Tabla de contenidos para February 2017 en Inside Out

We’re an active lot. According to some recent stats, roughly 8.4 million Australians did some kind of renovation in 2016. That’s a LOT of Saturdays spent at Bunnings (not to mention sausage sizzles), paint swatches on walls and trips to the local homemaker HQ agonising over tiles for the new laundry. It also shows that we Aussies are committed to having homes to which we’ve added a personal touch. So, of course, we want to make sure you get the best advice. In our second annual Expert Issue, we’ve rounded up the best of the best when it comes to flooring, paint, kitchens, gardens (and the rest), so you can make those changes with confidence. As a semi-experienced renovator, it often surprises me where people get stuck in the process,…

Peace and quiet comes easily in this bedroom scene. Shades of white elevate the Monique Lovering artworks, which have inspired this set of pale and delicate tones. If you want to start softly with colour, this is a pretty palette to try. ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Missouri Mud, $45.90/1L, Dulux, dulux.com.au. ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Terrace White $38.90/1L, Dulux, as before. ‘Endure’ low sheen interior paint in Grey Cliff, $83.95/4L, Taubmans, taubmans.com.au. ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in Peace Flower, $57.50/4L, British Paints, britishpaints.com.au. ‘Endure’ low sheen interior paint in Cotton Ball, $83.95/4L, Taubmans, as before. ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in Chilled Champagne, $57.50/4L, British Paints, as before . For more of our favourite trends, visit insideout.com.au/products/trends…

1 BLUE CRUSH why it works: A soft blush background is the perfect foil for royal navy tones ‘New York’ sideboard in Midtown, from $3400, Grazia & Co, graziaandco.com.au. By Garmi Cotton Plant print, $45, Norsu interiors, norsu.com.au. 2 GEOMETRY CLASS why it works: Simple lines and shapes create graphic impact Paper Collective Wrong Geometry 02 print by Wrong Studio, NZ$115 (unframed), Father Rabbit, fatherrabbit.com. Normann Copenhagen ‘Kabino’ sideboard, $2065, BYMR, bymr.com.au. 3 ABOVE THE CURVE why it works: Round edges and natural shades tie these two pieces together Rings No.1 print, €114 (unframed), Kristina Krogh, kkrogh.dk. ‘Curio’ cabinet, $3380, Clickon Furniture, clickonfurniture.com.au.…

Kimmy, your works are inspired by traditional paintings, but have a distinctly contemporary look – how do you achieve this? I adore traditional paintings with all their messiness and imperfections. My digital process isn’t hugely different. Every single line and curve of my drawings is created with hand motion – I just use a mouse instead of a paintbrush. How do you describe your work? It’s extremely hard to explain! The idea of ‘digital art’ puts images in people’s heads of mostly geometric, computer-generated art. So I try to describe my work as ‘digital oil paintings’ that are all created with hand motion. Could you tell us more about your production process? Firstly, I find my inspiration – usually bunches of flowers or foliage displayed in glass bottles. I take…

Clockwise, from top left: Perforated cosmetic pouch, $39.95, Country Road, countryroad.com.au. ‘Multi Level’ coated fold-out wash bag, $59.90, Città, cittadesign.com. La Cerise Sur Le Gâteau toiletry bag, $57.95, Nomades Home, nomadeshome.com. Nomess Copenhagen mesh pouch (at right rear), $59.95/assorted pair, Vincent Design Supply, vincentdesign.com.au. ‘Zip It Mesh’ bag, $14, Hay, hayshop.com.au. ‘Eva’ spa pouch, $23.95, MUJI, muji.com/au. ‘Summer Vacay’ toiletry bag, $59, Kip & Co, kipandco.com.au. ‘Dot’ wash bag, $86, Hay, as before. Combs, from $28 each; ‘Mirror Mirror’ mirror, $128; and ‘Bits & Bobs’ glass dish, $30, all Hay, as before. Cheek brush, $19.95; nail file, $4.95, and acrylic pot, $2.95, all MUJI, as before. Toothbrush, stylist’s own. Odeme hair bands, $16.95/assorted set of 12, Pigeonhole, pigeonhole.com. Clear boxes, (lids not shown), from $49.95 each, Vincent Design Supply, as…

