When interior designer Frances Cosway, of White Pebble Interiors, built her dream family home recently, both design and sustainability were top of mind. “Being environmentally conscious, it was important for us to design a beautiful, modern family home without compromising on design, whilst integrating sustainable design to maximise energy efficiency,” says Frances whose home went on to win the coveted ‘Best Ecological Sustainable Design for Bayside 2015’ award.
“The award acknowledges the passive solar scheme of the house, the materials used (exterior and interior) and how the whole site works together as an ecological and sustainable space – including recycling, composting, having a sustainable garden and natural pool,” says Frances.
The home’s natural focus extends to its aesthetics too – it boasts relaxed, resort-style design complemented by an abundance of light-filled open spaces, naturally landscaped front and rear gardens and, most interestingly, a natural billabong that is enjoyed by the whole family. What a talking point!
An urban oasis – we love the natural landscaping in the backyard and the natural Billabong!
The open-plan family home is extremely energy efficient (7.3 stars to be exact) and was no more expensive to build than a standard home yet features passive solar design, thermal mass and next-generation insulation, an airtight building envelope, heat-recovery ventilation, low environmental impact building materials and high efficiency glazing and shading.
“We are very proud to showcase our home for energy efficient products and technologies, proving that sustainable living need not cost more or compromise design and living space,” says Frances who worked as an interior designer in London and Amsterdam for 12 years.
The home is open as part of this year’s Sustainable House Open Day, held on Sunday September 11, 2016. Register here if you’d like to attend and go into the running to win a one-hour design consultation with Frances, valued at $280. Check out more of Frances’ work here.
With million dollar views and gorgeous interiors by renowned interior design firm Hassell, the Yarra House fully furnished penthouses in Melbourne’s exclusive South Yarra are next level.
The latest project from developer Michael Yates, the Yarra House development boasts some pretty spectacular views. Depending on your location within it, outlooks include never-to-be-built-out views to the city, Royal Botanic Gardens, Port Phillip Bay and Yarra river.
With all the apartments sold and settled, the two penthouses are all that are left up for grabs. Both of them boast panoramic balconies, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample living, dining and entertaining spaces coupled with a study and laundry too.
The floor to ceiling windows, Italian marble kitchens, Gaggenau kitchen appliances and butler’s pantry make them ideal for the enthusiastic cook too.
The development also boasts a host of communal features. From the foyer with library to the lounge, lobby and business centre, rooftop deck with infinity edge lap pool and sweeping panoramic views of Melbourne, gym, steam room and BBQ entertaining deck, every need is catered for.
With an auction date set for March 8, 2016, contact Jock Langley at Abercromby’s Real Estate on 0419 530 008 or click here for more.
By Katrina Malyn | Photos courtesy of BresicWhitney
What kind of privacy can you expect in a house in a densely built-up, inner city area? The house at 8 Broderick Street, Balmain is a rare example where smart design creates a sense of unexpected solitude. It’s also a great example of how enduring smart design principles can be.
This house was recently sold by BresicWhitney and I went there to have a look before the new owner moved in.
The very first impression you get from the street is just how secluded the house is. There are hardly any windows at eye level and no welcoming entry porch. However, there is a narrow walkway to a concealed entry surrounded by wild foliage. As you approach this tall, dark brown building (it conjures a medieval castle), you suddenly realise that you are walking on a bridge and the deep gutter under your feet resembles a mote.
The architectural elements inside add to this feeling of a knight’s lodge: a heavy wrought iron gate leads to a spiral staircase with a thick solid metal handrail and the walls are rough and textured. The black fireplace adds to the austere impression.
However, the inside is a stark contrast to what you can see from the street.
What seemed impenetrable from the street is unashamedly open inside. The house turns out to be a glass box with floor-to-ceiling windows running the full length of each of the three levels.
Suddenly, a feeling of solitude envelopes you, even in the master bedroom on the top level, where two walls are fully glazed opening to tree foliage on one side and water views on the other.
We are used to thinking that privacy in a city means closing yourself off with walls. So why does the openness of this house give such an unexpected feeling of seclusion? The unusual zig-zag layout of the house and the sloping terrain prevent neighbours from looking into the private parts of the house.
The main reason, however, is that this house with its almost non-existent walls, resembles a hut on a desert island where you don’t need to protect your privacy because you are the only human there.
