Geelong Coast Home and Lifestyle - Summer 2022

AT HOME WITH TIM & SUE PAGES 4-5

TREND ALERT EMBRACE THE FEATURE CHAIR PAGE 13

IN CONVERSATION BRETT INCE PAGES 18-19

SUMMER HOME MAKEOVER BE BOLD WITH COLOUR

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Content SUMMER 2022/23

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Your guide to feature chairs

Bring the outdoors inside

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Live bigger for less

Make an impact with garden art

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What to plant this summer

At home with Tim & Sue

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Summer reads

Find your perfect window dressing

10 Celebrate coastal beauty

16-17 Summer colour forecast

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Give your home a Hamptons makeover

In conversation: Brett Ince

Geelong Coast Home & Lifestyle magazine is a Star News Group/Geelong Independent publication.

MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Michell WRITERS: Justin Flynn, Holly McGuinness PHOTOGRAPHY: Ivan Kemp ADVERTISING: advertising@geelongindependent.com.au www.homeandlifestyle.geelongindy.com.au facebook.com/gcmaggeelongcoast/ @gcmaggeelongcoast ISSN: 2200-6605 ABN: 55 006 653 336 ACN: 06 653 336

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24-25 Social network Front page image courtesy Livingetc

Geelong Coast Home & Lifestyle Magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper. Printed using vegetable based inks on FSC ® certified paper under ISO14001.

Environmental Management System framework. FSC ® Chain of Custody certification ensures traceability and verification of paper from well managed forests throughout the manufacturing process to the end user.

GEELONG COAST HOME & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Unit 1, 47 Pakington Street, Geelong West 3218 (03) 5249 6700 All material appearing in Geelong Coast Home & Lifestyle magazine is subject to copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Geelong Coast Home & Lifestyle magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at the time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

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n An aspect of the home’s facade. Pictures: Ivan Kemp

AT HOME WITH

Tim & Sue Tim Gooden and Sue Bull rebuilt their Manifold Heights home into a sustainable masterpiece after a devastating fire in 2018. Justin Flynn talks to Tim about the fire, the rebuild and the couple’s favourite aspects of their new abode.

In June 2018, Tim Gooden and Sue Bull were excited about heading to Italy, but on the morning of their flight disaster struck their Manifold Heights home.

Tim was woken by what he thought was his alarm, but he soon realised it was a smoke detector just outside the couple’s bedroom.

Luckily they, and their two poodles, were able to escape, but their house wasn’t as fortunate.

Days spent getting new passports meant their trip was delayed, but Tim and Sue headed off to Italy five days later with the knowledge that, when they returned, years of clean up and recovery were in front of them.

What didn’t burn down in the fire was smoke and water damaged.

“The whole back of the house was alight,” Tim says.

“I was in the NSW fire brigade for 10 years so I knew what I was doing, but the fire brigade turned up and kicked me out. I was on oxygen for an hour. Lost our travel bag, passports, cameras. No ID.”

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n The main bathroom Tim says the fire had an impact on their trip.

“We want to do it again,” he says.

“It was good, the kids were all there, we went to all the wineries, Florence, Venice, Rome, but at the back of your mind there’s two senses.

n Exposed brick in the hallway “One was sheer relief that we survived and we were thankful. But then there was also the dread of what are we going to do now? We have to get somewhere to rent, we have to move, we have to clean everything out, all that stuff that you never planned on doing.”

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AT HOME WITH | TIM AND SUE

n Sue’s favourite room is the spacious kitchen where the whole family can gather to cook.

Back on home soil, their 1954 double-front redbrick home was written off by the insurance company, but Tim says they were “under insured” with $395,000 coming back to them for house and contents.

Faced with three choices – demolishing the fire stricken house and selling the land, subdividing or rebuilding – Tim and Sue eventually decided to rebuild and the result, after two years of hard work, is outstanding.

Tim took on the job of owner-builder of the now three-bedroom residence that is as sustainable as possible.

He created an industrial style home featuring solar panels, thermal mass, LEDs, hydronic heating, double glazed windows, natural light, compost and veggie garden.

There is reclaimed timber, recycled concrete in the base, all the bricks are recycled, all furniture is made by Tim or salvaged out of the old house. The laundry and toilets all operate on rain water from an 8000 litre tank.

“There’s solar hot water, solar electricity, no battery yet but that will be the next thing,” Tim says.

“We have six-star insulation. Underfloor heating is only on during the day and is solar.

It still releases heat at night, the hydronics are actually off, but the heat is still coming out of the concrete. We also maximise ventilation by using louvre windows to purge heat once the afternoon southerly winds come up.

“We went for underfloor hydronic heating, polished concrete floors, simple straight lines, a high ceiling to match the high glass ceiling of the stone hall out the back and a cutaway.

“Even though the house is much bigger now, the footprint on the land isn’t much because we saved the driveway so that’s now got the front garage on it.”

n Greenery softens the patio.

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The house was demolished after Christmas 2018 and the new slab was poured June 1, 2019.

Six months later on January 20, 2020 Tim and Sue got practical completion.

“I took six months off to finish the inside, to make the concrete kitchen and do the fitout,” Tim says.

COVID lockdowns then meant Tim was at home and able to finish the stone shed and the gardens.

A two-year journey was finished in time for October’s Geelong Sustainable House day, an event that featured seminars and open houses to give people an opportunity to explore new and innovative ideas and solutions.

n Dining room

Sue’s favourite room is the kitchen.

“She likes cooking a lot more now,” Tim says.

“Especially with the family at Christmas because we can get everyone in there cooking at the same time.

