Ever wanted to build a prefab home but didn’t know where to start? Prefabricated homes, also known as prefab homes, are becoming increasingly popular as a housing solution. These homes are constructed in a factory and then transported to the building site, where they are assembled. They are a cost-effective and time-efficient option, as the manufacturing process takes place in a controlled environment, reducing construction time and minimizing waste. Prefabricated homes can take many forms, including shipping container homes, which are made from repurposed shipping containers. The use of shipping containers as a building material has gained popularity in recent years due to their durability and eco-friendliness.

In this article, we will explore 15 of our favourite prefabricated homes, including shipping container homes, and why they are an excellent choice for modern living.

1. Harmony space by Kenjo

Harmony by KENJO System AB, in Sweden, is built entirely from Swedish spruce, a local and renewable resource. Foldable glass sliding door systems set in aluminum profiles reinforce Kent Johansson’s design intent of an openness in look, feel and use, whether for offices, saunas, pool houses, or perhaps a floating guest house or thinking room. The options are unlimited as the module system uses different-sized glulam frames, different wall sections and roofs. Energy-efficient, customisable, connectable and extendable, Harmony is attracting global interest. There’s a choice of DIY assembly on delivery; supply fully assembled; or built on site by Kenjo carpenters.

2. The Mod house by Prebuilt

Take a look inside this Grand Designs Australia home

3. Freedom house by Prebuilt

PREBUILT is a design collaboration between the Kilsyth (Melbourne)-based company’s in-house design team, external architects and interior designers. Each of the six houses in the range can be oriented to maximise natural light and cross ventilation, coupled with double glazing and high insulation as standard. These prefabricated homes are constructed from locally sourced products and materials so factory waste is minimised. Prebuilt designs are transported Australia-wide as whole modules complete with kitchens, bathrooms and joinery, fully plumbed and wired, ready to connect directly to services. Set aside eight to 12 weeks build time post planning approval from your local council.

4. Container Homes project

CONTAINER HOMES has an easy solution to prefabs: pre-packaged is best. Available in two sizes, Container Homes offers shipping container homes that are ready to be lived in almost immediately after they arrive on site; only the plumbing and electricity need to be hooked up. Each home comes cyclone- and storm-proof, and has solar power for lighting. These shipping container homes don’t miss out on anything and each has its own kitchen and designated living spaces, and come filled with furniture.

5. Transportable Space (TS1) external office by Pluscreate

TRANSPORTABLE SPACE is available in five different sizes (10sqm to 32sqm). Designed and manufactured by Pluscreate in Melbourne, modules are delivered flat-packed around eight weeks after design sign-off. Parts can be carried through a standard doorway and assembled without tradespeople. Height-adjustable legs avoid the need for excavation. The butterfly roof with box gutter provides excellent water catchment for water tanks, and there is a choice of window and door placement with optional skylights and decks. Its well-insulated PIR wall panels and steel components are recyclable. Available Australia-wide and cyclone-rated, application is unlimited.

6. Hong Kong garden pavilion e.pod by Ecoshelta

ECOSHELTA is made from marine-grade structural aluminium alloy framing that is stronger but lighter than steel. Designed by architect Stephen Sainsbury and manufactured by Wonders Building Company Pty Ltd, Ecoshelta has been used for backyard studios, holiday or residential homes, emergency relief housing, remote-area research stations, walking lodges, ecotourism resorts, ultra-remote housing, and cliff-face construction during the past 20 years. Sustainable design measures include an EcoCost environmental impact evaluation system analysis; a high level of wool insulation for all floors, walls and ceiling panels; plantation timber, recycled PET composite timber substitutes or ECOply and passive solar and natural ventilation design. Ecoshelta prefabricated homes are fully modular, extremely strong and robust.

7. San Remo house by Ecoliv

ECOLIV buildings, designed by Beaumont Concepts, are modular prefabricated homes constructed in the company’s sustainable factory in Wonthaggi, Victoria. Ecoliv has a range of standard module configurations or custom designs, available Australia-wide, to suit various site and living requirements. Standard inclusions in the seven-star-rated design is a 10,000-litre rainwater tank, 1.72kW solar power unit, solar hot water, energy-efficient lighting, electricity usage meter, water-saving plumbing, double-glazed windows, sustainably sourced timbers, cladding and joinery finished with Australian-made VOC-free Ecolour paint. Ecoliv isn’t just prefabricated, it is totally focused on sustainable prefabricated homes from conception to construction. With lightweight construction and a small environmental footprint, each home is delivered on site within 14 weeks.

