dollarcurtainsandblinds.com.au • 1st February 2022

Resort living

When Brigitte and Scott moved to Australia from their native South Africa, they fell in love with Victoria’s Surf Coast and decided to build a house in Torquay. After taking advantage of a “buoyant market” they sold it in 2016, but then decided to build the same house – Boutique Homes’ Barcelona – again. “We loved our Barcelona. We wanted to remain in the Geelong/Surf Coast region, but wanted a larger block of land and a pool,” explains Brigitte.

dollarcurtainsandblinds.com.au • 1st October 2021

Contemporary opulence: Featured home in Ballarat

When David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew first spotted the two-storey Victorian property that would eventually become known as Lyon House, they knew it would be perfect for their latest boutique accommodation offering in Ballarat...

Melbourne Shadows • 1st October 2018

Now You See It

There was a moment in the summer of 2016 when Ewan McEoin looked at the neon pink structure that had taken up temporary residence in the NGV’s backyard, aka the Grollo Equiset Garden, and realised it had struck a chord with all ages. “It was absolutely slammed with so many kids, which was fantastic to see,” remembers McEoin, the NGV’s senior curator, Contemporary Design and Architecture. “People made an effort to come to the gallery just to see that project.”

realestate.com.au • 16th July 2020

Dot’s House, Fitzroy: House designed with the cat in mind

After 30 years of owning a Victorian terrace in Fitzroy as an investment property, Jenny Vizard was faced with a dilemma. Needing a new home, she could either renovate the tired inner-city cottage and move in herself, or sell it and buy elsewhere. “I was apprehensive about renovating, but I had a sentimental attachment to the little house. So I felt it was a possibility that was worth investigating,” she said.

Inside out • 3rd February 2020

A mid-century modern inspired beach house in Portsea

When architect Sarah Cooper married her husband William, she also gained an extended family. "As well as his parents, Chris and Liz, he has three sisters," Sarah says. "So I married not only William, but his large and loving family, too. They're all amazing."

realestate.com.au • 14th July 2018

Buyers swapping trees for trams as city living calls

WE can all understand the appeal of a tree change; giving up our stressful city lives and moving to the country. It seems it’s something Australians are embracing, with recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing an increasing number of interstate and intrastate population movements are to either tree or sea change regions. But plenty of people are happy to do just the opposite. Regional and country Victorians are making tree changes in reverse by buying themselves Melbourne bases...

realestate.com.au • 2nd June 2018

Buying a home: How parents are having to help their kids get into the property market

MOST parents want to give their children the best start in life. And now, this has extended to helping them get on the property ladder. It’s been revealed that an estimated 55 per cent of first-home buyers now receive financial assistance from their parents, according to recent research by Digital Finance Analytics.

realestate.com.au • 2nd July 2020

Olinda house by Bent Architecture an eco wonder one with nature

When vet Matt decided to make a tree change and move to the Dandenong Ranges, he knew choosing the right location was crucial. “It’s one of those areas where you really want someone with local knowledge to help you with where you buy, because there are good blocks and bad blocks,” he explained. When he came across a 1.4ha site within walking distance of Olinda and Sassafras, he jumped at the chance to buy it, despite the fact the property was looking pretty unloved.

Inside Out magazine • 1st September 2020

Bold Ambition

After “spending far too much money” buying their first home at the height of the market in 2007, Julia Cauchi and her husband Dane were determined not to make the same mistake twice.

realestate.com.au • 26th August 2018

Colour crush: choose hues for an easy but transformative makeover

WATCH an episode of The Block and there’s one thing the competitors are guaranteed to moan about (apart from each other) and that’s painting. But paint is actually one of the most effective and economical ways of transforming your home. “It is the maximum amount of impact you can get for the minimum amount of expense or effort,” said Haymes Paint colour and concept manager Wendy Rennie.

Home Beautiful • 1st December 2019

Force of Nature

Trudy Rice always wanted to make art her career. At high school, she adored her art lessons and dreamt of opening a gallery. But then disaster struck. “At the end of year nine, I broke my arm horse riding and had to take weeks off school,” remembers Geelong-born Trudy. “Unfortunately, that meant I missed the designated day to pick up my coursework for the year and my teacher threw it out. I was completely floored it had ended up in the bin so decided to pursue other creative pursuits.”

Home Beautiful Dream Homes • 1st July 2020

Luxe Living

When a house features a 'Great Room', there is extra pressure to make it into something spectacular, and there's no doubt that designers Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona from Atmosphere Interior Design created just that. With its two-metre-high wainscoting, exquisite Thibaut wallpaper and a detailed ceiling adorned with charcoal grey beams, it's not a great room, it's amazing...

realestate.com.au • 11th April 2020

How a Victorian weatherboard home has been renovated

They say good things come to those who wait and that’s certainly true for Felicity Debenham and husband Michael (Mick) Rehfisch. After buying their four-bedroom double-fronted Victorian weatherboard home in Williamstown in 2009, the couple knew they would have to renovate at some point...

realestate.com.au • 19th April 2020

A wheely fabulous makeover

When Daniel Watts bought his Abbotsford worker’s cottage in 2007, it was mostly for the location, with the city, shops and restaurants on his doorstep. The two-bedroom Victorian property, however, was less appealing...

realestate.com.au • 28th July 2019

How to decorate your space with subway tiles

Go to any open-for-inspection or display home and chances are you’ll see white subway tiles in the kitchen or bathroom. And what’s not to love about them? They’re a timeless classic that look good in different styles and eras of homes and, perhaps, best of all, can be budget friendly.

Inside Out magazine • 1st October 2019

East Coasting

Buying a house sight unseen isn’t usually the best strategy, but it’s worked out remarkably well for Sydney couple Melissa and Jeremy Koch. Back in 2008, the couple were three years into a 10 year stint living in New York, where Jeremy had been transferred for work. But, with plans to eventually return to Sydney, they started scouring Australian real estate websites for a house.

realestate.com.au • 11th August 2018

Dramatic reno blasts ‘70s Kew pad out of the past

WITH seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and a pool, this two-storey double-brick house in Kew was certainly a dream home for the professional couple who bought it in 2011. But as much as they loved the space, they weren’t blind to the shortcomings of their solidly built 1970s “mansion”. On a steep block, the house had a pool that was isolated and an elevated backyard only accessed via a long corridor on the first floor that ran past the bedrooms.

Home Beautiful • 1st January 2020

12 tips for tidy living

As the place where you snuggle or sprawl, celebrate, catch up and cosy up, the living room is one of the most welcoming spaces in your home. But to preserve the calming and comforting effect, a sense of store and order is essential...

realestate.com.au • 29th December 2019

Laid-back lifestyle by the beach

When Josh Crosbie and wife Anna initially saw their 1960s beach house on the Great Ocean Rd, it was love at first sight. “It’s was a beautiful house in original condition with a big slate fireplace and really nice views over the water. It was the first and only house we looked at after we decided to move here,” Mr Crosbie said.

realestate.com.au • 28th December 2019

Turn over a new leaf by getting in some indoor plants

Houseplants, you might say, are having their moment in the sun. Check out Instagram or interiors magazines and you’ll see Monsteras, aloe veras and fiddle-leaf figs everywhere. Plant expert Maria Colletti, a New York plant workshop teacher, said houseplants were a beautiful addition to your decor but also had an important function. “Plants make us happy. When we look at greenery and something that is alive, it gives us a good feeling,” said the author of Living Decor, a book about using indoor plants in creative ways.