Timber beam oasis in Melbourne
With striking angled timber beams, this sustainable and energy efficient oasis in Melbourne was designed by architects Green Sheep Collective.
With striking angled timber beams, this sustainable and energy efficient oasis in Melbourne was designed by architects Green Sheep Collective.
Harmful chemicals known as VOCs can be found in many commonly used DIY, building and renovation materials. Here’s what to look for and how to avoid using them in your home.
Discovering Waimataruru – a sustainable cross laminated timber home by the sea.
A striking off grid house in a remote area of Australia has been designed by Anderson Architecture to blend into nature, be self sufficient and bushfire proof.
Soak up the sustainable goodness of Aussie brand Carlotta + Gee who have an amazing range of lush, organic bedlinen and homewares.
Designer Tina Nettlefold gives her top tips for buying a round dining table plus our top 10 round dining tables for 2023.
Objects of Desire: ceramic basins hand made by Lindsay Wherrett in her Tasmanian studio. Sigh.
There is no better timber for outdoors than teak. Used for boat decks for centuries, it is a stunning choice with golden hues or left to patina to silver.
The stunning sustainable Ripple House in Melbourne features a host of eco-friendly features including a soaring silver-top ash ceiling that reveals itself in ripples of texture and light.
If you’re looking to create a more sustainable home, our ultimate checklist gives a room by room list of things you can do, starting today!
Recent innovations in prefab construction mean you can have a sustainable home for lower cost, a fraction of the timeframe and with the oooh factor. Check these out..
Australian made sofas (or sofas made in your country) are far superior environmentally than cheap imports destined for landfill. Check out our top 15 picks!
Check out this sustainable shipping container house that you can rent on Airbnb – filled with cool vintage pieces and designed with an eclectic, industrial vibe by the clever Alicia Doyle at Ramble Interiors 😍
If you’re in the market for some planet-friendly timber dining chairs, feast your eyes on our top 17 picks in Australia!
This stunning barn-style shed home is on a large rural property on the rugged surf coast of Victoria, Australia. It’s success depended on three things…
Aussie company Architopia has launched eco friendly house plans that are beautiful, sustainable, architect designed AND affordable.
It’s hard not to be struck by the spectacular lines and location of this black clad beauty known as the ‘Skylark cabin’.
Rattan pendant lights are a great way to finish a space and go with nearly all interior design aesthetics. Here are some of our favourites…
Follow us on Instagram!
Insulation might not be a sexy topic but it’s a vital part of sustainable house design and key to achieving the number one goal of building a passive solar house: to maintain an even, comfortable temperature throughout the house. Planning the right eco friendly insulation for your home will be fundamental to reducing your reliance…
Terms of Use These Terms of Use constitute a legally binding agreement made between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity (“you”) and Ecoshack (“we”, “us”, or “our”), concerning your access to and use of the https://ecoshack.com website as well as any other media form, media channel, mobile website or mobile application related,…
Privacy Policy Who we are Our website address is: https://ecoshack.com Our contact information You can reach us via our contact form. What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and…
Thermal mass is a great way to increase the energy efficiency of your dream sustainable house, helping to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. In the right climate, the more thermal mass your house has, the better it will insulate you from temperature fluctuations. In this article we’ll explore why thermal…
In 2022 more people are looking to live off the grid than ever. Here’s our ultimate guide on how to do it by off gridder Logan Hailey.
Choosing to live sustainably is the greatest thing we can do to personally make a difference to the emissions we create. Sustainable interior design is about making informed decisions about the products and materials we surround ourselves with to reduce the impact we have on the earths resources, the amount of fossil fuels we use…
If you’re looking to create a more sustainable home, our ultimate checklist gives a room by room list of things you can do, starting today!
The 7 keys to sustainable house design and how to incorporate them into your new house build or renovation.
It’s little wonder that this eye-catching design by Melanie Beynon Architecture has been shortlisted for the People’s Choice award in the Australian Timber Design Awards. The warmth, tactility, craftsmanship and attention to detail all make the heart sing. The beautiful grain of the Tasmanian Oak is on show in the cladding selected for the walls…
Often it is the constraints of an architectural project that define it and make it unique. In this striking design by Freehand Projects, the need to protect the endangered trees on the property became a feature of the design. The bold architectural expression is softened by a harmonious integration with the surrounds, the main living…
We love to hear from our readers – if you have a tip about an eco home or product we should know about or you just want to say hi, please contact us here. We look forward to hearing from you 🙂
It’s no secret that I’m just a wee bit obsessed with Scandi interiors. You only have to look at my own home which is very much inspired by Scandinavian design for its elegant simplicity, minimalist lines and the natural beauty of timber. It’s no wonder Scandi design is so popular here in Australia. It fits…
The minimalist white exterior of this home makes a surprise transition to the exotic at the entrance: we are welcomed by a Balinese statue and a view beyond to an earthy and compelling combination of polished concrete floors, red Persian hall runner and exotic urn and artworks. It’s my kind of entrance, that’s for sure….
My eye was very much taken by this lovely little copper house in the Sydney suburb of Coogee. Designed by Takt Architects with a brief to be a small house, the objective was certainly achieved with the tiny abode coming in at just 60sqm! So much appears to have been squeezed between the lovely raw…
This stunning home is located in the magnificent Collserola mountain range, overlooking Barcelona. The home was designed by Aleventosa Morell Architects as a compact and sustainable residence. The lush green roof not only adds a stunning aesthetic to the building but does double duty as a thermal mass, helping to keep the home cooler…
How awesome is this little place? This pre-fab design by EcoLiv Sustainable Buildings is on the rugged coastline of Victoria and is on a large 1133m2 site which enjoys perfect northern orientation and distant rural views. The home is owned by an avid traveler who required a compact, sustainable bushland retreat that was low maintenance….
Long low lines of cedar cladding are held in place with striking and innovative stainless steel fixings which are a unique feature of this highly insulated home near the busy resort town of Long Island, New York. Bates Masi Architects designed the house with acoustic considerations being the main driver of the form, materials, and…
A brief for simplicity, durability and authenticity led the design of this sustainable home in Bluey’s Beach on the mid-North coast of NSW.
It’s always interesting to see what architects come up with when designing their own homes. This home in Tel Aviv (Israel) was designed by Pitsou Kedem with strong horizontal lines of raw concrete and a skylight running the entire length of the the house to allow in plenty of natural light. While the home has…
This is the kind of architecture that makes my heart sing. Designed by Dorrington Atcheson Architects as a family holiday home, it features a stunning combination of location and elements: warmth, understated beauty and true integration into its amazing location. Perched above a bay in Kawau Island in New Zealand, the orientation and design makes…
I came across this architectural beauty while researching a fireplace / tv combination for my own home. I’m sure you’ll agree, the way mckimm design has combined the two elements is simply stunning, using a concrete hearth poured on site together with a striking customised steel fabrication for the black firebox around the fireplace. …
Hey, I’m Kim I’ve been blogging about planet-friendly architecture ever since we built our own sustainable haven 10 years ago. In that time, a lot has changed. The need for sustainably built, energy efficient homes has never been more urgent. Last year, my country (Australia) ranked dead last for climate action out of 193 countries….
