Tabla de contenidos para July 2020 en Inside Out

Have you ever designed a home for a family? I haven’t, but I know people who have. Robert and Cortney Novogratz, the US design stars whose series of home renovations cause a regular sensation in the States, each one a colourful, well-considered project rich with joyful detail and lots of striped fabric. But what astounds me is that when they design each of their home projects, they are accommodating a family of nine. Yes, that’s right – seven children and a thriving design business. Their renovation story on page 22 is an important lesson in fun and function. Most of this issue is about making homes for families, with lots of clever ideas direct from our featured owners – mostly about how they got their incredible homes to fit the…

After 20 years of living in Manhattan, and one too many brutal winters, we packed up our seven kids and headed across the country. We moved our brood from the West Village in New York City to the Hollywood Hills, arriving in August, a week before the school year began. We moved into a rental home and immediately began to scour the city in search of the perfect fixer-upper. As we started the search, we had some important criteria; for us New Yorkers, a home within walking distance of restaurants and city life was non-negotiable. But we also wanted to take advantage of the incredible California weather, which meant having an outdoor space with a big patio and a swimming pool. It didn’t take long. After searching for a few…

Brenden Rudd builds homes for other people every day, so it’s wonderful when he gets to spend time in his own, which was not so incidently built by Chase Projects, the company he runs. He and wife Katie found it a fascinating experience being clients for a change, a process that was rewarding in ways they couldn’t have imagined. Oh, and did we mention that they only planned to do a small renovation and ended up with a practically new house? Turn the page to see more.…

“Collaboration is everything”AVA SHIRLEY, ARCHITECT/OWNER “Michael and I discussed every detail until we were both satisfied it was the best outcome based on function, aesthetics and budget. At the end of the build we had a newfound appreciation for the skills the other brought to the process. On any job like this, cultivate a co-operative nature and make sure you engage passionate people who respect your situation. Also, trust the advice of professionals and allow them to make brave or bold decisions.”…

‘‘The house is surrounded by green, with fields of lavender and sunflowers beyond’’JUSTINE, HOMEOWNER/INTERIOR DESIGNER Slowing down is a luxury many of us aspire to, and busy French couple Justine and Julien are no exception. In December 2016, they were sitting in their tiny Paris apartment when Justine spotted a real-estate advertisement for a Provençal farmhouse less than three hours away on the TGV. It was too tempting to ignore, and in no time they were packing up their car and starting a new, more relaxed life in the Vaucluse, on the border of Gard and Ardèche. The property was a substantial 200-year-old cottage with a huge barn and a hectare of land. “We immediately fell in love it,” says Justine. “The large plot of land, the old, original stones,…

Interior design and kids don’t mix well. As a matter of fact, nothing really mixes that well with kids, except maybe dirt and snot. That said, we are responsible for the tikes, so it’s probably wise (said with rolled eyes and in a super-sarcastic tone) to design with the little cherubs in mind. However, coming up with age-specific themes for kids’ rooms is a no-no. Do you notice how children change their opinion, like, 40 times a day, and stare at you blankly while you’re trying to tell them something important? Imagine going through fabric samples with a four-year-old or asking a teenage boy to start a Pinterest board. Ha! What we do have to do, though, instead of designing for our kids, is design around our little bundles of…

DIVINE DINING Inspired by the season’s moody tones, Aura Home’s latest table linen collection is enzyme-washed for a soft vintage look that oozes cosiness and comfort. Available in eight colourways, including the Khaki and Tobacco shown below. Napkins are priced at $59.95 for four. aurahome.com.au A CUT ABOVE Now we’ve all become cordon-bleu-level cooks due to the hours spent in our kitchens recently, we need the tools to match. Enter the Swiss Modern Santoku Damast knife, $1125. victorinox.com hold tight This clever little device-stand-turned-trivet by Eva Solo is the multi-tasker we didn’t know we needed. Read a recipe, watch the news or blast the tunes while you cook, and when you’re done, simply transport the trivet to the dining table as a holder for hot pans — sans device of…

1 white light In this home in Sydney’s Bondi, interior designer Kristy McGregor transformed an awkward corner of dead space into a delicious sun trap that doubles as a guest crash zone and extends the kitchen for lazy tea parties overlooking the owners’ frangipani-filled tropical garden. The cushions and Tool stool are from MCM House and the Face sculpture is from Annabelle’s in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay. kristymcgregor.com.au FINDS & READS 2 vantage point Doherty Design Studio (DDS) created a floating concrete bench that anchors the central fireplace of this home in Thornton, Victoria. “The left bench houses a joinery unit that conceals the TV, and the right side forms a seat,” says director Mardi Doherty. “The glass behind is double-glazed and toughened, and the angled edge of the fireplace…

