Table of contents for Issue #12 2021 in Best Homes

From the spacious living areas and multipurpose media room to the inviting swimming pool flanked by a well-equipped cabana, this is a home designed for easy living. Light-filled and airy, it is home to a professional couple with two young girls and a testament to the design skills of Michael Sasso, director of Aspect Designs, as well as the construction expertise of Chris Earle, managing director of Building Excellence Australia. The family had purchased a site in Bella Vista, an outer, north-western suburb of Sydney, but the shape of the land made it difficult for them to proceed with their original plan, which was to adapt a project home design. They soon realised this approach wasn’t going to work, so they decided the only solution was a custom design. “The…

Set in the midst of a very peaceful bushland-embraced five-acre block in Maryknoll, nestled in the heart of rural south-east Victoria, this is the home of Nick and Rebecca Bishop, co-founders of Elite Building Services. The couple purchased the property when the home was partially constructed, deciding it would make the ideal base for their family of four and serve as a means of showcasing their design and building expertise. “When we bought it, the home was almost at lock up stage with the slab, frame, roof and bricks up,” explains Nick. “We changed some of the basic structure, including some internal walls, and completely changed the fittings and fixtures, style and character of the home. Our goal was to produce an exceptionally high quality of home, showcase our complete…

The name of this award-winning home — Floating Waterhouse — says it all. This remarkable luxury residence claims a prized waterside location within the Gold Coast’s premier private gated estate, Hope Island Resort. Built by David Radic Prestige Homes, working to a design by Chris Clout Design, this multi-level, four-bedroom abode oozes the essence of resort living. From the large central pond to the lavish outdoor entertaining pavilion and the fully-tiled lap pool located directly on the waterfront, this is a custom home to rival the most luxurious five-star resort. The envy of the neighbourhood, the home boasts an abundance of glass which fills the interior spaces with light and ensures the relaxing water views are maximised. This creates a holiday-at-home vibe and makes the home feel like a place…

This beautiful four-bedroom home in Queensland, designed by awardwinning architects Borgelt & Craig and built by Eco Building Services, takes full advantage of its environment, yet does so very discreetly. A two-storey home with a substantial footprint, it treads lightly on the Earth while sitting very respectfully between its neighbours. This is a home that ticks all the boxes for sustainability. It is low-maintenance, easy to run and comfortable regardless of the season, thanks to the use of passive design principles, the responsible selection of materials, and the use of water- and energyefficient strategies. To begin with, the home is orientated for maximum natural light and ventilation, which included positioning the pool along the northern length to bring evaporative breezes into house. Thermal mass solutions were used on both levels…

Offering the very best of Gold Coast living, The Surrounds at Helensvale is home to a raft of quality-built abodes — and standing out from the crowd is this award-winning offering from JKW Constructions. This well-designed single-level home boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two spacious living areas and a host of outstanding inclusions. These range from ducted air conditioning for year-round comfort to indoor and alfresco ceiling speakers with an iPod docking system for trans-seasonal entertaining. As this is a family home, functionality as well as space have been prioritised. This can be seen in the walk-in pantry, the huge amount of storage provided and the 2570mm-high ceilings that make the interior feel light and airy. Then there are the soft-close kitchen cabinets, the space-enhancing floating bathroom vanities and the…

Stroud Homes’ Beechmont 220 with granny flat, shown here in Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, is the ideal option for those who prioritise multigenerational living. The spacious main home features four bedrooms, a double garage and a media room. There’s also an extensive alfresco to the rear, providing an extra space for relaxing or spending time with the family and entertaining friends. The granny flat adds to the mix an extra bedroom, bathroom, spacious open-plan living area and a single-car garage with separate entrance. Offering maximum privacy, the granny flat is ideal for elderly parents, older children saving for a home of their own or visiting family members. Generous spaces are a hallmark of the affordable Beechmont 220, from the master bedroom’s massive walk-in robe and expansive ensuite (complete with an extra-large…

This modern kitchen was designed as part of a renovation. The space has undergone a transformation with walls removed to create an open space. One of the great features in this reinvented kitchen is the open shelving at the end of the island which makes the space very unique. Combining the dark cabinets with the light benchtop creates contrast in the kitchen, while the floor evens the contrast out to create a calm and relaxing environment. The ample natural light in the kitchen and surrounding rooms works with the colour scheme to brighten the space and allows the materials to be seen in their finest form. The overhead cabinets, with LED strip lighting rebated along the underside, add a ‘glowing’ effect — this also acts as benchtop lighting. The semi-integrated…

