With its combination of weatherboards and clean lines, the Scandinavian Barn remains a popular aesthetic because it marries contemporary and traditional design so beautifully. Typified by steep, pitched rooves (a necessity to stop snow gathering throughout Scandinavian winters), countless homes have been designed in this style of late and lovers of the aesthetic will be pleased to hear about a new exterior cladding product that is perfectly suited.
‘Scout’ features James Hardie Oblique Cladding
Ideal for this style of home, James Hardie Oblique Cladding is a fibre cement shiplap board product that adds clean lines and geometric precision to house exteriors and is ideal for renovations and new builds alike. Pre-primed, the cladding is non-combustible and comes ready to paint with your colour of choice; it’s also resistant to rot and moisture damage.
The fibre cement shiplap board product has oblique (slanting) groove edging and is available with 175mm and 275mm groove spacing options. This feature creates a highlight next to a square groove shadow and the result is a sophisticated look that gives exterior walls excellent depth. The product is available in two board widths (200mm and 300mm) which offers multiple installation options; you can do a simple repeat, alternating rhythm or staggered look.
Showcasing a simple repetition of 300mm wide boards with a light colour scheme, ‘Scout’ by Selah Homes achieves a modern take on a classic Scandi-barn silhouette with distinctive grooves. The home features two distinct Scandi-barn styled buildings that sit adjacent to each other and the single and double storey buildings link internally through a short connecting hallway.
The backyard at ‘Scout’
Another home that has been clad in the product is ‘Twin Peaks’ which combines 200mm and 300mm width boards that have been painted with Resene’s Element which is a gorgeous dark hue.
“The staggered installation provides the point of difference, moving away from the traditional alternating narrow and wide vertical groove look,” says the home’s owner Lucinda Laing of the product that was combined with recycled brick for a stylish end result.
‘Twin Peaks’ features cladding with staggered installation
There’s a new Hamptons on the Aussie block in 2022. Melding classic Hamptons with modern Australian design, the new Contemporary Hamptons is an audacious hybrid which catches the eye and sparks conversations.
Dialling down on the classic Hamptons opulence but increasing the bold colours and lines of modern design, Contemporary Hamptons is delivering a high level of sophistication.
Long considered the domain of beach and waterfront prestige property, classic Hamptons is now being reinterpreted, with this new Hamptons expression expanding to suburbs across Australia. Homeowners are desiring the look’s seamless cohesion that marries the exterior façade with al fresco living areas and striking interiors.
The Contemporay Hamptons look is much more pared back compared to the traditional Hamptons style. Immediately noticable are bold gables, façade articulation, and high contrast trims on dark or white weatherboard exterior walls. Internal colour schemes are more dramatic than classic Hamptons.
“The refined Hamptons look has really taken off, creating a unique modern style which is now popping up in the suburbs and city outskirt areas,” says Hamptons design expert Natalee Bowen of Indah Island. “The elevation of a Contemporary Hamptons home fits well into new suburbs as they tend to be more aligned with newer build homes and a younger demographic. Now more sophisticated builds and designs are coming through with a grander feel even if on a smaller block, but still featuring the modern elements.”
A trademark feature of Contemporary Hamptons is its clean-lined exteriors extending to alfresco living, becoming fuss free and more refined. “Rather than wooden decks we’ll see pavers or a continual concrete indoor outdoor open-plan effect, with slider or bifold doors rather than French doors,” said Natalee. This creates open plan to the next level, feeling like the al fresco is an extension of the space. Modern furniture such as wrought iron works well in these spaces rather than the traditional rattan.
The façade is all about achieving street appeal and colour plays a big part according to Natalee, where a more dramatic use of colour such as darker greys, black, and deep navy create a clean profile on straight-lined balustrades, architraves and windows.
Linea Weatherboards by James Hardie are the perfect exterior cladding solution for this style with their distinctive, sharp, uniform shadowline giving a timber look, a universal trademark of the Hamptons appeal. “I love the clean horizontal lines of Linea Weatherboards as they work beautifully to bring style and individuality to a modern home,” says Natalee. Being fibre cement, the cladding is resistant to fire, impact, termites, rotting and warping while requiring minimal maintenance. Unlike timber, it can be painted dark colours without concerns.
