Tag: contemporary

Weatherboard homes: three looks (that aren’t Hamptons!)

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date June 20, 2018
1 Comment on Weatherboard homes: three looks (that aren’t Hamptons!)

Australia’s love affair with the weatherboard look can be seen in many of our historic and most popular styles – from the Queenslander to coastal and new, contemporary designs.

“Weatherboard is extremely versatile and is embedded in Australian home design. Traditionally, timber has been the go-to, but today, we have more advanced options, like Linea Weatherboard, which open up new design possibilities for personal style to shine through,” says Steve Pisani, national builder business manager, Scyon Walls.

Here, Steve offers his top tips for achieving three of the most authentic Aussie home designs with cladding:

Contemporary

Combining a mixture of materials when building or renovating allows homeowners to increase visual interest, add personality and make the style of the home their own. Often built to create an immediate impact, these stand-out designs can be softened to suit suburban surrounds with the addition of more traditional materials like weatherboard.

Most modern contemporary designs use a number of types of cladding. Linea Weatherboard is narrow with clean lines and deep shadows. The smooth texture and square profile boards provide crisp definition and can be painted any colour for a contemporary look. For larger expanses use the 180mm boards to create a larger feel and scale down to the 150mm in smaller areas to enhance the perception of space.

The mix of materials can add to the functionality of a home while instilling a strong sense of individual style and character to the home.

Coastal

The main elements of the coastal style mirror the beach itself, light, breezy and open. Choose a colour palette of whites, creams, greys and blues that reflect the hues of the beach and add to the easy-going, simple feel. The architecture of the house should accentuate the view and blur the line between the indoors and outdoors. When designing the home, opt for large, open-plan rooms with many windows and skylights, to allow sunshine to flood in and create clear sightlines to the outdoors.

If the house is located in a coastal area, selecting materials that can withstand the harsh climate is vital. Linea Weatherboard is able to achieve the deep shadow line look of traditional timber options without the maintenance, as it is less prone to flaking, warping or swelling, and is resistant to fire and damage from termites and moisture.

The Queenslander

Developed in the 1840s, the uniquely Australian Queenslander is a design response to the sub-tropical climate of north-eastern Australia. Today we see modern interpretations of the classic Queenslander style with elements including elevated spaces, heritage detailing and partially enclosed verandas that extend the indoor living space and provide relief from lengthy, warm summer days.

When building elevated homes, keeping the weight of building materials to a minimum is key. Choose light timber frames with weatherboard look cladding to achieve the classic aesthetic and functionality of the Queenslander. Linea Weatherboards are lightweight and easy to install, making a crisp, clean timber look quick and easy to achieve.

The Scyon™ brand is owned by James Hardie Technologies™ Ltd and was invented in the research and development facility at James Hardie Rosehill, NSW. Launched in 2006, Scyon products are made from sand, cement and cellulose. Scyon is manufactured at plants in Rosehill, NSW, Carole Park, QLD and Penrose in Auckland, New Zealand.

Tags cladding, coastal, contemporary, exterior, hamptons, james hardie, linea, linen boards, queenslander, scion, weatherboard

Art Kids Rooms

Urban Road’s new poster collection has a fresh, young vibe

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date May 12, 2017
No Comments on Urban Road’s new poster collection has a fresh, young vibe

Arguably its most contemporary collection yet, Urban Road’s new poster collection landed in our inbox this week and we are rather taken. From photography to graphic design and painting, the collection includes nature scenes, plants, flowers, abstracts, animals, typography and the female form and it’s priced from a very affordable $34!

“We wanted to collate pieces that were edgy, fun, graphic and playful. The collection is really versatile and suits a lot of different on-trend decors such as minimalism, Scandi, coastal or the Hamptons,” says Urban Road’s creative director Suzie Atkin.

Botanical-themed posters reflect Pantone’s colour of the year ‘Greenery’

The colours are very on-trend too with black, white, grey, blush pink, soft blue and leafy green in the mix. In addition, the posters can be purchased unframed or framed in white, black or natural solid wood, and they come ready to hang. Premium shatterproof acrylic protects the poster prints too.

