The Autumn Issue

Home , Limelight

the autumn issue trends transforming our homes guides to everything weatherboard-based looks get some lime in your life! the house that rocks enviro-friendly renovation tricks big showers & small sinks time-sensitive lighting wrangling the wow factor 08 16 26 38

08 wishlist 26 in profil 56 trend report: the future of design Autumn’s here and the season of indoor Architect Joshua Mulders is renowned for From lights that adjust their brightness depending on the time of socialising is upon us. Discover nine ways achieving great results while working within to delight your dinner party guests. strict environmental and heritage constraints. day to bathrooms that have been reimagined as social hubs, the times they are a’changing. Drawing on insights from those working 14 despatches 36 steal that idea at the coalface, we explore the trends that are set to transform the Whether it’s to install a kitchen cabinet, Emerald may no longer be the Colour of the way you design, decorate and inhabit your home in the near future . make a small space seem larger or minimise Year but we’re still keen on green. See what a renovation stress, we’ve got the guide for you. lick of luscious lime can do to a bay window.

16 get the look on the cover Balmain House by Joshua Mulders Architects. managing editor Amanda Falconer. editor Nigel Bowen. art director Elinor 38 design spotlight McDonald. contributors Andrea Sophocleous, Rachel Sullivan, Peta Newbold. videographer & editor Victor Rodriguez. letters to With some sophisticated weatherboard and a Eco-conscious, spectacular and affordable – [email protected]. published by lighthome.com.au. sponsored by Scyon™. All reasonable efforts have been undertaken Hillsden Road House nails the trifecta while to make sure that information presented in this issue of Light Home is accurate at the time of release. In some of the projects in this coat of paint give your home a modern, urban magazine, James Hardie® products may have been used outside the scope of James Hardie’s technical literature. It is the specifier s or Hamptons-style look. soaring from rocky ground high into the sky. responsibility to undertake specific design and detailing to ensure construction complies with relevant codes and regulations. editor’s letter

ith the year having kicked into gear, autumn in Australia is a time for reflecting on goals and devisin W an action plan to achieve them. Whether you’re readying your home for sale Send your comments to or just determined to give it a spruce up, our [email protected] guide to the trends that will define 201 (p56) Want to be covers everything from the hottest colours to tips on injecting the wow factor into your home. on the Green Building Elsewhere, we investigate some classic looks Show? (p16), profile an a chitect renowned for pulling off dramatic renovations that stay on the right side We’re after Sydneysiders, of both the environment and heritage regulations Central Coastians or (p26) and explore an eco-friendly house that Wollongongers who’ve recently renovated or soars from rocky foundations to nestle atop the reclad their homes or are forest canopy (p38). in the middle of renovating right now. Good luck with your renovating or building plans We want to interview you on this year — and if you’ve a story to share, camera about what worked and please email us! what didn’t in your reno project. This could be your 15 minutes of fame! Interested? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch.

lighthome | 6 wishlist Words: Nigel Bowen pleasures of the table When a chill creeps into the air ’tis the season for breaking bread somewhere cosy with friends and family. Here are nine talking points sure to liven up your next afternoon tea or dinner party.

that’s just Dandi Dandi’s Doilie range comes in two eye-catching colours, Wisteria and (our favourite, pictured here) Berry. The versatility of the design makes it easy to pair with a range of décors and the scarlet and white print will add an elegantly festive feel to even the most casual coffee catch-up. A set of four napkins costs $29.95 and the tablecloths range from $59.95-$109.95. Get in contact with Dandi for more information.

lighthome | 8 dollops of colour

wishlist Once the sun goes down, nothing quite sets the mood like evocative lighting. Perfect for adding some pizazz to either your Words: Nigel Bowen dining room or outdoor entertaining area, KOH lamps, made by KOH Concepts and distributed by Optoco, can bathe a space in a choice of eight vivid colours. RRP is $199.95.

it’s a Wild world Should talk turn to travel it’s always handy to have a globe handy to jog memories about past journeys. This chic teak number is the handiwork of Bruno Helgen, who spends up to a week carving a globe before coating it with 90 layers of acrylic resin or Balinese volcanic beach sand. They’re available from Oscar & Wild and, depending on size, colour and complexity, range from $990-$1290.

bellissima Lattissima Who doesn’t love living out their secret fantasy of being a barista when it’s time to serve up the the good china Ashdene’s Madam coffees? The Lattissima Pro, retro geometry Butterfly range of teacups bestow a dash of from Nespresso, features a LCD Looking to achieve a Mad Men vibe? The glamour on even the dullest of herbal teas. touchscreen and display, providing Chelsea Perspex Art Print, a geometric artwork Available in Tropical, Retro Floral, Flamingo that added technological edge in featuring a hexagonally pixelated spectrum of Rose and Oriental, this range breathes fresh creating the perfect brew. The RRP colour, will make you want to party like it’s 1959. life into old-school designs. A teacup, saucer is $889 and you can find a stockis It’s $899 for the 60 x 90cm version, which is and plate set costs $34.95. To order get in near you by ringing 1800 623 033. available from Signarture. touch with Ashdene.

