Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#21.3 2018 i Home Design

When looking for a house by the water, you expect it to have a spectacular view, and this stunning shore-front mansion delivers on this expectation. With each room gifted an uninterrupted ocean outlook, the home’s new design was sure to please its Queensland owners. In their brief to building designer Chris Clout from Chris Clout Design, the homeowners wanted a light, beachy home they could retire to, one that was protected from strong winds and would stand the test of time on a sand dune. “This is one of the best blocks of land in Queensland,” says Chris. “It needed an equally good design to take advantage of this. When you’re in the house you’ll know why; it’s all about the view and that ocean connection from every room.” Chris…

THE FAMILY’S MAIN OBJECTIVE WAS TO CREATE A RETREAT THAT WORKED BEAUTIFULLY WITH SPACE AND LIGHT This Surry Hills renovation is an example of a truly spectacular family affair that involved parents and two of their four children in what would transform a tired apartment into a sophisticated inner-city oasis. The original apartment was an ageing two-bedder, two-bathroomer that was somehow managing to hold its ground in a prestigious city apartment complex. At around 20 years old, its interior was lacking in modernity and was in need of a serious upgrade. The plan for this space was for it to eventually provide a contemporary home for 20-somethings — modern, sophisticated and functional, with a serving of luxurious elements that would enhance the quality of life for it busy young inhabitants.…

When this young family of four decided to update their 1960s brick home, their brief to builder Nick O’Shea was to take inspiration from The Little House on the Prairie series but with a modern approach — particularly the pared-back, clutter-free look with well-designed furniture and superior natural light from open spaces. All of these features contributed to a dramatic about-face for their now beautiful home in Brisbane’s suburb of Wilston. Together, O’Shea & Sons Builders and its clients aimed to create a home that sat quietly and sympathetically on the land. “The clients were looking for a reputable builder who could understand their needs and deliver on their expectations,” says Nick. “This was to be their ‘forever’ home and it had also been a decade in the making.” Ample…

Designed by the homeowner, this bathroom is a dream come true. Formerly a small, cramped, old-fashioned space placed next to the original kitchen, the bathroom was moved to a different location when the home was renovated. Functionality and practicality are important to the homeowner, so a double vanity and twin towel rails were chosen to allow the space to be utilised by multiple users. A large walk-in shower was incorporated into the design to eliminate the need to open and close doors, and the bath was placed next to low windows to take advantage of the gorgeous view. The homeowner opted for a modern black, white and grey palette, and chose black marble for the benchtop to give the space a touch of opulence while also creating a contrast to…

Kate St James, FDIA Kate is the former editor-in-chief of Home Design and Grand Designs Australia magazines. An interior designer by trade, Kate is the co-founder of interior design company, St James Whitting. stjameswhitting.com The colours we choose for our living environments can influence the way we feel. While black may be your favourite choice in clothing, it may not be such a good choice for your interiors. Creating a dynamic colour scheme can take your interiors from drab to fab. Colour affects us in more ways than we realise. It stimulates the brain and can affect our behaviour and mood, as well as influence perceptions that are not obvious, such as the taste of food. We each react differently to colours, which says much about our personalities and hence…

Landscape design is all about making a space more usable and, of course, more beautiful in the process and there’s no doubt this property in Bardwell Valley, NSW required more than a little TLC. “When the homeowners first walked into their finished garden, they said it was the first time they’d seen the new extension from the rear of their house as they’d been too scared to enter the garden before,” recalls Kevin Quelch, landscape designer and owner of inovasis design. Due to the steep slope of the property, the rain run-off from the house and driveway presented a major issue, flooding the garden and turning it into a “dangerous, weedinfested bog”. Often nature itself provides the best solution to a problem and here was no exception — with a…

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP Designed by Koichi Takada Architects, the East Village Marketplace in Sydney has been created to let nature in and express its organic beauty. East Village combines the best elements of a marketplace with the design sophistication of a modern retail centre. It’s just 3km from the Sydney CBD in a safe, convenient environment and with more than 690 on-site parking bays. INSTAGRAM-WORTHY OFFICE DIGS If you thought your office’s upgraded cappuccino maker was neat, prepare yourself for this castle of wonders. The Stella Collective has finished its first office fit-out in the prestigious 259 George St building in Sydney. Designed to resemble a luxury penthouse, the space makes an impact featuring a neutral colour palette, pale oak floors, rugs, luxurious sofas and pot plants. It’s stylish,…

