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Niche Designs
AWARD WINNING NICHE DESIGNS BUILDER NATHAN WHITLOCK RECENTLY TOOK OUT AN AWARD AT THE RECENT HIA AWARDS, WINNING “BEST CUSTOM BUILT HOME IN NORTHERN NSW” IN THE $600,000 - ONE MILLION DOLLAR BRACKET.
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hat are the HIA Awards? open contemporary feel. What is the criteria to enter? And your home is also your home office The HIA is Housing Industry … how does bringing your customers in to Australia. Annually they have your award winning home benefit them? an awards presentation to acknowledge and Building this project with the intention of give recognition to their members for outhaving a home office has become one of standing workmanship, design, innovation and the best business decisions we have made. professionalism in the housing industry. Some Clients are able to come and see the quality of the awards categories are for best project of our workmanship, as well as giving them home, custom home, renovation, kitchen and the opportunity to touch and feel some of the bathroom. All projects entered must have been products and materials used. Clients can also completed in the last 12 months. see first hand how well all design elements And your own home was nominatfunction on a daily basis as a family ed … how did you place? home. We are very pleased to be We understand that buildable to say that our home ing a home is an emotionin Emerald Beach was the al process, so to be able winner in the category to invite people into Our office is upstairs in a for “Best Custom Built our home and sit with nine, Home in Northern loft style mezza us in our space to get with creating a void NSW” in the price a feel for who we are ilings gorgeous high ce bracket $600,000 and how we think g in the main livin $1Million. creates a personalised areas.” What are the special yet still professional features of your home, working environment and what is it that the and helps clients to feel judges look for? confident and comfortable in The judges are looking for choosing to begin their journey outstanding workmanship, design and with us. innovation, as well as everything from the floor Why do you think it's important to build plan to functionality, environmental awareness with award winning builders? and value for money. People’s homes are usually their biggest Some of the features in our home that I investment, it is a time filled with big, life believe stand out are firstly the unique pavilion changing decisions from where to build, who style floor plan, which merges the borders to build with and right down to which colours between indoor and outdoor living. The pool in to choose. Awards like these recognize that the internal courtyard is a visual feast from the all areas of the build are equally important, so moment you enter the house and continues to it’s a great way for clients to see which builders feature from all areas of the home. Our office approach their projects holistically, giving atis upstairs in a loft style mezzanine, creattention to detail across all platforms. Knowing ing a void with gorgeous high ceilings in the that you are working with a builder that has main living areas. Our home features a lot of been recognized and awarded by other indusstone, timber and many other unique materitry professionals definitely gives clients peace als sourced both locally and abroad, creating of mind that their investment is in good hands. an earthy, natural ambience equal to the light, www.nichedesignbuild.com.au
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80 coffs coast focus.
manny oppliger MANNY WAS BORN ORN IN COFFS HARBOUR, IS SWISS AND GREW UP IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA, WHERE HIS PARENTS WORKED AS MISSIONARIES. HE IS NOW BACK IN COFFS HAROBUR,
AND HIS HAND MADE WOODEN BATH WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON THE BLOCK ...
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hen did you start to design and mind. outdoor baths? Tell us about Where do you source the materials for the the first outdoor bath you wooden bath? built ... All bath tubs are custom made and built It was when I lived in Switzerland and spent to clients’ requirements using sustainable a lot of time in the snow. There is not much woodlots. Coastal timbers in Toormina are just more satisfying and relaxing than soaking in down the road from my shed and supply me a hot bath after a long day on the with top quality local hardwoods. I snowboard. I mate of mine lived have built a bath tub and vanity next to the ski slopes, and I using recycled Red Gum ul rf de had the idea to build an supplied by AA Hardwoods on w s el It fe d. outdoor hot tub for his in Kempsey. A trend at to bathe in woo ry ve so backyard. the moment is imported al e ar ey Th n Imagine enjoying a American White Oak luxurious and ca room. warm bath on a cold that I get from a enhance a bath uch, to snowy winter night wholesaler in Brisbane. Wood has a soft t is one of the mos ials and and for a refreshing And the million dollar er sustainable mat challenge, roll in the question? How did than er ng lo at holds he freezing snow? Building you get your wooden .” other materials the first tub was quite bath to be featured on challenging, but totally worth The Block? it. The Vos brothers worked for Why wooden baths? How the same builder as I did. At that unique… time I was working full-time as a chippy In early 2009, I relocated to Australia and experimenting with baths and surfboards with my pregnant wife. We only brought in my spare time. Late last year the boys’ what we could carry. Looking back, the first aunty, Jenny Bienefelt, who owns the Vintage year in Australia was filled with visions, being Nest in Bellingen offered me her shopfront to creative and realising projects – living my dream. display a bathtub. She loved the product and As there isn’t a big demand for outdoor hot recommended it to the Vos brothers once she tubs in this climate, I came up with the idea to heard they were on The Block. create wooden baths for interior use. Ok, I want to buy one - where can I get my It feels wonderful to bathe in wood. They hands on one? are also very luxurious and can enhance a Giant Media from Coffs Harbour have done bathroom. Wood has a soft touch, is one of an awesome job in creating a new website the most sustainable materials and holds heat for my business www.woodandwater.com.au. longer than other materials. Bathing in a timber Information about my products and contact tub is a regenerating experience for both body details can be found on the website.
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