Índex per May 2022 a Inside Out

In this world, there are Cat People and there are Dog People, just as there are Shower People and Bath People. I, myself, am a dedicated Bath Person. So, because this issue is about bathrooms, laundries and mud rooms, I was able to indulge in many hours of bath-wishing, a hobby of mine. If you, too, are a Bath Person, you already get it. The singular joy of slow immersion, releasing that internal barometric pressure valve as you sink into warm waters to decompress, de-stress and deny all that is wrong in the world (there’s plenty of that right now, as you know). A good bath delivers full-body relief. Yoga and meditation don’t have the same allure for me, but combine silence, steam and a glimpse of swaying treetops through…

APARTMENT LIVING “Sofas, armchairs and TV units on slimmer legs will enhance the sense of visual space and airiness in a living room.”ELLE LOVELOCK Editor in Chief, RealLiving and Home Beautiful APARTMENT LIVING “A well-designed statement piece incorporating built-in storage helps you keep things neat and tidy - which always makes your bedroom feel bigger.”TANYA BUCHANAN Editor in Chief, Belle and Australian House & Garden SMALL HOME “When one space has to cover off multiple functions, compact furniture styles are a brilliant investment. I would say they’re the key to living beautifully and efficiently.”DORA PAPAS Editor, Better Homes and Gardens SMALL HOME “Under-bed storage can almost double your bedroom’s storage capacity. Choose a bed with a gas-lift base, which gives you a convenient storage spot for your bedding and so…

As a young girl, Lisa had a vision for her family home and could see its potential. She would often imagine all the updates she would make if it were hers. And in 2001, after her parents had owned the property for 47 years, the chance to make those changes finally came. “I have a strong recollection of saying to my dad years ago that if it were my house, I’d open up a wall to create one large living area,” Lisa explains. “I never imagined I would have the opportunity to do it.” During her childhood, Lisa watched her father spend his weekends exploring ways to improve the home and especially the garden. That trait has been passed down a generation, with Lisa’s pride and joy being the currently…

What do you do when you’re renovating a property as a couple and have vastly different interior styles? It’s a problem many people face. The answer for Sarah and Peter Vidotto was to find a house that could accommodate both of their tastes – her desire for an older home rich in period detail, and his love of modern, cutting-edge design. After many years of living in Vietnam – where Peter established the iconic Sailing Club beach bar in Nha Trang in 1994 – and then Phuket, the Vidottos decided they wanted to return to Peter’s hometown of Melbourne in 2018 so their three children could finish their schooling in Australia. For Welsh-born Sarah – who met Peter while backpacking in Vietnam – finding a heritage house was important. “I…

Boasting Edwardian features and an established garden complete with fruit trees, this weatherboard home in Melbourne required an expert touch to become the functional, family-friendly abode it is today. Fortunately, Megan Norgate of Brave New Eco stepped in and used sustainable materials and methods to prepare the home and its new spotted-gum and silvertop-ash extension for whatever the future holds. Turn the page for more details.…

Originating in the Northern Hemisphere with its inclement weather, this utilitarian space – often at the rear or entry to a home – was designed to store soiled clothes and shoes before they were trudged through the house, creating a mess along the way. Australia has embraced mud rooms on country properties for years, but now we are seeing clever and fun versions incorporated into urban homes, too. For modern families, these areas aren’t just about umbrellas and dirty shoes. They’re also a convenient place to stow school bags, gym gear, dog leashes and other everyday items, reducing clutter throughout the rest of the home. The key to a great mud room has always been joinery – the smart arrangement of shelves and cabinets to efficiently organise belongings. The right…

Born from traditional bonsai practices, Kokedama are beautiful moss-covered balls we’ve more recently come to associate with hanging and string gardens but are just as easily reared at ground level. Simple to mould and maintain, the technique is suitable for a variety of house plants. Check out our guide to making and growing these lovely leafy balls and imagine yourself sitting back and relaxing as you watch your garden grow. Turn the page for more details.…

