Table of contents for August 2024 in Inside Out

Renovating is easy with hindsight... Every renovation is different; there’s budget, scale, size and style, but when we interview homeowners about their home-transformation journeys, the one thing we hear again and again is that every renovation is a lesson. Sometimes they even say it with a smile on their face. The pressure of spending the money and getting it right is real – it can be really big and really stressful. If only there were some truly experienced, deeply generous industry experts willing to share some of their hard-earned secrets of the trade before you committed to your own home makeover. Oh, wait, turn to page 108 and it’s all there – sage advice from our panel of renovation experts before you get started on your project. And another expert…

1 Napoleon Perdis ‘Luxe Lids Eye Stix’ eye shadow/liner in Wine Time, $43, The Iconic. 2 Alhambra flat-weave wool rug in Red Ochre (180cm x 270cm), $600, Jaipur Rugs. 3 &Tradition ‘Caret MF1’ portable table lamp, $355, Cult Design. 4 Chalk paint in Pinot, $58 per 1L, Plain Jane Paints. 5 Pietro buffet in Shiraz, $3695, GlobeWest. 6 Plaid tweed double-breasted jacket in Burgundy, $439, Sumissura. 7 Callie side table in Berry, $399, Cozoni. 8 Jane Debster patent-leather ‘Admire’ flats in Wine, $219.95, The Iconic. 9 Longbeach three-seater sofa in Oxford Velvet Wine, $7395, Coco Republic. 10 Aura fringed vintage-linen cushion in Syrah, $89, Temple & Webster. 11 Diptyque ‘Tubéreuse’ candle in Rouge, $154, Mecca. 12 Scallop round mirror in Deep Cherry Red, $517 for medium, Addison Ross. 13 YSL…

CHOOSE YOUR HIGHLIGHT COLOUR Ask yourself which colour will complement the two spaces around the archway. Look for inspiration from elements such as the existing wall colour, the furnishings or the flooring in either room, or simply go through your favourite paint brand’s colour fan/swatches and pick out a colour you really love! FEELING CONFIDENT? OMBRE THE COLOUR AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE GROUND Can’t decide on just one colour? Well, you don’t have to.You can create an ombre paint effect with your two favourite colours. Remember to start the ombre effect at the same level on both sides for balance (if you’re doing the two-tone, top-down look). THINK OUTSIDE THE ARCH — AS IN PAINT ON THE WALL SURROUNDING THE ARCH If you’re feeling even more bold, try…

cheat sheet WHO LIVES HERE Artist Carla Ruffino with her husband, filmmaker and stuntman Nash Edgerton, and their children — Chika, 16, and Zumi, eight — plus cat Neo, a Devon Rex. STYLE OF HOME A heritage-fronted semi built in 1917, renovated to become a two-storey, three-bedroom retreat. LOCATION Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people. TIMELINE The renovation took 12 months from start to finish. The act of nurturing is one of the most basic human instincts, but for artist Carla Ruffino, this impulse led to one of her most meaningful compositions. For, in seeking to provide a space for her family that offered more than just shelter, a transformative personal experience of creative expression – spurred on by a bold confidence that saw…

cheat sheet WHO STAYS HERE Holidaymakers who like a tree-house feel. STYLE OF PROPERTY A cabin measuring 30 square metres with a mezzanine level that sleeps two. LOCATION Muizenberg in Cape Town, South Africa. TIMELINE Once all the materials were delivered, the actual construction took just three weeks. Twin loves of design and the wilderness led Cape Town architect Alexander McGee to experiment with new ways of building. Those two preoccupations have found expression in a modern timber bungalow at the bottom of his garden on a rocky hillside above Muizenberg, one of Cape Town’s best-known surfing spots. This structure is not just a cabin, though. It’s the prototype of an “approach to settling”, as Alexander puts it, that he’s developing so he can offer it to others, too. “I’ve…

