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Mini backyard barn makes perfect home office & guest bedroom

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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Sitting at the rear of a 1920’s sandstone cottage in Sydney’s Helensburgh, this stunning freestanding space serves as a home studio and guest bedroom for Nat Spadavecchia, the brains behind the styling and photography studio The Palm Co. “The original home already had a garage which had been converted to a dodgy granny flat, but it was termite infested. We used the bones of that to create the studio,” she says.

Nat’s gorgeous home studio/guest bedroom

Painted in Dulux Nightsky, and clad in James Hardie’s Axon vertical cladding, the studio contrasts beautifully with the main home which is a heritage-listed cottage that sits at the front of the block. “We loved the look of darker cottages, something that contrasted with the sandstone. White just felt a bit wishy-washy next to it, but we wanted this to be a bit more of a statement. You get that with the black – it’s really minimal and crisp,” says Nat who drew on Japandi elements when designing the space.

Bedroom
Bedroom
The Palm Co cottage
The studio’s kitchenette shaker style doors are clad in the same Axon cladding and painted in Taubmans Breakaway.

Stripping the garage right back to the frame, Nat was able to update and alter the position of the windows and doors which are all painted in the same Dulux shade as the exterior. A pair of beautiful false barn doors in American oak add warmth and texture. The backyard landscaping remained the same but stepping stones were added to connect the studio to the main house and a few potted plants were added for interest.

The Palm Co cottage

Used primarily as a home office, the space functions as a guest bedroom and calm oasis for Nat who explains that the main home that she shares with husband Zach and their toddler Leeroy is quite small. A great way to express yourself creatively while also increasing the value of your property, an external studio is a no brainer if you have the space, explains Nat.

“After COVID, so many people are working from home, so if you can have that already set up, it’s just a bonus. I got to a point where I was working from home a lot and the expense of an external studio on top of our mortgage just didn’t make sense.” And who could blame her for never wanting to leave the house again when she can work in such chic surrounds?

The Palm Co cottage
The flexible space can also be used for extra storage and as a teen retreat down the track

For more on James Hardie’s Axon TM cladding | For more on The Palm Co

Studio Feels
Granny flat, pool house or studio: whatever it is, it’s gorgeous!
Studio, granny flat or pool house. Whatever you call it, it’s certainly a popular option for Australian homes of late, no doubt due to rising property prices and people spending a lot more time at home due to the pandemic. So, when this light-filled, multi-purpose dwelling landed in our inbox we just had to share. The work of Hobbs Jamieson, this stylish studio is part of a family home located in the northern Sydney suburb of Clontarf and quite simply, it’s the bright, white pool house of our dreams. “The homeowners are a professional couple with two young children, and…
Hardie exterior cladding
New exterior cladding product perfect for the Scandi-barn look
With its combination of weatherboards and clean lines, the Scandinavian Barn remains a popular aesthetic because it marries contemporary and traditional design so beautifully. Typified by steep, pitched rooves (a necessity to stop snow gathering throughout Scandinavian winters), countless homes have been designed in this style of late and lovers of the aesthetic will be pleased to hear about a new exterior cladding product that is perfectly suited. Ideal for this style of home, James Hardie Oblique Cladding is a fibre cement shiplap board product that adds clean lines and geometric precision to house exteriors and is ideal for renovations…

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August 30, 2023

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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
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It's a remodel of a previously dark and pokey extension to a Victorian Gothic home. It's now an open plan dream, and the transition from old to new is beautifully done with impressive black steel doors.

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for the full story and tour.

#kitchenislands #superwhite #luxurykitchens #openplanlivingspace #steeldoordesign

📸 @lawrencefurzey
Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ This kitchen Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ 

This kitchen is small but mighty and very very pretty! Swipe through for the finer details of this reno by Casa & Co Interior Design. It sure went from boring beige 90s to stylish and full of detail and storage!

What do you think?

Read all about it on the blog now via link in bio/stories.

#smallkitchenideas #kitchentile #potfiller #featuretiles #hamptonskitchen #pulloutpantry
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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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