(Special Commendation) Best Display Home $350,000 - $500,000
Geelong-based Larkin & Drought Builders created this cleverly-designed home. The concrete walls are the main feature of the home and have been carefully and neatly constructed. A salt and pepper finished concrete slab was poured over the hydronic heating. The joinery was made from American Oak veneer and sprayed in a clear satin finish, cupboards, doors and panels used throughout to match the ceiling linings. A custom brass pendant was designed and constructed to be the central piece above the dining area. Spotted Gum decking was laid around the pool and alfresco area. Kitchen benchtops were poured in place and then polished. Culcutta Marble splashbacks were used as a contrast and the theme was continued into the wet areas for benchtops.
Overlooking the Barwon River, the clever design of this home by Auhaus Architecture has the upper floors overhanging to create the eaves and alfresco ceiling above the barbeque area. Curved walls were used to soften the overall look, while three-metre high glass panels allow the swimming pool to be viewed from inside the house. Internally the adults and children’s areas are separated by a perforated steel walk bridge, but not isolated. The huge rumpus room was designed for three kids and includes timber study desks and plenty of play area for visiting friends. A guest quarters is situated above the double garage and wine cellar.
Peter Lo Bartolo has a Bachelor Degree in Construction Management (RMIT) and is a VBA Licensed Domestic Builder (Unlimited). He is Managing Director of APC Build which he founded 9 years ago. The firm undertakes 16-20 projects per year and employs two project managers and four site managers. The firm's largest project includes a $2.5M two storey home in Canterbury. Peter is a very well accomplished professional builder who has the capacity to communicate at all levels. He prides his firm in guaranteeing 100% client satisfaction. He has developed his own software for project estimating and project management including cost control, forecasting and cash flow analysis. Peter strives to build his reputation through quality and client satisfaction which is evidenced by the expansive list of testimonials. Peter Lo Bartolo is to be commended as the 2019 Young Builder of the Year.
Extending into the roof space with a pop-up on one side, the Attic group was able to add two bedrooms, one bathroom and a rumpus room to this family home. The project was a challenge with the installation of new floor beams and the cutting out of the webbing and supporting rafters completed while the clients were living in the space below. Each bedroom has extensive floor space to fit within the roof area with raked ceilings that mirror each other. The rumpus room at the top of the stairs leads to a beautifully appointed bathroom. The placement of the windows cleverly captures light and warms the space during winter, with eaves offering protection during summer, while letting plenty of natural light into the rooms.
The transformation of this Californian bungalow included the partial demolition of the rear of the home and replacement with a contemporary, open plan living, dining and kitchen area opening to a floating undercover timber deck. Light-filled and spacious, the new space is connected to the garden and able to facilitate the client’s plans to host cooking classes. The existing bedrooms were transformed with new paint, flooring and light fittings and a master suite, second bathroom and powder room were added. An existing brick garage was also lengthened and heightened, and the floor raised to enable the client’s low-profile Hot Rod access via the sloping driveway to be safely stored.
Perfectly positioned in Flinders King Street, some of the original characteristics of the 1970s built home were kept to complement its striking modern makeover. The small extension offers a contemporary layout, filling the home with natural light and its orientation achieves great insulation values. With two separate living areas, this home is made for entertaining and is finished nicely at the rear by a quiet and tranquil master suite. With the addition of a garage and barn, this property really takes you on a journey from the driveway, to the landscaped pathways, through the entry, down the hallways and beyond.
‘Attic Magic’ honours a child’s imagination with a joyful roof-space renovation atop a Melbourne heritage home. Sparking delight at every scale, it celebrates the minds of the two children who inhabit it, while reimagining the humble attic as a dreamscape in the clouds. The project included removing the existing slate tile roof, extending and reframing the existing attic, importing new roof tiles from America and re-slating the roof at a 47-degree pitch. The custom stairs and joinery complemented the newly formed curved ceilings and doors, and care was taken to preserve the heritage listed facade and use some of the existing stone works to form around the new steel window openings.
