Tag: sunshine coast

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Before & Afters Design House Tours Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Hamptons style house: An amazing before & after in Queensland

AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge

Located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, this original Queenslander was built in 1940 and while it’s been renovated over the years its latest makeover is arguably its grandest, with its strong Hamptons style and bold use of texture and colour. 

BEFORE front elevation
BEFORE front elevation. The property sits on two lush acres of land.
AFTER front elevation
AFTER front elevation

Overhauled by Claire Lawrence-Smart, of Plantation Collective Homes, the home’s nineties renovation was recently revamped with a budget of around $300,000. “I wanted to bring back character to the home and a breath of fresh air through colour. I also wanted to embrace the original character and redesign the expansive verandahs for a timeless effect,” says Claire who lives in the home with her husband and three children.

BEFORE bedroom
BEFORE bedroom
AFTER bedroom
AFTER bedroom

While the home had already been extended, a lot of the the elements added by the previous owner didn’t suit the original part of the home. From the stairs to the exterior balustrade and barn doors, cross details were added as well as VJ panels to match the existing features of the original Queenslander.

BEFORE bathroom
BEFORE bathroom
AFTER bathroom
AFTER bathroom. “I bought the Carrara marble in bulk online which was one of my best finds,” says Claire.

Other standout design features include new flooring in the entrance (with herringbone and marble inlay) as well as wallpapers, grass cloth, shaker style joinery and vibrant blue paint. “It’s a large house and I wanted to make it feel homely with textures, wallpapers, paint and panelling. And the home’s three-metre-high ceilings were ideal for a darker paint colour,” says Claire.

AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge

“My favourite part of the home is the kitchen, which was a labour of love as I hand painted all the cabinets myself,” says Claire of the bold blue cupboard fronts. That DIY element was necessary to offset the cost of the nearby stone benchtops. “The benchtops were the biggest splurge because the kitchen is huge – the island alone is nearly four metres long,” says Claire.

BEFORE kitchen
BEFORE kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER kitchen. Vibrant blue subway tiles complement the joinery.
AFTER dining
AFTER dining

With its enduring appeal in Australia, the Hamptons style is showing no signs of going anywhere fast – something that Claire attributes to its versatility and timelessness. “It’s a classic style and can be interpreted in many different ways – there’s Coastal Hamptons or American Hamptons and the style lends itself well to the classic Queenslander too.”

BEFORE downstairs
BEFORE downstairs
AFTER downstairs
AFTER downstairs
AFTER downstairs
AFTER downstairs

If you’re in the market, this home is currently for sale.

This renovated Queenslander is giving us all the feels

You know you’re looking at something special when a property has its own name. ‘Pen Y Llechwedd’ is a stately 104-year-old Queenslander, located in Ipswich, that was renovated recently resulting…
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Before & Afters Design House Tours Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Before & after: From dated to chic in six weeks!

Master bedroom AFTER
Master bedroom AFTER

Located in Mooloolaba, in the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, this average suburban home got a serious makeover recently by the team at Black and White Projects, making it fit for sale.

Dining BEFORE
Dining BEFORE

Dining AFTER
Dining AFTER

“The home is located minutes from the beach and situated in a quiet cul-de-sac. The house was a long term rental in need of a renovation and we presented it to the market so it was ready to move in,” says Black and White Projects design director Maria Baron who finished the renovation in under six weeks before selling the house.

Master bedroom BEFORE
Master bedroom BEFORE

Master bedroom AFTER
Master bedroom AFTER

“We renovated this one for selling. The brief was to renovate what needed updating as the home is a solid brick house with good bones in a good area. We also had to be smart about budget whilst achieving a premium look with quality finishes. We made some bold design choices,” says Maria.

Ensuite BEFORE
Main bathroom BEFORE

ENSUITE AFTER
Main bathroom AFTER

Master bathroom AFTER
Main bathroom AFTER

“The reno had to appeal to a broad audience but was clearly designed with a working family in mind. We added a little cubby house out the back for the kids. We love adding little custom touches and small features that the whole family will love. We also made sure the parents had a nice master bedroom, ensuite and walk-in robe to enjoy,” says Maria who reworked the floorplan to allow this.

Guest bedroom BEFORE
Guest bedroom BEFORE

Guest bedroom AFTER
Guest bedroom AFTER

Other floorplan changes included adding a pantry in what used to be hallway space. “It was such a minimal change but it made a massive difference whist still keeping the bedrooms and laundry private from the main house,” says Maria.

Kitchen BEFORE
Kitchen BEFORE

Kitchen AFTER
Kitchen AFTER – the new pantry is located opposite

Kitchen AFTER
Kitchen AFTER

The front of the home still features original brown brick, but it’s an aspect that Maria was focussed on retaining. “Instead of hiding what the house was about we love to embrace features, such as the brick. The right colour palette made the original brick shine,” says Maria who used the paint colour ‘Monument’ in Taubmans Endure for the exterior trims, gutters and roof.

Exterior BEFORE
Exterior BEFORE

Exterior AFTER
Exterior AFTER

Two highlights of the home are the gorgeous bathrooms, something of a Black and White Projects specialty. “We love doing bathrooms. We saved on cabinetry by getting a good quality off the shelf ‘shell’ before adding custom bench tops and good quality fixtures and fittings. We also like to splurge on tiles plus we only use the best tilers to ensure an impeccable finish,” says Maria.

Ensuite BEFORE
Ensuite BEFORE

Ensuite AFTER
Ensuite AFTER

Ensuite AFTER
Ensuite AFTER

Ensuite AFTER
Ensuite AFTER

Maria’s top reno tips:

– Don’t compromise on your tradies! Final finishes is what can make a house average or exceptional. Really good tradies can make a huge difference to the end product.

