Home Vision Magazine

EDITION 02 APR-JUN 2013

BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

10 HOT TRENDS FOR AUTUMN ______

TILE-O-MANIA TECHNOLOGY TAKES TILES TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

FUTURE

Perfect

MU LT I AWA R D -W I N N I NG DISPL AY HOME

This multi award-winning display home features high ceilings to amplify space, a gas fireplace, ingenious use of materials such as the stylish timber feature cladding to the front façade & recycled timber flooring, hydronic heating & six star energy efficiency rating.

VISIT THE SURREY DISPL AY HOME 8 Baratta Street, Crace ACT | OPEN Monday to Wednesday 12pm to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am – 5pm

HOME VISION EDITION 2 APR/MAY/JUN

WELCOME Welcome to the second edition of Home Vision Magazine.

In this issue we take you through the home of a couple who entrusted their vision for the future into our capable hands – resulting in a place that they can see themselves living in forever.

We had some great feedback from our last issue and have answered some of our readers’ questions on page 12. Please keep sending in any questions you might have around designing and building your home.

Also in this issue, one of our partners, Rivoland Tiles, takes a look at how advances in technology are resulting in some amazing options for tiles and how they’re traditionally used in the home.

And as the weather gets colder, we have some great suggestions on how you can simply and cost-effectively update your home, with the 10 hottest design trends for winter.

Enjoy!

Mick and George Tanchevski

CONTACT Head Office 1/66 Dacre St Mitchell ACT 2911 P 6299 8467 F 6299 8461 E homes@classicconstructions.com.au CLASSICCONSTRUCTIONS.COM.AU ACT License Number: 2012823 NSW License Number: 125599C

FUTURE

Perfect

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

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Perfect The tinkling sound of water greets you at the entrance to this contemporary home as you step over a tranquillity pool to reach the front door. Inside, a flood of natural light spills through floor to ceiling bi-fold doors in the open-planned kitchen dining and living room that opens out onto a northfacing courtyard.

“Our brief was for a house that was low-maintenance, comfortable and of a timeless aesthetic,” says Ian, who was intrinsically involved in the design and build process. “It’s been designed to cater to Julie’s and my needs as a couple, but the layout is familyfocused to accommodate our children, grandchildren and love of entertaining.”

This is the home of Ian and Julie, soon to be empty-nesters who had the opportunity to build from scratch – covering the things that were important to them now, as well as those they anticipate needing in the future.

The couple plan to live here well into their twilight years, and this intention drove the design.

A fantastic relationship with Classic Constructions ensured a rewarding journey.

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“Because we want this to be our ‘forever home’, we took a realistic view of becoming older,” says Ian. “So we included wider doorways and passageways, cavity doors and pull out drawers from the waist down in the kitchen, in case either of us ends up in a wheelchair.”

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

“And a low maintenance garden and flooring – so we can spend more time enjoying our home rather than working on it,” adds Julie.

Ian and Julie can live quite comfortably on one level, whilst two bedrooms on the second floor and a third on the ground floor, each with their own bathroom, allow visitors their own separate space.

“I’m also a big believer that a home should pay for itself,” says Ian. “So we could even rent out the rooms upstairs to boarders and get an extra income, with very little impact to our lifestyle.”

Whilst future practicalities were catered for, the build was also a chance for the couple to indulge their long-awaited wish list of features.

Because we want this to be our ‘ forever home’, we took a realistic view of becoming older.

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Having lived and travelled throughout the world, the couple had picked up a lot of inspiration along the way. For Ian, a shower that could completely open up to the outdoors, was a must.

“When we travelled through Bali, the thing I loved most was having an outdoor shower. The Canberra weather isn’t exactly conducive to that luxury, but this is the next best thing.”

A butler’s pantry, tranquillity pool, fireplace and extra high floor to ceiling windows were other luxuries the couple had to have, whilst the striking wood and stainless steel staircase was a feature that evolved out of the design and build process.

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“We’d had our designs drawn up before we approached Classics to do the build,” says Ian. “Classics were able to refine the designs to fit within our budget and building restrictions and, thanks to their imaginative thinking, the staircase became the focal point of our home.”

The original designs featured the staircase and bedrooms at the rear of the home. However they were knocked back by ACTPLA because the second storey cast a shadow on the neighbour’s land.

“Classic’s came up with the idea of shifting the plans around 90 degrees and building a mezzanine level above

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

our main living area – which is why the staircase is where it is now,” says Ian. “It was a really clever suggestion and Julie and I love the final result.”