The impression of a hut is reinforced in the lounge room on the ground level – it has a straw ceiling. The straw, however, has been shaped into perfect squares. This is not the wild straw of a tropical island.
The ruggedness of the house serves as a perfect backdrop for modern furniture – this house was built in the 1970s but great design principles work decades later.
The main design principle that makes this house so successful today is the contrast between the understated and the unashamed. As the house was built with a bohemian lifestyle in mind, it is predisposed towards the unabashed and the bold – its exposed bedroom is a great example of this.
The interior and exterior materials are simple – concrete, timber and glass – but they are materials of luxury because of how expensive they are. Concrete and solid timber are both luxury materials and so is glass in abundance. Together this combination makes for a feeling of nonchalant luxury.
The house and its interiors are heritage listed despite the fact that it was only built in the 1970s. This unique building was designed by the acclaimed architect Stuart Whitelaw for another architect Sir Roy Grounds. The collaboration of these talented people resulted in a house that amazes even to this day.
—Katrina Malyn is a designer specialising in creating houses with a view even if there is no view. Examples of Katrina’s work can be found across Sydney, and range from under $500,000 to $1 million projects.
After spending most of their 39 years of marriage overseas, Robyn and Russ Bellis were ready to return to Sydney and find their forever home.
Purchasing a federation house in Killara, they immediately fell in love with its period features; think pressed metal ceilings, transom windows above the doors, servant bells and a wrap-around front verandah. However, it couldn’t be denied it was in need of an update.
[contextly_sidebar id=”m5nu9U2Bq5UjZ5JLaNrV5O03fDJhlpg1″]So, enlisting the help of Bjil Architecture and Stuart Wilson Constructions (coincidently the same people who renovated my family home) the house underwent a massive two-year overhaul. “The renovations comprised of a new kitchen/pantry, TV room, garden room, covered patio, bathroom, sewing room, gym and ensuite and walk in wardrobe off the master bedroom,” explains Robyn. “The house had originally sat to one side of the block so we were able to add on across the back and at the side keeping all the living on then one level and then excavating down for the workshop, garages and wine cellar.”
With the renovations keeping to the Federation style, the mouldings, picture rails and pressed ceilings were kept throughout, but with the addition of modern conveniences such as open plan living, the gym, the wine cellar and Robyn’s favourite space, the garden room. “It is a favourite with its glass bi-fold windows and doors, a six metre high brick wall and large architectural wooden trusses. After having a conservatory in Wimbledon, where we lived for 10 years, we wanted a room with lots of light overlooking the garden and pool.”
Working closely with Bijl Architecture on designing the house to fit their needs, it was immensely important that Robyn’s many collections were housed for all to see. “I have collected for many years from all parts of the world and have collections of antique needlework samplers, sewing accessories, maps, scales and boxes. So when renovating the house we made sure there were enough shelves and glass door cabinets for display purposes.”
As a regular at auctions, antique and flea markets, the home is unsurprisingly full of many unique treasures. “I think one of my favourite pieces is a Regency (1820) sewing box with all the fittings including Bessey’s silk from 1825. This came from a large country house near Billinghurst, West Sussex. Also a friend introduced us to antique maps which came from old atlases and bibles, some of which are over 350 years old, printed from hand carved copper plates and hand coloured.” All these additions make the home spectacular, and truly, on-of-a-kind!
One of the country’s most distinct and unique suburbs, Sydney’s Centennial Parklands is rich in history. With buildings dating back to the 1800s, the area is now home to the likes of pavilions, equestrian fields and parks, as well as numerous beautiful residences.
While many of these houses hold a lot of character from the 19th century, today’s fast-paced lifestyle has called for a redefinition of living spaces, something Sydney residential architects Peter Willett Associates (PWA), were tasked with in redesigning a grand Edwardian Centennial Park estate.
[contextly_sidebar id=”5ibpE6fjwrVCw71Q63TbmqdHdGxRJR8Y”]The property, once an infamous building for its unauthorised (!) commercial use, is now a stately home, complete with fully functional granny flat. Through thoughtful design, the latest life of the property combines the best of modern architecture without sacrificing its historical aspects. “When you’re dealing with such a historical site such as Centennial Park it’s imperative that you preserve the property’s historical baseline,” says Peter Willett, principal architect of PWA. “We’ve been sympathetic to the original designs and worked to enhance the house rather than fight it. This has allowed us to insert a new floor level into the house and discreetly double the number of rooms.”
