Tag: accommodation

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Design Interviews Travel

Farming family diversifies with luxury dome accommodation

Inside the dome
Inside the dome

Located in the New South Wales region of Warialda (400 km south-west of Brisbane), Faraway Domes is one of the more unique travel destinations we’ve come across. Created to diversify one family’s farming operation during the drought, the luxury domes are located on a 9000-acre mixed farming operation, and they’ve proved incredibly popular over the last year. In fact, with capacity rates an all-time high, the owners Jaime and Belinda Munsie have just added a new five-star dome to the offering.

Faraway Domes

“It’s been so rewarding to see how many people want to travel to outback Australia and experience what we have to offer, while enjoying first class comfort,” says Belinda, who has entertained people from all over Australia as well as from Canada, the UK, China, USA and Switzerland since launching the business.

Inside the dome
Inside the dome

The deluxe eco-retreat was created with comfort and luxury in mind, with each dome featuring air conditioning, an ensuite, a fully functional kitchen and an elevated private deck. Guests can also book in an in-dome massage or beauty treatment during their stay too.

Pool
A pool with a view!

A fabulous new addition to the property, the new luxury geodesic dome features a fire pit, king size bed, private plunge pool and an outdoor bath that overlooks spectacular outback views. The additional dome is perfect for couples visiting with friends, with the option of renting out both domes at the same time.

“With occupancy rates currently at 86%, things are slowly getting back to normal after lockdowns, so we’re hoping more travellers can get out to experience why regional and rural Australia is so unique,” says Belinda.

Bedroom
With occupancy rates an all-time high, it seems that many Aussies want to explore rural Australia in style

“There really is nothing else like it. Our wildlife, birdlife, views, walking trails and the astonishing landscape draws guests back on repeat visits. For people who love the outdoors and enjoy a touch of bush luxury, a stay at Faraway Domes is a must,” says Belinda and Jaime’s daughter Kate Munsie.

The Munsie family. Photo: Ken Brass
The Munsie family. Photo: Ken Brass

Faraway Domes offers accommodation from $485 per night, twin share.

Book your stay

Waukivory Estate room reveal: the kitchen!

You know we love a good before and after, and our weekly room reveals of Naomi Findlay’s Waukivory Estate holiday cottage project are giving us a regular dose of interiors…

Stylist Sarah Ellison curates luxury Sydney accommodation experience

Three Rooms Sydney have welcomed interior stylist and furniture designer, Sarah Ellison, to their European-inspired apartment accommodation experience in Potts Point. III Rooms Sydney combines European style apartments with discreet…
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Design Styling Travel

Barefoot luxury: unwind at this boutique holiday home in Noosa

As the Queensland borders have re-opened, a summer getaway in the sunshine state seems like the perfect way to celebrate reaching the end of a tough year! For those looking for a relaxing coastal retreat, Noa by the Beach – a contemporary redesign of a 1980s beach house – is a gorgeous holiday home located right in the heart of Noosa’s Little Cove.

Homeowners, Debbie and Wes, wanted a family holiday home that is reminiscent of their childhood growing up on the beach and spending memorable days outdoors. Collaborating with local building designer Georgina Price and interior designer and stylist, Bindy Ward, they set about creating their ideal getaway. 

The design of Noa by the Beach was largely influenced by its stunning surrounding environment, as both Georgina and Bindy strongly believe that honouring location is a key part of creating a cohesive, harmonious home. This approach foregrounds the adjacent Noosa National Park and the nearby Little Cove Beach, and integrates the house into the beauty of its location.

The functionality of this holiday home was also carefully considered in the design process, boasting a fully equipped kitchen, spacious open plan living and dining with an indoor fireplace, a media room, a fully-equipped laundry, six thoughtfully designed bedrooms (sleeping twelve people in total), and four luxurious bathrooms. There is also air conditioning in all of the bedrooms and the media room.

Large windows, glass sliding doors, custom vertical battens, and skylights allow natural light to filter into the home, adding warmth to the sun-bleached colour palette that features shades of driftwood taupe, misty grey, and shell pink, punctuated by black. Earthy and textural material is used to soften the architecture of the home and draw focus to the leafy surrounds. 

