Tabla de contenidos para July 2021 en Inside Out

Real estate is a national obsession. Buying homes, renovating homes and selling homes is, for many people, a second job (they get home from work just to keep on working at home). And if property prices weren’t unbelievable before COVID-19, the current auction clearance rates are absolutely hair-raising. But the dream of having a home that reflects your style and desires hasn’t abated. I’m currently deep in the book Real Estate by Deborah Levy, about a writer whose dream of owning a cottage with an oval fireplace and a mimosa tree becomes her greatest driving force. The fact that she can’t afford it is the subject of some angst, but that’s where a lot of us are finding ourselves right now. So, in this issue, we’ve gone in a different…

People who understand colour and its effects are like gold. Anyone can do a colour course, but those who can transform their spaces with masterful colour combinations are rare. Which is why this book about such genius is so exciting. Written by stylist/art and homewares queen Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors and photographer Armelle Habib, whose stunning images of homes and lifestyle projects have been published internationally for years, Vivid is a thoroughly enjoyable how-to. Julia’s words about the psychology of colour draw you into the chapters, starting with effervescent orange and finishing with the magic of black, and include interviews with some of the world’s most creative people. Then, before you know it, you’ve disappeared into Armelle’s incredible images and started dreaming of your own, more colourful existence. This…

For Arrernte and Kalkadoon artist Thea Anamara Perkins, creative expression and activism is in her blood. Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins is her grandfather, art curator Hetti Perkins is her mother, and acclaimed film director and screen writer Rachel Perkins just so happens to be her aunt. “We’ve always been encouraged to stand up and speak out, but on our own terms and in our own way,” says Thea. “Art is my way of expressing myself. I think it can powerfully express complex ideas and change people’s minds. I had always drawn, and I see painting as an extension of that – with the joys of colour science mixed in.” Born and raised in Sydney with ties to the Redfern community, 29-year-old Thea engages with her locale through her painting and…

You sit on it, lie on it, read on it and probably cuddle, eat, and drink on it, too. A sofa is the focal point of your living area – and arguably one of the most important investments you’ll make for your home. “The sofa is generally the most-used piece of furniture in the household,” says Anthony Spon-Smith, co-owner and creative director at high-end furniture store Coco Republic. “It’s also one of the few pieces of furniture that tends to be used by every member of the family – including pets! This means you need to give your choice some attention and consideration.” There are plenty of things to think about before you splash cash on a sofa, agrees David Hardwick, global head of product at King Living. “Naturally, you’ll…

There’s an equation that dictates the viability of a weekend away. It’s the number of kilometres you’re willing to travel to stay only two nights. The question is always, is it actually worth it? In the case of Orange, a thriving NSW town that’s a comfortable three-and-a-half hour drive north-west of Sydney, the answer has to be a resounding yes. Orange is a wine-lover’s utopia, where climatic conditions mirror the north of Italy, which means you’ll roll through rich fields of grapevines, olive trees, rosemary and lemons. It also means the food produced in the region leans into the same style. The bucolic golden countryside and vineyards that make the wine Orange is so famous for is only an eight-minute drive from the centre of the historic town. It’s thrilling…

WHERE TO STAY Rowlee Wines A boutique vineyard and cellar door renowned for its excellent chardonnay, Rowlee also has a private guesthouse among its 32 hectares of working vineyards. It was –3°C when we stayed and the cottage was a warm haven, with incredible heating and a wood-burning stove. But the stocked pantry with local breads, croissants and Rowlee wine really warmed the heart! On-site tastings allow you to stock up on the fruit of the vines from your view. 19 Lake Canobolas Road; (02) 6365 3047, rowleewines.com.au Byng Street Hotel Staying in the centre of town means you can walk from bar to dinner… and back to bar again. This grand hotel’s suites are divided between the significant original homestead and a new contemporary wing that feels very modern-Orange. With original artworks…

the flip side With property prices skyrocketing as quickly as a crypto portfolio, you could be forgiven for thinking that the property market is a no-man’s land and only for the uber-wealthy. Think again. With a shortage of homes on the market, yes, prices are on the up – but it’s a crazy bidding war out there and there are still gems to be found and money to be made. Making the most of a hot market can be the promised land for house flippers, and the way some of the auctions are going, it’s almost like printing money. But before you slap down the kids’ inheritance on a dingy ‘renovator’s dream’, there are a few key factors to consider. Let’s have a look at what matters most. forking out…

The prospect of renovating can be very exciting – less so the task of sitting down to draw up a budget. Yet this is a must-do. It shows what you’ll be up for in costs and how much you need to outlay at different stages of the job, and it gives you a clear picture of what is – and isn’t – affordable. Understanding what you have to spend lets you scale your plans up or down in line with your finances. To draw up a budget, compare prices of fittings and fixtures, gather quotes from builders (preferably at least three) and, crucially, talk with your builder to be sure you’re both on the same page when it comes to details such as the type of cornices you might want,…