A more modern look inside as well as outside is part of the contemporary trend. Concrete or tile flooring replaces traditional wooden flooring. There’s shiplap instead of wainscoting, and modern furniture such as metal and glass can be seen instead of wooden styles used in the traditional Hamptons look, according to Natalee.
“Instead of the layered look, Contemporary Hamptons is very uncluttered,” she says. “Floors are quite bare with fewer rugs, while lighter fabric colours and textures are preferred for soft furnishings. Contemporary Hamptons also leans a little towards an industrial feel, with signature styles like floating wrought iron or brass shelving in kitchens and visible piping under bathroom vanities, as an example. We’re also seeing encaustic tiles, or patterned tiles being used in wet areas to modernise the flooring and walls. Although the tiles are patterned, they bring a freshness and modernity to the space.”
Al fresco areas take on a new importance as the additional room, with furnishings being an extension of interiors. Exterior wall panelling such as Linea Weatherboards, or Matrix Cladding chosen for its bold industrial architectural aesthetic, provide an interesting textured backdrop for styling, and plants complement the architectural design. Natalee suggests the use of more architectural plants like the yucca. “Succulents and dragon trees all work well with this look. Fiddle Leaf Figs internally are used instead of palm trees.”
Natalee’s top hallmarks of the Contemporary Hamptons look
1. Contemporary Hamptons homes are all about cleaner lines and a pared back look.
2. Use of darker colours on weatherboards set the scene, however, white can still be used with uncluttered detail.
3. High contrast trims create a more modern look. Aim for a bold contrast, such as dark weatherboards with white trims or black trims with white weatherboards.
4. Façade articulation rules for an architect-designed feel. Allow rooms to project, especially cantilevered upper storeys, while others recede, to create interest and individuality.
5. A less is more approach. Less layers, less details inside and out: clean straight balustrades in aluminium with thinner hand rails, no corbel detail, straight architraves and mouldings (if any). Lighting also has a more industrial feel with downlights being seen.
6. Windows with no beading and with thicker more pronounced profiles to enhance the heavier modern look. Sliding doors replace traditional French doors.
7. A black and white interior palette is favoured instead of the mid-blue and white associated with classic Hamptons. Bold colours on walls can be teamed with pastel furnishings for another take on contemporary. Choose black modern hardware for door handles and tapware.
8. When it comes to kitchen cabinetry, statement colour kitchens are on trend, with bold navy or deep green favourites. Cabinetry is pared back with no handles and clean fronts instead of a shaker style. Floating cabinetry in wet areas is also a defined look and means there’s no protruding kickboards on kitchen islands.
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Clean lines and pared-back designs for work, rest and play
Closed borders, lockdowns, and working from home for much of 2021 increasingly helped Australians identify where they want to live and what they want from their homes. As well as greater consideration for locations outside of metro areas, Australians are identifying the benefits of creating purposeful, separate hubs around the home.
Increased savings, low interest rates, and government grants have contributed to the urgency for real estate, resulting in a fear of missing out or paying too much. “Unfortunately, the quality of Australian home design suffers with such urgency in the market. There’s a gap between what homeowners value most and the homes we’re building,” says James Hardie’s marketing director, Cathleya Buchanan.
“Australians want a place where they can be safe, relaxed, connect with family and make memories – it’s important that the home is designed to be light, bright and spacious. Home builders need to think about orienting living areas toward the north, where the light comes from, and including large windows and openings. Living areas should be open plan and connect to outdoor areas,” says Buchanan.
As well as a focus on aspect and open planning, Cathleya notes that purposeful hubs around the home will be increasingly sought after in the House of 2022.
“The pandemic has shown us that home is more than a shelter,” said leading architect and James Hardie ambassador Joe Snell. “The homes of 2022 must be flexible and not as stagnant as they once were. Homes need to provide for entertainment, eating, working, exercising, and retreat. Work is now ever-changing, but the home remains the hub with flexibility the key.”