This connection with nature is encapsulated through the expansive deck that flows from the main living area and looks out over the lush, tree-lined backdrop of Noosa National Park. The deck has a fully covered alfresco area with outdoor kitchen, sitting area, BBQ, and outdoor heating. Downstairs, the backyard features a pool (which can be heated upon request), trampoline, board racks and plenty of beach and pool toys for guests to make use of. 

Based in Singapore, Debbie and Wes wanted to create their dream beach house as a place for them and their young family to enjoy when back home in Australia, with it being rented out as a holiday home when they were abroad. With COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, Debbie and Wes have instead opened the house as full-time holiday accommodation for families and groups of friends to enjoy together. 

Debbie says: “We both felt we wanted an anchor for our kids to build a stronger connection with Australia and somewhere they could call home – that’s why we designed so many features of the property with our three young children and our extended family in mind.”

Located only 90 minutes north of Brisbane, Noosa is well-known as a luxury holiday destination, and Noa by the Beach is perfectly situated to take full advantage of its ever-evolving foodie and bar scene, featuring refreshments that are also inspired by the natural surroundings; from ocean fresh seafood to tropical cocktails.

It’s a place where you’ll find high-end fashion, and pop-up markets that shine a spotlight on local produce. Plus, Noosa’s hinterland and coastline are a veritable playground for outdoor enthusiasts; hiking, surfing, sailing, cycling, horse riding, island hopping, cruises, treetop adventures, and much more!

A 10-minute walk to Main Beach and Hastings Street (and Little Cove Beach only a short stroll away), Noa by the Beach is the perfect holiday accomodation for those wanting to unwind and relax in coastal luxury.

Photography: The Palm Co

For more information or to book

Stylish holiday homes: Anchor Avoca Beach is new to the Central Coast

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Darren Palmer’s latest holiday home styling project

Located in a fabulous, central part of Byron Bay, this holiday home was given the makeover treatment recently courtesy of The Block judge Darren Palmer. A long-time holidaymaker in the…

Designer homes: 8 magazine-worthy homes you can stay at

We’ve all been stuck indoors much more than we ever expected this year, and since then we’ve seen a spike in interest in interior design and architecture. But have you…
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Designers Travel

Little National Sydney hotel combines design efficiency and luxury

Nestled above Sydney’s Wynyard station, overlooking the CBD streets, DOMA Group enlisted award-winning architecture and interior design firm, Bates Smart to create a modern approach to accommodation at Little National Sydney.

The theme of natural light and efficiency of space is evident in every considered detail of the guest rooms. The floor to ceiling window draws guests toward the bespoke super king-sized bed, which cleverly incorporates charging ports, television and lighting.

These rooms – although small – don’t compromise on comfort or luxury, as their resourceful design and clever floor plan fit every feature of a high-end hotel into a compact space, without overwhelming or crowding the area. Additionally, the rooms are very reasonably priced considering their amazing location – right in the heart of Sydney.

This full use of the space continues with the joinery design – to minimise bulkiness, the joinery has been crafted to look at one with the furniture and welcome the natural light through the window.

“Little National Sydney’s design focuses on providing everything you need, but nothing that you don’t,” says Guy Lake, director at Bates Smart and the creative force behind the hotel’s architecture. “We wanted to ensure this hotel felt refined and understated, without compromising on quality and space.”

While the property draws inspiration from its inner-city location, the compact, urban site provided a new set of challenges for the Bates Smart design team. Placed directly on top of transport infrastructure, the building is supported via a steel frame structure; an innovative solution to the constraints of its location.

This exterior features a simple linear form with soft curved corners, creating a seamless connection with outside. Horizontal bands double as sunshades, a subtle nod to the previous transport house, harmonising with the heritage context of the building.

The hotel’s communal guest areas are the real hero of the property; light-filled and generous in size, the spaces have been designed as an experience in their own right. The spectacular open plan rooftop with double height ceilings features an expansive library work-space, exclusive bar, and custom-built fireplace with intimate lounge seating.

The indoor-outdoor setting foregrounds the natural world against the stunning Sydney skyline, creating the feel of a private oasis – while still within walking distance of the CBD.

“We are so pleased to have crafted the Little National Sydney for DOMA,” says designer Hayden Crawford, who led the Bates Smart interior design team. “It’s a fresh and exciting offer for Sydney – especially the rooftop, which will be a destination like no other in the city. It still feels like a Little National hotel, but it creates an oasis in Sydney’s dense urban landscape.”

