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Bigger isn’t always better: Ideal Aussie home revealed

June 15, 2018 2 Comments

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‘Small but perfectly formed’ and ‘less is more.’ They’re phrases that I keep returning to and particularly when it comes to design. It sounds counter-intuitive (and it’s certainly antithetical to the McMansion narrative that most of us were raised on) but just because a home is large doesn’t necessarily make it highly livable. While ten bedrooms and five bathrooms may sound like a dream, if the spaces aren’t thoughtfully designed and well connected to one another it can leave you cold. Besides, given the price of property these days, the great Australian (quarter-acre) dream is fast becoming a thing of the past and we’re now seeing interesting design solutions for smaller spaces emerge.

My Ideal House backyard
My Ideal House – backyard

My Ideal House was a nationwide competition (masterminded by Australian House & Garden magazine and Mirvac), launched over two years ago by then NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes inviting architects, designers and the public to submit plans for a home tailored to 21stcentury life. Think smaller families with two working parents, multi-generational households, tech-led lifestyles and sustainability pressures and you’re on the right track.

My Ideal House - kitchen
My Ideal House – kitchen

The competition produced some fabulous entries but the winning design was created by Sydney architect Madeleine Blanchfield whose modular design offers spaces to retreat and unite and includes three large bedrooms, a large open living zone, a multipurpose lounge and a double-car garage. The home is comprised of two modules (the sleeping pavilion and living pavilion) that can be oriented to face North on any block of land and the real-life design can be viewed in the Sydney suburb of Camden ahead of the home’s auction on June 30. It’s worth noting that Mirvac will donate $50,000 from the sale to the Salvation Army to support its work in assisting the homeless.

My Ideal House - living & dining
My Ideal House – living & dining

“The home feels larger than it is because of the clever way the rooms have been planned. Madeleine Blanchfield’s design concept – an airy, modern home with many charming touches has been beautifully realised by the Mirvac team, who were naturally focused on ensuring the house was innovative and held plenty of customer appeal,” says Australian House & Garden editor in chief Lisa Green.

My Ideal House - master bedroom
My Ideal House – master bedroom

“The result is a lovely, liveable home with generous spaces indoors and out and solid eco credentials. It stands proud among its neighbours, fosters community interaction and pride with its window boxes and herbs in the front yard, and can be adapted to suit future family needs,” says Lisa.

My Ideal House - bathroom
My Ideal House – bathroom

Flexibility is key to the design – there’s a multi-purpose room that can be used as a TV or music room, home office, retreat or additional bedroom. The open-plan part of the home can be arranged into living and activity zones to suit each individual family and each bedroom has a study nook with space for a desk too.

My Ideal House - children's room
My Ideal House – children’s room

“Through design we have the opportunity to change lives for the better. It’s at the very heart of what we do at Mirvac and the ambitions of My Ideal House aligned with our own beliefs and values. It has been a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge with Madeleine and to now present a home that is beautiful to look at and beautiful to live in. It is an intelligent and well-considered approach to the site and settles any argument that big is best,” says Mirvac’s general manager of design, marketing and sales, Diana Sarcasmo.

My Ideal House - lounge room
My Ideal House – lounge room

“Mirvac has designed and built thousands of homes in master planned communities over the past 45 years which gives us enormous insight into what Australian families are looking for in the family home. As designers, builders and urban planners we continually look for new and innovative ways to meet that need, drawing on our own expertise and collaborating with others,” says Diana.

My Ideal House - second bedroom
My Ideal House – second bedroom

“For reasons of sustainability and ultimately liveability, My Ideal House exemplifies the way good design and space planning can deliver a magnificent home within a lighter footprint,” says Diana. Sustainability has been assured with the use of CSR Hebel blocks, solar panels and a Tesla battery – all designed to dramatically reduce energy costs too.

The home has a beautiful indoor/outdoor flow
The home has a beautiful indoor/outdoor flow

For more | Sustainable timber boards for your walls

 

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The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys 💗 Me and my boys 💗
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner 💓😁
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting 🤣 Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help ❤️
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late is marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydney’s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital 😜

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness 😉

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Comments

  1. AvatarSarah says

    June 15, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    Gorgeous. Don’t suppose we are allowed to see the floor plan?

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      June 17, 2018 at 6:49 pm

      If you click through on ‘for more’ it takes you to more info including the floor plan 🙂

      Reply

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