with tapware, shower screens or light fixtures.
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HALLWAY A long shot of the bedroom (as before). The flooring is original Cypress pine. Light fitting, Ikea. DECK (opposite) Will in the pool, installed before the renovation. The greyed timber is ironbark. Near the steps is a mid-20thcentury sun lounger found at a vintage shop.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATE VELLA
GREAT FINDS
CLOCKWISE FROM SOFA Jasper II modular sofa, POA, King Living. Natural cowhide rug in Champagne, $379, Zanui. Study In Canary II artwork (73cm x 60cm), $1150 (unframed), Curatorial+Co. Fritz Hansen/ Poul Kjærholm ‘PK22’ chair, $6250, Cult. Charcoal velvet pillowcase, $49, Castle. M oak side table with Carrara marble top, $4620, Daniel Boddam Studio. Tali Dalton ‘Erotic’ sculpture, POA, Glass Artists’ Gallery. Lesley Doe Ceramics ‘Pure Collection 5’ porcelain bottle (25cm high), $198, Dunlin.
68 | INSIDE OUT
lessons learnt “ CREATE A SOLID FOUNDATION BY FINDING THE RIGHT DESIGNER” KERRY FYFE, ARCHITECT/OWNER
“Find an architect you like as a human being as well as a designer. It’s important that you’re on the same page and work together. Also, your architect should spend time with you getting to know how you live and think. There has to be some synergy.”
set in stone
A solid effort has resulted in a spectacular home that encompasses space, texture and awe-inspiring views of the Victorian countryside
WORDS LYNNE TESTONI PHOTOGRAPHY ARMELLE HABIB STYLING HEATHER NETTE KING & JESSICA BETTENAY
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POOL The house is on one of the area’s high points and inspired by its rugged terrain at the edge of the Strathbogie Ranges, within the Great Dividing Range. Cladding the pool is local granite sourced by the owners. Landscaping by Phillip Johnson. FRONT PATH (opposite) Concrete makes an appearance on the external stairs and is used to great effect inside the home.
cheat sheet Who lives here Eddie and Dorothy Spain, business owners in the education sector, and their dog Coco, a Spoodle. Style of home An ultra-contemporary home in steel, glass, reclaimed timber and stone, just outside Euroa in north-east Victoria. Six years, although the house is still a work in progress. To date, the project has cost the $$$$ Spains roughly $2 million.
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S
ometimes a house is epic in all ways and there
is no other way to describe it. From the concept to the build, the challenges, and the scale of the finished building, that is the essence of this spectacular house in the rock-studded landscape of regional Victoria, at the base of the Strathbogie Ranges. Conceived – and largely built – by Eddie Spain and his wife Dorothy (Dot), the 650-square-metre house rises above the surrounding landscape yet manages to sit within it comfortably, reflecting the land’s textures and rich, raw colour palette. Designed by architect Robert Harwood, with interior design and project management by Resident Avenue (RA) creative director Jessica Bettenay, the building is clad in weathered and rusted Corten steel and zinc, and encompasses 360-degree views through huge expanses of glass. “When we bought the property, we thought the location deserved a house like this,” says Eddie. “I wanted something fitting of the location.” “It’s been an amazing project,” says Jessica. “This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Eddie and Dot are heaven, and have become like my second mum and dad over the years we’ve been working with them. Eddie is unbelievable, and Dot is just so gorgeous and so full of life... and then to have such creative freedom… I don’t think we’ll ever get such a wonderful collaborative project again.” The house has been a passion for Eddie, who admits that it overtook his life in the six years (four more than originally planned) it has taken to build the house. It was even featured on TV series Grand Designs Australia – the longest project the local makers have followed. Work started in 2013 and there is still more to be done, namely a lower level that will include a TV room, cellar, mud room and laundry. Shaped like a capital ‘H’, the dwelling was designed by Robert Harwood of My Architect and consists of two wings – one Eddie and Dot’s suite and the living/kitchen/dining space, the other houses the guest quarters (three bedrooms and a sitting room).
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EXTERIOR The two wings of the home are clad in Corten steel while the entry ‘block’ is faced with zinc. Both are very low maintenance. DINING AREA (opposite) Dot, Eddie and Coco in their impressive open-plan living space. All the internal walls, ceilings, doors and trims are painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter.
“We have the best sunrises and the best sunsets – nearly every night – it’s gorgeous” DOROTHY SPAIN, HOMEOWNER
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SITTING AREA/HALLWAY Polished concrete encases the central fireplace, by specialist concreter Keenan Harris. Moroso ‘Redondo’ armchair, Hub. Sahara rug, Halcyon Lake. The ‘Loren’ square coffee table is from Criteria. Vessels, Kazari + Ziguzagu. Artwork by Heath Newman, through Otomys Contemporary. DINING SPACE (opposite) The custom table was made by Lost Arc Antiques and matched with Magis ‘Officina’ leather chairs from Dedece. Pendant light by Giffin Design. Leather wine barrel (on dining table), Graham Geddes Antiques.
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Inside Out expert advice Mark Elmore, general manager of design at Fisher & Paykel, on the benefits of integrated appliances “The beauty of integrating appliances is the design freedom it affords architects and designers. It allows appliances to be hidden or showcased, making for more considered spaces and for chosen appliances to become the focal point of the kitchen. In smaller spaces or those with an open-living plan, this integration provides the opportunity to have more or larger appliances without them overwhelming the kitchen or adjacent living area.”
The contemporary design is in stark contrast to the Spains’ previous home in Shepparton, which was a Victorian house. Dot says she engaged Jessica to fit-out the interiors of the new house because she was worried it would end up too clinical without an expert hand. “I’ve always been a real lover of the Victorian era and its antiques,” says Dot. “And I think warmth comes through your rugs and things. So when we proposed an ultra-modern house, I needed help. “I have family and friends who’ve built houses and they just look very clinical, very white and stark,” Dot continues. “I didn’t want that, so I said to Jessica, ‘If I do something like this, I need to have warmth and I need it to look like a home. I don’t want it to look sterile and I don’t want it to be white.’ So she talked about texture and how important it was to do layers and colours and I think we’ve done really well. I feel at home, which is good.” Natural timber elements, woollen rugs and soft, oversized furniture have indeed made the spaces seem home-like and intimate. Much of Jessica’s design inspiration came from the location. “We took all of our colours from outside,” she explains. “The landscape is extremely seasonal. In winter it’s green with pinks and purples, and in summer it’s dry and earthy, more orange 76 | INSIDE OUT
and rusty. And all year round, the blues of the sky are dominant inside the home. We started with lots of photos of the rocks and the surrounding area, which has a very definite kind of colour palette, and quickly realised that, in terms of materiality, it would need to be all based on texture. So we needed to layer as many things in there as we could to create warmth.” One of the home’s key features is the glass in the kitchen – on the benchtops, and the cupboard and drawer fronts. “Dot fell in love with the material on one of our shopping trips and we chose a gunmetal Resene colour that had blue undertones to spray on the reverse side of sandblasted glass. The finish is super matt. When the weather is sunny, the colour is a vivid, strong bluegreen. On cloudy days or at night, the colour is a deep and dark blue-charcoal. The glass turned out to be an art piece in itself.” There’s more happening on the lower level soon, too, says Jessica. “Downstairs, there are more exciting interiors to come. That floor will have an incredible cellar, an additional kitchen space and a large mud room, which will help ensure Eddie and Dot have a home that encapsulates their lifestyle.” My Architect can be found at my-architect.com.au. RA is at residentavenue. com.au. Phillip Johnson Landscapes; phillipjohnson.com.au
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KITCHEN Dot loves cooking, alone or with her adult children when they visit. Her super functional kitchen was installed by David Powels Kitchens and features gorgeous toughened 10mm and 12mm glass from AV Glass in Shepparton, fixed to a moisture-resistant MDF charcoal substrate. Mary Noall tapware is featured throughout. PANTRY (opposite) As the home is a fair distance from town, Dot has to be organised and always have essential ingredients to hand, as seen in the pantry’s impressive line-up of glass storage containers. The stone on the bench is Tundra Blue, supplied by Apex Stone. Laminex white cupboard and drawer fronts.
“It was important that the kitchen did its job but wasn’t the focal point. We wanted the surfaces to be matt and complementary to the surrounding landscape” JESSICA BETTENAY, INTERIOR DESIGNER
ENSUITE “The main ensuite is bigger than the bedroom, probably twice the size,” says Dot. Each vanity is Blue Tundra limestone, with a custom weathered-brass mirror. Natural stone bath, Bath Worx. GUEST ROOM (opposite) There’s plenty of space for friends and family to stay over. Behind the bed is a textured wallpaper called Mayfair (in Duke) from Instyle. Bed linen, Bedouin Societe. Rug, Halcyon Lake.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Magis ‘Officina’ chair, POA, Dedece. Amadi ‘Sonoran’ rug (300cm x 400cm), $10,620, Halcyon Lake. Moroso ‘Redondo’ fabric armchair by Patricia Urquiola, $7050, Hub Furniture. Mette Ditmer ‘Cubic’ cotton throw in Tobacco, $109, Designstuff. Baxter ‘Loren’ small table (42cm x 42cm), $5610, Criteria. H Skjalm P ceramic vase in Vesuvius Black, $74, Designstuff.
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ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING BY NATE VELLA
GREAT FINDS
INSIDE | HOME
“The bedrooms are big and spacious. They’re minimalist yet beautiful” DOROTHY
BACK DECK Adding this new structure to the upper floor has really enhanced Ben and Lyndall’s enjoyment of the garden. FACADE (opposite) The home’s original filligree was restored and painted Dulux Snow Season. Walls and fencing are Dulux Lexicon. Roof, Colorbond Basalt.
the low
By digging down, a Brisbane couple transformed their modest worker’s cottage into a spacious family home – without compromising any of its original character. Then, for the second time, they received an offer they couldn’t refuse...
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cheat sheet Who lived here Ben Schluter, marketing manager for Queensland Cricket; his partner Lyndall, also a marketing manager; and Alfie, their two-year-old golden retriever. Style of home A 1910 Queensland worker’s cottage in the residential suburb of Paddington, 2km west of Brisbane. The couple bought the property in late 2017 and started renovating six months later. Work was complete in April 2019. All up, the budget for the house and $$$$ furniture was $1 million.
WORDS DAN F STAPLETON PHOTOGRAPHY CATHY SCHUSLER STYLING CLO STUDIOS INSIDE OUT | 81
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spiring interior designer Ben Schluter
and his partner Lyndall spent six months preparing to renovate the house they owned – then, at the last minute, their next-door neighbour intervened. “Our renovation was going to block her city view, so she offered to buy the house as it was,” Ben explains. “We couldn’t say no to her.” By this stage, Ben was “beyond eager” to sink his teeth into a major renovation project, so he and Lyndall began scouring Brisbane for another fixer-upper that could become their forever home. Soon they found the ideal property: a dilapidated 1910 worker’s cottage on an uncharacteristically quiet one-way street in the bustling suburb of Paddington. “The house itself was rundown and painted a questionable shade of pink,” says Ben, “but what really struck us was the garden. It was a jungle out there. I counted 28 palm trees in the back.”
KITCHEN/DINING Alfie right at home on the similarly coloured European oak floorboards in Limed Alpine by Trojan Timbers. They also complement the roughly hewn elm dining table and bench set by CLO Studios. The sleek kitchen features a Carrara marble island bench by Finestone and white-leather-topped stools, also by CLO Studios.
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Ben and Lyndall reckoned that the block, which sloped from left to right, was ripe for transformation. Stage one was to clear the vast majority of the vegetation from the backyard and mark out space for a swimming pool. Then, in conjunction with David Hansford from DAH Architecture, Ben sketched his vision for the renovated house. He and Lyndall hoped to start a family, so additional living space was desirable, as well as ample lawn space for their energetic dog, Alfie. “It was also very important that we maintained the heart and soul that comes with a Queensland worker’s cottage, and that meant leaving its facade intact,” says Ben. “These cottages were built to sit at street level – so as soon as you raise them, which is what a lot of people do, it takes away from the character. Then it looks like they’re on stilts.” Instead of raising the house, Ben and Lyndall decided to excavate underneath and create a new ‘ground floor’. “We lopped off the back of the original cottage so all that remained was the
Inside Out expert advice Nicole Canty, product manager for Choices Flooring, lays out the best family-friendly flooring option + Wood-look vinyl is a great alternative to timber, giving you the satisfaction of wood while lasting the test of time. It’s also affordable, giving you a luxe look for a lot less than the cost of timber. + Vinyl has come a long way since it first made an impact on homes in the 1930s. The latest evolution features versatile designs that are water- and stain-resistant and incredibly durable. + Vinyl doesn’t get cold in winter and generally provides a softer surface than timber or tile. That means it’s always comfortable underfoot. + Designed with a clear wear layer, which acts as a surface barrier, vinyl protects your floor from stains and spills. As it’s almost impervious to water penetration, vinyl flooring is a great option for wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. Caring for it is easy; all it takes is a quick sweep followed by a damp mop.