For more on the Little National Sydney

Coogee Bay Hotel revamps rooms with stylish new look

Designed by ID Studios and built by INFIGO, the 23 newly renovated Bay and Beach Rooms at Coogee Bay Hotel boast a bright and modern beachside aesthetic and for those…

Design hotels: Tasmania dominates awards shortlist

Recognising excellence and innovation in design across Australia and New Zealand, the Eat Drink Design Awards just released its shortlisted venues for 2019 and the ‘Best Hotel Design’ category is…
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Design House Tours Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Ballarat heritage terrace becomes moody boutique holiday abode

“I love contemporary design overlaid on a historical backdrop,” says retail designer David Cook-Doulton who, together with his partner Martin Shew, is responsible for the gorgeous overhaul of this grand 1880’s Victorian terrace recently, located in Ballarat. We just love its masculine, almost Gothic feel.

Bedroom
Bedroom
Bathroom

The original home, called Lyon House, was a result of the goldrush boom; a time that, rather incredibly, saw the city rival Melbourne in size. “The 1890’s was the peak of Ballarat. It had lofty ambitions and as such, the city itself has incredibly grand buildings,” says David who was lured to the city a few years ago and has since turned several heritage buildings into premium accommodation establishments.

Lounge room
Lounge room
Bedroom
Bedroom

“Our business is focused on renovating beautiful historic buildings without the, for want of a better term, ‘old lady’ interiors,” says David. Polished concrete/aggregate flooring, slabs of honed Nero Marquina marble, matte charcoal tiles and ribbed glass are just some of the home’s sumptuous parts that come together to create a rather irresistible whole.

Kitchen
Kitchen and dining room
Kitchen and dining room

“The house has a really masculine feel to it but there’s a real mix of light and dark,” says David. While the moody bathrooms have very little natural light, the upstairs bedrooms and the backyard are flooded with it. “The rooms in particular have big windows that let a lot of light in. You get a sense of different zones – there’s light and shade to the house, rather than everything being super white like many modern interiors,” says David.

Bedroom
Bedroom
Ensuite

And while the front of the home is steeped in history, the back extension is as modern as they come. A large kitchen and dining area, with bifold doors, overlooks a unique pool house; the structure was once home to a local blacksmith. “I love looking out to the pool house and all the shades of blue,” says David who explains that, when he purchased the home, one of the windows was intact while the other one had to be remade. “The amazing thing is that you can’t tell the old one from the new!”

Pool house
The pool house was once a Blacksmith shop
Pool house
Custom made benches sit next to the pool. “I wanted the seating to be quite art-like,” says David.

While currently closed due to Melbourne’s strict lockdown measures, the home is set to open as soon as they lift.

Front elevation
The front of the home

Book your stay

Photography: Myles Formby

Inside a raw and minimalist home in country Victoria

I once met a woman who spent every Saturday morning going to open houses. The thing was, she wasn’t looking to buy… she was just nosey! And while I haven’t…
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Interiors Addict

Serviced apartments Sydney: Three new design-led ones

Cult Design lounge
CULT

Based on a similar concept in Paris, III Rooms Sydney has just launched, offering serviced apartment accommodation with a super stylish twist. Fittingly located in the Paris end of Potts Point (in a heritage listed building on the corner of Macleay Street and Challis Avenue), the three European style apartments have been decked out by three renowned Australian design houses – Cult Design, MCM House and Jardan. It’s the perfect city stay for design lovers, and that’s before you consider the fabulous restaurants, wine bars and boutiques nearby.

Cult Design lounge
This apartment was styled by Cult Design

Inspired by the iconic 3 Rooms Paris (self-contained accommodation curated by fashion designer Azzedine Alaia), the apartments recreate the ‘unique and perfectly imperfect detail’ of apartment living in Paris, Milan or Venice. Each apartment has gorgeous period details including sash windows and high ceilings as well as an abundance of natural light.

This bedroom is found inside the Jardan designed apartment
This tranquil bedroom is found inside the Jardan designed apartment

All three have been filled with a stylish curation of furniture, styling pieces and original artwork. And the best part is that everything inside the apartments is available for purchase – it’s the perfect way to try before you buy!