Below, Cathleya andoutline the design features of the house of 2022.
Exteriors and design
On house exteriors, James Hardie believes the House of 2022 is best summed up by the words “beautiful simplicity”. Homeowners are inspired by clean lines and pared-back designs with achromatic colour palettes. Profiled cladding products like Linea Weatherboards are being painted crisp white and contrasted with black window frames, black fascia and guttering. Cladding with modest details like Axon Cladding, which looks like vertical joint timber or large format panel Hardie Fine Texture Cladding, a fibre cement wall panel embedded with a fine texture to create a modern aesthetic, are becoming a canvas which highlights homes with simple shapes and hidden rooflines. Timber screens and integrated greenery feature strongly as they pop from a receding dark coloured cladding background.
Joe notes that the Hamptons style is ever popular, but due to the pandemic, the housing look is trending more towards functionality, with houses becoming what they need to be for owners; not what owners think they should be. “Essentially it is lifestyle creating the form, not the form dictating lifestyle.” Joe notes two trends that will be present in 2022 include resort style for home holidaying and Scandinavian inspired functionality. “Resort-style homes with similarly designed pools, a fresh weatherboard beach look, and a pergola, with no need to add further decoration, will help create a year-round holiday aesthetic. Those seeking more of a pragmatic, industrial, working house will opt for the Scandinavian look. It’s pure and highly practical with a clean aesthetic and will suit a lot of people working from home.”
He adds: “Homes with little architectural shape can be enhanced by varying lines, textures and colours. Here, the mixed cladding look can reflect a well-known style or a unique personal one. By incorporating a larger range of materials, the look opens almost endless design possibilities, perfect for people who have rediscovered their creative sides during lockdowns.”
A warm (and safe) welcome
The pandemic has changed home design. We’re now conscious of preventing the virus entering our homes and we want to feel safe when we’re socialising with friends and family at home. These considerations will influence new home builds as well as renovations.
We can expect oversized front entryways and covered porches, where couriers delivering packages or visitors dropping off children for a play date can be greeted. Entryways will increasingly become a welcoming hub in the home with design opportunities for textured cladding, lighting, and seating to set the right mood. Snell also notes the house of 2022 may include second living spaces allowing for a getaway from the main living area, which are becoming a big request. “People have a clearer idea of what they want in floorplans. One example of this is an expanded master bedroom to include a lounge for reading. Working a ‘retreat’ space into the floorplan lends itself to the resort style of home.”
Work
The proportion of people working from home was about 8% in 2019 but was estimated to be around 38% in 2021. Working from home has identified the real need for dedicated work spaces that are not bedrooms or living rooms. “It’s important to have work and non-work zones to create separation and allow family members to decompress from increasingly busy, long, and stressful work; especially, when we don’t have the commute to put distance between the two,” says Cathleya. “Dedicated, sound-proof ‘Zoom rooms’ for online meetings are increasingly being identified as needs rather than wants.
Joe notes working from home is now not just one person needing space, but multiple people needing spaces. “The traditional open plan layout with study nook is out. Now that the whole family is working from home, a study nook is not fit for purpose,” he said. Another trend Joe observes is the home office increasingly being placed in the first room at the front of the house. “If you are welcoming work-related visitors, you don’t want people walking through the house to get to the office.” He also notes some home offices are including a separate entrance for better access.
Disconnect
One in five (20%) Australians experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in June 2021. As an antidote to constant connection with work or family while locked down, and improving mental health, the need for quiet alone time become apparent to many. Home designs should consider tranquil, private, slow spaces which can be indoors or in a covered outdoor space. These calm, quiet spaces are used to unplug, decompress, or even meditate. Lockdowns made many feel cooped-up and craving a connection with the outdoors, so outdoor spaces need to be integrated with the house for an easy indoor-outdoor flow.
These spaces should be minimalist and uncluttered with an organic feel; including plants, soft lighting, rich textures and careful colour selection such as neutral, earthy paint colours, to aid relaxation.