lighthome | 10 wishlist Words: Nigel Bowen

back to basics The thought of sitting under a naked globe becomes a lot more attractive when it’s a Plumen – CFL Designer Light Bulb. The world’s first designer energy-saving light bulb, its won a heap of awards and now provides warm and inviting light in homes, offices and eateries a ound the world. It costs $31 and is available in Australia from Fat Shack Vintage.

mat finish Nothing adds one for the road the final deco ous touch to a Why resort to a pedestrian table like a tasteful placemat. plastic Esky when you can keep And when it comes to refine your beverages chilled in a Kool good taste, it’s hard to go Kombi? Available in a range past Laura Ashley and its of colours, these colourful ice Honeysuckle Trail Placemats. buckets are constructed out of They’re $29.95 for a set of recycled drums. RRP is $726 four and a matching coaster and they can be ordered from set is available. Vavoom Emporium.

lighthome | 12 the latest despatches from twitter… Four ways to: increase the value of your home

Would you like to sell your property for lots more money than you put into it? Upping its energy efficienc , embarking on some simple DIY projects, undertaking cost-effective renovations and making the most of every nook and cranny can all add a surprising amount of value to your home. It’s not how big it is, it’s how you use it Go to How to Make Your Small Spaces Feel Bigger for our expert advice on how to make small spaces feel like much larger ones through decluttering, clever colour Green is the new black schemes and creative approaches to storage. No sensible home buyer wants to move into an electricity guzzler at a time when domestic energy bills have increased 60 per cent in the space of half a decade. You can discover six simple steps to slash your home’s energy consumption by going to Energy Efficiency in Six Simple Steps

It’s the simple things, such as a fresh coat of paint, Keeping costs under strict which can transform a room from control when using ‘meh’ to ‘hey!’. Our guide to trained professionals simple DIY home improvements, which you can access at How can you make sure you’ll get a quality, Avoid a Renovation DIY reasonably priced job done when you decide Disaster and A d d V a l u e t o to add another storey on or remodel your Your Home, covers kitchen? You guessed it! Go to Avoid a everything from installing Budget Blowout on Your Home for our kitchen cabinets to advice on avoiding cost overruns and grouting bathroom tiles unnecessary financial st ess. to constructing decking.

lighthome | 14 get the look

It’s amazing what can be achieved with a bit of (high-tech) weatherboard and a lick of paint. Here we explain how you can combine Scyon™ Linea™ weatherboard with different colour schemes to achieve three classic looks.

Hamptons 18

Modern 20

Urban 22

lighthome | 16 The look hamptons

Want this look? Relaxed, beachside chic – it’s a look that works just as well in Queensland as it does on Revenge. Paint weatherboards in muted blues and neutrals – with lots of white – and add in wide eaves and grooved walls and ceilings.

We’re having lots of success selling our Hamptons-look homes built with Scyon™ Linea weatherboard. George Heisig, Heisig Constructions

Designer Heisig Constructions

lighthome | 18 The look modern

Want this look? Light, airy and, dare we say, linear this look works as well in the bush as it does in your favourite tree-lined suburb. Paint weatherboards in earthy tones to accent the view and, as in this award-winner, complement with classic neutrals.

The lightweight cladding materials look great, were easy to work with and they helped to keep the project on budget. Dale Hobley, H2 Constructions

Designer Jamison Architects Photographer Angela Jamison

lighthome | 20 The look urban

Want this look? Want to have the best of both worlds? Keep the look of your old-school worker’s cottage but build a modern extension that soars. Pair weatherboards for a traditional look at the front while having a contemporary texture at the rear.

We needed a resilient product… the new cladding and weatherboards were the most cost effective solution for this. Graham Tippins, Reddog Architects

Design Reddog Architects Photography Jon Linkins

lighthome | 22 The brains Linea™ weatherboard

Take off the blinkers when you want > Designed with a crisp shadow line the look of a traditional weatherboard. for an authentic look The irony of traditional timber weatherboard > Pre-primed to make painting a breeze is that it doesn’t weather that well. On the other hand, Scyon™ Linea™ weatherboard > Made from the tough Scyon™ material has both the looks and the performance. for a longer-lasting finish

lighthome | 24 in profil Joshua Mulders Architects

Joshua Mulders (centre) and his team specialise in perfect pairings renovations that work in harmony with the environment The son of design-savvy parents and an erstwhile garden nursery employee, architect Joshua Mulders has a long-standing love of both natural and built environments and a knack for intelligently integrating them.

