Tag Archives: Interior Design

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Design: Tour Of Mermaid Beach House In Australia

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The Local Project (August 25, 2023) – Mermaid Beach House by Maher Design is located along the Gold Coast’s sandy shores. Conceived as an extensive renovation, this beach house pays deference to its coastal locale through intelligent planning of the architecture and thoughtful material combinations for the interior design.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro to the Dream Beach House 00:44 – Behind The Original Mid-80s Build 01:53 – Facilitating an Outdoors Lifestyle 02:11 – A Walkthrough of the Home 03:15 – Key Features of The Kitchen 04:29 – A Robust Material Selection 04:56 – The Outcome of A Warm Family Home

As designer Geraldine Maher explains, working within the confines of the home brought challenges and opportunities to the design, and the scope focused on introducing material cohesion and maximising the physical and visual connection to the beach. The thoughtful renovation of the ground floor of the beach house supports this. Stepping inside, a brise soleil constructed from terracotta breezeblocks designed by Adam Goodrum “defines the entry space and creates a sense of arrival,” Geraldine notes. It also helps to gently divide this entry knuckle and the kitchen, which sits deeper into the plan. As Geraldine explains, “relocating the kitchen to the rear of the space maximised the view from the dining area and living space, and those physical and dimensional constraints forced us to shoehorn a kitchen into a very tight space.” Whilst compact, the sense of openness belies the footprint, with thanks to a series of work zones that divide the room and direct the experience, supported by a suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances. Geraldine offers, “the thing that drove the selection of Fisher & Paykel was the design and aesthetic aligning with great functionality and a really high-quality product.” An induction cooktop – housed within a monolithic form constructed from stone and timber and featuring discreet, integrated ventilation – becomes a refined and sculptural centrepiece of the interior design, and the refrigerator and freezer are integrated. Stretching the far elevation, a long piece of joinery acts as a physical conduit between the kitchen’s primary work zones and the informal bar area at the home’s front edge. It also contains two integrated Fisher & Paykel CoolDrawers and two single DishDrawers. The family games room inside the beach house is also equipped with its own Fisher & Paykel CoolDrawer and DishDrawer. Mermaid Beach House is a visually exciting and contextually relevant home. The pleasure comes not only from its elevated internal experience but from its proximity to the ever-changing ocean, meaning the joyfulness felt by its residents will renew with each passing day.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Old + New Design: William Tappin House, Melbourne

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The Local Project (August 23, 2023) – The revitalisation of this heritage brick house by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design was grounded on the ethos of changing as much as necessary but as little as possible.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro to the Modern Brick House 00:32 – The Location of the Home 00:49 – William Tappin and His Designs 01:05 – Handling the Connection Between Old and New 02:01 – Requirements of the Brief 02:25 – The Interpretation of Arts & Crafts 03:07 – Behind the Kitchen Design 03:30 – A Walkthrough of the Upstairs 04:18 – The Architect’s Proud Moments

Located in the eclectic neighbourhood of South Yarra in Melbourne, William Tappin House depicts the sensitive layering of a historical footprint with contemporary innovation. Originally designed and occupied by its namesake, William Tappin – a renowned Queen Anne-style architect – the connection between old and new was something the architect wanted to handle sensitively, and this influenced the positioning of the building on site.

The existing structure is restored to remain the hero, whilst the new addition is recessive and humble in design. Restorations include revealing the original brickwork and limestone, restoring the existing verandah and carved wooden features. Exposed details, such as the fingerprints of makers on the tiles and original brick, become a symbol of the heritage façade of this home. New additions are highly sensitive to the brick home’s foundation.

The rear addition is constructed from limed timber and off-form concrete that calls back to the tonality of the limestone and basalt detailing of the original structure. Terracotta tiles also wrap the faceted roofscape in an ode to the bespoke red brick. What the house tour shows is a strong connection between inside and out, which prevails throughout the home. The entire ground floor, which contains the kitchen and living areas, opens to the exterior, with views extending all the way out to the garden and beyond – made even more accessible through sliding glazed doors.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

New Zealand Design: A Hidden Beach Home Tour

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The Local Project (August 18, 2023) – On the north-eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula lies Waimataruru, a dream home by Pac Studio and Kristina Pickford Design. Positioned just above the beach and embraced by a regenerating native forest,

