The Answer - Spring/Summer edition 5

Biannual journal by Amber

the answer Summer 2019 edition 5

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THE ANSWER

Marmoreo 300x600, 400x800, 600x600

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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 didn’t 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

A Calming Influence

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“I wanted neutral tones that gave a sense of calm, like staying at a nice hotel.�

We caught up with our most recent #lovemyamber winners Veronica King and Michael Cummings, who purchased their tiles from our Amber Hornsby store. They talked us through the transformation of their home and winning bathroom renovation, and what inspirations and factors guided their design decisions.

WA L L S Abstract Ivory 300x300 Shino Stax Porcelain Mosaic 20x145

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Q UESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What sparked your decision to renovate and what were the main elements you set out to achieve?

As soon as we bought our house we knew we had to renovate the bathroom fairly quickly. It was quite dilapidated, there was some water damage from a leak and tiles were falling off the wall in parts. But worse than that; the vanity was fire engine red…with a matching toilet cistern and seat, if you can believe it! I’ve never ever in my life seen another red toilet in existence.

So when it came to the renovation I wanted something that neutral and gave a sense of calm, like staying at a nice hotel. Understated and simple but definitely not basic. We are not ‘bath people’ so we decided to make a luxurious walk-in shower the feature, and skip a bath all together.

What inspired the design? Did you begin with a vision or did the design evolve throughout the process?

THE ANSWER

I am a massive Pinterest and Instagram stalker, so had earmarked my favourite images to inspire the project. I knew I wanted a feature wall with mosaic tiles (specifically in a ‘kit kat’ shape) so I collected lots of images of bathrooms using them for reference.

A good friend of ours is an architect and kindly came up with a design that would best showcase our chosen tiles, and we took it from there.

WA L L S Abstract Ivory 300x300 Shino Stax Porcelain Mosaic 20x145

WA L L S Shino Stax Porcelain Mosaic 20x145

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WA L L S Abstract Ivory 300x300 Shino Stax Porcelain Mosaic 20x145

How did lifestyle and family inform the choices you made?

The fact that our two girls had outgrown the bath and we were pushed for space to fit both a shower and bath separately made us decide to skip the bath altogether and focus on a walk-in shower.

Having two daughters and myself with only one bathroom in the house meant we needed a double vanity with plenty of storage, so we opted for a shaving cabinet and vanity with big drawers.

With so much choice available for tiling what led you to Amber?

We had been looking for a specific tile I called the ‘kit kat’ shape, so when we found them at Amber we decided to go in store and see them in the flesh. Whilst browsing, Elisha our salesperson pointed out a similar style that we ended up falling in love with, and had to have.

Elisha was so great to deal with, not pushy and very patient. She kept us up to date as the tile we wanted was out of stock, but due to be delivered very close to our deadline. In the end they came early which was such great news.

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

You can never be too organised! Keep all your paperwork within reach because you will be referring back to it all the time when liaising with trades.

Also keep all your inspiration images on your phone so you can whip it out any time to show people what you mean—a picture paints a thousand words.

What would you say your number one rule for transforming a small space would be?

Keep your colour scheme neutral and light, and tile all the way up to the ceiling. We did both and it feels so much bigger than before.

What was your biggest learning from the reno?

We definitely made mistakes that we won’t ever make again—like ordering a window in a rush before finalising the design, which we didn’t end up using. And make sure you have all your plans set in concrete before starting anything!

Were there any hacks or tips you learnt from your small space reno that you would love to share?

I think keeping everything quite neutral, and not going crazy incorporating too many trends would be my tip.

A small space feels bigger with less visual noise.

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

About 3.5 months.

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THE ANSWER

LET’S GET TOGETHER

Whether your guests gravitate towards your busy kitchen, your compact urban balcony or a spacious outdoor setting, make this summer about spending time with the people who matter, and making memories in a space you love.

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Let’s Go Outside Create an ambient, faraway destination to enjoy in your own backyard.

THE ANSWER

“It’s all about gourmet outdoor cooking and dining. Nearly every modern household is installing built-in alfresco cooking facilities complete with sophisticated cabinetry and thoughtfully selected stone to create a relaxed and ambient outdoor entertaining setting” Darren Scott – Amber National Commercial & Trade Manager

Australian summer is about spending time outside with the people you love; in fact it’s what Australians do best. So it should come as no surprise that the renovators of Australia are drawing inspiration from the exotic alfresco lifestyles of the world to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living, creating an extension of their dining and entertaining spaces.

