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Architecture Design

New Hunter Valley display homes reflect regional popularity

Sponsored by Metricon Homes

There’s no denying that regional areas have seen a boost in popularity since the emergence of COVID-19. Coupled with the housing affordability crisis in the capital cities, the interest in regional Australia has never been greater; and that is particularly so for the burgeoning Hunter region of NSW. 

Phoenix 40
Metricon’s Phoenix 40 display home

“We have seen, particularly in the last few months, that location is something customers are now looking at very differently. With many organisations looking to embrace working from home beyond COVID-19 restrictions, a home in a regional community is now being viewed more favourably – particularly if you are only commuting a few days per week as opposed to the full five days, or can work entirely from home,” says Metricon Homes NSW general manager Patrick Eather who unveiled two new display homes in Chisholm, Maitland recently.

The Phoenix 40 is a Hamptons-inspired design while the Qualia 33 has a more contemporary feel. Both complement the beauty of the Hunter and are available with flexible floor plans and finishes. 

Qualia 33 display home
The Qualia 33 display home

“We are experiencing significant interest in regional NSW from Sydneysiders who are realising the cost of housing is much more affordable relative to what you pay in Sydney. Affordability is one thing, but the great lifestyle of the Hunter is also a drawcard. Families are attracted to the wider, open spaces, and the access to amenities,” says Patrick.

A single storey design, the Qualia 33 is a fabulous family home – it boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three living spaces and an on-trend outdoor room, bringing the outside in. A highlight of the home, the master suite has a fabulous retreat feel; located at the rear of the home it has an open courtyard positioned between the sleeping zone and ensuite.

The Qualia 33's open plan kitchen, dining, lounge and outdoor room
The Qualia 33’s open plan kitchen, dining, lounge and outdoor room
Qualia 33 kitchen
Qualia 33 kitchen

The Qualia 33 also has three separate living areas including a central media room (clever!), open plan family and dining space and children’s play area.

Qualia 33 living room
Qualia 33 living room

A larger design, the Phoenix 40 runs over two levels and its clever floorplan makes it adaptable to blocks as narrow as 14.5 metres. Its Hamptons inspired façade carries through to the inside of the home where shaker style cabinetry combines with a large upright cooker and feature island bench in the home’s kitchen.

Phoenix 40 kitchen
The Phoenix 40 kitchen

The ground floor acts as the family and entertainment hub with a formal sitting room, open plan family, dining and kitchen that opens out onto a lovely outdoor room.

A Hamptons style timber staircase leads to the second story of the home where you’ll find three bedrooms, a study nook, shared bathroom, separate toilet and master bedroom.

The Phoenix 40 master bedroom
The Phoenix 40 master bedroom

The master suite spans the width of the building and includes a large double-sided walk-in robe, spacious ensuite and private parents’ retreat. This area also has direct access to a large balcony that overlooks the pool below.

Phoenix 40 pool and outdoor room
The Phoenix 40 pool and outdoor room

“At Metricon, we pride ourselves on creating homes for people to love where they live. We achieve this time and time again by offering flexible floorplans and plenty of choices. With multiple floorplan options, numerous facades and many features to choose from, we expect the Qualia 33 and the Phoenix 40 will become a favourite with Maitland residents,” says Patrick.

The Qualia 33 and the Phoenix 40 are available for viewing at 38 Settlers Blvd, Chisholm, every day from 10am-to-5pm. 

For more

Win with Waterford Crystal

To celebrate the opening of the display homes at Waterford in Chisholm, Designer by Metricon has partnered with Waterford Crystal for an exclusive giveaway for New South Wales residents. 

Inspired by the past and enriching the present, Waterford Crystal is unmistakably of its time. Known for its rich heritage and fine craftsmanship, Waterford Crystal are the pioneers in creating the finest crystal drinkware since the 18th Century.

For the chance to win almost $1000 worth of Waterford Crystal wine glasses and champagne flutes.

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Design Designers Interviews

Alisa & Lysandra: The Block twins style a family home

Tasked with creating the interiors for Mirvac’s latest display home (the ‘Banksia’ in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburb of Waverley Park), ex Blockheads Alisa and Lysandra Fraser have combined layers of texture and sophisticated colour to create timeless yet accessible spaces.

Lounge room
Lounge room

Dining
Dining room

With a young family audience in mind, the twins ensured the home was styled in a practical way with room to evolve with the changing needs of a family. “When designing a home, you have to consider how you plan on using the space, both now and in the future. It’s also important to blend timeless, sophisticated pieces with on-trend elements, allowing a home to remain stylish for years to come with flexible accents and layers that are easy and affordable to replace,” says Lysandra.