This lovely little beach house was created by the talented folk at Archiblox. Located in the seaside village of Blairgowrie, the house is a sustainable pre-fab designed around 3 modules that are clad externally with corrugated colorbond and internally with floor to ceiling plywood. The house features custom-made joinery throughout which was also made by…
This multi-award winning project known as “Cabin 2” is a fantastic contribution to the small architecture movement, which focuses on small, light-weight and eco-friendly structures. It’s a movement I’m very fond of and I try to feature as often as possible to show what can be achieved with a smaller space. Often magic comes from…
I was excited to come across a talented Aussie furniture craftsman by the name of Brett Sambrooks. Each piece is handcrafted from reclaimed timber and second hand materials to produce one-off individual, collectable and creative pieces. Brett is based in Koondrook, a small Victorian town nestled on the banks of the Murray River, where he…
This home in the inner Melbourne suburb of Prahan began life as a single level Victorian house. Originally compartmentalised with lots of rooms, the new design by Studio Four involved a strategic replanning of the ground floor, the addition of a new first floor, along with the flexibility to adapt each space to suit the…
Today we are heading to Melbourne to see a home with striking architecture designed by In2 building designers. The brief was for a strong design aesthetic with low maintenance living for a young family. Seamless integration with the outdoors and a strong connection to the pool were important to the owners, together with achieving views…
Originally this magical lakeside site had a ramshackle cabin which the owner decided to live in for a while to acclimatise and be sure of what she wanted before knocking it down and re-building. She also needed to find the right architect to create the vision so was happy when Resolution: 4 Architecture were able to offer a…
This dual occupancy townhouse in inner Melbourne was designed by Neil Architecture for two young families. The urban oasis is enjoyed behind high masonry boundary walls, with the structure featuring striking rusted Corten cladding to the upper storey. This home has a warm and moody masculine vibe, featuring smart casual furnishings and some wonderful pops of…
Being a big fan of prefab homes, I was excited to come across the work of Melbourne firm Archiblox, who specialise in beautiful, affordable and sustainable prefab homes that are modular in design and architecturally inspired. Designed in their Richmond Studio and pre-fabricated in their Wonthaggi facility, Archiblox designs can be designed, built and delivered…
This striking timber-clad design features a clever combination of some our favourite materials – rammed earth, concrete and and the extensive use of timber to soften and enhance both the interiors and the exteriors. Neil Architecture rose admirably to the challenge of squeezing two dwellings onto the small parcel of land, while still maintaining an attractive frontage…
The rustic simplicity of this home in the Canadian city of Quebec has been artfully created by architect Christopher Simmonds. Featuring a combination of reclaimed timber cladding contrasted against fresh white walls to the exterior, the palate continues through the interior with rustic timber floorboards, timber ceilings and white walls and surfaces. The palate serves…
This striking home was designed for a couple by architectural designer Sebastian Mariscal with an emphasis on retaining the existing trees and a seamless connection between indoors and out. There were several mature trees on the site which Sebastian insisted be kept despite the challenge of building around some of them. The way he dealt…
This amazing outdoor space created by Cos Design was born from the owners desire to make the exterior the hero of the whole project. Owners Emma and Andre are thrilled with the result, saying they felt “an instant connection with Steve Taylor from COS, and in his ability to articulate our ideas, feelings and general…
This “beach shack” created by Neil Architecture was designed to not only capitalise on the stunning natural surroundings of the Gippsland Lakes, but also to celebrate the simplicity and modesty of the Australian beachside lifestyle. Using a compact floor plan merging the existing shack and a new addition, the new dwelling features large panoramic windows…
Today we’re heading to Oslo in Norway where London-based studio Haptic Architects were asked to design a bright and spacious apartment in the upper levels of a nineteenth-century apartment block. The focal point of the apartment is the amazing floating staircase that connects the two levels of the apartment. The modular, white powder coated stairs…
The owners of this funky lane way house in Melbourne certainly thought outside the square when securing somewhere to build their dream home. The home was designed by Architected, who said that the innovative design stemmed from the owners returning from an extended stint working overseas to find themselves priced out of the inner city…
This itty bitty pre-fab home combines the sustainable features of a small home with off-site construction. Designed by Minimod as an ‘innovative, intelligent and sustainable alternative for a dwelling” plenty of flexibility is available in the form of multiple configurations, customisation and choice of finishes. Made from a steel frame the MINIMOD can be taken…
If you squint a little it would be easy to imagine this as a stunning luxury home but in fact it is a luxury spa. It is the third pavilion style structure on the same parcel of land designed by Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple architects and is in Nova Scotia, Canada. In the words of the architects,…
Balmain is a colourful and cultured suburb of Sydney and is the setting of this home renovation designed by TW Architects in collaboration with Hagan Built. The brief was to extend the existing modest weatherboard home to create a modern light-filled home that retained its link to the history of the house. In the words…
The village of Cottlesloe in Western Australia is famous for its superb beach and terraced lawns overlooking the Indian Ocean. This home received a full fitout and furnish from the talented team at Collected Interiors. The owners were planning to lease the house out for short term stays so needed the fitout to be hardwearing,…
This home in the Glass House mountains of Queensland was designed by Bark Design Architects as a place of ‘glass and stone’ with qualities of being robust and anchored to the earth but also floating, light and transparent. The connection between indoors and out is blurred with transparency to the interiors while anchored by the…
The owners of this Sydney home originally planned to renovate before deciding to demolish and start from scratch with the skills of architect Matt Elkan on board to design their new high performance abode. The key requirements were around maximising the location and climate to bring light, the beach views and the outdoors in, while…
I’m excited today to be sharing my personal architecture journey with you! Hubby & I have followed the work of Bourne Blue Architects for many years so it was exciting to give them the challenge of transforming our ugly duckling into a swan while incorporating their signature style of understated simplicity, extensive use of concrete…
This award-winning beach house on the Atlantic Ocean was designed by West Chin Architects to take advantage of unobstructed views of the ocean, Long Beach and the horizon. Taking every advantage of its natural surrounds, the home has been designed as a picture of warm minimalism and is one of the first US homes to…
This house in my hometown of Newcastle, Australia was designed by leading local architects Bourne Blue. With no street frontage and 10 adjacent neighbours it was no small task to design a home that delivered space, light and privacy for the young family who would live there. Double height living areas and expansive bifold doors…
This terrace house revamp in Rozelle was originally restricted to a modest kitchen makeover, however, led by TW Architects, the owners realised the advantages of reworking the whole house and decided on a full makeover including open plan living area, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. The owners wishlist included a strong industrial design aesthetic for…
Colourful, rustic, orgnanic, fun and relaxed was the brief for the interior makeover of this home in North Coogee, Western Australia. Charged with the brief, Collected Interiors weaved their magic to produce all of those things, working the new furnishings and decor in with the clients existing furnishings and giving the home a real sense…
Check out the SwatchMate Cube, a cool new gadget that captures the colour of any surface and sends the colour via Bluetooth to your smartphone or directly into Photoshop, showing you the RGB, CMYK or Pantone colours used in the scanned surface. The founders are three Melbourne based engineers and recently won both the Sydney…
It’s hard to believe that this dramatic zinc-clad structure in Auckland was once a brick bungalow with “warren-like rooms” and not much in the way of water views. Dorrington Architects & Associates were called in to revamp an existing home which, from a philosophical point of view, the owners preferred to renovate rather than rebuild….