To find out more about how to build or renovate your own dream home, from inspiration on the latest look to advice on modern materials, visit jameshardie.com.au.
After decades of living and working overseas, retirees Mark and Suzette Dawson returned home to Australia to transform a modest cottage they bought in 1994 into their forever home. The result is both strikingly modern and in keeping with its Edwardian frontage, without being a typical “glass box” extension.
The rear extension peaking out above the original roof
Mark was still working in Melbourne when they bought the single-fronted semi-detached cottage in Kew, in need of a lot of work. It was in pretty much original condition with a 60s lean-to kitchen on the back. While they spent some time getting it into “reasonable shape” without impacting the floorpan, before they knew it, they were off overseas for Mark’s job. And then followed more than 20 years of moving around overseas, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Indonesia.
BEFORE: The house was full of heritage features which have largely been retained.Mark and Suzette were less attached their old sixties kitchen!
The new kitchen, part of the open plan extension
They kept hold of the cottage however, and when it came time to return home to Australia and retire, they decided that rather than sell it and buy something else, it was the perfect time to make it work for them. In 2016, while still overseas, they set their plan in action, finding architect Rebecca Naughtin after doing their research on Houzz and working together via Skype calls and emails.
“We loved the area. It’s quite central and very leafy. The dimensions of the rooms were quite big, but we realised that the house wasn’t conducive to modern living,” said Mark. “We wanted to stay sympathetic to the Edwardian architecture but also make some significant changes. We weren’t quite sure what they would be though.”
What they definitely didn’t want was “a box” on the back of their house. After choosing Rebecca based on her previous projects, they knew that wasn’t what she’d give them. She came up with some initial design suggestions, which quickly took them down the route of gable roofs, high ceilings, a dark exterior, vertical cladding and indoor/outdoor flow.
Suzette’s favourite part of the house? The feeling of it! “As you walk down the hallway it just opens up and it’s really beautiful. I also love the felling of the outside being brought into the house.”
Touches of timber in the new part, complement the older parts of the home
Inside, they’ve kept things sympathetic to the period of the home too, retaining all four fireplaces, traditional cornice and ceilings in the front, and touches of timber in the newer parts, including the kitchen. “We had some beautiful original features and it was important for us to keep them,” says Suzette. “The touches of timber in the kitchen, rather than having it all black, warms the whole experience,” says Mark.
Many heritage features have been kept too
The new home gives them everything they could want for the rest of their days, including a new wine room under the stairs, an extra bedroom and bathroom, a study and a garage. The living space has been increased from 140 to 210 sqm.
The pair admit they love how their house delights and surprises people; not just in its deceptive size, but in its edgy and modern design, perhaps not expected of a couple of their age. And they think not rushing the reno process was key to its success.
“It was quite a drawn out process which gave us a chance to really look around at what was available in terms of materials. We took our time and that was a good thing,” says Suzette.
And the material which made perhaps the biggest impact was the wide James Hardie Matrix cladding, painted in a dark charcoal.
“The Matrix panels were key to making it look sleek and streamlined. They weren’t really on our mind and they were very much Rebecca’s initiative. The colours really transformed the look of the cladding too. I think the dark looks fantastic,” Suzette says. She also loved how easy the cladding was to literally wipe clean after a dust storm dumped a layer of red on the house earlier this year!
After two decades away, Mark and Suzette couldn’t be happier to now be settled in what they hope to be their forever home. And the current lockdown has definitely made them appreciate what they have all the more!
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In Toodyay, WA, a small 1860’s farmhouse has been transformed into an Australian Hamptons mansion sprawling over 1,000sqm. Now known as ‘The Farm Estate’ the property, which has been in the Bowen family for five generations, has been reimagined by award-winning designer Natalee Bowen.
“The Australian Hamptons look is uniquely our own, standing apart from the American original,” says Natalee, who is somewhat of an expert and a longterm fan of the aesthetic. “It combines the original tenants of timeless style that evoke the surrounds and a love of entertaining, with Australian hues and classic weatherboard. We wanted to embody those ideas in The Farm Estate by continuing the legacy of the traditional home, while exploring that of the Hamptons style.”