This small country-style home’s original kitchen was located in a completely different area. It was moved and extended as part of a major home renovation, providing the family with a more spacious kitchen and the butler’s pantry they had long wanted. The room, showcased here, was entirely custom made by Kitchens U Build to meet the homeowners’ brief for a warm and inviting country-style space with high ceilings, plentiful storage and a butler’s pantry complete with laundry facilities. For several surfaces, a Supermatt finish was chosen because of its smooth, low-sheen qualities. Its low reflective value helps create a cohesive aesthetic within the space and its anti-fingerprint qualities help the space retain a freshly-cleaned look for longer. Two glass overhead cabinets were included so the homeowners can proudly display their…

Hardware & General first opened as a corner hardware store in 1960. Since then, it has expanded along Winbourne Road, Harbord Road and Pittwater Road in the northern Sydney suburb of Brookvale — and the company has added 20 specialist sales centres The company’s renovated and redesigned Brookvale bathroom showroom and adjoining tap showroom have an incredibly impressive depth of choice of brands and products in varying price ranges. This means products can be compared and contrasted before being locked in. What stands out the most when entering the bathroom showroom are the inspirational bathroom concept spaces, which are styled to reflect a variety of design styles to help you visualise your renovation and find the perfect products for it. Many members of the helpful, highly professional Hardware & General…

Summer or winter, this warm and inviting outdoor entertaining area — designed and built by Whyte Gardens — offers the homeowners a comfortable and stylish space in which to gather with friends and family. Just as importantly, it significantly extends the home’s living space by blurring the boundary between inside and out. “The brief from the owners was to create an outdoor entertaining space that could be used all-year-round — one that would be easy to access from inside the home and be the focal point of the garden,” explains Andrew Whyte, director of Whyte Gardens. “As the family enjoys entertaining, the alfresco space had to be versatile and the outdoor kitchen able to cater for a crowd.” Given the entertaining area flows on from the rear of the home…

When a young professional couple with small children decided to build a new house, they knew from the outset that they wanted a pool and outdoor living area — something that would complement the the design of the home and complete the property. “They wanted a pool area that children and adults could enjoy year-round, and they wanted a pool with heating and a spa,” says Zeb Rodrigues, owner of Artesian Pools. The generously-sized flat block, located in Sandringham, a bayside suburb in Sydney’s south, features an exquisite geometric design — a rectangular 8.7m-long pool with a Spanish glass mosaic-tiled spa in one corner. Water from the spa spills over two walls into the pool. “This pool has a large area for the children, a spa for the parents to…

Picture-perfect in every way, this breathtaking pool and landscape project was designed by Justine Carlile Landscape Design and built by Coolabah Landscapes & Pools. Such a beautiful end result was not just due to the meticulous attention to detail paid during the design and construction processes, however; astute product selection was key. The natural stone paving products are a highlight of the project and work to tie the landscape together. Bluestone was chosen for the steps leading up to the outdoor entertaining area and the surrounds of the feature cobbles at the base of the stairs. From here, a path of bluestone steppers leads to a second area paved in cobbles. This space — soon to become a shaded outdoor dining area — is covered by a timber pergola over…

With the right treatment, it’s easy to keep even the most porous natural stone and paving, as well as tile and brick, looking great for many years. Treating a porous surface with the right impregnating sealer also makes cleaning easier. Staining is the most common problem affecting porous materials such as natural stone, engineered concrete, paving and steps, but there are other common types of damage. Water can be harmless, but if stone or paving is wet for long enough, mould and bacteria can take hold and the material can be softened and weakened. Water also contains minerals (salts) that can leave unsightly residues or stains and even cause major corrosion of unprotected pavers and tiles. The STAIN-PROOF™ (formerly Dry Treat) line offers a full breadth of care and maintenance…

Creating a usable outdoor dining space where our love of the outdoors and food can be brought together with friends and family is high up on the list of improvements for many homeowners. The owners of this lovely period home in the Adelaide suburb of Walkerville have done just that by constructing a traditional-style timber pergola over a paved terrace. Being separate from the house and at the heart of the garden, the alfresco area forms a functional focal point for the well-kept grounds and is the ideal setting for outdoor entertaining. The pergola is complemented by the addition of a stunning and functional Shaderunner® Retractable Sail system. The Shaderunner® was manufactured from Outlook Design Zebra fabric, which perfectly complements the colourway used for the pergola and house verandah, providing…

