Table of contents for September 2018 in Inside Out

Well, this is a bit exciting! I’m so thrilled to have the privilege of holding the reins here at Inside Out, and to bring you this beautiful new issue. They say a change is as good as a holiday (they’re wrong) but it does feel like the perfect time to be broadening our horizons. For our Global Style Issue, we’ve found some incredible homes from around the world. We start with a family holiday house in the Hamptons on page 60 that’s a little different to the classic style we all know. There’s also an attic apartment in Sweden that’s home to a family of four plus three cats, a colour-filled Florida ranch house, and we drop in to Jade Jagger’s home on the Spanish island of Formentera. And if…

It’s easy to fall in love with the latest collection from Cindy-Lee Davies of Melbourne design studio Lightly, featuring a range of shapely vessels and planters in warm, earthy tones. Inspired during her pregnancy by the nature of kinship, relationships and balance, she used complementary rounded forms and colours to create a cohesive, calming mood. ‘Grace’ range, from $88 to $305 each, Lightly, lightly.com.au.…

1. Per/Use ‘Levels’ coffee table, $6245, Living Edge, livingedge.com.au. 2. Muuto ‘Mhy’ pendant light, $319, Surrounding Australia, surrounding.com.au. 3. Lee Broom ‘Fulcrum’ candlesticks, from $590 each, Space Furniture, spacefurniture.com.au. 4. Nichetto ‘Laurel’ side table, from $1710, Spence & Lyda, spenceandlyda.com.au. 5. &tradition ‘Shuffle’ table, $930, Cult, cultdesign.com.au. 6. Apparatus Studio ‘Censer’ incense burner/candleholder, from $1595, Criteria Collection, criteriacollection.com.au. 7. BD Barcelona ‘Chandlo’ dressing table and stool, $17,620, Living Edge, as before. 8. Jaegun 6 vase by Somchai Charoen, $450, Saint Cloche, saintcloche.com. 9. Kristina Dam Studios Double Moon sculpture, $825, Designstuff, designstuff.com. 10. Parachilna ‘Anwar’ combination ›loor lamp, from $10,347, Ke-Zu, kezu.com.au.…

Q Years ago, I saw a product for driveways with small raised concrete blocks and grass between them. Is it still around? Do you have any other ideas for products that look ‘softer’ than concrete or pavers? Christine, via Instagram “A number of products can be used to soften a driveway area,” says Matt Leacy, director and principal designer at Landart (landart.com.au). “The one you mention is one of the more robust, as it provides a definite and visual structure to drive on, but the concrete portion is visible. There are also plastic cells that can be laid on top of a compacted road base and covered with grass or a mix of pebble and/or groundcover plantings. Another option might be to lay long sleeper steppers or crazy paving and…

The Block is back, baby, and it’s bigger, badder and dirtier than ever. We may have heard it all before, but this time around there is literally way too much work to fit into a working week – and by ‘working week’, we’re talking around 120 hours in seven days. This season, the teams are taking on the iconic Gatwick Hotel in the Melbourne bayside suburb of St Kilda. Once a revered, up-market establishment, it’s now a derelict halfway home ripe for a massive transformation. The new Blockheads have cut their teeth on a spacious main bathroom fit for a luxe, three-bedroom seaside apartment. Here’s my take on what they came up with… The couple: This flight attendant and pilot from Perth are taking off on their first renovation with…

“Especially in remote communities like the Hamptons, where there’s a limited amount of resources in terms of labour and materials – and high demand – you will pay a premium. Nevertheless, we knew this house would be the setting for many, many memories for our family, so we found a way. Also, hire a great designer. When I sent an email to my dream designer, who was literally based on the other side of the country, I never thought she would take the job – take the chance!” bright idea Sometimes the best features are accidental. “This big circle was an afterthought,” admits senior designer Chelsie. “We were thinking about an artwork but this wall needed more!”…

From Australia to America’s south and Sweden’s third-largest city, Sam Nixon and Grant Snowden’s life of travel has been long and impressive.“We were living in San Antonio in Texas and decided to live in Europe for a while,” says Grant. “Sam is a computer programmer and was offered a three-month contract in Malmö in Sweden. Fourteen years later, we’re still here!” Their light-filled apartment in a quiet street in the central neighbourhood of Gamla Väster (Swedish for Old West, it’s part of Malmö’s historical area) is packed with vintage finds. In fact, back in 2012, Sam and Grant, who are originally from Sydney and Bomaderry in NSW respectively, knew they had too many treasures to fit into their apartment. So for five years, they ran a shop called Petite Violette,…