Natalee says while The Hamptons has become synonymous with celebrity and extravagance, this fairly recent incarnation of the look appeared in the last 20-to-30 years when Manhattan’s high society developed the coastline by emulating farm houses seen further inland. “This design origin makes it surprisingly easy to place in rural WA.”
Upon first look it’s easy to see the grandeur of the Hamptons style thanks to the addition of two wings and a refined roofline accented with gables. At the same time an extensive veranda, corrugated iron roof and a full Linea Weatherboard wrap, tie the home to the classic Queenslander style.
“Nothing typifies traditional Aussie home design quite like weatherboard. This offers an element of texture with simple shadow lines and an air of craftsmanship,” Natalee says. “In America, they use shingles which are staggered to create a more complex pattern and over time, fade to light grey in the sun giving a home a sense of timeless charm.
“Traditionally, this would require timber which is relatively high maintenance in the long run. Thankfully, there are modern alternatives like Linea Weatherboard, which is made from thick boards of premium fibre cement that create deep, defined shadow lines. They are also resistant to warping, flaking and damage from moisture and fire, so they hold the look longer.”
In most cases, the palette of a Hamptons home is defined the coast, but in rural WA, a new approach had to be taken: “Hamptons is built on sun, sea and sand, so we turned to our surrounds. We tested different white and grey paints for two weeks before settling on Dulux’s Milton Moon and Lexicon quarter strength.” She adds: “Greys in particular can be very reflective so went with a tone that would contrast against the white without overpowering the façade. Grey with white details is a very traditional Hamptons look that won’t date.”
Natalee says you should never rush when choosing paint colours. “Think long term, as it is a big investment that you’ll have to live with or make costly changes.”
Moving inside, the detailed craftsmanship of the facade is continued with James Hardie’s Axon cladding in the veranda’s soffits. This vertical groove look is mirrored within, through Hardie Groove lined ceilings. “Texture is key to any Hamptons home and consistency is a universal rule of modern Australian design,” Natalee continues.
Natalee likes to design from the inside out, so she had her sofas and kitchen planned well before the structure. Additions such as Akubra hats next to blue and white ginger jars pay homage to generations of Bowens and Natalee’s love of Hamptons. In the kitchen, cabinets have been given a twist with a navy finish, part of a unique colour palette that also reflects the surrounds.
“We’ve injected the home with an Aussie feel through colour,” Natalee adds. “Downstairs we’ve used richer caramels and softer blues to mirror the wheat fields and sky outside. Upstairs, muted greens emulate the beautiful native treetops. It’s the best way to honour both looks.”
Additionally, HardieGroove panelling features in the bathrooms and master bedroom as a new take on the traditional square panel and dado rail wainscoting. This in turn continues the textured detailing through from the front to the back of the home.
“No Hamptons home is complete without an indoor-outdoor entertaining space, which ties perfectly into the Australian lifestyle,” says Natalee. “We wanted to create something with a wow factor and have six seating areas in the gardens and under the veranda, which is lined with Axon cladding to cope with extremes in weather conditions.”
The Australian rural environment is worlds apart from the Hamptons coastline, so it’s important to build accordingly. “In addition to insulation, we chose premium fibre cement products and a TrueCore frame for their fire-resistant qualities as a blaze ripped through the original home in 2008,” Natalee adds.
By combining the timeless charm of New York State’s quaint farm lets and extravagant coastline properties, with the natural beauty of rural WA’s wheat fields, Natalee’s latest renovation has created an Australian Hamptons legacy all its own.
An estimated $2.2bn was spent on alterations and additions to residential buildings in the first quarter of this year, showing the popularity of upscaling and improving existing homes.
Increasing the size of your home has never been easier with the invention of strong, durable and lightweight modern materials, however, it’s important to make the most of the opportunity by adding not just room, but life to your home.
“While increasing square feet is an obvious benefit of any home addition, it should also be an opportunity to consider your block and how you live, to define the new space and redefine the entire home,” says architect Joe Snell.