Energy efficiency was also paramount to the couple and through features such as hydronic heating in the flooring, evaporative cooling and ceiling fans the home has an energy rating of 6 stars.

With everything the couple could want now and in the future, Ian and Julie’s home really is one that they can enjoy happily ever after. 

WATER FEATURE A water feature is a creative way to improve the appearance and value of your home, whilst creating a focal point that exudes calm and tranquillity.

COLLECTIBLES STAIRCASE Specialising in custom-built staircases, South Coast Stairs can design, build and install a completely unique staircase for your home.

Choose from open rise or closed rise stairs in a variety of materials including Australian hardwoods, wrought iron and stainless steel.

For more information visit southcoaststairs.com.au or contact (02) 4421 8742

Julie has a vast collection of decorative balls and found this fabulous pig trough in a little rural village outside Brussels, where they lived for several years, to showcase her menagerie. For similar search eBay, local antique stores or auctions.

PRINTS Keen travellers, Ian and Julie have transformed their favourite holiday photos into stunning, largesize canvases.

To do the same in your home, go to http://www. harveynormanphotos.com.au/ category/canvas-prints/

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Ian and Julie were kind enough to allow our film crew into their home to document their building journey and the stunning results.

Over the course of the afternoon and early evening, Ian took us through his favourite features and future proof additions with some great stories about the many curios the couple have collected throughout their world travels (as well as local garage sales).

HOME VISION EPISODE 2

PLAY VIDEO

Beloved family pets, Boxers Duke and Mort, look on curiously.

Ian treats presenter, stylist and coffee aficionado, Nicole Dimoff, to one of his specially blended coffee bean roasts.

The crew wait while Ian cranks up the fireplace with his trusty remote control.

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HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

BUILDING ADVICE

WE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE FROM READERS OF OUR LAST EDITION WITH MANY OF YOU WRITING ASKING FOR BUILDING ADVICE. HERE, JASON TANCHEVSKI ANSWERS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS:

What are some major considerations we need to be mindful of when designing a new home?

There are many factors that need to be considered during the design phase of your project. The more planning is done at the start of the process, the less complications you have during construction and the more costs you can save.

Many planning authorities have rules and guidelines as to what you may be able to build in your particular suburb. It is important to take that into consideration when selecting a block.

A lot of the newly developed suburbs in the ACT have precinct codes that have guidelines as to what the street appeal of your home must achieve. This can dictate the type and style of your new home design.

Current and future size requirements should be considered for your families lifestyle. If your new home is a long term investment for your family, then you should think about what your families requirements may be over the next 5 – 10 years. It may be impractical to build a 3 bedroom home if you think your family may grow over the next 5 years.

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HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

Storage should also be a real consideration in designing your home.

You can never have enough storage in your home, and the clever use of linen cupboards and wardrobes in bedrooms, will reduce clutter in your home and allow more flexible furniture placement around your home.

Glazing and window orientation is important for the thermal performance of your home. Consider placing most of the glazing on the north facing side of your home. This will take advantage of the winter sun to help reduce heating costs in winter. On the flip side, keep glazing on the south facing elevation to a minimum. This is the easiest way to lose heat from your home in winter, as the southern side does not get any sun in the winter.

Shading structures and eaves are a simple and effective method to provide shade from the summer heat. During the summer months, the sun is in a higher position and eaves and shade structures help to protect windows from the sun which will help keep the inside of the house cooler in summer.

Heating and cooling systems are also important to consider in your design.

Many systems require internal ducting through roof cavities and floor joists.

CHOOSING A DESIGNER BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP IS THE WORST WAY TO CHOOSE SOMEONE. YOU NEED TO CHOOSE THE DESIGNER YOU THINK WILL DO THE BEST JOB AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Make sure your design has enough space through your roof cavities and floors to run duct work effectively and to also have the internal unit of the heating system installed. By making this consideration, it could save you unnecessary cost later on, as well as prevent the builder from having to manufacture extra space in your home through the use of boxing out cupboards and walls.

We’re thinking about building and want to know the best approach to finding the right site. Any suggestions?

Once you have located a promising building site for your new home, spend some time on the building site. Walk the full length of the building site at different times of the day.

Aspect is crucial as a north facing exposure will save you on heating costs in winter.

We’ve helped hundreds of our clients find blocks of land to suit their needs and can help you determine the best design to fit your site and vice versa.