INSIDE | HOME
LIVING Contrasting pieces such as the marble-topped coffee table from GlobeWest, linen-covered Singita sofa from Uniqwa and leather Dolce occasional armchair by CLO Studios give the space a relaxed feel. HALLWAY (opposite) Ben and Lyndall retained the cottage’s original floorboards in the home’s front section. Print by Akila Berjaoui.
“We lopped off the back of the cottage so all that remained was the facade and the three bedrooms at the front” BEN SCHLUTER, HOMEOWNER
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19 Bathroom 20 Informal living 21 Ensuite 22 Walk-in robe 23 Main bedroom 24 Outdoor area 25 Garage
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facade and the three bedrooms at the front,” he says. “Then we added a staircase and void down to the new lower level.” Beyond that, on the upper level, is a new kitchen and combined living/ dining room. An oversized deck at the rear offers views across the newly tamed garden. Down below, a second living room leads to an expansive main bedroom and ensuite. A wall of sliding glass doors connects this space to a secluded courtyard, where a raised garden bed has been planted with a mature olive tree that the couple purchased off-site and had craned in. The tree is as tall as the roof of the house and can also be seen through a large picture window in the first-floor living room. To create a sense of seamlessness between the old and new parts of the house, Ben sourced floorboards for the new rooms that complemented those from the original worker’s cottage. He employed a white and earth-tone colour scheme throughout,
using wooden furniture and fittings wherever possible. “We tried to avoid creating interiors that looked modern but could soon become dated,” he says. “We want this house to be enjoyed as is for another 100 years.” From excavation to completion, the project took 10 months, by which time the renovators were more than keen to move in. “Then, a friend of ours who is a real-estate agent came to take a look,” says Ben. “He said he knew a young couple that might be interested in buying.” Ben and Lyndall had no intention of selling their newly finished home. “But just for the sake of it, we thought we’d show them through,” says Ben. “The next day, they made an offer we couldn’t refuse. They ended up buying the furniture as well!” Having finalised their second house sale in as many years, Ben and Lyndall are now searching for a third property to make their own. Where will they land? Stay tuned... DAH Architecture is in Toowong, Qld; daharchitecture.com.au INSIDE OUT | 85
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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT Austin cushion in Waterfall, $49.95, Weave. Heathered chenille jute rug (244cm x 305cm), $814, Pottery Barn. Elle Pillar coffee table, $2530, GlobeWest. Elegante pebble honed terrazzo, $119.95 per sq m, National Tiles. Elysian brushed-brass kitchen mixer, $289.90, Abi Interiors. Sphere + Stem table lamp, $199, West Elm. Parchment 3-seater sofa in Cascade White, $3299, Oz Design Furniture. Stacks stool, $399, Uniqwa.
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ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATE VELLA
GREAT FINDS
MAIN BEDROOM Garden greenery in the window and adjacent courtyard brighten the black and white scheme. Lamp, CLO Studios. Carpet, Lake Chalice. Artwork by Andy Staley. ENSUITE (opposite) The terrazzo flooring is a mash-up of the room’s colours. Polytec cabinetry in Nordic Oak by iMake Interiors. Emilio basin, Ledin. Bezzoni tap, Barben.
BACK VERANDAH The Haven sofa from GlobeWest has quick-dry foam cushions and doubles as a day bed. Little Cove occasional chair, CLO Studios. Tide recycled PET-fibre rug, Armadillo & Co. POOL AREA (opposite) Looking back at the house, a subtle circle motif is evident in the mirror and scooped-out balustrade.
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lessons learnt “Living close by while the renovations took place was very beneficial” BEN SCHLUTER, HOMEOWNER
“We happened to rent a house that was literally across the road so we could be on site in no time. Watching the cottage take shape day by day taught us a lot about renovating that we’ll carry with us to future projects — though the builders hated us by the end of it!”
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PERFECTLY IMPERFECT Moving to a rundown Italian farmhouse brought all the creative inspiration a Belgian ceramicist needed
CHEAT SHEET Who lives here Delphine Bekaert, ceramicist and founder of Delfin custom tableware; her nine-year-old daughter, Lucy; and their two Cane Corso dogs. Style of home A 1930s farmhouse in the Puglian region of southern Italy that was added to in the 1950s and recently renovated by Delphine.
INSIDE | OVERSEAS INSPIRATION
LIVING AREA Delphine found the royal blue sofa at a flea market in Ghent. She designed the bookshelf/stairway behind it. The work on the wall is by Lucy. REAR VIEW (opposite) “Living here was about breaking away from the hectic working world and having more time for what I love,” says Delphine. She kept the original pink colour of the building, but has added eye-catching decorative pieces such as the pink curtains in the doorway. Green tables, Ikea. Bamboo chairs from an antique store in Belgium. Cane divan by Simo Heikkilä.
WORDS CARLI PHILIPS PHOTOGRAPHY HELENIO BARBETTA
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prooting from a busy urban lifestyle
CERAMICS STUDIO The property has a number of caves that were once used to shelter farm animals and now make up Delphine’s work space. “They’re great for my studio,” she says, describing her unique Delfin creations as “perfectly imperfect”. KITCHEN (opposite) The concrete island is softened by a beautiful Venetian glass pendant light. Lamp on the island, Showroom 144. Flea-market vases top the red cupboard by Belgian architect/designer Willy van der Meeren. Nearby is a metal trivet by Muller Van Severen, who also designed the colourful cutting boards and overhanging lamp on the back wall. Red artwork by Matthieu Ronsse.
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for a country existence can take a while to get used to, but for Belgian ceramicist Delphine Bekaert it took just 24 hours. “Moving has been a big change, but I got used to it after one day. Though I live in the middle of nowhere, I never feel lonely or scared,” she says of the renovated 1930s farmhouse where she lives with her young daughter, Lucy. “You can feel much lonelier in a big city.” Delphine had been looking for the perfect place for three years when a friend told her about this property in Serranova, a village in the Puglian region of southern Italy. After a decade living in major cities – Brussels, London, Paris and Rome – and running a gallery with her then-partner, Jan Hoet, Delphine craved a peaceful environment where she could devote all her time to her Delfin brand of ceramics. Fed up with modern buildings, Delphine had been holding out for an authentic “place with soul”. Originally built between the wars by a farmer and his family, who made their own cheese and lived a basic life among the fruit trees and groves, this rough-hewn property ticked all the boxes. Jan and Delphine had complementary skills, with Jan doing all the building work. It was largely a “roofless ruin” but, fortunately, two “star ceilings” (volta a stella) with barrel-vaulted quadrangular pillars typical of the region could be salvaged, along with the facade and a fireplace. The new layout built around these is fairly open plan and comprises only what Delphine describes as “essential rooms. Belgian houses are quite big, but I wanted the right-sized home for me and Lucy,” she says. “Here we have a large kitchen with living room, a bedroom, a room with a fireplace and TV for relaxation or guests, a bathroom and a mezzanine terraced room for Lucy.” In the living room, a concrete nook with a picture window was created by pushing the space out into the garden; lined with an inviting day bed, it’s a big drawcard for guests.
INSIDE | OVERSEAS INSPIRATION
“I’VE DECORATED FOLLOWING MY INTUITION AND KEEP THE HOUSE OPEN SO MY FRIENDS CAN ALWAYS ENJOY ITS RELAXED, INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE” DELPHINE BEKAERT, CERAMICIST/HOMEOWNER
MAIN LIVING/DINING The table is the first piece of furniture Delphine ever bought. She picked up the chairs from Depot09, a vintage designer market in Ghent. The jug is from a flea market nearby in Ostuni, while the cutting boards on the wall are by Muller Van Severen. SITTING AREA (opposite) Delphine had this window created and lined with a comfy day bed. The chair is from a flea market, while the painting was a gift from her parents. Black tray, Delfin. Water carafe, Droog.
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One of the first tasks was converting the stone caves on the property. Previously used to shelter animals, they’ve been turned into Delphine’s studio, complete with two furnaces. Originally a collector of ceramics, Delphine has turned her passion into a business creating dinnerware that is “perfectly imperfect”. Though her work area is spacious, the low roof and lack of windows presented challenges. The solution was a new glass door that opens directly outside, welcoming in some much-needed light. Out the front, a mix of furniture is surrounded by cacti, mimosa bushes and flowers in terracotta pots. Opaque pink curtains are strung on the external facade so that, from inside, the windows can be left open while keeping out the strong Puglian sun. Tucked in the trees is a cubby house for Lucy, and now there’s also a long concrete pool in the old olive groves. The interior is full of very personal pieces, as Delphine doesn’t shop intentionally, instead buying things only when she sees and likes them, mostly from flea markets across Europe. Even though there’s porcelain and glassware everywhere, it’s comfortable and well lived in. “I’ve decorated following my intuition and keep the house open, so my friends can always enjoy the relaxed, informal atmosphere,” she says. The most sentimental piece is a long table in the main room – the first piece of furniture she bought when she left home at 19: “It goes everywhere with me!” she adds. Delphine’s former life in the art world has left its mark, with bold paintings throughout and a small gallery wall in the kitchen. There are also many pieces from Muller Van Severen, a Belgian brand that makes functional pieces such as the colourful trivets and chopping boards that double as hanging wall sculptures in the kitchen. For this ground-breaking artist, there are no rules. Check out Delphine Bekaert’s work at delfinceramics.com
“SOMETIMES I NEED TO SPEND TIME ALONE TO THINK ABOUT MY CREATIONS. EVERY PLACE IN THIS HOME IS GOOD FOR INSPIRATION” DELPHINE
BEDROOM Delphine made the black box bed in this small but lofty space. The umbrella artwork is by Sergei Bratkov. BATHING AREA A luxurious concrete bathtub is located downstairs near the caves. STUDY (opposite) Interesting pieces and living colour make Delphine’s study anything but ordinary. The beautiful marble desk was designed by Jan. Delphine found the lamp, stool and bird houses at flea markets. The artworks are by Takaaki Izumi (snowman), Francesco Arena (metal block), Matthieu Ronsse (portrait) and Kris Martin (white work).
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INSIDE | OVERSEAS INSPIRATION
PICTURE WINDOW This new addition to the farmhouse looks out on the extensive garden, where Delphine often finds inspiration. The sandy spot has many colourful cacti and fragrant mimosa bushes. POOL (opposite) The brand-new pool sits in an ancient olive grove, where daughter Lucy also has a treehouse.
FROM ABOVE Gladom tray table, $19.99, Ikea. Ontwerpduo ‘Tallow’ candle, $79, Gingerfinch. ‘Demijohn’ glass bottle, from $320, Artisan Stone. Cherry stripe pillowcase set, $99, Society of Wanderers. Valerie Objects ‘Hanging Lamp’ wall light, POA, Spence & Lyda. Norwich rattan armchair, $269.95, Zanui.
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ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATE VELLA
GREAT FINDS
INSIDE | OVERSEAS INSPIRATION
LESSONS LEARNT “ HOLD OUT FOR AN AUTHENTIC PLACE WITH SOUL” Delphine turned a “roofless ruin” into a family home by salvaging some of its original features and building her perfect home around them. To give the house a contemporary look and bring more light into the living space, a concrete nook complete with a full-wall window was built out and furnished with a day bed.