8. Bungalow-style prefabricated home by Huf Haus

HUF HAUS, headquartered in Germany, has been involved in the design and manufacture of prefabricated houses since the 1960s. Defining the HUF HAUS brand today is the visible timber frame, use of a highly-efficient thermal insulation layer, frameless floor-to-ceiling glazing (triple-glazed), rooms flooded with natural light, spacious living, and enduring clarity of form. Components of a HUF HAUS emerge from a state-of-the-art production line and are assembled to create very individual house designs. Semi-automated prefabrication and pre-assembly of the components results in a quality standard regarded as superior to manual on-site assembly.

9. Container guest house by Poteet Architects

POTEET ARCHITECTS jumped at the chance when its client asked for a guesthouse in the form of a shipping container home. Fitted with a custom-designed bathroom, the container was transformed into a second living space that doubles as an art studio and garden storage. One of the key elements of the project was to use as many sustainable resources as possible. The interior was sprayed with foam for insulation and then lined with bamboo plywood. The container “floats” on top of a foundation of recycled telephone poles and the deck is made from HVAC equipment pads, created from recycled plastic bottles.

Photography by Chris Cooper

10. Kyneton residence by Intermode

Take a look inside this Grand Designs Australia home

11. Kilmore residence by Intermode

12. Emerald residence by Intermode

INTERMODE homes are at the higher end of the modular homes sector in Australia. A 1.2m x 1.2m grid is used to customise each home design to suit the individual needs of a client and their site. Designs maximise passive solar performance and feature eaves, concrete floors for thermal mass, full height, double glazing, along with recycled or renewable plantation timber. The residence arrives on site as components during a 20-week program, and local labour means no long-haul transportation. Scalable to suit rural and coastal houses, winery accommodation or resorts. Voted #1 Grand Designs Australia home, second series.

13. Residential house by KLIK

KLIK is designed by Elenberg Fraser architects and manufactured by Unitised Building Australia in Melbourne. Its aim is to provide developers and architects with a tool to help them realise their prefabricated goals. Best suited to multi-residential developments, the Klik product range is available Australia-wide and includes low- to mid-rise residential, super towers and hotels, as well as housing. The complete package, Klik is a pre-engineered, pre-designed and pre-assembled solution. It takes 20 days on average per module, from design sign-off to completion of the module in the factory. Klik offers a raft of green benefits, including reduced material requirements and increased material recyclability. There’s less wastage, water usage, transport energy
and embodied energy over the lifecycle of the building, and a reduced carbon footprint.

14. LV Series house in West Virginia by Rocio Romero

LV SERIES, designed and manufactured by Rocio Romero, includes the LV, LVL, LVM and LVG, as well as exclusive add-on modules which are custom connections and include the LVC (courtyard), the LVT (tower), and the LV2 (two storey). They feature prefabricated systems and deep wall and roof cavities containing high levels of insulation to achieve very high R-values. They are bathed in natural light and well ventilated, and water catchment systems can be integrated with ease. A design service is available to assist customisation, whether that’s reconfiguring an interior layout or combining and stacking LV models. Initially conceived for vacation homes, the LV Series is used as a permanent abode for many. Supplied flat-packed, the LV Series can be shipped to Australia.

15. Aireys Inlet project by Modscape

MODSCAPE modules arrive on site, fully completed with the lot. That includes flooring, painting, tiling, appliances, window furnishings, decks, lighting, heating and cooling, joinery and shelving. They are designed and manufactured by Modscape in Brooklyn, Melbourne, with an emphasis on architecture and sustainability to create a holistic solution for any site or application. Modules are individually customised to suit the site, space and design requirements of each client. Features include recycled or reconstituted materials, high thermal-rating insulation, solar hot water, double-glazed windows and doors, and LED lighting. Modscape’s architect-designed, prefabricated homes offer unlimited scope and possibility for design outcomes. The average timeframe, from design sign-off to obtaining the building permit and, finally, fruition, is 12 weeks.

By Marg Hearn and Jessica Milsome
From Home Design magazine, Volume 16 Number 3

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Stylistically, the term “Georgian” covers the period from the ascension to the throne of George I, King of England, in 1714 through to the 1830s and the death of George VI. Evident throughout Britain and Europe — particularly in urban centres where the Georgian style was used for both private and public buildings alike and on the estates of the landed gentry; Georgian architecture was renowned for its classic, restrained lines, with embellishments crafted according to a variety of picturesque styles.