A new collection of outdoor furniture designed by Justin Hutchinson for Melbourne design studio Kett, Forrest is curvaceous and inviting. Made from premium-grade teak, the range is named in honour of Forrest, a popular rural township and tourist destination in Victoria’s picturesque Otway Ranges, and celebrates a natural, timeless and Australian aesthetic. Defined by intricate timber features and sweeping curves, the collection includes refined dining tables, comfy sofas and sleek occasional pieces, and is exclusively available through Cosh Living. The supportive seat and back cushions are made using all-weather reticulated foam for supreme breathability and drainage and are upholstered in resilient outdoor fabrics. The distinct and delicate woven details of the Forrest collection are incredibly strong, offering functional support for long lunches and relaxed evenings with the family as the…

Luxury means something different to all of us. For the owner of this multi-award-winning threebedroom home on the Gold Coast, it means a home of bold contrasts where outdoor spaces are given as much priority as indoor spaces and an unconventional layout adds interest and intrigue while simultaneously enhancing liveability. Employing textured concrete as a principal building material, something traditionally associated with brutalist architecture, the Queensland home, dubbed Cove House, has been described as robust but thanks to the liberal use of timber trimmings, the effortless outdoor connections and the elements of subtropical modernism, it has also been praised for its elegance and warmth. Expertly built by BJ Millar Constructions and designed by Justin Humphrey Architects, the home claims a highly-prized location in Sanctuary Cove where it enjoys an enviable…

Unique, elegant and an enduring favourite with families seeking long-term flexibility, the Miami 16 provides a level of luxury you’d usually expect from a bespoke home. “The architecturally considered use of space, combined with the resort-style ambience, creates a home of undeniable appeal,” says Nathan Klein, sales manager for McDonald Jones. “The Miami 16 truly takes luxury to another level but at an affordable price, which means the home you always imagined was only a dream can now be your reality.” While this is a luxury home, it was designed with families very firmly in mind. Explains Nathan, “With the front of the Miami entirely dedicated to a children’s wing, this home makes perfect sense for families. Three generous bedrooms, a bathroom with a separate WC, a study nook and…

This is a truly grand home built on a truly grand scale. When designing the home, Stephen Kryvoviaza from Dimensions 3 Architects didn’t just deliver on the client’s request for an opulent residence that took maximum advantage of the water views, he looked to Italy for inspiration. The result? An inspiring abode that is reminiscent of a Tuscan villa but much more lavish and expansive. Located in Hope Island Resort, one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious addresses, the home is surrounded on all sides by impressive architecture so the owners wanted something that would make a statement. The privilege of building this highly symmetrical Italianate home was bestowed upon David Radic Prestige Homes. A massive home designed for year-round entertaining and luxurious waterside living, it offers four stories of…

This is a home with a true sense of arrival. From the first moment you lay eyes on this remarkable residence, your gaze is drawn to the decorative stone-clad entry porch that signals a warm welcome. It’s also an awardwinning home. In the 2020 Master Builders Association of NSW Excellence in Housing and Pool Awards, it won the Contract Houses $1 million-$1.5 million category. Built by Young Homes for a working couple with an adult son, this impeccable two-storey abode sits in the outer Sydney suburb of Castle Hill where it has quickly become the talk of the neighbourhood — in the best possible way. Large, adaptable and built to accommodate visiting friends and family, this home boasts five generous bedrooms, one of which is a guest bedroom with a…

Located in Upper Coomera, a highly sought-after Gold Coast suburb, this custom creation is a testament to the design and construction expertise of Queensland’s JKW Constructions. It is also the winner of the Custom Built Home Up To $300,000 category in the 2019 HIA-CSR Gold Coast Northern Rivers Awards. To maximise the potential of the large corner lot, the design of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was a collaborative effort between the client and JKW Constructions. Thanks to the well-conceived design, the single-level home captures as much natural light as possible and provides the maximum amount of usable living space. The client wanted large rooms, expansive open living areas and a generous master bedroom with an inviting ensuite, all of which have been skilfully delivered. A chef’s kitchen with an island…