This lounge room is filled with Jardan wares
This gorgeous lounge room is filled with Jardan wares

The first apartment is by Cult Design and features a tight edit of the brand’s classic collections. Local furniture and design brands combine with international pieces for a luxe, livable and sophisticated feel.

Cult Design created this luxe bedroom
Cult Design created this stunning bedroom. How’s that moody paint?

The apartment’s elegant light-drenched living and dining rooms are brimming with Danish design, while the sunroom is bursting with colour. All of the rooms feature artworks by M Contemporary.

The kitchen inside the Cult Design apartment
The kitchen inside the Cult Design apartment

The MCM House designed apartment highlights the building’s gorgeous heritage details with a subdued, calming and homely palette. There’s a reclaimed timber dining table with a photograph by Sam Davidson above, reflecting Potts Point’s unique brand of eclecticism.

MCM
MCM House’s apartment features interesting artwork including Sam Davidson’s ‘Burnout’ above the dining room table

In the third apartment, Jardan showcases its gorgeous handmade wares. The spaces are calm, uncluttered and designed to mimic a stylish family home.

This lounge and dining area was designed by Jardan
This Jardan styled apartment

The apartments start at $700 per night and are managed by Contemporary Hotels.

Book an apartment | Greg Natale shop opens in Sydney’s Potts Point

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Designers

Our guide to Australian weekend getaways for interiors addicts

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW

Who doesn’t love a holiday? If I could, I’d be jetting off every week… but alas there’s work and bills and money doesn’t grow on trees! So that’s where weekend getaways come in. They’re cheap(ish), only a drive away and allow you to appreciate all the beauty Australia has to offer. And when I say beauty I don’t just mean the great outdoors, but rather exquisitely designed accommodation. Below are our top picks for interiors addicts.

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW

The former surfer motel turned luxury hotel is situated at one of the country’s best surf breaks and one of its most idyllic beachfront towns, Cabarita Beach in northern NSW. With 19 rooms and two suites, each is individually designed with a definite sense of beachside nostalgia. Featuring an on-site restaurant and bar, plus a beachfront pool and terrace, it’s the ideal setting for a luxurious holiday.

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, NSW

Hotel Hotel, Canberra, ACT

Canberra got cool when Hotel Hotel arrived! A collaboration between designers, artists, artisans and fantasists, each of the 68 rooms (plus apartments and lofts) are unique. With a love for the well made and the handmade, the beds are made from reclaimed oak and the walls are a mix of concrete, cork, earthen clay and natural fibre wallpapers. To top it off there’s an onsite restaurant and bar, the go-to place for lucidity to debauchery between 6.30am and 1am!

Hotel Hotel, Canberra, ACT

Hotel Hotel, Canberra, ACT

The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW

Set within a 45 acre rainforest but just minutes from the centre of Byron Bay, the resort truly offers the best of both worlds. Whether your walking to the beach – pass a scrub turkey and tree frog, swimming in the infinity pool, practising yoga with the chilled but professional staff or stuffing yourself at the restaurant, the experience is quintessential Byron Bay.

The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW

The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW

QT Hotels & Resorts, Nationally (Sydney, Bondi, Melbourne, Falls Creek, Canberra, Gold Coast and Port Douglas)

The un-chainlike chain, QT Hotels & Resorts offers a personalised guest experience, top-notch dining and that signature touch of quirk. From the cockatoo-shaped lamps and retro beach chic at the Gold Coast to the politician photo-framed mirrors in Canberra, each hotel has a distinct playful personality.

QT Melbourne

QT Gold Coast

Art Series Hotel Group, Nationally (Melbourne, Bendigo, Brisbane and Adelaide)

Dedicated to Australian contemporary artists, each hotel takes design inspiration from its namesake artist, be it landscape artist John Olsen at The Olsen in Melbourne’s South Yarra or indigenous artist Yannima Pikarli Tommy Watson at The Watson in the Adelaide Hills. With original artworks and prints adorning the walls, the multifaceted art-inspired experience comes complete with art libraries, art tours and art utensils available on demand.

