Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Inside Out

If you’re reading this issue of Inside Out, I can already tell you’re the optimistic type. Welcome! Optimism is such an important part of this magazine because it’s our absolute belief that you can transform any home, and that we all have the power to make our space exactly the way we want it to be. But it’s not only the space we live in that we want to be the best – let’s be real – it’s the profit margin. Our homes are usually the biggest investments of our lives, so while making yours more beautiful makes for more enjoyment while you’re living there, it also adds value and grows your investment for when you’re ready to move on. This issue, we have great ideas for doing both. Our…

FRESH ANGLE Never underestimate the power of bold colour in unexpected places. Wake up a tired room by splashing a trendy hue across the walls in the form of an artwork or a new paint colour, and create contrast by painting the door frames, skirting boards or moulding black to give the space a graphic feel, or paint those finer details in a darker shade of the same colour for a zesty take on the monochrome trend. Design note Interior by Hours Clear Architects, Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriël du Toit. QUIET REFLECTION A large mirror propped up against a wall or hung above a mantel can make a world of difference to a small or dark area. The reflection of the room will make your space feel significantly bigger,…

“We wanted an open and airy feel with a lot of textured elements” ANDREW, HOMEOWNER When long-time Sydney resident Andrew and US expat Kim decided it was time to buy a home together in the Harbour City, their sights were set on bohemian inner-city suburbs such as Surry Hills. But then fate struck. “Kim happened to be driving to Bondi Beach for the first time in her life,” recalls Andrew. “She got lost and ended up parking on this street, near the southern end of the beach.” Kim was instantly smitten with the area’s hotchpotch of architectural styles and lush foliage – and she and Andrew soon recalibrated their property search. “We knew we wanted to be at Bondi Beach, on this very street,” says Andrew. Shortly afterwards, the pair…

Who lives here Victoria, a writer and editor; her husband Rick; their teenage sons, Sam and Charlie; and oodle Otto. Style of home A California bungalow on Sydney’s lower north shore, renovated in 2019 to become a four-bedroom home with two-plus bathrooms. The design phase was nine months and the build lasted 10 months. …

With breathtaking views of the ocean to the east and an expansive aspect that extends west to the Blue Mountains, it’s not a stretch to imagine why the King family felt immediately drawn to what was then a rundown eastern-Sydney California bungalow in desperate need of a new life. In late 2015, as fate would have it, driving their eldest child Charlie to a friend’s birthday party in the same street would prove decisive. Pulling up outside the property that day left a lasting effect that neither Kirsten nor her husband Matt (known to everyone as ‘Kingy’) were expecting. “Having loosely spoken about raising the kids closer to the ocean, the timing felt right,” says Kirsten. “It sounds really corny, but we both just looked at each other and said,…

+ Steel frames “The steel windows and doors give a great sense of openness and scale to the house,” says Kristy. + Booth seat “This is fantastic. It’s like a second living space for us. The kids can lie on it and read a book or just chill out there. It’s a really lovely breakout space. + Pendant lights “We wiped out all the original downlights and added interesting pendants throughout, to create atmosphere. I especially love the Lambert & Fils lighting fixture over our dining table.” + Family bathroom “It has a big skylight over the bath that funnels light down so it feels like a bit of a sanctuary.”…

Horizontal sliding These windows are built to slide open horizontally. They feature two or more sashes and are great for ventilation. Bifold Classic bifolds are usually made from two or more panels that fold onto themselves. They provide a solution to indoor/outdoor living in the warmer months. Louvre Made from either glass, aluminium or timber, with a series of blades that tilt to open via a handle, lever or remote. Skylight Where access is limited or windows are a no-go, a skylight can provide a much-needed source of natural light. Casement window Hinged at the sides and opening outward, casement windows are usually installed with flyscreens on the inside to provide a great mozzie-free breeze. Awning window Hinged at the top and opening outwards, this classic variety comes in a vast…

The exterior of your home is the first thing people see, so you really want it to make an impact. “Cladding is simply the non-structural skin of your home, and there’s an abundance of options to choose from,” says Kirsten Johnstone, director at Melbourne’s Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. “A great cladding choice will elevate your facade to a uniquely considered design feature that can set your home apart from your neighbours.” You can add natural warmth with timber or brick cladding; a classic touch with weatherboards; or a chic, textured profile with Colorbond steel. You can mimic the look of concrete or stone with fibre cement; or even introduce a touch of bling with a metallic such as copper. Some varieties of cladding offer more than just good looks. Timber screens,…

