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Articles by Prue Ruscoe
The design decisions Kate Nixon used to give this new-build instant character
Exuding an air of liveable luxury, this expansive home in Sydney’s east segues smoothly from everyday family living to effortless entertaining. As a new build, designed by architect Katie Molnar of Molnar Architects, it afforded the owners – both keen entertainers and parents to young children – the opportunity to be prescriptive about how they wanted their home to look, feel and perform.
First impressions count, so we asked an expert how to arrange your entry table
First impressions count, and the hallway is the preface to your home. It sets the tone for everything that follows, offering a first read on the aesthetic within. And yet, it is so often neglected, reduced to a holding zone stray mail, discarded jackets and shoes slipped on and off in haste. Perhaps this is because it is rarely considered a ‘proper room’, despite being the space that mediates every arrival and departure.
This Sydney Apartment Echoes Its Waterside Location With a Dramatic Blue Staircase
The redesign of the Sydney apartment faced a familiar challenge. “There’s not a lot of charming patina in Australian buildings – they’re very new in comparison to anything in Europe,” says Nicolette Farrell, one half of husband-and-wife interiors duo Dylan Farrell Design. The Sydney-based firm decorated this house-sized, four-bedroom apartment for a couple with two student daughters.
In questa casa sulla spiaggia sembra di stare a Saint-Tropez (ma siamo in Australia)
Questa casa sulla spiaggia giocosa e colorata dal mood retrò evoca un senso di spensieratezza mediterranea. Una dimora in cui rifugiarsi, lontano dalla città, in cui la vita ruota intorno al sole e al mare: è così che questa casa sulla spiaggia di 460 metri quadrati, costruita originariamente negli anni ’70, è stata completamente reimmaginata.
Best Shower Heads To Shop In Australia 2025
No matter what style or size bathroom, there’s a shower for you. There are handheld showers that allow you to wash the kids or dog with ease; streamlined rail showers; twin showers (hand and wall-mounted showers in the one unit); luxurious rain showers; and thermostatic showers that give you control over spray pattern, water flow and temperature at the touch of a button.
A Free-Spirited Seaside Home By YSG Studio
Resplendent with tone, texture, colour and esoteric pieces this sublimely cool seaside sanctuary could be anywhere in the world, from Mexico to the Côte d’Azur. And that is precisely the mood that interior designer Yasmine Ghoniem, director of YSG Studio, wished to create – a free-spirited, international vibe for “a place that savours summer’s glow year round”, as she describes it.
A collection of beautifully updated heritage homes
There is an undeniable charm about heritage homes. Many of these homes are in less than perfect condition and in need of a revamp to restore them to their former glory. These challenges can often push creatives out of their comfort zones, or standard practice, and it is here that real magic tends to be made. Their ornate detailing, unique designs and rich character make them extremely desirable and particularly special projects for interior designers and architects to work on.
This simple lighting addition will make a world of difference in any bedroom
Our editors handpick everything we recommend. We may receive revenue for sharing this content or when you shop through our links. Read more here The lighting choices we make have a huge impact on the overall feel of a home. They not only light up the dark corners of a room, but the right lighting sets the mood. Strategically placed table and floor lamps enhance your space and create an inviting atmosphere. One of the most important finishing touches of a bedroom is your choice of lighting.
A Mid-century-inspired Home on Sydney Harbour
A trio of talent – Raffaello Rosselli as main architect working in collaboration with his father, Luigi, and Romaine Alwill of Alwill Interiors – pooled their knowhow on this project: a new build on an enviable but challenging site for clients who desired a substantial home that was also hard-wearing with simple finishes. Officially dubbed the ‘Sandcastle’, this stunning five-bedroom residence in Sydney’s Point Piper has hit the market.
Sydney Home's Spectacular And Colourful Transformation
For Tan, the owner of this four-bedroom, tri-level terrace in Sydney’s inner south, this renovation has been a journey of discovery. With interior designer Jacque Yates of Three Little Pigs as her trusty satnav and much more besides, she has ventured into unknown territory, by exploring the spectrum in its tantalising variety.