– Invest in a project manager, A good project manager should be able to save you lots on everything. They should know who to call in and when. They should also have access to competitive rates with suppliers.

– Assess and rework the floor plan. This is a crucial part of any job and a lot of work goes into it. if you are going to change your plan yourself, ask yourself Is this something that will improve my day to day life living in the house? Does it fit the house/space and is it worth the investment?

Pool BEFORE
Pool BEFORE

Pool AFTER
Pool AFTER

Photography: Mister Mistress

For more | Another Black and White Projects renovation

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Bedrooms Design Designers Interviews Shopping

Upholstered bedheads with on-trend, changeable covers

Create Estate half moon bed

“Upholstery has always been in the family. My dad has been an upholsterer for over 40 years and I remember sitting on the floor of our little apartment in Brisbane’s north side chatting to Mum and Dad about their plans to retire in 18 months. It was bit of lightbulb moment for us and we didn’t sleep much that night coming up with grand plans of how we could take over their upholstery business. That idea quickly evolved into what we have now,” says Nicole Williams of the bedhead business Create Estate that she runs with her husband Sam.

Create Estate bedhead
Photography: Matt Johnson | Styling: Simone Barter, Style Life Home assisted by Anoushka Schollay

Inspired by Scandinavian simplicity, the bedheads are designed and made in Australia from the company’s base on the Sunshine Coast. “We’ve always wanted to operate as a boutique business that supports local creatives, with all items designed and made in Australia. We’re not about mass production as it often means compromising on quality and leaves less time for customers,” says Nicole.

Create Estate half moon bed
Photography: Armelle Habib | Styling: Julia Green, Alex Carter and Aisha Chaudry for Greenhouse Interiors.

“Sam and I were first inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian living, where it’s all about simple yet functional design. We believe that investing in a few quality pieces that don’t date means creating calm, stress-free homes and more time for what’s important!” she says. And in a coup for the brand, Create Estate is now the bedhead supplier for Greenhouse Interiors too.

Create Estate valance
The company make clever matching valances too. Photography: Matt Johnson | Styling: Simone Barter, Style Life Home assisted by Anoushka Schollay

Available in half-moon and linear designs, the most obvious point of difference is that the bedheads feature removable slipcovers – perfect for those that feel the urge to restyle! “We wanted to create a product that gave people the versatility to change the look of their room when investing in a big ticket item like a bedhead. Each of our bedheads come with a removable slipcover, available in a range of fabric options and can be swapped out as little or as often as you like. Win!” says Nicole.

Photography: Armelle Habib | Julia Green assisted by Sara Huckett from Lennox Rd Interiors and Aisha Chaudry for Greenhouse Interiors
Photography: Armelle Habib | Julia Green assisted by Sara Huckett from Lennox Rd Interiors and Aisha Chaudry for Greenhouse Interiors

Create Estate’s initial offering included pure European linen but they have since expanded into velvet and washed denim. “The denim is a unique take on a wardrobe staple. We’re continually thinking outside the box when it comes to fabric production and textile design in creating unique designs that still give customers the flexibility to change their look,” says Nicole

Create Estate denim bedhead
Photography: Matt Johnson | Styling: Simone Barter, Style Life Home assisted by Anoushka Schollay

“Our favourite piece from the range would have to be the Half Moon bedhead with slip cover. The feminine shape and size makes it a real statement piece while not over-powering a room and it’s proven to be quite popular for the kiddies too,” says Nicole.

Create Estate bedhead
Photography: Matt Johnson | Styling: Simone Barter, Style Life Home assisted by Anoushka Schollay

Shop online | Where to buy Australian bed linen online

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Expert Tips Styling

New interior styling workshops for the Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast residents, listen up!

the-styling-workshops logoDomayne, in collaboration with stylists Simone Barter of style.life.home and Hayley Jenkin of Wholehearted Studio, will be putting on monthly styling workshops from this weekend (21 March). Ideal for homeowners or renters wanting to transform their everyday living areas into stylish and personalised spaces, the duo will reveal what’s hot – and what’s not – in the styling world.

Simone and Hayley
Simone and Hayley

“Every month, we will present creative, visual and inspiring master classes that will teach people how to get their style on at home,” says Simone. “We’ll cover the full spectrum of interior looks ranging from classic to contemporary, with real-world tips and tricks of the trade”

Each Domayne Sunshine Coast styling workshop will focus on a specific area of the home, so participants can arrive equipped with pre-prepared questions to make the most out of the session. “Our goal is to provide styling solutions with hands-on advice,” explains Hayley. “Simone and I will be approaching these styling workshops in a practical and engaging way.”

The Styling Workshops Domayne 1

The design duo, whose individual work has graced the pages of Australia’s leading interior lifestyle and bridal magazines including Inside Out, House & Garden, Real Living and White Magazine, bring a wealth of practical information and tricks of the trade that took years to perfect.

Limited seats are available for each workshop and bookings are essential. Book now!

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Interviews

Interior designer Mark Gacesa makes customisation the norm

“I wanted to be an architect from about the age of seven,” says Sunshine Coast interior designer Mark Gacesa, of Ultraspace. His father was an interior designer and as a youngster ‘forced’ to work in the family business instead of surf with his mates, Mark developed a passion for the trade. “I was constantly involved in the process of multiple projects from the age of about 12 and loved seeing the end results and the satisfaction my dad brought to people after being invited into their homes and lives. He taught me that in order to best assist your client, you must become your client. What a great piece of advice!”

Mark’s senior year was the first time QUT offered an interior design degree in Queensland. “I had the option of going into Architecture or Interior Design… the rest is history. However, my passion for architecture shows very strongly in my work.”

Continue reading “Interior designer Mark Gacesa makes customisation the norm”