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Graya Constructions’ Andrew Gray’s stunning new home

June 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

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After a decade of building homes for other people, Andrew Gray of Graya Construction built his own forever home high on a hill in the inner Brisbane suburb of Paddington recently and itโ€™s a beauty. While resale was considered, the tri-level home is anything but ordinary with neutral feature brick, timber, concrete and natural stone combining for a relaxed, urban vacation vibe.

Andrew Gray home
The home features a three-story chimney. Photo: Cathy Shusler

โ€œWe wanted our home to feel like a haven. We went with a light colour palette, something that was neutral and more coastal, so we could get a holiday feel. The light tones of the brick and how weโ€™ve used it throughout the house has brought that sense of lightness, airiness and relaxation,โ€ says Andrew.

Kitchen and living. Photo: Cathy Shusler
Kitchen and living. Photo: Cathy Shusler

Originally a run-down Queenslander, the front of the home was restored as part of the renovation process and the new extension at the back seamlessly blends the old with the new. Interestingly, exposed brick plays an important part in the renovation and it was a choice driven by the Queensland climate more than aesthetics.

Front elevation. Photo: Mindi Cook
The restored Queenslander from the front. Photo: Mindi Cooke
The home boasts Brisbane city views. Photo: Cathy Shusler
The home boasts Brisbane city views. Photo: Cathy Shusler

โ€œWe decided to use brick pretty early on in the piece as a core part of our homeโ€™s design because of the climate in Queensland. What we didnโ€™t realise is that it also opens up opportunities design-wise, because there are so many varieties of brick that you can use in different ways. I think when a lot of people think about brick, they imagine the traditional red, old style, but with so many design options available now for brick we really felt that if we could use it in the right way, it could be completely timeless,โ€ says Andrew.

A wine rack makes a statement in the living room. Photo: Cathy Shusler
A wine rack makes a statement in the living room. Photo: Cathy Shusler
Master bathroom. Photo: Mindi Cook
The master bathroom features emerald green marble. Photo: Mindi Cooke

Sourced from PGH Bricks, the same style of brick is used throughout the home including the inside walls and floors โ€“ an emerging design trend. The technique helps to create the illusion of endless space where the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors are blurred.

Bedroom
Larissa Gray in the master bedroom. Photo: Mindi Cooke
Master bathroom
Master bathroom. Photo: Cathy Shusler

Brick also stars in one of the homeโ€™s most notable features โ€“ a three-storey, minimalist brick chimney that stretches from the bottom to the top of one side of the house. โ€œOne of my favourite features in our home is our three-storey brick chimney. Combining the intrinsically traditional nature of brick with such a cool modern feature meant that we could create a really unique and trendy feature for our home that will never aesthetically date. I believe thatโ€™s what made brick the perfect material for our forever home,โ€ says Andrew.

Pool. Photo: Mindi Cook
Pool and alfresco fireplace. Photo: Mindi Cooke

Bricks were used in a relatively unusual, bespoke way too after Andrew gave them to his tiler to cut up and turn into tiles for the entry pathway and walkway. โ€œWe carried these same bricks into our feature walls to create cohesion, which turned out great. If you think outside the box, thereโ€™s some really cool design elements that you can create with such a simple and reliable material. Itโ€™s the best of both worlds for us,โ€ says Andrew.

Larissa and Andrew Gray
Larissa and Andrew Gray at the entry to their home. Note the unusual brick work on the ground. Photo: Mindi Cooke

And while the home is fairly neutral, there are some statement areas of colour including the master ensuite with is emerald green marble and the powder room and its red marble. โ€œItโ€™s in the smaller rooms where those elements have a bigger impact, and it means the whole house isnโ€™t screaming at us. Our design choices were guided by the fact that weโ€™re looking at being here for at least ten years, so we restricted ourselves from anything too bold structurally, keeping it more neutral, and instead got creative with the more decorative elements.โ€

Powder room. Photo: Cathy Shusler
Powder room. Photo: Cathy Shusler

For more | New Art Series hotel in Brisbane

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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 ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
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 ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @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 ๐Ÿคฃ 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 โค๏ธ
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 isย 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, Sydneyโ€™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 ๐Ÿ˜œ

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 ๐Ÿ˜‰

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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