Drawing from her history, her heritage and her surroundings, Nicole Monks creates profound designs that speak volumes of past, present and future. Nicole is a designer and an artist. She grew up on building sites, inspired by her father’s building prowess, and her mother’s great creative flair. These factors lead her to learn from a young age about the value of accomplishment, teamwork and the expression of self through the spaces we create and inhabit. After a journey that led her through fashion, built environments and interior retail design, Nicole arrived at a place of union, with all of her experiences blending together. But if her experience is the colour to her designs, her heritage is the glue. Nicole is strongly driven by her Aboriginal background, and after what she…

Black furniture and moody artwork, with hints of timber, plush velvet and linen fabrics, set the tone and soften the look for a cosy space you’ll never want to leave. Fiona Michelon Fiona is a Sydney-based interiors and product stylist. The Australian director at Press Loft, Fiona works closely with leading interiors brands…

“Once you enter the house, the ceiling rises and space becomes tighter as you walk down the existing hallway. At the end of the hallway the new addition grabs you and the space opens up, the ceiling height soars and the garden flows into the house”– Alex Porebski The original Californian bungalow, circa 1940s, embodied a style of architecture that valued exquisite craftsmanship, so when it came time to renovate this property, the essence of the original home was retained where possible. With a wish list from the owners that included an open plan, plenty of light and lots of architectural style, architect Alex Porebski got to work, eventually delivering a finished product that belies the modest budget. The home is light-filled, warm and welcoming, with ample living spaces that…

For this family of five, creating a home where they could create many memories to come was of utmost importance. But they didn’t want to just do it anywhere. Location was key, and luckily for Steven, his wife and their three young boys, all under the age of six, this magnificent plot in Sydney’s north provided something to write home about. At first glance, this site wasn’t exactly ideal. It features steep bushland, lots of rock ledges and a 12-metre crossfall over the build area, which means water and gradient issues. But, as it turns out, these limitations also gave the home something a little bit special and the homeowners wanted to use this as a springboard to work from. “The uniqueness of this project was to create a design…

What service does your company provide? We are a small family building company specifically concentrating on making a difference to people’s lives. Our focus is on improving our communities by designing, building and decorating homes based on purpose and values and engaging contractors and suppliers who share our vision. How and why did you get into the design/building industry? Initially my interest in the building industry started long ago when my husband was a mere 19-year-old undertaking a carpentry apprenticeship. I was there helping with the college assignments and advanced studies. Back then women didn’t really pursue a career in the building industry. I had a successful career in government as I advanced from an administration officer right through to executive. Then out of the blue I had an “a-ha…

we love THE MODERN SCANDINAVIAN FEEL OF THIS KITCHEN Wanting to renovate their vintage 1976 kitchen (which was previously given a now severely outdated 1980s update), the homeowners requested a modern, minimalist design that felt lively. The previous U-shaped kitchen featured a very high breakfast bar on one side of the space, which blocked the flow through to the rest of the living area. The homeowners requested to keep the previous space’s existing plumbing and electrical points, but update the design to open up the space and increase its functionality. In order to achieve this, an island bench-cum-breakfast bar was built into the new kitchen, which opens up the space and allows multiple entry points into the kitchen. The island bench was strategically placed directly in front of the glass…

Doors, windows and skylights can let in light and cooling air, but they also keep out unwanted intruders and pests. So while aesthetics play a big role when selecting your doors and windows, they serve important functions in many other respects too. WINDOWS — GO WITH THE FLOW No matter what style of windows you choose, their placement can capture cooling breezes, allow free flow of air throughout the home, invite in natural light, and capture views beyond the home’s interior. Where to place windows is an important consideration. When positioned in the right spot they can help you make the most of prevailing breezes and enhance cross ventilation. They’ll also help to maximise views of the garden, poolside, play zones, and other areas that are aesthetically pleasing. Of course,…