CLO Studios began as Noosa-based jewellery-design business in 2016 and has become a multidimensional success story under the creative direction of cofounder Chloe Tozer, who now heads an interior-design studio and curates furniture, fine art and homewares for the brand. Taking her inspiration from travel and art, she focuses on boutique collections such as the newly released Tinja range by Yasmin Sfar. Shown here are the Antoine lamp base, Gael lampshade, Jaques vases and pots, and Colette cup. clostudios.com.au…

Those who’ve found themselves tiptoeing through a furniture showroom without touching anything will love Melbourne’s inspiring new In Good Company store. Conceived as an extension of the home, the curated collection features quality local and international furniture and lighting in real set-ups you can imagine living with. “We want people to sink into sofas or run their hands along the solid timber tables as they enquire about the brands,” says co-owner Louise Bastiras. Head to Armadale and shop the looks in situ. ingoodcompany.com.au…

Jodie Fried Armadillo Origin story When Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst founded Armadillo in 2009, sustainability and philanthropy were far less prominent in the rug sector than they are today. “Our ‘for purpose’ model was part of the business from inception,” says Jodie (left). The company continues to lead the way. In 2020, it became the first Australian rug brand to gain B Corp certification. Signature style “We have a tight yet comprehensive selection that is unique to the brand,” says Jodie. Specifically, Armadillo focuses on single colours, natural fibres and engaging weave patterns for a low-key luxe aesthetic. Bestsellers include the Agra, a hand-knotted wool rug with a deep cut pile, and the Malawi, a hand-knotted wool design with a distinctive ‘ribbed’ look. Words of wisdom “For many of…

Each morning she’s there, Claire Taffe stops at the window of her cottage and watches two Shetland ponies munching grass on the neighbouring property. “I often find myself frozen in front of it, completely mesmerised by the view,” she says. “It’s like a piece of art and never ceases to make me smile.” That’s one of many small pleasures she and her husband Kieron can now enjoy, having spent one-and-a-half tireless years giving the 150-year-old miner’s cottage in Trentham, central Victoria, a respectful restoration. The now-cosy home’s before shots certainly tell a sorry tale: rotten carpets; dark, poky spaces; interior walls on a lean and covered in rising damp; and gardens overgrown with ivy and weeds. “The house oozed historical charm and we were drawn to it in an instant,…

With independent rear access, a dedicated first floor and a location that’s just a hop, skip and a jump to Bronte Beach, any young adult would be hard-pressed to leave the nest. And for the three Kalaf teenagers, the new floor plan of their family home means that their bedrooms are right by the top-floor bar and balcony, arguably the best position in the house. However, it’s a space that can be difficult to access when their parents, Nicki and Jack, are hosting. “We often claim this as a ‘members only’ area when entertaining – password required! The teenagers can get quite creative when trying to bypass security… which would be me!” jokes Nicki. But on a more serious note, it’s a welcoming home the couple love to share. “The…

This Edwardian property was discovered by Sarah and her husband while they were on a walk with their toddler and a ‘For Sale’ sign stopped them in their tracks. “Something told me I was supposed to live here,” says Sarah (pictured above). “I went home to our place on a nearby street, the first home I’d bought with my partner, and told him that I had an overwhelming feeling about that house. He indulged me and we went to inspect it the next day. It only took one look to fall in love with the property’s enormous established garden and plentiful fruit trees, along with the elegant features of the house.” The family lived there for eight years before reaching out to Megan Norgate and her team at Brave New…

Although Robert Gordon was founded in 1979, the Gordon family has been making pottery in Victoria since 1945. Some of the first pieces were hand-thrown stoneware produced by Robert Gordon in a tin shed in Gembrook, and while the brand is still family-owned and run, general manager Bobby Gordon – Robert’s son – now oversees a much larger enterprise. “Robert Gordon has expanded to include not only an Australian-made offering but an imported one, too. Each year out of our Pakenham factory, we produce about 300,000 pieces,” says Bobby. “After a career in architecture and then a move to the family pottery business, it was only natural that I would bring the interiors influence to Robert Gordon. We saw a huge opportunity to develop locally made, bespoke fixtures to supply…

