• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
    • IMG_0235Kerb appeal: 3-bedder given fresh new look for retirees
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Copy of Gallery Image Greylac KitchenStone Ambassador’s success story goes truly national
    • TheClassicOutfitter_AbbieMelle_43Quartzite is the new ‘it’ stone but it’s more than just Taj Mahal
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • COMMERCIAL_GoldOverBlue_28May2025_0007What’s new in furniture and homewares: May 2025
    • Screenshot 2025-05-19 at 1.02.34 pmClean your carpets professionally at home without the dry time
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • Montage Apartment by Studio PrineasApartment takes out two major categories in design awards
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Simple Chicken TikkaFoodie Friday: simple chicken tikka + win a copy of BINDAS
    • 1293660_lifestyle Crossland Pearl GL-Porc Txt Rect 597×1195 UNI_Crossland_AMB 02_Living_PearlHow to bring your favourite travel destinations home
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Dine alfresco: how to style your outdoor with Alisa & Lysandra

By Cindy Paskalina Kweesar •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

Whether it’s cocktails on a rooftop, a casual picnic in the park or a family barbeque on the patio, alfresco dining is an intrinsic part of Australian culture. Now more than ever, Australians are looking for ways to incorporate outdoor dining spaces into their homes – and no one does this better than Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, former Block contestants and co-founders of the Alisa & Lysandra Interiors. 

“Alfresco dining spaces are becoming increasingly popular in Australia. They are essentially an extra space within the home that adds value to the entire property,” said Lysandra. “Importantly, they create a relaxed environment that you can share with family and friends – there’s nothing like sitting outside in the fresh air and sunshine and enjoying a meal with loved ones.”

For their latest project, an exquisite waterfront home in Queensland’s Paradise Point, the pair were determined to create a stylish, hardwearing space that would allow the owners to enjoy outdoor drinks and meals year-round. The epitome of a well-designed alfresco, Paradise Point combines beautiful aesthetics with sturdy products and sustainable materials – including cutting-edge architectural sintered stone surfaces from premium European brand Neolith. 

Here, Alisa and Lysandra reveal exactly what it takes to create a good alfresco:

Functionality is everything

“Like any area that involves cooking and entertaining, functionality is huge. There is no point having a space that is not functional,” said Lysandra. “The sky is really the limit depending on the space, you may choose to include a feature that encloses the area during bad weather, add cooking and prep areas if you have a BBQ, or even bring in a beverage fridge for convenience.”

When designing the alfresco at Paradise Point, Alisa and Lysandra ensured it would cater to the owners’ needs and make the most of the house’s key attributes. “The house itself is positioned in a magnificent waterfront location, so the natural environment was an important part of the design process,” said Lysandra. “As well as looking appealing, we wanted this area to function well and serve as an extension of the home.”

“The space has been designed to be used as an entertainment area all year round and takes advantage of the waterfront views. There is also a servery window from the butler’s pantry that connects to the outdoor dining area, which is especially convenient when cooking and entertaining,” said Alisa. 

Choose your colours wisely 

An alfresco is an extension of the home, so it’s important to choose a colour scheme that harmonises with the rest of the interiors. That doesn’t mean there isn’t any room for creativity, of course. At Paradise Point, Alisa and Lysandra combined an array of colours and textures in order to create a warm, tranquil space filled with personality whilst remaining consistent with the interiors’ distinctly urban feel.

“We really wanted this to be a place with a really relaxing, fun vibe – somewhere highly usable and perfect for an impromptu BBQ or drinks with friends. This was important because, being based in Queensland, we enjoy lots of beautiful weather and know spaces like these are frequently used,” said Lysandra. 

“Stone has been featured throughout and complemented by a marble-look splashback and a countertop that emulates the look and feel of Italian silver travertine. These strong, statement features have been softened with darker tones and elegant brass details.”

“We carried the moody tones from the interiors throughout the alfresco space, combining dark, charred timber cabinetry with soft, silky grey surfaces and a Himalaya Crystal, marble-look splashback from Neolith,” said Alisa.

Pick the right materials

There’s more to an alfresco than just the look and feel – it’s important to think about durability, too. Prioritise selecting high-quality, robust materials that will stand the test of time and endure through practically any climate. For Alisa and Lysandra, this is one of the most important things to consider when designing an outdoor dining space.

Their project at Paradise Point was no different. Being an area that is exposed to the elements like weather and sunlight, they needed to select sturdy, long-lasting products that could withstand all of this and more. “It was important we use high-performance surfaces that were designed to withstand heat, scratches, stains and UV radiation,” added Alisa.