The interior design of this cottage in Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula involved its refurbishment and transformation into a warm and Nordic inspired beach house retreat. The existing architecture was challenging to work with as it offered very little natural light. Inspired by a Nordic aesthetic, Christopher Elliot Design specified that the entire interior, including…
There’s not much that gives me more of a thrill than to get behind beautiful Aussie made sustainable products. Isn’t this Nomi furniture line divine? And would look awesome in any of our Designhunter homes featured here on the blog. Made from solid oak and hand-crafted in Melbourne, the pieces are flat packed for shipping…
If I was designing a luxury rural abode this warm and earthy rural oasis in Canada would definitely have a place on my mood board! Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects, the long linear form of the home stretches along the crest of a narrow ridge and is surrounded by evergreen forest with sensational views…
I love the concept of using the new to celebrate the old and this project beautifully illustrates how well it can work. In the words of its creative designer, Raffaello Rosselli : The humble tin shed is an iconic Australian structure. The project was to repurpose an existing tin shed at the rear of a…
What’s your idea of bathroom heaven? For me, it’s the luxury of an island bath, organic textures and surfaces, and a view to a secluded garden. A hot bubbly bath is running, a candle or two are flickering and there’s most certainly a chilled flute of champagne nearby. The ideal bathroom can be hard to…
The renovation and extension of this beautiful Sydney home was designed by Fox Johnston architects. Featuring lots of timber elements and a fantastic polished aggregate concrete floor, the design focused on offering flexibility for the young family of 5 and its evolving lifestyle needs. Multi-tasked spaces were included to allow re-purposing for the changing needs…
This interiors of this fantastic home South of Melbourne were designed by the multi-talented Bronnie Masefau. Bronnie is an interior designer who prefers to think of herself as a “home maker”. She is also the author of a series of books, including the newly released Inspiring through creative design: Enjoying the Journey, which showcases this…
A glimpse of the future, inspired by the past, the Edgeland home is a showcase of art, nature, technology and culture all in one architectural design. Designed by Belgian-Taiwanese architecture studio Bercy Chen, this sustainable home is constructed on a rehabilitated brownfield site in Austin, Texas for a science fiction writer who was fascinated by…
There is a real movement towards small multipurpose sustainable homes and I just love it! This super cool pre-fab in Spain is an excellent example of the trend that was trucked in and assembled in just a day (after 4-6 weeks manufacturing). Designed by Spanish architecture studio ÁBATON the pre-fab incorporates with just 27sqm an…
The space and beauty of this Annandale home has been dramatically enhanced by Christopher Polly Architect at the same time as introducing a number of sustainable design qualities to the home. Originally a 2-bedroom house with a single living space, a much more liveable abode has been achieved, complete with 4 bedrooms and two living…
A union of tradition and modern styling gives character to this welcoming home in Middle Park Melbourne. In addition to transforming the 4 existing apartments into a single modern styled home, retaining the heritage facade was a challenge for architects Chamberlain Javens. The constraints resulted in a linking of the existing façade design and the…
Often architects challenge their clients to trust them with a bold and unusual vision and this house is a case in point. While the reinvention of these twin Victorian terraces in Melbourne could have been predicable and boring, Andrew Maynard Architects obliterated that possibility with this amazing design. Masterminding the design involved deliberately creating two…
The ‘Elliott Ripper House’ in Rozelle is an example of how a modest-sized home can be transformed into dramatically more functional, spacious and elegant living space. Remodeled with expertise by Christopher Polly Architect, it has been transformed into a contemporary 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom dwelling with two living spaces and improved rear and side courtyards. Space has…
This home in Austin, Texas was designed by Bercy Chen Studio to accommodate two families and consists of two pavilions connected by a glass hallway. A central water garden between the pavilions serves as a claming focal point with three sides of the house opening onto it. The walls against the sides of the property…
Today we are talking apartment living with ‘empty-nesters’ and close friends Julie Marsh and Alison Simcoe. Both followed the recent trend towards down-sizing, moving from large family homes to apartment living with their husbands. ‘I love being able to just close the door behind us and go travelling, knowing the place doesn’t need looking…
The transformation of this apartment in the suburbs of Johannesburg started with a focus on the beautiful views of the hillside wilds and the city itself. Gass Architecture were briefed to enhance the apartment with the views in mind and create more open, liveable spaces. Oak was a key ingredient to the new interior design,…
This stunning treehouse in Mexico as actually one of four townhouses built in a beautiful garden filled plot where going up made the most sense given the small footprint and the lovely views of the surrounding trees. Designed by Alejandro Sachez Garcia architecture, each townhouse is 3 storeys with 2 sides of glass and 2…
We have many followers who are architects and designers and we love to get submissions like this amazing house that was submitted by one our very talented followers, ODR Architects or ‘Of Diverse Research’. I nearly fell over myself when I first saw it – in fact I love it so much I bumped the…
This home has been masterfully redesigned and modernised by Bark Design Architects. The home came from very modest beginnings; a yellow rendered 1980’s style box with tiled roof and multiple airless small rooms. The main focus for the new home design included harnessing the Northern sun as well as the cool river breezes, creating a…
This selection is my favourite 6 small kitchens from Designhunter’s Kitchens Board on Pinterest. They got me thinking about how stressful it would be to cook and entertain out of a small kitchen unless you had put a lot of thought into design, layout and appliances. My top tips for designing a small kitchen for…
With a deft hand Christopher Polly Architects have magically transformed this small semi-detached home from two bedrooms and one living space into a custom designed, expansive and private three bedroom home with two living spaces. By improving access to light and ventilation and connecting the interiors more closely to the enclosed private garden beyond the…
It’s difficult to imagine this house in its original “spec home” format – Shaun Lockyer Architects have certainly done an amazing job dramatically altering and extending the home in a way more fitting to the fantastic park-side location in inner city Brisbane. The lifestyle areas of the house were re-designed so that the kitchen, living…
Interior Designer and founder of Gather Kids, Melissa Webster, is a woman of many talents. She barely seems to break a sweat while simultaneously juggling three small children, renovating her house and managing the day-to-day demands of a small business! I was keen to ask her how she managed to design her own small kitchen…
Now this is my kind of house – integrated with nature, sustainably designed and a pared back palette infused with just the right amount of contrast. Originally designed by Bark Design Architects for its original owners, the architects adopted principles of authenticity, economy, durability and simplicity into the design. In 2009, a change in ownership…
Designer Jonathan Poh was charged with creating a makeover of this 2-bedroom 80’s apartment in Singapore. The owner was formerly a flight attendant and wanted to echo the vibe of hotel suites of the past with a spacious and uncluttered environment to suit a single lifestyle. Most of the walls were demolished, with two bedrooms…
This striking home on Stradbroke Island was designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects as a getaway from the city for its owners, who wanted a deliberate diversion in style from a domestic everyday home. Located 200m from the water, the home consists of a series of interconnected pods around an east facing courtyard, each with a…
Who else would love to live in this quirky, warm, personality-infused home in Marrickville? The many interesting elements to the building are perfectly complimented with expertly clashed colour and texture in the interiors. I just love it! The architectural design was conceived by David Boyle Architect, who said that he modulated the floor and ceilings…
Isn’t this extension simply wonderful? The overhaul of this Melbourne post-war home was created by IF Architecture, who praised the owners for being so receptive to the architects ideas, allowing their preconceptions to be thoroughly challenged and culminating in the finished project looking completely different to the inspiration images the owners took along to the…
This beachside beauty at Boat Harbour on the north coast of New South Wales was created by Tanner Kibble Denton Architects and stands out for its understated simplicity. This is how the architects described the home: “With bold floating roof forms and generous glazing this beach house explores the traditional themes of coastal architecture: simplicity,…
Imagine having this outstanding view of Sydney harbour every morning? It must be very rugged! The owners asked Tanner Kibble Denton Architects to create a casual, beach-side vibe with an emphasis on natural light and, of course, the stunning views. They also wanted to retain the modesty and simplicity if the original cottage being replaced….
The renovation and extension of this semi-detached dwelling in Freshwater was designed by David Boyle Architect with a key objective of bringing in as much natural light to the narrow South facing aspect. The front rooms and roof line of the existing building were retained and a new 2-storey extension was added to the rear….
The owners of the original sandstone cottage on this site asked Tanner Kibble Denton Architects to design its renewal and extension for extended family weekends and holiday retreats. The design required contemporary facilities with a new pavilion added amongst the ancient angophoras to accommodate adult children and their growing families, including areas for time spent…
This striking home designed by Robson Rak Architecture is set on a 10 acre rural farm outside Melbourne. It was bought by a couple with two young boys as a weekender, with plans to build a spacious modern home for generations to enjoy. While the initial brief was for a simple rectangular box, the architects…
The owners of this striking modernist home in Auckland were so dedicated to the idea of a fire pit that the fire pit was designed first and the house followed! Chris Tate of Chris Tate Architecture says that the brief was for a fun, modernist house that worked well for entertaining. The fire pit is…
The ultimate eclectic mancave has been achieved here by Greg Baker of Ambassador Home for his own apartment, which started out an unattractive and pokey space, but Greg could tell the apartment had “good bones”. After 18 months of back breaking work and showering “out of a bucket”, Greg and his father converted the dingy…
The brief to architect Choo Gim Wah for the “Deck house” in Malaysia was simple: to design an unassuming, simple and ‘modern’ looking house. Built on steep terrain in a lush forest, the home was designed to hug the terrain with minimum interference to the existing slope. Functioning like a traditional tropical house the home features…
With a blank canvas and a mixed context that architect Jessica Liew was asked to create a new dwelling for a modern lifestyle but with the charm of an old home, a house with personality and familiarity that was generous to the owners travels and memories. The principle of ‘Wabi-Sabi’, the beauty of imperfection, was…
Conceived as a camp, this luxury family retreat was designed by Fearon Hay Architects as an arrangement of freestanding structures around a courtyard, set in a saddle above Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island in New Zealand. While the island can be idyllic, care had to be taken to reduce exposure of the home to high…
This home was a major inspiration behind the design of my own eco abode. What I love most is the relationship this home has with its natural environment, with ocean at the front and lush natural bush to the rear. Tanner Kibble Denton Architects have achieved a design that gives the home a real sense…
This New Zealand holiday home won the prestigious Residential Architecture award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2008, with the judges commenting that the beach house “has an overall feeling of simple restraint. Modest materials used in deceptively simple ways manipulate site, space and light to organise the “bach” in a straightforward, playful…
This loft apartment is in an early 20th century brick and concrete building which was converted from a warehouse and manufacturing facility into condo’s in the 1990’s. When the owners bought the place it feautured “a rather jarring color palette of red, green and blue along with yellowish bamboo”. The clients wanted to create a…
This beautiful cottage in the New Zealand capital of Wellington has recently received a creative new vision centred on giving a ‘new heart and focus to a small house’. Paul Rolfe Architects created the new vision for the home with a design strategy of connecting and engaging the new addition with the native bush surroundings….
