Tag: victoria

Green timber panels star in celebrated coastal home

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 23, 2019
No Comments on Green timber panels star in celebrated coastal home

The inaugural Inside Out Brickworks Home of the Year awards took place last night with a stellar line-up of Aussie houses singled out for their design originality. And while it was another of Kennedy Nolan’s projects (Caroline House) that took out the top honour (Home of the Year 2019), we were rather taken with the firm’s beautifully arresting Sandy Point House which was highly commended in the ‘Best New Home Build’ category.

Sandy Point House — Two perfect circles evoke a ship’s portholes on the home’s exterior

The home’s stunning interior colour palette is one of its standout features – it uses a variety of green shades to stunning effect. “I adore the calmness of this space. The natural colour palette mirrors the existing landscape – it’s a real bushland house. And creating a protected courtyard means that indoor/outdoor living is seamless,” says the editor of Inside Out, Eliza O’Hare who was a judge in the awards.

Inspired by the home’s bushland setting, there’s green in many shades from sage to olive and many in between. “The colour palette is built around muted, natural tones found in the surrounding landscape and its intensity is varied to shift the atmosphere and mood as you move from room to room,” says Kennedy Nolan architect Adriana Hanna.

Located in the modest beachside Victorian hamlet of Sandy Point, this holiday home sits on a steep, sloping block. Built from timber that is suitable for the home’s bushfire prone setting, the exterior wood is designed to ‘grey off’ and become camouflaged within the environment. This is just another way that the home has been beautifully designed, specifically for its unique location.

Fellow judge Cameron Bruhn, Dean of Architecture at the University of Queensland, is full of praise for the project too and feels it more than fulfils the holiday home brief. “The home has the quintessential settings of a great holiday house and a robustness that will serve generations to come,” says Cameron.

It’s been a big year for Kennedy Nolan – the practice has taken out awards in the 2019 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, the 2019 Dulux Colour Awards and the 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards too.

Inside Out Brickworks Home of the Year WINNERS:

Home of the Year 2019: Kennedy Nolan, Caroline Street
Best Use of Materials: BRICK: Renato D’Ettorre Architects, Gordons Bay House
Best Sustainable Project: Adam Kane, Yandoit Cabin
Best New Home Build: Renato D’Ettorre Architects, Gordons Bay House
Best Renovation: Ian Moore, Redfern Warehouse

Inside Out Brickworks Home of the Year HIGHLY COMMENDED:

Best New Home Build: Kennedy Nolan, Sandy Point House
Best Home Renovation: Bustle House, FMD Architects

Photography: Derek Swalwell

For more on Kennedy Nolan | Another green themed holiday home

Tags architecture, colour, design, inside out brickworks awards, inside out magazine, interiors, kennedy nolan, real home, victoria

Architecture Design House Tours Interviews

Real home: Beach house redefined on Victorian coast

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 9, 2019
No Comments on Real home: Beach house redefined on Victorian coast

“It redefines what a ‘beach house’ can be, in its aesthetics, function and context,” says this home’s architect Luke Fry. And yes, it certainly does! There’s nothing old-school about this beach pad – it’s a clean-lined formation of raw concrete and exposed brick located on the Bellarine Peninsula, on Victoria’s surf coast.

Home to a retired couple, originally from Melbourne, and their black Labradoodle, the home subtly references Palm Springs’ mid-century modernism while challenging the idea of a coastal home. “Masculine neutral tones were part of the client brief and we pushed that to the next level. We kept it very simple with concrete, brick, stone, timber, steel and glass. It will look as good in 100 years as it does today,” says Luke.

“The initial brief was for a low maintenance house, zoned living spaces and the use of exposed concrete which is a love of the clients and mine!” says Luke. The ground floor is the daily living space while the first floor features a separate zone for when guests come to stay – the owners have three adult children and four grandchildren living in Melbourne.

Situated inside a golf course housing estate, the brand-new build has uninterrupted views across nearby wetlands and sand dunes. “The orientation of the house maximises solar gain and protects from cold prevailing winds. High levels of insulation and high-quality materials means the house performs very well and will stand the test of time,” says Luke. The private home sits at the end of a cul de sac and, once inside, there’s not a building in sight.

As for notable features, Luke points out the Japanese inspired charred timber battens that clad the outside of the home. “The profile was custom designed by me in collaboration with Eco Timber,” says Luke. That finish is emblematic of the architect’s general approach to design – he’s a big fan of simple shapes and layered texture in creating a cohesive whole.

Charred timber battens clad the entry of the home

“Our projects are simple in their form, highly functional and detailed to a level which set them apart. We refer to our projects having a refined simplicity and being layered in texture. We achieve this through emphasising both architecture and interior design equally.”