Does the cladding suit my home’s location and aesthetic? How will it integrate with the rest of the house? Is it easy to maintain? A must to consider well before installation day. What are its environmental impacts? Is the cladding sourced locally? Is it a natural product or manmade? Is it recyclable? How will the colour affect my home’s energy efficiency? Lighter colours tend to lessen the heat load. In a warmer climate, this will reduce how hot your home becomes, particularly on sides facing the sun.…

Q&A When writer and food-literacy advocate Alice Zaslavsky tells us to eat our greens, we listen! Why should people embrace a vegetable-led food philosophy? Leading with veg gives you more bang for your buck, makes for more interesting meals and treads lighter on the planet. What is the most exciting aspect of cooking with vegetables? You’ll notice I haven’t even mentioned the health benefits of eating more veg, because that is often the last thing that’ll change people’s minds, particularly if they’ve had boring, bland vegetables growing up. But here’s the thing: once you start looking for ways to make vegetables taste their best, the zippy feeling that comes with eating more of them is so undeniable that you’ll naturally find yourself eating more and more! Please share your top…

Celebrating the simple moments spent surrounded by family and friends in a place of one’s own was the inspiration behind Sage x Clare’s soulful new homewares collection. The uplifting designs of Alegria feature all the cosy comforts we’ve come to know and love from the boho brand. Think everything from textured throws and deliciously soft cushions to luxe rugs and beautiful bed linen – all in the signature nostalgic colour palette and retro-style patterns. sageandclare.com…

How did you end up in Australia? I grew up in a small town in the middle of the UK; my mum had the local lolly shop, which was in the front room of our house. When I was six I watched a 1970s movie called Dot And The Kangaroo and had an awesome primary-school teacher on an exchange from Australia. I remember thinking, “I’m going to live there one day”, and I can honestly say it’s a dream come true. I wake up every morning grateful to be here. I love it – the people, the attitudes, the beautiful surroundings – it’s amazing. I became a citizen as soon as I could. You are increasing Australian-made product at Freedom — why is that important? The shift from Australian manufacturing…

REDFOX & WILCOX, MELBOURNE A beautiful Modernist thread runs through the furniture that Nicola Grey and Tara Wilcox produce in their Melbourne workshop. Working mostly with timber and metal – Tara is the welder – they construct everything from shapely consoles to kitchen stools that stand on slim steel legs. “Custom furniture connects its owners to the people who made it,” says Nicola. “We feel that connection, and hope our customers do too when they take home these pieces.” Every Redfox & Wilcox piece is made to order and that means the customisation process runs deep. “We talk timber tones and grains with our customers, so we understand exactly what sort of finish they’re after,” says Tara. “Everything is made by us and sourced as close to our workshop as…

“As we went through the design and build processes with Fox Johnston, we had some friends tell us we were crazy to include a whole side of copper, but we stuck with it. Now, it’s one of the first features that people are drawn to.”…

The term ‘dream home’ gets bandied around a lot, but it’s fair to say that Paul and Jane Fielding have created just that in the Victorian coastal town of Torquay. For starters, Paul has strong sentimental ties to the suburb, having holidayed there with his family from a young age, and Jane’s two teenaged sons, Max and Noah, are keen surfers. “Paul already owned a small holiday unit in what’s known as Old Torquay, and when the vacant block of land beside it came up for sale, we snapped it up to build our ideal home,” says Jane. The couple envisaged a house big enough to entertain a crowd, with private areas to give Max and Noah a sense of space and freedom, along with shared communal zones for the…

RIGHT PAINT “I had a Dulux colour consultant come out to help me navigate the world of whites. I was worried about choosing the right one. I learnt about the way light reflects off white, and just how many different whites there are.” WRONG SEALER “We definitely chose the wrong sealer for our concrete floor. We went with a water-based penetrative matt sealer and, not long after we moved in, marks were settling into the concrete and it was staining quite quickly. So after six months, we repolished the concrete floors and added a lithium-based hardener and a lithium-based sealer with a semi-gloss top=coat finish that’s a lot more stain-resistant and better suited to our home’s high-traffic areas.” CHOICE ITEMS “We learnt not to be too ambitious overall and picked…