Yerrabingin is a thriving inner-city farm that educates visitors in Indigenous knowledge and shares its yield with top Sydney chefs. The project’s focus on native permaculture, environmental sustainability, and physical and mental health and well-being is something of a passion for co-founder and CEO Christian Hampson. What is Yerrabingin all about? Yerrabingin is focused on bringing Indigenous design thinking to major projects across the country, weaving Aboriginal social and cultural narratives, a holistic mosaic of stories, knowledge and experiences, into the design space. We are about creating cultural capital for local Aboriginal communities, and we do that by bringing to life economic, environmental, cultural and socially sustainable opportunities, creating diverse experiences in places of natural diversity and also creating a refuge for visitors and native species alike. What is Yerrabingin…

swing time This low-riding reinvention of a classic Modernist chandelier designed by Gino Sarfatti for Flos in 1958 presents today in a petite version, made with apartment living in mind. Lower ceiling heights can shatter dreams of full-sized dramatic pendant lamps, but at 70cm the 2097/18 works. The 18 LED light bulbs and their exposed cords also deliver a little industrial edge to the elegant and organic form. Priced at $3420. euroluce.com.au HOT SPOT NO.92 This neighbourhood joint just took Sydney bar dining to a whole new level with a three-strikes-and-you’re-in strategy: a transformative fitout by Pattern Studio, the cuisine of Michelin-starred chef John Lyons, and drinks selected by Super Super. Have small plates and drinks downstairs or a full-tilt degustation in one of the three dining salons upstairs, all…

+ All non-structural walls are fairly easy to remove. Determining whether or not a wall is structural is as simple as knocking on it to gauge its density — does it sound hollow or not? If you are still unsure, you will need to open the wall to see if it is load-bearing or structural. + Structural walls have to be replaced by steel beams, which are very costly, so should only be removed if it’s an absolute necessity or price is not an issue. + Paint can make a place feel expansive or cramped. Using one colour throughout makes a space feel larger and more cohesive. + Colours such as grey, navy, blue, white and even black are considered more classic and give a high-end effect. For smaller spaces,…

Set back on a corner block in Sydney’s northern suburbs is a free-flowing home that proves a house doesn’t need to be huge to comfortably fit and cater to a family of five. In fact, this freshly renovated single-level property has multiple indoor and outdoor living zones, with an open-plan design that keeps the occupants connected – but never cramped – at all times. Before they bought the house, Brenden Rudd and his wife Katie were drawn to the relaxed local vibe. They also loved the position of the block, and the fact that it only had neighbours on two sides. “This area is ideal for families, and schools, transport and local shops are just minutes away,” says Katie. “There are also bush walks and parks around the corner, and…

A Sydney couple wanted to turn their normal-size terrace house into something palatial, so they enlisted the interior-design team from Alexandra Kidd Design to help them optimise every inch of space. Custom-built wine storage under the staircase, complete with custom lighting and elegant glass doors, was just one of the ingenious ideas they came up with.…

The owners of this house in Melbourne’s Brighton worked backwards when designing the kitchen, which was their first joint renovation project as husband and wife. Avid travellers, Daniel and Rachel were inspired by overseas locations they loved and often visited. “We wanted to be reminded of those places when we were in our kitchen, in particular the old Spanish mission homes hidden on winding streets in the hills of Laurel Canyon and Santa Barbara in the US,” says Rachel. the palette While keen to use green, the couple was initially nervous about the shade. They settled on Dulux Mildura, a muted green that wouldn’t look too dark. “It was the perfect shade to bring the colours of our jungle-like garden to life indoors,” Rachel explains. To enhance the matt-finish joinery,…

To put it plainly, light is the most critical element for creating atmosphere in a room. And yet, not everyone gives it the consideration it deserves, says Adele Locke, lighting designer and director of Melbourne-based Mint Lighting. “It breaks my heart to see people invest thousands of dollars into the structure and finishes of the home they’re building or renovating and then get lumped with harsh downlights that do nothing to create a sense of atmosphere,” she says. Carefully selected furniture and tactile surfaces and finishes are all great at creating a beautiful aesthetic in any space, but without the right lighting, all these elements will never live up to their potential. “Our moods and emotions have layers – and so does good lighting,” says Jessica Durdin, lighting design manager…