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro to the Dream Home on a Hidden Beach 00:25 – The Dynamic Brief 01:07 – Arrangement of the Spaces 01:43 – A Wild and Exposed Site 02:05 – Responding to the Varying Conditions 02:57 – A Walkthrough of the Home 03:48 – An Environmentally Reflective Material and Colour Palette 04:42 – Spaces to Entertain 05:00 – A Successful Collaboration 05:22 – The Architects Proud Moments

Waimataruru is the dream home of Kristina Pickford, who oversaw the interior design. The client requested that Pac Studio create a dynamic home in an environment that allowed the owner to engage with the restoration and rehabilitation of the surrounding landscape.

Additionally, the site’s typography played an important role in the arrangement of the dream home and, as such, Pac Studio arranged the architectural features to seamlessly cascade down the natural slope of the site. The house tour shows there is a unifying quality to the home to be admired. Choosing to keep the spaces within the home linked together – differentiated only by floor level – Pac Studio creates a dream home that imbues a feeling of depth thanks to clear sightlines of expansive views outside.

Though exposed to the elements, the residence is built to withstand the dryness of summer, heavy rainfall in spring and autumn and the chill of winter. Responding to the varied weather conditions, Pac Studio added a filtered edge to the northern façade as well as covered verandah-like spaces outside to protect occupants from the elements. Cosy interior design moments have also been added to provide a sense of comfort, such as rear pocket views of the forest behind. With an intentional duality, the architect has created a dream home that embraces both the northern beach and the southern forest.

As the home navigates a sloping site, Pac Studio designed each space to give its own individual experience of the landscape – through different colours and materials – to reflect the surrounding natural environment. Though timber is employed as the main element internally and externally, the additional red oxide wall takes centrestage. Lime plaster walls have also been enhanced by sand from the beach, and waxed steel provides a softness and warmth that further enriches the home’s detailing. Designed to be a dream home, Waimataruru provides the space to sit back and appreciate the surrounds.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Australian Modernism: A ‘Wabi-Sabi’ Tiny Apartment

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The Local Project (August 15, 2023) – Brad Swartz Architects has become an expert in blending small spaces with wabi-sabi aesthetics and Australian modernism.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro to the Wabi-Sabi Tiny Apartment 00:52 – The Location of the Apartment 01:16 – A Walkthrough of the Wabi-Sabi Apartment 02:20 – Behind the Renovation 03:09 – The Clients Brief and the Japanese Inspiration 03:48 – Uncovering Unexpected Gems 04:14 – Playful Aspects of the Apartment 04:30 – The Paired Back Material Palette

This focus has been continued in Elizabeth Bay, with this tiny apartment taking inspiration from the client’s cultured past and the architecture of a historical Sydney building that resembles an ocean liner. ‘Kyabin’ is the Japanese spelling of ‘cabin’, a likeness which reveals itself when looking at the client’s brief to convert an 80-square-metre, two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment into a one-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with a single guest space.

The living space is also made to be more spacious and opens up to the view of Rushcutters Bay. Form over function was a defining principle of the modernist design philosophy that informed the interiors and overall style of the tiny apartment. Discovering the entire building was built with precast concrete beams – which had been concealed beneath ceiling sheeting for more than 60 years – also informed a refined materiality, deepening the interior design’s wabi-sabi undertones.

A pared-back material palette imbues the tiny apartment with a sense of calm, despite its small size, and a muted textural selection of stone and oak means the focus remains on the views beyond. The home’s design also has longevity in mind, allowing the next occupant to treat Kyabin Apartment as a blank canvas for personal expression.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Australian Architecture: Somers Beach House Tour

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The Local Project (August 11, 2023) – Following a brief that required a family beach house that was not only comfortable for two but could house visiting family members, Wellard Architects has delivered a house that flows over two levels. Located on the beachfront, Somers Beach House is formed from a holistic design approach that offers the owners a sense of oasis living.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to The Perfect Beach House 00:25 – Location of the House 00:42 – Brief for the Architect 01:17 – Walkthrough of the Home 02:20 – The Staircase 02:52 – Natural Elements of the House 03:23 – Material Palette 04:23 – Shadow Play in the House 04:54 – Holistic Design Approach

Connecting the house tour over the stacked living forms is the linking external staircase, which allows the two primary users to live independently, or shut down one half of the house when not in use. Furthermore, Somers Beach House is finished with an easy garden path that leads directly down to the sheltered rear yard by Fiona Brockhoff Design and then out further towards the beach.