The owners of this home in Hillarys, a northern beach suburb of Perth, asked Guy Mouritz of Ritz Exterior Design to redesign their disjointed and poorly planned back yard and pool area. The proximity to the coast presented the designers with very challenging site conditions of salt, wind and sun, that literally stripped paint from…
Oh how beautiful this remote cottage is! Located on the east coast of Great Barrier Island in New Zealand is a house designed like “a black rough sawn timber box” facing north to the sea. Created by Fearon Hay Architects, the dark exterior palette is enhanced with a layer of perforated metal screens, allowing the…
The brief to Landart Landscapes for this outdoor space overlooking Curl Curl beach was for a design that offered an amazing entertaining space that captured and complimented the view, while making the existing elements more functional. The pool tiles and the shape of the pool steps had a slightly retro feel to them so it…
Arch11 architecture collaborated with construction firm Boulder and Denver to design and construct this triple townhouse project. Built on a small lot in a funky light industrial area near the centre of Boulder, the architects designed each townhouse to capture views of the surrounding landscape, carefully ensuring equity of views and square footage for each…
This Johannesburg home was designed by Nico van der Meulen Architects, the brief being to create a stylish family home with ecologically sound design. Indoor-outdoor living was important in order to take full advantage of Johannesburg’s legendary eight-month summer. The front of the home features a rusted-steel-clad wall, cleverly mounted on tracks so that it…
Even the most ardent greenie would be hard-pressed to critisize the seamless landscape integration of this home design! Set into the hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Big Sur, California, this retreat was designed by Carver & Schicketanz Architects. Built as a vacation home for a family with two young daughters, the key elements of…
This magnificent minimalist beach house in Auckland is situated on a long narrow site that descends 15m to sea level. Designed by Fearon Hay Architects, the concept was to arrange a sequence of interior and exterior spaces along the length of the site and to open the living spaces to multiple view angles at differing…
The Rutherford House is located in Taupo Tauranga/Oruatua, NZ and was created by Dorrington Architects & Associates. The brief was to create a modern holiday house tailored to both hot summers and cold winters. The result is this elegantly designed home sitting beautifully amongst its natural environment. The open floor plan and huge windows effectively…
This wonderful property is called Treetops and is located in Cottage Point, Sydney’s smallest suburb, with only 52 homes located there. This home was designed by the late architect Bruce Rickard who studied architecture in the United States and was strongly influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. He said that Frank Lloyd Wright…
Architects Statement: “A guiding principle of the design was to promote the wellbeing of all members of the family, creating an environment of peace and tranquillity. With an abundance of natural light and sunshine, the spaces are interwoven with nature through the use of courtyards, skylights, glazed openings and garden. The double height circulation space…
This beauty in New Zealand was designed by Dorrington Architects & Associates. This is what they said about the brief and design strategy for extending and improving the existing home: “The clients liked the composition and feel of the existing house, but not its size or allocation of space. An arrangement of gabled forms linked…
How’s this for spectacular? Not surprisingly, this landscape design by Ritz Exterior Design has won the Abode Garden of the Year 2012 as well as the Landscape Industry Association (W.A.) for Best Design and Best Residential Construction 2012. The stunning panoramic views of the Swan River have been fully capitalised on, with a series of…
When I first saw this landscape design I couldn’t help but be entranced by the mysterious Asian influenced doorway to the front garden leading to a journey through lush foliage to the front door of the home. Designed by Janine Mendel of CultivArt Landscape Design for her own home, she said that her main aim…
Look at this amazing house built over the waters of Lake Huron in Ontario, Candada. It was designed by Mos Design to float during rising tides using a structure of steel pontoons which allow it to rise and fall as the lake fluctuates. What do you think?
Winner of the 2009 (Australian) National landscape of the year (under $100k) this multi award winning compact courtyard designed by Cos Design transformed what was a tired, old unused space into a stylish and functional outdoor room. A three level water feature hides the yards utilities, while custom built in bench seating and furniture, built…
The owners of this beautiful “platform in the bush” wanted to create a building that slotted lightly into the lush surrounding forest, blurring the boundaries between inside and out. Architect Gerald Parsonson of Parsonson Architects designed the structure to step down the slope of the hill in the form of two offset pavilions, with the…
This modern home in Waverley has been designed with a long list of sustainable features and was a finalist for the BPN Sustainability Award (new house division). Architect Simon Anderson of Anderson Architecture said: “The primary challenge involved maximizing passive solar design by opening up to the northern sun without compromising the solar access of…
The owners of this home asked Pepo Botanic Design to create an exterior entertaining space with lush tropical planting. The pool which houses the family pet turtle at one end was to settle into the space and be cool and inviting. The lawn which was used mainly by the family dog was to be kept….