“We wanted to inject an aesthetic that echoes who Justin and I are, and the lightness in our hearts” MARY ANNE HOLLS BOWEN, HOMEOWNER Serendipity. Fate. Planets aligning. Whatever you call it, a mystery force is abundant in the lives of Justin Bowen and his wife Mary Anne. When you are in the vicinity of this creative couple, something weird, wacky or wonderful could happen at any moment. Their combined energy always brings the unexpected – and in August 2015, it brought them a house. They had wanted to live in Winter Park on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida for years, but when their dream renovation project there came up for auction, they didn’t have the cash to buy it. So, immediately after it sold, Mary Anne tracked the successful…

She’s the founder of the popular how-to website A Pair & A Spare, while he’s a successful interior designer. But despite their store of industry experience, Geneva Vanderzeil and her partner Benjamin McCarthy had every reason to feel daunted about the “massive” renovation of their first home as a couple. Snapping up a tiny but charming 19th-century worker’s cottage in Brisbane’s inner suburbs, they were under no illusion about the fact that they had taken on a serious fixer-upper. “It might have looked cute and quaint – but in reality, walls were falling down, there were giant holes in the floor and the verandah at the back was collapsing,” says Geneva. “We wanted to take it from this ramshackle cottage to a space we could live, work and have a…

the story so far Lisa Brown and her husband, Tim, purchased this two-bedroom apartment in a small block at Freshwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches five years ago. “We love the fact that it’s light-filled, airy and very private, being on the top floor of the block,” says Lisa. “It’s like living in the treetops and the outlook is green from most windows. And the sunsets are awesome.” The unit comes with a 73-square-metre rooftop terrace that almost doubles the space. With two young children, Lily, 5, and Jack, 3, Lisa and Tim would like to expand their living space – and freshen up the outdated kitchen and bathroom while they’re at it. “Our neighbours gave us approval to apply for a DA a year ago,” says Lisa, “and it took…

Located moments from the seashore and offering sweeping ocean views from expansive second-storey windows, Studio2 Architects capitalised on the rich natural surrounds of this holiday home to create the ultimate escape for a family of five. Open-plan living sets the tone in this sun-filled space on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula, while Scandinavian-style interiors create a welcoming effect. Floor-to-ceiling American oak surfaces are the hero, providing textural appeal throughout. The timber continues through the kitchen, where the family is greeted by a large island bench and cleverly integrated Fisher & Paykel appliances, tucked behind custom panelling for a seamless look. A pair of built-in ovens offers the ultimate in flexibility, featuring a generous 115L capacity and self-cleaning pyrolitic functionality, making them the smart choice for both keen entertainers and busy families.…

The humble vacuum cleaner has been radically transformed in recent years, largely due to technological advances. The new appliances are lighter and often cordless. Some can be controlled remotely via your smartphone – and many are better for allergy sufferers. According to Gary Brown, senior brand manager of home appliances at Harvey Norman (harveynorman.com.au), buyers are often surprised by the choices on offer when they’re looking to update their appliances. “If you haven’t been in the market for 10 years, you would be surprised how much technology has changed,” he says. When deciding on which vacuum cleaner to buy, the first thing you need to think about is the floor surface in your home. “Most Australians have, on average, two to three different floorcoverings in their homes,” says Gary. “So…

So close to the centre of Sydney but a million miles from its stresses, this beautiful landscape design by Hugh Main of Spirit Level expertly blends nearly 20 different trees, shrubs, groundcovers and hedges while sticking to homeowner Collette Carroll’s desire for a fuss-free, easy-care garden that her family could enjoy spending time in together. This view to the front entrance is a taste of what’s to come. Turn the page for more.…

1 IN BLACK & WHITE Flip the traditional white picket fence on its head with a lick of bold black paint out front and up top, like this home by Melbourne-based firm Heartly. Set off these deep accents with crisp white for a fuss-free finish. 2 GET A HANDLE ON IT Stand out from the crowd with a shapely semicircular handle. These ‘Curved Half Moon’ pull handles, POA, are up to 20cm in diameter and come in a variety of timbers to suit your style.Visit auburnwoodturning.com.au. 3 TRIPLE THREAT When it comes to display, odd numbers always beat even. Three coordinated pots make for a layered combo in this space by Felicia Brady. Give your green thumb a workout with a mix of textural succulents. 4 PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN…