Words Andrea Sophocleous Photography Tim Bauer Photo, Tyrone Branigan Productions, Luc Remond Photographer, Simon Wood Photography

lighthome | 26 Cost-effective he foundation of the holistic design philosophy of Joshua Mulders design is not just Architects (JMA), a boutique architectural practice in the inner west Sydney T suburb of Annandale, was laid decades ago. in the design As a child the firm’s founder and director, Joshua Mulders, was fascinated both by process… his builder father’s construction projects and his mother’s design aesthetic. A job in a garden nursery as a teenager instilled a love of landscaping as well. Today, JMA’s approach places equal weight on architecture, interiors and landscaping in the creation of aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly and eminently livable spaces. “We are strong about maintaining a design that respects all those principles,” Mulders says. “This approach allows the client to realise the true potential of their property.” JMA does a lot of work around Sydney’s gentrified inner west and affluent north shore and is used to navigating strict heritage restrictions and environmental protection regulations. “Councils have different parameters to protecting their area and you have to respect that,” he says. “One of the reasons property values continue to grow in places such as [the inner west’s] Leichhardt is because of the heritage restrictions.” Even if it wasn’t mandated, Mulders would still take an eco-conscious approach. No matter what the size of the project, JMA uses sustainable products and applies smart design to minimise a home’s environmental footprint. When he can, Mulders prefers to make use of natural convection, recycled materials, solar power and hydronic heating. Focused as he is on sustainability, Mulders realises it’s pointless if it is unaffordable. “Cost-effective design is not just in the design process,” he says. “It also comes down to being across the materials available from manufacturers that are both suitable to the design and cost effective.” Mulders also keeps costs down by avoiding waste. Years of helping out his dad means he knows how to accurately estimate labour costs and keep them under control. And, possibly due to the influence of his mum, he prefers to use materials in the original form, rather than cutting them up. “It’s our point of difference – managing the process of construction from an environmental point of view. That translates into less labour and wastage,” he says.

lighthome | 28 PROJECT 1: click to view more images WILLOUGHBY HOUSE in our picture gallery

What do you do when your client wants a house that looks intriguingly modern from the street but local council restrictions prohibit you from making major changes to the building’s heritage façade? Joshua Mulders and his team opted to encase the front and side of the house in question in “warm and tactile” Douglas fi wooden panels, renowned for their high strength to weight ratio. “We chose a rough-hewn cedar because it’s inexpensive as a product and has good longevity by being resistant to insect attack and rot,” Mulders says. “We brought it into the house by making it run into the entry vestibule and used it in a pop-up awning.” The result is both contemporary and alluring, realising the client’s dream of a defi ed entrance into the home (in contrast to the previous nondescript side door). Inside, skylights throughout the hallway allow sunlight to flood into what was previously a dark and confined space. “Hydronic heating is the most comfortable At the back of the house, high-level type of heat and it is cheaper than electric glazing maximises light in the open-plan underfloor heating,” Mulders says. “It can kitchen, dining and living spaces, as well also easily be updated to solar at a later as encouraging cross-ventilation, while date with an evacuated tube heating glass stacker doors open to the back system. It is expensive at the moment but deck over a flush fl or transition between will become more affordable.” inside and outside, making entertaining a And when it came to choosing a cost- hassle-free affair. Hydronic heating under effective cladding for the exterior of the the timber floorboards at the rear of the bock of the house, Mulders opted for house and through wall units in each of HardiePanel™ compressed sheets, a hard- the bedrooms provides inexpensive and wearing, long-lasting product resistant to green heat. damage from moisture and rotting. Features: HardiePanel™ compressed sheet

lighthome | 30 The rear of the site PROJECT 2: click to view more images CLAREVILLE HOUSE in our picture gallery was just too steep to manage a cost-effective construction…

Building on steep incline is always to keep it within the budget so we worked problematic but building on a steep incline on simplifying the structural system to with a limited budget is truly challenging. make it easy to erect and manage on Commissioned to create a spacious, the sloping site.” use of timber veneers, putting marble in important for creating a chimney effect,” modern home precariously perched in Another challenge was providing the the upstairs guest bathroom and selecting Mulders says. “Any hot air created in that the northern Sydney beachside suburb of pool the client wanted. The steep slope appropriate furniture. space is pushed up encouraging cooler Clareville, JMA excavated a platform at the meant it was impossible to build one in The use of lightweight materials air into the space.” back of the site to allow builders to move the backyard, as is standard. The solution throughout the upstairs level helped Hydronic heating in the lower ground around materials and machinery easily was to plonk one at the front of the house, reduce the cost of construction and the floor was another money-saving, green and thus keep costs under control. suspended above the garage with the help project’s environmental impact. Reducing feature. “Sealing the exterior façade was “The rear of the site was just too steep to of “a lot of steel and concrete”. the number of windows also kept costs also important for heating and cooling and manage a cost-effective construction,” The client’s brief called for a contemporary under control. “We tried to minimise maintaining a constant temperature in the Mulders says. “It would have just been too edge with a tactile feel. Mulders fashioned the number of windows but maximise home,” Mulders says. “We used raven seals costly on the excavation. The challenge was a warm and tactile interior through the ventilation so the top hat roof was to get a proper airtight seal.”

lighthome | 32 PROJECT 3: click to view more images BALMAIN HOUSE in our picture gallery