Plants have become an integral part of many interior schemes and can be used as oxygen-pumping decor in just about every room. And we’ve gone far beyond a single potted plant on the windowsill. From large focal-point plants in rooms to green walls inside and out, there are more possibilities for decorating with plants than ever. That’s why you need to know about Kokedama. While 1970s-style hanging plant pots are fairly common, this is something else entirely. Kokedama means ‘moss ball’ in Japanese and is a floral art based on the bonsai tradition. Originally intended to display bonsai trees in an alternative way without pots, these beautiful moss-covered balls of soil introduced a new look for bonsai trees. The modern iteration of Kokedama – also known as a string garden…

“Our house was built in 1880 but we’re only the third owners, which is pretty amazing,” says Peter Vidotto, who found the Brighton bombshell in 2018. “When I’m in the front garden, people stop to tell me that they love what we’ve done to the house and new extension.” That is, of course, without even seeing the back of the property, featuring a sinuous concrete shade structure by Pleysier Perkins and TCON with contemporary landscaping by Eckersley Garden Architeture. Turn to page 80 for more details.…

The owners of this 1890s home in Sydney endured five years of dampness, pests and almost unbearable temperature conditions before they hired Bianca Pohio, director of Pohio Adams Architects, to bring this house into the 21st century. “We had lived in the house for a while before we decided to renovate in October 2020,” says the owner. “Every time it rained, water would run down our walls, and mice and insects would enter the house through large gaps under the doors. It wasn’t insulated, so we would be freezing in winter and boiling hot in summer. The backyard was also a wasteland that I couldn’t plant into, as the whole space was tiled and concreted.” Initially employed to develop a rear car space at the property, Bianca was then brought…

“Sean’s all about honesty and the beauty of raw materials so painted walls weren’t an option. As he likes things in their most natural state, we used tadelakt and clay throughout”MALLIKA, HOMEOWNER It’s the story of many a home-buyer’s journey. You’re renting. You’ve got hipster coffee shops on your doorstep and you can’t move for pop-up boutiques, craft ale breweries and great schools for your kids. But you have a dream and will trade in convenience for the chance to buy and renovate your own haven. In a dusty corner of north-west London, Mallika Chaudhuri, founder of conscious fashion brand Indoi, and her architect husband, Sean Ronnie Hill, have done just that and created a striking family home. The area they chose, Harlesden, is diplomatically described by Sean as “edgy”,…

Bathrooms, laundries and other areas prone to dampness require wall and flooring materials that are splash-resistant at a minimum and waterproof at best. While this turns many people towards hard-wearing tiles, it’s worth remembering that wallpaper and paint can also be used in wet areas. You just need to know where you can put it – generally not in the shower zone itself – and how. wallpaper According to Melanie Adams, global manager of Wallpaper Direct, any wallpaper can effectively be used in a bathroom or wet area – as long as the room is well-ventilated, the wallpaper doesn’t come into direct contact with water, and it is applied using a high-quality adhesive. “Intense steam can break down the wallpaper adhesive, so it’s essential to keep doors and windows open…

The prolific Three Birds Renovations recently completed their 14th house as a team – but this one is a little bit different. Produced in collaboration with Rawson Homes, the design applies the Three Birds’ coastal-cool aesthetic to a ‘knock-down rebuild’ package that anyone can buy and build on their own block of land. There are many outstanding inclusions in the house, and among them are its clever window treatments – tailored to each room, beautifully functional and all working in perfect harmony with the broader design. Here, we zero in on three approaches taken by the team. living large Soaring ceilings make for a serene living area. To complement the quiet beauty of this space, sheer Luxaflex ‘Chloe’ curtains (in gossamer-fine Mist fabric) were selected. Since the rod sits high…

O TAMA CAREY The Sydney-based chef talks street snacks, hit dishes and the key to authentic Sri Lankan cooking If you’ve never tried Sri Lankan food before, what would be your introduction dish? I would probably start someone off with a pan roll, as it is a delightful deep-fried morsel. Pan rolls are a street snack or short eat and are made of a spicy filling, wrapped in a crepe, crumbed and deep fried. It’s basically Sri Lanka’s answer to the spring roll (as the chiko roll is in Australia). Lankan Filling Station has made the hopper a hero. How did you know it would be such a hit? Hoppers were the reason Lankan Filling Station began. I still remember the first one I ate – I couldn’t believe how…