Photography: Damien Kook

For more on Luke Fry Architecture & Interior Design | How to decorate a beach house without the cliches

Tags architecture, design, interior design, interiors, luke fry, victoria

Architecture Design Travel

Design hotels: Tasmania dominates awards shortlist

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date September 4, 2019
No Comments on Design hotels: Tasmania dominates awards shortlist

Drifthouse. Photography by Martina Gemmola.

Recognising excellence and innovation in design across Australia and New Zealand, the Eat Drink Design Awards just released its shortlisted venues for 2019 and the ‘Best Hotel Design’ category is full of some absolute beauties. From our beloved Calile Hotel to some gorgeous rural retreats, you don’t have to venture too far to find a world-class interior on your next local trip. And with three of the six shortlisted hotels in Tasmania, yet again the island state proves it punches above its weight on the design front.

The Calile Hotel (Fortitude Valley, QLD)
We featured this stunner soon after it opened and it’s no surprise to see the urban resort on the shortlist. Its neutral (but not boring) colour palette looks like a cool drink on a summer’s day – the perfect antidote to the Brisbane heat. We cannot wait to stay there.

“A podium level pool terrace transports guests to holiday mode, hotel corridors continue the outdoor experience naturally – ventilated with ceiling fans via customised breeze block screens and significant planting extends across the project, a verdant overlay linking streets to rooms,” says Richards and Spence, the firm behind the design.

Denison Rivulet (Denison Rivulet, TAS)
As mentioned, Tasmania is a design mecca but it’s rather impressive to see three of the shortlisted hotels are from the island state – the Denison Rivulet being one. Designed to take in its bucolic landscape, we love the unexpected gold flourishes that feature throughout – a bit of luxe in the bush is always a good idea!

Denison Rivulet. Photography by Adam Gibson.

“The cabins are spatially compact but high in amenity – as a continuation of the tradition of Tasmanian coastal shacks which provide both prospect within a large landscape, as well as a sense of intense enclosure,” say the project’s designers Taylor and Hinds Architects.

Stillwater Seven (Launceston, TAS)
Another of the Tassie hotels shortlisted, this project involved major alterations and additions to the first and second floor of an 1830’s flour mill.

Stillwater Seven. Photography by Anjie Blair

“Weathered corrugated iron, heritage sandstone and giant Oregon trusses are highlighted and enhanced throughout the redefined interior. Each new space is filled with tactile patterns and finishes – raw edges, steel thresholds, burnt timbers and textured paintwork yearning to be touched,” says Cumulus Studio, the firm responsible for the design.

Stillwater Seven. Photography by Anjie Blair

krakani lumi (Wukalina Mount William National Park, TAS)
Another Tassie hotel, this unique venue is the result of a collaboration between Taylor and Hinds Architects (who feature again!) and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. Located in the Mount William National Park, the venue serves as accommodation for a guided walk through the cultural landscape, from wukalina (Mt William) to larapuna (Eddystone Point).

“The language of the project is derived from the siting, form and qualities of the traditional seasonal shelters of Tasmania’s first peoples. This context and the notion of the story-telling interior is an important conceptual foundation for the work. The telling of the creation is an initiation into the spiritual and cultural interior of the landscape,” says the team behind the project.

krakani lumi. Photography by Adam Gibson.

Drifthouse (Port Fairy, VIC)
Two holiday apartments located within a period home, this project is located in the south-western Victorian coastal town of Port Fairy and represents boutique regional accommodation at its best. We love its relaxed, understated interiors.

“Fundamental to the brief was to work with the clients’ relaxed aesthetic and to ensure that the new work sat comfortably within its garden setting, juxtaposed by not jarring with the heritage buildings, the past omnipresent and pivotal,” says Multiplicity, the firm behind the project.

United Places Botanic Gardens (South Yarra, VIC)
Comprised of three two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom suites, this minimalist yet luxe boutique hotel is located in Melbourne’s South Yarra.

“We were briefed to create an immersive environment for discerning guests in a category dominated by ever-expanding art hotels. Our approach was to employ cross-disciplinary collaboration to celebrate exceptional local creatives. From the Laura Woodward kinetic sculpture in the foyer to the digital Community Guide created by the hotelier, spirit of place is at the heart of our approach” says Carr, the firm behind the project.

United Places. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

For more on the awards | Melbourne hotel penthouse transformed into seven loft rooms

Tags design, design award, eat drink design award, hotel design, hotels, queensland, tasmania, victoria

Architecture Design House Tours

Real home: Victorian country view maximised by glass

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 22, 2018
No Comments on Real home: Victorian country view maximised by glass

You could call it the Grand Designs effect but the modernist inspired countryside abode (with ample glazing) is right up there on my ‘dream home’ list. And it seems it was for Victoria’s Steve and Donna Bright too when they built Ashford House. “We wanted to incorporate floor-to-ceiling windows that could run seamlessly along the length of the house,” says Steve. He owns construction company Excelcon who built the home alongside Graham Jones Design.