Sydney Heritage House Renovation Eastern Suburbs
It’s difficult to imagine that this most stately and exquisitely dressed of family homes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has lived so many entirely different and, in some cases, less glamorous, lives. Yet, in centuries past, the 1889 Italianate abode has been everything from a boarding house to a boutique hotel and, most recently, a childcare centre.
Nostalgic Rework Romantic Weatherboard Cottage
For homeowners Lauren and Paul Lambess, doing up the little weatherboard guest cottage on their beautiful property near Lake Macquarie, in NSW, was always meant to be a project for another day. But when the scale of the renovation on their family house grew, along with its timeline, they needed somewhere for themselves, their children, Winnie, 12, Arthur, nine, Charlie, seven, and Tori, five, and a menagerie of pets, to call home – and fast.
Best shower heads to shop in Australia 2024
Today’s showers are smarter, better-looking and more powerful than ever – all while offering impressive water efficiency. It’s all about the experience, says Andy Grigor, group head of design and innovation at Methven. No matter what style or size bathroom, there’s a shower for you.
A Grand Sustainable Home with a 70s Hollywood Aesthetic
This handsome home in Sydney’s north west, an inspired collaboration between architect Julian Brenchley and interior designer Jase Sullivan, offers a beguiling blueprint on being green with elegance and style – while welcomingly eco-aware it never leaves glamour at the door.
Poolhouse Backyard Studio Briony Fitzgerald
The term ‘secondary dwelling’ doesn’t exactly elicit excitement, but this 49-square-metre build is anything but boring. Designed to fulfil many functions – pool house, home office, guest room, party pad – it’s fully self-contained with a vibrant blue-hued bathroom, compact kitchen and fold-down bed. With full-width sliding doors opening to a paved area and steps up to a lush garden and pool, it feels light years away from a poky granny flat.
Poolhouse Backyard Studio Briony Fitzgerald
The term 'secondary dwelling' doesn't exactly elicit excitement, but this 49-square-metre build is anything but boring. Designed to fulfil many functions – pool house, home office, guest room, party pad – it's fully self-contained with a vibrant blue-hued bathroom, compact kitchen and fold-down bed. With full-width sliding doors opening to a paved area and steps up to a lush garden and pool, it feels light years away from a poky granny flat.
Sit back and relax with these oh-so-comfy recliner sofas and chairs
Though it may seem obvious, but the main difference between a recliner sofa and a simple recliner is its size. A recliner sofa often refers to a sofa with built-in reclining chairs or seats within. Some recliner sofas have one or two reclining seats within, while others have all seats within the sofa that recline. A recliner chair or armchair is a standalone furniture piece.
Colourful Pink Facade Beach House Tour Sydney
Pretty in pink and a little playful – and perhaps channelling modern-day Barbie – that could neatly sum up this tri-level beach house hugging frangipani and palm tree-clad slopes above Pittwater, NSW. In its colour and design cues, it instantly whisks its owners to exotic getaways such as the Italian Riviera, Palm Springs and even the Kennedy compound in Cape Cod.
A Renovated And Light-Filled Victorian Terrace
There are certain elements of a house that you can't change when it comes to a renovation and it has nothing to do with the size of your budget. You can't change its location but, more importantly, you can't change its orientation. There are of course a few exceptions to that. If you have a large site and you're prepared to knock down an existing structure and rebuild you can design your house to take advantage of a northerly aspect.
Nostalgic Rework Romantic Weatherboard Cottage
For homeowners Lauren and Paul Lambess, doing up the little weatherboard guest cottage on their beautiful property near Lake Macquarie, in NSW, was always meant to be a project for another day. But when the scale of the renovation on their family house grew, along with its timeline, they needed somewhere for themselves, their children, Winnie, 12, Arthur, nine, Charlie, seven, and Tori, five, and a menagerie of pets, to call home – and fast.