Located in Queensland, the intelligently designed four-bedroom Savannah 262 from Stroud Homes is generous on features, with a master bedroom that incorporates an expansive walk-in robe and a luxurious ensuite. Central to the home is the kitchen and dining area, which combines with the family room to create a large, open-plan living zone that’s the hub of the home. In turn, this flows seamlessly onto the inviting alfresco, the perfect space for entertaining friends or hosting family barbecues. This is a feature-packed, 262sqm, singlestorey home that offers great value for money while providing everything today’s family demands. This includes multiple living zones, an interior characterised by airy, light-filled spaces and the ability for parents to enjoy some welcome peace and privacy as the large master suite is separate from the…

From its unmistakable facade to the imaginative use of light and space, Ferndale, located in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris, is a home like no other. Builders Mazzei Homes and Webster Architecture spared no expense, with their exquisite eye for detail made evident in every aspect of the build. The beautifully crafted facade is matched by a carefully appointed interior. The team enlisted bespoke kitchen builders and joinery designers, The Kitchen Design Centre (TKDC), to bring the highest level of craftsmanship to the table, elevating the home and bringing it to life. Once you enter through the full-height custom timber door, each room is an oasis, designed to exploit the abundance of natural light. From the front sitting room with north-facing windows that create a garden view axis, to…

Storage is an essential component when designing any kitchen. If you love entertaining or simply want ample room to accommodate everything you need to cook for your family on a daily basis, an intelligently designed kitchen like this — one in which there is a place for everything, and everything is in its place — should be at the top of your wish list. Of enduring style, this carefully considered kitchen utilises three sides of its island bench for storage while still providing sufficient space for under-bench seating for five. The rest of the kitchen includes an impressive amount of space to house all those kitchen essentials, with a perfect balance of open, glass and profile cabinetry. However, that’s not where the storage story ends. The butler’s pantry was another…

Let’s be honest — we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Whether it’s grabbing a snack, preparing meals for the family or hosting a gathering, this area of the home can see a lot of foot traffic. That was an essential consideration for the designer of this kitchen as the homeowner preps all meals from scratch to cater for family food allergies. Additionally, multiple work zones were required so several people could use the kitchen at once without it feeling crowded. Storage was also a key design element. Under-bench drawers were used extensively for easy-access solutions while overhead cabinetry was extended to ceiling height, ensuring there’s a place for everything. There is also a dedicated appliance area to the right of the sink which means the Thermomix is…

Today we regard our bathrooms as a place of retreat; perhaps the only place in the home where we can enjoy a little peace and privacy. Although we crave a sense of sanctuary, we also require functionality— and a look that reflects our personal sense of style. Bestlink International offers a range of handpicked, premium-quality products that will bring a unique flair to your bathroom and help you create the ambience you desire. For over 18 years, Bestlink has proudly offered elegant bathroom and kitchen products to those who appreciate exemplary quality and demand the highest standards. This includes the company’s own innovative brands such as Innova, Toto and Midea. Bestlink prides itself on its ability to not just meet the ever-changing demands of the modern consumer, but to stay…

A Total Concept, an award-winning company specialising in landscape architecture and swimming pool design, was commissioned to renovate the external areas of this stunning property in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The brief was to include a pool and alfresco entertaining areas at the front of the property to capitalise on the beach views, and an outdoor room to the rear to take advantage of the shade and provide shelter from strong north-easterly winds in summer. The intent of the pool design was to create an easy flow from the home to the outdoor areas, and to ensure the design was simple with clean lines so as not to detract from the main feature — the extensive views of Manly Beach and the northern Sydney coastline. A tired existing pool…

Many people spend all their time, energy and resources designing and personalising the inside of their homes but neglect their outdoor spaces. By making some clever design choices, however, you can capitalise on any outdoor area — and even turn it into a seamless extension of your home. When OUTHOUSE Design principal and founder Steve Warner received the design brief for this small-space project, it was clear that the terrace home, located in Sydney’s Inner West, had recently been transformed with a modern architectural rear extension. Sadly, when you ventured through the character-filled hallway to the rear of the home, you were greeted by a bland paved courtyard that was seriously lacking in style and substance. Even though the owners have a strong sense of style and character, this personality…