The Schaller, Bendigo, VIC

The Blackman, St Kilda, VIC

The Estate Trentham, VIC

The brainchild of designer and stylist Lynda Gardener, The Estate is a beautiful 1902 federation home in the heart of Trentham, one hour from Melbourne. Boutique accommodation at its best, the interiors are inspired by Scandinavia — think fresh white walls, dark floors and airy rooms; complemented by a mix of old and new furniture from European fleamarkets to local country finds. Two bedrooms are in the house and an original potato pickers shed houses the third. Lynda is also the mastermind behind three other, equally beautiful boutique Victoria properties: The White House Daylesford, The Apartment St Kilda and The White Room Fitzroy.

The Estate Trentham, VIC

The Estate Trentham, VIC

Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, TAS

The environment is the real star of the show at Saffire Freycinet. Set in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park, you’ll wake each morning to the pink-granite rocks of Hazards mountains and the blue water of Coles Bay. With the architecture and interiors inspired by nature the design is uncontrived and luxurious, creating an almost seamless feel between the inside and out.

Saffire Freycinet, Coles Bay, TAS

We hope you liked our list. Let us know what you would add. 

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Interiors Addict

Review: Our stay at Stayz property Yellow Door in Melbourne

We were recently faced with our first interstate wedding since becoming parents which threw us into a bit of an accommodation and babysitting dilemma! We needed to travel to the beautiful Yarra Valley outside Melbourne from Sydney. And we didn’t know anyone in Melbourne we could ask to look after Seb (apart from some other friends also coming to the wedding!). Not keen on leaving him with a stranger, we decided the best plan of attack was to take my brother in law, Uncle Dom, with us! He’d get a weekend in Melbourne on us and we could enjoy a rare night out knowing our 18-month-old was in safe and familiar hands.

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But where to stay? A family room would be a bit, well, awkward! And two hotel rooms? Exy! And hotel rooms aren’t the best places to entertain very active and sometimes noisy toddlers either! So when Stayz offered us the opportunity to stay at one of the properties on their books, Yellow Door, it seemed perfect.

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Yellow Door in Melbourne’s Coburg was a 50-minute drive from the wedding venue in the Yarra and super close to the city for exploring the next day. With four bedrooms we were spoilt for choice. Two had en suites and there was an third bathroom as well.

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But the best part about this house, on a quiet residential street, was how ridiculously family and child friendly it was! Usually, if we go and stay somewhere, we start with the sweep of anything breakable, moving it to a cupboard or a high shelf. But we didn’t need to do that here. Not that it was bare; it was actually really nicely and comfortably furnished. There just wasn’t any extra, unnecessary, breakable stuff! The floorboards were spill proof and it was all on one level apart from a small step down to the living room.

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Of course I’m all about the interiors and this one was really stylish with just the right amount of art, cushions, throw rugs and fresh flowers to look like they’d made the effort. Not a hint of holiday home hand me downs or mix and match nanna chic to be seen! And some lovely period features too.

It got even better when we opened the back door the next morning, in daylight, and discovered a completely fenced yard with table and chairs, where Sebby could happily and safely explore and we could enjoy our breakfast.

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Speaking of eating, the house comes with a high chair and a cot, which was assembled for us (make sure you mention in advance if you stay there and want to use it) and we even found a big box of toys in a wardrobe (you can only fit so many in your luggage after all!).

Mummy and Daddy enjoying the wedding while Uncle Dom babysits back at Yellow Door!
Mummy and Daddy enjoying the wedding while Uncle Dom babysits back at Yellow Door!

This would be an amazing place to stay with a few other couples, or even another family, for a weekend in Melbourne. And even better there’s another house behind belonging to the same people, and it’s possible to rent them both at the same time (connected via the back yard).

Stayz provides whole houses to rent throughout Australia; they don’t offer individual rooms or shared accommodation, but the whole house so you can stay together with your loved ones. This makes it a great option for a family getaway. With more than 40,000 properties on their books, you’re sure to find something that suits you! If you’d like to stay at Yellow Door too, find the details here.

Disclosure: We stayed at Yellow Door courtesy of Stayz in exchange for an honest review.

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House Tours

How to escape reality & live like a millionaire (temporarily!)

We all sometimes dream of living in a multimillion dollar property with all the space you could want, chic furnishings, a pool, a designer entertainer’s kitchen and so on. And how many times have you ‘real estate stalked’ the weekend’s for-sale listings (or is that just me?). Ever thought about staying at one of these amazing luxury properties for a night or two rather than a hotel? Get a group of friends or family together and you’ll suddenly find it an affordable getaway or staycation. I was amazed at the sort of properties available to rent through Stayz so I rounded up a few to show you what I mean!