COUNTER COOL A built-in option isn’t the only way to carve out space for your beloved coffee machine. Case in point, this perfectly sized alcove in the corner of an art deco-style kitchen designed by Melbourne’s Brave New Eco, which provides an out-of-sight yet easily accessed solution for storing espresso essentials. HIDDEN GEM If you like to keep your kitchen clear of visual clutter, then a coffee station enclosed within a cupboard is the way to go. This minimalist layout by Sydney’s Studio Soleil was designed as a discreet solution for an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area that demanded seamless sightlines while providing maximum storage. INSIDE STORY When it comes to appliance cupboards, Perth-based interior designer Jess O’Shea is an advocate for inner love – of the material kind.…

This calming courtyard garden, neatly enclosed between a terrace home and Pilates studio in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, gave its designer, Adam Robinson of Adam Robinson Design, plenty of scope to flex his creative muscle. With some smart and agile manoeuvres, he has squeezed a lot into a small space while also making it warm and welcoming. When he first encountered the courtyard in 2021, it was neat and tidy but rather ho-hum. “At first glance, I asked myself, what am I here for,” admits Adam. “It seemed quite well presented, but, looking more closely, the space lacked impact, intimacy and personality. Everything was dated, grey and lacklustre.” But on the plus side, the north-facing courtyard was bathed in light while banks of bifolds connected it seamlessly to the home at…

1 Zellige pool and wall tiles, Tiles of Ezra. 2 Smart outdoor fabrics, including cushions in Elitis’s Rio in Cha Cha Cha and Mokum’s Palermo 2 in Stone on the bench seat. 3 Chimney pots in Terracotta, Garden Life. 4 Popham Design ‘Hex’ tiles in Camouflage, Biscuit, Warm Grey and Moss, Onsite Supply + Design. 5 Cushions in Mokum fabrics: Abstraction in Brick (pattern), Esplanade in Palm Leaf, and Elba in Terracotta; day bed is Palermo 2 in Stone. 6 Il Fanale ‘Cone’ wall light, in Bronze, LightCo.…

Inside Out EDITORIAL EDITOR Eliza O’Hare CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mia Daminato DEPUTY EDITOR Kate Hassett ART & STYLE ART DIRECTOR Paloma Garay ACTING ART DIRECTOR Judie Siu DESIGNER/RETOUCHER Matus Kundrat STYLIST Kate Lincoln FEATURES & COPY SENIOR COPY EDITOR Deborah Grant FEATURE WRITERS Rebecca Hooton, Rachel White  JUNIOR WRITER Lisa Easey  HOMES GROUP CHIEF COPY EDITOR Peter Griffiths  DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Clarke  SENIOR CONTENT PRODUCER Lucy Francis  CONTENT PRODUCER Anna Campbell THANKS TO Nonci Nyoni ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION GROUP CATEGORY MANAGER, HOMES & SPECIALIST Rhyl Heavener Rhyl.Heavener@aremedia.com.au BRAND EXECUTIVE Claire Ellis  ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Kate Orsborn  HEAD OF SALES — NSW Blake Wright  GROUP BUSINESS DIRECTOR SALES — VIC Ben Wiles HEAD OF DIRECT SALES — VIC, SA, WA Will Jamison Will.Jamison@aremedia.com.au HEAD OF SALES — QLD Judy Taylor  CLASSIFIEDS…

To me, paint is alchemy in a tin, as this relatively inexpensive liquid holds the most extraordinary powers of home transformation – it can be used to elevate, calm, unify, add texture and even disguise. Paint can also be a major personality flex, injecting life and spirit into even the most benign abode.The best bit is that painting is a true DIY endeavour, and packs the biggest punch in terms of low investment for high rewards. Here are some on-trend ways to harness the potency of paint at home: DRENCH IT Colour drenching is painting your walls, ceilings, doors, trims (and even furniture) in the same colour. It’s perfect for unifying a space that has disparate architectural or design elements, or for creating a sense of visual calm. Dark, moody-hued…

The humble brick is a staple in the Australian landscape, and experiencing a renaissance, emerging as the material of choice for architects wanting to deliver big design impact – brick is back. Brett Ward, general manager of marketing at Brickworks Building Products, sees the future from the brick frontline, working with global trends and specs from Australia’s best contemporary architecture. “We are witnessing a design movement where architects are embracing bricks in a new way, using them both inside and out to create continuity and cohesion,” he says. “Bricks are transcending their traditional roles, finding new life in bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and outdoor areas. The secret to enhancing their textural appeal lies in the innovative bricklaying techniques that architects are now employing.” Architects designing for the Australian climate already know…

