Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Inside Out

I love that coverline. It brings to mind hundreds of happy households across the country where busy inhabitants are planning renovations, working in kitchen gardens, filling vases with summer blooms and just happily pottering at home. It’s what we’re all about and is perfect for our Small Spaces issue, where we focus on enriching smaller spaces in real homes. We have an edit of really clever renovations filled with great – and doable – ideas to share this issue. Take your pick of our six inspiring homes, including a great semi with a glorious backyard, a light and bright tiny apartment, a minimalist shack, a stylish city apartment and a designer’s loft in London. They’re all perfect little sanctuaries that reflect their owners’ needs and personalities. And while some of…

TRIED BY Editor Eliza O’Hare RATED 10/10 Robot vacuums have always bemused me. The premise of the Deebot U2 Pro by Ecovacs Robotics is that it targets pet hair and so, as the owner of a 13-year-old pug, I could see how it might be life-changing. This model is quiet, quick and hums around the house in meticulous fashion – soft-bumping walls and table legs in its effort to collect all the hair. Helping with this is the bonus pet-care kit: a tangle-free brush and 800ml dustbin. The Deebot U2 Pro also has a mop mode, which has been great for my terracotta tiles. While Doug the pug isn’t a fan, the fact that we can control the robot remotely through the app and have the vacuuming finished before we…

sculptural statement Don’t fall into the trap of buying lots of small bitsy pieces to play it safe! Be brave and go for a large statement piece, and use this anywhere you might otherwise display a big vase of flowers; think dining table, kitchen island, mantelpiece or console. If you are displaying smaller pieces together in groups, remember the ‘law of three’, where things always look better in threes or odd numbers. Keep a variation in height to create visual interest and dialogue between the pieces. Mood match Artwork is mood-inducing, so make sure you match the mood to the space you are displaying it in, especially if it is the hero of the room. Bedrooms should soothe and relax; living spaces need to feel lively and happy; and dining…

Who lives here Mary Nguyen, managing director of Wallpaper Trader; with her husband Andrew Dempster; and their one-year-old daughter, Daisy. Style of home An original three-bedroom 1930s apartment that’s been updated to maintain its Art Deco integrity, with a new bathroom and a laundry added. The building work took three months from the time they bought the property in November 2016. All up (including the apartment), the budget was $1.5—$2 million.…

“If possible, take your cupboards all the way to the ceiling. You can use that space to store seldom used items — and it will make the space look and feel bigger!” CAITLIN PARKER-BROWN, INTERIOR DESIGNER/OWNER When interior designer Caitlin Parker-Brown and her husband Tim discovered a derelict period home in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, they saw an opportunity to not only restore the property to its former glory, but to make it even better. “We loved the old-world charm of the house and wanted to keep as much of the character as possible by restoring and retaining the original features,” says Caitlin. Although limited by the small footprint of the home, the couple really wanted to create a greater sense of space by opening up the interiors. They…

When architect and interior designer Kitty Lee took a brief for the renovation of this Sydney home, the message was clear: the owner needed lots of storage, much of it for her wine collection. As well as generating shelving and wardrobe spaces for mother and daughter to live more comfortably, Kitty created a sophisticated dining area with chevron-shaped bottle storage that any wine-club president would be proud to show off. Flowing on from the entry and kitchen space, it’s resplendent in blackbutt with charcoal accents that go perfectly with white or red. Turn the page to see more.…

Well, the year from hell is officially over and now we can start the healing process. We all spent a lot of time cooped up at home last year, locked into our abodes with work and travel restrictions, and didn’t we feel it! Working from the dining table and juggling the whole home-schooling thing soon made many of us realise how small our spaces can actually feel when chaos descends. BUT, as we discovered, the answer to the problem of cramped small spaces is not necessarily more room, it’s using those spaces better, with multipurpose functionality and smarter features. Let’s see how we can workshop those small-space woes before the next pandemic send us all indoors again (touch wood)! get lit Lighting is EVERYTHING within a home, and a well-lit…

Controlling indoor air pollution and moisture levels is easy, thanks to compact and portable air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers. “Dehumidifiers are great if you have issues with mould or mildew affecting your walls, ceiling, clothes and shoes,” says Colin Jones from Appliances Online. According to Gary Brown from Harvey Norman, you can expect to collect between 15 and 20 litres of moisture from the air in less than 12 hours. Humidifiers are perfect for dry climates as they put moisture back into the air. “They’re also useful if you sleep with an air conditioner in the room and don’t like the dry feeling it can create,” says Gary. “Many people will put a compact one by the bed.” As for the cost, dehumidifiers and humidifiers start at around $399 for a size to suit a…