The best Amazon Black Friday deals that are actually too good to miss
Shop 'til you drop! When it comes to having a good sale or offering coveted products at the lowest price possible, it's safe to say Amazon does a pretty good job at it. The online retail giant covers an extensive range of categories and brands for you to shop - which means you can do all your shopping in one place, saving on shipping costs and any unnecessary mental gymnastics at the same time.
Sydney Home's Spectacular And Colourful Transformation
For Tan, the owner of this four-bedroom, tri-level terrace in Sydney's inner south, this renovation has been a journey of discovery. With interior designer Jacque Yates of Three Little Pigs as her trusty satnav and much more besides, she has ventured into unknown territory, by exploring the spectrum in its tantalising variety.
Sydney Heritage House Renovation Eastern Suburbs
It's difficult to imagine that this most stately and exquisitely dressed of family homes in Sydney's eastern suburbs has lived so many entirely different and, in some cases, less glamorous, lives. Yet, in centuries past, the 1889 Italianate abode has been everything from a boarding house to a boutique hotel and, most recently, a childcare centre.
Captivating Mood Booster Home Renovation Byron Bay
Peripatetic interior designer Jase Sullivan puts his frequent travels to good use, finding inspiration everywhere he goes. When he was approached to redesign this Byron Bay house his thoughts immediately turned to his recent holiday in Porto Rafael in Sardinia where he was inspired by the 60s architecture of Michele Busiri Vici. Referencing the central courtyards and arches as well as the white render of Vici's designs Jase set to work to recreate a Mediterranean-style villa at Clarkes Beach.
Charming 120-Year-Old Homestead Renovation NSW
The sight of youngsters riding their scooters or playing cricket in the hallways reveals two things about this handsome home near Lake Macquarie, NSW: with seven bedrooms, it's humungous, but it's also earthy and without pretension. It welcomes the rough and tumble of a young family and a scuffed skirting never brings a reprimand. When their parents, Lauren and Paul Lambess, first set their eyes on the original weatherboard homestead in 2014, they were instantly smitten.
Arent&Pyke 's Terracotta Renovation Of A Federation Home
With its warm colour palette and welcoming open fireplace at its heart, this home on Sydney's lower north shore lives up to its appellation, Hearth house. Reimagined by designers Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent&Pyke and architect Luigi Rosselli the former Federation house retains little of its last-century attributes but looks to a bright, dynamic future.
A San Franciscan Home Designed Over A Screen
We all became accustomed to doing unlikely activities on Zoom during the pandemic but delivering a full renovation and furnishings via the video meeting app to a house on the other side of the world probably seemed a little implausible. However for Justine Hugh-Jones and Katrina Mackintosh, principals of Sydney-based Hugh-Jones Mackintosh design studio, once they had adapted to the radically different way of working it was full steam ahead.
A Classical Home with "Whimsical Functionality"
Designer Dylan Farrell has performed a smart conjuring trick with this glamorous four-bedroom home in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. In a magical transformation, he has deftly upped its formal, classical credentials, while, paradoxically perhaps, also making it fun and functional for family living.
A Once Dark 1880s Terrace, Now Fuss-Free Family Home
While the owner of this house in Sydney's eastern suburbs is a high-achieving professional, she admits renovating sat well outside her comfort zone. "I had never done it before and I had been looking for something that did not require any work," she says of her house-hunting back in 2020. But, despite an intensive search, nothing fitted the bill.
AGNSW-Inspired Shade Elevates Artistic Elements Of This Sydney Home Original
From its elevated and sunny position in Sydney's inner east, this three-bedroom Victorian terrace stood out from the many other dark and gloomy abodes that Sebastian and Victoria had previously inspected. "The house isn't accessed directly from the street, but via a shared raised walkway, which makes it feel more private and gives it a higher outlook over the leafy streets," says Victoria.