Nature provides endless inspiration and there’s plenty of beautiful flotsam and jetsam to craft with. Wanderings along the beach can uncover rocks and driftwood while bushland could gift delicate feathers and nests. Try Spotlight (spotlight.com.au) or feather.com.au for feathers, too. The following 13 projects bring a modern edge to nature’s bounty by sticking to white, grey and black tones. wrapping paper Create your own gift wrap by printing a feather pattern onto silk paper with a potato stamp and acrylic paint – turn to page 45 to see how to create your stamp. mobile Apply white spray paint to found branches and use twine or cotton string to tie a few long feathers for a simple art piece. noticeboard Transform a plain bulletin board by painting it white. Wrap grey…

“ Our home is large enough that we can all find our own space – a welcome change from the old house”DANIELLE PALAN, HOMEOWNER & ARCHITECT “ With the barbecue, extendable table and luxurious outdoor furniture, the terrace is better than some resorts!” DANIELLE PALAN, HOMEOWNER & ARCHITECT Dreams can become reality: Joel and Danielle Palan are living proof of that. “One day, Joel announced he’d found the perfect house for us, with only one problem – it wasn’t on the market,” says Danielle, a self-employed architect.After knocking at the door, Danielle was told by the owner of 40 years that the single-storey Californian bungalow wasn’t for sale.“Only days later, Joel called me at work and asked me to look something up online,” says Danielle.“There was the…

1. Keep flexibility in mind A great place to start is to keep the walls neutral and have fun with wall treatments like wallpaper, wall stickers and artwork. 2. Go with a variety of storage options Storage needs to be considered in layers, from open to hidden. Floating shelves create a great surface to display, with so many options to restyle as your kids’ hobbies change (ensure you have a minimum of 25cm between each shelf to allow for small objects to be on show). Then address practical storage – I find boxes with lids are great because they can also work back into the style of the room. 3. Select simple furniture Go with clean lines and finishes like oak or white then have fun with bedlinen, cushions and…

Too often I see homes losing a sense of coherence due to various piecemeal renovations done over the course of many years. If you have a long-term perspective, consider a master plan for the entire house. Try to think beyond your most immediate renovation needs to consider a framework for the house as a whole. A master plan doesn’t necessarily need to be a grand vision. It might be as simple as having a colour palette established for the entire house; this way, rooms might be repainted with new tones whilst remaining sympathetic to the whole. Or, it might be establishing additional structure within walls that may one day carry an additional level.…

I’m not a psychic but there are a few things I can tell you about your junk drawer. First, yes, you have one – everyone does. Second, it’s probably in your kitchen, maybe right next to the cutlery drawer. And, third, it’s full-to-bursting. Here’s something else I can tell you – cleaning up and organising a junk drawer takes a relatively short amount of time. Once it’s cleaned up, it will give you a great feeling of accomplishment so let’s do it! Junk drawers are the physical manifestations of what I call “I-might-need-that-one-day clutter”. They’re filled with extra parts from the project you assembled and the extra 10 batteries you had to buy because the 12-pack was much better value than just buying the two you actually needed. There’ll be…

The deal: Bathrooms have moved beyond the functional space where body maintenance and daily routines are carried out. They have become a celebrated space, a jewel in the home. The pros: When it comes to the bath, to build-in or not to build-in is a good question. Freestanding tubs are the feature of a room — they are the sculptural centrepiece. Visually, they look beautiful and, once the little legs in our homes grow a bit longer, are definitely something we would both choose to install. The cons: These baths aren’t great in small spaces, as cleaning behind them can be a pain. Being mums of small kids, we say hob baths all the way. Freestanding tubs don’t provide a place for us to perch during bath time, or a…