BEFORE&AFTER
relaxed f it
Benefiting from both an Art Deco heritage and a chic beachside location, this charming apartment was revitalised to counter-balance a contemporary corporate lifestyle
WORDS ALAANA COBON PHOTOGRAPHY PRUE RUSCOE STYLING CLAIRE DELMAR
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DINING/WORK SPACE In this multi-purpose zone, the banquette is upholstered in a grosgrain black fabric from Elliott Clarke, picked up in the Fornasetti plates against Dulux Natural White walls. Torino table, BoConcept. Ton ‘811’ chairs, James Richardson Furniture. HALL (opposite) A custom Murobond paint colour was created for this spot. Cabinetry by ARC Architectural Joinery. The limited-edition Caroline Walls print and Nomi mirror make a great first impression.
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his eastern Sydney apartment needed to
be the owner’s sanctuary. When she bought the unrenovated two-bedroom property a few years ago, she wanted it to really feel like home and so, under the guidance of interior designers Theresa Chan and Janice Yin of boutique firm Studio Quarters, the interiors were updated to a look befitting the Art Deco character of the original space. Now it feels grown up and comfortable but also welcoming to those with sandy feet from a nearby beach. At approximately 65 square metres internally, space was at a premium, so Theresa designed most of the areas to be flexible and multi-functional. She arranged for the timber floors to be refinished and planned custom joinery throughout to ensure the home’s functionality well into the future. The bathroom layout was rehashed, and distinctive Art Deco features everywhere were brought back into focus. In order to accommodate the common reality of bringing work home, the owner’s dining table and banquette can easily transition to a desk and storage space. The connection to the outdoors was a key factor in reclaiming a sense of space, so the window treatment in the living room was kept decidedly sparse, allowing the interior to feel much larger than it is. “The client is a successful corporate executive who wanted her home to be a calming, peaceful space away from the busyness of her work life,” says Theresa. Studio Quarters’ elegant approach to colour, scale, shape and adornment has certainly achieved that for the owner, turning her apartment into a soothing space that is mature and relaxed at the same time.
colour A bold approach to colour needn’t be brazen. Theresa introduced rich and sophisticated colour in a way that feels cocooning and nurturing. Applying colours with substance in a darker area of the home bucks the standard advice to brighten with white paint. Instead, Theresa opted to harness the moodiness and a more evocative space was created. In terms of the colour itself, inspiration came from the location. “The entry is a softer interpretation of ocean colours,” says Theresa. Her master stroke was painting the ceilings, joinery and walls the same colour in order to offer greater continuity and less competition for the eye, another strategy in shaping a restful, restorative space. Towards the rear of the home – the social domain – the colour palette shifts to revitalising and fresh, which makes for an energising transition. Outside, a pre-existing Art Deco yellow that was on the apartment block’s exterior has been paired with peachy accents, which is a playful backdrop for the courtyard oasis. COLOUR PALETTE Dulux Wash&Wear paint in Natural White, $77.90 per 4L.
Murobond PURE acrylic paint in Woodsmoke, $91 per 4L.
Dulux Wash&Wear paint in Silver Illusion, $91.55 per 4L.
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TIMELINE
From initial concept to completion, the project took 16 months. The owner lived there during the renovation, except for when the floors were being limewashed and the apartment painted.
2017
2018
April — August Overall concept design, bathroom design and documentation; approvals and quotations obtained
September — April Bathroom renovation site work March — August Design, documentation and installation of custom joinery,
re-finishing of existing timber flooring, painting, electrical work, selection and installation of all window coverings, furniture and accessories.
COURTYARD/INTERIOR A picture-perfect place to daydream. Norman Churner chair, Dedece. Walter Knoll ‘Oki’ table, Living Edge. Arancini lamp, Moda Piera. Artwork by Christopher McVinish, though Gallery One. LIVING (opposite top) Calm and welcoming is the vibe here. Sofa, MCM House. Leather pieces, Fred International. Rug, Armadillo & Co. HALLWAY (opposite bottom) The owner loves her new limewashed floor. Art pieces by (top shelf, from left) Gidon Bing, Michael Verheyden and Paola Paronetto (white ceramics).
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BATHROOM An Omvivo ‘Neo’ basin and Phoenix ‘Vivid Slimline’ wall basin (both from Reece) are backed by a custom marble slab. By Larsen stool, Fred International. BEDROOM (opposite) City lights in the Fiona Greenhill artwork are tempered by the relaxing colour and fabric palettes. Bedhead, MCM House. Side table, Temperature Design. Pillowcases, Bemboka.
space and scale
Theresa Chan’s tips for decorating an apartment like this + Take your cue from existing highlights “Art Deco architectural features such as the arched window in the dining room gave us inspiration for the curves in the bathroom marble and joinery,” says Theresa. This is a case of simple detailing creating a more special result because of the connection and consideration. + Dip your toe in Choosing colour doesn’t need to be daunting, says Theresa. “Playing with tints and softer tones can be just as effective as a bold colour.” Test in big patches, because looking into a small sample spot can give a false idea of how dark or light a colour will be in the space. + Choose wisely The homewares market is saturated with options, but Theresa suggests waiting until you find things you love. “We recommend mixing up various styles of art and sculpture as they are an expression of yourself and should evoke an emotion when seen.” So wait until your heart flutters, then jump on in! + Do it right Don’t cut corners. “Small fixes are often required when completing a restoration and some of them won’t be known until work has started. Especially if the building is old,” says Theresa. “In this project, additional preparation was required before the painting could begin. To achieve a better finish, sanding back the masonry walls and timber work was essential.”
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“We needed to consider the tight footprint of the apartment and make each space work as efficiently as possible,” says Theresa, “which we did by accommodating multiple functions and providing as much storage space as possible.” Custom joinery in the hall by the bathroom now incorporates an internal laundry and bulky household items, and the look of it has been softened with rounded open shelves in a gentle grey-green paint colour. The strategy was to make a feature of the entry by putting a curated collection of items on show and concealing the functionality of the home behind cupboard doors. In the kitchen/dining zone, a long, large banquette has been built to accommodate much of the owner’s office equipment and essential paraphernalia for when her demanding work life spills over into home time. A standalone study was impractical here, so the accompanying dining table and comfortable seating were sourced with this second use front of mind. Flexibility of furnishings throughout also makes for practical living in tighter spaces. Stools can be seats or tables as required, pulled indoors or out, or up to the table when more people pop in, which removes the need for extra furnishings. This helps to maintain the airy and spacious vibe.
confident choices
Finding the right elements to complete an interior is often where people come unstuck. Here, the accessories and furnishings were selected very carefully to express the owner’s style. “We wanted to create a space that is not trend-driven but, instead, is a reflection of where the owner is at in life. A space that was quietly confident, not overly cluttered or loud – the sanctuary she was looking for,” says Theresa. “The client had a strong interest in Australian art; this became the starting point when selecting artwork and features heavily in the final result.” However, it isn’t just what you bring in that makes a space. “We opted to keep the Art Deco detailing on the door frames as it offered that sense of history and detail, but we treated it in a contemporary way by using one colour throughout, on the walls, doors, joinery and ceiling,” says Theresa. The arched dining-room window was also used to inform the shape of the marble splashback in the bathroom and the curve of the open shelves in the hall – a subtle nod to the building’s Art Deco heritage without being a pastiche. The peaceful palette was achieved with texture and shapely interest rather than an explosion of colour pops – subtlety at its finest. For more projects by Studio Quarters, see studioquarters.com.au
Inside Out expert advice David Hardwick, head of products at King Living, on choosing a bed that’s the right shape and size + “When buying a bed, it’s important to consider how you use your bedroom and the bed. We often ask customers if they have their kids in the bed in the morning — or night. Do you read or watch TV in bed? How you use the bed when you’re awake is probably the most important factor, as this may determine the height and material of the headboard. An upholstered bedhead is ideal for comfort and support while sitting up, and soft edges mean kids won’t bump their heads when jumping around. + Size is the other major consideration. It’s always best to go for the largest bed you can fit, to minimise partner disturbance and provide a better night’s sleep. The height of the headboard is also important; an oversized headboard can work as a feature in the room and provide head support when sitting up, while lower-profile headboards work well in spaces with a lower ceiling height or on beds that are placed under an artwork or window.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY: GUY BAILEY. STYLING: JANE FROSH
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RENOVATE
dream green
Trying lots of sample colours only leads to one thing: perfection “I love being in the kitchen and wouldn’t change a thing about it, says interior designer Wanda Syzchowska, who lived with her family in this Sydney home for a number of years while renovating it. “The cabinetry took eight colour samples to get right as I wanted a soft, muted, pale green that didn’t overwhelm the space and tied in with the brass handles, kickboards, and stone benchtops.” Turn the page to see more.
PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
living area Designer Wanda Szychowska chose a retro mirror for the wall above her marble mantelpiece; the reflection is a custom artwork. Pink vase, Freedom. Blue vase, Kosta Boda. Candleholder, H&M Home.
dining room
DREAM IT. DESIGN IT. DO IT.
passion project Mindful of not overcapitalising on a house flip, the designer of this Sydney home renovated for a wide demographic but still fell in love with it WORDS JOANNE HAWKINS PHOTOGRAPHY PABLO VEIGA
SCULPTURES ON DINING TABLE (OPPOSITE) BY KATARINA WELLS, CURATORIAL. GLASS VASE, FREEDOM
“I’ve always had round tables in my home,” says Wanda. “They encourage conversation and I love that there isn’t anyone at the head of the table.” Eames dining table from Living Edge. Melrose leather chairs, Coco Republic. Rug, West Elm.
INSIDE | RENOVATE
cheat sheet Who lives here Wanda Szychowska, an interior designer at The Same Design; her husband Rhys Jones, director of hospitalityconsultancy business The Same Group; and their children: Oskar, 13, Zigi, 12, and Nina, seven. Style of home A four-bedroom 1960s house with an eclectic mix of styles that’s been transformed into a light, bright and sophisticated retreat for a large family. After taking possession of the house in January 2016, a six-week ‘soft refurb’ saw Wanda and Rhys spraypaint the kitchen, sand the floors and paint the internal walls. More renovations took place in 2016 and 2019. Total cost of the work they did was $$$$ $400,000 (including landscaping).
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INSIDE | RENOVATE
W
hen Wanda Syzchowska and
her husband Rhys Jones moved to Sydney after five years in Auckland, she was keen to get her hands on a fixer-upper. The couple had relocated to New Zealand in 2006 for Rhys’s job as general manager for a hotel chain. With their son Oskar then only a baby, Wanda decided to swap her career in airline marketing for interior design. “I’ve always loved great design,” she says, “especially in the hotel sector, which I had been fortunate enough to experience because we had both travelled so much for work.” Wanda did a course at the Interior Design Institute and put her newly acquired skills to good use by renovating two properties in Auckland. She was keen to continue when Rhys’s job took them back to Australia in 2010. However, the perfect project proved elusive, and it wasn’t until 2015 – when the couple spotted an eclectic four-bedroom house in North Manly – that they finally found a home ripe for an overhaul. “I wanted something with character, high ceilings and a good floor plan, and this fit the bill,” says Wanda. “Most importantly, it was unrenovated, with the potential for us to transform every single surface.”
dream it
Despite its great features, the two-storey brick and timber house was clearly in need of some TLC. “Various owners had renovated the house into a mish-mash of styles,” says Wanda. “It was very 1980s and bohemian in parts – it could have been in Nimbin. “A dark red, brown and timber tone was prevalent throughout the home, with ‘unique’ design touches in all the rooms,” she continues. “The highlight was the timber-clad main bedroom, which had glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars and a cedar-panelled ‘shub’ [a shower over a small tub] in the ensuite.” However, Wanda’s expert eye could see that the house had the potential to become a light, stylish family home, even though she admits that it was initially meant to be a quick flip. “That’s why not having to do anything structural was appealing, because our plan in the beginning was to be out in 18 months,” she says. “But at the same time, we wanted to create a beautiful home with a bit of a wow factor that would appeal to other people as well.” 110 | INSIDE OUT
wishlist + Parents’ retreat “We wanted to turn the bedroom on the first floor, which opens to a terrace, into a parents’ suite with a large bathroom,” says Wanda. + Privacy “I don’t like looking at the neighbours or the neighbours looking at us. That was really important to avoid.” + Show-stopping kitchen “It’s not only the heart of the home, but the place where we entertain friends and family.” + Simplified flooring “We had a bit of everything on the floor, from bricks and parquetry (which hadn’t been installed correctly) to vinyl in the kitchen and pine floorboards in the bedrooms.”
kitchen Two-pack polyurethane cabinets in white and green work with the cool Statuario Quartz benchtops and splashback. The warmer floor is European Oak with Castle character from Havwoods. Mixer, Sussex Taps. Eric Warna pendant, Danish Vintage Design. Frank The Flamingo print, Penny Farthing Design House.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATE VELLA
the moodboard FROM FAR LEFT Carrara herringbone mosaics, $19.90 per 280mm sq sheet, ABI Interiors. Dulux paint in Casper White Quarter, $41.40 per 1L, Bunnings. Statuario Quartz polished engineered stone, $850 per sq m, Quantum Quartz/ WK Stone. European oak engineered timber flooring, $114.95 per sq m, Havwoods. Ella bar stool in Beige, $299, Domayne. Circa basin hob mixer set in Brushed Gold, $1176.12, Sussex Taps.