Kitchen
Kitchen

Landing
Landing

The furniture throughout was sourced from GlobeWest and Coco Republic with homewares found at Adairs, IKEA, Provincial Home Living and Kmart. The home also features custom rugs and artwork from the twins’ own collection including a gorgeous set of prints in the children’s room.

Children's room
Children’s room – the prints above the bed are available on the twins’ website

Colour plays an important role throughout with dramatic shades of navy and teal tempered by warm grey and charcoal. “This gives the home a welcoming feel that creates an inspired and cosy family haven, with luxurious touches such as brushed gold throughout. The soft blush tones in the living room combined with plenty of greenery adds a feminine feel also,” says Alisa.

Bedroom
Guest bedroom

As for their favourite part of the home, they are both enamoured with the master bedroom  – a luxurious space. “This room has some special pieces such as Taj Maroc bone mirrors and a stunning occasional chair from GlobeWest that capture your attention when entering the room, together with a contemporary custom artwork, and large feature lamps from Coco Republic,” says Lysandra.

Master bedroom
Master bedroom

Ensuite
Ensuite

Photography: Kit Haselden

For more | Virtual reality display home tours

Categories
Design Designers Expert Tips

Get the show home look: interior designer tips

If you’re stretched for time and your home needs a little display home style pick me-up, Henley have a few tricks and tips to give your home a fast-tracked makeover.

Set the scene

Make sure kitchen islands and benches are tidy, clean and clear from clutter, and do the same for the dining table, even if it means having a storage box to sort through later. Emma Taylor, Henley’s senior interior designer, adds that guests feel more welcome if it looks like you’ve planned for them: “If you are having people over for lunch or dinner, a set table always looks inviting and creates atmosphere. Set it with placemats and napkins, cutlery and glasses, colour coordinated if possible, to your dining service.”

Clean as you go

In the kitchen, try and have the washing up done and the kitchen as immaculate as can be with just those items you are using for the cooking of your lunch/dinner. Butlers pantries are a perfect “room” to hide away unsightly items and to de-clutter, especially when unexpected visitors drop in.

Hide it

For general storage, fabric lidded boxes can sit on top of one and other and are ideal containers for all those piles of paperwork and bits and pieces that find a home on kitchen benches. There are some gorgeous lacquer and bone boxes that can sit under a coffee table — they are attractive and decorative but hold the most mundane of household items such as TV remotes. “You can get some really useful and practical storage boxes in leather or woven basketry which are perfect for tidying away toys left over from kids’ playtime. Apart from being useful and practical, they look smart too,” says Emma.

Blooming marvelous

Bright, freshly cut flowers are always a beautiful addition to a home and an instant mood pleaser. Emma adds: “I buy a bunch of flowers nearly every weekend and if you look after them properly and change the water daily, and pick the right flower, they can last for up to two weeks. Potted plants are a perfect accessory to smarten up an interior, they add colour and life, and help clean the air too.”

Cushion comforts

“You can never have enough cushions! Make sure they are feather filled and that they are nicely plump – velvets, plaids, felts and linen are all gorgeous fabrics for decorative cushions – prints and patterns combine to dress up or down your chosen living area, they create mood and bring in added texture and warmth.”

With a few makeover shortcuts and tips, your house can be transformed into a display home —  just like Henley’s World of Homes in Upper Point Cook, Berwick Waters and Woodlea (shown in images).

Henley have been building new homes for almost 30 years with tens of thousands of satisfied customers.

Categories
Expert Tips House Tours Styling

Get the display home luxury look for your own place!

Sponsored by Porter Davis

If you’ve ever looked at building your own home you’ve probably fallen in love with the display home and felt a tinge of disappointment that your version will never be as polished or ‘together’. Where would you even start with sourcing all the furniture and homewares and working out what goes best with what and will work for your circumstances? Well, home builder Porter Davis are now ticking all the boxes by offering design services at their incredible World of Style showroom in Melbourne. Not just for customers building with them either; for everyone!

id-studio_ig_miami-beach-style-dining

“For years Porter Davis has been inundated with requests by people who have fallen in love with our displays and would like us to direct the styling of their home” says director Paul Wolff. “ID Studio is the natural evolution of Porter Davis’ and World of Style’s services; offering everyone a boutique service with the backing of a respected, well-known brand.”