In Europe and Britain, early Georgian style was dominated by Palladianism, the classic purity of Andrea Palladio’s 16th century Italian villas. Mid-Georgian design flirted with both Gothic and chinoiserie influences as a consequence of the opening of trade routes to the Far East, while the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum that started in the 1760s resulted in Georgian style embracing classic Greek influences in the later part of the style’s “reign” of popularity.

Such notions of elegant Georgian architecture were what many early Australian architects brought with them when our nation was first established. It was a commonly held ideal of the time that if the new colony was populated with buildings of classical Georgian style, a sense of civilisation and even gentility would be bestowed on the fledgling community. But it was not until the 1820s, through to the 1840s, that such ambitions were achieved.

By the end of the 1830s, homes and public buildings boasting Georgian styling with Greek, Gothic, Jacobean and even Egyptian dressing had been erected in Australia. By this time, the colonies had become established, considerable wealth had been achieved from agricultural industries and there was plentiful cheap convict labour available. Mansions such as Clarendon in Tasmania’s northeast, Panshanger near Longford (also in the state’s northeast) and the home of William Macarthur at Camden in NSW had all been completed by the end of the 1830s, built at the beginning of a time now regarded as the boom years of Australian architecture (which lasted up to the depression of the 1840s and was revived again in the 1850s and ’60s with the gold rushes and dramatic growth of the Australian population).

Although the restrained, classical lines of Georgian architecture had begun to fall from favour in Europe and Britain in the early years of the 19th century, Georgian style remained popular in Australia well into the middle of the 1800s and was used, according to Richard Apperly, Robert Irving and Peter Reynolds* “by the designers of public buildings, of houses for all classes of society, and for utilitarian structures”. Francis Greenway, a Bristol architect who was transported to the colony in 1814 and soon after appointed civil architect by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, was one of the most noted of such designers who favoured the style of Georgian architecture.

Hallmarks of Georgian style include symmetry, refinement, harmony and elegance. In Australia, it not only endured many shifts in the materials used for construction (from ashlar and roughly built masonry walls to stucco over handmade brick; timber shingle roofing to slate and later corrugated iron), it also saw the addition of a range of structural elements such as verandahs and regency-style porticoes, pediments, decorative ironwork, parapets and balconies. Other regency influences included the use of recesses around windows to cast shadows and divide the façade of buildings into panels, and stucco, which was used as an exterior wall finish, often limed to simulate ashlar or painted the typical exterior colours of ochre, sand and stone.

Holly-green was then used for architectural detailing such as shutters. Another hallmark of Georgian architecture is a focus on subtle and subdued interior tones, including creams and pale browns, dirty blues and greens. When wallpaper was used it was applied to create blocks, with motifs such as stylised florals and Greek key patterns. Symmetry was the order of the day, with the typical floor plan catering for four rooms two deep either side of a front and back passage. The front rooms were often slightly deeper than the back ones, which were sometimes further divided by plastered walls.

Georgian homes traditionally featured a fireplace in several rooms, either against the outer side walls of the house or back to back on a dividing interior wall. In the lounge, the mantel and surround were usually marble while timber, finished with faux English oak graining, was used for the less-public parts of the house. On the floor, Georgian homes typically boasted wide 150mm timber boards and walls were plastered and finished with moulded timber skirtings. Delicate plaster cornices were fashionable, as was a decorative arch to divide the front hall.

The Georgian house often featured a timber-framed hipped roof that was sheeted with timber shingles (later replaced with corrugated iron) or slate. Otherwise the roof, particularly in the case of grand manor homes, was concealed by a parapet.

Other important exterior detailing included a six-panelled front door with square fanlight sashes; windows with six, eight, nine or 12 panes of glass in sliding sashes and protected by louvred timber shutters; flat timber columns (used for verandah posts) with mouldings top and bottom to simulate a classical capital and base; and a timber valance with a scalloped or egg-and-dart motif often used on the underside of verandah beams. Georgian style remained a means of signifying one’s “refined elegance” by way of revival well into the later part of the Victorian period and again in the inter-war years of the 20th century.

Want to learn more about Georgian Architecture and other styles of home design? Visit our architecture page to learn more.

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Market summary:

Established home sales continue to remain strong following a period of great activity and Archicentre has seen increased interest in both renovations and new home design concepts. Price changes have been negligible since the last Cost Guide, but continued growth in other areas may fuel material and labour price rises into the future.

Check out Archicentre’s Do It Yourself Design Guide for Home Renovation, and Design Guide to Sustainability at www.archicentre.com.au.