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To support this trend, Amber’s partner Euro Alfresco offers a complete modular solution for outdoor upgrades of any size or scale, including appliances, cabinetry and stone with 10 cabinetry colour options to complement 4 stunning stone choices to inspire your vision.

Piccolo

Viva

Custom

Amici Plus

Going Alfresco?

We talk all things outdoor dining with Amber’s National Commercial and Trade Manager, Darren Scott.

If you’re considering an outdoor overhaul, where should you start?

Firstly consider the end result and desired look. Be sure to factor in the style of your home and colour palette.

Start the journey by bringing ideas to your Amber store, and talk to an experienced consultant.

What are the most important aspects to consider?

Definitely consider existing colours in the home if they are being retained, and the amount of available natural light for the colour of the product—such as using a lighter colour in a darker space.

What product attributes should they look out for?

For pools and surrounds, slip resistance is key.

For driveways it’s all about laying method.

What technical developments are changing the way we approach outdoor lifestyle and landscaping?

The newest development is improvements in sealer technologies that assist in keeping outdoor surfaces stain free and easy to clean. Also, thickness of pavers have come down to 20mm in porcelain varieties, making them lightweight to install and even easier on the budget.

Meet the Trades: how to find the right contractor for the project?

Start the process at your local Amber store and request a reference for trades local to your area and lifestyle.

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THE ANSWER

Our role is to h your vision to li personalised se sharing our kn expertise so yo your dream l 12

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

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THE ANSWER

Introducing

Collections Essentials, Classics and Inspire— three collections selected to deliver quality and value without compromise.

Encompassing a broad range of styles and materials, each collection has been carefully curated to bring your vision to life. Explore the collections to find your project’s perfect picks.

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Travertine Platinum French Pattern 406x406, 406x610

Outdoor Carry your vision to your outdoor spaces with the Essential collection’s hardworking series of pool, paving and wall cladding choices designed to withstand the elements.

essentials Amber Essentials is a collection of our most durable and versatile basics. Essentials combines the inspiration you crave and quality you can trust at a pricepoint that will keep your budget in check. These versatile basics give savvy renovators the perfect foundation elements to achieve their signature look. Durable and reliable, Essentials give you the confidence of a project destined for long-lasting liveability.

Visit your Amber store to see the full collection.

Crest 300x300, 300x600,600x600

White Wall 300 x 600 Indoor The Essentials indoor collection is the most economical way to achieve your desired look while ensuring the long-lasting performance of your busiest indoor areas.

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Indoor Elevate your indoor spaces to an enviable status of style with the Classic selections which allow you to achieve your vision without compromise, in quality you can trust.

THE ANSWER

Marmoreo 300x300, 300x600, 400x800, 600x600

classics Elevate your space with the refined quality of our Classics; a timeless collection designed to add enduring sophistication to your living spaces that will stand the test of time. For style and quality that to goes the distance, our Classics collection delivers on Amber’s promise of quality without compromise.

Australian Timbers 200x1200

Visit your Amber store to see the full collection.

Ash Grey Limestone 400x600 Outdoor Extend your interior concept to outdoor entertainment zones, pools, balconies and patios with Classic outdoor selections designed to create a natural extension of your lifestyle.

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inspire Make a statement with Inspire; our directional signature collection for lovers of design. By searching the world for new trends to lead and shape the market, Inspire pushes boundaries in terms of format, materiality and finish. Inspired by tomorrow and right at home today, Amber’s Inspire collection brings form and function to design.

Visit your Amber store to see the full collection.

Capbreton Limestone 800x400 Outdoor Explore the possibilities of Inspire’s outdoor paving, pool and feature wall series, drawing inspiration from world’s most iconic destinations to transform your property.

Kone Mix 750x1500

Amber’s Inspire collection brings form and function to design.

La Roche 400x800 Indoor Let the coveted Inspire series be the catalyst to your creativity. Express your individuality and create a dramatic canvas for your luxurious lifestyle to take centre stage.

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THE ANSWER

Latest Releases Discover the new season must-have trends to inspire your vision.

Teakstone Stackstone Transform your home to a quintessential Californian retreat with the warmth and texture of Teakstone Stackstone cladding. Ideal for adding a glamourous focal point with indoor or outdoor feature walls and statement fireplaces.