For more on Neolith

Outer team up with Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk on outdoor dining sets
Outer’s first ever dining collection has arrived in Australia just in time for summer. To celebrate the launch, they teamed…
A playful and exciting revamp for a mundane dining room
After a long day at work or school, dining rooms can be the ideal place for families to reconnect and…

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

May 4, 2023

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • Apartment takes out two major categories in design awards

  • Castlery team up with stylist Steve Cordony as brand ambassador

  • A spa-like bathroom and a bold powder room for Northcote home

  • Modern architectural gem is perfect for family living

Follow us on Instagram

Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

@castleryau have named the talented stylist @stevecordony as their first Australian brand ambassador and he's curated a capsule of their furniture which he styled to perfection at his stunning country house @rosedale_farm 

I was lucky enough to see the pieces in situ last week and I honestly couldn't believe how well it all worked! They were going for accessible luxury and well, he delivered, and then some!

Head to the blog via link in bio to read more about the partnership.

#castlery #castleryau #stevecordony #rosedalefarm #affordablefurniture #australianstylist
If you pick your restaurants for the interior as m If you pick your restaurants for the interior as much as the food, you might want to add @pinosalmare  by @nicgrahamandassociates to your date night list! 😍

@smartstoneaustralia's stunning Calacatta Viola sintered stone surface features throughout, making a bold statement while being durable enough to be used in the busiest areas.

Inspired by Puglia, Pino's (named after the owner's father) in Cronulla has a real seaside vibe. The Smartstone was also chosen for the outdoor tables due to its UV stability.

#calacattaviola #smartstone #restaurantinteriors #restaurantinteriordesign #italianrestaurantsydney #engineeredstone #sinteredstone
SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get under the lowest furniture and beds.

Comment 'enter' and we'll DM you the link to enter for your chance to win this top of the range $1499 robot from @ecovacs_anz, the DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI.

Good luck!

#robotvacuumcleaner #robotvaccum #robotvacuummop #robotmop #smarthome #houseworkhacks
>>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮 From cold t >>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮

From cold to cosy!

This primary ensuite for a successful career woman working in luxury cosmetics and homewares is sexy, strong, girly, but sophisticated. We love its warmth and personality.

If you'd like to take the tour and find out where everything is from, comment 'luxe' below and I'll send the link to your DMs!

Bravo @howardlanedesigns 👏🏼 
📸 @capturedbykels__

#ensuiteinspo #ensuitedecor #ensuitegoals #marblebathrooms #statementstone
The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery collection. This is a framed canvas and the quality is amazing. I feel like beautifully framed canvas prints are the perfect affordable halfway point when it comes to art.
What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or winter?

I could have told you I was spring even before I took the quick quiz to find out, and pleased to report the quiz gave me the right result!

Comment the season you THINK you are below (spring, summer, autumn or winter) and I'll send you the link to the quiz so you can double check!

Fun!

This quiz from @templeandwebster jumps on the colour analysis trend for fashion and applies it to interiors!

#seasonaldecorating #seasonaldecor #colouranalysis
The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday w The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday was a real treat. Such an exciting and sleek looking upgrade to my favourite kitchen machine!

The new look speaks for itself and, as usual, the engineering is impressive. Here's the biggest changes that stood out to me:

1. It's SO quiet and in fact SILENT up to a certain speed 
2. It has a much bigger 10 inch screen
3. A new insulated, cool to touch bowl (the inner metal bowl detaches to wash)
4. A gorgeous new matte black design with fluted and herringbone details and made of 30% recycled materials 👏🏼 

Enjoyed a beautiful lunch all prepared, naturally, in the Thermomix! Was great to meet @mise_en_place_aus in real life as well as special guest dessert queen @kirstentibballs and catch up with the lovely Thermomix team.

Tag a friend who'll be coveting the TM7! It's available from next week!

#thermomixtm7 #thermomix #thermomixaus #thermomixlover
Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Chec Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Check out the kitchen and bathroom of the year winners in this month's @hia_au @csrdwelling Housing Awards. There's more winning homes and rooms to check out in our blog post on the homepage, via link in bio or stories now. 

Kitchen by @build.theory Bathroom by @birdblackdesign and @aspire_constructions 

#hiaawards #hiaawards2025 #awardwinninghomes #australianinteriordesign
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Cindy Paskalina Kweesar

About Cindy Paskalina Kweesar

Cindy is interning at Interiors Addict as part of her journalism and communication postgraduate studies at the University of New South Wales.

More from Dining

New In The Roundhouse collection is South Australia on a plate!

Must-have fashion brand Alémais’ prints now on homewares

The Block 2024 living and dining reveals

Win a limited edition Chasseur cast iron French Oven

Are these Australia’s best restaurant interiors of 2024?

How we finally got the living room layout we love

How to create European vibes while dining at home in Australia

Our new dining nook with built in banquette seating

The quick and easy way to create your own banquette seating

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in