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.
Joanne Hawkins
As an experienced writer, editor, copywriter and lifestyle content specialist, I know how to tell stories that people want to read. From writing for outlets such as Inside Out, Home Beautiful, GQ Australia, Marie Claire Australia, Realestate.com.au and Vanity Fair to brands like Qantas, Subaru, Myer, PGH Bricks & Pavers, Bupa and Carlisle Homes, I write words that work.
Whether it's via an article, blog, case study, press release, brochure or web copy, let me tell your story.
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.
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.”
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...
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...
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."
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.
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.
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...
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.”
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...
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.
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.
On the level
Sometimes life throws a curve ball which forces even the best-laid plans to change. Such was the case with Jenny and John Geeves who, in the mid 1990s, built a stunning hillside home in Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches...
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.
Why you should go down the flatpack route for your new kitchen
TALK to any real estate agent and they’ll tell you that kitchens sell homes. Perhaps that’s why, alongside the bathroom, the kitchen is the most popular room to renovate. But with new kitchens proving costly, many people are looking for budget-friendly options.
With a flatpack kitchen costing as little as $4000, depending on material, appliance choice and installation method, it’s easy to see why they are an increasingly savvy choice.
How this bach and her beau have decked out their home
It’s a special time when you decide to move in with a partner. But while you both might bring a sense of excitement to the new digs, be prepared for the fact you might also both bring disparate furniture! You might even relate to the scene in ‘80s movie When Harry Met Sally when Carrie Fisher moves in with new boyfriend Bruno Kirby, whose furniture includes a wagon-wheel coffee table not to Fisher’s liking.
How a terrace house owner fit a pool into her narrow backyard
When Rose decided she wanted to build a family-sized swimming pool in her Albert Park backyard, there was just one problem: space. “We wanted to make sure the pool was large enough to have a decent swim and play, given the limited space we had to work with,” Rose said.
Coastal Hamptons | Hamptons Homes | PGH Bricks & Pavers
Mention Hamptons style and you’ll probably think of chic and sophisticated beach houses, full of natural textures, light-filled spaces and an abundance of ocean-inspired blues and whites.
Australians are also fans of the Hamptons aesthetic, which originated in the exclusive coastline of Long Island, north of New York, with its distinctive houses made from brick, shingles and stone.
How to design a bathroom that’s easy to clean
One of the most essential but unappealing chores would have to be cleaning the bathroom. Daniela Santilli, of bathroom-products retailer Reece, said that unlike a bedroom or lounge room, wet rooms required more effort to get a perfect clean, especially if they were old or poorly designed. “People definitely want to minimise the time in cleaning their bathroom,” she said.
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