These super sweet animal art posters are ideal for a girl’s nursery

“There are gorgeous animal art posters and inspirational, comforting typography prints which would look amazing in either a nursery or an older tween’s bedroom,” says Suzie who thinks the collection is perfect for younger family members.

A departure for the brand that is known for its canvas artworks, the posters are giclée printed with archival inks on high-quality cotton rag, natural white, matte art paper and they come in eight sizes, ranging from small (20 x 25cm) to larger scale prints (75 x 100cm).

A self-taught artist and illustrator, Suzie established Urban Road in 2010 when she noticed a gap in the market for original, affordable canvas art prints. The range has since expanded to include complementary cushions and rugs which take the guesswork out of styling your home.

The prints are available from Monday. Shop online

Tags affordable art, art, contemporary, kids rooms, styling, tweens, urban road

Architecture Before & Afters Design Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real Reno: Neglected hoarder’s hovel transformed into breathtaking family home

Post author By Lauren Ellis
Post date September 8, 2016
No Comments on Real Reno: Neglected hoarder’s hovel transformed into breathtaking family home

A heritage listed, dilapidated hoarder’s home set on an incredibly steep block. It’s enough to frighten the most experienced renovator but in just eight months, two courageous brothers have transformed the junk-filled squalor into a multi-million dollar property.

“It was our second hoarder house so I was a little more confident this time. Doing a major renovation, you just ignore it and look at elevation, the view and try to get a feel for the finished product,” said owner of Graya Construction Rob Gray.

The finished product is a contemporary four-bedroom family home, with three bathrooms, two living areas and a pool, split over three levels. “It’s very steep and the most tricky part of the build was having to slide the two-story original house. We had to slide it down the hill and just getting the machines up and down and material in and out was a bit of a nightmare. Being on a steep block can easily add 20% to the cost of the build,” said Rob.

BEFORE backyard. Bulldozers are brought in to removes the piles of rubbish and begin earthworks — BEFORE backyard

To meet heritage guidelines, the weathered front façade has been restored and the original framework remodelled to form a spacious master bedroom on the top level, with sweeping views of the neighbourhood.

“With the heritage listing there are two options: you can essentially keep the character throughout the whole house, or you can modern it up which is what we chose to do,” Rob said. “I think the master bedroom is easily the best part of the house, the whole level is just yours. It’s huge. It’s a 3.4-metre ceiling and every person that’s seen the house is just blown away by it.”

But it’s the rear extension, with its expansive timber lined roof and walls, that makes your jaw drop. “I love using natural timber both inside and out. It softens it up and adds texture. White gyprock can be very boring,” Rob said.

The second level of the home features the guest bedroom, main living area and an open-plan kitchen with “super-white” marble bench-tops that Rob says “catch the light and sharpen up the island to give it an element of architecture.”

A large void and staircase lead down to the ground level, where you’ll find two more bedrooms and the rumpus, which opens out to the pool.

Purchased in late 2015 for $750,000, it took Rob and the team just eight months to complete the renovation. “I started designing the plan when it was under contract so when it settled, I was busy on another job for four weeks then I jumped straight onto it. It was a 30-day settlement and I used that in planning and that’s a big one for anyone that’s looking to do something to on-sell is really use that time to your advantage.”

He adds: “If you are designing it for your family or designing it to sell, it’s two different processes. If you’re designing it to on-sell you have to get in the mind of your buyer. But if you’re designing it for yourself the first step is to decide how many different bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas you want then I would start looking at sizes. Compare houses on the market to what you want to build. Then work out roughly how many square metres you need to get the house that you desire before you start drawing, which people always forget to do. It is really important to talk to some builders and get some estimates on square metres. People really miss that step and it always comes back to bite them.”

Rob also suggests would-be renovators tread carefully with trends to ensure a renovation stays timeless. “There is nothing worse than a modern house where people use the latest fads and then two years down the track it just doesn’t look good and devalues the house. Try to avoid glosses. Use matt two-pack in the kitchen, matt coating on the timber floors and tiles. I did go black tapware in this house but it’s an easy cosmetic update.”