Located on acreage in Upper Beaconsfield in Victoria, the home is a modern take on a farm-style Colorbond shed. But with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gym, butler’s pantry plus expansive kitchen, dining, living and alfresco it’s far from traditional.

With metres and metres of glazing, all designed to take in the view, there’s no denying that glass is one of the central features of the home. “We wanted the windows to provide vast open living spaces, while maintaining minimal visual impact from structural elements,” says Steve who used Stegbar windows and stacking doors throughout.

“In winter, we can keep the doors closed and still feel connected to the outside due to the large panes of glass and unobstructed views. During the warmer months, we can completely open them up and create a cohesive transition from inside out,” says Steve, who uses the alfresco area all year round.

Interestingly, the windows also perform another function – they provide lateral and cross-sectional strength to the home’s structure and actually look as if they are holding the entire home up from the inside.

Ashford House interior — The windows appear to hold the house up from the inside

“The design of Ashford House was always going to provide a challenge to window manufacturers. The Stegbar range has enabled us to achieve a final overall look that is true to our design brief, and creates an extraordinary home,” says Steve.

The gorgeous view rom the bedroom — The gorgeous view from the bedroom

For more on Stegbar | Another minimalist home in country Victoria

Tags architecture, design, interior design, interiors, minimalism, modernism, modernist, real home, victoria

Architecture Design House Tours Interviews

Real home: A transparent, minimalist box on the coast

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date April 12, 2018
1 Comment on Real home: A transparent, minimalist box on the coast

Perched on top of a hill in Victoria’s Portsea, this striking, single level minimalist family home makes a dramatic statement. A large rectangular design, the home is notable for its ample glazing (that affords a unique transparency and beautiful ocean views from every room), a six-metre cantilever on one end and the way in which the structure appears to be floating.

Comprised of a rectangular box that is 30 metres long and 11 metres wide, the home’s hilltop location makes for an interesting arrival – cars must navigate through surrounding parkland and a pear tree-lined driveway before walking up a series of large concrete steps to the front door. “We really took advantage of the unique location and typology of the site to truly appreciate the surrounds. There is a beautiful sense of transparency in the building where you can look through either side of the home and absorb the views,” says FGR Architects director Feras Raffoul.

Kitchen and pool — The kitchen and pool both look to the ocean

“One of the homes most unique features is the transparency through the central part of the building. Usually the core of the home is the solid part but it is in reverse with this design,” says Feras. The slender roof profile is another interesting feature – it matches the thickness of the floor below which gives the home the clean box-like feel.

And while the design maximises the views of Portsea beach and the surrounding parklands, the home is private too – a chief concern for the owners. “This home was designed to be appreciated all year round. There is a simple timelessness to the design of the home. The family are able to look out and see the world but remain in privacy from onlookers,” says Feras.

With three bedrooms and two bathrooms housed in one half and a living area in the other, the interior colour palette is intentionally neutral – light flooring and dark joinery feature throughout. “A deliberate decision was made to use minimalist interior materials as to not take away from the views, which each room is strategically positioned to capture,” says Feras. The bathrooms were designed to create an illusion of showering outside and large skylights ensure they are light-filled.

The gorgeous kitchen features a five-metre-long limestone island bench and the view is the star again – the space looks onto the swimming pool and beach through large sheets of frameless glass.

The unique cantilever was the most challenging part of the design. “Creating a six-metre cantilever with minimal backspace goes against engineering recommendations which require a 2/3 back span and 1/3 cantilever. We designed it with a 1/3 back span and 2/3 cantilever. The idea was to reverse the architectural language by having the glassed component of the building sitting on the land and the solid component cantilevering out from the earth to provide cover for the cars. It raises the question of what is holding it up,” says Feras.

Cantilever carport — The cantilever defies gravity and protects three cars too

Photography: Peter Bennetts

For more | A minimalist Noosa home

Tags architecture, design, interior design, interiors, portsea, victoria

Art Interviews

Artist Lamai Anne shares her love of the Australian bush

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date August 30, 2017
No Comments on Artist Lamai Anne shares her love of the Australian bush

It was while pregnant with her first child that Lamai Anne started to dabble in illustration on her computer – and winning an international design competition set about a career change.

Styling and photography by Belinda Jovanovski and Katrina Chambers

“I have always been quite creative, but never really explored it enough. Growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to go to university – I had to earn an income – otherwise I would have immersed myself in textile design then and there. Being pregnant gave me that opportunity,” says Lamai.

“After my first fabric collection showcased through Robert Kaufman three years ago, I was approached by a large homewares company to work with them. It was a dream come true.”

Hailing from a quiet semi-rural setting in Victoria, Lamai’s artworks draw on her love of Australian flora and fauna.