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living room
ensuite
While all the home’s furniture is fairly neutral, the ‘noise’ comes from artworks such as this dynamic Carpe Diem print by Brian Crippe, available through The Cool Hunter. Zaza sofa, King Living. Side tables from West Elm (at left) and Knoll. Subi rug, The Rug Collection.
“I love mixing modern styles with vintage pieces,” says Wanda. Wall tiles from Di Lorenzo. Marble floor offcuts, ColorTile. Basin and tapware, Sussex Taps. Antique mirror, found at a roadside market.
do it
design it
The couple initially embarked on a six-week makeover, which included painting internally and clearing what Wanda describes as the “jungle of a garden”, to make the place liveable. “We also spraypainted the kitchen cabinets and removed a fireplace from the dining/living area. This opened up the home visually and allowed us to fully plan the renovation,” Wanda explains. In her business, Wanda, who has a Russian father and Polish mother, says she strives to create “elegant spaces with a contemporary Euro-cool edge”. That, combined with inspiration from those stylish hotels she’d stayed in over the years, was the driving force for her own renovation. “I wanted to bring the house up to date and get rid of the heaviness, because the dark browns really brought things down. Introducing lighter colours such as white and pale greys immediately lifted the rooms and made them more enjoyable to be in,” says Wanda. Her new colour palette also included shades of green and blue that were influenced by nature and, in particular, the lush tropical gardens outside. 112 | INSIDE OUT
After their mini-makeover, the couple embarked on more major renovation work four months after they moved in. This included rebuilding the unsafe upstairs deck, enlarging the ensuite to include a shower and double vanity, refurbishing the downstairs bathroom, relining the walls in the living/dining area and bedrooms, and recladding, rendering and painting the exterior. Despite living with the dust, dirt and countless workmen in the house for five months, things ran quite smoothly – aside from the unexpected rat and possum infestation in some of the walls. “That was the grossest thing ever and took time to sort out,” Wanda says. Although the family only planned to live there for a mere 18 months, a flat housing market meant they decided to stay and enjoy the house – and especially its sparkling new kitchen, laundry and wooden floor – for a bit longer. The kitchen features satin cabinetry painted Vert De Terre, a delicate ‘aged’ green by Farrow & Ball, and Dulux Casper White Quarter. The benchtops and splashbacks are Statuario Quartz from Quantum Quartz/WK Stone. Brushed brass kickboards and tapware provide the glamour. “I wanted to create a calm and tranquil space, but still have a pop of colour and make design statements with unexpected pieces, such as the vintage Northern Light pendant by Eric Wärnå for Kemp & Lauritzen,” says Wanda. Renovation over, the family couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved. “I love the house, which works brilliantly for us. We’re so fortunate to have been able to do this. But I guess I’m a serial renovator who also needs a new challenge,” Wanda admits. To that end, she says they’ve recently sold the house and are looking for another project. “It’ll be bittersweet to leave because this house is so beautiful and everything we love. I’m just glad we got to fully enjoy it before we do the next one...” The Same Design is based in Manly, NSW; thesame.com.au
“I’ve used a lot of Dulux Casper White Quarter in the house. It’s a fresh white that doesn’t have a yellow tinge and it makes artworks pop” WANDA SZYCHOWSKA, DESIGNER/OWNER
main bedroom Wanda had the bedhead customised with a Belgian linen in Ash from Libeco. Velvet crane cushion, David Jones. Bedside table, Domayne. Sophie Lips print by The Aestate, through Society6.
Inside Out expert advice Amelia Taylor, head of product and marketing at Wynstan, talks warmth, texture and cool shades “Your bedroom should be a relaxing haven, so creating a soft, intimate feel is a great idea. If you are loving the look of curtains, then let me tell you about this new product that blends the softness and style of curtains with the functionality of blinds = win win! Veri Shades are the best thing since sliced bread or Smartphones or chocolate or whatever. Their elegant folds create that warmth and texture you’re after and, with a turn of a wand, you can easily adjust the light and privacy levels. You can even walk through them when open or closed, which means seamless indoor-outdoor living.”
backyard Nina heads down to the garden, which was done by various trades in conjunction with mum Wanda, who did the soft landscaping. The cladding is Scyon Linea weatherboards by James Hardie.
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Wanda Szychowska on her short-term kitchen update “We spraypainted the beige kitchen cupboards white as soon as we moved in. We justified this because it gave us the ability to breathe through the remaining parts of the renovations, so it was money well spent on visual mental health!” + More advice “The other thing I’d tell people to be wary of while renovating is purchasing cheap fixtures and fittings. Buying quality items the first time will save you in the long run. In the kitchen, for example, I researched appliance brands that not only looked good but performed better than their competitors. Tapware was another area where paying a little more for quality was important. Generally, you get what you pay for and, as a rule of thumb, I never compromise on high-use and -touch items.”
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1 Porch 2 Entry 3 Living 4 Kitchen 5 Dining 6 Family 7 Bathroom 8 Bedroom 9 Bedroom
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10 Bedroom 11 Garage 12 Pool 13 Garden 14 Laundry/WC 15 Main bedroom 16 Ensuite 17 Bedroom/office 18 Balcony
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the best bits + Ensuite floor “I’ve used herringbone in most of my projects as I love its pattern and the way it feels underfoot,” says Wanda. “I created the herringbone tiled floor in the ensuite from Italian marble offcuts.” + Upstairs balcony “It was originally going to be open with a pergola and a fabric awning, but we decided to change the design and have a fixed glass roof so it was properly protected from the elements. I love it up there. It’s so nice to be elevated.” + Exterior “To modernise it, we rendered and redid the cladding, and painted the house in a British Paints neutral called Grey Fibre, which has made such a difference. Pairing it with Dulux Natural White has created a classic, modern palette that will stand the test of time.”
terrace This alfresco dining area is next to the pool. The table was custom made and the black chairs are from Freedom. Seat cushions and umbrella, Outdoor Patio Living. Honed granite pavers, ColorTile.
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The Block: Glasshouse co-winner and interior architect Shannon Vos. voscreative. com.au
ON THE MONEY If you want a great result, be prepared to pay a decent rate for the services of an in-demand architect, interior designer or tradie.
finding the one
Lining up an architect, designer or tradie is a bit like choosing a partner so be sure to look in all the right places
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“Architects tend to have connections with trusted builders, so if you snag one, chances are you can also reel in a couple of trades”
H
PHOTOGRAPHY: KRISTINA SOLJO AND ANNETTE O’BRIEN (OPPOSITE)
e’s out there somewhere, most
likely with a worn leather tool belt snugly wrapped around his bronzed rig, sweating it up in the summer sun… well, that’s the dream anyway, right? As it turns out, a good chunk of tradies are covered in dust, too busy to lodge honest tax returns and apt to charge like a wounded bull. Their bills are way too high, they rarely show up on time and offer more ‘plumber’s crack’ than you thought physically possible. Architects and designers are often unrealistic, opting for aesthetics over function, and also have the tendency to make a decent dollar from your build. So how do you find the dream tradie, the skilled craftsman or woman who’ll go that extra mile to ensure your job isn’t just ‘up to scratch’ but their best work yet? How do you find a realistic architect who balances form and function; and how do you find a designer whose head isn’t either in the clouds or up their own assumptions? And how do you find a decent tradie who won’t inflate an already steep quote? It’s a tradies’ market out there, particularly in the bigger cities, and it almost seems like you need a degree in clairvoyance to snag a winner. However, you won’t have to pore over the Yellow Pages like we used to; there are literally thousands of experts a button click away. Before you wade in, check out my ultimate ‘experts and tradies guide’, as written by – you guessed it – a tradie.
ARCHITECTS These guys can be a fickle bunch. University graduates, they’re
usually bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with high hopes of being the next Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with fat-pocketed clients. Reality hits when they realise that most of us can’t afford an architect-specified home, let alone a new volume build (project home). But for those of us with the financial freedom to engage a creative architect, it’s a minefield. Your best bet is word of mouth. Architects tend to have connections with trusted builders, so if you snag one, chances are you can also reel in a couple of trades. However, if you’re planning to spin a random wheel and choose someone you don’t know, there are plenty of online and printed resources to make your choices easier. The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia has a giant list of accredited architects who, although they don’t come with recommendations, are at least qualified. To generate the most suitable architects for your needs, the Australian Institute of Architects website will allow you to refine your search to location, build type and cost. There are also architecture magazines (like this one) aplenty in newsagents everywhere, and they’re chock full of contacts ready to take on jobs of all sizes.
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INTERIOR DESIGNERS These professionals can be seen as offering
PHOTOGRAPHY: PRUE RUSCOE AND DEREK SWALWELL (OPPOSITE)
a luxury service, which is not a necessity. But once employed, they have the power to transform a home like an architect wouldn’t, a builder couldn’t, and a painter… well, painters are gonna paint. If you do have the budget to engage an experienced interior designer, again, word of mouth is the ultimate reference, and a previous job the best example of a designer’s capabilities. If you’re coming in blind, the Design Institute of Australia has a great catalogue of designers from a range of fields ready to take on work. Magazines are a great resource (including this one) and social media can be a mountain of information on trends, practical ideas and designers. Try Instagram and Pinterest for some digital inspiration, which might lead to a great contact. If all else fails, drop me a line – I’m more than happy to help :)
TASK FORCE Rebuilding after the bushfires will mean a lot more work for those in the industry, so if you live in or near an affected area, allow more time to find good people and wait patiently until they are free.
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TRADIES
After spending over 20 years in the building game, I’ve seen myriad changes to the way tradies operate, and yeah, like Grandad said, “They don’t build ’em like they used to.” Tradies can often be rushed, overbooked and careless when it comes to your ‘dream’. More often than not though, you get what you pay for. Think a price is too good to be true? Chances are it is. A decent tradie is worth their weight in Carrara marble, and they’re usually in high demand. Your best chance? Use someone recommended – we are all but six degrees apart, right? The best reference is word of mouth and the best advertisement is a previous job. Ask your friends, your workmates – even your barista. After all, it’s your hard-earned dollars and they should go to those who can be trusted. If you do have to shoot from the hip and cold-call a tradie, it’s worth looking up the appropriate governing body of that particular trade, such as the ones below: + The Master Builders Association has an extensive list of qualified and reputable builders that you can search for by location or build type. The MBA has strict guidelines as to who they recommend, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pool of builders to choose from. + Painters are a dime a dozen these days, and since the government relaxed laws on painting licenses a few years back, a flood of unqualified painters now saturate the trade market. However, Dulux and Taubmans both have their accreditation systems, arming only qualified tradies with their badges of honour. The Master Painters Association goes that one step further, scrutinising any potential members with rigorous testing and application. Their website has more painters than you can poke a brush at. + Plumbers and electricians are both highly qualified trades. They have their own master accreditation process, ensuring only highly qualified tradies can be associated.
They both have extensive lists of contractors on their websites but, better still, you should approach your local plumbing, lighting or tile store. These usually recommend local qualified tradies who will happily be referred to your job. If all your options are exhausted, there are many trade and task-sourcing websites to look at. Hipages, Airtasker, Oneflare and ServiceSeeking have giant databases of tradies and handypersons ready to pick up the tools and get started (for a decent price, of course).
Costs for trades vary greatly and are influenced by a multitude of factors. But be prepared to fork out anywhere between $1500 and $4000 per square metre for a home to be built and finished. Individual tradies usually work off an hourly or square-metre rate and these can vary depending on where you live. Bear in mind that bigger cities tend to attract higher wages (roughly $80+ per hour) than those in regional areas ($40+ per hour), but again, the bottom line is you get what you pay for.