+ Consider your options Decide whether you just want a ‘holiday fling’ (a space you can stay in, and lease to people outside of those times) or a genuine long-term business relationship. Many people think that owning and running a holiday property business is simple, but it’s very much a service industry. It takes a lot of work, so you need to make the distinction between a pleasure project and a serious business, and understand what is involved. + Find the right location Look for an area that will attract guests all year round. If it is a seasonal area, you’ll want a place for which you can charge high enough rates to make a good income in that limited time. Towns within two hours of a big city or…

In a boundary-busting move, the new collection of bathware and accessories by Agape are suited for both indoor and outdoor use. Featuring baths, countertops, showers, taps and more, the highlight for us is the Agape ‘Vieques’ freestanding tub (shown). Taking its name from a small Caribbean island once visited by the designer, Patricia Urquiola, the bath’s stainless-steel construction allows it to be used in spaces as open as you like. artedomus.com…

I would say that I am anti our binge-drinking culture. I’m all for having fun; however, when drinking starts having a negative effect on your life and relationships, it becomes a problem. I’ll occasionally have a drink or two if I’m socialising, but they no longer hold the magic that I thought they once did. Drinking now plays a small and irrelevant part in my life. I have noticed an overwhelming interest in the sober-curious movement. People are wanting to either drink less or not at all. I now listen to my body and it tells me when I need to take a break from alcohol. I normally have two to three months in the year off alcohol, because that is what feels right for me. Dry July is a…

lean and clean Clever design details dot this future-proof home among the trees The owners of this suburban Melbourne home looked high and low for an architect who could see beyond the usual square-house box for their project, a block with a large, mature garden and a dwelling ripe for renovation. Their search ended with Austin Maynard Architects, which has sensitively transformed the house and preserved leafy outlooks such as this green treat off the dining area. The seat is a great place for people or bags to perch, and the window itself is a conduit for the building’s air-con-busting cross-ventilation. Turn the page for more details.…

The ideal holiday house is the perfect confluence of several factors. It’s in a beautiful location, it’s fairly easy to maintain, and it has space for family and friends when they stay over. Most importantly though, it has a feeling of retreat that invites rest and relaxation. For homeowners Hannah and Chris Crook and their three sons, that’s exactly what this striking property in the bucolic coastal village of Flinders has become. A 90-minute drive from Melbourne, the new build began life as what was intended to be a holiday home. “It was our initial plan to use this place as our weekender,” explains Hannah. “Increasingly, especially given the current climate, we spend the bulk of our time here.” The home’s story, however, begins with the building company, Montique Construction,…

Garden and architecture are cleverly interwoven at this home on the NSW Central Coast. Porphyry crazy paving from Eco Outdoor, a fabulous flight of fancy by the garden’s creator, Michael Cooke, laid the way for the owners’ mid-century homage, followed by well-chosen plants. The upstanding Sansevieria trifasciata, aka the awkwardly named mother-in-law’s tongue, boasts Mad Men credentials (yes, Don Draper had them in his uber-cool apartment), while breeze-loving Miscanthus ‘Kleine Fontaine’ grass provides a counterpoint to the straight and angular lines of the house.…

WHERE TO EAT Anything Grows They say it’s the best breakfast in town and the fires outside this nursery/cafe keep it cosy in the cold. 54 Summer Street; (02) 6361 4333, anythinggrows.com.au Bills Beans East Orange This ‘locals only’ institution was the first coffee joint in town. Regulars swear by the coffee, and the lines outside prove it. 148 McLachlan Street; (02) 6361 1611, billsbeans.com.au The Schoolhouse Restaurant At The Union Bank Book ahead, except for lunch, when it’s walk-ins only. You’ll enjoy a sensory experience in a converted school, sinking into sumptuous navy velvet chairs under majestic high ceilings and a huge cracking fireplace. The sommelier, Bon Kuil-Hartikainen, whose Rockpool Group experience shows through in his excellent local wine list, is a great wine-chat collaborator. Owners Sarah Crowley and Dom Aboud created most of…

Freelance stylist Emma O’Meara and her husband Simon were crushed when the onset of the coronavirus pandemic forced them to cancel a long-dreamed-of trip to Italy with their young children. But the pair soon turned the bad news into an opportunity. “It gave us the push – and extra cash – we needed to buy a little holiday house close to Melbourne,” says Emma. The pair loved the idea of purchasing a fixer-upper that she could revitalise and Simon, a plumber, could tinker with. Emma, in particular, was keen to find something with a true off-the-beaten-track feel that they could rent out on Airbnb. “I started Googling ‘Log cabins for sale in Victoria’ and quite quickly came across one in the Otways,” she recalls. “We had never been to Johanna,…

