scenic rim – The Interiors Addict

Award winning new build makes the most of natural surroundings

Award winning new build Project Regal has offered its owners Glenn and Alexis Richti atmosphere, an angular yet softened space and the integration of the natural landscape.

Having moved from Melbourne to the Scenic Rim for a change of pace in their lives, the build and subsequent integration of design and affordability have left a lasting impression on the couple.

It was awarded the Best Individual Home up to $350,000 at the Master Builders Queensland Gold Coast and Surrounds industry awards night.

“Master Builders’ recognition for the striking black angular home perched on Regal Ridge is an excellent example of innovative design by team Hobbs, using clever and economical selections and construction techniques given the difficult sloping site,” said Hobbs Building and Interiors creative director, Nikki Hobbs.

“The economical build and interior selections were a challenge that our team revelled in. We were determined to deliver choices for Glenn and Alexis without compromising on the design aesthetic. And Alexis, being the talented and innovative creative that she is, ignited our determination to find a balanced budget.”

Hobbs Building and Interiors are a multi-award-winning custom build firm who live and work to service eco-friendly homeowners within the Scenic Rim. A husband-and-wife team with over 25 years’ industry experience, Hobbs specialise in residential steel frame construction and have a passion for sustainable products and interior design which innately compliments the regions natural landscape.

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3 years of landscaping to get married in acreage back yard

Three years ago, snakes were regular yard guests at Nikki and Luke Hobbs’ newly purchased five-acre Gold Coast Hinterland property. The overgrown yard, once towering in lantarna and tobacco trees, had been ‘let go’ by previous tenants.

Rather than start with the interior of their new home, the couple decided to tackle outside first. And they had a great incentive; wanting to get married in their own (substantial) back yard!

After watching back-to-back episodes of River Cottage Australia, three years and a lot of hard yard work passed, and the couple– a builder and a stylist– were ready to unveil their landscaping while they said ‘I do’ from the comfort of their home.

Here, Nikki shares their top five ‘River Cottage’ makeover tips:

Work with the unique shapes, contours and quirks of the existing parcel of land (ours was once a hydroponic tomato and strawberry farm boasting flat paddocks).

2. Hire in the heavy machinery to do the grunt work (ours included countless excavator bookings and eight semi-trailer loads of forest mulch).

3. Plan your landscaping for success by considering the types of plants currently thriving in your surrounds. (We also opted to hire Ryan from nearby Canopy Wholesale Nursery for expert advice and a killer yard map).

4. Naturally humans are drawn to water including creeks, dams and man-made features and therefore it was important to us to create a space we could enjoy daily (think sunset vino, morning yoga rituals and a wedding ceremony deck).

5. Highlight the natural assets such as river rocks and large established trees. For example, our two DIY rock pillars (now filled with white annual blooms) draw the eye from our house to the backyard creek.

“Learning the ropes of acreage living including operating septic systems, petrol generators and large machinery has been incredibly rewarding,” Nikki says. “Our landscaping and renovation plans for Platypus Valley Homestead will continue to evolve as we now kick off our interior renovation.”

–Country stylist Nikki Hobbs and builder husband Luke, run Hobbs Building & Interiors, an award-winning sustainable home builder located in the heart of the Scenic Rim, Queensland.