“For tradies, the best reference is word of mouth and the best advertisement is a previous job. Ask your friends, your workmates – even your barista”
BUYER’S GUIDE
G O O D TH I N K I NG The modern home has become even smarter in the past few years – with innovations that can make your life easier and greener WORDS & PRODUCT SOURCING LYNNE TESTONI
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A
s kids, we probably all saw The Jetsons
and fantasised about our lives in the not-too-distant future – where robots did the housework, your spaceship turned into a briefcase, and gadgets littered your home so all you had to do was put your feet up and occasionally deal with a difficult teen. Of course, it hasn’t quite worked out that way in real life. Robots are mostly confined to factory assembly lines and, at the time of printing, we are yet to create a commuter spaceship. But the tech-enabled home has definitely arrived, and you can now program everything from your washing machine to your security system. You can organise to turn on your coffee machine in time for breakfast, and turn off your iron (via a smart plug) from your phone when you get to the office and realise you forgot again. You can wake up to a warm home, or return to a cool one, depending on the time of day and season. And, of course, use voice-activated technology to control your lights, security system and TV. Here’s our guide to some of the ingenious gadgets on the market today.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MAREE HOMER (OPPOSITE)
smart appliances With appliances, it’s often the small things that have the biggest impact when it comes to technology and energy efficiency. If you’re in the market for a dishwasher and are concerned about water consumption and waste, Bosch is worth looking at. Its range now includes a clever ActiveWater mechanism, an automatic load adjustment that recognises the condition of your dishes and adjusts the amount of electricity and water required to wash them accordingly. Similarly, Bosch Serie 8 ovens boast Bosch Assist technology, which utilises sensors to automatically set the optimal type of heating mode, temperature and time for countless dishes. Yes, that means your roast chicken is cooked just the way you like it, with one touch. Even fridges are impressive these days. You can go straight to the top with market leader Samsung’s computerised Family Hub fridge, or take a look at LG’s French-door range with clever ThinQ technology that enables you to control your fridge via an app. Then, if you find yourself with a larger grocery haul than intended, you can adjust the temperature of the fridge on your way home, so it’s ready to accommodate the extra items. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT LG Signature InstaView door-in-door refrigerator, $7000, Harvey Norman. HPM Arteor ‘Netatmo’ starter kit, $489.90, Mitre 10. De’Longhi ‘Maestosa’ coffee machine, $4999, Harvey Norman. Smeg ‘Dolce Stil Novo SAB4604NR’ blast chiller, $7490, Winning Appliances. Fisher & Paykel ‘WD8560F1’ washer dryer combo, $1499, Winning Appliances. Kenwood ‘Chef XL Sense’ mixer, $699, Harvey Norman.
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voice activation From Siri (Apple) to Alexa (Amazon) and Google Home, voice-activated smart speakers are increasingly popular and act as a central hub for your smart devices. As time goes on, more and more brands are launching compatible products that will work with the system you choose. “Voice control is a massive deal,” says Jason. “The systems have skyrocketed in popularity in the past 12 months – it’s something like an increase of 30 per cent in people using them.” Google Home is the most widely used, although the other two systems are gaining in popularity. Google has recently released Nest Hub Max, which offers personalised help, answers from Google, and control for your connected home. One bonus is the Nest Cam security feature to help keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
FROM LEFT ‘Nimbus’ sofa in Viva Panna leather and Smoked Oak timber, $9636 (with smart accessories), King Living. Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen), $199, JB Hi-Fi. Google Nest Hub in Chalk, $349, Harvey Norman. OPPOSITE PAGE Tesla Powerwall, retrofitted from $14,599; 6.6kW chargepack from $21,599, Bradford Energy.
PHOTOGRAPHY: NIC GOSSAGE (OPPOSITE, LEFT), GETTY IMAGES (OPPOSITE, RIGHT)
Looking for the perfect coffee, made to your specifications and ready when you want it? The new wave of automatic coffee machines can be programmed with individual preferences, which means everyone in the family can have their favourite brew. De’Longhi’s latest app-controlled premium coffee machine, Maestosa, even has adaptive grinding technology as part of the personalisation. Most smart appliances rely on a strong Wi-Fi connection to enable all the features. But it’s always a good idea to have a hardwired back-up, especially for essentials such as lighting. Somfy motors (commonly used for lights and window dressings) can be either hardwired or wire-free with an internal lithium-ion battery, which is rechargeable. If you’re not keen on buying a new set of appliances, you can still go some way to having a smart home. The technology has come a long way in the past five years and the days of bulky systems run by computers are long gone. HPM’s new Arteor with Netatmo system is a collection of power points and switches you can install to make almost any product smart. It can control lamps and small appliances such as hair dryers and coffee machines, blinds and electronic shutters, giving you greater control. HPM lifestyle expert Jason Neophytou explains how it works: “Arteor Arteor allows you to update your existing switches and power points, so you can make almost anything thing smart. For example, you can power your coffee ee machine on and off, or control your existing downlights. wnlights. This system can be retrofitted where your existing power points and switches are, or you can use it for a new installation.”
You can program your lights and set up scenarios such as ‘dinner party’, ‘movie night’ or ‘welcome home’
SMART ENERGY SOLUTIONS
strategic lighting In these days of energy efficiency, it’s all about using lighting carefully and strategically. Thanks to LED technology, the scope for smart lighting is continually expanding. You can program your lights and set up scenarios such as ‘dinner party’, ‘movie night’ or ‘welcome home’. Additionally, new systems from smart lighting companies such as LiFX allow you to operate the lights for your entire house from your smartphone. Lighting specialist Adele Locke of Mint Lighting says the set-up of LiFX is relatively simple, with few requirements other than really good Wi-Fi access, because the equipment essentially plugs in. “You can do a lot more now,” she says. “With the old systems, you had to pre-prepare for extra wiring to run the controls, and you needed special control panels. Then you needed a technician to come in and make it all work.” As for trends in smart lighting, the big one is controlling the colour of your lights. “That doesn’t mean [offering] the rainbow,” says Adele. “It means the ability to change light so it’s really warm – like candlelight – late at night and feels like a moody hotel, then being able to push that light up to white in the middle of the day.”
To date, solar panels have been installed on more than two million Australian roofs. While photovoltaic panels can be expensive to install, they will save you a lot of money over the years; if you intend staying in your home for some time, they are definitely worth considering. Gone are the days when you were only able to use solar energy on sunny days. Bradford Energy has a bundle package that includes Tesla battery packs, which can store solar energy to be used later that evening, during peak demand or on subsequent days. Your excess energy can also be sold back to the grid.
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Abode wide-board vinyl flooring in Malmo Oak, from $57.75 per sq m, Choices Flooring.
Q
We are in North Queensland so summer can be brutal. Which window coverings will keep our rooms the coolest? John, via email The best way to keep your home cool is by preventing the heat from transferring through the glass windows. So, the most effective products are awnings, hands down. The upfront cost will be bigger, but they’ll save you money in the long run. Wynstan has several straight-drop awnings that have been proven to reduce cooling energy costs by up to 60 per cent. Awnings have certainly come a long way in the last decade, with folding-arm designs and straight-drop, cable-guide and pivot-arm styles, just to name a few. You’ll find plenty of design inspiration online. AMELIA TAYLOR, HEAD OF PRODUCT AND MARKETING, WYNSTAN
Q
ask an expert Stylish solutions for all your design dilemmas from people in the know
Q
I’m living in a rental with a small balcony but at the moment it’s just dead space. What are some quick, budget-friendly ways I can update the area and make it more inviting? Steph, via Instagram Creating a potted garden is a wonderful way to make the space feel more inviting, and you can have loads of fun chopping and changing your pots and plants from season to season. If you’re a renter, check out the pots in Northcote Pottery’s Urbanlite range. They’re stylish and lightweight, so you can move them around easily and take them with you from house to house. They also come in pot ‘families’, such as the Arlo wicker range (right), which can be grouped together. Balconies can be tough areas to grow plants, so be sure to choose the right plant for the right place. For instance, if it’s mostly sunny you’ll want plants that RelicLite U pot s in are tough but still look good. Try growing beauties Earth, $225 for set of such as Euphorbia ‘Craigieburn’, beautiful succulents four, Northcote Pottery. like Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, or native stunners such as Scaevola ‘Fan Magic Spellbinder’. Alternatively, you might like to grow tough, Mediterranean-style herbs. MELISSA KING, HORTICULTURALIST AND NORTHCOTE POTTERY AMBASSADOR
EDITED BY KATE HASSETT
I’m interested in a low-maintenance flooring option for my new build. It will need to survive a young and active family. What do you suggest, and what should I be looking for? Bridgette, via Instagram Your best option would be Choices Flooring’s Abode range, which is referred to as rigid or hybrid flooring. While it may look a lot like timber, Abode combines the best qualities of laminate and luxury vinyl in a high-tech product that looks great. With the right floor preparation, Abode can be installed on virtually any surface, including wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. The collection features nearly 40 designs over five ranges in modern grey finishes to classic oaks. There’s an option to suit every home. NICOLE CANTY, PRODUCT MANAGER, CHOICES FLOORING
Everview straight drop awning (2.4m x 2.4m) in Fungi, $824 (including installation), Wynstan.
Modern brick pavers create interest and warmth, as seen in this Brisbane home designed by Tim Stewart Architects and built by Graya.
Q
I’m considering paving my outdoor patio but I want something really hardy and easy to maintain. What options can you suggest? Elliot, via email Pavers are a great choice when landscaping an outdoor space such as a patio. Fired-clay pavers provide extensive colour and size options to choose from, while also avoiding colour fading and requiring virtually no upkeep for the life of the product. Many projects are now looking to other options, such as bricks used as pavers, to add an extra design element and create a unique space. Provided the bricks have been tested for strength, durability and slip-resistance for the given application, they will provide an excellent source of texture and colour for those looking for something a bit different. JAI SANDERSON, GENERAL MANAGER OF MARKETING, PGH BRICKS & PAVERS
A Melbourne kitchen by Studio Ezra, featuring Zellige mosaic tiles.
Breeze blocks in Porcelain, $25.40 per block, Austral Masonry.
Q
Do breeze blocks suit any style of home?? ram Charlie, via Instagram Breeze blocks are simple, i l industrial and abstract — they are a material for the expression of human creativity. Breeze blocks are also extremely versatile and come in a plethora of different designs, allowing you to create something that suits your space and style. The resurgence of the breeze block is more than a nostalgic yearning for the golden years of Modernism; it reflects a true movement towards appreciating the design potential of the humble concrete block. Architects are continually exploring new modes of surface and material ornament, and the breeze block encapsulates this movement perfectly.
PHOTOGRAPHY: AMELIA STANWIX (TILES), CATHY SCHUSLER (BRICKS), TATJANA PITT (BREEZE BLOCKS)
Q
I’m thinking about tiling my kitchen. What are things I need to look out for when choosing tiles for such a hard-working, high-traffic area? And how can I keep things feeling warm and comforting? Lisa, via Instagram Flooring choices are extremely personal. What may be a practical choice for one person may not be to another. While one person may embrace the look of an aged finish, another may be bothered by that and only want a tile that looks brand new for as long as possible. It is important, however, to understand the elements of flooring that may or may not worry or frustrate you, and choose the right flooring based on that. Kitchen spaces are high-traffic areas, with food, oil and more that can end up on the floor. When choosing tiles for a high-traffic area, look out for the porosity of the tile, meaning how porous the tile is, and find out whether a sealant (penetrating or topical) can prevent it from soaking up stains. If the tile can be sealed to prevent stains, can it also be professionally cleaned in a way that brings it back to its original state? Also important to the decision making is the colour, texture and pattern of the tile. Are you choosing a tile that camouflages marks and stains, or one that shows every drop of avocado? I love using soft, beautiful patterns that create intrigue, warmth and character while also being practical for various living needs.
I want to update my bedroom and transform it into a calming space. What are some simple ways to do that without spending too much? Luke, via Instagram The best way to transform your bedroom on a budget is to update the soft furnishings. For a calm and tranquil space, opt for bedding in linen or bamboo fabrics that get softer with each wash. Colours like stone, dusty blue and sage green will all help to create a restful room. You can also update your bedside lamps. For a softer glow, choose a shade that covers the globe and use a low-voltage bulb.