“I love gardening and nature. When we moved into our current home, there was a flowering gum in the backyard that had laid dormant – one day it just exploded, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I knew I just had to capture that beauty somehow.”

Completely self-taught, each of her pieces has a strong focus on colour, and can take over two weeks to complete.

“My background as a signwriter helped me learn a lot about colour, and now I’m addicted. I get so wrapped up in a drawing that I need to step away for a few days. It’s a great way to reassess the design, especially the colour palette which is so important to get right – and it’s also a good opportunity to catch up on the pile of washing in the meantime!”

Lamai currently splits her time between her part-time role, her family and her own art.

“Working with buyers to develop product in a commercially driven company, you realise that as much as you want to be an artist who does your own thing, you need to find that happy medium – people respond well to passion, but not everyone is going to love your work. I love exploring different styles, but that can confuse people – so it’s important to stick to a distinctive style.”

Her current collection Native Grace features beautiful limited edition prints, with only 25 available in A1 size, and 50 in A2 (from $135).

“I feel like I’m constantly working on new pieces and trying new things. Being limited edition helps me explore further works, and it also means that I can give people something special, personal and exclusive.”

As hard as it can be to pick favourites, Lamai’s personal choice would be her Gum Tree print.

“I just love the humble gum. So many people will walk past it without taking much notice, but all it takes is a closer look to discover all of the colour and beauty – it’s simply inspirational.”

Lamai shares her advice with other budding artists: “Don’t be afraid to show your work to the world – and don’t ever think that you’re not good enough. Rejection hurts, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. Dust yourself off and try again, because you never know when that ‘yes’ will be lurking behind that ‘no’.”

Lamai has teamed up with homewares brand Nathan + Jac to produce a selection of limited edition prints and cushions – stay tuned for the release in October! In the meantime, Lamai hopes to continue sharing her work with the world – and we hope that she continues to do so.

“Passion drives me. If this wasn’t really a part of who I am, then I wouldn’t do it. But now that I do, I couldn’t function without it.”

For more on Lamai Anne.

For more amazing artists.

Tags art, australian artist, Australian flora, digital art, interiors, lamai anne, limited edition prints, victoria

Art Homewares Interviews Kids Rooms

Dots By Donna: meet the woman behind the dots

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date July 27, 2017
2 Comments on Dots By Donna: meet the woman behind the dots

It wasn’t until she had her first child that artist Donna Taylor rediscovered her love (and talent) for drawing with dots, and it’s since become her full-time job (and obsession).

“Going back to work in the high paced retail industry would mean missing out on my daughter’s childhood, so I quit my job. But after 17 years in that industry, I didn’t know who I was anymore,” says VIC-based Donna.

“I found myself stippling [that’s drawing in dots] on the couch – something I hadn’t done since high school. My husband came home one day and – without my knowledge – put up a photo of one of my unfinished drawings on Facebook. The photo received such a good response that I decided to put up one I had drawn of my daughter on a mothers’ group page. That night, my inbox went into meltdown – I couldn’t keep up with all the enquiries!”

After deciding that commissions were not really her thing, Donna started stippling her own designs and promoting the prints at local markets.

“I would juggle up to seven markets in one weekend because I was used to being a multi-site manager in my previous life. Before I knew it, there were 50 stores around the world carrying my work – and now I even have a shopfront in Mornington.”

Completely self taught, each one of Donna’s illustrations is hand drawn on A3 by layering thousands of tiny dots, with the half face as her signature style. “I usually have about five or six National Geographic photos as a reference point, so that the final drawing is not just a copy of a photograph. The stippling effect is amazing. Even I can look at them for hours, and see something I have never seen before.

“Each one my animals is named after someone special in my life, and I think that personal touch shines through. For example, Leo the Lioness is name after my son and Milla the Magical Unicorn, after my daughter.”

To this day, Donna struggles with her perfectionist tendencies. It can take anywhere between 40 and 200 hours for her to complete one drawing.

“My rule of thumb is this: the day I think the drawing is finished, I work a whole other day on it. If I put two dots too close together, I need to add another layer of dots – which is about 10 hours to fix a dot that nobody else would notice. I re-drew Linda the Lioness three times because she had to live up to Leo the Lion’s standard.”

Although she puts a lot of love and effort into all her drawings, her personal favourite is the African Goddess. “She [the Goddess] was the one that got me through the hard times. Every time I’m standing in my shop she reminds me of how grateful I am to be where I am today – there’s something very special about her.”

Donna’s prints come in sizes from A4 through to A1 (from $25) and are archival quality – meaning they will last for 200 years. “I’m not in the business of mass production. Each one of my products has longevity behind it. They’re a family heirloom.”

Even though Donna’s illustrations are now studied at schools and even by interior designers, she has remained humble. “It blows my mind every single day seeing my prints on other people’s walls. I love how people puzzle them together to suit their own homes.”