The redesigned Centennial Park estate both reinvents current interior trends and embodies sustainable architectural practices. Though it strays away from the commonality of open plan living, with kitchen, living and dining areas separated, the spaces are framed and interconnected by a pattern of door openings that lead to a newly created family room. Here, double glass walls enable light to be pulled inside, creating the feel of a resort-like, internal courtyard.
Just as careful attention was paid to the way indoor spaces connect with the outdoors, the house’s landscape and gardens give a proper nod to biodiversity and the local environment. Visual connections are made to the neighbouring Centennial Parklands through indigenous flora and native grass, also assisting in the reduction of water use.
Truly the best of both worlds, the Centennial Park estate captures both the beauty and history of the Edwardian period, whilst boasting 21st century design and comfort.
I must confess I miss my (now sold) family home immensely. I never thought I’d be someone who’d missed an inanimate object; but here I am, longingly reflecting on the house I called home for some ten years.
So when I saw Step Down House designed by Bijl Architecture (the same team who transformed my old abode) I knew I’d be in love.
A Sydney federation house with a modern extension, Step Down House fluently blends classical and contemporary. However, that wasn’t always the case. Rather the 110-year-old home initially had four small bedrooms and just the one living area — a challenge for a family with a social teenage daughter!
So, with the desire to modernise their home and create a second living area, Linda Burger and her partner Michael undertook a nine month redevelopment, which included the creation of a second lounge room, a master bedroom, a large rear verandah, a modernised swimming pool and Linda’s favourite, a rear extension that gave way to a combined living/dining/kitchen area.
“We love the sunny kitchen/dining area which drops down four steps to ground level, bringing the landscaped gardens into the living area. Its lofty, industrial feel is derived from the high ceilings, whitewashed bare brick feature wall and polished concrete kitchen island, all of which is softened by cedar woodwork (window frames and shelves) and bar stools. Then the wide glass bi-fold doors lead the eye to the landscaped gardens and swimming pool area.”
While the classical style at the front of the house was retained, the focal point has certainly become the extension, with the polished concrete island being a particular highlight. “We love the polished concrete island in the kitchen which has become a focal point for all activities – entertaining, our daughter’s homework, breakfast, cooking, family discussions, handbags, mail – it’s quite hard to keep tidy, but it’s a happy spot.”
Other highlights of the home include the lime washed floorboards: “We retained the original pine flooring in the older part of the house, but white washed them. This flows through to the Tasmanian oak floor boards in the new extension, also lime washed. The flooring brightens the entire home.”
Having lived in the home for 13 years prior to the renovation, Linda is well and truly in love with the finished product. “From the living area that flows through open bi-fold doors to the large rear deck, pool and gardens, to the cooler, newly created lounge room in the older part of our home… it’s all beautiful!”
Aussies sure are known for their love of travel and Natalie Shell has made Tel Aviv her home, via stints in New York, Copenhagen and Amsterdam! Today, she shows us around her home and shares some expert tips on decluterring and small space living.
One half of global interior design and decluttering business Apartment Diet, Nat met fellow Aussie and business partner Tip Atkins Moore in Amsterdam. Now they work together via the wonders of the world wide web.
In 2007, Nat had a friend living in Tel Aviv so she went to stay for the summer holidays and ended up falling in love with the place. She later met (now husband) Noam and the rest, including son Luke, is, as they, say, history!
Nat and son Luke
Now back to her newly renovated Tel Aviv home: “We live in an old, typical Tel Aviv building in the city’s “old north”. We bought in May 2010 and moved in in September after renovating for 2.5 months (read: gutting it and starting again). Even in its weird, pokey, unrenovated state (there were seven rooms in only 75 square metres!) it had great light and airflow and a lovely energy, and is situated in a great neighbourhood (location, location, location always applies!).”
Almost everything needed changing so serious vision was required. The layout and flow were all wrong and the pink bathroom and olive green kitchenette, plumbing and electricity hadn’t been touched since 1950s.
“I knew what I wanted and worked with an architect friend Roy Itzhaki, to create the technical plans for a layout I envisioned and learn building project management,” Nat says. “First and foremost, after the basics, was making the flow work for us to create two bedrooms, a bathroom and guest toilet and an open kitchen/living room. I wanted to maximise living space and the light and create a space that was relaxed, fun and inviting.”