HANDPICKED WINES CELLAR DOOR, SYDNEY Occupying the shell of a heritage brick warehouse in the evolving Kensington St neighbourhood in Chippendale, Handpicked Wines Cellar Door is a welcoming space that communicates the breadth, passion and diversity of this non-traditional winemaker. The urban cellar door with wine bar and experiential wine room for functions and tutorials was developed by DesignOffice and anchored by a new central timber screen wall. Comprised of solid oak fins, this element defines the volume and accommodates the retail wine display, creating a warm, rhythmic backdrop to the central wine tasting counters. With a palette that emphasises natural, raw and tactile materials, the space is swathed in brick and punctuated by concrete columns and new timber floors. Solid oak, granite, linoleum and a touch of galvanised steel…

we love THE POP OF RED THAT OFFSETS THE MOODY BLUE When this family made the move home to London after a stint in New York, they returned to a worn and weathered — but full of potential — Victorian home in Hampstead. Pregnant and about to pop, designer Tamzin Greenhill was sporting a super-chilled mum vibe with this renovation. And as fate would have it, her daughter decided to arrive on the exact day the builders moved in to start work on this project. Luckily, Tamzin had been preparing for this meticulously. “The project took seven months from start to finish, which is pretty quick,” she explains. “I was there every day pushing the job along. However, we spent months before on designs and plotting how we were going…

we love THE INVITING FACADE THAT HAS CURB APPEAL Nino Sanzari and Jon Vithoulka from Starr Constructions routinely turn out swoon-worthy, modern spaces. Their latest project, a four-bedroom family home, features a minimalist style that focuses on structural simplicity. Filled with everything from timber furnishings to neutral hues, it achieves a striking balance we can’t get enough of. The company set out to craft a dream home that married form and function, style and efficiency — and most of all, a home that was built to last. The result is an effortlessly fresh retreat ideal for entertaining. “Inspiration for the design came from looking at other homes in and around the area which Starr had previously completed for other clients, as well as incorporating our own unique style and finishes,”…

The kitchen is the heart of the family home, a place to gather with friends and family, to share, to connect and to relax. Modern kitchens have evolved to meet the everchanging needs of families; many are big, warm and welcoming, with lots of storage and ample room. Others are sleek and modern, with state-of-the-art appliances where couples can host intimate dinner parties and relax on weekends. Some kitchens are purely functional, where homeowners perch on a bar stool waiting for the ping of the microwave while they grab a quick bite before zooming out the door again. No matter what style of cooking space you have, one thing is certain. Contemporary kitchens are far more integrated into the fabric of the family home than they were decades ago. A…

When you think granny flat, chances are you picture a hastily put-together shack crammed into the back of a block. It’s small and square; perhaps there’s a kitchen tucked away into a corner, and by “kitchen” we mean a microwave oven and a sink, which also doubles as the one you wash your hands in after using the toilet. Thankfully, times have changed. A granny flat is no longer a dated eyesore in your yard that takes up space. The modern-day granny flat is a studio, a cabana, a haven — it’s whatever you want it to be and more. Whether you’re after a home office, a yoga retreat or a man cave, a backyard studio can be a fabulous addition to your home that not only increases your property’s…

The very first thing that visitors to your home will notice is the front door. The right front door can make a design statement, create a warm and welcoming entry and even be a focal point of your home. There is a diverse array of front door styles and materials to match glass, timber, composite products, metal and more. When choosing a front door, it’s important to get the scale and size right, and to factor in issues like privacy and, of course, security. Front doors are also exposed to the elements so durability and finish are key — don’t scrimp on quality. Smart front door shopping is all about keeping your style in mind and balancing that with other elements so you’ll have a product that will not only…

In its infancy decades ago, the idea of home automation gave rise to such concepts as automated garage doors, sensor-driven security lighting, and integrated automatic sprinkler systems. Then there was the gradual proliferation of automated blinds, audiovisual equipment and security systems. But the next generation of home technology has blasted the ideology of smart living into the stratosphere. It’s more streamlined, more intelligent and more integrated. Surprisingly, it’s also much simpler to navigate. New technology is all about automated devices that are not only functional; some are pro-active, cleverly anticipating a user’s needs. They can be operated via a touch-screen device like a smart phone or tablet or control panel, or can be controlled via voice command. Many modern smart home devices are barely there, or even completely hidden. Others…