This house of stone and wood is in Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam and was designed by a21studio. The minimalist furnishings and lots of glass set off the modern Asian style of the 3 storey home, which features white walls and polished concrete floors throughout along with a tree growing through the roof. [Photography…
With a brief focused on relaxed alfresco entertaining, Cos Design created this visually striking landscape centred around a large family pool. The lush backdrop of slender weaver bamboo provides a modern Asian undertone with complementary plantings of Japanese maple, cycads and cliveas. The alfresco area is covered by a coreten laser cut screen from Aludean,…
The dramatic design of this Austrian abode features external timber cladding contrasting against black aluminium windows. The design concept featuring an enclosed and secluded courtyard garden at the centre of which a tree grows through the open ceiling of the courtyard. The Scandinavian style interiors replicate the exterior cladding work with complementary blonde timber furnishings,…
What do you think of this bold holiday bach? It’s situated in the small seaside town of Waikanae on the North island of New Zealand. Designed by Parsonson Architects as a holiday retreat for a Wellington couple and their 3 children, the house has been built on a narrow site behind the beach dunes. The…
This striking glass and steel pavilion-style cottage in Westcliff, Johannesburg was designed by GASS Architecture Studios. Architects statement: “We wanted to treat the ecosystem of the Westcliff Ridge very lightly, and didn’t want the building to impose or radically interfere with its surrounding. The goal was to allow the building to float above the ground…
“No home we’ve ever done has gotten as many comments as this one,” says Boulder-based architecture firm Arch11’s founding principal E.J. Meade. “We’re getting queries from that leading edge of baby boomers telling us they want to downsize into a home like this one—compact enough that every square inch was thought through and will be…
I just *love* the outdoor space created by Pepo Botanic Design for this funky terrace in Paddington. After the terrace was renovated the owner turned her attention to the outdoor spaces, which could be seen from many rooms in the home. The landscape needed to look great from all angles inside and allow for entertaining…
This home in Higgovale, on the coast of Cape Town in South Africa was born from a collaboration between two architecture firms, Saoto designing the home and Three14 carrying out the design development and construction. A restful, natural interior scheme has been achieved through the use of organic textures and colours. Beautiful timber detailing and…
A seamless indoor/outdoor connection is at the heart of this renovation in Vaucluse, Sydney. Designed by Bruce Stafford Architects and built into the side of a rockface, the design centres around a secluded internal courtyard with a large deck and pool facing onto the interior living areas. Large sliding glass doors enabling a seamless flow…
The owners of this home in Caulfield had a big brief in store for landscape designers Cos Design. The outdoor spaces needed to be visually stunning from every internal vista, compliment the architecture of the home and be geared around entertaining and safe play for children. Also on the wish list was a lap pool,…
This is the home of Sydney architect Jodi York of T01 Architecture & Interiors who has done an amazing job designed the renovation of her Sydney terrace in a New York loft style with an industrial vibe. “The idea was to work from the bottom up, exposing the structural elements as much as the building…
This house in the Melbourne suburb of Kew shows how well contrast can be used to great effect in architectural and interior design. The extension to this Victorian weatherboard home was created by Canny Design. The interiors features a black and white background palette that is lifted with pops of warm reds, oranges and hot…
Lightweight, economical and sustainable design was a commitment shared by all involved in this project in St Ives in Sydney. Built for a family of four, the simple lightweight rectangular form of the house has been designed by Lippman Partnership to take advantage of the available views and orientation, with all the living areas and…
Arch11 designed this family home in Boulder, Colorado in accordance with a slightly unusual brief: the clients wanted a home “as modern as their racing bikes”. Architect EJ Meade said it was one of the more interested briefs he’d had. “They had all of these other bike-related needs like a specific room to store them…
The owners of this small weekender in Shoal Bay New Zealand wanted a getaway that was rugged, rural in character and felt unpretentious. It was important to be able to cater for large numbers of family and friends and also feel comfortable with one or two people. Family friend Gerald Parsonson of Parsonson Architects created…
This house in Mosman has such a striking street presence, it’s dramatic dark timber slatting contrasting against pure white walls and stonework. Designed by Luigi Rosselli Architects, the house has an elevated northerly location and therefore benefits from cooling north easterly breezes and good solar access. The house has been designed sustainably to keep cool…
So in love with this beach house in Sorrento! It was designed by Rob Mills Architects and all I can say is wow! I love the use of raw materials and the absolutely stunning aboriginal artworks which give the interiors such a pop! The sumptious but still casual furnishings complete the picture to make this…
This extension to this home in Mosman has great charisma, opening beautifully onto the back garden. Designed by Anderson Architecture, the main brief was to create a fluid connection between the older parts of the house and the new living areas. The structure was designed out of exposed steel and an extensive use of locally…
I love the the simplicity of the colour palette and materials used to creat the peaceful haven that is this home in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Owned and designed by architect Leon Barnard, the home design features a seamless integration with the outdoors and a minimalist approach to furnishings. A truly elegant and understated…
What do you think of the lovely splash of yellow used in this kitchen design? The use of a block colour was key to the design strategy employed by Doherty Lynch when they were faced with the challenge of transforming a dark and dated kitchen into something modern & marvelous. I think it looks spectacular!…
This contemporary farmhouse in Healesville Victoria was designed by the award-winning team at Doherty Lynch and was a complete rebuild after the original farmhouse was destroyed in the Black Saturday fires. The clients brief was for a modern, warm and relaxing holiday home for four families including 17 grandchildren. The design needed to expand and…
If you squint a little you’ll spy an amazing house through the Pohutukawa trees. This is hands down one of my favourite homes to appear on the blog – I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below.. In the words of the architects behind the project, Herbst Architects: “The site with which we…
This award-winning terrace house in Rozelle, Sydney has been transformed from a house that had little connection to the outdoors and was cold and dark, into the open, light-filled abode you see today. Anderson Architecture created the dramatic overhaul, which was all about connecting the new living spaces with the back garden, with bifold doors…
This home known as the “Tree house” is perched on a steep forested hillside above the Great Ocean Road and Bass Strait in Victoria. In designing the Tree house, architects Jackson Clements Burrows drew on the modest local vernacular of 1950’s painted fibro shacks, by using cement sheets with expressed batten joints to dissolve the…
Herbst Architects were keen to introduce a range of spatial, light and textural experiences into the design of this home on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. A central covered deck forms the key living space and is flanked by a sun trapped court and the kitchen and dining space, enclosed on two sides with…
A Japanese aesthetic combined with a unique take on the Australian beach house is what inspired David Teeland of Teeland Architects in designing this home in Noosa Heads in Queensland. In the words of the architect: “This building is different to what most people think of as beach architecture. When people think of beach architecture…
The interiors of this stunning concrete home make you feel like you are actually in the forest, with a simple, pared back palette making it all about the environment and views. The pavilion architectural style seems to floating across the landscape. Raw concrete and timber are the primary elements used, with complimentary simple furnishings to…
Patterson Associates have created this summer residence on Waiheke Island in New Zealand. The dominating external feature is the striking use of stacked Pyrite stone, a dense, colourful hard stone which can be stacked, etched and layered into earthy walls and textures. The rock mass of the home is like a bridge, open both sides…
This home in Barwon Heads, Victoria is amongst an eclectic mix of post war beach houses, dominated by single storey weatherboard dwellings. Contemporary architectural houses are slowly weaving their way into the surrounding streets. The owners were looking to replace their deteriorating beach shack, with the new house fulfilling a modest brief for a beach…
Collections of similar objects on the wall can look really effective. Using a common theme like material or colour ties them together to make one larger work of art. Here are some great collections that make an individual statement. Which one is your favourite?
This compact little gem is on a tiny parcel of just 210sqm in inner city Melbourne and was designed by Architects Eat, whose brief it was to maximise the interior volume and the perception of space. They did this using various visual devices such as “a lowlight window with a glimpse of tufted garden beyond,…
The ‘Twisted cabin’ is in the mountains of Kvitfjell in Norway and was designed as a ski cabin by architects Jarmund/Vigsnæs AS Arkitekter MNALis. The site is 1000m above sea level and has direct ski in, ski out access. In the words of the architects: “The volume of the cabin reflects the contours in the…
What springs to mind when you hear the term “Manhattan loft”? This place pretty much sums it up for me. Wouldn’t it be great to have a base like this in New York City? Let me count the ways: natural light, bold splashes of colour, high ceilings, the amazing master bedroom and funky sculptures all…
The owners of this stunning Brazilian abode had as their top design priority the incorporation of a covered outdoor living area. StudioMK27 architects served their request up in spades, designing the house with a large L-shaped space encompassing the living room, tv room and and an extension of the kitchen, all opening out onto the…
Barwon Heads in Victoria is undergoing a period of significant change. Heritage restrictions currently protect older fishing shacks whilst the remainder of the seaside town is progressively being redeveloped. The architecture now emerging is significantly contributing to the evolution of this small coastal township. The interesting circular building form of this house emerged from the…
‘Tranquility, intimacy and sanctuary’ were on the owners wishlist for the restoration and extension of this Edwardian house in Melbourne. Architects Eat took up the challenge with the intention to make the addition as open and transparent as possible, as a contrast against the introverted existing Edwardian house. The decision to retain two mature Elm…
Its hard to conceive a plainer frontage for a home, but there’s something about the simplicity of this structure that makes you want to knock on the front door and ask to have a look around. A metal clad cube presents a harsh exterior, however this strongly contrasts with the warm, light-filled interiors that are…
This beachside home at North Freshwater, with ocean views to North Head, was designed by Brewster Hjorth Architects for a family of five who wanted a house open to the views and the weather while providing privacy and a sense of separation for the children and the bedrooms. The house was to be robust and…
This striking island home, off the Brazilian coast was designed by architects StudioMK27. The monolithic design projects seaward 8 metre, cantilevering dramatically from the mountain behind. Access is by boat only and entry to the house is first via the sandy beach and then over a metal bridge positioned over a crystal-lined reflecting pool. The…
This home backs onto Parsley Bay Reserve on Sydney harbour, a location regarded as a hidden gem by locals. The original brief was for a bold and architecturally strong home that was comfortable, inviting and geared for entertaining and easy flow from indoors to out. Artisan craftspeople worked alongside tradespeople to bring about the design…
The Dutch owners of this beach house in Tasmania asked their architect Daniel Haskell of Haskell Architects to design a functional, efficient and inexpensive shack that was sustainable and maximised the views and environment. It also needed to be durable for extended periods while the owners were back at their base in the Netherlands. Ideally…
This suburb minimalist design is a beach house in the Chilean coastal town of Huentelauquén, created by architects 01Arq. I love the pared back detailing both externally and for the interiors, making it all about the incredible location and views. Simple material selections of timber, glass and stone are used as an uncomplicated backdrop to…
Striking geometrical lines have been used to dramatic effect for the modern extension of this old home on the Ballast Point Peninsula in Sydney. A “lean-to” at the rear originally accomodated the kitchen, living area, dining room and bathroom. The brief for Fox Johnston Architects was to create more room for a family of four,…
Winner of the sustainability category in the 2012 Houses Awards, the footprint of this home in Melbourne was actually reduced in size as part of an ingenious re-design by Make Architecture. The smaller spaces and multi-functional rooms were designed as part of a “move towards smaller, more flexible houses as an essential response to conserve…
When you want to add a bit of a pop to your interiors, red is a great choice. Red as an accent colour gives a vibe of warmth, vitality and homeliness. What do you think? What accent colours do you use in your home?