Originally completed in 2004, this residence has been completely reinvented. Previously two self-contained apartments, this home is now a unique adaption of how less is considerably more. The three-level residence with its dramatic helix steel staircase creates surprises at every turn with unrivalled views of both Melbourne’s skyline and Port Phillip Bay. Cross-ventilation takes advantage of the sea breezes with air channelled through an electronic glass roof at the top of the staircase. Restraint and meticulously detailed materials and finishes have elevated this home. A considered design, including reflective sliding doors to magnify the aspect, this project clearly expresses how simple curves and fluid interconnected spaces provoke intrigue.
The Brutalist-inspired, light-filled design of this transformation was brought to life through recycled and new materials. Integrating the old and new structure together seamlessly, the brief specifically required generous, highly finished spaces with the ability to handle five growing kids and their friends. Two bathrooms and a rumpus room were required in the new kids’ wing. The basement was optimised and doubled in size for a wine cellar and private cinema, and the dining area was built to facilitate up to 14 guests comfortably. The interaction of the internal and external entertaining spaces was critical, including the flow of connection and relevance between the existing heritage home and the new addition.
The Lloyd 29 is a family home designed to accommodate the needs of young Australian families. The living area to the front provides a great retreat space for visitors. With entry via double doors, the master bedroom is oversized and located centrally within the home, providing good access to the outdoors. The minor bedrooms are separated by a cleverly designed leisure space. The kitchen is simple, but practical, and incorporates a walk-through butler’s pantry which has an additional sink. A stand-out is the open-plan living area with a stunning raked ceiling which creates volume and airiness to the space. The living area has been designed to accommodate large families and flows beautifully to the outdoor room for ease of entertaining.
The Cirque captures the heart of the family. A living room located at the front of the house is the perfect place to welcome and host guests. The open-plan living area is centrally located. The kitchen, featuring a walk-in pantry and a window splashback, overlooks the meals, family and alfresco area. This creates a perfect place for entertaining and family time. Off to the side, a corridor separates the bedrooms and central bathroom from the open-plan living space for privacy. A study nook encourages a secluded place to catch up on business or school work and the master bedroom, featuring a walk-in robe and ensuite, is located at the back of the house close to the kids’ bedrooms and family area.
Designed to cater for the needs of entertaining families, the Emerald 33 offers practical and sophisticated, single-storey family living. The design reflects the key criteria of the functionality being in-purpose and cohesive with the environment with an innovative style, showcasing the latest trends in exterior and interior decor to fulfil customer needs. Built as a flagship display home in the Greenfields estate of Thornhill Park in Rockbank, the Emerald proudly sits alongside the majestic Lapis 47 design to complement the Granvue Homes range.
A home that will never date, Adeline’s façade features recycled red bricks and new white weatherboards. The layout makes a 25m2 house seem a lot larger than it is with open-plan living, dining and an adult retreat at the back of the home making use of the luxurious ensuite and walk-in robe. With Adeline, what you see is what you get with luxury inclusions being standard. The courtyard right in the centre of the house makes use of the blocks around the area creating a sanctuary feel with commercial, double-glazed windows.
The Ryde 6-34 is from Bridgewood's Lifestyle range and has been designed using an open-floor plan, which includes a family and kids’ retreat area, with faultless composition. The Ryde’s focal point is the kitchen with its contemporary design and fit-out. The crowning glory is the kids’ retreat, cleverly designed to link directly to the bedrooms, creating their own zoned area. Parents are not forgotten with a luxurious oversized retreat, leaving them with an area to feel completely relaxed and at home.
A stunning combination of modern and traditional, the two-storey Sandford 47 abounds in sophisticated character and lashings of luxe and delivers high-end Hamptons’ style. The soaring central void injects streams of natural light into the main living area and upstairs and the master bedroom with coffered grid ceiling and a luxurious dressing room, is show-stopping. With its grand proportions and classic interior, the expansive five-bedroom home opens to a wide entry that leads you directly down to the sunlit main living area with a view to the alfresco and pool. All fitting on a standard 14m wide block.
The pinnacle of natural integration, the Evoke is designed to balance the outside with the inside. Hallbury Homes has been developing its key styling with unique elements that exemplify modern Australian Architecture. Long hallways inspire perspective and direct you to core areas in the home. All are separated in the middle by the gallery with open staircase, void walkway, dual outdoor living zones to the ground floor and dual balcony to the first floor. Light is the key to this design, from the feature Shugg windows to the front, to the cascading detailed window in the staircase gallery. Every element has been created with a purpose and a sense of belonging.