WHY WE LOVE THEM Stone tiles are ideal for areas where fitting a slab might be tricky. Tiles also create a more uniform – and possibly, interesting – look than a single piece of stone, where the pattern can vary a lot. PRODUCTS TO TRY ABI Interiors has a fab new range of tiles, including Saroma natural stone in Marble Green, which is perfect for feature walls and splashbacks. Shown here with it are highly durable, concrete-look Arezzo tiles in Light Grey. ALL ABOUT Small-format tiles are usually mounted on mesh sheets for easy installation. Larger stone tiles that are sealed are great for more expansive walls and floors and chic outdoor spaces. WORDS: DEBORAH GRANT. PHOTOGRAPHY: ABI INTERIORS. SAROMA, $179.90 PER SQ M; AREZZO, $59.90 PER SQ M…

With the kids happily settled in for a sleepover at their grandparents’ place, my husband and I set off on a three-hour drive from our home at the foot of the Blue Mountains towards our destination, Basalt in Orange, NSW. We visited the town years ago, but I was on bridesmaid duties then, and we didn’t see much beyond the wedding venue. This time, I want to explore. It’s mid-afternoon when we drive through the front gates and pull up alongside ‘Yonder’, the studio we’ll be staying in for the next two nights. It’s a handsome building – all dark lines, earthy hues and warm wood – but the setting in a peaceful ridge is something else altogether. “The views are incredible and were really going to waste, enjoyed only…

Every year, the Shelley Simpson Ceramic Prize (SSCP) unearths new talent and this year’s winner, Alfred Lowe, is no exception. His joyful clay creations were a standout in the submissions judged by Shelley Simpson, founder and creative director of Mud Australia. “Alfred’s work is striking, modern, colourful, and some of the most exciting work I’ve seen,” she says. Apart from the $10,000 prize, Alfred’s works will be on display in 12 Mud Australia locations around the world – not bad for someone who started out in ceramics three years ago. “It’s been thrilling for me,” he says. “Mud has a global presence and their stores, especially the Brooklyn one, are surrounded by great contemporary galleries; the exposure there is amazing. They are not places a lot of young Australian Indigenous…

When embarking on a renovation, there’s always a good reason to complete the works in a timely manner. But for Stefani Driscoll, there could not have been a more important or, indeed, sweeter motivation to keep the makeover of her heritage home in Victoria’s East Geelong on schedule. For, just as the circa-1905 cottage was nearing the end of its metaphorical rebirth (with Stef as owner-builder and her father, Rod, as project manager), the freelance photographer and marketer was herself preparing to bring new life into the world – her daughter, Florence. “Of course,” Stef says with a laugh, “being an owner-builder and starting a new job at the same time wasn’t enough to tackle, so I also jumped into becoming a solo mum by choice. I froze eggs at…

cheat sheet WHO LIVES HERE Film and TV publicist Laura Restein, with her property consultant husband, Andy, and their English bulldog, Elliott. STYLE OF HOME A renovated five-bedroom weatherboard home. LOCATION Victoria, the traditional land of the Bunurong people. TIMELINE Interiors: six months; garden landscaping: ongoing. good news “We’re not on water mains,” says Laura, “so we have three water tanks that are filtered for use throughout the home. The house had one when we moved in, which would’ve been fine if this was a holiday home, but not for full-time use.” Describing her home in cinematic terms is hardly surprising for someone who has worked in the film and TV industry for more than a decade. “As soon as I saw the house, I could imagine Meryl Streep in…

When you are facing a renovation, it’s fair to assume that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.There’s so much information out there, and many experts who can advise, support and help you to make your dreams a reality, rather than trying to muddle along yourself. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the smartest people in building and design, with specialties in renovation-based areas such as architecture, trades, kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and landscaping. Use their experience to your advantage and minimise mistakes before that first sod is turned. ARCHITECTURE Suzanne Hunt Perth architect Suzanne Hunt acknowledges that some people feel intimidated by architects, or think that they will be prohibitively expensive, but says neither is the case. And that well-designed houses are more comfortable to live in. PLANNING “An architecturally…