Upon arrival to Somers Beach House, the house tour begins on the upper level, which contains the primary living, kitchen and dining zones, along with the main bedroom and bathroom. Centred around an established banksia tree, the lap pool allows for the owners to swim out and take in the surrounding views. Moreover, the linking staircase that connects the two levels also allows for easy access straight out to the beach and back through home without leaving sand in the internal spaces of the modern beachfront home.

To complement the home, the existing boatshed that was built in the 1950s was rebuilt and remodeled to the same footprint and dimensions of the original structure. Serving as a miniature version of the main home, the boatshed is filled with minimal furniture and gives the owners a space to find respite as they look over the ocean. As the house is located on the steepest part of the site, the architect has designed the home to cantilever at the southern end to both take advantage of views and connect to the landscape.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Architecture: Tour Of Garden House, Melbourne

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The Local Project (August 8, 2023) – An inspiring renovation of an existing housing estate – The Secret Garden House that is Mount Eagle Estate – has since retained its relevance to influence a recent renovation by Zen Architects of one of the estate’s original homes, a secret Garden House.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Secret Garden House 00:42 – The Original House 01:04 – The Project Brief for the Home 01:30 – The Material Palette 02:00 – A Walkthrough of the Secret Garden House 02:55 – The Kitchen 03:38 – Enhancing the Existing Garden and Landscape 04:30 – Favourite Aspects of the House

Zen Architects enhances the existing natural landscape and ties the garden back into the home. The midcentury architecture of the secret Garden House had been subjected to minimal changes over the years. Referencing the estate’s design and teardrop shape of the community gardens that once populated it, Zen Architects reflected the curved topographical gestures and fluidity with a desire to subdue the house and make the landscape the hero. Light now enters the house at every opportunity, as do views of the garden beyond.

At the front, the secret Garden House is largely in its original form, although updates have been made through furniture and by optimising thermal comfort – insulating floors and ceilings, and fitting seals and flyscreens to windows. The result is a fully electric home that captures the spirit and beauty of its original 1930s form and exceeds the contemporary 6-star home energy rating.

Upon entry, one is immediately greeted with a panoramic view of the garden beyond – Zen Architects retains the original façade and the front three rooms to provide an unassuming entry that heightens the impact of the interventions beyond. Moving into the extension of the secret Garden House, elements of the landscape – including rock forms, native vegetation and gum trees – inform the natural and organic material palette of the home.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Home Restorations: Tour Of Iririki House In Sydney

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The Local Project (August 4, 2023) – Tasked with tackling the restoration of a house, Madeline Blanchfield Architects sought to turn Iririki House – which was originally built in 1906 – into a spacious home for a family of seven. With a focus on retaining and restoring the house to its former glory, the team created big open living spaces designed for the family to connect.

Video timeline: 00:00 – History Of The Original Home 00:29 – Introduction To The Project 01:12 – The Restoration Process 01:50 – A Walk Through Of The House 02:44 – Drawing On Red Bricks 03:05 – Features Of The Kitchen and Dining Room 04:00 – Distinctions Between Flooring 04:23 – Final Reflections On The House

With close proximity to the eastern beaches and Sydney city, Iririki House is a restoration of a house that begins from the newly restored front fence and garden to the additions at the rear. Moved to the side of the home, the front door placement allows the family and guests to walk through the restored garden and pass the existing heritage house before entering into the new additions.

Focused on establishing a delineation between old and new, Madeline Blanchfield Architects integrates subtle architecture and design techniques as well as modern furniture. Through the process of restoration, Madeline Blanchfield Architects made sure that all design choices stay respectful to the home’s original character but also reflect a contemporary occupation.

