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Eight women team up to build two energy efficient homes in joint venture

By Jen Bishop โ€ข Leave a Comment

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Eight women who came together in an innovative joint venture to design and build a pair of beautiful and sustainable homes, are celebrating its successful completion.

Rebeka Morgan and her partner John of BuildHer Collective and Beirin Projects, have been renovating and developing for years and decided to share this journey with seven other women who all have a love and passion for renovating and developing.ย The collaborative process saw each of the BuildHer8 take a role in the project, creating two seven-star energy rated homes rather than the “uninspiring” townhouses the block came with planning approval for.

One of the homes, North House, was sold off the plan when neighbours, who had been watching the process, loved it so much that they decided to swoop in quickly and seal the deal! The remaining South House (pictured throughout) is now up for auction this weekend.

“As women we have the power to create beautiful spaces and by teaming up, we can increase our capacity for change, share the risk and have a massive pile of fun along the way,” says Rebeka. “This project is super special.”

She adds: “The cheapest product (for example, the planned townhouses) is not always the best outcome. Putting the effort in to understand how people want to live and thinking about future use and sustainability is a worthy investment and endeavour.”

Fellow BuildHer8 member Ivy Huang explains: “The existing plans were for two townhouses that were bulky, uninspiring, and in our opinion, did not provide the best flow and amenities for family living. We saw this as a perfect opportunity to take a different approach and design something special instead. Rebeka’s brief to our architects, Ben Callery Architects, was to design two different but complementary houses that would optimise the space as well as account for the site, the orientation and indeed, how each house would impact the other.

“We deliberately chose an architect firm with strong values in sustainability. This strategy to redesign obviously comes with an added cost, but we actually believe this was the opportunity that other people missed. And that made the project exciting to us!”

BuildHer Collective teach women how to build a lifestyle around property development in their DevelopHer’s Masterclass. “As part of that, we have a true passion for the built environment, and believe every developer and renovator has a responsibility to care about sustainability. There are now a handful of innovative developers who are really pushing the bar high in terms of sustainability in developments, but the fact that they are considered innovative and not the norm shows we have plenty to go! We love being part of that conversation and progress, and excited to see the industry grow in this direction,” Ivy says.

The group of eight women comprised a huge variety of personalities and skill sets, with their ages spanning across nearly 30 years and with very diverse backgrounds. “We have used this to our advantage by divvying up responsibilities so that each participant gets to shine and have hands-on experience in the project,” Ivy says. “But we’ve also had to rally together to get some menial tasks done, such as cleaning or unpacking boxes of styling items. What we’ve learnt is that there’s never a perfect division of tasks and responsibilities, and that also ebbs and flows over the life of a project. If there’s an expectation of a perfect division, there’ll always be dissatisfaction! What is important is that everyone is leaning in and doing their best!”

The advantages of everyone chipping in were certainly more than just financial. “Eight minds are better than one! Between us we have eight time more contacts, skill sets and capabilities, and that is a tremendous benefit! Developing can be a lonely game, and that’s one of the reasons BuildHer Collective was created. We now have a wonderful community of likeminded women who support each other. And doing a joint venture like this is really as communal as it gets and we’d love to see more!”

And in fact, three more JVs have been created under BuildHer Collective since this one! “We think people crave community collaboration, and with the right set of tools and information, anyone can do it,” Ivy says. 

If you’re thinking of going in with friends to do something similar, setting yourself up for success is crucial. “Work through and document your intentions, scenarios and protections,” Ivy explains. “Another big one is working through financing options, because getting a loan under a JV is drastically different to home loans. We wrote a blog that address this very topic.” 

The BuildHer8 are Rebeka Morgan and Kribashini Hannon, the co-founders of BuildHer Collective, Rachel Collard, Alison Lewis, Pricilla Chan, Ohnmar Ruault, Louise Van Zelm and Ivy Huang.

Project: BuildHer Collective | Build: Beirin Projects | Architect: Ben Callery Architects | Interiors & Styling: BuildHer Collective, Co Kitchens & Alison Lewis Interiors | Photos: Dylan James

The BuildHer8

South House real estate listing, going to auction this Saturday 11 December 2021.

Buildher8
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December 7, 2021

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When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteri When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteriors decided to reduce her outgoings by moving to a tiny house. And we're not sure we've ever seen a more stylish one!

Although the move to a container home was motivated by financial pressures, Justine Wilson is loving her new simpler way of life.

Read her refreshingly honest, positive interview on the blog now, via link in bio.

It'll make you want to downsize too!

#tinyhomes #tinyhouse #tinyhome #tinyhouses #tinyliving #livingbiginatinyhouse #tinyhousemovement #tinyhouseonwheels #tinyhouseliving #tinyhousenation #tinyhouseattractive #tinyhomedesign #containerhouse #containerhome #containerhomes #containerhouses #containerhomedesigns #interiorstylist #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #jenbishop #smallspaceliving #smallspacedesign #downsizeliving #downsize #downsizingandminimizing #escapetothecountry #hawkesburyriver #hawkesburyriverlife
Appliance colour trends: They've certainly change Appliance colour trends:

They've certainly changed over the years. Remember when ALL fridges were white?! I remember the original BROWN wall oven in our 60s kitchen here pre-reno! I think the dishwasher was brown and beige (and it tripped the electrics every time we used it!) ๐Ÿ˜œ

What do you think of this new dark stainless steel option (pictured) from Westinghouse as seen in @dnaofdesign_'s latest reno? Yay or nay? 