Positioned on a 700–800sqm block in Kellyville, a popular suburb in the heart of Sydney’s rapidly growing Hills District, this modern rectangular pool forms the hub of the family’s outdoor entertaining space, providing the ultimate in panache and practicality. The pool flows beautifully from the covered alfresco at the rear of the home, ensuring it is an integral component of the overall entertaining area. What’s more, it includes a 2m x 2m spa, which is perfect for entertaining — or simply soaking away the cares of the working day — no matter what the season. The pool also features an extended, wellpositioned sun deck and located at one corner of the pool is a stylishly furnished cabana with lighting integrated into the ceiling. This makes it the ideal space for…

If you want something timeless in your outdoor area, natural stone should be front of mind. Limestone in particular is a resilient material that has been used around the world for centuries and is still incredibly popular today. Renowned for its soft colour palette and durable nature, limestone has a multitude of applications for outdoor spaces as well as indoor settings. The family that calls this property home wanted a stone with a modern white colour that would have a hint of warmth. Granite Works suggested Jazz White, a type of white limestone which fit the brief to a tee with its bright colour softened by subtle veining. The natural stone was to be used for paving and pool coping, so it was essential the material be durable and non-slip.…

If you love entertaining friends and family alfresco — and you want to do it summer through winter — a custom designed luxury Vergola is a stylish and functional solution. Giving a lovely open feel to any outdoor entertaining area, a Vergola delivers insulation from the heat and gives you full control over the balance of light, shade and ventilation in your alfresco living space. In short, Vergola is the ultimate outdoor roof system, not to mention a flexible addition to any home. Creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living areas, Vergola provides a weather-protected haven for year-round outdoor entertaining — and it enhances the value of your home. Vergola’s unique opening louvre roof system lets you adjust the amount of sunlight you let in or keep out,…

Remember the many happy hours you spent as a child, bouncing on the backyard trampoline? Why not let your children — and grandchildren — experience the same unbridled fun? “At MrTrampoline we’re in the business of supplying fun, fun, fun — 365 days a year — by manufacturing the best trampolines available,” says Adam Richards, director of MrTrampoline. “Our trampoline frames are made from all-Australian steel. We fabricate, modify and weld the components and then send them off to be hot-dip galvanised. This gives the frame decades of serviceability over our nearest rivals.” The springs are made from high-tensile galvanised wire according to MrTrampoline’s specific design, delivering a longer, smoother bounce. “The bounce bed is the pièce de résistance,” continues Adam. “We manually weave each bed in our facility in…

Futurewood supplies a quality range of environmentally friendly, lowmaintenance timber-alternative building products, including composite timber screening, cladding and decking. Now with two distinctly different composite timber decking ranges to choose from, Futurewood has a product that’s bound to suit your outdoor needs. CleverDeck Original composite timber decking has been a best seller because it looks like timber but is more ecologically sustainable and low-maintenance. Finished with a coarse, sanded texture that makes the product look and feel like a timber plank, it’s supplied in long lengths with grooved edges that work seamlessly with Futurewood’s concealed fix clipping system. The long boards and easy-to-use clips add further value by greatly reducing installation time and saving on labour costs. Made from recycled plastic, rice husks and hardwood sawdust, CleverDeck Original composite timber…

Simple, elegant and with more than a touch of modern flair, this grandiose home makes an indelible impression at first glance thanks to its large size, clean-lined, rendered concrete facade and the sleek interiors which are visible through the abode’s wide, well-placed windows. Inside the home a neutral palette, emphasising various shades of grey, dominates. This is offset by bursts of vivid colour and muted tones that lift the interior spaces. The colour scheme is consistent throughout the multi-level abode, from the paint, tiles, door frames and skirtings to the furnishings. This creates a sense of cohesion and engenders a feeling of harmony. A double-sided fireplace and television integrated into a wall between the living and dining areas continue the smooth lines of the house while adding a touch of…

When the owners of this stunning country home first approached Wojcicki Constructions to quote on their build, it quickly became apparent that their plans, after 12 months in development, were devastatingly beyond their budget. “People are often reluctant to appoint a builder from the start, preferring to work with their architect or draftsman to complete their design first, but in fact, engaging your builder early in the process is the best way to ensure your dream home is realised within budget,” explains Yuliya Wojcicki, project manager. “This is exactly what custom home builders do, and they can find creative solutions during the design process that preserve your budget without compromising your design vision.” The Melbourne couple, seeking a quieter life in the country, made the difficult decision to scrap their…