This stunner is in Sydney’s Darling Point and I was lucky enough to get to look around recently. That sweeping lawn and imposing facade feel right out of the Great Gatsby! This amazing house costs $3,500 a night but sleeps eight. If you divide the cost, this makes it comparable to a 4-star hotel, and you get a heated pool and spa, more rooms than you’ll know what to do with, bags of character and so much more of a luxurious and unique experience for your money, if you ask me. Not to mention privacy.

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I’m still desperately looking for a reason to head back here to stay with a group of friends and live how the other half live for a weekend.

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Isn’t it amazing?

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If you’re in Melbourne, check out this property (below) in Malvern, VIC. It sleeps up to eight from a mere $1,360 a night, making it a relative bargain! It’s as impressive inside as it is out, and even has an elevator and pool.

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The ground floor is a huge open plan living and dining space with gorgeous furnishings. Although do bear in mind that parties are strictly banned here.

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If you prefer something with a little more old world charm, you might, like me, love Eaglemont (below), just 10km from Melbourne CBD. This luxurious mansion has majestic gardens, six bedrooms and five bathrooms, all spread over three levels. Not to mention the pool and games room.

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Although parties and large gatherings are usually not allowed when you book these properties, I absolutely love the idea of getting family together for a special celebration. It is often hard to get everyone in the same house and to be able to stay the night is always a treat and gives everyone more time together.

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Last but by no means least, check out this stunning Spanish style mansion, cantilevered off a cliff in Sydney’s super exclusive Vaucluse! Your from just $2,347 a night and sleeping up to eight (that’s less than $300 each), it retains many period features while having the best of everything new too.

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The interiors, as you can see, are divine. With its calming, white bright palette and sumptuous furnishings, you couldn’t fail to relax here!

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Book more properties like this through Stayz, offering more than 40,000 properties across Australia, from humble beachside shacks to grand country homes and everything in between. Why not think outside the hotel box for your next getaway?

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Interiors Addict

Six unique Airbnb bathrooms to steal ideas from

There’s a room in our homes where we come up with our best creative ideas, belt out the greatest love ballads, reflect on the highs and lows of the day, and perfect our photo-ready smile. Yes, we’re talking about the bathroom.

Edwardian house in the UK. Click through for more
Edwardian house in the UK. Click through for more

I personally LOVE a soak in the tub. My Australian friends don’t seem to get it but summer or winter, this Pom loves her baths and I’m really excited about our bathroom reno starting next month!

Lake Como house steam room. Click through for more.
Lake Como house steam room. Click through for more.

It’s the one of the most important, yet sometimes understated rooms in the home, so why should it feel any different while traveling? Bathrooms should bring you the familiar comforts and serenity of home, helping you feel at ease in order to face the day with gusto. And there’s nothing better than a long soak or refreshing shower after a busy day’s sightseeing.

American lake cottage. Click through for more.
American lake cottage. Click through for more.

Villa in Bali. Click through for more.
Villa in Bali. Click through for more.

On Airbnb, not only can users find a wide variety of listings with unique bathrooms to match for their next adventure, but many Australians have also admitted to using Airbnb as a platform for home décor inspiration. That’s pretty smart if you ask me. We’ve all been doing it with real estate listings for years!

Luxury LA house. Click through for more.
Luxury LA house. Click through for more.

Scottish castle bathroom. Click through for more.
Scottish castle bathroom. Click through for more.

So whether you’re looking for a departure from the usual, like an al fresco soak with 360-degree views, or spa-inspired retreats with steam rooms to boot, the chances are you’ll find it on the accommodation booking site. We hope you enjoyed the inspo from six of our favourite Airbnb bathrooms! Which would be your pick?

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Homewares House Tours

Stylish Bowral weekender where the furnishings are for sale

I love an old school holiday rental with mismatching nanna blankets as much as the next person and have stayed in many! But I’m also a sucker for something super stylish, unique and luxurious and, now I have a baby, I’m increasingly looking for self-catering options over hotels. House By Them is a charming weekend getaway which provides guests with a unique opportunity to stay amongst innovative art and design while enjoying all that the Southern Highlands of NSW has to offer.