1 Big meets small in a study of contrast, with Bendigo Pebbles aggregate from Eco Outdoor flowing around the monolithic sandstone support of a custom cantilevered bench. 2 The inner side of the original brick wall had been rendered, with grooves added, to soften a plane that could otherwise have looked monumental. Genevieve and Katy further relieved it with battens similar to those in the home’s extension. 3 Two coral bark maples lend verticality to the plantings and soften the lines of such a high-walled space. Their leaves change colour seasonally and, being deciduous, offer shade in summer and sun through the bare branches in winter. 4 Sandstone slabs have been recycled from the old garden and intermingled with a dwarf mondo grass carpet to add softness and visual interest on the ground…

“I like to serve asparagus at breakfast or brunch alongside poached eggs on toast, and I particularly like how well it pairs with tarragon and butter, even hollandaise sauce. This great brunch dish could be extended into lunch with the addition of a handful of spring salad leaves” ANDREW MCCONNELL asparagus with tarragon mustard dressing, hazelnuts and soft-boiled egg by Andrew McConnell SIMPLE, VEGETARIAN LESS THAN 30 MINS SERVES 4 4 eggs 60g hazelnuts 20 asparagus spears 1 tbsp olive oil 1 large (or 2 small) golden shallots, thinly sliced TARRAGON MUSTARD DRESSING 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp cream 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp picked and chopped tarragon leaves 1 To cook the eggs, bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer. When…

Michael Reid Gallery 2/358 Barrenjoey Road, Newport NSW 2106 michaelreidstudiodirect.com.au Splice Boutique Suite 10/349 Barrenjoey Road, Newport NSW 2106 spliceboutique.com.au Composition by Office Elias 45a Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach NSW 2107 compositionbyofficeelias.com Haven and Sarah 33 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon NSW 2107 havenandsarah.com.au Palm Beach Wine Co 1109 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach NSW 2108 (02) 9974 4304 Barrenjoey House 1108 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach NSW 2108 barrenjoeyhouse.com.au Rockridge Palm Beach This is just one of the extraordinary properties available from local location company Contemporary Hotels. contemporaryhotels.com.au…

Embrace this year’s big trend in layered tablesetting with all the colour and joy of Bonnie and Neil’s new-season collection. Its botanical theme is a mish-mash of dynamic original artworks by Bonnie, all screenprinted by hand in Melbourne onto quality sustainable linens, making covetable napkins, cloths, table runners, tea towels and throws. If you really want to raise your table stakes, grab some of the matching cushions for your dining chairs and complete the set. Oranges Multi tablecloth, $420. bonnieandneil.com.au…

Made By You is an online timber furniture store established in 2019 by Anna Wright-Hands. Her point of difference is that every piece can be customised in terms of length and height. “It’s interesting,” she says, “because some people see a piece and think, ‘I want that!’ and click away to their desired specifications, and some would prefer to make it ever so slightly different to fit under a specific window, or within a tight or otherwise unused nook in their home, so they contact us direct.” Here, Anna shares the ethos behind her brand. How would you describe your brand? We’re certainly not the ‘too cool, trendy designer in the corner at the party’ – we’re the approachable ones, smiling (near the food!) and asking about your life. It’s…

In a prime example of razor-sharp timing, architect Pip Marston finished renovating the Sydney apartment she shares with her partner Nick just as the pandemic hit. The design’s genius is its two workspaces, one based in the kitchen and the other facing it from a more spacious but slightly less handy location in the bedroom. A polite shutter enables each to claim a little privacy when required, and so the couple were able to stay fully operational – and happy – there for months. See page 56 for more details.…

“Apart from the brickwork, another unexpected outcome of the renovation is our striking yet simple staircase. The original one was a chunky design with vertical American-oak battens, which came in over budget. We had to come up with a more cost-effective option. It was a team effort for everyone involved to get the beautiful staircase we have now. I actually like it a lot more than the original, so it was for the better.”…

Architect and interior designer Kitty Lee first met her potential client Chew Lim at Chew’s house in suburban Sydney, where the scene spoke volumes. “Kitty could see boxes and boxes of wine everywhere,” says Chew, laughing. “So she knew immediately what was important to me.” Chew had purchased the compact house – in Kingsford, close to Sydney Airport – 16 years earlier, around the same time that her daughter Phoebe was born. The red-brick bungalow had served Chew and Phoebe well, but over time it had begun to feel cramped. “In addition to the wine situation, Phoebe was about to begin studying for her HSC,” explains Kitty. “Both mother and daughter were in need of more room.” By the time Kitty showed up, Chew had already been planning to renovate…

