The shipping container home trend is one that has evolved over the years. Initially celebrated as a cost-effective way to add an extra room (think granny flat, home office, spare bedroom or recreational zone), shipping containers are now being used to construct entire houses and even pools too. Offering a much quicker build time than traditional construction, a container home is often a cheaper alternative too.
Rather than having to spend the big bucks on renovating or even moving home, Royal Wolf’s latest residential product, the Outdoor Room, will give you that extra space and save you from packing your bags. And it can even be temporary.
Innovative, flexible and just darn cool, the Outdoor Room take shipping containers and transform them into anything from a retreat or home office, to a spare bedroom and chill out zone. Available for purchase or rent, the 20-foot modular units are decked out with power, lighting and air conditioning and feature timber flooring, superior insulation and glass sliding doors.
Delivered to your door as a blank slate, the portable and secure container solutions can be used and furnished by consumers to create whatever type of room is needed, with colour-customisation available to suit any setting. Available to buy or hire, they are the perfect solution for those looking for permanent or temporary extra space.
From small single container cabins and granny flats to commercial spaces (think pop-up shops and toilet blocks), and large scale luxury container homes, Container Build Group is one of Australia’s most prominent container home companies. Its residential projects range from an impressive two storey home in Sydney’s Cronulla to a rural container home in Bundeena and a luxury container home ‘The Lindendale.’ The latter was configured using 14 20-foot shipping containers before being kitted out with high-end inclusions.
Shipping containers are also being used as backyard pools with the aptly monikered Shipping Container Pools leading the charge. All you need is a level site with a concrete pad, or crusher rock base, plus a certified electrical connection and you can “plug, fill and play!” according to the company.
Each pool comes with a skimmer box, single speed pump, cartridge filter, multi-coloured LED light plus child safety door, access stairs and decking. As a bonus, you can select any Colorbond shade for the exterior colour.
Shipping Container Conversions convert 10, 20 and 40 foot containers into kids’ cubby houses, man caves, ‘she’ sheds, spare rooms, cabins and self-described “end of the world bunkers!” The company has a focus on energy saving techniques too.
This popular post from 2014 has been updated to give readers more relevant content.
Renovating a bathroom is not cheap! So give yours a more affordable update with these seven trendy bathroom accessories.
Sleek and minimal, the Norm Bathroom Set ($865) is designed by Copenhagen-based Norm Architects. Featuring modern and clean lines, this set is sure to suit any contemporary bathroom. Made from steel and plastic, the set includes a pedal bin, container, soap pump, toilet brush and toothbrush holder.
The quirky Tooth Brush Holder by Outliving provides just the right amount of fun to the bathroom. Made of delicate ceramic glazed in either white, silver or gold it retails for $29.95.
Gridy Me Mirror ($242) is one of the results of Menu’s new strategy to collaborate with some of the most talented designers in the world, in this case Wilhelm Grieg Teisner and Lars Olav Dybdal. Simple in its idea and aesthetic but impressive in use, materials and diversity, it features a normal mirror on one side and a copper tone on the other.
Inspired by an open flower, Lulu Hooks come to full blossom on your wall. Available in five sizes and six finishes, the combination and lay-out is entirely up to you, resulting in every installation being entirely different. They can also be used more traditionally as single items. Winner of the Red Dot Design Award 2010, prices start from $39.95.
The Bath Towel Ladder ($449.95) is an informal and flexible piece of furniture made for storing towels and accessories in the bathroom, or even clothes in the bedroom and coats in the hallway. Designed by Norm Architects, it is made from powder coated aluminium, oak (light or dark) and leather.
Ian Monty is a local carpenter who designs and supplies these natural Cedar Mats. They are available in three sizes (or custom upon request) and are perfect for wet areas such as outdoor showers. Prices start from $200.
Available in two sizes the Tombolo Bath Rack is a contemporary rack available in oak or walnut laminate. With distinctive cut-outs for a towel and glasses, prices start from $545.
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People have always spoken highly of Bali for homewares shopping and I thought it would be worth a look. But to be honest, it was never too high on my radar due to all the speculation about Bali in the media. But let me tell you, it’s a lot safer than we’re made to believe and it’s well worth more than just a look. I’m considering making it an annual expedition!
I’m not sure if my level of excitement was due to fact I was finally going on a holiday or the sheer fact that I was an instant millionaire once I exchanged some money. But the range of homewares on offer far exceeded what I ever expected and the prices were just the icing on the cake!
I only had five days to relax by the pool drinking cocktails. Let’s be honest, I was there to shop and boy was I on a mission to fit everything in from my 10-page long itinerary! Instead of running around like a crazy person (like I did) trying to see every single décor piece Bali has to offer, I’ve compiled a ‘best of’ homewares shopping guide to Bali for you. But first, you will need somewhere to stay.