McLachlan Homes’ four-bedroom display home, The Lillywood, is a stunning, liveable abode that can be easily customised to suit a family’s individual needs and budget. Of contemporary design, The Lillywood has a commanding street presence that truly maximises its corner-block location. The striking facade boasts a complementary blend of textured render and smooth cladding which acts as a backdrop for the cool, powdercoated laser-cut screens that face both streetscapes and contrast the warm, custom timber-panelled garage door. This intelligent mix of materials takes the external design to the next level. “The laser-cut screens, which add welcome privacy to the front of the home, guide you into the entry. As you step through the timber pivot front door, a grand entrance awaits with an impressive feature wall, pendant lighting and square-set…

A modern take on the classic barn style, this custom home is a dream come true for the owners and their two young boys. Evolution Building Co was able to deliver on the design brief by combining different yet complementary elements, such as steep pitched roofs, custom cladding features and separated living quarters joined by flat-roofed walkways. “The home was designed for a family of four. The goal was to maximise space with an open living concept and we have done just that,” says Andrew Cagnacci, director of Evolution Building Co. “The layout of the home allows the family room to move and for those times when the owners want some peace, there is a private parents’ area. “The parents’ quarter of the home, which is separated from the children’s…

In a popular, established bayside suburb in Melbourne resides a character-filled four-bedroom, two-bathroom Victorian Gabled Traditional residence from Harkaway Homes that looks like it has been in situ for more than a century. The 232sqm home, however, was only recently built by proud owner-builders, Toby and Kirsten. The couple had serendipitously chanced upon the Harkaway Homes’ website more than 10 years ago and from that point on aspired to own one of Harkaway’s beautiful traditional homes. “I’ve always had a dream to build my own home,” states Toby, “and Harkaway Homes offered me the opportunity to create the exact type of residence I had visualised for myself and my family, namely a traditional home with a charming classic exterior and a highly functional modern interior.” A few years ago, when…

Located in the northern Sydney suburb of Freshwater, The Pavilions is a highend boutique townhouse development that is the very epitome of laid-back coastal luxury. Designed by architects Nettleton Tribe, the prestigious development, comprising 14 Torrens Title townhouses, offers enviable views across Freshwater Beach and the Pacific Ocean, yet is just moments away from all that Sydney has to offer. The developer behind The Pavilions, IPM, tasked Reform Projects with managing the construction of these stunning residences and giving form to the architects’ vision. Each finely crafted townhouse features intricate detailing and finishes, and is an example of precast structural innovation. Boasting over 170sqm of open and airy living space and with secure basement parking and generous courtyards, these thoughtfully designed three- and four-bedroom dwellings offer everything discerning buyers could…

Designed to make great times with family and friends even better, the four-bedroom Kentucky 260 offers a generous undercover alfresco, a games room off the dining area, a separate media room and an entertainer’s kitchen. Budget friendly but awash with features, the Kentucky 260, shown here with a Mountain facade, is an acreage home that ticks all the boxes. For starters, the central living area has a sense of connectedness yet ensures the discreet separation of key areas. For example, the stub wall and column feature serve to keep the pool table area clear from traffic yet the low-height walls ensure the space is well connected to the rest of the home. The galley kitchen offers ample bench and storage space along with a butler’s pantry featuring a second sink…

It’s not hard to imagine spending time in a kitchen like the one in this Melbourne home. You could picture stepping into the room and running your hand over the dramatic Signorino limestone island that just invites your touch. You could also see yourself prepare food as you spoke with your family and friends who would be seated at the plush under-bench stools, allowing you to mix both your passion for entertaining and your flair for all things culinary in the one session. It would be just as easy to picture yourself presenting meals that had been prepped in the butler’s pantry, a luxurious continuation of the main kitchen that uses the same quality materials for a cohesive finish. Later, when the sun sunk low in the sky, the golden…

Your kitchen should be a place of streamlined looks and style. It’s time to suit up and choose a room with tuxedo elegance, like this one. The black and white colour scheme sets a modern tone in this kitchen. The black open cabinetry combined with those striking dark tiles outlined with light grout adds a touch of sophistication even to utility areas such as the butler’s pantry, a space traditionally associated with bland basics. The cabinetry in this kitchen is a thing of tailored beauty. The room is streamlined with no handles jutting out to break the flow. Even the entry to the butler’s pantry is hidden thanks to Kitchen U Build’s clever design, with the doorway appearing to be part of the wall. Of course, as with any good…