This project shows what a terrific impact a bold colour can have on a small space. The owners of this award-winning courtyard briefed landscape architects and designers Secret Gardens of Sydney to create and outdoor space for them to entertain in all year round. In summer this courtyard garden is ideal as it is shaded…
You don’t often see a beach house that blends the indoors with the outdoors as well as this compact little gem on the mid-north coast of NSW. Designed by Bourne Blue architects to be a compact and simple holiday home for its owners, the structure is made up of three pavilions, with landscaping in between…
This interesting extension to an old Victorian era home was designed by Andrew Maynard Architects and is in North Fitzroy in Melbourne. Instead of the usual rear add-on, the design used a glass walkway between the existing dwelling and the extension, allowing a distinctive break between old and new. As the older home allowed very…
It seems like the architect-client relationship on this project in Park City, UT was a match made in heaven, both parties collaborating on the style and design of the home from the outset. On the owners wish-list was: • Relatively narrow forms with a largely East-West main axis. • Simple building forms. • Really simple…
This home in Balmoral was designed by Fox Johnston Architects as a series of platforms that respond to the rhythm and topography of the site. A long linear form to the west contains sleeping areas and bathrooms on the lower level while the upper level accomodates living areas and a media room. The upper level…
This vast expanse of a house is in São Paulo, Brazil and was designed by StudioMK27. Raw concrete has been used extensively throughout the upper volume, creating a striking cantilever with a large concrete and timber box floating above a lower storey of glass. The glass slides back completely, blurring the divide between indoors and…
Like this funky bedroom? I’m particularly liking the gorgeous DIY lamp by Kukka™ which looks great sitting atop an Eames chair! Kukka™ is a British design company specialising in products designed with sustainable materials. If you’d like to see more of their products they will be at DesignJunction in London next month. Like? [photo courtesy…
This elegant and spacious home in Malvern was designed and built by the Canny team of architects, interior designers and landscape architects as part of their new Lubelso range. Chosen from Canny’s pre-designed concept range, the home was adapted to suit the site and the lifestyle needs of the owners, resulting in what I think…
The owners of this luxury resort rental on Hamilton Island called on the skills of Christopher Elliott Design to transform the property from a concrete shell into the finished product you see here today. The main objective of the brief was that the interior not take away from the spectacular location and views. The lavish…
Inspired by a brief for a house with a formal Japanese Tea Room, Laidlaw Schultz Architects were excited by the idea and keen give it a modern, less formal twist. In the words of architect Craig Schultz, “The front courtyard, the primary entrance, was inspired by an abstract notion of water. The entry stepping stones…
This interesting home design in Eagle Bay was conceived by Wright + Feldhusen, Architects and consists of four distinct living and sleeping pods. The pods are linked by a central courtyard and share stunning ocean views. The striking roof form provides visual interest and a canopy over the living pod. The extensive use of timber…
I confess to having a small obsession with many things and one of them has to be the Butterfly chair. Also known as the BKF chair, it was originally designed back in 1938 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and remains an international icon. Check out some of these awesome spaces, outdoors and in, where the funky…
A challenging brief was presented to Carney Logan Burke Architects for the design of this beautiful home in Wilson, Wyoming: the home needed to not only be unique and modern but also fit within the distinctively conservative neighbourhood. The architects tackled the brief by “designing a pair of two-story gabled structures to present a traditional…
This recycled timber and fibre cement beach house at White Rock was designed by award-winning architect Virginia Kerridge. This is what Virginia said about her inspiration for the design “The architecture of Rudolph Schindler was an inspiration. We were interested in his fascination with rhythm and scale. In Schindler’s work the building and landscape was…
This home in Palm Beach was designed by Fergus Scott Architects and Peter Stutchbury Architecture and is a finalist in the 2012 Houses Awards under the category ‘New house over 200sqm’. The cliff face in the bathroom and other areas of the house is absolutely amazing. Talk about a unique feature! [photography by Michael Nicholson]
This home in Prahran Melbourne was designed by architect Clare Cousins and is a finalist in the 2012 Houses Awards under the category ‘House Alteration & Addition over 200sqm’. Some words from the architect: “Taking advantage of the long linear plot and rear laneway access, a garage with studio above was designed first, conceived as…
This Queensland abode was designed by Plazibat + Jemmott Architects and is a finalist in the 2012 Houses Awards in the category ‘New House over 200sqm’. [photography by Christopher Frederick Jones]
This house is a finalist under the sustainability category of the 2012 House Awards and is located in Northcote, Victoria. It was designed by Breathe Architecture. Lots of timber and concrete floors which we love here at Designhunter. The kids are cute too. [photography by Andrew Wuttke]
This spectacular and striking home in Fingal Victoria is quite rightly a finalist in the 2012 House Awards under the category ‘New House under 200sqm’. Designed by studiofour, we are loving the moody contrasts exhibited in this design. [photography by Shannon McGrath]
This is the Pirate’s Bay house, which is located in Blairgowrie Victoria and is a finalist in the ‘New Homes under 200sqm’ category of the 2012 Houses Awards. It was designed by O’Connor and Houle Architecture
This home in Junortoun, Victoria is a finalist in the 2012 Houses Awards and was designed by Lucas Hodgens of e + architecture under the category ‘New homes under 200sqm’. [photography by Glenn Hester Photography]
This home designed by David Boyle Architect is a finalist in the 2012 Houses Awards under the category ‘House Alteration & Addition over 200sqm’. [photography by Brigid Arnott]
This home is a finalist in the category of ‘New House under 200sqm’ and was designed by John Wardle Architects. [photography by Trevor Mein]
The finalists of the 2012 Houses Awards have been announced! The ‘Houses Awards’ is an annual program celebrating Australia’s best residential architecture. Excellence is rewarded in eight categories, with the best architecturally designed house receiving the premier award of ‘Australian House of the Year’. Presented by Houses magazine, a ‘Houses Award’ is one of Australia’s…
The form of this house overlooking Bundeena Bay was influenced by the tradition of simple coastal houses, with simple shapes and light-weight construction. Clarke Pearse Architects (now Pearse Architects & Peter Clark Built Environments Studio) made the design all about simple, relaxed and modern living, with a pared back palette to amplify the dramatic water…
Achieving a strong connection with the outdoors was paramount for the garden enthusiast owners of this home in the Sydney suburb of Birchgrove. Pearse Architects (in collaboration with Brian Keirnan) conceived an open pavilion style of home that integrates wonderfully with the garden and evokes a real sense of living in the garden. The challenge…
How would you choose a landscape designer for this magic spot on Sydney harbour? What the owners of this house did was hold a competition and let the best designer win! Landscape architects ASPECT Studios won the comp and created this striking contemporary design. They began by creating a series of discreet courtyards, linked by…
This inner Melbourne home was built in the 1970’s and has undergone various updates and add-ons since then. The new owners called on interior designer Christopher Elliot to furnish the home and plan a major renovation, the main objective of streamlining the home into a modern layout. Chris designed the interiors with a pared back…
Do you like mixing things up a bit? I love the look of mixed chairs and stools. Its a welcome relief from all that conformity you usually find in design magazines and blogs. I think mixing it up works best with retro and mid-century chairs of similar proportions around a rustic old timber table. What…
This Victorian terrace in Fitzroy has been given a major breath of fresh air by Andrew Maynard Architects. Emerging from behind its high boundary wall, the unusual roof of the home interrupts the symmetrical roof lines typical of the area. A transparent glass corridor along the Northern boundary wall brings substantial natural light into the…
This bright and colourful interior design project came to us from the talented Italian designer Maurizio Giovannoni (Maurizio Giovannoni Architetto). Designed the renovation and interiors from his base in Rome, with one meeting with the owner and over 400 emails! His principal goal was to open up the apartment, allow in more natural light and…
The use of texture in both landscape design and interior design invokes a desire to touch and feel a surface, be it a pebble wall, the bark of a tree or the porous texture of an ancient stone statue. Texture adds a further dimension to a design by exciting the eye, drawing you into a…
I love the relaxed, coastal vibe of this beachfront penthouse which was designed by the clever & creative design team at Coco Republic. A cosy, understated elegance reigns, with a neutral palette of natural linens and blonde timbers complemented with ink blue accessories, artworks and decor. Display shelving has been used to great effect throughout…
Love the warm minimalism of this small collection of furniture designed in Milan by Matej Chabera. The coat rack is a knock out, don’t you think?