We live in a great area but our home is just not working for us. What’s the best option: knock-down and rebuild, or renovate?

On a per-square-metre basis it’s a lot cheaper to knock-down and rebuild than it is to renovate. It also means that rather than try and work around existing problems in your home, you can start from scratch and include everything you want and need.

What is the best way to choose a building designer or architect?

Look at their previous work - either built works or a portfolio of their work.

Ask them what their qualifications are and view the document if possible.

The size is obviously important and you need to make sure the size of your proposed house is proportionate to the size of the site. (You don’t want to squeeze a mansion onto a postage stamp!)

Also ask for references from builders and previous clients.

Work out where the sun rises and sets and what views you’d like to see from each of the rooms. For example what do you want to see from your bedrooms, the kitchen, your living areas.

The level of your site is also important.

If it’s really steep, that’s going to bring added considerations.

Ascertain from conversations if you feel comfortable communicating with the designer. Communication is essential to you realising your goals. Note: Fees can be a deciding factor for people when choosing a designer. Choosing a designer because they are cheap is the worst way to choose someone. You need to choose the designer you think will do the best job at the end of the day. You may save a couple of thousand dollars in design fees but will spend more fixing design problems during construction and end up with a house that you are not very happy with.

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

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TREND 1 FACES & CAMEOS Careful, your chair is watching you…everything from accessories to chairs are taking on a new persona.

Looks range from eyes looking directly at you to silhouettes with a Victorian sensibility.

TREND 2 RAW MATERIALS Stone and wood are being showcased in a stripped down state letting the beauty of the raw material be the shining star. Stone looks include crystals, geodes, and gems.

Wood looks include sticks and branches, stumps, and tree rings.

TREND 3 BRIGHT & BOLD COLOURS Pops of colour are everywhere and they are stealing the show.

Marine blue, kelly green, hot fuchsia, and lemon yellows are perking up neutral palettes in a wide array of forms. Dive into this trend by upholstering a char in your favourite fuchsia or test the waters with a few sunny yellow accessories.

PINK FLAMBE

MARINE BLUE

CHARTREUSE

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RHAPSODY

MUSK

Upscale resort looks, effortless sophistication, and a hint of Asian influence define this look. Keep an eye out for bamboo motifs, palm leaves, and burnished gold.

FUCHSIA

ULTRAMARINE

TREND 4 VACATION STYLE – PALM BEACH

TANGERINE

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

TREND 5 WIRE THIN Metal goes thin and flexible this season. Twisted metals and wire frames, often with colour coatings, are showing up as pared down furniture frames and lightweight lighting.

TREND 9 BLACK & WHITE TREND 7 WILD SIDE Leopard prints, hair on hide, shagreen, and fun faux fur details give any style an extra kick. This traditional and funky look will suit a variety of interiors.

TREND 6 TRADITIONAL WITH A TWIST

TREND 8 PREPPY MENSWEAR

Traditional styling looks fresh with Spanish influences, inlaid designs, and beautiful twists, turns and intricate carvings.

A classic combo, black and white are a dynamic duo.

Patterns and crisp details highlight the stark contrast.

You can’t go wrong with a classic monochrome pendant light.

TREND 10 GOING FOR GOLD Seen in both bright, polished and soft, matte finishes, gold is making a statement.

This versatile metal looks especially striking when paired with black.

The menswear look that we’ve been seeing gets a dose of equestrian flair.

Tailored upholstery pieces, metal accents (think buckles/ stirrups), and preppy patterns will have you feeling like a refined individual.

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

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YOU PROBABLY THINK “KITCHEN AND BATH” WHEN YOU THINK OF TILES, BUT THEY’RE WIDELY USED IN LIVING SPACES, TOO, AND HAVE BEEN FOR MILLENNIA.

In fact, some of the top companies making tiles today are based in Spain and Italy, where you can see tiles from centuries ago still in use today. And thanks to an explosion in ceramic and porcelain tile technology in the last five or so years, there is now a huge range of choices, featuring materials and trends that add a whole new dimension to your living spaces. A leader in the Australian floor and wall tile industry, Rivoland takes you through the latest looks.

Through the most sophisticated use of digital technology the NAT range from Del Conca, is able to imprint onto each tile the fiery colours of rocky deserts, ornate geological tapestry of North American slate, the wild textures of Nebraska or the subtle hues of Alaska animated by unexpected sparkles. Each series features three colour variations to create a sense of natural movement, and a range of sizes to complement any room size or design.