Some of the smallest changes can make the biggest differences, and none are more evident than those in our homes. Considering we’re all spending a bit more time cooped up inside these days, it’s the little things that matter. A big renovation isn’t always on the cards for us homeowners, so we need to think of smarter ways to transform our spaces without breaking the bank. Let’s have a look at how to get the biggest bang from the smallest of renovation budgets. 1 living Netflix and Stan were among the hardest of workers in 2020. During the god-awful stage of never-ending lockdown, the couch was definitely the best space to isolate. That being said, the living-area aesthetic soon grew weary, and we were all suddenly in need of them…

Timber A beautiful material that suits most locations and architectural styles, but needs some care. Avoid in areas prone to bush fires and termites. Steel Metal finishes are durable, low-maintenance and come in different colours and profiles. Steel is durable and suits most environments. Brick/masonry Brick cladding can be built as a veneer with a timber-frame structure or as a double-brick wall. Bricks are durable and provide good sound insulation, and can reference Victorian, Edwardian and industrial styles. Fibre cement Affordable and relatively low-maintenance, with plenty of choice in colour and profile. Natural stone Stone can really ‘ground’ a building. Slate shingles and bluestone are two common options in Melbourne, but they can be costly to install. Stone-look vinyl This is an affordable alternative to natural stone. Technology has come a…

BENCH MARK As an alternative to a marble slab for an island top or backsplash, Maximum ‘Argento’ porcelain panels from Artedomus can’t be beaten. Hardy, UV-resistant and in more than 60 colours, each standard 320cm x 150cm panel is also light (from 15kg per sq m). POA; artedomus.com check, mate With a woven gingham-linen upper, a black cotton-canvas backing and a linen carry bag to cart it around in, the Le Weekend ‘Classic Gingham’ picnic rug, $179.95, is ideal for any sort of outing.leweekend.com.au hot shot Classic good looks and elite features, such as the five-burner gas cooktop and 140L oven, make the Fisher & Paykel OR90SCG6B1 cooker ideal for entertaining. $5999; fisherpaykel. com/au wipe out Your washing-up will be spick, span and very dry with the 100% Organic cotton waffle tea towels…

Would you believe you’re looking at a garden smack-bang in the middle of Sydney’s hustle and bustle? It’s an apartment building’s rooftop, which has been fully greened by landscape designer Richard Unsworth of Garden Life. Five years after he ‘broke ground’ and fashioned a veritable Eden of alluring plantings, his clients are delighting in the mature mix of agave, bromeliad, Chinese juniper and lots of other large-scale lovelies. Turn the page to see more.…

little national hotel, sydney The dawn of the micro hotel room has changed everything. Sitting above the Clarence Street entrance to Wynyard Station in Sydney’s CBD, the small-by-previous-standards rooms at Little National Hotel are packed with minimalist design features by Bates Smart. They give the rooms a stripped-back Japanese feeling that conveys serenity and sustainability at the same time. It is incredibly luxurious to give this much space to a huge bed in such a small room, but it makes for a surprisingly comforting proportion. The super-king mattresses by AH Beard butt up to expansive windows, giving a close-up of the skyline, while remote-controlled blackout curtains will shield the sparkling skyscrapers of Barangaroo if you so desire. There are 230 of these sweet little rooms at Little National Hotel. As…

Well-known for her designer clothing, Lee Mathews knows a thing or two about natural luxury and her LM Homewares range of tableware and glassware epitomises that. Supplying textural warmth in lovely autumnal shades, the Japanese linen table runner, $59, and napkins, $49 for two, come in Berry (seen here), Natural and Oak. The handmade glassware in Pink, Sand and Sepia Brown, produced in conjunction with R+D Lab, includes the Acqua drinking glasses, $139 for two, Vino drinking glasses, $125 for two, and Luisa Bonne Nuit carafe, $209. leemathews.com.au…

SLING LOW RARE CHAIRS The raw, pared-back aesthetic of these sling chairs may bring architectural minimalism poolside, but Ferm Living also designed them to work indoors just as seamlessly. The Desert chairs by Ferm Living, $609 each, use 100-per-cent recycled polyester fabric, too. DESIGNSTUFF.COM.AU EARTH ANGELS cushions with kick These sweet cushions by Adelaide interior designer Andrea Higgs of Olio Interiors draw on motifs of (from top) the earth, moon and sun, using natural fibre cotton printed with water-based pigment inks that are non-toxic and solvent-free. 50cm x 50cm size, $150 each ($170 with feather insert). OLIOINTERIORS.COM.AU STATIONERY ADDICTS OFFICE BASICS Not just the family jewels, Cartier’s new range of everyday objects includes these dream Panthère de Cartier stationery pieces. (From left) A5 notebook, $365; porcelain pencil holder, $980; cards,…