Floating Forms was designed to showcase the use of free-flowing curves. The project features many elements designed to appear to float, from the deck leading to the front door and the pagoda-style roofs hovering above the external walls, to the brick feature wall suspended above the carpark. Inside the home, an elevator between all three levels is an alternative option to the stunning floating staircases. The kitchen is the key feature on the first floor with its large island bench separating it from the dining area and a generously sized walk-in butler’s pantry with a window looking into the main kitchen. Outdoor features include multiple terraces and a 12-metre pool.
This project is a new family home on a vacant block of land with a moderate slope. The project consists of a 215 sqm, single-storey dwelling with attached carport, built on concrete stumps with timber subfloor and steel portal frame. The house uses a counter-levered expanded polystyrene (EPS) roofing system, Colourbond cladding and expansive decking. Internally, the home has three generous sections with the central area being for meals, family and dining. The south wing is perfect for guests and grandchildren to stay over, complete with separate rumpus area and bathroom. The north wing holds the master bedroom featuring a walk-in-robe, ensuite and study and recycled Blackbutt timber was used in the bathroom and ensuite joinery with stone benchtops.
A custom-designed and built home offering comfort, functionality and sophistication, this striking brick veneer home consists of two pac joinery, Caesarstone benchtops and refrigerated cooling throughout. The main bedroom includes a full ensuite with double vanity. A large study off the living area offers functionality and accessibility and all three remaining bedrooms come fitted with full joinery in the wardrobes. This stunning home features double-glazed windows and doors throughout and a much more traditional subfloor construction and the use of passive design elements gives it great street appeal and 'wow' factor from the moment you enter.
Built-in a heritage style, this home combines all the attractive characteristics of an older home with the space and comfort of a low-maintenance, modern dwelling. Press metal ceiling and Victorian-style cornice and skirting boards are complemented with Spotted Gum floorboards. Natural granite benchtops feature in the kitchen and the adjacent meals area is spacious and bright with big glass doors opening onto a sunny veranda with a northern aspect. The master bedroom boasts an exceptional walk-in-robe and a smart ensuite. The windows are double-glazed, and the well-insulated home has mains gas ducted heating and refrigerated cooling.
The scope of works required minimal impact on the project’s natural surrounds. Set on a block of Tea Trees, the house sits in the middle of the site to allow for the retention of natural landscape at the front and back for privacy and the required defendable space either side of the house. The stepping down of the lower level floor and the angle of the roof reflect the site gradient to link the building and landscape, and the same angle is used for the retaining wall to the terrace to further emphasise this. A glazed living space opens north to a terrace to provide a large social space and the hardwearing exterior is contrasted by a warm timber interior.
Combining recycled red bricks and Silvertop Ash Shiplap timber cladding, the home features rustic and modern elements to the façade. Internally, the high ceilings, square set cornices, understated doors, architraves and skirting boards allow the attention to be pointed to the joinery and timber features. Utilising a mix of materials, timber flooring, stone bathroom tiles, timber joinery, stone benchtops and ceramic basins prove that thoughtful decision to each element can bring a space harmony. Heating and cooling the house incorporates a split system ducted heating and cooling with additional hydronic heating.
This coastal home was designed to suit the established natural environment. The brief was to design a modern casual home, flooded with light and to have a connection to the outdoors. Zoned living was provided with the parents’ bedroom to the front of the home and the minor bedrooms, bathroom and second living space to the rear. The central living and meals areas and the kitchen, complete with a timber-lined raked ceiling and large stacker doors to the courtyard, is perfect for entertaining family and friends. The front elevation is seamless with natural timbers and stone also providing privacy through minimal glazing to the front elevation.
Designed for clients who were looking to downsize from their original five-bedroom family home, the brief was for a modern coastal-inspired home which blended with the local Sandringham feel. There was a lot of attention to detail given to the finishes in this home, with polished concrete benches in the kitchen, outdoor kitchen, laundry and vanities. There are also concrete finishes to the doors of the vanities in the main ensuite. The home has been designed with a seamless indoor, outdoor feel with the outdoor living space and in-ground pool taking full advantage of the northerly aspect.