Bold Brushstrokes Bring This Sydney Home Back To Life Original
"Colour my world," the owner of this home in Sydney's inner west urged Josie Simpson of Altus Design Studio. "I want a happy and joyful home with lots of fun and character." And the interior designer willingly obliged, creating a playful family haven that celebrates the spectrum. When the owner and her husband bought the home in 2021, it was smart and impressively functional after a renovation in 2017 by Molnar Freeman (now Molnar Architects and TF Architects).
Freshen up your patio furniture with these plush outdoor chair cushions
An affordable addition to spruce up your outdoor entertaining area. If you're like us, and a day is considered wasted if you aren't able to relax in the great outdoors (your garden or patio) for at least 20 minutes a day, then you know that creating the perfect outdoor setting in your home that you can relax in is vital. And with the warmer months creeping up, refreshing your outdoor entertaining area is high on the agenda.
Rosetta by Hugh-Jones Mackintosh
Vote for this project in the Readers’ Choice Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards 2023.
A Tropical Resort-Style Semi In Sydney Original
With its light and breezy interiors and palm-tree outlooks, this semi in Sydney's eastern suburbs resembles a tropical resort. But for owners Alex and Ryan, the journey to this dream destination, no passport required, began with two great leaps of faith. First, Alex and her husband Ryan boldly bought the property without crossing the threshold. "We were living in London and wanted to return to Sydney," she says. "Our parents inspected it and sent us photos.
What is the psychology behind a messy bedroom? Original
With half of the year (and more) behind us, a mid-year check-in with yourself is nothing out of the ordinary. Whether you're someone who has a mood board of your goals (big or small) for the year displayed in your bedroom or you're someone who likes to go with the flow, goal-setting is a basic practice that has been proven to provide one with better direction, focus, motivation and increased productivity. And, if you're like me – you love a good list.
8 rectangular coffee tables that will bring your living room together
For decorative vignettes and board game nights. Aug 02, 2023 3:41am Are you in search of the perfect coffee table to complete your living room? A coffee table is undoubtedly the centrepiece of the living room (and home), so finding one that fits your space and taste is a task that should not be taken lightly. Coffee tables come in a plethora of shapes and sizes, but one shape that reigns most popular in Aussie homes is the humble rectangle coffee table.
How Harbourside Surrounds Are Brought Inside This Stately Home Original
First impressions can be deceiving. This is true of when interior designer Nellie Tilley walked into this stately federation arts and crafts home with her long-term clients. "It went from that initial meeting when we were just planning to open up a couple of doors, change the carpet and paint the walls to gutting and rebuilding the whole house," recalls Tilley, who has reimagined four homes for the same family with three grown-up children.
A Series Of Challenges Pushed The Design Of This Harbourside Terrace
Opening up and brightening this Victorian terrace and uniting its past with a dynamic present was a joyful experience for the designer and owners.
Food As Decor: Styling Your Home From The Supermarket
Candlesticks can cost you hundreds of dollars these days. Even a bunch of wilting gerberas from your local petrol station can put you way out of pocket. So it's no surprise people often lose themselves in a paradox of choice when the cost of styling their home can set them back significantly. But what if we told you that one of the simplest (and most effective) ways of styling your home involves something you can pick up for just a few dollars from your local supermarket? Yes, it's true.
9 trusty travel essentials for your next jet-setting adventure
Consider this your ultimate travel checklist. May 31, 2023 4:39am Do you have an overseas holiday booked? Can't wait to find yourself gallivanting in tropical climates and escaping the moody Australian winter? To help you prepare for your next (well-deserved) holiday, we've rounded up the best travel essentials that you need for your next adventure.
A Sandstone Home That Makes Use of Smart Zoning
It was the light-filled living room with its decorative ceilings and original features that persuaded the owners to buy this grand 1920s house in Sydney's eastern suburbs. "I love the living room," they say. "We've had a lot of fabulous parties in it – it's the reason we bought the house. It has windows on both sides and opens out to a big verandah that has wonderful views." After buying the home in 2016, the owners made a few minor alterations.