Cost structure (approx. for new houses and major renovations)
Materials – 46%
Labour – 33%
Fees, levies, permits, taxes, GST – 21%

The Archicentre Cost Guide’s sample cost plan of an 80m2 ground-level addition

Extensions

NOTE: The prices quoted in the Archicentre cost guide also apply to upper-level extensions when built at the same time as the ground level. Prices include removal of one or two walls at the junction of works. Inclusions: plasterboard walls, painted two colours maximum, with two or three power points per room. Exclusions: plumbing joiner and surfacing or wet areas, sanitary fixtures.

Repair & maintenance costs

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Brentnall Great Australian Homes doesn’t just build homes, it builds esteemed lifestyle sanctuaries. The company is renowned for investing passion and architectural flair into each of its luxurious homes, creating timeless designs with quality craftsmanship that will surpass decades of family generations.

The multi-award-winning luxury home builder has more than 75 years of combined experience in the design and building industry, with an impressive portfolio showcasing exquisite homes creating some of the most opulent addresses in Australia and overseas. True to the ethos of building homes that become more than just a house or a place to reside, Brentnall is focused on providing elegant designs purpose-built to serve as the owner’s private sanctuary, setting a new benchmark for a quality lifestyle. The company’s latest creation, perfectly positioned in the rolling Gold Coast Hinterland, is no exception. ‘Inspirations’ is the latest Brentnall Homes project currently under construction, comprising an 850sqm masterpiece, built to mirror a luxurious Balinese retreat. The design of these Balinese kit homes, inspired by the exclusive resorts found throughout the Balinese islands, features sprawling bungalows set over lush tropical gardens. The new Inspirations home is set on a 4000sqm sloping block of land in the prestigious acreage subdivision of Huntington Downs in Maudsland, near Oxenford on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Timber accents and stone finishes, floor-to-ceiling windows and pavilion-style cathedral ceilings create the authentic Indonesian feel in these Balinese kit homes, complete with lush, fragrant gardens. Add to the landscape the dramatic backdrop of the Australian bushland setting, and your own private Balinese hideaway becomes the ultimate in tranquillity. Inspirations offers a country retreat with city convenience; only 45 minutes to Brisbane and 20 minutes to Surfers Paradise, the heart of the Gold Coast with a stretch of famous coastline and beaches. This project is the embodiment of Brentnall Great Australian Homes’ mantra: to inspire the imagination and illustrate the endless possibilities the company can offer those looking to create their dream home. The prototype of Brentnall’s style and distinction, Inspirations is set to become the official display home and will be available for sale, with a generous lease-back option. All Brentnall homes are signature pieces (the leading designers never build the same home twice) and for this reason buyers can enjoy the assurance of owning an exclusive, one-off property.

The portfolio boasts hundreds of uniquely designed architectural masterpieces to stimulate your senses, just like these and all can be easily modified to suit individual tastes and budgets. The objective is to build fewer, but finer prestigious properties, meaning the individual attention received when building homes is uncompromised. All Brentnall homes feature simple, elegant and practical style cues inspired by both the designer’s passionate expert knowledge, interpretation and artistic flair, combined with the input of the clients’ tastes, ideas and aspirations. Whether it’s a sprawling contemporary-style mansion or a classic Victorian-style country estate, building homes that create an impression and establish an empire is the company’s forte. For this reason, Brentnall Homes specialises in building homes in rural and country areas and most recently discovered the Gold Coast Hinterland as the perfect canvas on which to create some of its finest work.

Solar energy resources feature strongly in Brentnall Homes, as its aim to minimise its carbon footprint is paramount in every project. All completed Brentnall homes feature a minimum five-star energy-efficiency rating, giving home owners peace of mind when it comes to managing their own carbon contributions in the years to come. Brentnall Great Australian Homes is one of the few female-operated building and design companies in Australia, offering a unique female perspective on the whole building process, from design through to completion. The design team is the same team that builds; working with you every step of the way to ensure a personal touch is maintained throughout the entire construction process. The team pride themselves on working tirelessly on a personal and hands-on level with clients and contractors to ensure the finished product is nothing short of perfection. Delighted customers are a testament to Brentnall’s commitment and dedication to delivering a home exceeding the client’s hopes and dreams.

Large or small, when choosing Brentnall Homes to design and build your home, the possibilities are endless.