a-b Anibou (02) 9319 0655 anibou.com.au Anthony Lister anthonylister.com Anthropologie anthropologie.com Armadillo&Co (02) 9698 4043 armadillo-co.com Beacon Lighting (03) 8561 1599 beaconlighting.com.au Beaumont Tiles beaumont-tiles.com.au Bertazzoni 1800 654 265 au.bertazzoni.com c-f Cafe Culture + Insitu (02) 9699 8577 cafecultureinsitu.com.au Criteria Collection (03) 9421 2636 criteriacollection.com.au Cult 1300 768 626 cultdesign.com.au Dave Eggers daveeggers.net. g-h Great Dane (03) 9417 5599 greatdanefurniture.com H&M Home hm.com/au Haymes Paint 1800 033 431 haymespaint.com.au Hermès hermes.com/au Hub Furniture (03 ) 9652 1222 hubfurniture.com.au i-l IKEA ikea.com.au Jardan (03) 8581 4999 jardan.com.au Kaboodle 1800 666 078 kaboodle.com.au Kethy (02) 9542 4991 kethy.com.au Lightly lightly.com.au Lounge Lovers 1300 738 088 loungelovers.com.au Luke Furniture (03) 9999 8930 luke.com.au Lumira 0414 808 205 atelierlumira.com Lunatiques 0488 043 232 lunatiques.com m-r Marr-kett (02) 6680 8941 marr-kett.com.au Onsite Supply + Design…

BATHE Sleek, sculptural tapware adds the stylish finishing touch to the contemporary bathroom and now the choice is greater than ever. FIMA, one of Italy’s leading tap makers, offers finely crafted and stunningly finished tapware to suit the design-conscious home. The ‘Skinny’ mixer comes in Matt Black and Chrome. Visit bathe.net.au COLORBOND Available in five neutral colours, from subtle, lighter tones through to bolder, darker shades, Colorbond steel in Matt finish diffuses light to create a soft and textured appearance. Tested in some of Australia’s harshest conditions, its strength and durability are perfect counterpoints to its designer appearance. Go to colorbond.com SMEG Dolce Stil Novo is where passion meets precision in Smeg’s most comprehensive collection of luxury cooking appliances to date. The result of a collaboration with Italian architect Guido…

check us out... here’s what you’ll find this month at our online home…

‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in Blue Encounter, $69/4L, British Paints, britishpaints.com.au. ‘Eggshell Acrylic’ paint in Garam Masala, $107.22/4L, Porter’s Paints, porterspaints.com. ‘Eggshell Acrylic’ paint in Star›lower, $101.07/4L, Porter’s Paints, as before. ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Whisper White, $77.90/4L,Dulux, dulux.com.au. ‘New Endure’ low sheen interior paint in Snow Peach, $71.90/4L, Taubmans, taubmans.com.au.…

THE UP-AND-COMER ‘Spin’ stool by Staffan Holm for Swedese The form: A timber stacking stool with three integrated legs that stack in a spiral pattern. What makes it special: The ‘60’ stool has been the archetype for the stacking stool since its creation, and the ‘Spin’ stool is probably the most successful contemporary incarnation. Created in 2011 by Swedish designer Staffan Holm, the stool pays homage to Alvar Aalto’s exceptional design but has some unique qualities, too, such as beautifully resolved legs that appear to spin out of the seat as if thrown by centrifugal force. The poetic appearance of the ‘Spin’ stool when stacked is even more outstanding than the original. Named Furniture of the Year by Swedish magazine Sköna Hem in 2011, the stool is made from laminated…

traditional “ARRANGE ANTIQUE ROSES IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF BLOOM AND AT VARYING HEIGHTS TO CREATE A BOLD IMPACT” MYRA PEREZ, FLORIST, MY VIOLET, MYVIOLET.COM.AU. Emily Belle Ellis ‘Orb’ vase, $149, The DEA Store, thedeastore.com. ‘Duomo’ wall sconce, $695, Anaesthetic, anaestheticdesign.com. Carl Auboch ‘Hand’ paperweight, $279, The DEA Store, as before. Fferrone ‘Margot’ wine glass, $185/pair, Becker Minty, beckerminty.com. ‘Ming’ marble subway tiles, $189/sqm,Teranova, teranova.com.au. unexpected combination “PEACH-TONED BLOSSOMS ARE A MATCH FOR THE IMPRESSIVE PINK PROTEA FLOWERS. YOU’LL NEED A HEAVY VASE TO SUPPORT THE ARRANGEMENT” MYRA PEREZ Holmegaard ‘Cocoon’ vase in Brown, $125, Top3 By Design, top3.com.au. ‘Dane’ vase, $69.95, Country Road, countryroad.com.au. Cire Trudon ‘Six’ candle, $135, Becker Minty, beckerminty.com. Fornasetti ‘Don Giovanni’ saucer (sold with teacup not seen), $2800/set of 6, Macleay On Manning, macleayon manning.com. Cole…