The hoarder house, in the sought-after Queensland suburb of Paddington, is now known as the water tower home and sold prior to auction to a couple with a young family.

You can find out more about Rob and the team at Graya Construction here. Photos courtesy of Scott Burrows Photography.

Tags architecture, before and after, building, construction, contemporary, design, graya construction, hoarder home, home reno, home renovation, modern, real estate, real reno, renovating for profit, renovation

Architecture Design RENO ADDICT Shopping

Gyprock launches new cornice profile, perfect for the chic modern home

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date September 22, 2015
No Comments on Gyprock launches new cornice profile, perfect for the chic modern home

While I do love the occasional colourful, pattern-crazy interior, as a rule, I’m a big believer that less is more.

Minimalist homes can often make a space look bigger and calmer, however, it’s still important to have some personality! So incorporating building elements, such as cornices, can provide an attractive finish to help create balance and liveliness in a contemporary environment.

Developed for just this need, the new Presto Cornice from Gyprock is a chic architectural feature, delivering a subtle impact while adding depth and warmth. The profile demonstrates geometric simplicity by merging modern design elements with elegantly finished edges. Quick to cut and fast to install, Presto is a cost-effective way to give your ceiling a clean and modern finish and offers a great alternative to the basic look of a square setting.

Presto’s smart and sophisticated design, features a 92mm flat face, which forms a 15mm step along the ceiling. It can be installed on plasterboard, fibrous plaster or cement rendered surfaces and is easily adaptable to any interior.

Comprehensive installation instructions including residential installation guidelines and DIY installation guides and videos can be found on the Gyprock website under the Resources tab.

For more information.

Tags contemporary, cornice, CSR, CSR Gyprock, design, gyprock, inner city, interiors, modern, modern home, presto, presto cornice

Bedrooms Homewares

Be royal in bed with Doulton’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date September 21, 2015
No Comments on Be royal in bed with Doulton’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection

Fresh and utterly contemporary, Royal Doulton’s second bed linen range from Legend Australia is sure to impress.

The new Spring/Summer collection complements the warmer months with its seasonal colour palletes on abstract patterns paired with luxurious fabrics. The focus is summer; colours include fresh sage, elegant navy and relaxed neutrals all with a generous addition of crisp white.

The sets can all be mix and matched to create a totally unique look for your bedroom. Most of the quilt covers even have a different pattern on the reverse – bonus!

The new collection includes Pacific Navy, an abstract take on the summer waves using a timeless palette of crisp white flowing onto shades of deep blue. This design lends itself to a fresh and casual layering of Archer Pewter sheets with Harper Navy cushions.

Fable Sage features floral motifs mixed with navy and white, in a cotton sateen print. It teams up well with the intricate white foliage pattern of Gorman White.

If you’re after a more elegant take on the warmer hues, Tate Sage is the answer. With stripes of minty green, navy and silver on fresh white, the design is sophisticated and vibrant without being overstated.

Another design is Belvedere, featuring soothing neutrals on crystal stemware patterns. With a flange in white on the quilt cover and pillowcases, the result is an elegant double-layered look.

The cherry on top is the luxurious selection of cushions. Available in cotton slub, brushed velvet, or cotton canvas, some cushions feature cord piping and hand-embroidered beading.

This is the epitome of contemporary bedding elegance. Take a look at the full collection online.

Bedrooms Homewares

Iconic designs in the bedroom with Florence Broadhurst

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date September 18, 2015
No Comments on Iconic designs in the bedroom with Florence Broadhurst

Legend Australia has done it again, taking Florence Broadhurst’s iconic designs to produce a timeless yet contemporary bedlinen collection for Spring/Summer 2015.

The latest Japanese-inspired designs include relaxed botanical prints such as Spotted Floral in Chambray and Japanese Floral in Pontoon. The delicate patterning of The Cranes in classic White or more dramatic Navy are perfectly coloured for warm summer nights.