Brentnall Luxury Homes are the smart choice for any discerning home owner; contact us today,

27 Rankin Parade, Main Beach, QLD 4217.

0400 420 392

info@brentnallhomes.com.au

http://www.brentnallhomes.com.au

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Desiring a kitchen that was not too modern but not too traditional either, the owners left their brand new kitchen in the capable hands of Con Moshopoulos from Urban Kitchens. The two very different finishes are extremely eye-catching and add interest to the space. While the stark white gloss cabinets and CaesarStone benchtops in Osprey enhance the kitchen’s contemporary look and feel, the light brown striped panels wrapped around the island bench and incorporated in the oven tower provide the room with some colour and warmth. Rather than two distinct zones, through innovative design Con has successfully blended the two materials to create one cohesive space.

Provision has also been made for storage. As a kitchen in a new home, Con had the advantage of planning everything down to the very last detail, with no compromises due to existing walls or other structures. The resulting space has an abundance of deep-set drawers and a handy pull-out pantry for non-perishables and other kitchen necessities.

Urban Kitchens has worked its magic once again, taking two very different products and throwing in a variety of other unique materials to create a statement-making space that the owners and their guests can enjoy for years to come.

For more information

Urban Kitchens

Photography by Tim Turner Photography

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The word on everyone’s lips these days is double glazing for windows, but in Australia it seems to be a foreign concept. The recent focus on energy efficiency in this country has moved a rather stubborn marketplace — in which double glazing was really only used for acoustic performance or the snow regions of the country (usually by choice) — to a requirement for energy-efficient windows. So why would you need cold-country technology in a temperate country? Energy efficiency works both ways: heating and cooling. What performs to keep extreme cold out of a building also works to keep extreme heat out of a building and keep cold air in. No matter which way, less energy will be used to heat or cool a home, and windows play a much larger role in the overall energy efficiency of a home than normally credited.

Double glazing and uPVC

In Europe, the UK and US, the move to double glazing for energy efficiency started between 35 to 45 years ago, and uPVC slowly increased market share to the stage where they are now the dominant window type used. uPVC windows are specifically designed for double glazing and the excellent material properties make them a superior window system.

The next question is usually, “What is uPVC? Isn’t it just plastic/vinyl?” While uPVC windows are the norm in Europe, they are rare as hens’ teeth in Australia and the marketplace has no concept of what they look like. This seems to lead people who have not travelled overseas to think “cheap plastic” windows, which is quite far from the truth. PVC is an amazingly diverse material and is used for anything from building materials to clothing and woven furniture. Polyvinyl chloride is really a thermoplastic polymer and, depending on the additional of plasticisers, can be either rigid or flexible.

The u in uPVC for windows and doors means unplasticised (does not have any plasticisers added to make it flexible), making it a rigid and dense material with excellent biological and chemical resistance. After being used in Germany for windows since 1954, the modern uPVC frame production includes vast improvements in impact modifiers and stabilisers meaning that the windows are tough, do not discolour, require only cleaning for maintenance, do not corrode, rot or become chalky and are very poor conductors of heat. In a word, ideal.

Modern uPVC windows are not “cheap plastic” but are usually made from profiles with multiple chambers for added thermal performance and have a nice glossy surface finish similar to modern flashy fibreglass boats. They are usually made from profiles 60—70mm thick and so have a solid, “chunky” look which can be a very modern sleek white, or a classic wooden look which is difficult to tell from the real McCoy. Damage or scratches can be buffed out, holes can be filled and made virtually invisible, but in reality the modern uPVC is a very tough material. Forty years of experience has created a beautiful and functional window for tough climates.

While uPVC is an excellent material it does move in response to temperature change and is structurally not as strong as other window materials such as timber and aluminium. This has been overcome by installing steel or aluminium reinforcing within the chamber of the profile. Since the windows are welded together, this metal is not exposed to the external environment; however, the steel is normally galvanised. As in the case of wooden windows, dark colours should be avoided in Australia to avoid excessive heating from the high UV levels found here.

Operation of uPVC windows

Window profiles in Europe are designed for ease of manufacturing and the European hardware has been developed to the point where the sealing and security of these windows is unsurpassed. In Europe the tilt-and-turn system has become the norm but it is completely foreign to Australians who are used to good old English double-hung or sliding windows. Tilt-and-turn windows are superior for ventilation options and cleaning from the inside of the building. In tilt mode, the top of the window tilts into the room so the cool air near the floor is not moved out of the building, but rather the hot air up higher is vented.

This mode is your normal opening mode, and completely secure in the open position. However, by moving the handle into the next position the window can be fully opened like a hinge door, allowing for additional venting or simply to facilitate cleaning the glass on the outside from the inside of the building. Sliding doors, balcony doors and French doors have this same tilt-and-turn mechanism, allowing for secure ventilation at night from your doors as well as windows.