Here, Joe provides his tips on how to question your home addition plans to make your new space greater than the sum of its parts:
Know your needs, now and in the future
From getting up, to getting to bed, we do a lot in our homes and it can be hard to understand all of our needs of a house. Focus down on your most important times of day and build back from there. For example, if you’re a great entertainer or enjoy family meals you might consider an extension to create a dining alfresco space that can be used year-round. Conversely, if ensuring the whole family enjoys a silent night is a must, you may choose a to build a well-insulated second floor addition. You may also be able to combine these two goals by creating a cantilevered second floor over a ground floor deck.
Know your home
The basics of home design rely on five key concepts (light, sound, space, view and air). Creating an addition offers the opportunity to harness these concepts to improve the experience of living in the home.
A tried and tested way to do this is to create a modern addition, as the style lends itself to large expanses of glazing improving daylight into the home as well as framing the views you want to capture. In addition to naturally improving light levels these windows can be used to encourage cross ventilation, raising air quality. An extension toward the back of the home will generally create a quieter space away from the street and if placed on the ground floor can open up long lines of sight, giving a feeling of additional space.
Make more room
Despite huge advancements in building materials, including Australia’s own Premium Fibre Cement products, many of us go straight to brick when thinking of home additions. Compared to brick, products like Matrix panels, Axon Cladding, Linea Weatherboard and Stria Cladding all provide subtle benefits to floor space.
Using these products can add up to 100-to-130mm additional depth at each external wall, as they have a thinner profile at approximately 130mm, with double brick and brick-veneer walls generally being 230-to- 270mm thick in comparison.
Due its lightweight formulation compared to masonry, Premium Fibre Cement cladding is naturally lighter which means it is generally less expensive to create cantilevered upper levels. This gives your designs the opportunity to establish more cost-effective floor space upstairs at the same time as creating dynamic and shaded areas downstairs. The win-win is that this type of lightweight design can add to your inside-outside alfresco lifestyle.
Create contrast and continuity
A good addition doesn’t have to meld seamlessly into an existing building, in fact there is a trend toward making modern a statement that departs from traditional facades. The trick here is making the two work together and not against each other.
While an addition creates an opportunity for a contemporary transformation, it has to work with the existing building by creating common ground while observing the basic tenants of the chosen modern look. From Mid Century to minimalist, these will generally include a bold, simple profile, large format glazing, a well-considered choice of cladding and colour, and a lack of ornamentation.
Whether you’re making room for a growing family or to get more out of your home, it’s important to think about adding more life to your home, not just more space.
–Joe Snell is an architect and an ambassador for James Hardie. James Hardie’s range of cladding can be mixed and matched to a specific look or to create a personal style. Most come primed and ready to paint to any desired hue and resist flaking, warping or swelling, meaning they require less maintenance to keep the look.
When it comes to architectural trends these days, have you ever found yourself a little confused as to what exactly represents ‘modern’ design? While Hamptons, Country and French Colonial styles have clear definitions, the term ‘modern’ often seems to be a catch-all phrase for everything else that defies clear categorisation – am I right? To help us break down just what constitutes modern design, we spoke to architect and James Hardie ambassador Joe Snell recently for his take on the whole perplexing issue.
“Generally speaking, the modern trend features clean lines, confident shapes and minimal ornamentation. It is rooted in the works of visionaries such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto, and out of institutions like the Bauhaus,” says Joe, who has identified five current contemporary home styles that fall into the ‘modern’ category. He warns though that it’s important to know the difference between them to make your preferred version of ‘modern’ work.
Mid-Century Modernism Mid-Century Modernism has its roots in America in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s and is epitomised by architect Phillip Johnson’s influential Glass House. “This style is all about being connected to nature by using large expanses of glass and revealed structure, creating buildings that have simple silhouettes that are very aware of their surroundings,” says Joe. Exposed steel beams and cladding boards are key to achieving this enduringly stylish look.