GEORGIA EZRA, DIRECTOR, TILES OF EZRA AND STUDIO EZRA
LAUREN KEENAN, INTERIOR STYLIST AND DECORATOR
BRETT WARD, GENERAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL MARKETING, BRICKWORKS BUILDING PRODUCTS
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extras BRIGHT IDEAS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME
FISHER & PAYKEL The Integrated Column
DOMAYNE With its minimal, unornamented
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Refrigerators and Freezers have been expertly developed to allow complete
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aesthetic to your outdoor space. For more
framed for your modern or Hamptons-style
every lifestyle. Visit fisherpaykel.com/au
information, visit domayne.com.au
home. Visit printandproper.com.au
ANIBOU Add a distinctive touch to domestic interiors with the ClassiCon Bell Table Special Edition. The hand blown glass base and solid brass frame celebrate true craftsmanship. Visit anibou.com.au
HARVEY NORMAN OUTDOOR Inject creative character into your outdoor space with the Charlotte Dining Setting. Modern and fun outdoor dining starts here. Visit harveynorman.com.au
SOUTHWOOD Create a home you will love with beautiful furniture, homewares and design service from Southwood. Visit the gorgeous Melbourne showroom or visit southwoodhome.com.au
CHOICES FLOORING Rugs introduce style, texture and warmth to any room. From creating a statement to defining a space, Choices Flooring has the rug for you. Visit choicesflooring.com.au
SYDNEY GIFT FAIR Discover the latest trends and new-season products for your retail store at Australia’s industry event dedicated to retail and design. For more information, visit sydneygift.com.au
WYNSTAN Protect your home with Wynstan CrimsafeÂŽ Ultimate Doors. Proudly Australian made, there is no better choice for your property. Book your free in-home consultation today at wynstan.com.au
INSIDE | RENOVATE
WATER FORMS These gorgeous jewel-like Fink ‘Tidal Pool’ bowls in Aqua from Top3 By Design are water-formed to create unique organic shapes that suit a range of uses. Imagine them as accompaniments at your dining table! A set of four costs $189; top3.com.au
tub jug
ON THE SURFACE
Designed by French studio Atelier BL119, the shape and angular handle of Muuto’s ‘Tub’ jug provide an industrial and modern twist to the conventional vessel. It can be used as a carafe, a watering can — even a distinctive vase. Shown in Pale Blue, it’s also available in Dark Green and Sand. $150; luumodesign.com
splash out
Now, where’s that checklist? Multipurpose, durable, low-maintenance, aesthetically pleasing… tick, tick, tick, tick! Dekton ultra-compact surface is made of a blend of raw materials and is impervious to scratches, stains, UV rays, fire and heat. The Stonika collection in Arga, seen here, backs up that performance with seriously good looks. POA; cosentino.com/en-au
INAX’s rich history started in the 1920s, when US architect Frank Lloyd Wright used one of their terracotta tiles in his design for Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel. Today, the Japanese company’s collections of artisanal ceramic tiles and mosaics come in a huge variety of colours and textures that are perfect for splashbacks. POA; artedomus.com
KITCHEN NEWS
say cheese From presentation boards to beautiful kitchen surfaces and furniture, these new releases are a photogenic bunch
3 OF A KIND Cheese boards
Sandstorm marble and acacia-wood board (top), $109; ozdesignfurniture.com.au DOIY Cheeseporn acaciawood cheese board (middle), $69.95; until.com.au Maison Sarah Lavoine ceramic presentation board (bottom), $119; bastilleandsons.com.au
GRAB A S E AT An ideal choice for a casual but contemporary setting, the curved rattan-wrapped frame and bronze-capped feet of the Colombo dining chair exudes an air of light, summery elegance. $425; cocorepublic. com.au
general store Based in Singapore, JotterGoods specialises in designs for apartment living. Its adaptable Finder pantry can be used as a pantry, a bar or a storage console. An hydraulic gas-strut lift support holds the top cabinet safely in place while the lift-up compartment has a marble top for mixing drinks or storing small appliances. It measures 180cm x 90cm x 42cm and is $3980; trithouse.com.au
COMPILED BY VANESSA COLYER TAY
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A WOMAN’S WORLD
ABSTRACT THINKING
When Canadian artist and ceramicist Rachel Saunders does a homewares collection, expect the unexpected. Her handmade, wheel-thrown Woman stoneware vase in Matisse Blue is inspired by French artist Henri Matisse’s 1950s Blue Nudes series of lithographs. The 17cm vase is just tall enough to turn heads without causing a distraction… well, maybe a little one! $300; bedthreads.com.au
Rectangular and round designs converge in designer Greg Natale’s vivid ‘Delaunay’ hand-tufted wool rug, part of his Geo Deco collection for Designer Rugs. Slip it beneath your bed, or make it the showpiece of a room. $4050 for 2.5m; designerrugs.com.au
BEDROOM NEWS
night moves
reuse & rejoice! If you ever find Brazilian designer Domingos Tótora rummaging through your garbage bin and snaffling any recycled cardboard, don’t get angry — just look at what he can create. His Mantiqueira vases for Tacchini Edizioni, from $960 each, are made from recycled cardboard and hand-moulded to produce sculptural pieces that deftly bridge the gap between art and sustainable design; stylecraft.com.au
Bring your special place to life with all that’s bold and beautiful in snooze news
autumn rose Linen is a dream to sleep on — cool in warm weather and vice versa. This makes it perfect for the approaching autumn, when the mercury can really fluctuate. In Bed’s bedlinen also offers colours such as vibrant Rosewood, which can be mixed and matched with other shades in the range. Duvet cover, $295 for queen, and fitted sheet, $195 for queen; inbedstore.com 1
2
REAL DEAL Design.Online is doing its bit to promote nights of serene shut-eye. The steel frame of the Flex Bed Sterling, $780 (queen size, including bedhead), ensures maximum support, and the Sleep800 mattress, $998 (queen), allows for better air circulation and complete comfort; au.design.online
GLOW UP The Visual Comfort & Co ‘Loire’ tiered flush mount light in Gild draws on European mid-century design to deliver class and glamour. Take a squizz at the White Strie glass, where glaze has been rolled over the surface for a textural effect. $1309; montauklightingco.com
COVER STORY Sure, winter is still a way off, but now is the time to think about how to dress your bed when it’s chilly. We love Aura Lifestyle’s ‘Maison Vintage’ collection of bedlinen, vintage-washed to enhance its natural beauty. These quilt covers come in a range of colours including (clockwise from top) Natural, Tobacco and Olive, with matching pillowcases and sheet sets sold separately. $229 for queen, $249 for king and $299 for super king; aurahome.com.au
DESIGN DELIGHT You won’t notice the intricate, almost transparent botanical beauty of the Vanishing Grandiflora cotton pillowcase while you’re sleeping, but when awake, it’ll be hard not to be transfixed by it! $99.95 for pair; sheridan.com.au
3 OF A KIND
Single-drawer bedsides
3
These clever sidekicks combine a handy display shelf with a nifty drawer: 1 Vivien bedside table in Storm, $549; westelm.com.au 2 Lykke oak night table in Ice Grey, $465; lifeinteriors.com.au 3 Ethnicraft ‘Oak Spindle’ bedside table, $530; curiousgrace.com.au
COMPILED BY VANESSA COLYER TAY
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OUT
higher love
Elevating the pool has upped the glamour Before they renovated, the owners of this Sydney garden had a few issues to tackle, mainly centred around their old and leaking pool. Landscape designer Hugh Burnett came to the rescue with a new design that’s been raised up to capture views. It now rocks a luxe tropical look any self-respecting resort would be happy with, care of light limestone pavers and water-cooling aqua mosaic tiles by Ezarri. Anyone for a dip? Turn the page to see more.
PHOTOGRAPHY BRIGID ARNOTT
tropical treat This backyard pool was overlooked and underutilised until it was raised up to capture Sydney city views and shielded from the neighbours with lush plantings and a chic set of umbrellas
WORDS CHRIS PEARSON PHOTOGRAPHY BRIGID ARNOTT
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On the fringe of the terrace are giant strelitzia and shell ginger underplanted with sedums and aloes. Duro limestone pool pavers from Eco Outdoor. Market umbrellas from Made In The Shade. Canvas deckchairs, Ici Et La. Gervasoni ceramic tables, Anibou.
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W
hy would the owners of this
garden in Sydney’s east pack their bags for Far North Queensland when they have their own tropical hideaway literally on their doorstep? As they recline on deckchairs under their resort-style umbrellas, seduced by the swish of palms and strelitzia in gentle sea breezes, they could be a world away from their weekday existence. But this inviting slice of the tropics is a far cry from the sight that greeted landscape designer Hugh Burnett when he first stepped into the backyard – a mere 300 metres from the ocean as the gull flies – in 2015. A fibreglass pool with a water slide sat unloved and unused, mainly because it offered little shade, was overlooked by neighbours, and subject to both harsh sun and roving eyes. Adding to its impracticality, the layout featured a sloping lawn between the house’s deck and pool, which limited its appeal as a play area for the owners’ children. Most seriously, the pool had started to leak, which prompted a call to a plumber and then a rethink of the entire garden.
“Our brief to Hugh was a resort-style swimming pool and spa, with tropical plants and succulents that didn’t require high maintenance and would thrive in our climate,” says the owner. She and her husband also wanted a pool and garden that felt inviting and private in what was previously a very exposed spot, together with a level lawn for her children to enjoy when not in the water. And both pool and spa had to soak up prime city views. Accordingly, Hugh designed an above-ground concrete pool to take in the cityscape, with a large seating area shaded by three fixed canvas umbrellas. “Along with the planting, the umbrellas provide privacy from neighbours overlooking the property,” he says. “They also offer generous shade and soften the outlook from the house.” Installers Outside Signatures added terracing to create a sizeable, flat lawn for the family, in drought-tolerant Matilda buffalo grass. “The new lawn tempers the heaviness of neighbouring buildings and hard surfaces,” says Hugh. The pool area’s light stone and cool colours perfectly suit the sunny site and Sydney’s climate. “We chose limestone for its light colour and large format, which works well with the big, open areas of paving,” Hugh says. “The stone adds a really clean look, but has enough texture to avoid looking too slick.” Meanwhile,
PLANT LIFE Hugh Burnett layered tropical plants and succulents chosen for their foliage contrasts and tolerance to heat, sandy soil and drought
Aeonium arboreum
Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Rubra’
Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’
Inside Out expert advice Landscape architect Hugh Burnett on why being in nature is a huge part of the way we live “A garden that triumphs in Australia is one designed with aspect, place and context in mind. Consideration of light and shade should be explored, and the importance of plantings and trees to soften a home and regulate weather extremes should not be underestimated. Ultimately, gardens should be places we live in and not just look at.”
Kalanchoe beharensis Tree aloes underplanted with Tri-colour star jasmine. OPPOSITE LEFT A giant strelitzia delivers tropical ambience in an instant. OPPOSITE RIGHT Looking towards a white-painted shed that discreetly houses the pool equipment.
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for the pool and its built-in adjacent spa, Hugh specified a Spanish glass mosaic tile in a calming, soft mix of light aquas and greens. “It’s a really cool and friendly look that sings with the light stone surround,” he explains. Sandy soil, salty sea air and the pool’s sunny aspect dictated the hardy plant selection. For shading and screening, Hugh wove existing stands of native Alexander palms (Archontophoenix alexandrae) and giant strelitzias (Strelitzia nicolai) into his scheme, supplementing the latter with more of the same species. Under their swaying fronds, he layered robust natives and exotics, such as red back ginger (Alpinia caerulea), Gymea lilies (Doryanthes excelsa), cycads, succulents such as aloes and crassulas, bromeliads (Alcantarea imperialis) and various groundcovers, including ice plants (Delosperma cooperi) and star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Tricolour’). “The owner had been collecting and propagating succulents with success over the years – they seemed to thrive in the sandy soils and exposed position,” says Hugh. Adding to the cherished specimens the owner brought to the garden (while also upping the foliage variety), a potted grass tree that she was gifted for her housewarming was planted below a clump of Alexander palms, 136 | INSIDE OUT
while two tree aloes (Aloe barberae) were introduced to frame the new stone stairs and create a striking, graphic form. The alluring result is a versatile garden used by all the family, all year. “I spend most of my time out by the pool, on a deckchair under an umbrella, reading a good book and having a nice cold drink,” says the owner. “We also spend time on the back deck of the house, having barbecues and looking over the garden from above.” And she likes to do some of the gardening herself, with a practical purpose: “Hugh has indulged me with a vegetable and herb patch on the north side.” But the tropical paradise at the rear of the property remains her prized spot. “I love the pool and spa, and the built-in resort umbrellas surrounded by the lush plants,” she says. From there she can take in that luxuriant layering of aloes, gingers and “tiny succulents that flower so beautifully and unexpectedly”. Unlike before, the garden now has a smooth flow and connects naturally with the house. Most importantly, the owners can enjoy it year round. So no more mid-winter escapes to Queensland; the suitcases are staying in the wardrobe, for the time being at least. See more of Hugh Burnett’s landscaping projects at hughburnett.com. The garden was installed by Outside Signatures; outsidesignatures.com.au
POOL TILES ARE EZARRI AQUA MOSAICS, EUROPE IMPORTS
Whichever way you look at it, the pool terrace is stunning. OPPOSITE A transplanted frangipani flanks the steps leading to the Matilda buffalo-turf lawn. Below it are Crassula ‘Blue Bird’ and an Imperial Bromeliad. The groundcovers spilling over the wall are trailing ice plant and Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’. In the background are Gymea lilies and sago palms.