The next question is usually about flyscreens or blinds, and in a country where there is little experience with tilt-and-turn windows, it is a valid question. The flyscreens are simple: they mount on the outside of the window in the same way as a double-hung or sliding window. Blinds are a bit trickier but your window manufacturer can run through the various options for you. Blinds are simply mounted on the sash (rather than the frame) so that they move with the sash. Another alternative is to use a deep reveal and mount curtains on the wall, allowing the window to tilt open.

For the less adventurous there is an excellent tilt-and-slide system available with the same sealing properties as the tilt-and-turn available at additional cost, but far superior to your standard sliding windows which rely on brush seals (which keep bugs out but not air). In this system the sash scissors directly out from the frame and then runs effortlessly on a transport “buggy”. The tilt option remains as well, so your sliding door can be left securely in tilt mode for added ventilation. There are limitations on sizes for this system and without a turn option you will have to climb a ladder to clean the window.

Double glazing needs good seals

The double glazing in uPVC windows is usually a 24mm overall thickness, allowing for a larger air gap between layers of glass; therefore uPVC is ideally suited and infinitely flexible to accommodate various overall glass thicknesses. The increased air gap between the panes improves the thermal and acoustic performance of the unit. In cold climates an inert gas such as argon is used instead of air between the glass panes to avoid windows fogging since the dramatic temperature difference inside to outside creates a dewpoint where water condenses. Argon has the added benefit of improving thermal and acoustic performance but, in reality, few places in Australia require the added expense.

Now the best double-glazing options can be overcome easily by poor seals on the window frames, allowing outside air in or inside air out and again uPVC windows excel in this area. Seals are used in two places: on the inside sash to frame connection point as well as the outside sash to frame connection point. The hardware is installed in between the two seals and has a series of locking points all around the sash to pull the window in tight, creating some of the lowest air infiltration levels for any window available. This allows the double glazing to do its job without being compromised by air infiltration. In Europe, buildings with these windows actually require manual ventilation because they are so well sealed.

Normally, the glazing bead, which snaps into the profile, is installed from the inside to provide increased security and burglar resistance with the added bonus that glass replacement can be achieved from the inside of the building for upper-storey or difficult-to-reach windows. The glazing beads can be removed and replaced multiple times as long as you know the trick to removing them.

Lead-free uPVC: the environmental choice

In the early 1990s, Europe began to remove one of the stabilisers used in uPVC window profile manufacturing: namely, lead. A replacement stabiliser was developed — calcium/zinc — but the difference in extrusion properties meant that the changeover to lead-free uPVC was very costly to avoid surface finish difficulties. One company in Germany moved to completely lead-free profile production in 1994 and at the time was known as Plusplan. When the rest of the industry did not follow, its investment was a heavy burden, but as Europe moves to completely lead-free uPVC the phoenix arose again as Plustec GmbH and is now the most experienced producer of quality leadfree uPVC profiles.

The ideal double-glazed window

For an exceptionally good-looking, long-lasting (some windows in Europe are now 40 years old and still look great), low-maintenance, economical and highly energy-efficient window, it is difficult to go past uPVC for a double-glazed window system. It is really worthwhile to find a supplier in your area and look at them first before you blindly judge them as “cheap plastic”. The rest of the world has moved this way and Australia will soon follow. Plustec Pty Ltd is the Australian distributor of Plustec profiles and the manufacturer of Plustec double-glazed windows and doors.

For more information

Plustec

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Take a peek inside a luxurious ’50s-inspired home that would make anyone feel like a Hollywood star.

An intriguing depth exists to this home. From the profoundly blue hues to the decadent gold finishes, every aspect of this interior sucks you into its opulent and irresistible charm. This is something we’ve come to expect from Greg Natale Design, whose interior style often oozes with both a romantic and a masculine touch.

This particular project is very interesting in that it was constructed by the Sunland Group as part of the Royal Pines Resort project. Not your average estate of clumped-together houses, Royal Pines is a luxurious getaway that boasts rolling golf courses and only a 15-minute drive to the holiday destination of Surfers Paradise. The homes here are all entirely residential and offer a plush lifestyle that most of us can only dream of.

These properties are a privileged bunch. Their architecture is inspired by case study homes from the ‘50s and ‘60s and although their exteriors are generally unassuming, the interiors are eloquent in their stories. The ‘50s and ‘60s element of the home is what inspired Greg’s plan for the interior, and having worked before with Sunland Group’s CEO, Sahba Abedian, Greg had a fairly comprehensive understanding of Sahba’s likes and dislikes. Minimalism is key, as is a layer of opulence — similar to that found in grand Hollywood Hills homes.