ID Studio is based on the mantra of ‘creating beautiful and liveable spaces’ and the interior design
service offers clients access to a fully qualified interior designer who works collaboratively to help reimagine a single room or an entire home using a tailored approach that ensures their home is the ultimate expression of who they are.

the-address-plaza_grange-51_0237

Love the Classic Hamptons look? Or maybe you’re more New York? You could be looking to refresh and reimagine one room or your entire home, but need some guidance in achieving their new home style. ID Studio offers a bespoke styling service that is centred around creating a home that is the ultimate expression of you, however large or small.

id-studio_ig_miama-beach-style-bedroom

Renovating can be an even more daunting task: kitchens and bathrooms involve so many decisions and if you’re not confident or just don’t know where to start, having a professional to help you can be a godsend. ID Studio will uncover your personal style (the one you may not even have known you had!) to make informed styling recommendations for colour schemes, wallpaper selections, window treatments and exterior and interior selections including bricks, doors, cabinetry, benchtops and tapware. You’ll get a personalised selections folio to help you see your reno through to completion (please note they’ll not be involved in project managing the works).

It’s just another innovative service from the home builder, which launched its World of Style showroom concept in 2014. The 2,000 square metre space gives customers a fully immersive interior design experience featuring a series of actual kitchen, living, bathroom and outdoor spaces to excite all of the senses and possibilities. Rather than focusing on trends, World of Style has four distinct and timeless design categories: Classic, Contemporary, Designer and Resort (shown in these pictures).

If you’re actually building with Porter Davis you can meet with ID Studio before your World of Style selections appointment for an exclusive VIP selections experience. Your ID Studio interior designer will direct your style decisions at the showroom including your exterior and interior design selections, lighting and electrical needs, window treatments, and wallpaper selections.

Paul says each client is looking for a different level of assistance when undertaking a home design project. “Our job is to work with the client so that they feel comfortable in the design direction. Many people have an idea of what they want but don’t know where to begin in creating, sourcing and executing their style project so it has that must-have wow factor – and that’s where we come in with years of experience in designing and building dream homes.”

upper-point-cook-dunedin-31_6715

id-studio_ig_miami-beach-style-kitchen

Initial one-hour consultations with a member of ID Studio start from just $250. Meet at your place or at World of Style in South Melbourne: over 2,000 square metres of interior design heaven!

For more information about ID Studio

World of Style by Porter Davis is located at 410 City Road, South Melbourne VIC.

Categories
Architecture Design RENO ADDICT

The future is here with virtual reality display home tours

In an Australian first, Metricon Homes is set to transform the way that people experience and interact with display homes, with the use of virtual reality technology.

Denver 46 – Master BedroomMetricon Homes Denver display home – master bedroom

The virtual display experience will be offered in select regional areas where people face the geographical challenges of visiting a display home. Not only will this save them time but also the inconvenience of travelling huge distances as many people travel interstate to view their future home.

Metricon Virtual Reality head set in use

Virtual reality headset

Consumers can view everything from the colours and materials used on cabinetry through to soft furnishings and light fittings through a virtual reality headset.

“The technology enables our customers to virtually walk through the home and really experience the actual interior. Virtual reality allows you to gaze inside the latest trends and home styles allowing you to select your dream space and colour palette,” says Jacinta Evans, Metricon senior interior designer.

It also allows home designs that are located in other states to be viewed around the country without the need for building a display.

Denver 46 – Vogue FacadeMetricon Homes Vogue display home

“We know consumers love the next-gen 3D virtual tours on our website, so being able to take these to another dimension, using virtual reality technology is fantastic,” says Jacinta.

The first area to experience this technology is Wonthaggi in Victoria’s south-east.

To view the technology see https://youtu.be/vN16M2RZ8k4 or visit Metricon Homes.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Colourful, practical home for first time buyers

Anna Williams of Ethos Design furnished this display home for a Queensland builder targeting first time buyers.

“I mixed affordable contemporary furniture from local chain stores with Mid Century styles to create a home that feels perfectly suited to a busy family lifestyle, all complemented with quirky accessories and colourful artwork,” she says. “My aim was to create a comfortable family home that felt practical, colourful and stylish.”

“The focal point for the dining room had to be the gorgeous abstracts by a local artist. To keep them centre stage, I kept the furniture simple. A round table allowed a better flow of traffic in the small space, while Louis Ghost style chairs are a practical option for a young family.”