Does summer bring with it thoughts of sweltering days and sleepless nights for you? Don’t despair. Shop around and you’ll find plenty of ways to keep your cool when the mercury rises. Better still, many of the latest cooling appliances come loaded with energy-savvy features, so you won’t get the shock of a hefty power bill. “The right cooling product depends on your climate, budget, room size and set-up, and the type of cooling you prefer – as well as whether you want extra functionality such as air purification,” says Gary Brown, senior brand manager for home appliances at Harvey Norman. “Do you want refrigerated air, in which case you’re looking at an air conditioner, or simply to move air around with a ceiling or portable fan? Many people combine…

HEAD START The padded, breathable base of the Bellaire bed and its elevated sleep platform will give you every chance of some serious shut-eye. The queen size is $4302 (side table optional); kingliving.com.au UPON REFLECTION Petite but perfectly formed, the Aura polished-metal table mirror by New Works delivers the design beauty of a gallery-worthy piece. $120, Design Stuff; designstuff.com.au SOFT TOUCH Linen and suede always make a winning combination. L&M Home’s Alec cushions, $139 each, come in three nature-inspired colours. Shown here are Tobacco and Shell, and there’s also Fossil; lmhome.com.au CLOSE COMFORT Whether it’s at the foot of your bed or thrown on a chair while you snooze, Cultiver’s fringed Estela waffle linen throw in Forest (150cm x 220cm) is all about comfort. $190; cultiver.com.au makes scents Revel in the…

Jonima Flowers are sold at Yanderra Farm, Wollondilly Shire, from Monday through Thursday (9am—2pm) and Friday (9am—5pm), as well as online. You can also find them at Sydney Flower Market (Stand 37), Carriageworks Farmers Market, Warwick Farm Trackside Market, Kiama Farmers Market and Capital Region Farmers Market (Canberra). Flowers to buy in Dec/Jan  + Dahlia + Rose + Flowering Gum + Sunflower + Zinnia + Hydrangea + Grevillea + Scabiosa Flowers to plant in Dec/Jan  + Sunflower + Zinnia + Paper daisy + Hydrangea + Gomphrena + Buddleja + Grevillea…

If design inspiration drives your holiday choices, this north-facing laneway hideaway needs to be your next destination. Bismarck House is not only award-winning, but is supremely beautiful and surprisingly comfortable, enjoying the kind of puritan design that has roused hundreds of mood boards for future projects. The project team is pretty stellar, with architectural design by Andrew Burges Architects for owners Will and Julia Dangar, and construction and interiors by their own firm, Robert Plumb Build, along with creative direction from their great friends, power design couple David Harrison and Karen McCartney. It’s basically a design unicorn: an unassuming Sydney semi from the front and a stunning sculptural structure at the back. The internal experience is one of space, light and deep calm. And the fact that we can now…

OPEN FOR BUSINESS robert plumb If you live in Sydney, or are spending time there over the holidays, don’t forget to check out the new Robert Plumb store in Waterloo. The brand’s own collections are featured, along with select international names. Drop by 8/18 Danks Street, Waterloo. ROBERTPLUMB.COM.AU BEACH FUN having a ball Warm weather at the beach turns our thoughts to... paddleball. Kit yourself out with this pair of maple-wood paddles, which come with two rubber balls in a drawstring canvas bag; $155 for the set. THEBEACHPEOPLE.COM.AU TOTE-ALLY COOL grab and go Made of sturdy canvas and in four colours, including orange, a Hershan large utility tote, $575, easily handles summer tasks. HERSHAN.COM LITTLE LUXURIES SLICE OF PAPAYA The smallest members of your family can now be the most stylish,…

Whitney Spicer PAINTER, MANILDRA, NSW How would you describe your art? While I don’t necessarily adhere to a certain style of art, my current series is a collection of still-life paintings captured at an aerial view. Recently, I have been working on loosening my brush stroke; this is giving me a less-refined finish and bringing a whimsical quality to each piece. What do you love most about painting? The process of creating each artwork is so incredibly personal to me, and knowing that my paintings bring joy to others is so rewarding. Where do you find inspiration? I paint from life, whether that is still-life arrangements, the countryside around me, or my children. Although the content itself can be quite simple, it really is an example of finding happiness in…

Sometimes size doesn’t matter – it’s the home you create within your particular set of walls that makes all the difference. That’s the approach Mary Nguyen and her husband Andrew Dempster took when they were the lucky bidders on an original Art Deco apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Size was a lot less important than other factors. After living in London for several years, the couple wanted the ultimate Sydney experience of living in a beautiful coastal home. Being outbid numerous times when the property market was at its hottest, the deflated couple looked at just one more place in Bellevue Hill, with no expectations of it being theirs. Once they walked through the front door and turned left, a view of Rose Bay captivated them. With Mary’s creative flair,…