In this particular four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, gold, white and navy-blue are the colours of choice, and while the gold and navy add that special depth mentioned earlier, the shades of white inject a touch of contemporary minimalism, which works to balance the colour scheme.

On the ground floor, a kitchen space sits nestled between two very similarly furnished living areas. The kitchen is a clean, glitzy space filled with all the mod-cons necessary for comfortable living. It is also beautifully simple, with smooth surfaces and hidden appliances, which are integral to the design. In front of the kitchen’s island bar is a six-piece white dining suite with white chairs upholstered in patterned navy fabric. Gold has been splashed dramatically on the back wall, with a Ventana mirror and a golden Meurice chandelier hanging provocatively above the table.

The two living areas that sit either side share many common features, but one side is slightly more formal than the other. This slight variation between the two rooms illustrates perfectly how fine detailing makes all the difference to the overall impact of a room. In both living rooms, two Jonathan Adler Trousdale lamps with white shades sit either side of custom-sized white sofas. Custom rugs from Designer Rugs sit underneath the coffee tables and connect the sofas to a pair of Casadei Navona lounge chairs that sit opposite. The space would be incomplete without the signature golden splash, which comes in the form of the Ulu Concave and Ulu Convex tables. The two Ulu Concave tables accompany the setting to the right of the kitchen — the more formal space — whereas the two Ulu Convex tables accompany the left-hand side — which is the informal area. Both table styles can double up as use as a stool.

The dark-navy panelling on the back wall features in both the formal and informal areas and, for Greg, this panelling is one his favourite features in the home. He explains that “the panelling breaks up the wall and even becomes an art piece”. The white borders of the panels provide structure and texture and they draw the eye to the wall in a manner that wouldn’t usually occur. Adding to — and accentuating — the artistic nature of the panelling is the Jere Raindrops mirror in gold and brass, also from Jonathan Adler. It adds an abstract element to the otherwise linear space. The fine detailing is illustrated through the simple act of changing the fabric on the cushions, the style of coffee table, and the style of the side chairs that sit alongside the space. These small adjustments enable the left-hand side to feel considerably more relaxed than the right-hand side, and the adjustments work to create different environments within a connected sphere in the home.

The living spaces aren’t the only areas where artistic flair is evident. Jonathan Adler is well known for its imaginative and decorative pieces, and another example of this can be found in the entryway to the living and kitchen area. Here a gold sculpture splashes across the wall above a New Yorker black-gloss and smoke-bevelled mirror buffet from James Salmond Furniture. Small golden accessories and a table lamp add the finishing touches and also inject a layer of decadence into the space.

The master bedroom with ensuite can be found on the ground floor at the rear of the home. A Rea bed in navy from Space Furniture introduces a deep hue to the otherwise minimalist white design, and two end stools from Comax Australia — which also featured in the formal living area — occupy the space at the foot of the bed. This bedroom has the luxury of being fairly cut off from the living spaces and the first floor, giving it an unparalleled level of privacy.

If you happen to venture up the discreet architecturally-designed stairs, you will reach the first floor. A perfect space for kids or guests, the floor has three more bedrooms — one with ensuite — as well as a TV area, and offers privacy from the rooms downstairs. The colour scheme and ‘50s and ‘60s styles feature upstairs just as much as downstairs, continuing the themes of this residence.

All in all, the property is fairly extraordinary. With its grand layout and spectacular location, it is surely privileged. But what is most interesting is the manner in which Greg Natale — in conjunction with Sunland Group — chose to approach the architecture and space. Combining minimalist modernity with mid-century style, as well as extraordinary, decadence is a fairly daring concept. And it is this fusion that traverses time and design, pushing the boundaries of interior design and creating a truly unique home.

Visit gregnatale.com

DETAILS

– This home was constructed by the Sunland Group as part of the Royal Pines Resort project

– Greg Natale Design carried out the interior design with a ‘50s- and ‘60s-inspired style

– The two living areas that sit either side share many common features, but one side is slightly more formal than the other

– The fine detailing is shown through the simple act of changing the fabric on the cushions, and the style of coffee table and side chairs that sit alongside the space

– The interior combines minimalist modernity with mid-century design, as well as extraordinary decadence

By Alexandra Longstaff
Photography by Anson Smart
From Home Designs magazine Vol. 16 No. 2

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Authentic looks, heights and profiles are the specialty of Harkaway Homes. Established in 1986, Harkaway Homes markets its homes in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and southern Queensland. Its designs have attracted attention in the building industry and it has won the Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Award four years running. There are 11 ranges of homes to choose from for those looking for something traditional.