BREAM UNIQUE LIGHTING Shed new light on your decor situation with a lamp, sconce or pendent. Bream Unique Lighting encourages you to think of each room in your house as a stage – consider what mood you wish to create. Well-placed lights can add warmth and charm to a space, or serve a practical purpose, such as a using a large chandelier for greater coverage. The different materials on offer can fit any look from classic to contemporary. For details, visit breamuniquelighting.com.au REECE You don’t have to wait for your holiday suite on a tropical island to have a luxurious outdoor shower experience. Instead, create a relaxing oasis in your own backyard or outdoor area with the ‘Milli Inox’ range of showerheads and accessories from Reece. Each piece in this…

umbrellas These are a great solution for every home. You can stow them away over winter, update the parasol for a new look and move them around in the backyard to deliver shade wherever you want. A jaunty outdoor umbrella not only has the benefit of providing shade relief – it can also help define your outdoor dining space, adding to the ambience of your alfresco set-up. The basic umbrella categories fall into market umbrellas, also called centre posts; and cantilever umbrellas, also called sideposts. The major difference between the two is where the pole sits. As a point of reference, think of market umbrellas as a small solution, perfect for balconies, verandahs or a little breakfast spot in your garden. The pole can be fixed into place with a…

For personal reasons on my part, my husband and I have been forced to introduce separate beds, although still in the same room. How can I make two king singles look appealing, rather than embarrassing? Elaine, Austinmer, NSW That you’ve jotted a shopping list, which calls for women’s multi-vit, a standing fan and a bottle of best-quality gin on the back of your envelope and then forgotten all about it suggests to me that the personal reason we’d rather not mention is, almost definitely, the change.Were it your husband’s snoring, which ties for equal first as the impetus for separate beds - his would be in the spare room. But you’ll get nothing but sympathy, a listening ear and a litre of Bombay Sapphire by return of post from these…

architecture Andrew Benn Andrew is a registered architect and director of Benn + Penna Architecture, an award-winning consultancy specialising in residential projects, small-to-medium scale commercial fit-outs and public spaces. In 2014, Benn + Penna was honoured with the NSW Architecture Award for its Balmain Houses, one of the highest accolades for architecture in the state. Andrew lives in Sydney with his wife, Alice, and young daughter, Phoebe. kitchen Travis Dean With a background as an experienced cabinetmaker, Travis co-founded Cantilever Interiors in 2006 and has spent 10 years producing custom-made kitchens and joinery for some of Australia’s most respected architects and developers. In 2010, the company launched a range of chic pre-designed kitchens, made by hand in Melbourne and shipped around Australia. flooring Shelley Craft Carpet Court ambassador Shelley Craft…

1. ‘Palissade’ armchair, $503, Hay, hayshop.com.au. 2. Serax ‘Trapped’ vase, $59, The Minimalist, theminimalist.com.au. 3. Hem ‘Pelto’ cushion, $85, District, district.com.au. 4. Normann Copenhagen ‘Analog’ magazine rack, $200, BYMR, bymr.com.au. 5. ‘Indi’ pendant light, from $1320, Articolo Architectural Lighting, articoloarchitecturallighting. com.au. 6. Asplund ‘Nati Tati’ table, $2950, Great Dane, greatdanefurniture.com. 7. Hem ‘ Lift Six’ shelf, $1012, District, as before. 8. Trusco toolbox, NZ$69, Everyday Needs, everyday-needs.com. 9. ‘Wash&Wear’ interior paint in Spinach Green, $85.90/4L, Dulux, dulux.com.au. ‘Clean & Protect’ interior paints in Set In Stone, $57.50/4L, and Love Note, $56.90/4L, British Paints, britishpaints.com.au. 10. Flat sheet in Dove Grey, $180/queen, In Bed, inbedstore.com. 11. Normann Copenhagen ‘Acrobat’ light, $595, BYMR, as before.…