FLIP BOOK | RENOVATE “When choosing a wall colour, paint a large piece of cardboard with your selection and move it around the room so you can see it next to all of the fixtures and check that the undertones work together. Leave the colour up for at least two days to ensure you’re happy with the selection in both morning and afternoon light. Open For Inspections may be at different times of the day, so it’s important you’re happy with the colour at all times.”ANDREA LUCENA-ORR, COLOUR SPECIALIST, DULUX While reality TV shows would have you believe that flipping a property for profit is some easily done thing, the truth is that renovating – or making over your home – with the intention of increasing its resale value, requires…

Not all flips are a flying success and people don’t always walk away with bags full of money when they buy and sell houses. From the outside, many often see the difference between what someone has bought a house for and what they have sold it for and assume they made a great big profit in the process. But that’s not always the case, as twins Alisa and Lysandra Fraser from The Block (and now also the founders of al.ive Body) can attest. Alisa and Lysandra bought a rundown period home in Albert Park a few years ago as part of a joint venture – with a plan to turn the ugly duckling into a gorgeous home. “The intention of the project was to build a lovely extension on the…

OOH LA LA! First came St Tropez, then Paris... now Zimmermann has opened a boutique in Cannes. Located at 11 rue des États-Unis, the minimalist design features an arched leadlight door from an early-1900s London department store. ZIMMERMANN.COM DESIGNER CANINES Dog parents and their furry BFFs who visit Fido & Fido in Sydney’s Double Bay can now enjoy surroundings designed by Megan Morton. On offer instore is a range of fashion accessories and homewares for dogs, with grooming, walking, training — and even matchmaker — services. FIDOANDFIDO.COM.AU DIVIDE & CONQUER Fold Studio, a new business that designs high-end room-dividing screens, has launched in Sydney. Showcasing beautiful timbers, fabrics and weaves, the range is fabricated by local craftspeople. FOLDSTUDIO.COM.AU BLANKET ART Luxury bedding brand Milou Milou has created a 100% Australian…

Johanna Måwe was on maternity leave with her third child in 2018 when she and her family moved into their new home, a 1910 villa in Vallentuna, Stockholm. Every time her youngest, Saga, had a nap, Johanna would either paint a wall or try to finish off one of the countless DIY projects required to make the house more liveable, then post a picture of it. Her Instagram account @maawingedesign quickly gained lots of followers who loved her work, and she became well-known in Sweden for her beautiful DIY projects as she transformed the house. She restored its original tiled stove, old windows, internal doors and many decorative details in the best way she could, then painted and styled the place throughout – often with her own creations. When her…

cheat sheet Who lives here A professional couple and their three young children. Style of home A two-storey new build on a long block in a historic Melbourne suburb. The owners purchased the property, which had an existing house, in 2014. Demolition, design and construction took about five years, and the family moved back in just before the pandemic hit. The bricks used throughout are called Oakleigh creams and match a photograph of a 1950s house lived in by the owner’s grandparents The husband-and-wife owners of this undeniably impressive home in the heart of Melbourne are on a mission to change the way we think about sustainability. “We’re often told that sustainability is all about sacrifice: flying less, eating less, doing less,” says the husband. “But if you generate your…

Road trip to remember The drive from Sydney to Orange through the Blue Mountains and down across the Central West is a gorgeous journey peppered with expansive views over the Kanimbla and Megalong Valleys. The roads are winding and dramatic, and mist descends all through the year, so having the chance to test-drive the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA on that road made the journey quite exhilarating. This is the smaller and sportier of the Mercedes SUV models and comfort is key; the standard heated Nappa-leather front seats made the drive through the minus-zero sleet feel like we were sitting in a cosseted lounge room. With its 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine, the extra power and torque made the climb up and over the mountains seamless. Giving it back was the only downside…

+ Neutral is best You want to leave people with a vision of how they can make your house into their home. + White is right When in doubt, remember that white brightens a home and gives the illusion of a larger space. + Add colour Artworks are great, but ensure all major pieces are fairly neutral so they don’t overpower. + Rugs define space They add another layer and are a good way to bring in warmth and texture. + Accessories are essential Lastly, add some new cushions and small decorator items. + Don’t forget flowers They make a home inviting. I love nothing more than a large simple vase with a snip of gum foliage. Greenery like this is clean and fresh, but packs a visual punch!…

Remarkable. Dramatic. Unprecedented. That’s what experts are calling the Australian property boom that began late last year — and it’s not just because prices are rising quickly. “What’s most unusual is how widespread the upswing has been,” says Eliza Owen, head of Australian research at CoreLogic Australia. For statistical purposes CoreLogic divides the country into 100 sub-markets that it monitors individually. Of those sub-markets, 97 per cent have seen an increase in property values over the past 12 months. “There are very few pockets of the market that aren’t enjoying an increase in value, which presents an incredible opportunity,” says Eliza. So, why is the housing market so hot right now? “The biggest factor is interest rates, which are currently lower than we’ve ever seen them. When interest rates fall,…