Donna shares some advice with aspiring artists that saw her through the moments of self-doubt: “If you have a passion, follow it and work hard. This hasn’t been easy. If you don’t go for it you will have copycats overtake you, and you will always have that regret.

“This has been a dream come true. Every day I can pick my daughter up from school – I love that my job doesn’t stop me from being a mum.”

Dots by Donna is branching out to the US market in a few weeks, and can be spotted in west elm’s Chadstone store in November. Her current collection includes selection of limited edition prints of her work – part of a collaboration with digital watercolour artist Ink Hearts Paper.

Want to see more local talent?

Tags artist, black and white, dots, Dots by Donna, drawing, limited edition prints, stippling, victoria

Art Designers Interviews

Striking & original timber wall art from Victoria’s surf coast

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 13, 2017
No Comments on Striking & original timber wall art from Victoria’s surf coast

Every now and then while trawling Insta (something I do far more often than I’d care to admit!), I’ll find something truly original – something that cuts through. A diamond in the rough of sorts. This happened recently when I stumbled upon Hunter Wood Creative, a husband and wife outfit from Victoria’s surf coast town of Modewarre (not far from Bell’s Beach) who make striking timber wall art entirely from recycled timber. Inspired by their rural surrounds, the couple share an appreciation of the natural world that you can see in their work. “We have a love of the earthy and rustic and it’s what led us to settle in a country location, it influences our design choices and it was also a pivotal factor in launching our business,” says Hunter Wood Creative’s Dale Rogers.

“We are passionate about re-purposing and showcasing the true beauty and patterns of nature’s raw materials. Taking what would be unusable in some peoples’ eyes and turning it into something of beauty has a certain charm that’s hard not to love,” says Dale of the business that came about when the couple were in the market for a statement artwork for their home. “Dale had wanted to start making a piece for us so I suggested we use the wood that we had piled at home – old house studs, bearers and old hardwood flooring from a renovation. That’s how it started,” says Dale’s husband Luke Rogers.

After some initial tinkering, the couple set out searching for timber that featured different colours and grains and launched the business in late 2016. “The collection boasts wall wares in an array of shapes and sizes, and combines bold patterns and geometric shapes with the natural beauty of distressed leather inlays, mounted skulls and reclaimed timber. Our pieces are created using products that are sourced from nature, making each piece perfectly imperfect. They’re a little different, a little unusual but at home in any situation,” says Dale who hand makes each individual piece with Luke. “Every original artwork is made piece-by piece and takes several days to complete. I cut the individual pieces of timber before laying out the intricate designs and then Luke completes the assembly and framing,” says Dale.

“The high country is a source of beautiful reds and silky Victorian ash and we are currently working with some 100-year-old lintels from an old Geelong West property. We tend to source the timber wherever we can find it which is half the fun really,” says Luke of the range that starts at a very affordable $160.

The couple also offer custom design services, and have lots of other exciting plans in the works too. “Currently we are working on creating a stunning custom bedhead that will be impactful and full of texture and we are also designing a custom wall unit that will feature a shelf and a vertical garden,” says Dale. I can’t wait to check it out!

Photography: Stefani Driscoll Photography

Shop online

Tags affordable art, art, design, hunter wood creative, interiors, timber wall art, victoria

House Tours Interviews RENO ADDICT

Former Catholic church converted into unique weekend escape

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 27, 2016
No Comments on Former Catholic church converted into unique weekend escape

Architect and builder Josh White, of Spa Country Builders, had always been drawn to this 1884 historic church in Yandoit, Victoria, until eventually he purchased and completely transformed it. “It was basically a dream project for any builder. I had previously walked through the building when I was 18 years old and thought ‘wow this would make a great house’. It’s a well-known local landmark and is close to where I live, but little did I know that I would one day be able to turn it into a grand building.”

Constructed in 1884 by Giacomo Sartori, the Catholic church had fallen into disrepair until Josh began the dramatic transformation into a two-story home. The new extension’s roofline mirrors the church’s making for a cohesive whole. “The property had a heritage overlay, but it was at the bottom of the scale and really only affected the external colour of the building which we didn’t touch. This allowed us to significantly change the use of the building from a church to a dwelling. The design brief was to work with existing roof lines and to not cut up the existing nave but rather keep it as a whole space,” says Josh.

“I borrowed some design ideas from traditional churches by using dark floor boards and white walls. I didn’t want to put blonde bleach floorboards down and instead opted for a dark oak hue,” says Josh of the property that is now owned by a young family who use it as a holiday home.

Glazing is certainly a focal point of the residence with lovely views from every room. “What really makes the whole property spectacular is that every window offers beautiful views – this is certainly something I do lean towards when looking at properties to renovate,” says Josh. All of the windows from the original church nave were restored and fitted with environmentally sourced, custom Stegbar western red cedar frames.