THE ORIGINAL Artemide ‘Tolomeo’ table lamp by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina The form: A cantilevered desk/table lamp with concealed stainless-steel tension wires and a spun aluminium shade that can rotate 360 degrees. The collection of lights has been extended to include wall and floor fixtures. What makes it special: Tolomeo has been the benchmark in desk lighting ever since it was first introduced in 1987. From 1970 to 2005, Giancarlo Fassina designed lighting for many of Italy’s best lighting companies including Artemide, Luceplan and Nemo. De Lucchi initially became a well-known figure in the Italian design scene for his ‘First’ chair for the Memphis group and later for his numerous computer and peripheral designs for Olivetti, Compaq, Philips and Siemens. Between the two of them, they designed a…

“Sea-inspired buys will bring a sense of adventure”JESSICA HANSON, STYLE EDITOR 1 Create a mini aquarium for your child with this colourful group of zipped cases, which are also perfect for coloured pencils and textas. ‘Australia’ cases and purses, from €22 each, Don Fisher, don-fisher.com. 2 This bold piece serves as a seat, a step ladder and a hanger of sorts, making it ideal for laying out togs and towels for the next day’s seaside trip. Hartô ‘Lucien’ stool & valet, $790, Clickon Furniture, clickonfurniture.com.au. 3 Whether clustered together or strung along separately, these LED lights will bring an on-the-boardwalk outdoor feel to a space. ‘Bella Vista’ lights, $230/set of 10, Seletti, seletti.com.au. THE STORAGE This statement wall shelf is ideal for your ocean girl or boy, and its simple…

“Look at the shape of each piece from the side and at eye level, as this is often the way your guests will view and enjoy the table” ENTRY This is typically the first point your guests see on arrival into your home, so have a bit of fun with it and give visitors a taste of what lies beyond the front door. Investing in some key pieces and combining them with inexpensive items is the trick to a successfully decorated entry. A striking piece of artwork is a great place to start. Build on two or three colours from the artwork to choose other items such as a hall runner, table lamp, mirror and trinkets for a table. Don’t forget about your everyday needs: do you need a place…

+ Do spend a bit of money on art. You will spend a lot on furniture and replace it many times over in your lifetime. Just buy something you love. Art is something you’ll keep forever. + Don’t assume you have to spend up big for great art. There are fantastic emerging artists whose work isn’t expensive, and you can watch their career develop over the years. + Do be patient when it comes to buying art. Once you’ve chosen an artist that you’d like to collect, let their representing gallery know that you’d like to preview new work. It may take a while for it to become available, but it is worth the wait. + Don’t DIY! Get a professional picture hanger on board. They know the correct height…

“ We were very conscious of not having all new, shiny finishes. We used the old bricks in the extension”SOPHIE BURBURY, HOMEOWNER Sophie and James Burbury were always going to return to their home state of Tasmania when they decided to start a family. It made sense in so many ways.They had enjoyed life in Melbourne for seven years but had felt a strong pull towards Hobart.There were family, friends and the convenience of living in a small city, plus, the beautiful coastline and natural surrounds. But perhaps more than anything, there was an opportunity to create a home just as they wanted it. It took time to work out what that was, though.While living in Melbourne, Sophie and James purchased a house in Hobart with amazing views…

+ The amount of light and your decor will help determine the look and overall feel of your home. Cooler whites create a clean and spacious feel, which is suited to more modern homes, where simplicity and an uncluttered feel is the desired look. Warmer whites add a soft and more cosy feel, especially in rooms with high ceilings and timber floors; these shades often have a yellowish undertone. + You can use the same shade or tone of white for walls, ceiling and joinery. The colour will appear slightly different across various areas with different sheen levels. For example, a low sheen wall paint and a gloss or enamel paint for the trims will have small textural contrasts to create interest. + Selecting a white shade then using varied…

the story so far Chris and Nicole purchased their 1950s single-storey brick home in late 2014. The couple wanted space for their children to run around and they love the pretty facade, formal front gardens, big block and sense of space that you simply don’t get closer to the city. But the floorplan doesn’t make much sense, with an add-on master bedroom taking up what seems like natural living space at the back of the house and the large living area at the front situated off to one side and, therefore, rarely used. “Our view into the backyard is pretty special,” says Nicole. “We want to maximise that and ensure the decking provides a contained outdoor living space. We need to reconfigure the floorplan to create a more spacious indoor/outdoor…