Furthermore, with terrazzo used for flooring on the main level, the house offers an ease of movement from inside to out, and the timber employed throughout differs to that of the original flooring to highlight the difference between spaces.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Architecture: A Tour Of ‘TRIPTYCH’ In Tasmania

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The Local Project (August 1, 2023) – Nestled into the southern Tasmanian landscape sits Room11’s floating home Triptych project – three unique buildings spanning across a pristine Tasman Peninsula locale.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Engaging Concrete To Create The Floating Home 00:55 – Introduction to 01:55 – The Client’s Vision 02:20 – The Process Of Arrival 02:47 – Playful Interventions Throughout The Home 03:36 – Utilising Mirrors In The Interior Design 04:09 – Landscaping Inspired By The Journey 04:35 – Bespoke Ventilation System 05:09 – The 4th Built Element 05:36 – Manifesting The Original Idea

One of the buildings is Koonya, a home with an experience that extends all the way to the horizon. The outdoor sculptural piece (the Pulmonum), main house and Glass House offer a retreat as well as a raw and direct connection to place that is potent and memorable. As such, Room11 establishes a strong and unwavering approach to creating a floating home.

Concrete is abundantly used across the three projects, with Room11 drawing on its solidity to create a standalone floating home in a broad landscape that offers an immense, modern art-like structure whilst still feeling comfortable and providing a sense of sanctuary. The key to establishing architecture in such a remote location is considering and highlighting the qualities of the site.

The large window looking out towards the horizon acts as a piece of art, marking the endpoint of a journey as one descends into the building before being projected into the landscape. The somewhat brutal approach to creating this floating home allowed Room11 to make playful interventions off the main spaces. For example, one of the bedrooms has a low, horizontal window that offers views of the landscape beyond when one lies down. Additionally, the master bedroom has a sheepskin cupboard, providing a playful and enjoyable element that also exudes a feeling of warmth.

Hospitality, Interior Design, Tourism, Tours, Travel, Videos, Views

Art Deco Design Tour: Prince De Galles Hotel ‘Lalique Suite’ In Paris

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the Luxury Travel Expert Films (June 29, 2023) – A full tour of 5-star Prince De Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris, France.

Video timeline: 0:00 Intro 2:08 Facade 4:12 Lobby 7:27 Suite Lalique 16:43 Rooftop 25:13 Restaurants 27:57 Courtyard 30:10 Brunch 34:59 Dinner 41:46 Breakfast 44:15 Gym & Spa

The iconic Art Deco hotel is home to Paris’ most exclusive hotel suite, the Suite Lalique by Patrick Hellmann (a dazzling duplex suite with stunning design & rooftop).

Home Design, Homes, Interior Design, Tours, Videos, Views

Design Tour: ‘Solid Air’ Apartment In Sydney

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The Local Project (July 28, 2023) – Located in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay, Solid Air by Anna.Carin Design Studio is an interior designer’s own home that is imbued with a renewed rhythm and voice that speaks to the owner’s Scandinavian heritage.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro to the Nordic-Inspired Apartment 00:25 – An Inner-City Suburb Location 00:48 – The Instant Connection 01:21 – A Walkthrough of the Nordic-Inspired Apartment 01:51 – The Process of Identifying a Unique Aesthetic 02:30 – The Initial Stages of the Design Process 03:20 – A Monochromatic Mood 03:33 – A Predominant Material Colour 04:26 – Repurposing and Reusing

Upon arrival, the apartment immediately stood out to the owner with its arched windows, high ceilings and window seats that complemented the home’s interior. Yet, as with all projects, Anna.Carin Design Studio worked to draw out the unique aesthetic of the apartment with architecture and furniture design.

Beginning with removing some of the walls in the apartment, Anna.Carin Design Studio delved into an array of contemporary design methods that revealed the home’s true nature. Additionally, as the inspiration of song comes into play with each project that Anna.Carin Design Studio works on, Anna-Carin chose the song Solid Air by John Martyn to influence the interior design. With the apartment tour beginning in the hallway space, Anna.Carin Design Studio has placed two main rooms on the left and two to the right.

On the left, the light-filled study allows space for work and play, whilst the master bedroom is stationed on the right side of the hall, along with the main and guest bathrooms. The primary living spaces include a kitchen, dining and living room that are all filled with a natural light from the large arched bay windows.

Through renovating the interior and architecture, Anna-Carin also considered how she wanted to feel within her own home, the emotions she wanted to evoke and, most importantly, how she wants to live there. As such, Anna-Carin McNamara sought to find three emotive words that would express the space of her apartment and decided on ‘serene’, ‘evocative’ and ‘cosmopolitan’.