A more formal print, Medallion Silver, utilises a repeat centrepoint motif to great effect while Zig Zag Natural is a striking interlock geometric in warm grey on summer white.

Customisable is this collections’s middle name, with each quilt boasting a different print on the reverse. Each design even has several options in colour and pattern to choose from – coordinate these with the mix of cushions, throws and bathroom towels on offer and you have a truly unique bed linen collection.

Florence Broadhurst bedlinen is available nationally from David Jones and bedlinen specialists.

Bedrooms Homewares

Match sheets and cups with Wedgwood’s first bedlinen range

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date September 14, 2015
No Comments on Match sheets and cups with Wedgwood’s first bedlinen range

In collaboration with Legend Australia, Wedgwood’s first ever bedlinen collection has arrived – and it is delicious!

Wild Strawberry White 2 — Wild Strawberry

Drawing inspiration from the brand’s own teaware patterns, the Spring/Summer 2015 range is a fresh, contemporary (and not to mention luxurious) take on the classics.

The five designs include Wild Strawberry, a finely printed pattern of pink blossoms, verdant leaves and succulent fruit on a crisp white background, Hibiscus, a palette of indigo blues that was inspired by a Wedgwood pattern dating back to 1810, and Night & Day, a complex mix of white on white pattern and weaves.

All the sheet sets come in pure cotton sateen fabrics with self- flange trims and elegant detailing. They also have towels, cushions and throws to match, and are available nationally at David Jones.

Bedrooms House Tours Interviews RENO ADDICT Styling

House tour: stylist Tess Beagley’s contemporary coastal weatherboard

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date June 18, 2015
No Comments on House tour: stylist Tess Beagley’s contemporary coastal weatherboard

As an interior stylist and founder of Minted Interiors, Tess Beagley has an eye for spotting potential. Stumbling upon an old weatherboard worker’s cottage in the coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia, she immediately fell in love with the bones of the property.

“We really wanted to achieve a crisp, contemporary, coastal vibe whilst paying respect to the character and history of the house,” explains Tess. “We chose a light paint colour to promote as much natural light as possible and highlighted the character of the home by keeping or adding features like timber cladding, dado rails, antique French doors and double hung wood frame windows.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”3QNj1nZ0gpk9ijt4s3rZ9HXBCnVyy6Mr”]Keeping the walls and floors neutral, Tess then layered the furniture and decor to create a coastal vibe, without being too literal (there’s no overdose of seaside paraphernalia here!). “I love the fusion of old and new, so using contemporary pieces against a classically neutral character base is my idea of heaven. Think plenty of plants, coral, relaxed and sometimes worn furniture, natural materials like rattan, timber, leather, tin and marble, as well as plenty of soft textiles to soften and bring colour to each space.”

Home to Tess, her husband Yves and their young daughters Lotte and Jemima, since they’ve revamped the property Tess loves nearly every room of the house (though she is keen to renovate the kitchen). Favouring their extended deck and spacious dining room, it is the master bedroom that has cemented itself at the top of her list. “It’s always filled with the most beautiful light, has stunning antique French doors which came from an old local hospital, a view of the ocean and a soft, relaxing vibe which offers a little sanctuary from the world. It’s the perfect spot to relax at the end of a long day, if only I had more time to spend there! “

A lover of antiques, it’s not just her bedroom that is filled with one-of-a-kinds, with Tess’ antique dining room dresser taking pride of place in her home. “It first belonged to Yves’ great-grandmother Alice who passed it down to her daughter, before it was passed down to Yves’ mum who had it restored and then passed it on to us. It has been in the family for four generations and hopefully we can make it a fifth!”

Also a favourite is the chest of drawers in the girl’s bedroom: “It used to be vanished pine with huge ugly pine knobs. Yves and I gave it a revamp — a lick of paint, map inserts and new handles just before Lotte was born and now it’s a very treasured piece in our home.”