Designed to create a spacious, liveable, family home, this residence includes six bedrooms, children’s and adults’ living areas, a cellar, a generous-sized office and separate self-contained quarters. The main bedroom offers views over the trees to the Barwon River and the ground floor is constructed around the in-situ concrete walls. Joinery was made from American Oak veneer and sprayed in a clear satin finish and cupboards, doors and panels were chosen to match the ceiling linings. Spotted Gum decking was laid around the pool and alfresco area. Kitchen benchtops were poured in place and then polished. Calcutta Marble splashbacks throughout the home were used for contrast.
Established by a pioneering family, the site of the project has developed a rich, layered narrative over the history of the property and has an impressive heritage garden cultivated by a dedicated gardener over 70 years. The intent of the design was to respond to the integrity of its setting. Raw galvanized steel appears as an offset frame to the intermittent reflective panels, while floor and roof structures adhere to the depth tolerances that the steel members prescribe. A natural stack stone fin is the grounding element below a completely cantilevered bedroom wing, projecting the roots of the design inspiration of a mid-century modernist ethos encompassing honesty to materials, structural innovation and minimal ornamentation.
Sitting on a corner block opposite Port Philip Bay, this three-level residence captures the ultimate water and city views. Polished white concrete is utilised across the two living floors, tying the house together and encapsulating both heating and cooling hydronic coils which control its internal temperature. Both the city and bay views are captured throughout the expansive kitchen, family, dining and lounge areas. An internal courtyard provides a central green focus that is sheltered from the weather. This home uses its environment to cleverly deliver cooled air from the basement below ground level to assist in cooling the house in summer and uses dialectic glass to thermally protect internal spaces.
It’s the elements of construction detailing that one may not see, but can feel, which adds to the aura of the homes in Huntingtower. The homes comprise four and five bedrooms respectively, with multiple ensuite’s and bathrooms. The material pallet is moody and tactile and the quality of craftsmanship is evident. Each home utilises the best in heating, cooling, hot water services and home automation. Finishes include the finest European parquetry floors, Turkish Limestone flooring and benchtops, off-form concrete walls and ceiling soffits, and aged brass detailing. Outdoor living areas are complemented by picturesque gardens and swimming pools.
The Kingston offers 11 large, executive apartments over three storeys with an additional basement. Built-in a blue-chip location for the downsizing market, each apartment offered purchaser customisation, making them more desirable and bespoke for every resident. This required the team to source, install and execute high-end finishes, fixtures, fittings and detailing for each client’s aesthetic while ensuring the continuation of high-quality workmanship. Internally, Samssons’ specialist-made pine door jams were used throughout each dwelling. Unlike regular door jams, these offer clean detail in a shadow-line style which displays a key understanding of executing modern-contemporary designs.
The Maling Road apartments display the advanced construction methods available today. The pre-coloured embossed concrete façade is a statement as well as a gesture to the beauty of the buildings’ surroundings. Colorbond cladding, perforated mesh, metal window shrouds, reflective glazing and operable louvres make for a striking artform. Internally, the use of natural stone benchtops with a contemporary colour palette ensures an elegant finish. The project runs two colour schemes within the apartments; light and dark. This affects items ranging from joinery and stone to sanitary fittings and lights. The stonework carries throughout the kitchen, bathroom and study nooks and the beauty of the natural product means that every slab is different, creating intriguing lines and finishes throughout.
This three-storey apartment building features contemporary architecture that boasts a stylish neutral colour palette and strong sculptural form inspired by the local coastal environment, aptly named, ‘Miramar’. The development comprises 26 stunning residences of one, two and three bedrooms, and four retail outlets at ground floor level. Each dwelling has uncompromised quality throughout and has been designed to draw in the ample natural light and sunshine. There is basement car parking incorporating car stackers for the residents and the commercial outlets. A rooftop garden with stunning views over Port Phillip Bay has been created for the sole use of the residents. The Miramar Apartments are a noteworthy addition to the beautiful town of Mornington and the vibrant and cosmopolitan Main Street.