We kept 20-30 per cent of the existing Nestled between two rows of double-storey runs alongside an internal courtyard to fabric. Walls were heritage terraces in Leichhardt Council’s connect to the new two-storey addition Balmain Conservation area, this single- at the back, which boasts living, kitchen shifted and changed storey Colonial cottage betrays no traces of and dining spaces downstairs and two to fit into a better the modern reinvention that lurks behind bedrooms upstairs. its traditional façade. For like many JMA The client was keen to keep things as green configuration projects, this home integrates old and new as possible, so Mulders opted to clad the new in a delightfully clever fashion. building in Scyon™ Stria™ cladding. The use While the house’s façade remained of this lightweight, easy to install material untouched, in keeping with the council’s helped minimise excavation and therefore garden alongside of the new part of the heritage restrictions, the interior was the environmental impact. The house’s green home. This serves the dual purpose of reconfigured. “We kept 20-30 per cent of credentials are further burnished by a 1.5 enhancing the aspect from the living area the existing fabric,” Mulders says. “Walls kilowatt rooftop solar power system and downstairs and bedrooms upstairs, as well were shifted and changed to fit into a high-level glazing and roof windows, which as encouraging airflow to keep the house better configuration.” boost natural light penetration and minimise cool in the summer months. A retractable The original house now hosts four the need for artificial lighting. awning over the outdoor dining and bedrooms, a children’s rumpus room and Mulders chose to make the most of the barbecue area also provides protection a walk-in laundry. From there, a walkway wide dimensions of the site by placing a from the harsh summer sun. Features: Scyon™ Stria™ cladding.

lighthome | 34 steal that idea Words: Amanda Falconer

lime light

Sometimes a simple splash of spritzy colour is all it takes to break up an otherwise bland wall – and steal the limelight. Here, homeowners in Sydney’s inner west added a simple bay window built in small-footprint, lightweight cladding, gaining more space inside than would seem possible.

The trick? Using a product like HardieFlex™ sheet, with feature battens for extra texture, they’ve left the main wall sand-blasted brick while painting the feature bay in a lovely lime.

lighthome | 36 design spotlight Hillsden Road House

high living A former gardener’s cottage has, quite literally, been converted to a home among the gum trees thanks to a strong foundation and the innovative use of high-tech and natural materials.

Words Rachel Sullivan Photography Robert Frith/Acorn Photo

lighthome | 38 ou wouldn’t guess to look at it now but for many years this was Y the location of a humble abode for the hired help. “The home is built on the site of the old gardener’s cottage for a once larger Darlington property,” explains architect Leonie Matthews from Matthews McDonald Architects. In Darlington, outside Perth, this split level home was built in and around the granite outcrops that stud the sloping, forested landscape and the warm tones of the sunlit rocks are reflected in the timber accents found throughout the house. “The clients wanted to create a house that would fit with the existing landscape and was as environmentally friendly as possible, from the design to the selection of materials and appliances used throughout the home,” says Matthews, adding that, after years of living in cold, dark, older houses, the clients wanted a light, open, thermally comfortable house that would also take advantage of the site’s expansive views.

Standing on solid rock To accommodate the sloping site, the the amount of sunlight entering the deck, which overlooks the serene vista Despite its modern aesthetic, the home is split into three levels, with a house appears as a perfectly fittin bedroom and secondary living space home in winter. of the valley below. outgrowth of the ancient landscape on the lowest level, children’s bedrooms Guests enter through the mid-level and Faced with hilly sites in Perth, many and laundry on the mid-level and living wind their way up the bespoke timber builders opt either to construct new and entertaining spaces on the upper staircase to the expansive open living houses on stilts, or bulldoze and level level to take advantage of the views, area – a light and airy space that opens the land with a sand pad to pour a slab. create a sense of openness and maximise invitingly onto the canopy-level jarrah But building in Darlington’s unique

lighthome | 40 setting calls for a different approach. “The area has evolved organically,” notes Matthews. “As the old estate was subdivided the roads have developed winding around the local topography. It’s very different from the suburbs found on Perth’s coastal plain, so local residents don’t often adopt a plains approach to building, resulting in houses that are unique to their setting.” To minimise earthworks and damage to the site, a lot of care was taken in siting the house. No trees were damaged during the construction process and careful building allowed remnants of the old estate’s garden, including stone walls and a magnificent flame tree, to remain in place. A mixture of materials was used in the home’s construction. “Because of green living the underlying clay soils there is seasonal movement in the foundation. WHY YOU NEED TO VENT While passive It made sense to have an articulated solar design helps a home maintain solid masonry base, with a polished thermally comfortable temperatures all concrete fl or on the ground and year round, in most cases the home will lightweight framed upper levels,” require some degree of active operation Matthews explains. “The other reason by the occupants to respond to changing for choosing masonry on the lower seasonal conditions. levels was to promote a solid connection “I think people have an idea that a passive with the ground, which an elevated solar house should perform well on its pole home would not provide.” The own but they still need to be operated, by white-painted Scyon™ Axon™-clad upper opening and closing windows for ventilation, level cantilevers over the base, giving controlling shading devices and so on,” the impression of the rectangular form Matthews says. “Otherwise the home may floating in the leafy canopy. not perform as expected.”