“I love the kitchen as well but the wheel-in showers are my favourite. The shower roses are in the ceiling and they’re just square pencil-jet showerheads. There’s no shower basin so you can just wheel a wheelchair in if you want to. It’s all flat concrete, not polished.

However, to add to the couple’s woes, while rebuilding, their rental house in Swanston Street was robbed.

“I’ve always hated showers where you have to climb in and out of the bath, the three sliding doors that never slide properly, mouldy, someone’s put the showerhead down at your waist somewhere and it keeps dropping. I hated all those things. None of that exists anymore.”

The burglars stole all Tim’s tools, knives, hunting and archery gear.

Tim says the silence of the double glazing is “incredible”.

“My dad’s collection of bits and pieces – stamps, coins, old knives. I swore off doing any collections ever again.”

Tim, a carpenter by trade, pauses when asked if he enjoyed the rebuilding process.

“I would never have chosen to do it,” he says.

“I would probably now build a smaller place with that experience under my belt. Mechanics drive bombs, carpenters live in shit houses.

When you work all week as a carpenter, the last thing you want to be doing is building on weekends.

“Three years ago if someone said ‘come on, let’s go build a house’ I would have said ‘no, nothing wrong with this one. We’ll use our weekends to do other stuff, like ride push bikes and stuff ’.

“I’m deaf anyway, but we barely hear any cars going up and down outside. You can barely hear the fireworks downtown, you can still hear the dogs a bit outside,” he says.

“Raining – it’s got to be really heavy rain before you realise it’s raining. You can just shut the world out. I didn’t realise it was going to be that quiet, we were just so used to it being noisy with the old place.”

Tim and Sue’s message is simple.

“I’ve got hardwired smoke detectors now,” he says.

“All rental places now must have fitted smoke detectors and they have to be serviced every 12 months.

“Now that it’s finished, it’s great, but I wouldn’t have chosen to do it. It was a very stressful period.”

“It’s the smallest thing. I wear hearing aids, and they still woke me up. Had we spent another hour in the smoke and CO2 we mightn’t have woken up.” ●

n Sue Bull in the lounge room

n The view towards the rear of the property.

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GC HOMES | BRAX WINDOW TREATMENTS

The perfect roller-sheer combo

BY CAL STEWART As an owner of Brax, one question I’ve been asked numerous times over the years is “What blinds do you (or would you) have in your own home?”

Having worked in the industry for a long time, I’ve seen many trends that have come and gone. I’ve always been attuned to the world of interior design, and consequently I have always embraced changing styles, colours and fabrications for blinds in my own homes. There’s nothing however that can beat a classic, well-considered window treatment combination.

My own ideal ‘perfect combo’ would have to be a roller blind teamed with a beautiful, flowing linen style sheer curtain. This offers privacy while still allowing light to filter gently into the room. Sheer curtains have the ability to soften an interior, adding a more feminine touch to the space without being frilly or too girlish. With the huge range of fabrics available this look can be casual and relaxed or suited to a more luxurious, formal interior space. The possibilities are almost endless.

Behind this flowing sheer curtain quietly sits a roller blind, obscured from view but at the ready for when its services are required. It is ideal for blocking out the light for sleeping or providing night time privacy when it’s time for the lights to go on indoors.

Ultimately for me, this blind would be fully automated, so I could simply operate it at the touch of a button or via my iPhone when needed.

Roller blinds One of the most versatile and functional window treatments in today’s market is the humble roller blind, or holland blind as they were previously known. Available as a simple mechanical, hand operated blind or with a range of automation options that make operation extremely easy, these blinds have been around forever, but have seen a return to style in the past few years.

Fabric choices are now extensive, with different light filtering capabilities to total blockout, along with different textured finishes or plain options.

If teaming a roller blind up with a sheer

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curtain, I usually tend to stick with the simplicity of plain fabrics, which are often more affordable too, leaving more in the budget for the sheer curtains, which really star in this show.

Sheer fabrics I’m always drawn to natural fibres. I love the look and feel of linen, and I have always insisted on wool carpet despite being told it wouldn’t last or wear as long as nylon.

When it comes to choosing fabrics for sheer curtains, the same rationale applies – natural fibres such as silks, cottons and pure linens are less stable than man-made fibres.

This means that they don’t hold up to the UV and sunlight quite as well, and will also often shrink or drop due to any moisture in the air.

That’s where my choice would be to go for a blend – many of the ‘linen’ fabrics today have been woven with a polyester that has a stabilising effect on the fabric, which ultimately means it will last longer but still gives that natural slub textured look of pure linen.

Hanging a sheer How a sheer curtain is hung will also impact on its appearance and its performance. Going all the way from the floor to ceiling will give a dramatic look to a space and may help make the room appear larger, but it may not always be the best option. There’s a range of options for the rods or tracks that a sheer curtain will hang from, but make sure it’s practical as well as pretty.

There’s nothing worse than seeing a curtain rod hanging off the wall because it was never strong enough to take the weight of the curtains or has come unstuck due to the effort required to drag them open or closed. Always ensure that there is something for the track or rod to fix to, as fitting directly into plaster can potentially damage the wall, or even be hazardous to inhabitants.

This is really where expert advice and professional installation will make a huge difference.

For me, the winner is definitely sheer curtains and roller blinds – a perfect, classic combination that will always be in style. ●

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GC HOMES | GRAHAM JONES DESIGN

n The ‘Whale Watcher’ is a contemporary blend between the natural landscape and a modern design.

A celebration of coastal beauty In the hands of the right designer, a carefully crafted arrangement of brick and mortar can help to elevate an already stunning outlook into a true celebration of the coast’s natural beauty.

That’s how the team at Graham Jones Design approached ‘Whale Watcher’ on this breathtaking site, guided by the client’s request to curate their experience of the waters of Logans Beach – where female Southern Right whales return to calve during the winter months.

Driven by the obvious need to maximise the access and experience of the vista, Graham Jones Design started the design process by carefully considering the siting of the dwelling in terms of its height on the sloping site and how it would be oriented. As the concept progressed, the design team soon found themselves favouring an ‘H’ shaped floor plan where bedrooms and living areas could be located towards the water, and service areas away from the view. The layout proved essential to providing the clients with a central alfresco space that could be opened to the outdoors or completely shut off from the elements when required, as well as a patio area flanked by the two ‘wings’ of the building to shelter from the harsh coastal winds.

Crafting multiple indoor-outdoor spaces to cater to ever-changing conditions throughout the year is a clear and consistent consideration of Graham Jones Design homes – one that certainly isn’t lost on this property.

forms themselves speak to something far more contemporary. The front face of the home wraps seamlessly around to an all-steel rear elevation, which will prove the most durable facing the coastline and disappearing into the hill from below.

In line with the client’s other principal request – to make a statement while blending seamlessly with the neighbouring houses and landscape of the hill – the design is unique and has a strong sense of character without standing out from the crowd. The distinctive skillion roofs – simple and effective – and clean lines of the design help to generate a sense of individuality, whilst the material palette of recycled red brick, timber, and steel cladding offers a sense of subtlety to its appearance.

The clever use of the brick and timber – used more sparingly than it appears – generates a familiar domestic appearance, while the

A staple of any well-designed contemporary home, ‘Whale Watcher’ has also been configured with rainwater harvesting systems, solar power, natural ventilation for passive temperature control, great access to natural light and drought resilient landscaping to help reduce the client’s ongoing footprint in such a special part of the world. Graham Jones Design suggest that these are simple principles that can be integrated into any new home so long as they are carefully considered during the early stages of design – which is great not only for the environment, but for far more enjoyable living conditions as well.

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A focus on the day-to-day experience is quite obvious when visiting the home, where cool and soft tones of timer, white and greys along with subtle textural additions and fixtures make for an exceptionally tranquil collection of spaces. The contrast between the comfortability of the home’s interior against the backdrop of harsh, crashing waves is quite mesmerising.

By now the proud owners of ‘Whale Watcher’ have settled into their beautiful new home and are keenly awaiting the winter months, where they can perch up in the kitchen, the sitting room or in the alfresco with a warm drink in hand, while enjoying nature’s beauty in quiet comfort.

Visit grahamjonesdesign.com.au or get in touch with a member of the team via 0477 394 864 or email reception@grahamjonesdesign. com.au to learn more. ●

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GC HOMES | LIFESTYLE

The Hamptons reimagined The Hamptons is an enduring style with Australian homeowners that’s as equally at home in its native coastal location as suburban and rural settings.

And as a result, The Hamptons as a design aesthetic, has evolved into three distinct subcategories or themes, all with slightly different design elements that define their look and style.

Natalee Bowen is Australia’s leading design expert on The Hamptons. She is also a creative director of Indah Island and a James Hardie brand ambassador.

“The Hamptons can have many different variations but at its core is a mix of coastal relaxed sophistication that embodies a highend layered look,” Bowen explained.

“Overall, The Hamptons is a classic, traditional style with open plan living and beautiful cabinetry throughout. It should be identifiable from the outset with a weatherboard facade and contrasting trims.

While the interiors feature wooden flooring, details of shiplap (horizontal boards) and wainscoting (vertical boards on the lower half or third of a wall) and a neutral palate of layered soft furnishings.”

Paramount to Hamptons architecture, exterior cladding provides clean, horizontal lines with deep shadow lines that instantly evoke a sense of classic charm. Given Australia’s harsh climate, traditional timber

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weatherboard cladding is high maintenance.

With the same charm as timber boards, but more durable, LineaTM Weatherboard cladding by James Hardie is hard-wearing, low maintenance and resistant to damage from termites, rot, moisture and fire, and seamlessly captures The Hamptons look.

Increasingly, Australian homeowners are after individuality and diversity, and are reworking The Hamptons look to create architecturally designed, personalised variations. While there are the ubiquitous hallmarks of The Hamptons style, Australian homeowners have taken that style and morphed it into three main sub-categories, – Traditional Hamptons, Contemporary Hamptons and Australian Hamptons.

Bowen explains the subtle differences between the three looks.

“Traditional Hamptons is a classic style made obvious with soft grey finishes and detailed white trims. It is full of character and beautiful, heavy detail. Every nook is an opportunity to create a feature and layer to its fullness,” she said.

“Contemporary Hamptons is typically more of a minimalist look, pared back and monotone in colour, using mostly a black and white palate and more masculine touches. Taking design cues from the urban environment such as stone, steel and cementbased cladding, gives a slightly industrial feel.

It allows us to still reach out in detail, however when furnishing this look, we stick to more black than white. The use of wrought iron brass also defines Contemporary Hamptons.

“Australian Hamptons is more laid back; with wider verandahs and pared back detail from the inside out. It is less fussy in its approach with a much more casual feel. The colourways are also more defined, using either a darker palate externally of blues and greys, or a white-on-white palate for a distinctly coastal look,” Bowen explained.

According to Bowen there is no right or wrong take on The Hamptons but it is important to take cues from the surrounding landscape.

“For example, if you are in the suburbs you want to go with a colourway that creates a balance for the streetscape. Darker tones with darker roofs are generally used in dense areas and in leafier suburbs more lighter tones are used, such as grey and white. In rural areas we use grey and whites with lighter roofs that embody a farm style home with wider verandahs.

“Whatever Hamptons style appeals, there is no denying its lasting popularity with Australians, perhaps it’s our mild climate and love of indoor-outdoor living that makes The Hamptons work so well in any Australian setting.” ●

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LIFESTYLE | FEATURE CHAIRS

n An abstract statement chair is able to blend in with an existing neutral theme while still making an impact.

Pictures: Shutterstock

n Playing around with colour is a great option to refresh a living space with an extra pop.

Make a statement, simply Feeling like your living space could do with a refresh? Or maybe your bedroom feels like it’s missing something?

A feature chair could be the final puzzle piece that pulls your space together.

With a variety of chairs available on the market, an accent or feature chair has an undeniable power to tie a room together … if chosen correctly.

Starting off, it’s important to outline a purpose for your new chair: Decorative, additional seating, a reading nook or just a place to leave that clean load of laundry you planned on putting away three days ago?

Once you’ve decided on the purpose, you’ll need to consider the space available and chair size so as to not encroach on the entire room.

That’s where the fun part comes in – deciding which style of chair you’ll go for.

A wing chair is a visually appealing chair with accented sides that wrap around the person sitting inside. Originally designed to be situated in front of a fireplace, they protect from chilly drafts and trap in the heat from a nearby fireplace. An excellent addition to a traditional, classic style home.

French country armchairs have a classic, chic style, similar to a wing chair, but in place of the wings are usually timber armrests with a fabric accent for comfort. They’re typically not a standout statement, but have the capacity to make an elegant impact in a room.

Designed for comfort, a barrel armchair is made with a rounded backing; it’s almost as though a sphere has been sliced in half and scooped out to sit in. In more modern designs the plush of the seat backing extends all the way to the ground, creating a cohesive design without visible legs.

Be sure to also think carefully when selecting the colour of your feature chair.

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n A chic, winged armchair, perfect for a cozy night by the fire, or curling up with a good book.

n A simple blush of pink brings an elevated energy to a previously dull space.

Try to complement your existing furniture and either go for a polar opposite stand out, or something that will blend nicely with what you have. l

n Accenting cushions should be mindfully decided upon. This style keeps a curved theme throughout its styling.

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GC HOMES | LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES

Live bigger with lower costs With interest rates, household bills, groceries and the general cost of living on the rise, it makes sense that Australian over-50s are looking for affordable solutions for their retirement and preretirement years. If this is you, you’ve come to the right place! Downsizing to a low-maintenance home at Lifestyle Communities could be the finance-savvy solution you’ve been looking for.

If you’re wondering how you’ll experience more financial freedom and less stress by downsizing to one of our communities, keep reading!

Free up equity Perhaps the biggest way your bank account (and lifestyle) will benefit when you downsize, is freeing up the equity that’s sitting in your current home. On average, our homeowners free up $240K – $250K of equity when they sell their large family home and downsize to a Lifestyle Community, providing financial security and the freedom to spend more on the things they love. Whether that’s embarking on a holiday of a lifetime, or purchasing the car of their dreams, the choice is yours. Ka-ching!

Fixed pricing for peace of mind When you choose your dream home at Lifestyle Communities, your price and settlement date is fixed. This means there’s no need to worry about price increases, land title delays or hidden costs. Plus, our communities offer some very affordable downsizing options, with homes typically priced at 75-80 per cent of median house prices in the local area.

Forget interest rates Because they free up a significant amount of equity by selling their current home, our homeowners own their homes outright. This means there’s no need to be concerned about interest rate rises, which have been causing stress for Australian homeowners of late. According to the Australian Centre for Social Innovation, while about 40 per cent of baby boomers own their own home, a third are still paying it off.

Eventually, keeping up with these payments, as well as the rising cost of living, can eat into other spending options. Ultimately, downsizing to a Lifestyle Community can remove the stress of having to keep up mortgage payments later in life.

Lower living costs Living in a newer and more efficient home within our secure communities comes with a huge range of financial benefits. You’ll experience lower water, gas and power bills because you won’t have to use as much energy to heat and cool your home, as well as lower household insurance costs because you live in

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a secure, gated community environment. Your brand-new home will also feature top of the range, energy efficient appliances that keep the bills low. Plus, living in a Lifestyle Community, you’ll benefit from: • No stamp duty on your new home • No council rates • No water rates • No sewerage rates Each of our communities also features an electric car, e-bikes and shuttle bus for our homeowners to take for a spin whenever they choose. This allows you to leave your car at home and spend less on petrol.

Solar power savings All our new communities are powered solely by electricity and renewable energy to minimise our impact on the environment and reduce our homeowners’ energy bills. These solar-powered micro grids allow our homeowners to save up to 30 per cent on their power bills.

Save on repairs and maintenance Your new home will require less maintenance and upkeep than your current home, so there’ll be no need to spend your valuable time and hard-earned cash on repairs. We also employ landscapers to tend to all homeowners’ front gardens, so you won’t need to fork out for your garden’s maintenance – unless you’re a passionate green thumb.

Live bigger for less Most importantly, when you make the move to a Lifestyle Community, you’ll enjoy 24-hour

access to incredible amenities and will have peace of mind within your safe and secure community of like-minded neighbours. Plus, you’ll unlock a world of exclusive benefits, deals and discounts with Club Lifestyle. Offering motorhomes and holiday villas for all Lifestyle homeowners to enjoy for free (with the exception of a nominal cleaning fee) and discounts with selected partners to help reduce the rising cost of living, there are so many perks to experience. The best part – you’ll have money left over to live in total comfort. That’s what we call more bang, less buck.

With a range of ready to move homes and homes that are still under construction, we can cater to your downsizing timeline. In other words – we’re ready when you are! So, why wait when an incredible lifestyle is just around the corner?

Buy now and gain all the benefits that come with downsizing to a Lifestyle Community. ●

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LIFESTYLE | INTERIORS

n Dulux Summer Forecast 2023 - Revive palette.

Styling: Bree Leech Photographer: Lisa Cohen Dulux colours used: Walls: Dulux Integra; Trims: Dulux Diorite.

Be bold this summer After a gruelling couple of years and a dreary winter, we’re ready to swing open the doors and welcome in a little joy this summer.

Dulux colour forecasters predict energising bright hues and graphic patterns will come to the fore in the warmer months, combined with a playful disregard for the so-called decorating ‘rules.’

n The living room after the makeover. Ceiling: Dulux Breezy Half; Walls: Dulux Paper Brown; Planter (Outside): Dulux Pink Chi & Dulux Princess Pink; Planter (Outside): Dulux Day Glow & Dulux Golden Sand.

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“As our world opens up and we adapt to new ways of doing things, we’re looking for lightness and joy in our surroundings,” Dulux colour and communications manager Andrea Lucena-Orr says.

“This is a time for reconnecting with the ones we love, and we want guests to walk into our homes and feel a sense of happiness and

n Walls: Dulux Lexicon Quarter; Door: Dulux Diorite; Bedroom Walls: Dulux Integra.

celebration. At the same time, after two years of restrictions, many of us are yearning for fun, freedom and the chance to try new things.”

To fuel your design thinking, Dulux colour forecaster and stylist Bree Leech used Dulux’s new Revive palette to breathe new life into a predominantly white lounge room and a tween bedroom in a family home. ●

n The bedroom before.

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LIFESTYLE | INTERIORS

The Revive palette, which is one of three palettes identified in the Dulux Colour Forecast 2023, perfectly captures summer’s bright and bold mood. Revive features vibrant hues, such as Dulux Integra (a rich blue), Dulux Diorite (a lively green) and Dulux Perplexed (a whimsical lilac) paired with over-scaled patterns, voluptuous furniture and bold, abstract artworks to bring an anything-is-possible optimism into our homes.

“If you’ve never swayed from whites and neutrals before, using saturated colours like these can feel daunting, but there’s really nothing to fear,” Leech says.

“If you’re keen to try something a little different in your home and bring in some fun, the Revive palette is a great place to start.

Whilst the palette offers up plenty of bold and bright colours, there are grounding hues in there too that balance them out beautifully, such as Dulux Paper Brown, a warm brownorange, and the ever-popular white, Dulux Lexicon Quarter.

“With huge steel-framed windows and sliding exterior doors that connect to the garden and fill the space with natural light, this family living room gave us a great canvas to work with.

But with all-white walls and ceilings, and little in the way of texture or colour, it lacked depth and didn’t feel particularly inviting.”

Lucena-Orr says she and Leech started by painting the walls in Dulux Paper Brown to instantly add warmth and character.

“To make the ceiling appear higher, we gave it a couple of coats of Breezy Half – a lovely, soft blue that’s perfect for brightening up open-plan rooms like this one. Taking the ceiling colour part-way down onto the wall, as we’ve done here, is a design trick to make the ceiling feel higher,” Lucena-Orr says.

Leech describes the Revive palette as a fabulous mash-up of futuristic and retro influences, which she really wanted to bring out in the room.

“We added curvy, statement seating with a distinctly ‘80s feel in electric blue, paired with a highly textural feature chair and footstool in mustard for a hint of ‘70s cool. The existing light fixtures and touches of high-shine steel in the coffee table legs further add to the retromeets-contemporary vibe,” Leech says.

“Design trends today are heavily influenced

n Walls: Dulux Integra; Trims: Dulux Diorite. by the idea of ‘creating a moment’, whether it’s the perfect Instagrammable photo or a great Zoom backdrop. We’ve brought that idea in here with a simple but eyecatching vignette – a powder blue sideboard topped with a bright green vessel filled with summer blooms that pop against the warm walls, complemented by the bold, abstract artworks casually propped on the surface – it’s a little moment that instantly brings a smile to your face.”

In the tween bedroom, Leech balanced calm with a sense of fun.

“Revive is a surprisingly versatile palette – depending on where you use the colours and in what amounts, you can create totally different moods. As a sleep space, we wanted this bedroom to feel restful, so we painted the walls in soothing and immersive Dulux Integra.

For something a little unexpected, we used Dulux Diorite on the skirting boards, window trims and door, rather than traditional white.

n Walls: Dulux Paper Brown

“The existing colourful, upholstered headboard helped inspire the bedrooms palette – drawing on the oranges, yellows and blues in new, brightly coloured graphic bedlinen. The rich blue walls worked as a backdrop to show off the sweet shape of the steel shelving featured in a similar hue to Dulux Perplexed. Finally, to ground the space and bring in some warmth, we added a rug that referenced Dulux Paper Brown, in a funky chequerboard pattern,” she says. ●

SUMMER STYLING TIPS •

Add colour in unexpected spots: The element of surprise can be a powerful decorating tool; consider adding colour to your ceiling, timber window frames, door edges or the back of shelves.

•

Exaggerated curves: Whether it’s a curvaceous sofa, a chubby accent chair or rounded coffee table, this look calls for curves.

•

•

•

Be bold with pattern: Forget the socalled rules on mixing patterns – have fun combining thick or thin stripes, geometrics, over-sized floral prints and more, all in the one space.

Keep artworks casual: Think unframed, abstracts and digital artworks casually propped, even overlapping, on a shelf or sideboard.

Textural contrast: Add depth and interest to your rooms decor by mixing different textures, such as boucle armchairs, thick woven rugs, imperfect ceramics, matt finish joinery and touches of high-shine metallics in furniture legs.

•

Draw nature inside: Ground your Revive room scheme by emphasising its natural connections; keep window furnishings light to let in light and views, splash out on fresh flowers, and dress your bed with bright, botanical inspired bedlinen.

•

Highlight interesting furniture shapes: Having a backdrop in a contrasting colour allows pieces like curvy, statement seating to shine.

•

Scheming: The Dulux curated palettes are designed to be used as schemes for paint, as well as soft furnishings, artwork and decor – to ensure all colour references work cohesively.

•

For colour surety: Order A4 Colour Stickers or Sample Pots from dulux. com.au in your chosen colour(s) for your space – view these colours in your home’s natural lighting conditions.

Alternatively, Dulux has an online colour advice team and a Colour Design Service if you want a design professional to assist in curating your space.

n Walls: Dulux Integra; Trims: Dulux Diorite.

SUMMER 2022

GEELONG COAST HOME&LIFESTYLE

17

IN CONVERSATION

n Former Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine chief executive Brett Ince.

Pictures: Ivan Kemp

Brett Ince Brett Ince recently finished up as head of Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine.

JUSTIN FLYNN spoke with him about his time in the job.

Where did you grow up and what was childhood like for you?

I moved to Geelong when I was a little kid and have lived here most of my life. I went to Belmont High School and completed both my bachelor’s degree and master’s right here at Deakin University.

I had an amazing childhood with supportive parents and two older brothers that always encouraged me to follow my passions. Over the years they’ve helped instil the personal values I live by, which are humility, discipline, and respect.

Something people may not know about me

18 GE ELO N G C O A ST HOME&LIFESTYLE

is that from eight years old I studied karate, attaining up to a third degree black belt and as a teenager I worked part-time as a karate instructor.

How has Geelong and the Bellarine (GATB) emerged from the pandemic in a tourism sense?

Our local tourism sector really banded together and grit their teeth through an extremely challenging period and are just now starting to come out on the other side.

Collectively we’ve been able to get back to our $1.1 billion visitor economy, rank as the most-visited regional destination in Victoria and our recovery has fared incredibly well in

the state and regional Victoria.

There’s not one singular thing that’s got us to where we are, but a collective effort from the hard work of Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine, local operators, and support from various levels of government.

Other than the pandemic, what has been the greatest challenge for you?

Going from high school straight to working full-time at Geelong Otway Tourism and studying my bachelor’s and master’s degrees full-time was a challenge. Though that 10-year period put me in good stead to have a much better work-life balance in recent years.

SUMMER 2022

IN CONVERSATION | BRETT INCE

n Brett’s next role will be as Regional Development Victoria Barwon South West regional director.

How well placed is GATB for the future?

sink their teeth into when exploring the region.

I’ve said it a few times but I truly believe our region’s future is bright. We’re going through a period of transformational change and exceptional growth with a tourism investment pipeline of $1.9 billion and over 50 projects, including the game-changing developments of the Spirit of Tasmania, Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Geelong Arts Centre, Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, Kardinia Park Stadium and Precinct.

I’d recommend a trip to our cultural precinct in central Geelong – a browse of Geelong Gallery, Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong Library and Platform Arts – and to see the reinvented spaces of our industrial past at the Federal Mills, Fyansford Paper Mills and Little Creatures.

Our region also has a significant and growing events calendar and developments for our cultural and nature-based tourism, which will add to the diversity of our region’s offering.

What are your three favourite places on the GATB? Central Geelong’s vibrant dining scene, the many incredible beaches along our coast, and, as a Belmont resident, it’s hard for Belmont’s ever-changing liveability not to be on my list.

What is the most underrated part or aspect of the GATB? Our liveability as a city. As the fastest growing region in Australia people are starting to find out but I still feel it’s one of our best kept secrets.

If you were coming to GATB for the first time and only had a weekend, what are a handful of things that you would recommend as ‘must sees or dos’?

There’s a seemingly never-ending list of experiences and indulgences for new visitors to

n Brett has lived in Geelong for most of his life.

SUMMER 2022

A leisurely taster of our award-winning wineries along The Bellarine and Moorabool Valley and nature-based attractions of the You Yangs and many amazing beaches and relaxed coastal villages are also a must.

Tell me about your next venture as Regional Development Victoria Barwon South West regional director?

I’m excited to take on this opportunity and important role for the Barwon South West region while being able to continue working with a region I know and love.

In the new role, I’ll be working with key leaders from the familiar turf of Geelong, the Bellarine and Great Ocean Road regions, right up to the South Australian border, all while learning more about the opportunities across the diverse range of sectors that support our communities to thrive.

Regional Development Victoria is committed to making our regions even better places to live, work, visit and invest and the regional directors play a vital role in delivering the Victorian government’s commitments to regional and rural Victorians.

What is GATB’s main selling point from a tourism perspective?

Geelong and the Bellarine is increasingly becoming known as a diverse region rich in natural beauty, enterprising local artisans, world-class food and wine and cultural experiences for all.

What are the challenges of promoting GATB? Geelong and the Bellarine is a relatively young destination, especially in comparison to the likes of the Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula.

Over the past decade it’s been great to see how far we’ve come in doubling visitation numbers and building a name for our region as a destination in its own right and not as a gateway.

What’s your favourite festival in GATB and why?

That’s like choosing a favourite child!

Personally, I really enjoy heading out with friends to the A Day on the Green concerts at Mt Duneed Estate. I’ve attended many over the years and made some lifelong memories – seeing Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams perform were highlights.

What do you like doing away from work?

I like to keep myself pretty busy outside of work by attending CrossFit classes, hanging out with friends at wineries and events in the region, and spending time with my family. ●

n Brett says the local tourism sector really banded together during the pandemic.

GEELONG COAST HOME&LIFESTYLE

19

LIFESTYLE | INTERIORS

Invite nature inside

BY HOLLY MCGUINNESS After being locked in our homes through two years of rolling lockdowns, reconnecting with nature has been on the rise ever since, and it’s influencing design trends.

Biophilic design integrates aspects of the natural world into the home, creating a calm and organic space, centred around a resemblance to the outdoors.

Derived from the term biophilia – a proposal that humans have a deep intuitive connection with the natural world – biophilic design is more than just adding a couple of house plants to the living room.

Let’s face it though, we don’t all have the space to create an indoor atrium, bursting with ferns and water features, so adapting your home to include organic materials that emulate a natural

20 GE ELO N G C O A ST HOME&LIFESTYLE

feel is a great place to start.

When sourcing decor, try to find items close to their natural state, this will have more of a biophilic impact. Think a piece of driftwood still resembling its past life as a tree, now reborn as a table top or decorative wall piece.

Wicker and rattan are having a moment right now and are perfect for creating a biophilic home. If you’re not up to changing all your furniture around, upgrading light shades and curtains are an effective alternative.

Adding in more greenery and indoor plants is a great, simpler way to start. A vertical garden can be a high impact option for homes short on space, but sometimes tricky in rolling out without the right materials.

If a garden wall isn’t your style, strategically placing plants of varying heights across a room can also help. Aim furniture towards natural light sources and ensure plants are visible

from every angle.

When thinking about colours to use, imagine your favourite place to spend time outdoors – how does it make you feel? What place comes to mind?

If the sound of waves soothes you, look to integrate light hues of blue and green, but if your place of peace is nestled in the forest, think neutral browns with deep shades of green.

Within colour choices, the patterns can be just as important. Try utilising a base colour and patterns that suit the theme you’re creating, like a resemblance to fish scales, fractals of a snowflake or the branches of a tree.

With these tips in mind, there’s no concrete rule book to creating a biophilic home, you can really go as extreme or minimal as you like to create a space that draws inspiration from the natural world. ●

SUMMER 2022

GC GARDENS | SCULPTURES

Sculpting a big impact As backyards shrink, new ideas for gardens are on the rise. Smaller areas have necessitated a rethink in how to design outdoor spaces for maximum impact and practicality.

For a property where the back fence is just five metres from the house, this once would have been seen as a garden drawback.

However, clever homeowners are beginning to turn it into a positive by creating an intimate courtyard effect.

The simplest method to achieve this effect is through strategically placed dense planting, seating, fence screens and even walls.

One of the nicest finishing touches to a leafy courtyard is a piece of garden art or an eyecatching sculpture.

SUMMER 2022

The positioning of a sculptural piece is as important a consideration as its context and style.

Some points worth noting include: • Will it get in the way of foot traffic?

• Will it move, possibly dangerously, in strong winds?

• Will it be tripped over or bumped into at night?

• Will it eat up too much of, or be a hazard to, the children’s play area?

• Is the material used weather-resistant?

• Will it need special lighting to achieve maximum impact?

Getting the size right is also important. Big sculptures need to be viewed from a distance

and lack contextual balance in small areas. On the other hand, small pieces need to be actually seen — and placed with safety in mind.

Garden sculptures come in lots of different materials and, along with aesthetics, durability is key. Metal and wooden pieces can rust or rot over time, glass can be easily chipped, but stone, marble and concrete are ones to keep on keeping on. Concrete sculptures are probably the most cost-effective but check for chips, folds or cracks before taking one home.

Garden sculptures lend themselves to imaginative quirkiness, classic elegance, cheeky kitsch, spiritual statements or free-form expression. Remember, there are no rules that can’t be broken so get sculpting. ●

GEELONG COAST HOME&LIFESTYLE

21

GC GARDENS | SUMMER VEGETABLES

Your own garden grocery store As the price of fruit and vegetables continues to fluctuate, horticulturalist Craig Castree shares his top tips for growing an edible garden in urban spaces.

Castree says his main goal is to teach people how to become self sufficient by encouraging them to grow their own food.

“It’s very simple, pull out a weed and put in a food plant, it only takes five minutes,” he says.

“People think they need to know much more than they currently do to be able to grow food and that’s not the case.

“I try to take the jargon out of gardening, to show them how simple it is. They’ll be gobsmacked in six weeks at how much food they’re producing, how many less weeds they’ve got in their garden, and how nutritious and flavourful the food is that they produce.”

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, food prices rose between nine and 10 per cent over the last 12 months, mostly driven by hikes in the price of fruit and vegetables.

Castree says one of his top tips is to companion plant, which involves growing fruit and vegetables that go well on a plate together, in the same area of ground.

22 GE ELO N G C O A ST HOME&LIFESTYLE

“People get all enthusiastic and they put everything in at once and then all of a sudden six weeks later, they’ve got way too much lettuce,” he say.

“Don’t become a farmer, because that’s a lot of hard work. Just plant one thing every day of your life, it takes far less time than you think.”