AFree-Spirited Seaside Home By YSG Studio
Resplendent with tone, texture, colour and esoteric pieces this sublimely cool seaside sanctuary could be anywhere in the world, from Mexico to the Côte d'Azur. And that is precisely the mood that interior designer Yasmine Ghoniem, director of YSG Studio, wished to create – a free-spirited, international vibe for "a place that savours summer's glow year round", as she describes it.
The Remodel Of A Townhouse In A Tightly-Held Estate
The Annery is an exclusive estate in Sydney's east with a wonderful history. Set on expansive grounds overlooking the harbour, it was built in the late 1880s by a British expat as a grand family home. The property has since been converted into luxury apartments, with a handful of beautiful units and single-storey townhouses added inside the grounds. The much-loved estate is tightly held, with many owners having lived here for decades.
Terragong: A Lovingly Restored Homestead in Jamberoo
Terragong Bed and Breakfast in Jamberoo is the sort of place where a fire burns in the grate all year round and a deliciously dusky half-light saturates every squashy armchair-filled corner. Belonging to interior designer Darryl Gordon and partner Simon Milner, the heritage-listed bed & breakfast stretches across almost five hectares of pastures, woodlands and crab apple trees. "I was fixated with the property before I'd even set foot inside," says Darryl.
A Handsome Sandstone Home Overlooking Sydney Harbour
While all home renovations require a pertinent response, some demand more sensitivity than others and this house in Sydney's inner west was just such a project. Dating from around the 1860s and of sandstone construction with a distinctive 'twin peaks' roofline, it was a home of significance and inherent beauty, and architect Nadine Alwill, engaged for the refurbishment, paid it due respect.
A Whimsical Waterfront Home With A Unique Colourful Coastal Aesthetic
When the opportunity presents to have some fun with interior design, Justine Hugh-Jones and Katrina Mackintosh, principals of boutique studio Hugh-Jones Mackintosh (HJM), eagerly take up the challenge. The duo are known for their whimsical and unconventional approach, layering vintage and bespoke pieces and injecting shots of colour into their schemes.
A contemporary coastal home layered with pieces from different periods
It was an interesting exercise when architect Daniel Boddam was called on to redesign a house purchased by a young family on Sydney's Lower North Shore, as the property had originally been his family home. "Having lived there I was well versed as to the ins and outs of the building and its surrounds," he says. Working closely with the owners who were keen on a Mediterranean-inspired home, Daniel settled on a modern interpretation, with a combination of brutalist and classical influences.
Budge Over Dover by YSG Studio is for sale
Yasmine Ghoniem of design studio YSG goes further than simply using colour in her projects. She plays with it. Unifying unexpected textures and tones, she creates spaces that come alive and envelop and delight their guests. One of her latest projects involved the complete overhaul of Zoë Foster Blake's fun-filled Vaucluse house with her husband Hamish, which takes risks with colours and has a cosmopolitan edge that would be cool anywhere around the world.
An arresting concrete home anchored in the slopes above Sydney's Balmoral
With sunlight splicing through the street-level garage and tantalising glimpses of Sydney Harbour and the Heads creating an impressive sense of arrival this is a house that promises – and delivers – much. The spectacular position wedged into the slopes above Balmoral in Sydney's north demanded a stunning design to match and architects Imogene Potter and Simon Wilson of Potter & Wilson certainly delivered on the brief.
A contemporary home in Sydney's eastern suburbs with classic interiors
Cameron Kimber is an interior designer who lives life in full colour – and he loves to layer art, textures, beautiful wallpaper and fabric prints. Making a bold decorating statement is just another day at the 'office' for Cameron, whose design hallmark is taking classic interiors and enlivening them by overlaying a mix-and-match ethos.
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