The exterior stone remained untouched too. “Another integral part of the design brief was to keep as much of the patina of the original stonework as possible. Additionally, I wanted to build a new construction that complemented the original shape and lines of the existing building and take into account the beautiful rural views.

“Inside the double-storey building, I think the concrete eggshell bathtub that has two large Stegbar plate windows on each side and allows you to look over the paddock and down the valley is a very special feature. The kitchen is also an extremely special design feature that has beautiful views down the lush green paddock and early morning sunlight that flows through the nave,” he says.

Tags architecture, design, home renovation, renovation, stegbar, victoria

Expert Tips Homewares Styling

Steal food and table styling tips from the pros to use at home

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 12, 2015
1 Comment on Steal food and table styling tips from the pros to use at home

Maxwell & Williams headed to the newest property from stylist Lynda Gardener in country Victoria, to shoot their latest tableware for their latest Your Style, Your Way campaign. They gave us a peek behind the scenes and shared some great table and food styling tips.

Maxwell & Williams Diamonds-87

Stylist Stephanie Stamatis (aka Stephanie Somebody) , food stylist Cassandra Morris and photographer Lauren Bamford, worked their magic at The Estate, Trentham.

Maxwell & Williams Colour Basics set up

We asked food stylist Cassandra Morris for her top tips…

What are your favourite ways to use food as style accessories? Being a baker, cakes are my way of using food as a style accessory; a beautifully decorated cake, arranged with foliage and flowers sitting on a ceramic cake stand in the midst of dessert table laden with sweets. You can’t help being drawn to that table as soon as you walk into a party or event and be enticed by it all.

How can food be plated differently for different occasions? If I was hosting a casual party then I would be more likely to do a grazing table that guests can eat from at their leisure throughout the evening. Think a yummy selection of different cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, Sicilian olives, quince paste and honeycomb. Then add some fresh sourdough and crackers and that’s my go to. If I was hosting a dinner party, my style is more share plates. I think there is more conversation based around these types of meals; you ask more questions. I’d still use nice crockery and serving bowls placed in the middle of the table.

Maxwell & Williams Diamonds-71

What tips do you have for people who want to create beautiful looking cakes and desserts? I’m all about keeping it simple and adding foliage or flowers to beautify a natural looking cake. My favourite cake combination is spiced pear and cardamom with an espresso butter frosting. With desserts, I like to use seasonal produce keep it simple but packed full of flavours, think a yummy plum crumble with loads of custard.

What do you look for in dinnerware and glassware to bring your recipes to life? I like simple classic white pieces that don’t date and allow the food to be the centrepiece. If I was hosting a high tea, more fine china and tea cups.

Stylist Stephanie Stamantis shared how she gets her inspiration to bring products to life in a photoshoot:

“The inspiration firstly comes from the product and identifying what lifestyle we are trying to convey, and then I will do some research on how to best hero our product. I love to be able to make the product mesh seamlessly into the final shots, but also look for ways to introduce texture and colour palette to the overall styling.

“All of the additional props for a photoshoot are selected to support the hero product and I am always careful that they don’t outweigh what we are trying to sell. I like to add props that sit naturally with the hero and make it look as if it is in use, removing anything that is unnecessary or does not make sense.”

Browse products and find your local Maxwell & Williams stockist.

Tags cassandra morris, food stylist, lauren bamford, lyn gardener, lynda gardener, maxwell & williams, Stephanie Somebody, stephanie stamatis, stylist, stylling, the estate, trentham, victoria

Dining Homewares

Country Road open café as part of new lifestyle concept

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date March 30, 2015
No Comments on Country Road open café as part of new lifestyle concept

A stylish Country Road café near the beach, where you can also shop. Sounds like an interiors addict’s dream, right?! Now if only I lived in Victoria…

Iconic Aussie brand Country Road are redefining traditional retail with the launch of their new full lifestyle concept in Sorrento, VIC, at the historic post office building in the main street.

Combining a café, retail space and surrounding gardens, the new store celebrates the heritage of the local landmark. Mixing old with new, the light and pared back palette of the interior is a refreshing backdrop to compliment the Woman, Man, Child and Home collections.

“Our Sorrento store has been designed to feel as though you have stepped into a family home. Each room has its own character and with the addition of a café and gardens, we have created a real life expression of Country Road,” says managing director, Sophie Holt.

Large, metal-framed windows allow natural light to fill the store where the Country Road Woman and Man collections make a statement amidst exposed timber beams, textured brickwork and a polished concrete floor. The spirit of Country Road Child comes to life with pieces displayed on timber tables and bench seats akin to a classic schoolroom. As you walk through Country Road Home, the space organically flows into the café and onto the terrace, connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The café at Country Road Sorrento will be known as Post 3943 and is a collaboration with local organic café The Sisters. Surrounding gardens include a vegetable patch which will supply home-grown herbs and fresh produce to the café daily.