lighthome | 42 People have an idea that a passive solar house should perform well on its own but they still need to be operated, by opening and closing windows for ventilation, controlling shading devices and so on…

lighthome | 44 They wanted to ensure they met both sustainability and budget goals, so they used traditional building methods and familiar products but in a different way…

embodied energy, its clean vertical lines also produced a great effe ct.” A DIY project sense of ownership and pride in their “They were well-informed people The contractor crafted a lot of the joinery, achievement. Th s is something that really and wanted to ensure they met both including the staircase, front door and solid The architect was not involved in the comes through in the way they enjoy the sustainability and budget goals, so they used benchtops, using recycled materials. The construction or fitting out of this property, house,” Matthews says. She adds, that by traditional building methods and familiar clients themselves chose materials for easy with the clients opting to owner-build their owner-building, the clients were able to products but in a different way to create the long-term maintenance not just short-term home (although both parties remained in manage the budget effectively by sourcing look they wanted. For example, using Axon good looks. “Unpainted face brickwork has regular contact throughout the process). materials that were inexpensive but cladding on timber-framed walls was one longevity as well as thermal mass, and using “Because the clients were so involved in worked well in the context of creating of the ways they were able to meet their it is not just a sustainability issue, there is a the building process, they now feel a real an energy-efficient home. goals. It was not only cost effective, with low cost factor involved as well,” says Matthews.

lighthome | 46 Balancing the energy budget insulation in walls, ceilings and under the floors of the upper storeys. There are other benefits to the materials mix. In winter the thermal mass of Another important feature is the the downstairs masonry walls and rainwater-collection system, which has concrete floors maintains temperature a single, large, easy-to-clean gutter and throughout the house, while creating one main downpipe. “Because of the cosy spaces, and the upstairs area number of trees in this area there is a receives lots of light. real fire risk, so having gutters that are easily cleaned and maintained is vital,” “In summer, however, deep window says Matthews. reveals and the operable louvre system control shading on the low-e glass in Thick bushland screens the home from the upstairs areas and downstairs the road – and from neighbours, who becomes a cool dark retreat from the were very curious about what was being heat,” Matthews says. built in 2011. The response has been all positive from those who’ve now seen the There is a fireplace for added warmth in house in its full glory. winter, with an air transfer duct between the upper and lower spaces to circulate “Today, when new visitors see the home heat and moderate the temperature they are surprised at just how well it throughout the home. As well as passive belongs to its setting, with people often heating and cooling, the home has a commenting that despite its understated number of other sustainable features contemporary design it looks like it has including a 1.5kW solar array and been there all along,” says Matthews. design innovations

ROCK AND A HANDSOME SPACE The home was designed as a direct response to the site. While some might see a rocky hillside as a challenge, Matthews says that challenges always result in interesting creative responses.

In this case, manipulating the spaces around and over the outcrops and existing topography led to clever sequencing of spaces that draw people through the internal and external spaces of the house.

“There aren’t any spaces in this house that are better or worse than each other,” she says. “Every room has an outlook and each room is different with its own character.”

lighthome | 48 specification Architect: Matthews McDonald Architects site plan matthewsmcdonald.com Builder: Owner builder, with assistance from construction manager Darrell Honeybone (now registered builder of Climate Wise Construction) Photographer: Robert Frith/Acorn Photo Consultants: David Lavell and Associates (structural engineer) External walls: Scyon™ Axon™ cladding, Austral ‘Platinum’ standard-face bricks Roofing Colorbond finish rimdek Hi Ten sheeting Outdoor and kitchen bench, external window reveal cladding: Jarrah salvaged from forest floor in a eas logged by the timber industry Insulation: A combination of polyester batts, rigid polystyrene insulation and Kingspan Insulation’s AIR-CELL blanket Internal walls: Face brickwork and flush-jointe plasterboard Windows: Powder-coated aluminium (a combination of commercial and domestic framing systems) with low-e glass Flooring: Polished concrete (lower levels); plantation Victorian Ash hardwood with water-based polyurethane sealer (upper level) Kitchen: Solid timber and reconstructed stone tops, pre-finished boa d fronts from Kitchen Craftsmen, assembled and installed by owner Outside decking: eDeck engineered Jarrah Energy management: Energy-efficient cooking an laundry appliances, Vergola adjustable louvre system for external shading, energy-efficient halogen lightin capable of being upgraded to LED in the future. Electric-boosted solar hot water system Water management: Biolytic aerobic treatment unit with treated wastewater used to water gardens Heating: Kemlan wood heater Cooling: Wall-hung split AC unit (occasional use in upper living area). Ceiling sweep fans in bedrooms. Stonework: Recycled from existing and demolished material on site

lighthome | 50 floorpla

LOWER AND MID FLOOR PLAN UPPER FLOOR PLAN

lighthome | 52 Want to catch up on the trends for 2014? Whether you need help identifying the hot colour palettes, making sense of the big showers/small sink approach to bathrooms, or nailing the indoor-outdoor look our experts can help you create your dream home. The Green Building Show – join us!