1 PAINTING Start from the top down! One common mistake DIY painters often make is where they decide to start the project. It feels natural to start with the walls, but you should always start with your ceilings. This ensures that if you drip or splatter the ceiling paint onto the wall, it’s not a drama. You can then move down to walls and finish with trim for a seamless result. Jessica Plateo, product manager, British Paints (britishpaints.com.au) 2 KITCHEN DESIGN Talk to your builder before setting your heart on a particular design idea. When you’re renovating, it’s easy to forget that the layout and placement of services and appliances is usually influenced by the existing design of your home. Concrete floors, a lack of cavity space in your roof…

Stone. Steel. Glass. Timber. Material Crush is all about bringing unique materials together in innovative ways to create something fresh, distinct and new. You can be bold and mix different finishes like matte black with marble, timber and stone. It’s all about celebrating materials in contrast. To see more emerging trends visit www.reece.com.au/trends Mix & Match. Layer natural materials like marble and oak, and have a bit of fun with black tapware. These unique finishes and materials create exquisite contrast. Unique materials. Experiment with textures and tones and find a bathroom that is unique to you. Let your instinct be your texture style guide.…

the dinnerware Design powerhouse Marimekko has given black and white its signature style with a graphic yet timeless approach. Meet the ‘Puolikas’ range of dining essentials, tailor made for the tabletop as well as kitchen display shelves. Prices start at $28; visit marimekko.com. the cookware Boasting the striking look of cast iron, Eva Solo ‘Nordic Kitchen’ induction-suitable cookware is actually made of lightweight aluminium, which ensures ease of use and an evenly heated surface. This saucepan is $265 from Until. Visit until.com.au/stockists. the cooktop White hot or what? This beauty of a cooktop from Smeg will keep the style conscious happy with ultra low-profile white enamel burners, while the fact there are five will keep keen entertainers satisfied as well. ‘ White Linear PVA175CB’ 72cm five-burner cooktop, $2590, smeg.com.au. the…

The soft curves and lightweight appearance of Tom Fereday’s SP01 Outdoor series of chairs, tables and stools belies a tough-as-nails design ethos. Built to withstand everything the Australian environment can throw at it, the collection’s manufacturing process exceeds international standards, ensuring each piece can last the distance.The pared-back look and feel of the collection is the perfect fit for the great outdoors. SP01 ‘Eileen’ table, $6350, and ‘Jeanette’ chairs, $605 each, Space Furniture, spacefurniture.com.au.…

What shade trees would you recommend near a house? I like to use medium-sized trees near the home for shade. The Lagerstroemia indica ‘Indian Summer’ range is a deciduous tree that provides dappled shade in summer, colourful flowers in March and brilliant autumn foliage. For larger gardens, I like Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia). For rural outdoor areas, the shade of a pin oak tree (Quercus palustris) is a welcome respite. What’s a good tree to have even closer to the home? Olive trees are a good-sized evergreen tree with attractive grey-green foliage. They provide great shade and the roots are not destructive. What’s a common mistake when it comes to plantings and shade? When people plant a large tree thinking it will take forever to cast shade. Plants grow quickly…

+ Do allow the flavours of the food to sing. Plenty of fresh produce and indulgent aromas should be the star of the show, so keep your tableware stripped-back and simple. We’ve used a moody charcoal base with plenty of blue and green tones in order to highlight the look of these recipes. + Don’t forget about ambience. Lit candles are a no-brainer in this department but also consider the materials and textures this light will pick up – gleaming glass cloches and wine glasses, raw slate and pre-worn linen all come together to create a sensual experience. + Do say it with freshly shucked oysters. These romantic party starters are best enjoyed au naturel (the oysters, not you). We’ve sprinkled over a handful of microherbs for vibrant colour.…

