Month: August 2020

Remember last year’s Dulux Colour Forecast, when we said ‘more than ever, the home is a sanctuary from the demands of the outside world?’ We were wrong. In 2020, homes are now truly the epicentre of our lives, and this is influencing our design choices.

The Dulux Colour Forecast is an annual report that looks at current cultural trends set to impact design over the coming year. In response to the pandemic, the 2021 forecast reflects the desire for reassurance and strength, with three nurturing palettes that speak of familiarity and comfort. ‘This year’s soft, earthy neutrals, muted greens and gentle mauve-greys provide a reassuring connection with nature, while richer and brighter hues, such as coral and stormy blue, awaken our senses and allow for moments of optimism,’ says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux colour and communications manager.

The familial warm whites, brown-based neutrals and dusty blues of the Retreat palette are

Since the onset of the global pandemic in March, food has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Between the surge in homemade bread baking and panic-ravaged supermarket stocks, the disconnect between food consumption and education has become apparent. With a country as biodiverse as Australia – with the capability to grow and harvest literally thousands of food sources – why do we have such a warped perception of the supply chain?

Melbourne Food Hub is working to change that. With the launch of their fruit and veg delivery program, Grow/Source/Eat, the Hub provides over 100 subscribers with weekly packages of produce grown at their urban farm in Alphington. By partnering with regenerative, next generation farmers, the program encourages hyperlocal consumption and education around seasonal produce.

We caught up with Grow/Source/Eat program manager, Nichole Foster, to enlighten us more about the initiative, as well as the positive pandemic side

Kieron Gait Architects & Dan Young Landscape Architect, Whynot Street Carport and Pool

This new carport and pool by Kieron Gait Architects & Dan Young Landscape Architect in Brisbane highlights its surrounding landscape to provide a connection to place. The concrete carport roof is functional, while providing a terrace to enjoy the northern views. Utilising the slope of the site and stepping down the walls, the rear garden is connected to the gumtree green palette of Mt Coot-tha beyond. The use of excess stone leftover from the carport excavation around the pool gives the illusion of a natural swimming hole, with deep coloured water reminiscent of that found in a gully. 

Revisit our feature on this West End garden here. 

Kate Seddon Landscape Design, The Composed Garden

This minimalist design combines a natural material palette with a celebration of seasonality. Inspired by the natural and designed landscapes of

The Township Residence by Wolveridge shares a streetscape with Sorrento’s historic Whitehall building. Associate director of Wolveridge, Will Smart, cites this enormous 19th-century limestone guest house as a key design inspiration for the architects’ new (much smaller) residence, constructed by by Smith Builders.

‘The project could not resist referencing some of the more timeless Federation touches,’ Will explains. ‘In particular, the deep verandah with the arched screen openings, which we translated with a contemporary expression.’

Situated one block back from the Ocean Beach Reserve, these upper level decks afford the inhabitants views across the protected parkland, as well as allowing generous amounts of natural light to flood the front living space and master bedroom. Oval openings are carved from slim timber battens cladding the exterior, forming a screen-like shading, and allowing the deep decks to act as covered outdoor extensions to the neighbouring rooms. The weatherboard exterior was painted

When designing urban and suburban gardens, the greatest challenge is usually working within tricky, compact spaces. Sam Cox of Sam Cox Landscape did not encounter that problem with his latest project: a generous rolling block in Northcote bursting at the boundaries with ancient trees and luscious plantings. His clients were a couple of avid amateur gardeners who were keen to engage a professional to connect the new extension of their residence to an unmanicured patch of the extensive back garden.

‘We were asked to come and make some additions to the existing garden during a renovation of the house,’ Sam explains of the arrangement. ‘The house was being extended, and our work was to connect both the garden extension and the house extension together, while giving them a level of separation, visually.’

The clients had already made significant additions to their lush block, so Sam and his team inherited a