Surprises abound in the simple yet sublime house among the Moonah trees that Sophie Cocks and her partner Michael Rhodes call home. Nestled between the bay and surf beaches of Rye on Victoria’s scenic Mornington Peninsula, the thoughtfully reborn holiday shack leaves an indelible impression on all who visit. Hugged by nature, and unified inside and out by soothing shades of green, the coastal retreat has been owned by Sophie and Michael since late 2016. “We purchased the home with the intention of renting it out as an Airbnb, but loved it so much that we now live here permanently,” says Sophie. “We fell in love with the location and the simple design of the house, which we really wanted to retain in the renovation. We were always adamant about…

“I WAS LOOKING FOR A HOME THAT WAS UNIQUE, HAD GOOD BONES, GOOD ENERGY AND POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER RENOVATION” MORGWN RIMEL, HOMEOWNER There’s nothing quite like a hard deadline to focus the mind. Morgwn Rimel, the owner of this spectacular London loft, had agreed that her home – her first-ever interior project – would be open to the public as part of the 2018 London Design Festival, showcasing pieces from her pick of the best British and international designers. “I’d been having trouble decorating my home. It was hard to narrow down my ideas and I worried about making the wrong choices,” says Morgwn. That indecision disintegrated as the date for the pop-up exhibition loomed and, in the end, her work and home (which was visited by thousands) were widely…

kitchen DESIGN PROCESS A stone’s throw from one of Sydney’s eastern beaches, this coastal home is lived in by a young family. My team was brought in to reconfigure rooms within the existing footprint. There was dead space in the kitchen that wasn’t being used effectively, so we actually reduced the size to make room for a new [adjacent] ensuite. We had to really consider every drawer and cupboard and what sort of items would be placed within. We took advantage of the high ceilings on one side of the kitchen and took the cupboards right up to store things not frequently in use. Ensuring it’s comfortable to move within the space is really important, so making sure that there was enough space between joinery was essential. SPACE CREATION Using…

“Portable air conditioners are compact and give you the freedom to have an air conditioner anywhere there’s a window and a power socket, without the need for complex installation, so they’re ideal for renters, bedrooms and smaller rooms,” says Colin Jones, category expert at Appliances Online, where prices start from $400 for a size to suit a small bedroom. To run it, a portable air conditioner will cost between 24 and 29 cents an hour, says Jan Prichard, general manager of customer care at Origin Energy. Impressive models to look out for include Dimplex’s new multi-directional portable air conditioner with built-in dehumidifier (which delivers cool air to all corners of the room, even on 43°C days) and De’Longhi’s super-quiet Pinguino Air-To-Air model (which combines both temperature and humidity control for…

Hidden behind a rendered brick wall in Sydney’s inner south, this is a small garden that’s had a big impact, both visually and in the lives of its owners. Created by landscape designer Katy Svalbe of Svalbe & Co, the lush green oasis with offshoots of minimalist Zen has proven its restorative powers during the pandemic. “Compact spaces demand design solutions that engage with every nook and cranny, for an immersive experience,” says Katy of a haven that does exactly that, in spades. The garden’s journey began in 2016, when the owners asked architect Genevieve Murray of Future Method Studio to design a minimalist, Japanese-inspired two-storey addition to their Victorian sandstone worker’s cottage, with a wing bridging the two. Realising the importance of the courtyard at its core, they hired…

How important was it to bring the breeze block into the 21st century while still remaining true to its iconic origins? Normally a breeze block has one extruded shape in a block, resulting in one pattern. My Kite Breeze block design has the ability for a user to create endless patterns from the one building block, and has a second layer of relief that works as a backdrop to capture shadow and light throughout the day. This perhaps represents an evolution in its use as it amplifies the importance of the breeze block as a functional architectural element. What was the most complicated or interesting aspect of designing this new interpretation? My practice normally focuses on furniture [with projects for Tait furniture, Cult, Cappellini, Normann Copenhagen and others], so I am…

New rugs elevate rooms with a delicious injection of calm colour. A great one is not only the centrepiece of a room but sets the tone for texture and colour all around it – and the right one has transformative powers. This Colour Play Braid rug in Oregano is from Armadillo’s freshly expanded palette for the three best-selling rugs in its Classic Collection. Other natural tones such as sun-ripened Maize, Saffron, Blush, Amber and Kelp will also deliver new depth and sensuality to any space. From $925. armadillo-co.com…