This is the Glade House, which is a redesign of a 1950’s home in Auckland designed by Strachan Group Architects. The owners wanted to maintain the basic design aesthetic, re-work the layout and enhance the connection with the bush surrounds. What I really like about this house is the understated eco-elegance and the great balance…
This jaw dropper is home to a fabric designer, painter and sculptor, who spent 18 months and over $2 million transforming the space into a work of art. It’s a seriously large abode at 4,200sqft (1680 sqm!) with 24ft high ceilings, stunning exposed timber beams and floor to ceiling glass. The space is full of…
Do you like wallpaper feature walls? Would you have one in your home? There’s no doubt wallpaper can add colour, drama and individuality to a room. Large graphics are a popular choice for feature walls with the hottest trends being for organics, nature and geometrics. I have a long-standing fetish for the Woods wallpaper by…
Jessica Helgerson Interior Design has waved its magic wand over this formerly run down ranch in Portland. Cramped enclosed living areas were opened up and given a light and airy vibe using a restrained colour palette of white walls, ebony floors and splashes of green through the textiles, tiles and the use of greenery for…
Do you have exposed brick in your home or would you like to have it? Exposed brick can be a little rustic for some and for others can provide a warm, earthy and authentic backdrop for both modern and classical interiors. Which of the below photos do you think showcases the exposed brick best? Hit…
Ever seen a home extension that looks like an alien has landed from space? I’m always delighted when I see a home extension that is cohesive and seamless. Even though the original house might be a century old and the new part needs to fulfill 21st century living ideals, a clever and imaginative architect can…
This elegant timber-clad home overlooking the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand features unusual and striking geometry for a rural home. Architects Tennant & Brown designed the strong geometry in response to the cliff top location and dramatic ocean views, while the barn-style architecture was influenced by the existing rural buildings in the area. Steel…
This is the first of a regular series of posts on Designhunter featuring themes in architecture and design, whether a palette of colours, materials or other design elements that bring a home design together. First up we are featuring the strongest of colour contrasts that you’ll find in interiors: black and white. I’d love to…
If this contemporary residence in Port Stephens needed a standout landscape design to match, it certainly got it: Urban Exotic landscape designers were called in to transform the space into what designer Richard Kelly says “channels a Palm Springs holiday resort”. Two magnificent Date Island Palm’s were craned in to make a statement for the…
This warm and colourful family home in Lilyfield, Sydney is the home of interior designer Tim Leveson and his art consultant wife, Libby Knott. This couple clearly has artistic and design skills to burn, with a striking interior design and some beautiful furniture and decor items designed by Tim. The fabulous art collection includes a…
This oh-so-perfect distressed driftwood stool is part of the French Connection home range. Sigh.
Loving this freshly renovated former oil mill… This place, owned by an architect, dates back to the 1700’s and is located in Mallorca, Spain. A natural palette of white, black and earth tones has been chosen to work with the wood, stone and iron features and the concrete floors throughout. The owner has been able…
The architecture of these detached holiday retreats on North Stradbroke Island encapsulates a recent trend towards small, sustainable house design. Paul Butterworth Architect designed the homes in response to a brief requiring cost-effective, versatile design that was carefully tuned to the Stradbroke climate and lifestyle. Designed to accommodate both large gatherings or an intimate couples…
This lush wash basin is part of the Karpenter bath range by Idestudio.
Travel porn alert! These villas in Koh Tao in Thailand are beyond magnificent. Casas Del Sol was designed by Australian interior designer Christina Saenz de Santamaria and offers design buff travellers a choice of five equally stunning villas. The contrasting combination of timber and concrete gets my heart racing. What about you?
This stunning glass pavilion weekender on Pearl Beach has been cleverly orientated to face the ocean while simultaneously taking in the stunning escarpment of the adjacent mountain range to the North. Lippmann Partnership designed the home as a series of “pods” arranged around a central courtyard, which provide protection from harsh winds and excessive sun….
This rural property has magnificent views to Mount Macedon, in Victoria, and the oversized cross at its summit. studio101 architects took inspiration from this when designing a home for the property, creating a cruciform layout with four separate living zones for the large family that was to live there. A palette of natural materials was…
My two hot favourites from this year’s Australian Interior Design Awards are the Sorrento house by Robert Mills Architects and the Kooyong House by Matt Gibson Architects. The Sorrento house is above and the first six shots below, followed by the Kooyong house. All photo’s sourced from australianinteriordesignawards.com with photography by Earl Carter (Sorrento) and…
We love the curves & colour of this funky rooftop landscape design in Bondi Beach… This fantastic outdoor space was created by Think Outside Gardens as a continuation of the modern apartment interior. Bold colour was continued outside to create an interesting and functional entertaining area for both large groups and more intimate gatherings. The…
We’re loving… the calm serenity of this architecture: a Japanese aesthetic that celebrates warm minimalism. This home in California was designed by Sebastian Mariscal Studio. I think you’ll agree that the architect is as gifted with words as he is with architecture. This is what he had to say about the project: “The song of…
We love the fresh, retro vibe of this townhouse interior design… The team at Coco Republic Property Styling created this smart interior in New Farm, Fortitude Valley, using contemporary furnishings and quirky decorative accents. The light floor is dressed with an interesting mix of furnishings. The palette of grey, mustard and timber tones works well…
We’re loving… the exotic fusion of textures & timbers and the seamless connection from inside to out… The island of Sentosa in Singapore is in a constant state of construction, with luxury homes like this one emerging every week. Designed by Silver & Ong, the architecture of this modern Asian home features all the elements…
The unusual site of this home known as the ‘Tramway” drew a dynamic architectural response from Vibe Design. Given the owners involvement in motorsport, the design strategy was to create a sense of movement and also to respond in a unique way to the unusual shape of the site. The exterior is certainly striking, with…
An amazing built-in outdoor lounge!
Step into this home in Washington, where texture and skilful colour contrasting has enlivened the interiors. The owners wanted to start from scratch with the living areas and gave away all the furniture before handing over the reigns to designer Jesse Moyer of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. The cool background palette of white walls and…
This stunning little slice of zen was created by Urban Exotic Landscape Architects. The site posed some major challenges, including heavy coastal exposure, salt-laden winds, heritage issues and privacy concerns from the neighbouring caravan park. The owners already had great coastline views from the house, so the outcome for the landscape was more about the…
Talk about incredible street appeal. The bold geometric lines of this home’s architecture are given warmth and softened with the use of silvertop ash shiplap cladding. Further drama is added at night when the home is illuminated, providing a glimpse from the street to the azure blue pool beyond. Vibe Design Group were briefed to…
The Ecospace WorkPod™ is a contemporary, compact, ergonomically designed workspace for one!