WINNING PIN! Less is more (or so it seems) for our Pinterest followers, who couldn’t get enough of this minimalist living room. The ‘quality not quantity’ design by Georgiana Quinn reached over 100k impressions. With Greenery announced as Pantone’s 2017 Color Of The Year, it was no surprise that our styling dos and don’ts article on the trend was our top tweet of the month. reader spotlight How cosy is this guest bedroom? Brilliant work @paula_power – although your visitors won’t ever want to leave! Don’t forget to share your pictures with us using the hashtag #sharemystyle. most double-tapped Beautiful timber cladding won over our Instagram followers this month, with the Noosa beach house from our January issue scoring 3760 likes. IN YOUR NEWS FEED 11 top kitchen designs proved…

1. Verso ‘Lastu’ basket, $350/assorted set of 3, Norr:Design, norrdesign. com.au. 2. Colonel ‘Straw’ pendant light, £190, Tea And Kate, teaandkate.co.uk. 3. Artek ‘Y61’ stool, $1240, Anibou, anibou.com.au. 4. Design House Stockholm ‘Air’ wardrobe, $3199, Vincent Design Supply, vincentdesign.com.au. 5. Lexon ‘Hybrid’ radio, $250, Design Mode International, designmode.com.au. 6. Design House Stockholm ‘Wick’ chair, $1099, Vincent Design Supply, as before. 7. Clyde ‘Safari’ baseball cap, $285, Playa By Lucy Folk, (02) 9130 3666. 8. Ringvide ‘Weave’ cabinet, from $13,255, Criteria, criteriacollection.com.au. 9. ‘Pink Diamonds’ runner, $149, Arro Home, arrohome.com. 10. Petite bottle, €60, Helene Lefeuvre, helenelefeuvre.tictail.com.…

Q I love the idea of having my cooktop on an island bench so I can talk to my guests while I’m cooking, but I’m worried about the splattering! What would you recommend? Bill, via email “This idea will require a large island bench to work successfully so consider incorporating a table accompaniment – that way, guests can sit whilst you are cooking and you can even use the island as a casual dining area,” says Travis Dean, director of Cantilever Interiors (cantileverinteriors.com). “Stovetops are usually positioned centrally on the bench to allow placement of cooking utensils and ingredients within easy reach but, in this case, it’s wise to keep the stove to one side of the island to allow some distance between cooking and your guests. Cooking splatters can…

From top left: ‘Spring Two’ quilt, $130, One Two Nine, onetwonine.com.au. ‘Leaf & Tic Tac’ play mat, $110, Tinker By Printink Studio, printinkstudio.com. Cam Cam ‘Dot’ quilt (beneath), $159/junior, Designstuff, designstuff.com.au. Rose In April ‘Confetti’ quilt, $125, Kido Store, kidostore.com. Blabla ‘Oh So Sleepy’ play pad, $115, Can’t Find It?, cantfindit com au ‘Darling’ baby throw, $89, Castle, castle andthings.com.au. Nofred ‘Leaf’ blanket, $149.95, Somewhere Great, somewhere great.com.au. Blabla ‘Bunny Pierre & Blue/Pink Stars’ play pad, $115, Can’t Find It?, as before. ‘Sprinkle’ play mat/quilted cot cover, $99, Sack Me!, sackme com au. Fabelab ‘Storytelling’ baby blanket, $117,, Nomades Home, nomadeshome.com. Cam Cam ‘Ellipse’ lampshade, $139, Designstuff, as before. LexyPexy ‘The Sullivan’ pretzel teether, $39 95, This Little Love, thislittle love com au Blabla Peekaboo Pierre board book, $15, Can’t…