With a bathroom like this, you can start — and end — your day with a sense of calm. By using natural materials, largeformat tiles and a carefully curated palette of textures, just as Kitchens U Build has done here, you can create a bathroom that is a place of peace. This truly inspiring Queensland bathroom renovation was created with calmness in mind. The circular natural stone basin and the round wall-mounted, mirror, with its polished, warm-hued wood-finish frame, are the focal points that draw your eye when you enter the room. These soft edges, organic shapes and natural materials really add to the bathroom’s sense of tranquillity. This theme is continued with cabinetry that complements those earthy tones and is simple in design, ensuring the room doesn’t feel crowded…

When building a beautiful new bathroom, or renovating an existing one, what’s the secret to keeping your shower looking like new? The answer is simple — EnduroShield. Maintaining the sparkling appearance of a brand-new shower is easy with EnduroShield protective glass treatment. EnduroShield creates a protective barrier that stops contaminants soaking into the glass. Instead, water and contaminants bead up on the protected surface and are easily wiped off with a damp microfibre cloth and mild detergent. Using EnduroShield keeps glass cleaner for longer, significantly reducing cleaning time. Not having to clean your shower so often not only saves you time but money, too. Untreated glass surfaces are porous and absorb contaminants, resulting in glass that is etched and discoloured. Cleaning this buildup of soap scum and lime scale has…

Picture this. It’s a sunny Sunday and there you sit in your pool house, nice and cosy on a comfy lounge, refreshing drink in hand. In front of you, the cool water of the pool and the luxuriant landscape beckon. For one family in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, no imagination is required — this is their reality, thanks to the expertise of Erin Green, director of Nature’s Best Landscapes. “When I was brought on board by the owners, the design was still very much in the early conceptual stage. This afforded me the opportunity to review all the details and finetune the overall design of the pool house, pool and surrounding garden,” says Erin. “The design is well structured, with the garden beds, pool and pool house revolving around…

Making the most of its picturesque setting in NSW’s Upper Hunter Valley, and built with precision by Jeff Towler Building, the architect-designed pool house area in this rural property incorporates a lap pool, cabana and guest accommodation to supplement the original house. The new building had to relate to the existing home but have its own unique character. It could not detract from the spectacular setting or views from the main residence, but it had to be close enough to be easily used and accessed. “The pool and guest house form a new precinct to the property, inviting residents and guests to appreciate the southern aspect of the landscape,” says Richard Cole of Richard Cole Architecture. “The pool extends towards the distant hills, a rectilinear form emphasising the undulating countryside.…

Relaxing with family and friends while enjoying the lifestyle benefits that having a pool in your backyard oasis brings is something you’ve no doubt dreamed of for some time. So why not make your life even easier by talking to your pool builder about a self-cleaning pool? A self-cleaning pool allows you to spend more time enjoying life while your pool cleans itself. Your pool will also be more efficient to operate and more enjoyable to swim in because of the increased circulation benefits. Owning a pool has never been this easy. Not all self-cleaning pool systems are the same, however. The QuikClean range of in-floor cleaning systems features advanced technology, has been developed for Australian conditions and has proven performance in even the most demanding conditions. The focus of…

To create an alfresco entertaining space or swimming pool that effortlessly integrates into your overall outdoor design and complements the architectural style of your home, you need a carefully curated palette of hardscaping products and decorative features. Hewnstone, a family-owned and -run business, produces a large and diverse range of high-quality concrete and composite stone paving, walling and coping, as well as architectural products, which are suitable for any style of home or outdoor space. The Hewnstone team has more than 25 years’ experience in supplying the pool and landscape construction industries and offers a unique collection of premium, specialised landscape, pool and decorative products that can be mixed and matched to create a coordinated living space or outdoor setting. Offering both contemporary and classic collections, you can choose from…

For an outdoor living space you can use year-round, you need the experts from Outrigger Awnings & Sails. Outrigger specialises in the creation of high-quality, custom-designed shade and rainproof fabric structures for all residential and commercial applications. Designs include retracting, batten and cantilevered awnings, awnings for carports and pergolas, as well as shade sails and outdoor blinds. Designed for both strength and longevity, Outrigger’s impressive, individually tailored awnings are the ideal choice when you want year-round coverage in a high-wind area. Outrigger retracting awnings can withstand winds up to 100km/h; fixed awnings are rated for winds up to 140km/h. All awnings are custom designed and are engineered and fabricated in the Outrigger factory in Sydney, so you can be assured each product will be perfectly tailored to the specific requirements…