What colour do you like your appliances?

See the rest of this home and kitchen and laundry design tips from the ex Blockheads on the blog now via link in bio.

#kitchenappliances #walloven #wallovens #combioven #combioven #microwaves #builtinappliances #builtinoven #builtinovens #homeappliance #westinghouse #kitchentrends #ovens #laundryappliances #darkstainlesssteel #stainlesssteelappliances
SALE ALERT! Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my fav SALE ALERT!

Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my favourite home stores @shack.furniture.homewares are having their annual warehouse sale this week, from Thursday until Saturday.

HUGE savings on furniture, homewares and decor with 30 to 80% off. Wowsers!

I'm a big fan of SHACK and can never leave one of their stores without a few styling goodies for my place! It's just too tempting!

While you're at the sale, mention Interiors Addict for an extra 10% off!

Unit 16a, 1801 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow NSW 2019

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd June 2023, 9am to 4pm. Not online.

#sydneyshopping #sydneysale #sydneysales #sydneyfurniture #shackfurniture #shackfurniturehomewares #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #comeshoppingwithme
A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in th A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in this bathroom is one of the cleverest designs we've seen in a while!

This mega ledge, made of Corian, even incorporates a sink, seamlessly.

Combined with venetian plaster on the walls, it's no wonder this Illawarra bathroom by @birdblackdesign feels like a day spa!

Come check it out via link bio.

Lead designer Stuart Gibson says: "One smooth curve, right around the room, from either side of the door opening. As it moves around, it creates a ledge for the bath: for bath oils, lotions, a book and a champagne glass. The ledge continues around and becomes the vanity, widening out to create a custom seamless basin."

#bathroomhappiness #bathroomdetails #bathroomshelves #bathroomshelf #venetianplastering #coriandesign #coriansolidsurface #spalikebathroom #spabathroom #sustainablebathroom
Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the before and afters for you on the blog now, via link in bio (and swipe for a taster).

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #foxtel #lifestylechannel #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterlivingroom #beforeandafterrenovation #realitytv #housetours #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
๐Ÿ˜ Not sure what's better: the custom mirror abo ๐Ÿ˜ Not sure what's better: the custom mirror above the fireplace in this Art Deco one-bedder or the wallpaper in the kitchen (swipe)?!

It's been a while since we featured an apartment makeover on IA. Would you like to see more apartment interiors? Head to the blog now to see more of this one. Via link in bio.

#artdecoapartment #artdecointerior
#artdecomirror #artdecofireplace #artdecomelbourne #artdecofurniture #artdecobuilding #artdecointeriors #apartmentrenovation #apartmentinterior #smallspaceliving #melbourneapartments #melbourneairbnb #kitchenwallpaper #wallpaperaustralia
Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sh Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sheets and soap and powder!). We have a great roundup of the best options on the blog today. 

A whole host of brands are offering eco-friendly, low tox alternatives to the more chemical-laden ones. Not only that, they often smell amazing, look good on your shelf and come in recycled or recyclable (or even better, both) packaging. 

Good for your skin, your clothes and the planet: whatโ€™s not to like?

Do you use any of these?

COMPARE THEM ALL VIA LINK IN BIO NOW.

#lowtoxliving #lowtoxlife #lowtoxlifestyle #lowtoxhome #lowtoxlaundry #lowtoxswaps #naturallaundry #naturallaundrydetergent #naturallaundrysoap #ecolaundry #lowtoxcleaning #ecofriendlyhome #ecofriendlyhouse #laundryliquid #laundrypowder #laundrysoap #naturalcleaning #chemicalfreecleaning #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Play room goals!๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป This is just one room fr Play room goals!๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

This is just one room from today's real house tour which I really love because in employing interior designer @issyandhcreative the owners weren't looking for a complete rip out and re-do but rather to work with what they had in their new suburban home (including a dated kitchen) and give it a largely cosmetic glow up with styling and new furniture (some of which was upcycled). 

The brief was to create a family friendly home. "They weren't looking for perfection but rather a warm and relaxing retreat for their busy young family." This playroom though? Pretty close to perfect! And the mum did the colour coded books herself. Love that๐Ÿ˜

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#playroomideas #playroomgoals #playroomdecor #familyhomes #kidfriendlyhome #kidfriendlyinteriors #familyhomedecor #sustainabledecor #affordablerenovations #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #beanbagchair #beanbags #colourcodedbooks #colourcoded #toyroom #kidsroomdesign 

Pix by @tealily
All the heart eyes for this little setup ๐Ÿ˜ Hea All the heart eyes for this little setup ๐Ÿ˜

Head to the blog to shop this and two other gorgeous styled images from @greenhouseinteriors 

The stunning @mrsniceart artwork has already sold but the good news is, you can still get prints of it!

Styling by Aisha Chaudhry for Greenhouse Interiors, assisted by Nikki McGar, Kylie Harris, Rachael Blake and Max Green. Photography by Stephanie Rooney. 

#poolart #sideboardstyling #buffetstyling #consolestyling #vignettes #greenhouseinteriors #barcartstyling #shopthelook #bluehomedecor #poolumbrella #beachumbrella
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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