1 natural finishes We live in an increasingly fast-paced world, where everything needs to happen five minutes ago and that one chance to relax is a constantly shrinking opportunity. So when we come home after a hectic day in the office or on the tools, we want our home to be a bubble of peace.Yes, I’m aware that a screaming three-year-old can quickly destroy said bubble, but let’s pretend that a home can be a place of peace and serenity. Natural finishes in the hub of the home create a calming palette and the right balance is key to a peaceful relationship between the elements in a space.Timber brings warmth and life to a room, and polished or honed concrete and stone can balance this perfectly for an earthy feel.Tumbled…

A simple backdrop makes it easy to instantly transform the look, mood and style of your home. Here, timeless white walls in Dulux Antique White USA are lifted by a vivid Deborah Pauuwe artwork and bold Bonnie And Neil cushions.The simple Zaishu stool in a layered design and patterned Loom rug add warmth and texture to the polished concrete floor.Turn to page 78 for more of this beautiful Tasmanian home.…

“ We designed the house so we hard y have to use the a r-conditioning” AIMEE McKECHNIE, OWNER For the views alone, it’s not hard to see why Aimee McKechnie and her husband Blair fell in love with their home on Sydney’s North Shore. From amber sunrises glimpsed from the open master bedroom – the bush gully behind the house provides complete privacy – to the springtime vision of jacarandas in bloom from almost every window, this renovation has been achieved in complete sympathy with its surrounds and the needs of a young family. Aimee and Blair are veterans of two previous renos, which ensured that this epic project ran to budget and on time.“Obtaining the DA was probably the only issue,” says Aimee.“As we’re in a conservation…

Diversity is the key to achieving interest and warmth in any space, inside and out. Just as we combine colours and textures, mixing materials gives spaces life and character. This wonderful home showcases the perfect combination of materials, texture and surfaces. + mix it up The right variety of materials in a home will create interest and warmth, but balance is key. Pick three or four surfaces that complement each other. Here, the warm tones in the timber round off the coolness of the concrete and the harshness of the exposed brick. The crisp white cladding on the exterior of the house offers an interesting contrast with the rich honey tones of the timber. + consider where you live It’s always important that interior style reflects the outdoor elements for…

exterior A bright yellow door in Dulux Sunbound provides a sunny welcome to John and Charmaine’s home. The vintage-look bricks from Geraldton Brick give the new build a sense of history while Shadowclad panelling in Dulux Surfmist (opposite) showcases the couple’s modern style. kitchen The joinery features hoop pine plywood from Worldwide Timber Traders. Creating a graphic point of difference are a splashback and island bench front in gloss ceramic subway tiles from Tiles Expo while the waterfall island benchtop is crafted from Victorian Ash from Worldwide Timber Traders. The copper-toned Plumen pendant light is a standout feature, as are the ‘Toby’ bar stools from GlobeWest. dining area Charmaine and John sit at a generous dining setting from GlobeWest. The Plumen pendant lights are covered with ‘Drop Top’ tinted glass…

“The best way to rethink this layout would be bedrooms at the front and living at the back”ANDREW BENN, PANEL ARCHITECT the Panel’s advice Andrew Benn Architect and director, Benn + Penna Architecture, bennandpenna.com This house needs a master plan. Right now, the layout jumps around from living to sleeping with rooms off rooms and there’s no cohesive vision. From the front door, you don’t have a clear direction of where to go, with the original living room off to the side and the secondary kitchen/living area straight ahead. Chris and Nicole say they don’t use the sitting room very often – that’s a shame because it’s a big space! The best layout option would be bedrooms at the front and living at the back. With the master bedroom relocated,…

CASE STUDY 1 the multi-function utility room With a rear entrance from a city laneway, this laundry also functions as a butler’s pantry and a place to clean paintbrushes and dry paintings for interior designer Carole Whiting (carolewhiting.com.au) and her daughters. Architect Steven Whiting (whitingarchitects.com) allowed a sense of space with a wall lower then ceiling height and open access to the living room beyond. Carole sourced the long stainless-steel bench from a local project that was being demolished and the space was designed around this element, with a mix of open storage containing large baskets and closed cupboards in painted MDF. The barn door, an eBay find, adds character, especially when painted in Dulux Hugo pale pink. “A laundry should be somewhere you like to be,” says Carole. “If…