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Located in Bowral, House By Them has been brought to life by Anna Byng and Ursula Armstrong, owners of Made By Others art and design store in nearby Moss Vale. The three-bedroom weatherboard cottage is not just a place to stay but is essentially an extension of the store’s philosophy to showcase the work of innovative artists and designers. The property is furnished with contemporary art, furniture and design – sourced from both emerging artists and established names like Marimekko and Dinosaur Designs.

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What makes it a truly unique place to stay is that guests have the opportunity to purchase anything within the house that takes their fancy, either through the Made By Others store or by being introduced to the artists and designers directly.

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“We’ve always loved connecting people with fabulous art and design through our store,” said Anna. “House By Them is a natural extension of that love. Not only is it a great base for people from which to explore the Southern Highlands, but it is a wonderful opportunity to share some of the art and design that we love with our guests.”

Ursula and Anna worked tirelessly to curate everything, from the furniture to the art on the walls to the homewares, via sources that fitted with their existing philosophies. “While we already knew from our experience at Made By Others where we could source a lot of things, we still really had to look everywhere to find exactly what we needed in order to make the house just right,” Ursula said.

The house is available year-round and can be booked through Highlands Holidays via the website.

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Art Homewares Styling

World ­first accommodation experience with Etsy at The Cullen

​Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, has partnered with Melbourne hotel The Cullen (one of my personal favourites), to create an unforgettable curated accommodation experience. For two weeks in April, guests will have the opportunity stay in a one ­of ­a kind junior penthouse suite styled with products available on ​Etsy.

Brooke Holm (left) and Marsha Golemac
Brooke Holm (left) and Marsha Golemac

Stylist Marsha Golemac and ​photographer Brooke Holm are set to curate and style the suite, located in the trendy suburb of Prahran. ​The products, a mix of handmade and vintage homewares, have been sourced ​through Australia’s burgeoning Etsy community of makers and finders. The result will be a world ­first boutique hotel experience.

“Etsy at The Cullen is a unique collaboration,” says Marsha. “We see that bringing together retail, local design, art and luxury as a rare combination that makes for an exciting and challenging opportunity. We’ve sourced products from Etsy designers and artists across Australia to create a ‘home away from home’ hotel setting. We wanted to enhance the luxe and artistic elements of The Cullen with exceptional designs to create a space that is considered, tasteful and bursting with character.”

Bookings for the Etsy at The Cullen suite are now open at​ for stays between 13 and 29 April 2015.

Visitors will also get the chance to experience the suite first hand at an open day on Saturday 11 April. This free event will give visitors the opportunity to tour the curated room and learn about the latest trends in homewares. The products featured in the space will be available for purchase at Etsy.com

Helen Souness, Etsy’s managing director for Australia and Asia, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a truly innovative hotel as The Cullen. We have an incredible range of homewares for sale in our marketplace and it is wonderful to be able to present a carefully curated selection in a contemporary hotel space. It provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the work of Etsy’s Australian creative community.”

Beckie Mitchell, Art Series Hotel Group’s marketing manager, said: “Being big fans of the work ​of Etsy makers and creatives​around the world, we jumped at the chance to collaborate on such an exciting project.”

For more information.

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Bedrooms Travel

Olivia discovers “cool” Canberra at Hotel Hotel

So, this weekend I learnt a very valuable lesson: Canberra is no longer the boring old country town I remember from my Year 6 school trip! It’s actually become (dare I say…) quite cool, with a flurry of cafes, shops and hotels having opened up that look more suited to the streets of Sydney’s Surry Hills than Australia’s capital city.

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Leading Canberra into the next phase of its stylish new life is NewActon, the arts and culture precinct. Home to some of the best hotels, restaurants and bars in the city, as well as having an active arts scene thanks to festivals, exhibitions and a cinema, NewActon is a grand feat of architecture and design. It has won more awards (local and national) across architecture, property development and urban design than any other in Canberra’s history, and that’s no surprise.

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But the pinnacle of New Acton has to be Hotel Hotel, which prides itself on being not just another boutique art hotel, but an ‘intense collaboration of 56 (and counting) artists, designers, and makers’. Having visited just last weekend, I can honestly say that it is wonderful! The detail is superb, from the grand staircase made from salvaged local timber, all the way down to the glassware and ceramics, absolutely everything in this hotel is carefully considered. Walking around you’re in a constant state of awe and that’s before you’ve even hit the bedrooms and bathrooms. And my my when you do, get ready to be amazed!