Teakstone Stackstone 600 x 150 in ‘Teakwood’

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1

2

1. Bastille Say ‘oui’ to the textural complexity of natural limestone.

Ideal for adding sophistication to outdoor patios, pools and indoor living areas including bathrooms.

Bastille Limestone 600 x 400 in ‘Bastille’ 2. Terrazzo For a more directional alternative to classic marble, terrazzo offers an instant injection of inner city cool.

Predominantly an outdoor paver for pools, patios and driveways; why not experiment with adding a graphic element to kitchens, bathrooms and indoor flooring?

Terrazzo Concrete 400 x 300 in ‘Portland’

3

3. Cottesloe Natural Wall Cladding Inspired by the rugged windswept Westcoast, Cottesloe natural wall cladding will add texture and drama to any feature wall or façade. Ideal for cladding indoor or outdoor feature walls and statement fireplaces.

Cottesloe 200 x free length in ‘Cottesloe’ 300 x free length in ‘Cottesloe’

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Amber Exclusives Bavaria Stone An exclusive series of porcelain tiles inspired by the strong, iconic yet calming atmosphere of the mountains in Bavaria. On trend and effortlessly chic, Bavaria Stone is an inspired choice for anyone looking for a modern, precious yet practical solution.

Colours: Black, Grey, Ice Size: Add 300 x 300mm, 300 x 600mm, 600 x 600mm Space: Indoors

Madera

Stockton For a large-format tile that captures the smooth expanse of contemporary concrete, Stockton is your go-to. Being large in format, the Stockton tile creates that sense of limitless spaciousness all indoor and outdoor environments can benefit from.

Colours: White, Grey, Dark Grey Size: 800 x 800mm, 400 x 800mm Space: Indoor and Outdoor

For lovers of Spanish timber planks, Madera’s natural timber-look porcelain tile will be sure to delight. Madera’s signature large format plank shape with a realistic timber impression can be used all over the home, with two of the five colourways available in indoor and outdoor varieties. Madera achieves a realistic natural timber look that won’t degrade or damage over time unlike the real thing.

Colours: Beige, Bianco, Gris, Natural, Taupe Outdoor available in Taupe and Beige Size: 233 x 1200mm Space: Indoors

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Marmoreo Our Marmoreo collection achieves the high-end luxury look of marble in a hardwearing glazed tile. With a superb realistic finish, our marble-look porcelain creates a luxe atmosphere, suitable for both classic and contemporary design directions. Inject some glamour into your everyday with our Marmoreo marble-look collection.

Colours: Carrara, Luna, Statauri Size: 300 x 300mm, 300 x 600mm, 400 x 800mm, 600 x 600mm Space: Indoor

Sense

White Wall

Inspired by nature’s remarkable sandstone formations, this porcelain range features the tactile, earthy grains of stone in an array of soft, natural tones designed to encourage an elegant flow of seamless continuity from indoor and outdoor spaces.

White porcelain is a classic choice when it comes to making a room tranquil, serene and timelessly composed. Amber’s White Wall tile’s modern and clean appearance is the perfect solution for any indoor area within residential or commercial environments.

Colours: Eggshell, Linen, Odessa Size: 300 x 300mm, 300 x 600mm, 600 x 600mm Outdoor available in 300 x 600 Space: Indoors

Colours: White Size: 300 x 600mm, 400 x 800mm Space: Indoors

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Own it Now Want it

THE ANSWER

Buy what you want and checkout with Zip

Own it

Get it

You pay Zip back over a set period, 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.

That’s why Amber has joined forces with Zip to give you an interest-free option, with nothing to pay upfront and flexible repayments.

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

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Love my

Amber

Michael and Sarah DeGuzman Stanhope Gardens

ie Coleman

Deann a Manly Begelin

Melod David and Box Hill

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

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NSW Armidale Beverly Hills Caringbah Chatswood Coffs Harbour Eastwood Fairy Meadow Glenhaven Gosford

Gregory Hills Hornsby Kellyville – New Showroom Kingsford Kotara Liverpool Maitland Mona Vale

Orange Penrith Port Macquarie Seaforth Southern Highlands Stanmore – New Showroom Tamworth Yallah

ACT

QLD

Fyshwick

Albion Bundall Maroochydore North Lakes – New Showroom

amber has the answer

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