SUBSCRIBE > VIA ITUNES > RSS FEED > SEE THE WEBSITE live every thursday thegreenbuildingshow.com.au lighthome | 54 what’s hot report the what’s hot report

Colour of the Year 58 Colour palettes 60 Bathroom trends 62 Kitchen trends 64 What colours are cool? Why are bathrooms getting Cladding trends 66 bigger but sinks smaller? And how much further can Lighting trends 68 the indoor-outdoor concept be taken? Read on to discover the trends shaping the spaces we live in. The wow factor 72 Embrace your taste 74 Words Peta Newbold

lighthome | 56 Radiant Orchid what’s hot encourages expanded report creativity and originality

colour of the year! Pantone has named Radiant Orchid as the 2014 Colour of the Year

ach year the colour-matching corporation Pantone travels the globe to find its Colour of the Year. It explores the worlds of art, design, travel and entertainment E to find the colour that looks poised to have the maximum influence on the way the citizens of the world will design, dress and live in the near future. Last year it was Pantone 17-5641, more commonly referred to as Emerald, which got the nod and had us all revisiting greens. This year it’s Pantone 18-3224, aka Radiant Orchid. “While the 2013 Color of the Year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.” Radiant Orchid has been emerging on the runways during the European spring fashion shows and it’s expected to show up on many of the gowns actresses will be wearing to the Oscars this year. On the domestic front, a dash of Radiant Orchid, be it in the form of paint or accent pieces, is sure to give a room a little extra oomph, especially if it is otherwise an unbroken expanse of neutrals such as grey, beige and taupe.

lighthome | 58 podcast what’s hot palettes of the year report There’s something for the peripatetic, eco-conscious, nostalgic and romantic in the four palettes Dulux’s Colour Forecast says will be popular in 2014.

how romantic travelling bright it’s elementary retro chic In a technologically advanced, 24/7 world it’s The Digital Nomads palette is inspired The Precious Elementals palette is inspired by The Retro Visionaries palette celebrates both no surprise that nostalgia for simpler times is by African and Indian cultures, where the colours and shapes of our natural resources. the glories of the past and the possibilities of a showing up in people’s colour choices, as is the emphasis is on energetic colour and Just as the mining boom is ending we’ve fallen sci-fi futu e. It’s influenced by both by the lat seen in The Romantic Spirit palette. vibrant patterns. It’s a tribal aesthetic that’s in love with mineral and metal colours, as well as 20th century, when the digital economy was firs comfortable with juxtaposition and eclecticism rough-hewn patinas and raw finishes that mimic emerging, and edgier elements from the ’50s. This palette doesn’t reject modern design but it and not afraid to demand attention. the weathering effects of Mother Nature. seeks to imbue it with elements of romance. It pulls the two eras together in a quirky, “It’s harking back to a soft, dusty and gorgeous “It’s about people adopting colours and patterns “It reflects what Australia is conce ned about colourful and energetic colour scheme. “It’s palette that is a little bit retro and a little bit from tribal areas they haven’t travelled to but right now,” says Hill. “It’s about the resources definitely a new generation but it s about taking inspired by lots of historic films,” Dulux Colou want to use to project an eclectic personality sector, the preciousness of our earth and caring images from the past and colouring them in Consultant Katrina Hill Hill says. onto their living spaces,” says Hill. about our natural resources. It looks natural.” a bright and bold way,” says Hill. Geoffrey Carran for Dulux. Wilhelmina McCarroll for Dulux. Wilhelmina McCarroll for Dulux. Rowena Martinich for Dulux. Photography: Mike Baker. Photography: Mike Baker. Photography: Lisa Cohen. Photography: Mike Baker.

lighthome | 60 podcast what’s hot bathroom trends report The smallest room in the house has been reinvented. No longer a utilitarian little box, it’s been reimagined

eople are starting to a space for indulgent pampering and socialising. fall in love with bathrooms P and what they can offer,” says Darren Jenner of Minosa Design. “That’s style, slickness and a sense of openness. Also, parents retreats are becoming spaces where the bed, wardrobe and the bathroom are connected so we can socially interact more with our partners Large Shower Sonning – Bluewater Building. Photography: Nicole England. and loved ones.” That desire to facilitate social interaction is showing up in numerous ways, including making showers large enough (1.8m x 1m) to comfortably accommodate a couple of people. And even when spaces haven’t actually been enlarged, clever design is increasingly being employed to make it seem as if they have. Shallow Basin - Minosa Design. Toilets, baths, sinks and cupboards are Photography: Nicole England. being placed on one side of the room, creating a more spacious feel, toilets are Fortunately, Jenner’s innovative approach Rockface bathroom - Minosa Design. Photography: Nicole England. being concealed, basins floated, joinery ensures being eco-friendly no longer comes hidden away and storage doors made at the cost of ending up with a soaked flush to the wall. crotch thanks to water ricocheting out of Brightening up What is it? A switch that cunningly controls the colour of light emitted the confined space of a downsized basin Another reason we’re falling in love with Shallow but good looking at different times of day. whenever you wash your hands. our powder rooms is that colour and light Bathroom design has also been influenced “We had to re-engineer the tap ware,” are now being used to generate a positive “You don’t want to walk into a bathroom by Australia’s increasingly water-restricted Darren says. “That limits the amount of emotional response to them. Jenner now late at night and be assaulted by bright environment. Darren Jenner pioneered the water coming through to four litres a often installs a sophisticated feature in his light, you need something that’s going to shallow basin ten years ago but it looks minute rather than nine. It means you bathroom that draws from the wellness help you relax and sleep. In the morning just as stunning today. Cool, smooth and can get products that are stylish and movement, particularly those gorgeously lit you’re likely to need much brighter light aesthetically pleasing, it’s also designed to refi ed and you’re doing your part for the spas we’re all spending increasing amounts to help you wake up and swing into the cut down on water use. environment too.” of our downtime at. day,” Jenner explains.

lighthome | 62 podcast what’s hot kitchen trends report The big trend in kitchens is for open, free-flowing spaces that encourage people t drift in and pull up a chair to chat.