long weekend Garden views framed by a fresh white palette add up to relaxing Hamptons days When the Monday-to-Friday grind of life in New York City gets too much for homeowners Andrea and Adam, they escape with their three children to this weekend home near the beach in the Hamptons. With expert design guidance, the couple turned a dowdy 1990s house into a spacious, private retreat, just steps from the outdoor life their family craves. Turn the page to see more.…

1. “Practical storage is vital. In Sweden, we spend so much time indoors because of the cold weather that it’s even more important to be happy and content in your home. If you have clever – and hopefully stylish – storage, your home will appear tidy and organised, even if you leave all your favourite vintage finds and mementos out on display.” 2. “Rearranging the furniture and moving things around now and again will make your apartment feel brand new. We never have all our art and vintage finds out on display at the same time. Sometimes it takes a while to find the exact right place for things.” 3. “Go with your gut feeling when it comes to renovating. Allow yourself to be inspired by others, but make sure…

2015 August A determined Mary Anne miraculously gets the house after missing out on it at auction. Roach-infested couches and old kegerators are removed from the house and the ideas begin to flow. 2016 January The kitchen and bathroom reno begins, with a load-bearing kitchen wall removed and replaced. Timber flooring is installed in the kitchen and the bathroom tiles are selected. April Mary Anne, Justin and their dogs move in. September New block walls are built in the back and front of the house, and part of a flat roof is removed so a gabled roof can cover the entire rear. October Hurricane Matthew hits Florida but spares the Orlando region. The entire roof and structural elements over the garage and living area are removed and rebuilt. November Wood…

Geneva & Ben’s wishlist + “Plenty of windows. One thing that is so important to me is having enough natural light in the house,” says Geneva. “This cottage was built in the days prior to air-conditioning, so it focused on keeping heat out rather than letting light in.” + “Restore the crumbling facade. With its wooden cross bracings, traditional railings and curved corrugated iron roof, the front of the house is characteristic of properties like this built in the late 1800s. It’s really these features that make you fall in love with the house.” + “Inject contemporary functionality. It goes without saying that the tiny original kitchen and bathroom didn’t cater to what we need, so getting them right was a big part of the process.”…

on the edge Melbourne-based British designer Thomas Coward turns traditional bathroom design on its head with the shapely ‘Ledge’ basin for United Products, $1250. The solid-suface piece comprises a deep basin and just enough space for the essentials. Visit united-products.co. bathing bliss Step into the softness of George Street Linen’s microfibre ‘Shag’ bath mats, available in a range of muted tones, (from top) Cloud, Sand, Silver and Haze, for $29 each. Visit georgestreet linen.com. colour me Made of concrete, Nood Co’s ‘Cube’ (right) and ‘Pill’ (below) basins are tough enough to handle the busiest bathroom routine. And with a range of shades to choose from, they’ll suit any palette. For $954 each, go to noodco.com.au. ROCK SOLID Make a statement with Smartstone’s ‘Naturale’ honed quartz surface in Borghini Naturale, featuring…

TEATOWELS While drying the dishes is hardly the most exciting thing to do, the humble teatowel happens to be one of the easiest pre-made items for printing on. Teatowels are the perfect canvas for first-time printers. YOU WILL NEED Screen-printing kit (see right), iron, 2 blank cotton or linen teatowels, ink in 1 colour HANDY HINTS + Natural fibres work best for screen-printing. Start out printing on cotton and then build up to linen once you become more confident. Cotton is easier to print onto, as linen absorbs a lot of ink. If you’re printing onto linen, do a test print on a scrap piece of linen first. + Iron your fabric before printing. + Avoid printing on, or too close to, the seam of the teatowel. + Think about…

I’ve just exchanged on a new apartment. I thought that as soon as I settled on something, I’d never want to look at my real estate app again, but even though my search is over I can’t stop checking it. How do I break the habit? Martin, Rozelle, NSW C ongratulations, Martin, on taking the difficult first step on your journey to recovery, which is admitting you have a problem. An activity you were once in control of, and an activity that had a legitimate object, has taken control of you and you’re now trapped in a cycle of despair and self-loathing. Even knowing the harm you’re exposing yourself to – that is to say, stumbling across a new listing that’s 200 square feet bigger and $200,000 cheaper than the…