Bali Dyana Villas, Two Bedroom Villa
The place to be is Seminyak and we stayed at the Bali Dyana Villas which was in a great location. We could walk to loads of shops and restaurants and were only a 10-minute walk to the beach. Ok, now onto the important stuff, HOMEWARES! Most of the homewares stores in Seminyak are sort of grouped together which makes navigating between them a whole lot easier.
If you want to stay out of the hussle and bustle and a gated community is more your thing, then Nusa Dua is a good choice. It’s around half an hour’s drive from Seminyak. There’s not much shopping out there but you will certainly get the opportunity to relax. Totally off topic from homewares, but if you’re a foodie like me, you need to check out the buffet at the Mulia Hotel at Nusa Dua (it’s lifechanging).
Clockwise from top left: Kody & Co, Kody & Co, Hobo & White Peacock
Feather & Find has loads of homewares and fashion, they have a great selection of colourful cushion covers to liven up your space. Think neon painted buddha heads, modern art, painted bulls and colourful beanbags at Kody & Ko. I found out their gorgeous paintings aren’t in fact originals, but if you’re into replicas you can pick one up for a steal! Hobo is the brainchild of Anna Pretty who arrived in Bali in 2009. She has loads of interior design experience with bigwigs like Philippe Starck, Wedgewood, Tom Dixon, Zara Home and Habitat and decided to strike out on her own by opening her own homewares and furniture brand. It is well worth the visit and is reasonably priced with a great range. White Peacock stocks a range of fashion and homewares. Think pineapples, pillows, peacock chairs, boho and beach vibes.
Seminyak Markets, Feather and Find, Kody & Co, Hobo and White Peacock are all within walking distance of each other. While you’re here, I found the best markets to be the ones at Seminyak Square in the car park where you will be able to pick up an assortment of homewares and clothes on the cheap. There are also loads of cool clothing boutiques along the street like Natasha Gann.
Carga
Carga was hands down one of my favourite stores of the whole trip. You can’t bargain but the prices are very reasonable and still way cheaper than Australia for what’s on offer. Bathe delivers a lively collection of homewares and stylish accessories to complement their line of handmade paraffin and paraben-free soaps and daily bath/grooming products for men, women and children. Carga and Bathe are right near the W Hotel which has a gorgeous interior and also has some shops in it (it seems very overpriced though compared to everything else in Bali) but having a cocktail there by the beach is well worth it!!
Mercedi
There is a strong French feel at Mercredi, where you can pick up some gorgeous cushions and throws. Their brightly coloured bedspreads are to die for! If you are after souvenirs, Balinese knickknacks or multiple floors of other random goodies, visit Geneva, which is just down the road from Mercredi.
Ubud
If you’re into artsy crafty homemade wares, it’s well worth the day trip to Ubud. It is about an hour away from Seminyak. I found loads of cool stores on the way to Ubud on the side of the road. We hired a driver to take us for the day in a nice air conditioned van and whenever we saw something that caught our eye, he would pull over and yes, this was by far a super lazy way to shop but hey, it was effective I found so many of my favourite items this way! The street stalls have the biggest range of shells, wood, lights, lanterns and statues.
Once you get to Ubud, if shopping is your thing, you’re in for a real treat. The sheer volume of arts and crafts, clothing, unique housewares and antiques available here is truly mind-boggling (don’t forget to bargain)! You can find pretty much anything you can dream of along the streets and at the Sukawati markets. There is even a Sacred Monkey Forest and you can even see the good doctor Ketut Liyer from Eat Pray Love!
Kuta
To be perfectly honest, Kuta didn’t impress me at all. I found it wasn’t as nice and didn’t feel as safe as Seminyak or the other places we went to. But they do have a fabric warehouse which is well worth the look called Alta Moda. They have a huge range of materials over three floors, which are sourced from around the world. The decision is yours to make whether you just buy their material or to have their tailor whip something up for you.
My Bali haul
Don’t take much with you, especially if you’re at a villa with a maid as they do your washing daily (this will also leave you more room in your case for homewares). I sort of set myself a limit and said you can bring back whatever you like, just no shipping containers! Well, not for my first visit anyway…
If you do happen to buy big ticket items that are too bulky for your luggage, Sourcing Bali will take care of all of your shipping needs and they have personal shopping helpers who will assist with negotiations, product selections, order placement, and payment.
Anyone know of any Interiors Addict Anonymous groups I can sign up at? Have you been to Bali before? What were your favourite homewares stores?
Kathryn is our girl on the ground in Melbourne, you can follow her design adventures on Instagram @thedesignrookie