Minosa Design

DeanWelsh Designs ur love for the island bench incorporate a breakfast bar frequently be described as a trend. So what are the shows no signs of dimming in compete for popularity with the dining contemporary kitchen trends? O this open-plan age. Removing table and become a magnet for guests The new kitchen technology is reflected as many walls from the kitchen as is when entertaining. Dean Welsh, from DeanWelsh Designs, in stunning, sleek and complex man-made feasible and installing an island allows says, “Right now kitchen trends are bench tops and extraordinary lighting, the kitchen to link up with living areas The island is now such an established about improving technology and at the as well as clever hardware that has gifted and create a warm space that encourages and enduring feature of kitchens it’s manufacturing end that results in more us soft closing drawers and cupboard personal interaction. Indeed, islands that gone beyond being something that can durable, useable and beautiful materials. doors,” he says.

lighthome | 64 what’s hot cladding trends report Contemporary design is all about bringing the outside inside. That being the case, it’s no surprise cladding has started migrating into interior living spaces.

lfresco living areas are increasingly integrated into the A home rather than bolted on and one way to celebrate this is by using exterior cladding products to create a feature in the ceilings, as well as cladding that runs from outside to inside. Shane Denman’s C-Side House. Below: Gnaraloo Retreat featuring Scyon™ Matrix cladding, designer Rural Building Company. It’s a technique that Australian Institute of Architects award-winner Shane Denman uses to great effect on his own home, inside ceilings and soffits with something just north of Perth, the Rural Building Denaby House. It features Scyon™ Linea™ textured so he used HardieGroove® lining. Company has created the Gnaraloo weatherboard in the alfresco living area “We wanted to define the ceiling zones Retreat, on display in the Jindowie Estate. that adjoins the kitchen, as well being with a bit more detail than just a flat sheet,” General Manager Jay Walter says the home featured inside the house. “It makes you he says. “But we were also trying to get that is designed to allow free-form living. With feel like you’re outside and it creates old beach house look. Because of the salt bi-fold doors at either end, it opens up seamless buildings,” Denman observes. environment, we also needed something to act as one massive breezeway. It also really robust.” walls that are very large and high and features Scyon™ Matrix™ cladding on both just blank without a feature. You can How C-Side got its groove back the outside and inside. hang art or tapestries, but by doing this At C-Side House, a Gold Coast renovation Turning things outside-in “In a sense, it could feel like the house is the wall has become an architectural project, Denman wanted to define the In the growing coastal town of Yanchep, inside out,” Walter says. “There are some feature itself,” he says.

lighthome | 66 podcast what’s hot let there be light planning report If given its proper due and integrated into renovation plans from the get-go, lighting can transform a home from f you want to understand merely pedestrian to utterly prepossessing. trends in lighting design it’s a Igood idea to look to the hospitality industry. That fancy new hotel that’s just opened can tell you all you need to know about what might work in your home because, after all, it has all the rooms your home does. Sydney’s chicest new lodgings can be found at the QT Hotel, which caters for young and design savvy business travellers. Mark Elliott, Design Director of Point of View, created QT’s lighting. He says he looked first at the style of the interior design, noted what feature elements were being used then tailored the lighting to enhance them. “A very elegant and luxurious look needs very different lighting to one that reflects a more industrial feel,” Elliott says. “One of the ways lighting trends have changed recently is that people are trying to create a more ‘undesigned’ look. Slick, smooth walls lit by defined, crisp lighting are giving way to a more industrial feel. There’s more © Point of View rawness in the materials and the lighting needs to follow that.” The feature element used at the front of the can be used, not as a feature in itself, but to and the architecture,” Elliott says. “I focused light in pockets. I used accent upstairs bar at the QT is a good example of help create a spectacular effect. In hotels as in homes, lounge lighting can light fittings on seating groups then lighting used to enhance design. The bar is “Instead of adding a light feature in there be a challenge. In the private lounge at balanced it with decorative lamps to bring ultra glossy with distinctive shapes that are you’re enhancing what’s there already the QT there’s lots of daylight bringing out a more human scale and create intimacy.” lit to make them pop out. and building on the interior designer’s the colour and pattern contrasts of the As proud as he is of his work, Elliott feels The chandelier effect of the bottles above aesthetic; working closely with them to furniture and fabrics but at night Elliott he’s succeeded when it isn’t noticed. He the bar is another example of how lighting integrate light into detailing – the joinery wanted to summon a more intimate feel. believes that people notice lighting when

lighthome | 68 top lighting tips what’s hot Discuss lighting as soon as the designer or report architect conceptualises the space

Think about the materials, colours and textures and how they will interact with the lighting. “If you leave it too late it ends up being the cherry on top; it’s not integrated, it’s just stuck on,” warns Elliott.