She chose a simple colour palette of timber, white and dark grey. “I’d lived in Copenhagen and have picked up a bit of the Scandinavian aesthetic. I also I love art and fun pillow covers and wanted a simple palette that would allow me to show them off.”
Almost all the internal walls came down and the bathroom was moved while other rooms were reoriented. They added a laundry into a closet in the new bathroom and lots of built-in storage, and Roy suggested turning the walk-in closet into a walk-through, effectively turning the apartment’s one bathroom into an en-suite from the master as well. Clever!
The new layout is a vast improvement, not least because you no longer have to walk through the kitchen to get to the second bedroom! “There were just too many rooms for such a small space and the layout made the space feel dark.”
Nat’s favourite thing about the apartment is how it feels. “It just feels good.” She’s also a big fan of the exposed brick areas. “My original plan was to remove a pylon between our living room and kitchen but then the structural engineer said the building couldn’t handle it, even with a steel beam. That weird brick structural pylon, and the original brick wall that was behind the original kitchen (now our bedroom), are now features I love.”
While Nat misses her family and friends in Oz, she describes Tel Aviv as an amazing, vibrant creative city, filled with great food, coffee, sunshine and beaches. “It’s in a crazy part of the world, but perhaps that’s part of the attraction.”
Nat and Tip have plenty of advice for other people living in small spaces but the key is to design for how you actually live, not for how you think you should. “For instance, if you don’t eat at home, you may prefer to have a larger couch area with a coffee table and some extra stools, making your living space bigger and not having furniture you don’t need. If you are renovating, think about how you want to live — do you like to spend time in the living room? Then consider designing more space in shared areas than say the bedrooms.
“Have good storage (preferably that closes). At the same time, we sometimes make the mistake of paying for extra storage rather than first letting go of things that don’t belong. Sliding doors and mirrors are also a good trick, though I personally went for art framed with glass and a glass splash back over mirrors because I prefer that type of reflective surface.
Nat in her dining area
“When it comes to furniture, don’t have too much. Choose furniture that is the right scale for the space and that can easily move (for instance, we often host dinner parties where we add a fold-up table to double the size and move the table into the living room/entrance void).”
Last but not least: “Have some empty space. It sounds strange but empty space, like our entrance and part of our bedroom, can make a space feel bigger. Edit what you own regularly and if something doesn’t belong, even after you’ve bought it especially, sell it or let it go.”
Nat and Tip help clients create homes and workspaces that they love, delivered either in person or online via Skype and email. Their business grew out of the blog apartmentdiet.com, which they’ve been collaborating on for five years. They’ve also created an online course that teaches people their Happy House Rules™ process: helping them get started, declutter, let go, and create homes they love plus systems that are easier to manage them with, across five weeks.
The next course starts next Monday 17 November 2014, just in time to get your space ready for guests to ensure a stress-free holiday period! Find out more.
This beautiful period property, bought as the worst house on the best street in Melbourne’s Hawthorn, belongs to interior decorator Charis James, mother of former Home & Away actress Tessa James.
Charis says designing for yourself, rather than clients, is very different
As a design professional, tackling a serious renovation project which would also become her family’s home and living on site the whole time, was challenging to say the least. “Designing for yourself is very different,” Charis says. “A lot of the designing takes place in your head a long time before the construction begins. As a designer it gives you total control and flexibility to lead with your instincts and change your mind and make decisions on the spot. Prioritising things with the spaces that you know will make all the difference to the final product and not having to convince someone else to spend extra money, means your design isn’t compromised.”
With a four year-old, two dogs and a cat, interior designer and The Block judge Darren Palmer knows a thing or two about keeping his home looking stylish and organised but still, of course, fun!
I was lucky enough to have a look around his new Paddington home recently. Although he has some ambitious renovation plans for the future, its character features mean it’s full of charm and warmth. Great bones!
Dogs Doris and Pepi and Charlotte the cat follow Darren around like Dr Dolittle and son Hugo’s lego can be seen peeking out from under the coffee table, but this is not a home full of plastic or mess and there’s definitely no doggy smell. So, I sat down with Darren and asked him how he does it and if the house is always so suspiciously tidy?
“We are very proud to showcase our home for energy efficient products and technologies, proving that sustainable living need not cost more or compromise design and living space,” says Frances who worked as an interior designer in London and Amsterdam for 12 years.