Landscape architect Hugh Burnett designed this handsome circular garden for a large property on Sydney’s north shore, digging deep into his botanical knowledge to curate a selection of flora that provides visual interest within and beyond the circumference at all times of the year. Lining the pathway in are purple Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha), the foliage of a Tahitian lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia), oak-leaf hydrangea and vein-leafed Strobilanthes.…

potato & rosemary focaccia PREP + COOK TIME 1 hour (+ cooling) SERVES 6 600g sebago potatoes 1 egg 1 egg white 2 tablespoons honey ⅓ cup (80ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle 2 cups (300g) raw cashews 1¼ cups (180g) tapioca flour ⅓ cup (50g) potato flour 1½ teaspoons gluten-free baking powder 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 large rosemary sprigs, leaves picked ⅓ cup (25g) finely grated parmesan 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a large oven tray, then line with baking paper, extending the paper 2cm over the long sides. 2 Peel 300g of the potatoes; halve and place in a saucepan. Cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil; cook for 18 minutes or until tender. Drain;…

Gone are the days of blue and pink nurseries, decorated with bunting and soft furnishings that children grow out of quicker than you can say, “Don’t put that in your mouth!” Now kids’ rooms are about having fun with style while maintaining the flexibility for the design to grow alongside your child. Case in point, this bold and bright nursery, which takes its cues from nature while adding impact with statement wallpaper and lush essentials. A stint in the new Innika Rocker in Forest Green, $1299 from Incy Interiors, is guaranteed to take the edge off all those late nights. incyinteriors.com.au…

How did Little Big Learning begin? Describe those early years Like most family-centred businesses, Little Big Learning started with the arrival of our own baby, a product that couldn’t be found and a mum – or two! – with an idea. The early days of business coincided with the early days of parenthood, so it was a blur of sleepless nights, juggling the needs of the two children (the human one and the business one), celebrating their milestones, crying over them (mostly the biz-child), laughing about them, and all the emotions in between. What is the philosophy behind the brand? It’s pretty simple. We ethically create natural and purposeful products for little big people, with a focus on the impact our choices have on the Earth. How do you choose…

pouffe perfection Small solid-top ottomans work double time as a table and convenient storage wall shelves Aim high with shelving that elevates a blank wall while maximising storage storage benches These hardworking pieces are multitaskers you’ll always want on side super sofas Comfy seats with hidden storage for remotes, throws and even snacks coffee tables with benefits Chic and compact designs that don’t skimp on multipurpose style baskets and totes A practical and portable way to keep track of bits and bobs for little ones Perfect ways to stash the Lego before visitors arrive sideboards with style Sleek storage-heavy cabinets that bring star power to your living space…

Those who know Ava Shirley and Michael Hilton agree on one thing: the couple know how to make beautiful houses, and babies. Back in 2015, well before the latter was born, the pair was making the move back to Sydney after a stint in Newcastle, where Ava had been completing a master’s degree. They had already cut their teeth on the renovation of a weatherboard cottage in Islington and now, back in their home town, they were hungry for another project. “Whatever we bought, we wanted to capitalise on our skills as architect and builder,” says Ava. As ‘chief financial controller’, Michael realised they could better afford a mortgage on a house than an apartment – as long as they could build a secondary dwelling and rent out the main…

Who lives her Anna, her partner, and their three children, aged 16, 13 and 11, plus Bob, a Samoyed, and one rabbit. Style of home Tudor Revival brick residence in south-east Melbourne with four bedrooms and a 1990s addition at the back that needed reworking. The family bought the house 11 years ago and engaged their architect in August 2018. Building work took place between January and June 2019, and the house was fully furnished by October last year. The budget for the renovation was $200,000 (excluding furniture).…

Let’s face it, at some stage of our lives we were all desperate for the ultimate sleepover status symbol: a bunk bed. Whether you want one for its space-saving abilities or purely as a fun way to entice your kids to stay in their beds, we show you how to make the most out of this practical yet stylish sleep space. 1 space When considering built-in bunks, the main aim is to maximise the bed space. As you’re building a permanent structure, you need to plan for the future. The kids may be little now, but soon enough they’ll be teenagers and a single bed might not cut it. Popular designs feature a double bed below and a single bed up top. Or, depending on your ceiling height, you could…