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I stayed in The Meandering Room, their most spacious, but with four room sizes, plus multiple types of apartments, there’s plenty of choice. My room was on the first floor and only had the one smallish window that looked into an internal atrium populated with ferns from a Tasmanian forest destined for clearance (they’re big on sustainability). While the lack of light would have normally been something that would have annoyed me, this time it didn’t, with the raw materiality of the room: the clay rendered walls, natural fibre wallpaper and salvaged oak beds actually making it feel cosy and warm.

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The rooms, which have all been furnished in their own unique way, are filled with salvaged and re-upholstered mid-twentieth century furniture, one-off designs made by local artisans and curious and beautiful objects collected over ten years. However, it is the bathrooms that take them to the next level: think a deep polished concrete bathtub, double rain showers, double vanities and a heated floor!

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And while it is easy to see why you may want to stay in your room all day, if you do dare to venture outside, you won’t be short of things to do. There’s Monster, the kitchen and bar on the ground floor, serving delicious food from 6.30am to 1am, the most gorgeous little library where you can enjoy a cocktail and a read, and some super stylish Goodspeed bikes you can rent for free and cycle the 10-to-15 minutes to Parliament House if you’re so inclined.

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While Canberra has never been top of my places to revisit, I can honestly say that my stay at Hotel Hotel has changed my mind. It may still be a bit of a sleepy town but with hotels this good, I’ll be trying to think of an excuse to return ASAP!

Disclosure: I was a guest of Hotel Hotel and did not pay for my accommodation or meals. Positive coverage was not guaranteed.

Categories
Travel

Addict Abroad: The College Hotel, Amsterdam

On our trip to Amsterdam last month, we stayed in a really cool coverted school called, not surpisingly, The College Hotel! But it was much more stylish and comfortable than the name might suggest!

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I love a bit of hotel luxury but I’m more interested in boutique accommodation than the predictability of international hotel chains. The College ticked all my important boxes: interesting interiors, a very large and comfortable bed, friendly and attentive (but not over the top) staff, coffee-making facilities (don’t roll your eyes, caffeine is important!), free wifi and a full size tub!

Sadly, there was no snow on our visit but the sunshine was very welcome!

With just 40 rooms, the four-star hotel feels intimate and cosy. I can’t fault the location, 15 minutes door to door by tram from Centraal Station in the leafy, quiet and fashionable Zuid (south) area, and even closer to the museums.

Read the full review on the Expedia blog.

Read more about what we got up to and what we recommend in this great city, in the Interiors Addict’s Guide to Amsterdam.

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Interiors Addict

Latest Art Series Hotel is named after Schaller

Mark Schaller has been named as the artist namesake for the latest Art Series Hotel Group property in Bendigo, due to open in May.

Schaller, a well-respected Melbourne artist, was a founding member of the ROAR studios; a bold group of artists united by their interests in Expressionism and Primitivism. He works fluently across a variety of art forms including sculpture, ceramics, and painting. 

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Categories
Travel

Interiors Addict on tour: Bells at Killcare

A couple of months ago, as life started to get a bit sleepless and stressful in the lead-up to our wedding, Damian and I headed to Bells at Killcare for an overnight getaway.

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It wasn’t our first visit so we knew to expect something gorgeous but it had gone up a few notches since our last stay and has now reached the very rare level of faultless (I’m one of those people who will always find something to whinge about, especially when something is pricey, and I’m a Pom after all).

Bells is couples-only and as weekend retreats from Sydney go, you can’t beat it. It’s less than an hour and half drive north of the CBD on the NSW central coast, which makes it absolutely possible to be there in time for dinner on Friday night, which we were. Because on top of everything that’s amazing about the accommodation, service and location, there’s also Manfredi at Bells, the on-site restaurant, which has retained its One Hat status since opening in 2008.

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There are no rooms at Bells, there are suites, cottage and villas. They’re all decorated in the same comfortable, classic, Hamptons style. Everything is top notch and good quality. No corners are cut. Instant coffee sachets? You must be joking. Their own blend bath salts with essential oils? Of course! I’m a big bath fan and let me tell you, this was the best bath I’ve ever been in!

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