Country Road Sorrento is located at 10-16 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.

Tags australian, cafe, coastal, concept store, country road, country road sorrento, fashion, heritage, homewares, landmark, lifestyle, mornington peninsula, post office, retail, shop, sophie holt, sorrento, vic, victoria

Travel

Taking gorgeous interiors outside with the Happy Glamper

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date December 15, 2014
No Comments on Taking gorgeous interiors outside with the Happy Glamper

By Alex Ursell

The onset of summer brings with it the anticipation of Christmas and for many of us, the ‘official’ holiday season. After the festive madness is over, the idea of reveling in life’s more simple pleasures is infinitely appealing!

This is where the global trend for glamping (aka glamorous camping) comes into its own – where we can get back to enjoying the great outdoors without sacrificing any of the modern comforts that we all love! No more military-style planning required, challenging tent-pitching and deflating airbeds.

nteriors Addict Guest Post by Detail Collective | Feature on Happy Glamper — Photo: Via Happy Glamper

Happy Glamper offer a glamping experience with a difference, away from the hectic demands of the over-stimulated world where most of us spend our weeks. Started by Jessie and Scott just over a year ago, The Happy Glamper aim to bring the happiness back to camping by making it as easy as possible. And it looks fab too: “We’ll do all the work so that you have all the time in the world for creating memories, relaxing and exploring.”

Based on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, The Happy Glamper started off with Peggy-Sue, their vintage Airstream Tradewind caravan, now joined by a fleet of canvas Bell tents comfortably equipped with beds, fresh linen, rugs, games, cushions and recommendations on local eateries. Incidentally, the region is Australia’s only inclusion in the prestigious National Geographic Traveller Magazine’s Annual Best Trips of the World list for 2015 so if you needed an excuse to visit, this is definitely it!

Your only decision is where you want to glamp (Jessie can recommend their favourite places on the Peninsula) and they will do the rest. For the first time in Australia, you can stay in a vintage Airstream in the location of your choice or in one of the charming canvas Bell tents. All you have to do is bring your overnight bags and start relaxing!

We caught up with Jessie recently to shoot one of her charming Bell tents in situ, and love the colourful and eclectic styling that the Happy Glamper is known for. Her tents have also been used for editorial shoots (Ralph Lauren campaign no less), festivals (the Do Lectures), weddings and birthday celebrations and private functions.

Tapping into the innate and primordial desire most of us have to get back in touch with nature, but with a funky bohemian style, is what The Happy Glamper do best. We think a dose of the Happy Glamper medicine is just what is needed at this time of year!

–Alex Ursell is a stylist and one half of Detail Collective, an interior design, decoration and styling business based on the Mornington Peninsula. Their ethos is ‘make it simple but significant’.

Unless captioned otherwise, all styling and photos by Detail Collective.

Tags airstream, airstream tradewind, alex ursell, back to nature, bell tents, camping, caravan, glamping, holiday, melbourne, mini break, mornington peninsula, the detail collective, the great outdoors, the happy glamper, victoria, vintage, weekends away

RENO ADDICT

Free help for Victorians to plan energy efficient renovations

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 30, 2014

With more than half of Australian homeowners planning to renovate in the next four years,it has never been more important to put energy efficient renovating on the map. Yet while installing energy efficiency measures in your home can improve year-round comfort, save you money and add value to your home, there is still very little practical information available to help renovators go beyond minimum building standards. Well, until now!

Sustainability Victoria’s new Smarter Renovations program is an online planning resource that provides home renovators with interactive tools, information and independent advice on how to improve and maximise the energy efficiency of any home or size of project.

Features include: the Smarter Renovations Planner that calculates accurate cost savings that can be achieved by making energy efficiency improvements; Your Guide to a Smarter Renovation, a consumer guide with practical advice on how to incorporate energy efficiency improvements during a home renovation; a series of Renovation Profiles, detailing the experiences of several individuals during their home renovation projects; and the latest evidence-based energy efficiency solutions, from efficient lighting to dressing the windows, draught-proofing and improving insulation.

The Smarter Renovations Planner in particular is a tool worth using. Accurately calculating the cost saving that can be achieved by making different energy efficiency improvements such as improving insulation, windows or lighting, draught-proofing and upgrading appliances. It works by assessing the type of house, current energy needs and use, together with the renovation work being planned.

To try these tools for yourself, visit Smarter Renovations here.