Immersed in nature, this home really captures the spirit of Mid-Century Modernism
Minimalism A very popular style of late, it could be argued that the pared-back Minimalist design philosophy is the opposite of the more outward looking Mid-Century Modernism. “While it ostensibly uses the same pared back design, the focus is more on looking within, and being at peace with oneself. The Minimalism school of thought aims to remove distractions and has become popular in Japan for its alignment with the Zen philosophy of mindfulness and tranquillity,” says Joe.
To achieve this aesthetic, the aim is to minimise joins and lines by using concrete floors and large panel cladding alongside huge expanses of glass.
This Melbourne home exemplifies Minimalist design principles
Mixed Materials The Mixed Material trend emerged out of desire to avoid the bland Truman Show style streetscapes of old – it’s a popular device used to add variety to the look of a home (while reducing the blandness of rows of identical homes) but it can be a difficult mix to get right.
The Mixed Materials look
“There are lots of elements to balance, so over-complication can be an issue here,” says Joe who recommends choosing one theme and running with it. Whether it’s making your entrance the hero or defining your garage with a contrasting material, less can be more with this style.
Mixed Materials
“I like to think of homes as a play between heavy and light components. Minimalism and Mid-Century often focus primarily on the repetition of a limited palette of materials across the whole home. Mixed Materials can go either way, I generally suggest working with heavier materials such as masonry and brick at the base and graduate to lighter profiles as you go up,” says Joe.
This home taps into both the Scandi Barn and Mixed Materials categories
Modern Coastal With most of us living on the coast, it’s not surprising that the Modern Coastal look has become a popular one in Australia. “While the on-trend Hamptons style incorporates beautiful detailing with eave returns, balustrading and more, the modern version remains simple and clean. The large expanses of macro detailing and clean shapes remain, but there is also a lean toward embodying the coast which his done through the use of blues, greys and warm wooden tones,” says Joe who recommends the James Hardie Linea Weatherboards to create this look.
“It creates similar shadow lines to timber boards but, like all premium fibre cement cladding, stands up to the Aussie elements as it is resistant to flaking, warping or swelling and damage from moisture which minimises maintenance,” says Joe.
This Modern Coastal style home is located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula
Scandi Barn With its combination of weatherboards and clean lines, the Scandinavian Barn is a popular one in large part because it marries contemporary and traditional design so beautifully. Typified by steep, pitched rooves (a necessity to stop snow gathering throughout Scandinavian winters), countless homes have been designed in this style of late and often in a dark charcoal hue rather than the traditional Scandi-blonde wood tones.
Scandi Barn
“While many may think of light and bright colour palates for Scandi Barns, they also have the potential for dark and brooding exteriors in greys and blacks with minimal window use. The basic tenants of the movement lend themselves to modern styles and include hooded windows and a strong diagrammatic house shape,” says Joe.
Australia’s younger homeowners are preparing to end the country’s love affair with brick houses, according to new data. The findings of a James Hardie survey of people who have built their home in the past five years, or are currently planning to do so, showed that only one third preferred the traditional brick cladding or veneer facades found in quintessential Aussie properties. Meanwhile 44% preferred to use a mix of cladding types and styles including horizontal, vertical and panel arrangements. This trend points toward a preference for modern design says Cathleya Buchanan, their Australian marketing director.
“Our data shows that almost one in three (31%) new builds are being undertaken by people under 30. These younger homeowners are most likely to want a contemporary appearance that mixes a number of building materials and profiles to ensure their home doesn’t look dated in the near future.”
However, unlike other styles such as Queenslander and Hamptons, this modern movement encompasses a number of looks, explains Cathleya. “We’re seeing a leaning to clean, angular lines, monochrome palettes, cantilevered second levels and open plan spaces, while moving away from detailing such as eaves and balustrades. These basic tenants of modern design drive toward new materials like Premium Fibre Cement Cladding, which can be used to create strong, striking shapes. It’s also lightweight making it suited to large open plan spaces and second storeys and overhangs.”