Large-format floor tiles are a strong trend in 2013. They tend to have subtle textures and are installed with minimal grout lines – perfect for a seamless, streamlined effect.

The Basaltina Stone Project series, aptly named after the robust original basalt, is also available at Rivoland Tiles. The softly textured and alluring product is also manufactured from 40 per cent pre-consumer recycled product giving the tile range the Ecolabel certification and an edge on your next green project. The series is available in a variety of colours, textures and sizes (up to 600x1200mm).

We’re also seeing new stone, metallic textures and industrial accents that really create a striking focal point for homes.

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HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

ELEGANT CONTRASTS OF BLACK AND GREY, WITH SILVERY HINTS OF METALLIC BROWN AND BEIGE GLAZING, TRANSMIT A BOLD MESSAGE OF RUSTED IRON, BURNING FLAME AND INTENSE TRANSFORMATIONS If you want to inject your home with detail within a minimal colour palette; or give it a slightly industrial edge, replicating the colour and feel of iron, then the metallics might suit your brief.

With a diverse range, the new Arketipo range from Refin, recreates the feel and look of forged iron, displaying subtle hues of reddish browns beneath the gunmetal toned, slightly polished texture surface.

Another striking tile on the market is the Antares range by Imola. Elegant contrasts of black and grey, with silvery hints of metallic brown and beige glazing, transmit a bold message of rusted iron, burning flame and intense transformations.

With so many different shapes, colours and sizes of tiles on the market, it can be confusing to know where to start.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration or advice, come and visit our amazing showroom and talk to one of our specialised experts who can help you find that “perfect tile”.

If you’re building or renovating, Rivoland Tiles is here to help you realise your dream space with the right tile for the right surface.

For more information, phone the Queanbeyan showroom on 6297 4510, the Mitchell showroom on 6241 1557 or visit www.rivoland.com.au Tiles come in many different shapes, colours and sizes, and you’ll be surprised how different light conditions can affect the colour of a tile.

We strongly recommend you take a sample home and place it in the tiling area to ensure you are happy with your selection.

If you are building a new home, take the sample with you when selecting carpets, kitchen and bathroom accessories, furniture and paint colours. This will help reinforce your decision on whether the tile is right for you.

NAT line takes its place at the top of the Del Conca product range with considerable strength and character.

The three colour variations will satisfy even the liveliest creative fervor. Its highly elevated technological potential makes Nat a product with a strong emotional impact, able to enhance both indoor and outdoor environments that are rich with an exclusive natural imprinting.

Del Conca, DelConca, HNT03 Nevada, HNT05 Nebraska, HNT10 Alaska

HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

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D L O S

A GREAT RESULT FOR CANBERRA CHARITIES

$850,000 was the final bid from Sheryl Lea Sutcliff at the auction for the Franklin Charity House on Saturday 2 March.

“This is a fantastic outcome for everyone involved and will make a significant difference to the lives of those impacted by homelessness in Canberra,” said Jon Tanchevski from Classic Constructions.

The four bedroom home in Franklin was built by Classic Constructions,

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HOME VISION BY CLASSIC CONSTRUCTIONS

designed by Guy Mahoney from Designs

by Mahoney, built on land supplied by the Land Development Agency and coordinated through Master Builders Association of the ACT (Master Builders ACT).

“All proceeds go to the YWCA of Canberra, Youthcare Canberra, Canberra Men’s Centre, Toora Women and Inanna,” said Jon. “Organisations that help some of the most vulnerable people in our community, to find a safe place that they can call home.”

For a huge variety of internal and external blinds and awnings watsonblinds.com.au 1300 851 791 5 Pirie Street Fyshwick | fyshwick@watsonblinds.com.au 3/143 Lysaght Street Mitchell | mitchell@watsonblinds.com.au

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Experience. Range. Service

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Rivoland is the ACT and region’s largest tile stockist.

Builders, Architects, Interior Designers and Renovators visit our showroom - Rivoland’s experience, range and expertise will make it easy for you to choose the perfect tile.

Rivoland Showrooms 100 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan Tel: 6297 4510 55 Darling Street, Mitchell Tel: 6241 1557 Trade Outlets 24-28 Aurora Street, Queanbeyan Tel: 6297 9930 55 Darling Street, Mitchell Tel: 6255 0535

2005 & 2009 Supplier of the Year

www.rivoland.com.au Member of Australia’s Tile Power Group