Don’t just focus on ceiling lights. Consider how wall lights, floor lights and decorativ fittings can c eate balance. “Layering can really change how a space feels and how you feel as you move from an entrance hall to a living area, kitchen or bedroom, depending on where you put it,” says Elliott.

cleverly combining white light with an amber light. LED is used to spectacular effect at QT, not © Point of View only in a huge screen but also integrated under each stair. Used in a domestic setting LEDs can give a stairway a feeling it’s bad and, when it’s good, it should seem of grandeur and help usher people on the an unremarkable part of the space. ‘journey’ through your home. Sometimes though it’s the materiality – the LEDing the way way surfaces and colours reflect light – Lighting design has come on dramatically that can provide inspiration. Take a dining in recent years, powered by advances in table, for example. Every home has one technology, fittings, materials and finishes. and to get some ideas on how to best light The result has been a big expansion in both yours you could do a lot worse than check the functionality and form of lights. out how the experts do it. LED (light-emitting diode) has been a “Good restaurants really focus light on the game changer. It is energy efficient, long tables, Elliott says. “They use the surfaces lasting and inexpensive. Thankfully, the to reflect soft light back on to faces making early problem with lack of warmth as LEDs guests look and feel good and more inclined © Point of View aged and dimmed has been overcome by to enjoy the food and come back again.”

lighthome | 70 what’s hot closing the deal with report some wow factor Rather than playing it safe when preparing your home for sale, could you get a better return by taking a few risks to create a strong impression?

Katrina Hill Design Group Pty Ltd

he wow factor. It’s hard to define but we all know it when we see it. It People believe white T impresses, it seduces and, yes, it even sells homes for more than they’re worth. projects a clean Despite this many of us opt to play it safe when readying our properties for market. environment… but Interior Designer and Dulux Colour there are dangers DeanWelsh Designs Consultant Katrina Hill argues soothing white colours may be unobjectionable but in using lots of it they are also uninspiring. colour can make all the difference in a room who feel the need to go with neutral tones that features lots of neutrals, greys, blacks to be safe and that’s resulted in boring, “People believe white projects a clean and whites. “Bring in lots of brights, little monotone kitchens,” he says. environment and it can do that but there pops of colour,” she suggests. “It may be as are dangers in using lots of it,” says Hill. “Then your buyers will be much more likely “The kitchen is one of the most important simple as two chairs at the end of a dining She says white works well in natural light to walk in and go “Wow! That’s amazing!” rooms in the house and you can make table in fuchsia or a neon green. That could but, contrary to a common belief, it doesn’t Hill says. “Paint is like make-up. You should it the centerpiece of style and function be enough to brighten a whole room.” make small, dark spaces look bigger. Her use it to highlight the good bits through the careful use of texture or advice is to use a darker colour in small and conceal the bad bits.” Designer Dean Welsh also agrees home colour throughout the design. If it’s dark spaces and pop it with a white trim, Di Swinbourne, Head of Design at Sydney sellers are too reserved with colours, tasteful and stylish you can really white ceiling or white furniture. Design School, agrees that little pops of especially in kitchens. “There are still sellers make your buyers go, ‘Wow!’”

lighthome | 72 what’s hot embrace your tastes reportreport Looking at trends can be a helpful guide when you’re looking around for inspiration but ultimately you need to know and project your own aesthetic sensibilities.

Complete the following assignment, which Swinbourne often gives to 2 her design students. > Leaf through some high quality glossy publications (not interior design mags)

> Pull out six images where you are attracted to the colours

> Tear them, shred them, cut them, overlap them and paste rends can be fleeting fads or signal long-term find your true colours them together. (Don’t think about it too much. This is not art.) shifts. They can, in retrospect at least, be judged > Take it into your renovating space. Look at your collage T as exciting or embarrassing. So while it’s smart Being told to identify your ‘natural palette’ is all and focus on a little section, where you can see that to be aware of what’s in fashion, especially if achieving very well but how do you go about it? Swinbourne palette working in that space. a contemporary look is important to you, it’s rarely a suggests the following exercises. > Study that section and pull out precisely good decision to embrace trends that clash with your Take a walk through your house, look in the colours that you’ve used. own sense of style. your wardrobe and see what colours you > Once you’ve discovered your colour palette, “Whatever is happening with the world at that time, are drawn to. “We tend to surround ourselves it’s time to get to work. it’s reflected in how we dress and decorate,” says Di 1with colours that reflect our complexion, that Swinbourne, Head of Design at Sydney Design School. look good with our natural colouring,” Swinbourne “You might have white walls and your palette may provide the Whether you’re renovating or buying clothes, Di’s advice observes. “So people who are very dark tend to like jewels of colour for furnishings and pillows,” Swinbourne says. when it comes to colour choice is not to be overly black and white and splashes of red and hot colours. “With pops of colour like this, your neutrals such as whites and swayed by what’s fashionable. Rather, she advises, Whereas people who are blonde and blue eyed tend blacks and greys and wood tones are really important to ground pick colours you like and which reflect who you are. to go for greyed, more subtle colours,” she says. the colours you pick.”

lighthome | 74 what’s on the site lighthome.com.au

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