While the market is softening following the 2015 building boom, there are still a large number of new builds compared to historic standards. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures there were a record number of homes under construction in NSW in 2018, while Victoria was marginally below its own construction record, so while numbers have and will likely continue to fall, there are still a considerable number of projects being planned or finalised in 2019.
The trend, which will affect approximately one million new build homes is being driven by higher value projects, with more homeowners working with an architect or designer (61%) requesting an individualised modern look, compared to a those using a volume builder (44%).
When asked to choose the most important factor of their project, four out of five (80%) prioritised the look of their property over the cost (70%). However, it’s important to know how to communicate your aesthetic to your architect or builder.
“We all want a home that reflects our tastes and lifestyles, which is why it’s important to know how to communicate what you want, for example our research has shown that what most homeowners call ‘modern’ is referred to as ‘contemporary’ by architects and building professionals. It’s also important to specify the right materials, with two thirds (65%) of young homeowners citing this as an important part of their project,” said Cathleya.
The move away from the brick look is being driven by a preference for building products that help create architectural design motifs, adds Cathleya: “Modern looks require more design variation using modern materials, such as James Hardie’s range of Premium Fibre Cement Cladding, including the large panel format of Matrix Cladding, or the vertical lines of Axon Cladding. Combining these and other profiles can deliver striking features like floating walls, overhangs, and protective cantilevers that define a contemporary style.”
Considering the longevity of the property when defining your vision is important, adds Cathleya: “We often focus on the finished home, without thinking about its longevity. No one wants to deal with ongoing maintenance, which is where Premium Fibre Cement Cladding adds another benefit as it resists flaking, warping or swelling, as well as fire and damage from termites and moisture.
“What we are seeing in new builds is a new modern tone for the future of the average Australian home both in look, design and quality.”
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.
On my recent dream trip to The Hamptons as a guest of Scyon Walls, it was all about discovering what Hamptons style really means and how we can make it work in Australia. The aesthetic, or what people perceive it to be, has become so popular and so overly used that in some cases it has become a bit of a parody of itself! Many design enthusiasts might see it as a bit cliche or too classic to be relevant to a modern home. But I’m here to tell you that is not the case!
I was lucky enough to tour this amazing new build in Southampton Village. Yours for a little over US$16 million! I am still dreaming about it more than a month on. It really was beautiful and a great example of a more modern Hamptons look, using a much more black and white palette instead of the traditional blue and white. This was the house which got me wanting to panel every room in my house, remove all my current decor and start again. Luckily for my credit card (and my marriage), I have since had time to breathe and calm down, but I am definitely inspired to add some more Hamptons elements to my home after the trip.
To make this house tour even more special, Scyon Walls arranged for architect to the stars Andre Tchelistcheff to show us around. Afterwards, he gave us a presentation on some of the Hamptons homes he has worked on for a variety of celebrities. We’re talking next level! Talk about an interiors addict’s dream day!
In these two lounge rooms you can see some of the typical Hamptons features like the paneling, skirting and cornice, and the large, upholstered white lounges. But the palette is black and white so the look is as clean and elegant as it is relaxed and comfortable.
The floorplan allows for open plan living which is how most families prefer to live today. The kitchen cabinets are of course Shaker style but the contrast with the black metal shelving modernises it. You can’t really see it in these photos but the benchtop was an amazing leathered-effect stone rather than the marble you might traditionally expect.
And, as in Australia, a butler’s pantry is a must-have in a house of this size and price point.
And talk about statement! Check out this staircase! Have you ever seen such panelling?! And the black treads on the white risers are very Hamptons.
Up these stairs are seven of the eight bedrooms. Let’s just concentrate on the biggest of the two master suites! It was absolutely huge! And had his and hers en suites on either side of the bed. As you do!
Here’s one of them.
On the outside, this modern home blends into the streetscape with its more expected Hamptons style exterior. It’s all about cladding here (which Scyon are experts in) and shingle. It could have been there for years!
Out the back is amazing.
This pergola is quite simple but very Hamptons. Even the outdoor furniture is generous and comfortable. The neutral palette keeps the look relaxed and breezy but still sophisticated.