We’re thrilled to have our first West Australian architecture project on Designhunter. Located in Mount Pleasant in Perth the home was designed by Wright Feldhusen architects for a family of 5 who entertain a lot. The design strategy was to provide as much transparency across the ground floor living spaces to maximise views across the…
Concrete eco treehouse in Guatamala Interweaving and immersing a home into the landscape (rather than imposing the structure on it) is the hero of eco home design. Exhibit A: this jaw-dropper by Paz Architects with a design that was laser focussed on preserving the existing trees on the site. The forest was integrated into the…
I love the colour, the light and the simple serenity of this Scandinavian summer house. The home was designed by acclaimed interior designer Anna Von Schewan with a ‘less is more’ approach that is common in Scandinavian interior design. The punches of bright red featured in the pendant light and butterfly chair provide a colourful…
High on the wish list of most people when dreaming of their ultimate landscape design is a seamless flow between the interiors and landscape, preferably with a strong connection and good views from inside. This tiny courtyard in Paddington is a great example. The clients were after a tropical oasis with lots of contrasting leaf…
Raw and recycled timbers and natural textures abound in this stunning beachside interior in Maroubra, created by Tim Leveson Interiors. The brief for the project was to create a light filled, fuss free interior for a busy couple with 1 small child. With the beachside location, Tim went for a calming, natural and neutral effect…
This stunning egg shaped bath is called the Beyond Bath and was designed by Danelon Meroni. Want?
This is called the ‘flipped house’ because of what MCK Architects did to bring this 60’s abode into the 21st Century. They flipped the floor plan by swapping rooms for garden areas. The interiors now connect as much with the surrounding gardens as they do with the panoramic CBD views. The warm, natural palette features…
I may as well come out right now and confess to a small obsession with pendant lights. These mesmerizing filament bulb pendants are no exception…
This award-winning home in Sydney was originally designed by the acclaimed architect Glenn Murcutt. He is known for wanting to ‘touch the earth lightly’ and for considering the movement of wind and water, temperature and light before designing the building itself. More recently Angelo Candalepas of Candalepas Associates was given the possibly daunting task of…
This lush addition for the ultimate bathroom is the Japanese Ofuro soaking bath tub by Italian bathware company Rapsel.
“We want it to be open!” said the young professional owners of this house when they asked Architects EAT to morph their home from “rabbit warren” into spacious, light-filled, open plan living. It’s certainly an exciting and imaginative result. The materials used were chosen for their visual and tactile qualities. Engineered oak flooring abounds, not…
This apartment is located near the beaches of Marseilles on the South coast of France. After years living in the upper floor apartment, the owners acquired the basement to create a larger home for their growing family. The larger space was designed by French interior designer, Maurice Padovani. What works really well is the neutral…
This modern courtyard garden was created by landscape designers, Secret Gardens of Sydney. Every inch of the small block was designed to meet the parents need to relax and entertain and be family friendly enough to cater for their 3 young children. The front garden features a sophisticated entrance with striking water feature and dramatic…
Nugunguru means “rumbling tides” in Maori language, and is the name of the coastal area where this impressive and unusual home is located, on the North Island of New Zealand. Tennent + Brown Architects were inspired by the beautiful narrow coastal views between existing trees when they came up with the idea of the house…
The design of this pavilion style home is distinctive in its unpretentious use of simple materials, and has a raw earthiness that is perfectly offset by lush tropical gardens. Located on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, with panoramic views of the hinterland and coast, the home was designed by architect Tim Stewart for his parents….
When the gardening all gets a bit strenuous how about a quick kip on the bed? What an ingenious idea for this property on an island in Finland which combines garden shed with a solar powered greenhouse. The design is the result of a collaboration between Helsinki architect Ville Hara of Avanto Architects and interior…
Responding to the sun, wind and rain is what drove the design of this beach home in Mangawhai Heads in northern New Zealand. As you can see from the photo’s the site is magnificent, but highly exposed to the elements. The owners asked SGA Architects to design a home that responded to the harsh climate…
The owners of this terrace in Paddington, Sydney wanted to create a modern courtyard in the 42sqm of space at the rear of the terrace. As well as being a space for entertaining, the courtyard needed to provide privacy in the high density area and be aesthetically appealing from all angles, including from the master…
Oh my gosh how lovely is this chair? Ship it. Ship it to me now! Designed by Yuzuru Yamakawa for Feelgood Designs.
“The Barrow” is an extension in Melbourne, designed by Andrew Maynard architects. The building was conceived as an arrangement of timber boxes, each rotated and extruding into the landscape in different ways. This led to some interesting room shapes and configurations inside. Not only are the scale and proportions of the home a visual triumph,…
Here we have another stunning warehouse conversion, this time in Sydney, where a young family has converted a 2-storey warehouse into a 3-storey home, while living through the transformation! MCK Architects of Sydney were asked to design the conversion and have retained the existing warehouse vernacular while running a 3-storey high void parallel to the…
This fibro beach shack in the seaside town of Wamberal on the NSW central coast has been transformed from dilapidated to debonair under the skilful guidance of Matt Elkan Architecture. Briefed with extending the indoor and outdoor spaces on a modest budget, a low-cost 7m x 7m room was added. The new room features a…
This stunning feature pendant lampshade, designed by Rebecca Asquith, was inspired by the organic form of the nautilus seashell. If you must have it, you can buy it online at designtree.
Who hasn’t at some stage dreamt of living in a converted warehouse with huge timber beams, soaring ceilings, rustic concrete floors and colourful rugs scattered about? The bones of this former warehouse in Collingwood, Victoria had all the elements to make for an outstanding residential conversion. Di Mase Architects oversaw the refurbishment, stripping back the…
A simple and clever desk design by Yoyo design of New Zealand. Simply add one wall!
This is not what you might think. Although it looks like a Scandinavian apartment this home is actually on a ranch in Portland, Oregon, and was built in the 1950’s. The team at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design was called in to revamp the kitchen, dining room, living room and hall. Small windows were replaced with…
I must confess to being a little bit infatuated by this home, with its warm, understated elegance and Japanese pavilion-style aesthetic. The home is in a top notch location with expansive views over Wamberal Beach & lagoon on the central coast of NSW. Virginia Kerridge, architect, was asked to design a family abode that maximized…
The owners of this architecturally striking home in Clovelly approached Secret Gardens of Sydney to create a garden that evoked a sense of retreat, exploration and escape. The garden needed to allow for their lifestyle needs of entertaining and relaxing, and have a strong indoor/outdoor connection. The result is a modern tropical hideaway which sits…
I am thrilled to be officially launching Designhunter today (rebranded as Ecoshack in 2021), after months of hunting and gathering to bring you a special brand of home design: homes with a real sense of warmth, texture and beauty. You can look forward to an inspirational variety of interiors, architecture and landscapes, from coastal homes…
There can never be enough timber in a house, as this home amply demonstrates. Known as “Timms Bach” and located on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand, this warm and earthy retreat has been created by Herbst Architects and won the NZ Institute of Architects Architecture award for 2011. The Awards judges summed the house…
This private oasis created by Aspect Studios offers its owners not only much needed privacy but also a living artwork viewed through the feature windows in the home. The Birchgrove courtyard features giant black bamboo against a backdrop of Australian hardwood screening, cantilevered concrete seating and pops of colour via the red and white outdoor…
ONG & ONG architects have achieved a great balance of texture and colour in this modern Singapore home. The rawness of the cantilevered concrete lends an industrial flavour, which is pared back with timber elements throughout. Similarly, the timber detail inside provides a warm contrast against the otherwise light and white interiors, making an impressive…
End of content
End of content
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Awabakal people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which we stand and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |