The Answer - Spring edition 3

Biannual journal by Amber

the answer Summer edition 2

THE ANSWER

PAV E R S Bluestone

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Welcome to The Answer

Everything great started as a question.

What if? How about? Could we?

At Amber we believe in the power of questions. We believe questions are the fuel of our creativity. Questions drive our progress. Questions open up possibilities. Questions unlock our potential. Our purpose is finding the answers to questions. Questions that push the boundaries. Questions that test us.

Sometimes questions you didnt even know you had. We celebrate questions.

Because without questions there can be no answers. So bring us yours.

Amber has the answer

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THE ANSWER

From Dream The transformation of this home in Sackville North has been nothing short of breath-taking. We had a chat to our owners to see what inspired them, and to find out how they created this beautiful home we see today.

To Reality 03

WA L L S Opal White

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THE ANSWER

WA L L S Opal White FLOORS Bavaria Stone Ice

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FIREPLACE Carrara Honed Herringbone Mosaic

Q+ A

Amber: What sparked your decision to renovate, and what were you trying to achieve with the changes?

Owner: We were building our forever home and we wanted it to be light, bright and spacious. We wanted everyone who entered to feel really relaxed and just love it as much as we did.

A: Did you begin with a vision, or did the design evolve throughout the process?

O: We had a colour scheme of white, grey and timber and we really wanted Herringbone throughout the home. We’ve used for our outdoor staircase, ensuite, main bathroom and fireplace. Once we decided these few things the design evolved from there.

A: How did your family and lifestyle influence what you did?

O: We have two young boys, so wanted each space to be really practical and beautiful while they are young, but also something that would grow with us over the years.

A: We know you have choices out there for tiling, so what ultimately lead you to Amber? How was your experience with us?

O: Amber’s range, and also the great customer service. Owen at Amber Kellyville spent some time with me at the start showing me all different products out there, and then I spent a few hours on a few occasions just putting all different choices together for each room. Amber made this a really wonderful experience and the tile choices and range have really made our home what it is today.

A: What is the best advice you can offer first time renovators?

O: Always budget… and try to stick with it. Also create a mood board of things you like to help your ideas come alive.

A: What do you think is the most important room in a house and why?

O: For our family the most important room was the kitchen and living space. We made our kitchen the heart of our home with a big open plan that includes the living area, dining, fireplace and kitchen that opens right out onto the outdoor alfresco area. The kitchen island especially, is a place for our family and friends to congregate with good food and wine, and spend quality time together.

A: What was the biggest learning from your reno?

O: You must always start with a budget, because with so many beautiful products on the market you can very easily overspend if you aren’t careful. Also try to imagine how you think your choices will be in 10-20 years time, do you think you will love them as much then as you do now.

A: Can you let us in on any reno hacks or tips you discovered along the way?

O: Just before you install all of your items like tiles, carpet, floor choices and paint get a sample of each and lay them out on the floor to see that they all work together. Also expensive doesn’t always mean nicer when it comes choices.

A: How long did the whole process take from planning to completion?

O: We had our house design for about two years until we found the perfect block of land. Once we had purchased the land it was close to 12 months from signing the contract to moving in.

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THE ANSWER

Small Space

Juliet Love stylist & interior designer

Whether through choice or necessity, more and more people are discovering the benefits of small space living. Quick to clean and easy to maintain, moving into a small home can be liberating. And with a few design tricks you can really maximise your space without having to compromise on style. Stylist and interior designer Juliet Love shares her expert tips on adding personality to compact homes.

Big Opportunity 08

THE ANSWER

Small spaces don’t have to be tricky.

It’s just a matter of planning well and being clever with your decorating

Go big with mirrors When it comes to small spaces, mirrors are your best friend.

They reflect light around the room and make the space feel much bigger than it really is. The trick is to make the mirror the focal point by choosing a beautiful shape, frame or unique style.

Get clever with storage Recess your cabinetry and shelving into the wall to create the illusion of more space and less clutter. Invest in furniture that doubles as storage, such as ottomans, benches and sofas.

Be careful with colour A neutral colour scheme can make a room feel much larger.

Tiles are a great way to bring colour through the space, think grey, white and cream.

Less is more Minimalism is a great tool when it comes to small space design.

Clean lines, uncomplicated fixtures and light colours all create the illusion of order and spaciousness.

Use the right tiles When choosing tiles think about options that are glossy to reflect the light. More light makes a room feel bigger.

You can also use large format tiles on both walls and floors to give a seamless look and spacious feel.

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TOP La Roche Blanc LEFT Marmoreo Carrara

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THE ANSWER

Our role is to h your vision to l personalised s sharing our kn expertise so y your dream l 11

help you bring life. Our highly service is about nowledge and you can create living space.

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THE ANSWER

PAV E R S Limestone Pavers

A great looking outdoor space that’s practical and durable all comes down to planning.

Follow these tips and you’ll get a great looking job while saving yourself time and money.

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Paving Your Way

Paving has a huge impact on your outdoor area.

It’s a big job and you’re going to be living with it for a long time, so it’s important to make it work right from the beginning. Landscape designer Charlie Albone gives his top tips for planning your paving so you get it right first time.

The right paving makes all the difference The paving in your garden sets the tone and theme for the whole space so it’s important to pick a material that fits with your overall vision. Are you trying to create a French provincial sanctuary or do you need sleek stone to connect the areas of an ultra-modern landscape? Think of paving not just as flooring, but as the beginning of an amazing new space.

D R I V E W AY Bluestone Cobbles

Pretty, but practical Yes, your paving needs to suit the style you’re going for in your house and garden. But as well as looking great it has to be practical. Think about how the area is going to be used.

Areas with heavy traffic such as pathways and driveways will pick up dirt so a darker tone may be best here. If you’re paving an area that’s in shade, a brighter colour works to help reflect more light. For wet areas, ensure you select products with the correct slip resistance rating.

Get the right size The size of your pavers or tiles is an important consideration, especially when paving areas that aren’t flat. A smaller paver will be more flexible over undulating ground such as a driveway so it might be your only option. Remember that much of the installation cost is in making the paving fit properly so pick a format that will require less cutting in around the edges.

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THE ANSWER

We work with a vast network around the world, and we own our factories. This means we control costs and design to bring you the best value and quality in the market.

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PRODUCT Kone range latest from Italy

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Discovery Grey: This porcelain ceramic tile is reminiscent of polished concrete, one of the hottest looks right now. Practical and durable, this tile is a clever choice for low maintenance yet stylish flooring. The grey colour is perfect in a variety of contemporary settings and will work with most colour schemes.

THE ANSWER

La Roche Mud: Timber, pears, natural linen and a complementary marble feature tile make up this mood board. This tile would be perfect as the flooring in a kitchen or living space – suiting many different looks from modern industrial to French farmhouse. The slightly undulating surface gives it a high end, worn European tile feel.

Kone Mix: This tile is similar to a traditional European terrazzo tile. The pattern alone is a design statement! Keep surrounding features simple and pair it with some refined, modern design elements. I’ve brought in a variety of greens with diverse textures.

Current mood for summer Before you start renovating or decorating, you need to decide on your style. And the best way to do that is with a mood board.

Juliet Love guides us through her summer board with tips for putting together striking combinations to style your home.

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Marmoreo Carrara: Carrara marble is one of the hottest design trends right now. It seems it’s in every design magazine you open, from Vogue Living to Home Beautiful.

This product is brilliant as it allows you to have the look and style of natural marble, without the stress that comes with keeping natural marble clean and stain-free. Large format tiles mean that you can create a seamless look with high impact.

Sydney Sandstone: Evoking coastal vibes, this tile is perfect if you want the look of beautiful sandstone without the expense.

I’ve paired it with whites, dark and light blues, natural wood and a some seashells for a beach-chic board.

Stockton Grey:

Fossile Latte:

I’ve gone for juxtaposition here – a seemingly cold tile has been brought to life and warmed up with some accessories. I’ve softened this concrete look grey tile by pairing it with dusty pinks, plus black and white for a bold kick. Adding flowers into any interior scheme is a great way to add beauty and make any space inviting.

A speckled grey that reminded me of a pretty speckled egg, I’ve teamed this tile with some sophisticated Hamptons elements fused with Chinoiserie accessories. Gold, blue and grey combine to make a cultured palette that allows the subtle grain in the tile to show through.

Marmoreo Luna: This tile is perfect for making a bathroom seem larger – place it on both the floor and the walls and you’ll immediately create the illusion of more space. Keep accessories simple and fresh. Modern brass and enamel tapware, tassel fringed towels, coastal patterned fabric, and a few pops of a darker colour for contrast.

Kone 3D Silver: I absolutely LOVE this tile! Perfect for a striking wall tile - it is classic and neutral but adds designer punch with the 3D profile. In a neutral colour palette, you often need to add in visual interest with texture, and this tile is perfect for that.

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THE ANSWER

With both indoor and outdoor tiles, we have the broadest range available in Australia. If there’s something you want but can’t find, we’ll source it for you.

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Own it Now Want it Buy what you want and checkout with Zip

Own it

THE ANSWER

Get it

You pay Zip back over time, up to 12 months interest free

Zip pay us, you get the goods

Pay it Later Renovating is a big investment. Once you know what you want to do, the next step is getting the funds together to do it.

We know it can feel like forever when you’re trying to save. That’s why Amber has joined forces with Zip to give you an interest-free option, with nothing to pay upfront and flexible repayments. With Zip, you can now renovate without having to wait.

Find out more at ambertiles.com.au/finance-option

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Love My Amber Our current Love My Amber competition gives you a chance to win back costs towards your renovation; a total prize pool of $10,000 to be shared between three lucky winners Past winners and entrants alike have shown how Amber tiles and pavers can transform a space. Could your next home renovation project win big?

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter, simply spend $500 on any Amber indoor or outdoor product and email lovemyamber@ambertiles.com.au with your renovation picture, your contact details and the name of your store of purchase. Visit our website for terms and conditions. ambertiles.com.au/share-win-promotion-lovemyamber End date for competition – 31st of Oct 2018

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THE ANSWER

Don’t wait to renovate Want it

Get it

Own it

Buy what you want and checkout with Zip

Zip pay us, you get the goods

You pay Zip back over time, up to 12 months interest free

Renovating is a big investment. Once you know what you want to do, the next step is getting the funds together to do it.

We know it can feel like forever when you’re trying to save. That’s why Amber has joined forces with Zip to give you an interest-free option, with nothing to pay upfront and flexible repayments. With Zip, you can now renovate without having to wait.

Find out more at ambertiles.com.au/finance-option

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Love My Amber Our current Love My Amber competition gives you a chance to win back costs towards your renovation; a total prize pool of $10,000 to be shared between three lucky winners Past winners and entrants alike have shown how Amber tiles and pavers can transform a space. Could your next home renovation project win big?

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter, simply spend $500 on any Amber indoor or outdoor product and email lovemyamber@ambertiles.com.au with your renovation picture, your contact details and the name of your store of purchase. Visit our website for terms and conditions. ambertiles.com.au/share-win-promotion-lovemyamber End date for competition – 31st of Oct 2018

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