WINNING PIN! A throwback to this simple yet striking bathroom by Canny made a splash on your moodboards. Shannon Vos shared his advice on how to find your own design style and stick to it, sparking many online conversations. reader spotlight We’re crushing on @diyshelley’s sun-soaked living space with this bold feature wall. Share your pics using #sharemystyle and @insideoutmag. most double-tapped Filled with lush greenery climbing up the walls and plenty of colour, style editor @jonofleming’s living room is no shrinking violet. IN YOUR NEWS FEED This modern light-filled home was built on a golf course on the Sunshine Coast. follow Inside Out Facebook facebook.com/Inside.Out.magazine.au Instagram @insideoutmag Pinterest pinterest.com/insideoutpins Twitter twitter.com/insideoutmag YouTube youtube.com/insideoutaus…

1. The Lightness print by Jen Sievers, from $485 (unframed), Greenhouse Interiors, greenhouseinteriors.com.au. 2. ‘Mae 110’ pendant light, $2952, Jardan, jardan.com.au. 3. ‘Gladom’ tray table, $24.99, IKEA, ikea.com.au. 4. Jersey pillowcase in Orchid, $39/pair,Kip&Co, kipandco.com.au. 5. ‘Dip’ planter, from $130, Fox & Ramona, foxandramona.com.au. 6. ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Runic Mauve (left) and Dublin Jack, $91.40/4L, Dulux, dulux.com.au. 7. Cappellini ‘Lochness’ cabinet, $17,100, Cult, cultdesign.com.au. 8. Missoni ‘Fireworks’ wallpaper in #10057, $199/10m roll, Spence & Lyda, spenceandlyda.com.au. 9. ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ lounge chair, $699, Blu Dot, bludot.com.au. 10. ‘Deep Sea’ platter, $150, Takeawei, takeawei.com. 11. ‘Grip’ cup, $65, Takeawei, as before. 12. ‘Array’ high stool, $850, Something Beginning With, somethingbeginningwith.com.…

Marz Designs ‘Bright Bead’ wall hooks DESIGNER: Coco Reynolds Sydney-based industrial designer Coco has always been passionate about creating. Her love of the design and architecture movements of the ’50s and ’60s informs her designs, but they are also shaped by her own contemporary aesthetic. Inspired by her popular range of ‘Bright Beads’ pendant lights, Coco expanded on these with her collection of wall hooks. "With some adjustments, the timber beads have an entirely new function,” says Coco. Crafted from American oak, American walnut and American ash, the hooks showcase the natural grain and beauty of timber. “They’re turned on a timber lathe by a third-generation timber craftsman in Australia,” says Coco. “Each one is then fitted with a lag screw and waxed with beeswax.” The shapes denote different purposes,…

1 AHEAD OF THE CURVE  why it works: Rounded forms allow natural textures to shine ‘Vayu’ planter, USD$80, Light + Ladder, lightandladder.com. ‘Bobby’ stool by Daniel Tucker, $515, DesignByThem, designbythem.com. 2 SQUARE DEAL  why it works: Sharp angles and rugged surfaces provide a solid base for greenery to star ‘Faceted Modern’ resin composite planter, $249, West Elm, westelm.com.au. ‘Cabo’ concrete stool, $380, GlobeWest, globewest.com.au. 3 THE RIGHT BALANCE  why it works: Top and toe peach tones sandwich a sycamore timber surface ‘Even Steven’ pot, $145, Capra Designs, capradesigns.com. Sancal ‘Pion’ occasional table, from $2102, Ke-Zu, kezu.com.au.…

TOKYO, JAPAN Nadine Alwill, architect, alwill.com.au For Nadine Alwill, who runs Alwill Architecture + Interiors with her sister, Romaine, the juxtaposition of nature and urbanity makes Tokyo, where she lived as a child, a genuine design hotspot. “Tokyo’s most contemporary buildings still manage to capture that indefinable quality – the wabi-sabi – of traditional Japanese design,” says Nadine. “Whether it’s how they handle light, the arrangement of space or how you move through it, it’s about maintaining a connection with nature. No matter what style or trend you come across in this intensely populated and built-up city, a sense of ancient culture prevails.” The building: “As a building, the Ginza Maison Hermès (pictured) is incredible, even more so for the park space – nature again – that is being created…