Running interior, product and event styling services through her business Minted Interiors, it’s no surprise Tess’ home is gorgeous. It’s also no surprise that she never stops coming up with new design ideas; a stylist’s work is never done! “We’ve done plenty of work since moving in but have more plans in the pipeline. We want to move our kitchen from the centre of the house to the front, to create a more functional, open living plan and provide direct access to the deck/yard to take in the beautiful ocean views. Definitely not looking forward to the chaos of renovating with toddlers but the rewards will be worth it!”

For more information.

Tags antique, coastal, contemporary, design, home, house, house tours, interiors, Minted Interiors, real homes, renovation, styling, Tess Beagley, weatherboard

Expert Tips

How to achieve feng shui in a contemporary space

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date August 15, 2014

By Adam Liebson

Ask anybody in the interior design business about feng shui and they will tell you that it can be a little complicated. It takes years for someone to become a master of feng shui, but there are some simple tenets that can be used by anyone to achieve a better environment in their contemporary home.

So what is feng shui?

To give you an overview, feng shui is centred around the idea of creating positive energy in the home, office, or any other space that you spend a lot of time in. This use of life force energy, also known as ‘qi/chi’ (pronounced chee), to influence positivity is a time-tested formula that promotes healthy living conditions and good fortune for a person.

Feng shui works well in contemporary and modern designs, as the minimalist approach and lack of clutter allow the qi/chi to circulate unimpeded around the home.

Achieving feng shui in your home: colour

A basic principle of feng shui is the five key elements of Wood, Earth, Fire, Water and Metal. Different colours are associated with each of these elements, and can be used to promote good feng shui in different areas of your life. For example:

Wood: Brown and green. The colour green is primarily used for the balancing of family life and improving your health. These colours do well in all rooms where the family tends to congregate.

Earth: Light brown, pale yellow, and sandy, earthy colours. These colours are used to centre your energy and promote harmony in your life, and are best when used in an area of the home that you use for resting. This is primarily the bedroom, but if, for example, if you enjoy long, relaxing bubble baths, neutral earthy colours are an excellent colour palette for your bathroom.

Fire: Red, orange, pink, purple and yellow. Strong yellow colours are used to promote cheerful gatherings and happy times, and so are excellent for the entertaining areas of the home.

Water: Blue and black. Water is a nourishing element, so should be used primarily to support the growth of your career, wealth, and family. To have a blue colour palette in the hallways and corridors of your home promotes the flowing of positive energy from room to room.

Metal: Grey and white. Pure white provides supportive energy to all creative endeavours. These colours are best used in studies and offices, as they allow the mind to broaden and intuitive thinking to happen. A white wall is a blank slate on which the imagination can take hold.

Cures

It is relatively simple to add these effective ‘cures’ to your home to create positive energy.

Crystals: Crystals are used in feng shui to create a specific ‘vibration’ or energy. For example, rose quartz can be used to attract romance and love. A great way to display crystals is in a shallow decorative bowl.

Mirrors: Mirrors are thought not only to expand a space, but can also be used to draw in more positive energy. However, they should never be placed opposite the main door as it is said they then reflect outwards the positive energy trying to enter the home.

Fountains: Fountains are popular in feng shui as they bring water energy into the home, and water is traditionally thought to represent wealth and prosperity. Fountains can be used both indoor and out, and provide an excellent focal point for a room.

Buddha: As a symbol of peace, calm and serenity, Buddha’s presence in your home will promote a contemplative energy. This can help you with self-reflection, and will also work as a calming force. Even just placing a small buddha figurine unobtrusively on a sideboard can have a soothing effect on your home’s vibrations.

How to know when you’ve achieved feng shui

Have you ever had that feeling when you walk into a room and for no apparent reason you suddenly feel happy, comforted, or just generally a little more positive? This feeling is qi, and it’s a sign that you’ve designed your contemporary space right.

But if you feel uncomfortable or negative when you walk into a room, it may mean that you need a master of feng shui to give you a hand with bringing positive energy back into your home.

— Adam and Jenny Liebson are the couple behind antique and lifestyle store, Orient House. Having established themselves as a major source to the interior design trade, Orient House offer global pieces that add mood, character and style to make a house a home.

Tags contemporary, design, feng shui, healthy living, home, house, interiors, positive energy