Victorian Traditional Series
Featured is the Seddon, one of a range of eight different sizes and floorplans.
Price: $101,609 deluxe lock-up package (price includes GST).
Size: 204m²

Accommodation: Four bedrooms with built-in robes, living room, family room, dining room, two bathrooms, kitchen with walk-in pantry and laundry.
Construction time: 16 weeks, mainly built on a project-managed basis.
Construction: Choice of either weatherboard or brick, Colorbond or old-fashioned galvanised-iron roofing, Victorian ash windows, Victorian dress accessories, hardware and fixings.
Not Included in price: Internal linings, plumbing, electrical, kitchen and floor.
Optional extras: Verandah (four types as package), three-metre ceilings, timber block front façade, assorted leadlights.

Fair Dinkum Federation Series
Featured is the Caulfield, from a range of seven different sizes and floorplans.
Price: $115,571 deluxe lock-up package (price includes GST).
Size: 223m², 24 squares.
Accommodation: Four bedrooms, living room, meals/family room, kitchen with walk-in pantry, laundry and two bathrooms.
Construction time: 16 weeks, mainly built on a project-managed basis.
Construction: Choice of weatherboard or brick.
Special features: As the name suggests, the Harkaway Homes Fair Dinkum Federation Series Caulfield is an authentic reproduction Federation home with a wide range of traditional features. These include high external walls (3.6 metres), high ceilings (three metres), a Federation roofline, integrated verandah, leadlight-topped box-bay windows, leadlight front-door frame with cricket-bat entry door, Federation-line casement windows, Federation friezes and French doors.
Included in price: Fully stabilised, prefabricated, termite-resistant, kiln-dried wall frames and roof trusses, full-frame erection, choice of brick or weatherboard, Colorbond roofing, Victorian ash windows, Federation cappings and fixings.
Not included in price: Internal linings, plumbing, electrical, kitchen and floor.
Optional extras: Terracotta roofing and cappings.

Pavilion Roofline Series
Featured is the Rokeby Pavilion Courtyard, one of a range of seven different sizes and floorplans.
Price: $102,698 deluxe lock-up package (price includes GST).
Size: 223m².
Accommodation: Four bedrooms, study, family room, lounge room, dining room, rumpus room, kitchen with walk-in pantry, two bathrooms and laundry.
Construction time: 16 weeks, mainly built on project-managed basis.
Construction: Either brick or weatherboard.
Special features: This authentic reproduction Victorian home features a wide range of traditional features including high exterior walls (3.6 metres), period roofline, old-world cappings and finishes, high ceilings, casement windows and French doors.
Included in price: Fully stabilised, prefabricated, kiln-dried wall frames and roof trusses, full-frame erection, choice of brick or weatherboard, Colorbond or old-fashioned galvanised-iron roofing, Victorian ash windows, Victorian dress accessories, hardware and fixings.
Optional extras: Verandah (four types as package), three-metre ceilings, assorted leadlights.
Not included in price: Internal linings, plumbing, electrical, kitchen and floor.

HARKAWAY HOMES
Registration NSW
BSC Licence 45511C

Melbourne Head Office and Display:
Cnr Princes Highway and Station Street, Officer Vic 3809
Phone: (03) 5943 2388
Fax: (03) 5943 2599
Freecall: 1800 806 416

The post A harkaway homes design from the past appeared first on Completehome.

The distinctive Hamptons style is a look many home renovators and builders try to emulate. When building a new house, Hayley Hayes of Porchlight Interiors in Queensland wanted to create classical, enduring interior spaces that were light and airy with a sense of beauty and elegance. In the hub of the home, the generous island bench is the centrepiece of the kitchen, featuring luxurious Calacatta marble and the striking Perrin & Rowe French country-style tapware. The dark-stained oak floors and polished-nickel finish of the tap, drawer pulls and pendant lights lend warmth to the space.

Hayley’s skill in selecting quality materials and products which give a timeless classical look is also obvious in the bathroom. Italian basket weave floor tiling, traditional subway wall tiles and the marble vanity top form a distinctive backdrop for Perrin & Rowe tapware and shower fittings.

Country-style tapware and basin sets featuring porcelain levers were chosen for the two vanity basins, a wall-mounted bath filler is centred over the Victoria + Albert freestanding bath, and in the walk-in shower a handshower on slide rail completes the set. Polished nickel was again the finish of choice for the tapware, handles and lighting, emphasising the classical element and softening the predominantly white room.

The post From The Hamptons to here: Country style tapware appeared first on Completehome.