1 ‘Vintage Feature’ chair, $649, Naturally Cane, naturallycane.com.au. 2 Popham Design ‘Kelly’ tiles, $378.50/sqm, Onsite Supply + Design, onsitesd.com.au. 3 ‘Puebla’ dinner plate, $16, Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com.au. 4 Tensira tie dye throw, $149, Gingerfinch, gingerfinch.com.au. 5 Lumiere Art & Co ‘Steel Monday’ floor cushion, $220, Greenhouse Interiors, greenhouseinteriors.com.au.…

1 Industrial warehouse pendant light, from $153, Fat Shack Vintage, fatshackvintage.com.au. 2 ‘Barometer’ work lamp, $59, IKEA, ikea.com.au. 3 ‘Råskog’ trolley, $69, IKEA, ikea.com.au. 4 Tolix ’Chaise A’ chair, $475, Thonet, thonet.com.au. 5 ‘Bathurst’ shelving, $1299, Provincial Home Living, provincialhomeliving.com.au…

+ Open-plan living. “One of the key elements was to build a more open living space, which we did by extending the house out at the back,” says Geneva. + Luxe retreat. “Master bedrooms weren’t a ‘thing’ in 1871, but they are now! Ben and I spent a lot of time working on a really beautiful and functional space.” + Let there be light. “Light is my jam and I can’t imagine living in a house without enough. Ben also worked hard on this, increasing the window size, creating skylights and, in the master bedroom, creating a roofline that allows for a long window at roof height.”…

the extension This home has a huge terrace and it’s a good idea to use some of it to create a bigger living area and a large entertainer’s kitchen. A timber frame extension, which is already part of the plan, is a great start. Beyond that, I’d like to see something totally different from the existing building. I’d love to see a matt black Colorbondand-glass finish with a large window to the south. To facilitate the build, the terrace floor needs to be replaced in its entirety. I’d re-tile it with large concrete pavers in a pale grey. the bathroom Lisa and Tim are keen to create a second bathroom so they have facilities for guests and a growing family. The current laundry is in their sights, as the existing…

The deal: Double wash basins are a practical solution for busy families. They’re great for parents who need to help children with cleaning their teeth, and are a time-saving solution for couples hoping for an organised ensuite. The pros: Dual basins can be a beautiful statement in spacious bathrooms, and a great design solution for households that enjoy having guests over to stay. They’re also a plus for those of us who are particularly keen on personal space during the early-morning rush. The cons: It costs more to plumb in two sinks, and you’ll need a larger vanity. Double wash basins may not be the best use of space if the bathroom is normally only used by one person at a time. The verdict: Yay! For households with enough room,…

QI know I should get started on spring-cleaning, but it’s all a bit overwhelming. Where should I start? Alice, Glenorchy, TAS A I love spring. The weather warms up, the trees and flowers bloom, people feel more romantic. But one of my favourite things about spring is that it’s time for spring-cleaning! It’s not that I love to clean, it’s more that I love everything that spring-cleaning can bring. There’s the promise of rebirth, of regeneration. It’s a time to take stock of the past year and look at what’s gone right and what hasn’t. Spring-cleaning is not just about dusting and cleaning the home. It’s much broader than that and gives you a chance to clean out some of those areas of your life – physical and mental…

The humble backyard swimming pool has long been considered a dream addition to the suburban block. Our obsession with pools hasn’t abated over the years – in fact, according to Joe Romeo, managing director of Melbourne Pools (melbpools.com.au), pools are more popular than ever. “People entertain so much now with alfresco-style living, and everyone wants to have their friends over for a barbecue and to enjoy a swim in the pool,” says Joe. “In the past, I would tell people they wouldn’t lose money by putting in a pool if it was chosen correctly, but now they can actually add value to your home.” Of course, installing a pool is a lot more detailed than selecting a favourite from your Pinterest page, so here are some guidelines to get your…

grilled coconut ginger prawns with papaya salsa SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes, plus 4 hours marinating time COOKING TIME 5 minutes 200ml coconut milk Zest and juice of 1 lime 18 kaffir lime leaves, 2 finely chopped 1cm ginger, grated 1 thumb-sized red chilli, sliced 1 tbsp fish sauce 16 very large raw peeled prawns with tails Lime cheeks, to serve PAPAYA SALSA 1 large or 2 small papaya, diced ½ thumb-sized chilli, chopped 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves 1. If using wooden skewers, soak them for 30 minutes before cooking. 2. In a small bowl, mix together the coconut milk, lime zest and juice, the finely chopped lime leaves, ginger, chilli and fish sauce. Set aside. 3. Use a sharp knife to slice down the back of each…

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