Armed with design knowledge from her years on Inside Out, former editor Victoria Baker took to renovating her tired Sydney home. With the help of a cleverly assembled team, she and her family have transformed the four-bedder by creating calm, contemporary spaces that now fully engage with the lush surroundings. This sitting area and its doors to the side path, a vision of natural light and Dulux Natural White, exemplify the refresh. See page 62 for more details.…

“NATURAL LIGHT WAS A BIT LACKING, SO WE ADDED SEVEN NEW SKYLIGHTS AND WINDOWS TO CAPTURE MORE” VICTORIA BAKER, HOMEOWNER The ‘lessons learnt’ section was always my favourite part of the house stories I wrote and edited for Inside Out. I love collecting information, and knew all the practical advice I’d acquired would carry me through our renovation without fuss – no variations, no time extensions, no setbacks. Ahem. Right there lies the optimism of a first-time renovator… Our family had lived in our California bungalow on Sydney’s north shore for 10 years, and we felt lucky to be able to think about an update. The 1990s finishes were reaching the end of their natural life, and I was hoping to reach the end of my time sharing a bathroom…

Who lives here Jane Fielding, a cosmetic nurse and co-owner of Platinum Cosmetics; her husband Paul, a corporate advisor; and Jane’s two sons: Max, 19, and Noah, 17. Style of home A contemporary new build in Torquay, Victoria, with just the right balance of entertaining space and private living areas for the family’s needs. Planning took six months before the building work began in November 2017. The family moved in at the end of June 2019. The build and fit-out came in at $2.9 million, including landscaping.…

Windows are the architectural feature that you are almost meant not to see. Designed to let in light and to highlight a view, they connect a home’s interior with the world outside. Whether subtle and discrete or a statement piece, they are the key to making the most of a home’s natural light, allowing the resulting ambience to be softer, more welcoming and even cooler or warmer, depending on your location and the season. There are so many different types of windows to choose from, but before you get your heart set on a particular design, start with your local building regulations, says Sydney architect Jonathan Spicer of Spicer Architecture, because that will determine the material best suited to your location. If you are anywhere near bushland, it’s important to…

Create a moodboard This will help you to visualise exactly how you want the exterior to look. Include samples of cladding, the window-frame material, bricks and roofing, plus colour swatches and pieces of stone that could be used as a path or feature wall. Get an overview See how the elements work together. Also consider how much upkeep each of the individual materials will require. Consider your neighbourhood Take into account the colours and finishes of neighbouring homes. In your design, consider using elements from other iconic houses in the area.…

VOILÀ VOLA! Only one thing is better than having a Vola 5471R-061 stainless-steel thermostatic mixer set, with shower, diverter and handshower in Matt Black. That’s having two of them, like this. $6600 each; en.vola.com SKIN TREAT Gently remove make-up or give skin a soothing boost with Micellar Cleansing Water, a blend of chamomile, calendula and white tea. $36 for 200ml; minenssey.com laundry date Turn the humdrum into a highlight with One Seed’s Laundrette Intro Kit, $109. You get Detox For Socks & Smalls (200ml), Sleepy Sheets pillow mist (100ml) and Laundry Drops (15ml). oneseedperfumes.com hand mayde Spoiling yourself in the bathroom isn’t just about soaking in the tub. Dry yourself in luxury, too, with Mayde’s range of Turkish Buldan cotton towels: (from left) Crescent hand-loomed towel in Dusty Pink, $119.95;…

From little things, big things do indeed grow – especially with time added to a fertile mix. While confined to a rooftop, this garden in Sydney’s inner west embraces bold scale and grand gestures, features which only come with maturity, not the awkwardness of youth. Having celebrated its fifth birthday in 2020, it strides into a confident adulthood. “Like a good wine or cheese, a garden takes three to five years to mature,” says its creator, Richard Unsworth of Garden Life. And his palette of lush, layered foliage has made the 150-square-metre space its own. “The cloud trees, stately and sculptural, are now thick and billowy shapes, with more gravitas,” he says, “while the juniper hedge is much fuller, having grown in size and fully inhabiting the space where we…