This entry from Arden Homes challenges the myth of energy efficiency being an expensive option. The single-storey, four-bedroom home was designed and constructed to have an 8-star rating for energy efficiency. The addition of a 5 Kilowatt solar panel system and battery means the house is likely to produce more energy than it uses. A host of sustainable materials and water-saving fixtures also feature. Arden Homes has been able to deliver a zero-carbon house at an extremely competitive price point and in a package that is suitable for family living in new urban developments. Low energy and water bills, an abundance of natural light into the home, comfortable temperatures inside and high-quality finishes ensures a perfect family home.
Combining an energy-efficient design with architectural excellence, this home delivers practicality and a low environmental footprint. The home uses orientation and shading to capture and divert sunlight to provide natural heating and cooling. An abundance of thermal mass allows the house to remain warm overnight. Ceiling fans in every room and windows for cross-flow ventilation through the house provides for effective cooling in summer. Careful design and a host of sustainable materials has delivered a comfortable inner suburban home on a very tight and small footprint.
The desired scope of works for this American-style kitchen was one of detail, sophistication and comfort. With handmade kitchen cabinetry in a subtle colour palette, New York inspired glass pendants hang above the detailed work of the island bar to create a space that feels welcoming and organised. The butler’s pantry feel is reminiscent of the Hamptons’ luxury style with ample preparation stations enhanced by wall panelling and feature door trims. Designer appliances easily complement the space. The kitchen looks towards the lovely colonial-style glass doors to bring the outdoors inside with a traditional garden-like feel surround.
The original kitchen was a small room and a relic of a time when meals were prepared out of sight. The new ultra-modern kitchen, designed to cater for today’s lifestyle, is the highlight of an extraordinary renovation taking a typically conservative Edwardian space and pushing it into the future. Features include a large marble island bench, acoustic insulation panel seamlessly integrated into the wall and ceiling and a butler’s pantry with a second oven, zip tap and double sink. The true star of the build is how scale and intimacy can complement each other even as they juxtapose, providing the clients with an area that can accommodate large family events and candlelight dinners for two.
The scope of works was to create a kitchen unlike any other and the design was centred around ease of use and celebrating the natural elements. The Evoke 53 display uses timber and stone to accentuate harmony with earthly tones. At the heart of the connection is the kitchen and it needed to reflect an architectural styling to complement the home’s overall design. Another key design principle that was implemented included storage and concealment and the built-in shelving, pull-out pantry draws, concealed fridge and floating shelving were the heroes of the space.
This bathroom’s initial concept and architectural design work was carried out by the renowned Zeno Entity Architecture. The sophisticated bathroom forms part of an extravagant master bedroom suite, complete with a built-in study, oversized bedroom and an enormous built-in robe. The entire vanity area is fully lined with London GreyStone, which wraps around a large double bowl vanity cabinet. At either end of the vanity is a ‘his and hers’ heated towel ladder with ample storage provided in a full-length cabinet and the travertine floor is heated. Brodware tapware is fitted to all areas, along with Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware which includes a freestanding stone bath.
This stunning transformation in an Edwardian-style home perfectly blends classical style with contemporary comforts. The Carrera Venatino marble benchtops extend its way into the shower. A floating corner shelf is seemingly cut into the wall and can display and house everything one needs. A hidden cupboard stores towels and extra products at the entrance of the shower to take nothing away from the design of the space. A highlight of this bathroom’s re-design is the truly beautiful incorporation of an original leadlight stained-glass window. This striking Edwardian leadlight sits in the centre wall and makes a perfect focal point while creating splashes of coloured light throughout the space.
Quality was key to bring the design of the master ensuite to life. The construction and materials used needed to be of the highest standard, as would be expected in a luxury hotel. All cabinetry was made in the Grollo Homes’ joinery workshop with an American Walnut trim and assembled on-site by carpenters. The floor and benchtops were made from a combination of Pietra Grigio and Statuario marble, with bronze mirror-coated glass used on the walls of the ensuite. The use of bronze glass was reprised to cleverly separate the wardrobe area from the ensuite, creating the look and feel of a luxury boudoir. Black and chrome Milli Axon fittings add the perfect finishing touch.
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