“The new level lawn tempers the heaviness of neighbouring buildings and hard surfaces” HUGH BURNETT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
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I ’ V E A LWAYS WA NTE D. . .
A PIZZA OVEN There’s nothing quite like the genuine article when it comes to making pizza at home, and there are more options than you might think
pizza, a wood-fired oven can transform an outdoor space into an entertainer’s dream. If you’re looking to up your dinner party game or simply expand your outdoor living, this gourmet addition will give your home those prized Mediterranean vibes. Here’s what you need to know before you build:
1
size
It’s okay to get fired up about installing your pizza oven, but think about how you will use it. The amount of food you plan to cook will determine the size you need. If it will only be used sparingly, or for two people, a small oven – say, 60–80cm in diameter – will do. For a family of four to six, a medium-size oven will cook two to three standard pizzas at a time. Those planning to feed a big family or large groups of friends should consider an oven of 100–130cm in diameter. This will allow you to cook up to five pizzas at a time, along with a range of smaller sides. As a general rule, go for the biggest size that your space, and budget, will permit.
2
materials
Choosing the right material for your pizza oven will impact its efficiency and price. Cob, or clay, is the most costeffective material and is incredibly fuel-efficient; however, building a clay oven yourself can be tricky due to the risk of cracking if it’s not fired properly.
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Another popular choice is brick. Both fuel-efficient and relatively inexpensive, it can be rendered to ensure a smooth, Mediterranean-style aesthetic that will suit most homes. Natural stone is also an option, with similar qualities to brick but a higher price point. If you like the look of natural stone but not the hit on your budget, consider a stone facade with a less expensive material for the body. Steel is a sleek, low-maintenance choice that suits more contemporary dwellings. It also looks great when incorporated into an outdoor kitchen beside a gas barbecue.
you to the glorious Italian countryside without leaving your backyard. The chimney rises from the top, so the heat is more consistent and easier to maintain. Another great shape for a pizza oven is the barrel vault. This creates a larger baking chamber, making it a top choice if you want to use the oven for cooking anything other than pizza. A barrelvaulted oven may be slightly trickier to master, as the elongated shape means it is prone to hot and cold spots and needs regular monitoring – but that’s nothing a bit of practice can’t fix!
3
5
fuel
After authenticity? You can’t beat the instantly recognisable scent of a woodburning oven. With the added benefit of being freestanding and not beholden to utilities, the result is pretty much the ultimate at-home luxury. Contemporary gas or electric styles will work well in an indoor or enclosed kitchen and can also be hooked up to a gas bottle if you want to keep things outdoors. They are also easier to clean than charcoal-burning models. Alternatively, have the best of both worlds with a gas-assisted wood-fire oven!
4
shape
Now the focus shifts to ambience. If you want to create a villa-like feel, then a traditional dome shape (also known as the Tuscan or Pompeii style) will transport
placement
Do you like to entertain indoors all year round? Or spend most of your entertaining time outside? It doesn’t really matter, as long as the location of your oven is where you like to cook most, to guarantee its full potential. If you decide on an outdoor spot, make sure it meets your local council’s setback requirements (ie, the distance of the oven from a property line or a structure). Also, to maximise its use, consider a location that’s at least partially protected from the elements. Pizza ovens that are going indoors are ideally specified at the renovation stage, when the necessary additions can be applied without having to alter the existing kitchen too much. Indoor ovens are usually smaller to fit into the average kitchen, so keep that in mind. WORDS KATE HASSETT
PHOTOGRAPHY: NATALIE HUNFALVAY. IMAGE COURTESY OF HARRISON’S LANDSCAPING
N
ot just for dishing out homemade
1
size Families should think big
2
materials Let your budget decide
3
fuel Keep your options open
4
shape Dome or barrel vault?
ON THE MOVE?
5
placement Check council regulations
If you’re renting or just not interested in a permanent structure but still want the wow-factor of a pizza oven, consider a portable pizza oven. They are relatively low-cost (starting at around $150) and can be wheeled away when not in use.
more
Matt Preston’s latest cookbook, More, is an alluring volume of vegetarian and vegan recipes that promise to bring joy – with a handy meat index for when you’re feeling flexitarian. Here’s a sample of his Asian-style offerings...
please
MUSHROOM NED NED NOODLES MEATY ADDITION:
Halve the mushrooms to 200g and add 200g pan-fried beef mince to the mushroom mixture.
RECIPES MATT PRESTON PHOTOGRAPHY MARK ROPER FOOD STYLING LEE BLAYLOCK
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ONE-PAN BANGKOK PUMPKIN MEATY ADDITION:
Serve with baked white fish fillets as part of a shared meal.
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mushroom Ned Ned noodles
one-pan Bangkok pumpkin
SERVES 4 PREP 20 mins COOKING 15 mins
SERVES 6 as a side PREP 20 mins (plus cooling) COOKING 50 mins
Could it be that the Sichuan dish Dan Dan Noodles is named after bushranger Ned Kelly’s less-famous brother, who died at the siege of Glenrowan? After all, the gang had spent plenty of time along Woolshed Valley with the Chinese miners, smoking opium and generally playing up. So, isn’t it likely that they’d name a hard-hitting, heavyweight vegan version of this dish after Ned, who won the unofficial heavyweight championship of Victoria in a 20-round bareknuckle boxing fight with Isaiah ‘Wild’ Wright at Beechworth in August 1874? If, somehow, they didn’t, then I am sure they would approve and I feel justified in reimagining history.
When you wake with your Changover clawing at the blackboard walls inside your skull, this is the dish you will crave. It is the warm hug, soothing words and doona warmth that will put you back together again. Just quiet with the brittle please.
1 tbsp peanut oil 400g portobello mushrooms, finely chopped 2 spring onions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced 1 tbsp finely grated ginger 1 tbsp light soy sauce 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine 400g wheat noodles (your favourite, possibly ramen or udon) 1 bunch gai larn, cut lengthways into thirds, any thicker stems cut into 1cm-thick batons 80g (½ cup) roasted unsalted peanuts, very coarsely chopped, leaving some whole sesame seeds, to sprinkle SICHUAN CHILLI SAUCE
1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns 90g (1/3 cup) smooth peanut butter (unsweetened) 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tbsp Chinese-style chilli oil (such as chiu chow), plus a little extra for drizzling (optional) 60ml (¼ cup) light soy sauce 2 tbsp black vinegar 2 tsp sesame oil 2 tsp caster sugar 1 To make the Sichuan chilli sauce, toast the Sichuan peppercorns in a small frying pan over medium heat for 1 minute or until aromatic. Tip peppercorns into a mortar and grind with the pestle until they are finely crushed, then transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until well combined. 2 Heat the peanut oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat, add the mushrooms and cook, tossing, for 5—8 minutes or until dry and golden. Add the white part of the spring onions, the ginger, the soy sauce and Shaoxing rice wine and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and set aside. 3 Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes to separate them. Add the gai larn and cook for a further 1 minute. Drain, reserving about 80ml (1/3 cup) of the cooking liquid. 4 Add the hot cooking liquid to the chilli sauce to loosen it, then divide among serving bowls. Top with the noodles and the mushroom mixture followed by the gai larn. Sprinkle with the peanuts, the green part of the spring onions and a few sesame seeds. Drizzle over extra chilli oil if you like it hotter.
1.2kg Kent pumpkin, unpeeled, cut into 3cm-thick wedges 2 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil freshly ground black pepper ½ bunch coriander, leaves picked, stalks and roots cleaned and finely chopped 2cm knob of ginger, peeled, grated finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime 2 tbsps sweet chilli sauce 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 1 tbsp vegan ‘fish’ sauce ¼ bunch Thai basil ¼ bunch mint or Vietnamese mint lime wedges, to serve CHILLI PEANUT BRITTLE
100g (½ cup) caster sugar 60ml (¼ cup) glucose syrup 120g (¾ cup) roasted peanuts 10g butter 1 long red chilli, deseeded, chopped ½ tsp sea salt 1/8 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 Start by making the brittle. (The great part is, this will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks, if you don’t eat it first.) Line a large baking tray with baking paper and place on a wire rack. 2 Combine the sugar and 80ml (1/3 cup) of water in a saucepan over low heat and stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the glucose, then increase the heat to medium and bring to the boil. Boil, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 130°C on a candy thermometer. Stir in the peanuts and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 155°C. Remove from the heat. Add the butter, chilli and salt, then stir in the bicarbonate of soda until well combined. Pour onto the prepared tray and spread into a thin layer with a knife. Set aside to cool completely, then cut into large shards using a sharp knife. 3 Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line a baking tray with baking paper. 4 Place the pumpkin wedges on the prepared tray in a single layer and drizzle with half the peanut or vegetable oil. Season well and roast for 30 minutes or until tender. 5 Meanwhile, combine the coriander stalk and root, ginger, lime zest and juice, sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce or tamari, vegan ‘fish’ sauce and remaining oil in a bowl. 6 Remove the pumpkin from the oven and brush with the sweet chilli sauce mixture. Roast for a further 20 minutes or until the edges are nicely caramelised. 7 Break the brittle into small pieces. Place the pumpkin on a serving platter and crush over the brittle. Top with the basil, mint and coriander leaves and serve with loads of lime wedges.
CHEAT’S RAMEN WITH UDON MEATY ADDITION:
Replace the tofu with 2 thinly sliced poached chicken-breast fillets.
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cheat’s ramen with udon
miso–almond butter corn cake stack
SERVES 4 PREP 10 mins COOKING 20 mins
SERVES 4 PREP 30 mins COOKING 35 mins
Here is a vegan ramen that doesn’t skimp on the umami hit of a great ramen served in Shibuya or Shimokitazawa. #GoodTimes. I could tell you a long and rambling story about our search for the best ramen when George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and I were in Tokyo for MasterChef, but that might make us sound like wankers and I wouldn’t do that to the boys. BTW, ironically, the best ramen we had was somewhere no one has ever heard of. Perhaps because it has a name that not one of us can remember.
Whether for breakfast, brunch or a light supper, these crispy fritters are further proof that corn has a deep and abiding love affair with miso and butter. They are also the result of one of my regular collaborations with Delicious magazine food guru Phoebe Rose Wood for my column in that wonderful magazine.
1.5L vegetable stock 2cm knob of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 12 small dried shiitake mushrooms 2 spring onions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced 80g (¼ cup) white miso paste 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 2 tbsp mirin or mirin seasoning 300g fresh udon noodles 115g packet baby corn, halved lengthways and rinsed 1 bunch baby bok choy, halved lengthways 60g fried tofu puffs, sliced sesame oil and togarashi spice mix, to serve 1 nori sheet, thinly shredded with scissors, to serve 1 Place the stock, ginger, garlic, shiitake mushrooms and white part of the spring onions in a large saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavours to develop. Use tongs to remove all the flavourings except the mushrooms. 2 Add the miso, soy sauce or tamari, mirin and 375ml (1½ cups) of water to the stock mixture and bring to a simmer over low heat. Add the udon noodles and corn and cook for 5 minutes or until the noodles are almost ready. Add the bok choy and cook for 2 minutes or until the stems are just tender and the noodles are cooked through. 3 Divide the noodles among serving bowls. Use those tongs to transfer the bok choy to the bowls, along with the mushrooms and corn. Ladle over the hot stock mixture. Top with the fried tofu and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle with the togarashi and nori and serve.