Tags design, drought proofing, energy efficiency, energy efficient, exterior, green, home renovation, insulation, interior, renovating, renovation, smarter renovation, smarter renovations, sustainability, sustainability victoria, sustainable, victoria

Art

Artist Jasmine Mansbridge’s latest exhibition, The Space Between

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date May 2, 2014
3 Comments on Artist Jasmine Mansbridge’s latest exhibition, The Space Between

With a New York exhibition now under her belt, Jasmine Mansbridge’s latest solo exhibition The Space Between, will be held at Rtist Gallery from 15 May until 5 June 2014 in Prahran. In 15 paintings, the collection visually explores the similarities and differences in the experienced self through a multitude of textures and shapes.

Jasmine’s style has changed significantly since her last collection. Her most recent work marks a departure from her earlier candy kaleidoscope landscapes, presenting solo structures and forms that exist amongst rich, evocative hues. Architectural inspirations, stairs, buildings and windows are narrative anchors in the otherwise abstract; a representation of the self in the process of individuality.

A Heart without Anchor by Jasmine Mansbridge

“Although we are all human, it is our different experiences in life that set us apart and make us unique… I am interested in sharing my own experiences and making sense of both the difficult and beautiful things, and the bittersweet things, that make up a life,” she says.

Painting began as a hobby for Jasmine at the age of 17, but has blossomed through passion and dedication into her way of exploring life, experiences, and memories. Throughout her years of living in Australia, she has travelled and lived in several states, witnessing a vastness in culture and nature that greatly influences her creations. She now lives in Hamilton, Victoria, with her husband and four children.

In Jasmine's home studio — In Jasmine’s home studio

EXHIBITION DETAILS

The Space Between, 15 MAY to 5 JUNE 2014.

Rtist Gallery, 29 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC

Photography by Martina Gemmola

Tags art, artist, jasmine mansbridge, martina gemmola, new york, prahran, rtist gallery, victoria

Interiors Addict

Latest Art Series Hotel is named after Schaller

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date February 14, 2014
1 Comment on Latest Art Series Hotel is named after Schaller

Mark Schaller has been named as the artist namesake for the latest Art Series Hotel Group property in Bendigo, due to open in May.

Schaller, a well-respected Melbourne artist, was a founding member of the ROAR studios; a bold group of artists united by their interests in Expressionism and Primitivism. He works fluently across a variety of art forms including sculpture, ceramics, and painting.

Tags accommodation, art, art series hotel, artist, bendigo, hotel, mark schaller, melbourne, roar studios, schaller studio, the blackman, the cullen, the olsen, victoria, will deague

Interiors Addict

Chance for design students and graduates to meet industry experts and learn about the profession

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 16, 2013

For the third year running, the Design Institute of Australia Victoria/Tasmania Branch’s student and graduate body ED (Emerging Designers) is hosting Inside Nights from 26 to 29 August.

The unique opportunity allows design students and recent graduates to visit studios, meet practicing design professionals and gain valuable insight into their profession.

Tags decorating, design, design institute of australia, design students, dia, emerging designers, graduates, interior design, interiors, students, tasmania, victoria

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict on Tour: Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 9, 2013
8 Comments on Interiors Addict on Tour: Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges

Last month, the other half and I enjoyed a packed weekend in cold but beautiful Daylesford. In fact, we took in Daylesford, Kyneton and Trentham and the stunning countryside on the drives in between. If you love homewares and antiques shops, great local food and wine and friendly hospitality, I thoroughly recommend a trip!

daylesford frangos exterior — Frangos & Frangos, Daylesford

We arrived in Daylesford (just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne Tullamarine airport) late on Friday night and had more than one scarily close encounter with a mob (that’s the actual term!) of wallabies. It really is out in the country so do be careful if you’re tired and driving after dark. We spent our first night at Hotel Frangos, which can only be described as pleasantly eccentric, in the Alpha Suite. It had the honour of being both the largest headboard and the largest hotel bathroom I have ever experienced. Frangos is definitely unique. It’s part Alice in Wonderland, part Addam’s Family, with a lot of black and red. It’s very dark, and it’s clearly geared towards couples (apparently some of the rooms have mirrors on the ceiling, go figure) and trying hard to be arty and romantic.

The service from general manager Bernard was faultless, the bed and goose down pillows, exceptionally comfortable.

Interiors Addict

Rae finds bliss following her passion for interiors

Post author By Tess Ritchie
Post date February 7, 2013

After 20 years working for Victoria police, Rae Hewitt finally decided to follow her passion for “all things beautiful” and open luxury guest accommodation and an online homewares store.

Perched in the hills of Bright, North East Victoria, the architecturally designed and interiors-focussed guesthouses Bright Bliss and Next To Bliss, are the result of a “leap of faith” and a longterm love of interiors.

Rae and husband Jason opened Bright Bliss in December 2011. After an overwhelming amount of positive feedback they decided to design and build Next to Bliss next door. “We never dreamed we would build two guesthouses when we started,” Rae says.

Tags bright, bright bliss, bright bliss interiors, guesthouse, holiday accommodation, luxury accommodation, next to bliss, rae hewitt, victoria