SINK IN Streamline your bathroom vanity with the crisp white ‘Moon 700’ inset basin. It’s $800 from caroma.com.au. towel off Plush towels are the simplest way to add a hint of luxury and fresh colour to wet zones. 1. Organic cotton towels, from $28, In Bed, inbedstore.com. 2. ‘Kingfisher’ washcloth set, $20, Ninnho, ninnho.com.au. 3. ‘Compose’ beach towel, POA, Hay, hayshop.com.au. STREAMLINED STYLE The square, slimline profile of the ‘Toi’ sink mixer offers refined elegance in the busiest of bathrooms. Find it at phoenixtapware.com.au for $583. natural touch The understated curves of the Woud ‘Stone’ pendant light, $775, are inspired by beach stones, smoothed by years of water, wind and sand exposure. Find it at flocstore.com.au. pastel perfect Turn your bathroom into a bright, colourful Cuba-inspired zone with Skheme’s ‘Havana’…

The deal: I’m living in an apartment so space is tight and an outdoor kitchen is out of the question! The pros: An outdoor cooking zone is fantastic for entertaining – you can be amongst the party. There’s something so beautiful and relaxing about cooking outdoors and having a kitchen outside means you’re not stuck inside when the weather in Australia is so beautiful for so long. The cons: There’s obviously the large cost of setting up an outdoor kitchen, and perhaps this money could be spent on improving the appliances and equipment in your existing kitchen. Space is by far the number-one problem and there’s also the cleanup and maintenance of two kitchens to consider as well. The verdict: Yay! If space permits, go for it. Who wouldn’t want…

The Janu family’s garden in Sydney’s upper North Shore has perennial appeal. It’s a tranquil retreat providing outdoor areas to relax, entertain, swim and even work. “It’s a very useable space and acts as an extension of the living areas inside. It works really well,” says Penelope Janu, who lives here with her husband Peter and their six children. This engaging backyard fills the area north of their 1920s Tudor-style house.The previous layout didn’t suit a family of this size.“There was no flow between the house and the garden,” says Penelope.“We looked straight at the pool retaining wall.” Penelope and Peter wanted to create a new ‘lifestyle’ garden to suit their clan; teenagers to young adults, plus two dogs, which is no small feat. They turned to landscape designer Peter…

champagne cocktail SERVES 2 PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes 2 white sugar cubesAngostura bitters, to taste2 tsp brandy250ml champagne or sparkling wine, chilled 1. Place 1 sugar cube in each champagne glass. Drizzle with 4-5 drops of bitters and set aside for 5 minutes to soak. 2. Add 1 teaspoon of brandy to each glass and top with champagne or sparkling wine. Serve immediately. REFINED TABLEWARE IS THE PERFECT VESSEL FOR THE RICH COLOURS AND FLAVOURS OF THIS TASTY STARTER coconut-crumbed prawns with lime aioli SERVES 2 PREPARATION TIME 25 minutes COOKING TIME 5 minutes 8 large green king prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact¼ cup plain flour1 egg½ cup shredded coconut½ cup panko breadcrumbsVegetable oil, to shallow-fry Lime aioli ¼ cup whole-egg mayonnaise1 small garlic clove, crushed½ tsp finely grated lime…

some of our food ‘rules’ + Food should taste good. Well-produced food tastes so good that you don’t even have to do anything to it. You have never tasted a tomato until you have tasted an heirloom tomato grown in amazing soil, in the sunshine, in its natural growing season, plucked fully ripe straight from the vine. + Share meals. There is something so special and natural about sharing meals. You appreciate food more, eat more consciously, and you are more inclined to cook from scratch. We feel that sharing mealtimes is innate; it’s how we are meant to eat. + Grow at least one ingredient. This will connect you to how things are grown and forever change the way you see food. + Routines make food quick and easy.…

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