READ MORE
More: More Recipes With More Veg For More Joy by Matt Preston is published by Plum, $39.99. Photography by Mark Roper. Available from all good bookstores.
4 eggs, 2 separated 4 corn cobs, husks and silks discarded, kernels removed (or 500g frozen corn, thawed) 125g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cumin 4 spring onions, white parts thinly sliced, green parts shredded 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked, stalks thinly sliced sea salt and freshly ground black pepper sunflower oil, for shallow-frying 2 avocados, sliced or mashed lime wedges and crème fraîche, to serve (optional) MISO–ALMOND BUTTER
1 tbsp caster sugar 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar 100g blanched almonds, toasted 80g (¼ cup) white miso paste 100g unsalted butter, at room temperature CHILLI CARAMEL
150g palm sugar, finely grated 1 tsp smoked paprika 6 long red chillies, deseeded and thinly sliced (use more if you like) 2 tsps rice wine vinegar 1 To make the miso–almond butter, place the sugar and vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, for 1—2 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved. Set aside to cool slightly, then transfer to a blender. Add the almonds, miso and butter and blitz until well combined. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. 2 To make the chilli caramel, place the palm sugar and 100ml of water in a small saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, without stirring, for 5 minutes or until reduced slightly. Stir in the paprika, chilli and vinegar and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes or until thickened slightly. Remove from the heat. 3 Take two bowls. Place two egg whites in one and set aside. Put the two egg yolks and the whole eggs in the other bowl and lightly beat with a fork. 4 Combine the corn kernels, flour, baking powder, cumin, white spring onions, coriander stalks, 2 teaspoons of salt and a pinch of pepper in a bowl. Add the beaten egg and mix well. 5 Use a balloon whisk to whisk the two egg whites just to soft peaks, then gently fold through the corn mixture. 6 Pour enough sunflower oil into a non-stick frying pan to come 1cm up the side and heat over medium heat. Working in batches, add ⅓ cup of batter for each corn cake to the pan and let it spread slightly, then cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through. 7 Serve the fritters as a stack sandwiched with the avocado and miso– almond butter. Drizzle over the chilli caramel and top with the coriander leaves and spring onion greens.
MISO–ALMOND BUTTER CORN CAKE STACK
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DESIGN DESTINATION
Sri Lanka
If you’re after incredible hotels in beautiful settings, Sri Lanka is the place to go. Inside Out visits three different coastal hot spots and finds some impressive tropical design inspiration WORDS ELIZA O’HARE
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sustainable design
Wild Coast Tented Lodge location Yala National Park The philosophy of luxury hotel group Resplendent Ceylon is
to start with an extraordinary location and build from there. Wild Coast Tented Lodge does that, fitting organically into its surroundings. The other two properties in the group are Ceylon Tea Trails, a series of bungalows set high in the tea plantations, and Cape Weligama, a luxury surf resort on the southern coast. Wild Coast is a raw experience that’s completely refined. It’s an unfenced glamping resort on semi-protected wetlands bumping up against Yala National Park, where wildlife roam among the tents and cranky elephants have been known to
BOTH PAGES The communal spaces at Wild Coast Tented Lodge are connected by shingled domes constructed to resemble real boulder formations on the property. That means the restaurant, bar and reception all blend into the landscape.
OUT | TRAVEL
design highlights + leather trunks + canvas chairs + industrial tapware + copper light switches
rampage down the unsealed roads terrorising jeeps. It’s wild but in a five-star way, says Malik Fernando, Resplendent Ceylon’s founder and managing director. This resort was designed by sustainable-architecture firm Nomadic Resorts, with interiors by award-winning Bo Reudler Studio. It’s a series of 36 Cocoon tents – some with private plunge pools, others with additional Urchin annexes where children can sleep – and the design has blown up Instagram with its next-level organic chic. The common areas of the lodge are the most extraordinary, appearing to be a group of intersecting boulders. Open to the elements, the soaring domes are bamboo structures covered with reclaimed teak shingles, with an organic free-form swimming pool linking the library, bar and restaurant, where bamboo light fittings strung like organ pipes light the dinner experience at night. A different vibe awaits you in the tents. An experience in expedition chic, the details are like a scene from Out Of Africa, with net-covered four-poster beds, custom copper taps over the free-standing handmade copper bathtubs, teak floors, canvas walls, and dark leather and repurposed metallic hardware. These guys are serious about striving for a zero-carbon footprint and have impressive eco-credentials, including solar power that covers 70 per cent of the resort’s needs; a desalination plant and greywater recycling system; shower water heated by the tent’s air-conditioning system; and wildlife-monitoring protocols, including a security detail to escort you around the property. The reason for such good care? This is one of the top spots to safari in Sri Lanka. Families of elephants, leopards, water buffalos, sloth bears, crocs, monkeys, peacocks, jackals, mongoose, deer and an extraordinary selection of bird species (including flamingo, stork and eagle) are on the visual menu, but the butterflies were the most striking; bringing a buzz to our open-air safari jeep were thousands-strong sky-herds of the fluttering pollinators. recommended
+ Don’t miss sundowners each evening by roaring fire pits on the boulders by the beach, with a rotating cocktail special. + There’s no swimming in the surf or walking unsupervised after dark. The leopards and crocodiles are real, people! + Safaris happen twice daily – do them both!
luxe surf villa THIS PAGE The five-star glamping at Wild Coast Lodge features safari-inspired interiors decorated with luxurious natural materials. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Cape Weligama’s chauffeur-driven buggies ferry guests across the 12ha property between two pools, two beaches,
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three restaurants and some incredible lookouts. Views to East Beach from the main dining room. Trade winds have sculpted the palm trees on the edge of the cliff. At West Beach, where the waves are as uncrowded as the sand. A private pool in one of the clifftop surf villas. Typical view from a guest bathroom.
Cape Weligama location Overlooking surf breaks on the Southern Coast Searching for the soft surf beaches of the Sri Lankan Riviera
will lead you to Cape Weligama, a resort that’s a collection of tropical loggias conjuring calm and Geoffrey Bawa-villa vibes but is, in fact, designed by Lek Bunnag. The villas lead out to sumptuous lawns and private or shared pools, which the local gang of peacocks likes to visit. The cat-call of the birds and their seductive full plumage just adds to the surreal exotic setting.
design highlights + dark plantation shutters + steam room + frangipani gardens + local earthenware and ceramics
OUT | TRAVEL
It’s a very sophisticated set-up; the rich materials in the villas feel traditional and local but the design and layout is undeniably international. The rooms are encased in dark wood plantation shutters that keep them dim and serene, inviting midday siestas. The marble floors are cool to the touch and there are surprising modern elements, such as steam rooms, in the huge bathrooms. And it’s just not cricket without a 24-hour, on-call butler, a choice of three swimming pools and a golf buggy to move between them, is it? As part of the Resplendent Ceylon group, the location is typically spectacular. Sets of swells peel out in each direction from the point that holds the main 18-metre infinity pool, where you can float, immersed, and see the sun rise from the ocean to the left and set into it again on the right. The surf itself is all warm frothy waves that feel aerated. Local fishermen still use the beaches for traditional stick fishing, while standing in the white-wash zone. And there’s no-one else around for miles. We enjoy fragrant midday curry in the Polo Bar and from that spot on the point we can admire East Beach and West Beach, with set after set of pristine waves rolling in, shared between a cluster of only three surfers. Three. Eating in Sri Lanka is worth the flight alone. And Cape Weligama has a traditional breakfast experience. Sri Lankan cooking uses lots of turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg, and coconut oil instead of ghee, which means it’s lighter and leaner but still spicy and fresh. It also means you can fit more in. But first; tea, and the theatrical display that is drawing the tea to aerate it. The more draws you request, the frothier your morning cup. Star of the breakfast show is a herb porridge called kola kanda – a soothing, warm green soup served over rice. The restorative, ph–neutral dish is prepared fresh daily. What follows is a range of delicious sugar buns, rice and curries, sambal, sweet pickle and bitter bites, and hoppers (delicate rice-flour crepes cooked in a round pan so that the egg inside is cupped and able to hold all manner of delicious extras). All of it is served in handcrafted clay earthenware that is available to buy when you take the hotel’s bike tour through the local villages between swims.
colonial heritage
Amangalla, Galle Fort location A 16th-century fort south of Colombo
Amangalla is a colonial dream, a 300-year-old historic building inside a World Heritage site. The property has passed through Portuguese, Dutch and British ownership, and is now part of the revered Aman hotel group. Fort Galle illuminates the Sri Lankan journey; colonialism, spices, gemstones, ivory, Chinese traders and Moorish settlers all merge in this romantic melting pot. In Amangalla’s grand foyer, we are first offered cool cloths to cleanse our hands before being assigned to Hasanth, who will be our personal butler for our stay. His first task is to give us a tour of the hotel and its grounds. Staying in a hotel like Amangalla means expectations are high. It’s like stepping into an Agatha Christie film, the details are that perfect. There are soaring ceilings and sweeping traditional fans; original, dark, polished jackwood floors underfoot; four-poster beds; freestanding baths; and charming shuttered glass doors that open onto a private verandah where ancient, gnarled frangipani trunks make it feel like an exquisite treehouse. The floor tiles are original, the beams are exposed, the chairs are wicker and rattan, and through the windows are crumbling churches and rooftops to the sea. Three pineapples share an antique serving bowl on a dark polished armoire and I am besotted – it’s so perfectly colonial. The meticulous restoration of the hotel included building new stone-walled hydrotherapy rooms, a day spa and yoga pavilion, and an enormous shaded pool with private cabanas tiled with the most exquisite moss-green mosaics I’ve ever seen. Outside the hotel, in the streets of the fort, it’s bustling calmly, probably because of the shimmering heat. And we see tuk tuks, the lighthouse and maritime museum, crumbling row houses, and a church of some kind on nearly every corner. Our mission for the day we are here is the serious task of buying gemstones. It takes up our last few hours, but the result is a beautiful red garnet to take home, an exotic forever souvenir of Sri Lanka and the spectacular fort. shop the fort Here’s our pick of Galle’s design sources: KK The Collection, 71 Pedlar Street, for beautiful furniture,
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Standing on the southern fortification of Fort Galle is this lighthouse, a top spot at sunset. The original gateway now allows access to people on foot and in colourful tuk tuks. A soaring ancient fig tree shading the public square outside Galle Fort’s working courthouse. The imposing exterior of Amangalla feels like it’s straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Sumptuous
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modern poolside cabanas at the hotel feature outdoor fans and poolside service all day long. A sari-clad welcome party on the main verandah. The bathrooms are an Instagrammer’s dream, with deep, freestanding tubs. Amangalla is an afternoon-tea institution; scones and tea, presided over by a tea sommelier, are served on white linen. Four-poster beds are part of the hotel’s original charm.
decorative lamps and cushions Barefoot, 41 Pedlar Street, a department store selling gorgeous rough-hewn linens and high-end fabric Laksana, 10 Church Street, for a range of Sri Lankan gemstones (as recommended by Aman)
travel notes
* Sri Lanka has always been accessible from Australia via a stopover to connect to Colombo, but new daily non-stop flights from Melbourne now fly direct to Colombo, which reduces the travel time by hours. * The first stretch of the long-awaited Southern Expressway opened last year, making the Colombo to Galle car trip one hour instead of three. Its completion will open up the hard-to-reach West Coast.
design highlights + moss-green pool tiles + outdoor fans in the pool’s cabana
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LAST WORD
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Check in for a heightened experience An overexposure to artificial environments is called Nature Deficit Disorder, a modern malady that meditation guru Gary Gorrow hopes to combat at SOMA, his new retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland. The property’s geodesic meditation dome was inspired by the work of visionary architect Buckminster Fuller. “I wanted to create a sacred place where people could practice meditation and yoga in the midst of the natural world,” says Gary. Think of it as advanced ‘forest bathing’. somabyron.com.au
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WORDS ELIZA O’HARE PHOTOGRAPHY ROMELLO PEREIRA
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