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Interior designer Mark Gacesa makes customisation the norm

June 7, 2012

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“I wanted to be an architect from about the age of seven,” says Sunshine Coast interior designer Mark Gacesa, of Ultraspace. His father was an interior designer and as a youngster ‘forced’ to work in the family business instead of surf with his mates, Mark developed a passion for the trade. “I was constantly involved in the process of multiple projects from the age of about 12 and loved seeing the end results and the satisfaction my dad brought to people after being invited into their homes and lives. He taught me that in order to best assist your client, you must become your client. What a great piece of advice!”

Mark’s senior year was the first time QUT offered an interior design degree in Queensland. “I had the option of going into Architecture or Interior Design… the rest is history. However, my passion for architecture shows very strongly in my work.”

He doesn’t think Queensland design gets the kudos and media coverage it deserves. “There are many amazing projects and super creative designs going on up here. For example, I am currently working on two incredible projects… one is a luxurious resort-style house with a beach in the middle of it and another is a glamorous ranch-style getaway complete with its own helipad!”

Predictable is the last thing Mark’s work is. “I’m always creating original concepts that the client could never have imagined, but ultimately loves. I enjoy conjuring up innovative ideas with the use of new and exciting products and taking my clients on a journey with me that builds their excitement as we go. My extensive customisation affords my clients the opportunity to achieve their own incredibly unique signature look rather than mimic what’s been done (and overdone) before.”

Originality, clever use of texture, intricate lighting design (which he says is a crucial element to any space) and heavy use of unique custom designed concepts are his signature elements. “I move anywhere from 7-star hotel look, ultra-glam Dubai influences to modern ‘could be in a New York nightclub’ vibe, to relaxed, contemporary Balinese resort inspired, to luxurious and sophisticated Fifth Avenue Manhattan feel. There are no aesthetic limits!” A great designer, in Mark’s opinion, can achieve any ‘look’ the client desires.

He prides himself on his creative originality and ability to master a wide cross section of design disciplines. “This allows me to control the continuity of a project. I can totally remodel the architectural spaces, both internally and externally, and I custom design a lot of elements, from lighting to basins to furniture to wallpaper to mirrors and cladding. I like to create originality for a client and not necessarily reuse what other people have created. For example, in a recent project that won the Master Builders Best Renovation in Queensland (as well as other local and national kitchen and bathroom awards), not only did I totally redesign the interior spaces including the kitchen and bathrooms, I also ripped off the back of the house! I designed it to fully open up to the amazing views with a massive covered entertaining space, an extravagant entry drive through porte-cochere complete with a huge water feature and two-metre bronze Buddha, bridged entry walkway, circular driveway, designed the stone street entrance with electronic bamboo and carved fretwork gates, all the landscape design and also designed the pool refurbishment.” Phew! “It was a massive overhaul that was very challenging and well appreciated. It helps to have a great team of tradespeople to liaise with,” says Mark.

His work is all over Australia’s East Coast. The majority of projects are residential but he loves variety and has also done professional suites, restaurants and bars, and retail spaces. “If I couldn’t customise at least one thing in a client project I’d feel like I was trapped in a jar with the lid on! Over the years I have been recognised with quite a few awards because of my design originality – it’s who I have always been,” says Mark. “This career allows me to express my creativity and help people at the same time – it really is a blessing.”

His dad has been a constant inspiration, in life and design. “I still regularly bounce ideas off him. I am also inspired by all my fellow designers and tradespeople both here and abroad who are great at what they do. I love mixing and chatting with them, sharing thoughts and ideas. I love it when people aren’t envious or guarded about success. In the end, nobody can do exactly what you do if you are really good at it.”

His own home is a work in progress that he designed four years ago and built one year ago. “We’re on two acres but it looks like 50 acres without a neighbour in sight. It’s still ahead of the curve even though I designed it ages ago and people are always stopping out the front to just look or take photos (the cheeky bastards)! The interior is mostly moody with injections of white to add contrast. I have a full DJ console in my living space that floats above a semicircle of artificial turf, which punches out through the stacker doors to become the daybed lounging space, along with a pool table area and large booth seating. There are some awesome light fittings, fretwork paneling, loads of high end glass beaded and metallic wallpapers, some great art and heaps more features. It’s a showroom!”

Being a straight man in the industry is a rarity. “As a straight guy I definitely bring something different to the design table. I don’t know why there aren’t more straight guys in the game. It can be very technical, butch and hands-on and look at all the amazingly glamorous and talented designer ladies they’d get to hang out with!”

Photography by Mark Gacesa

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I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

🦘🐨Forget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers🙏

Apply to exhibit or find out more at their website, via their bio, now!

Are YOU buying more Australian made post covid?

#madeinaustralia #australianmade #aussiemade #aussiedesign
Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! 💧 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!🤗

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap 🥴) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon 😆

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!💪🏻) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too 😉

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

✔️ I'm English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008😆 

✔️ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. 🛁 

✔️ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) 📓 

✔️ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London 🚔 

✔️I had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife 😁

✔️ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK ❤️ 🇬🇧 

✔️ At school, my favourite subject was French 🇫🇷 and I was head girl 🤓🤓

✔️ I'm addicted to ☕️ , long hot baths and💄 (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

✔️ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message 😁

✔️ My favourite cuisine is Japanese 🍣 🍜 and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

✔️ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

✔️ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or🍷 

✔️ Cheesy as it sounds, 💁‍♀️being a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life 🧒👦

✔️ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view 📖 

✔️ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

✔️ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker 😯 🅿️

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better 😘

📸 @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

“We are very honoured to have been a part of The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,” he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

🙏Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! 🎨 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find 🤗

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
📸 @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old 🤭 N The things that excite me as a 40 year old 🤭

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

✔️ ventilation holes
✔️ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
✔️ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
✔️ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
✔️ Brabantia make things as sustainably as possible
✔️ compact, sleek, European design
✔️ 10 year warranty
✔️ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so 👌🏻

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
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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 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Comments

  1. Avatarjo hamilton interiors says

    June 11, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Thank you for introducing me to Mark’s work. I’ve not come across him before so I will check out his design work further

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