Early summer is the perfect time to plant beans, beetroot, broccoli, capsicum, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, onion, peas, sweet corn, silverbeet, strawberries and many more.

A home veggie garden wouldn’t be complete without fresh herbs, which the Heart Foundation says are a healthy and flavourful alternative to adding salt to meals and reducing your salt intake.

Herbs that will thrive in summer include basil, chives, coriander, fennel, mint, parsley and tarragon.

It can be a challenge to fit enough vegetables in the garden but with an array of above ground garden beds available on the market, separate pots can also be used when saving space is essential.

Now that you’ve got your garden planted and worked out what type you’ll be going ahead with it’s time to get cooking.

Using your freshly grown produce and a few pantry staples you can create a beautiful tomato salad to accompany some fresh seafood or meat during the warmer months.

Fresh tomato summer salad ingredients: • 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 cup coloured grape tomatoes, halved • 1 cucumber, sliced into half moons • 1 handful chopped fresh basil • 1 handful chopped fresh parsley • 1/2 red onion, sliced thinly • sea salt, to taste • ground black pepper, to taste • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar • 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled • Honey to taste 1. Place chopped tomatoes in a bowl and crack salt and pepper over the top to taste.

2. Add onion to bowl.

3. In a lidded jar add olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey, shake to combine.

4. Drizzle over salad and top with basil and parsley.

5. Crumble feta on top and stir to combine.

6. Enjoy! ●

SUMMER 2022

LIFESTYLE | SUMMER READS

n Great Australian Places

n Headcase

n Uncultured

Top summer reads There’s nothing quite like relaxing on the beach or by the pool with a good book. Here’s just a few new releases from Allen & Unwin in December and January to add to your summer reading list.

DECEMBER GREAT AUSTRALIAN PLACES Graham Seal Australia’s master storyteller takes us all around the country, uncovering tales of unsolved crimes, early exploration and military exploits, fascinating natural phenomena and iconic destinations.

SUMMER 2022

UNCULTURED Daniella Mestyanek Young

THE GIFTED SON Genevieve Gannon

In the vein of Tara Westover’s Educated, Daniella Mestyanek’s memoir is a searing and powerful testament to a woman’s ability to transform the circumstances of her life through inner strength and resilience.

A Sydney family’s picture-perfect life is upended in an unputdownable new novel from the bestselling author of The Mothers.

JANUARY

THE SHARDS Bret Easton Ellis

HEADCASE

HEADLAND John Byrnes

Jack Heath Timothy Blake returns in a tense, unputdownable thriller from the author of Hangman.

A coastal town is evacuated after record floods.

Three young police officers are left behind.

With a killer.

A sensational new novel from the bestselling author of Less Than Zero and American Psycho that tracks a group of privileged Los Angeles high school friends as a serial killer strikes across the city. His first novel in 12 years, The Shards is Bret Easton Ellis at his inimitable best. ●

n Headland

n The Gifted Son

n The Shards

GEELONG COAST HOME&LIFESTYLE

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SOCIAL NETWORK | GEELONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

n Cabinets by Computer’s Justin Collins and Josh Skuza and Bendigo Bank’s Luke Gibson (middle).

n Viva Energy’s David Cairns, MultiSkills Training’s Bevan Stodd and Graham Bowman and Bay 93.9’s Steve Clark.

n Sarah Milgate and Rachael Petterson from Bay 93.9 with Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s Georgia McLean.

Pictures: Alan Barber, Barefoot Photography

Awards wrap up a successful campaign The Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards wrapped up a spectacularly successful 2022 campaign with a cocktail event to thank winners and sponsors at The Pier on Geelong’s waterfront. ●

n Rebecca Nguyen and Christabel Fry from WebForce5.

n The Geelong Business Club’s Anglea McDonald and Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ben Flynn.

24 GE ELO N G C O A ST HOME&LIFESTYLE

n Konrad Slavinskis and David Proctor from 13th Beach Health Services.

n Roderick Insurance’s Marine RoderickShepherd and Paul Codd.

n Centre Stage’s David Greenwood and Michele Marcu.

n LBW Business & Wealth Advisors’ Matthew Graspas, Cathryn Walley and Mitchell Harrison.

SUMMER 2022

SOCIAL NETWORK | GEELONG GALLERY

n Jason McKiernan, Laurence O’Keefe, Christopher James and Pictures: Timothy Marriage Ben Nunn.

n Lisa Sullivan, Brigit Ryan and Tracy Burgess.

Summer at Geelong Gallery More than 250 Geelong Gallery members, artists and community leaders joined Geelong Gallery president Eliza Holt and director and chief executive Jason Smith for the opening of the summer suite of exhibitions.

The focus of the evening was Geelong Gallery exhibition, ‘Mandy Martin-A Persistent Vision’. Guests heard from Australian Print Workshop chief executive and artistic director Anne Virgo who discussed the career of Mandy Martin (1952-2021), who was a critically acclaimed Australian artist with a career spanning 45 years.

Martin was a feminist artist who emerged and rose to prominence in the mid-1970s.

The exhibition includes iconic industrial and landscape subjects and has been programmed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the artist’s birth. ●

n Ann Mulcahy and Denise Bell.

n Lisa Sullivan, Jon Campbell and Annie Grant.

n Mary Louise Edwards and Sabina Robertson.

SUMMER 2022

n Lauraine and John Luckock.

n Maureen Garrett, Glenda McCann and Barry Locke.

n Rosslynd Piggott, Jason Smith and Alexander Boynes.

n Wendy Clark and Heather D’Cruz.

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