STEP BY STEP: It’s all in the details

Step by Step is the blog of Kate Kerin Interiors. In addition to following some of my clients’ projects, I examine some of the latest issues of interest in the world of interior design.

Building a dream home from scratch has many advantages

Recently my husband and I stayed in the home of dear friends who have moved from Sydney to Mudgee. Their move from the big city to a regional centre was long-planned and occurred just prior to the pandemic. Our weekend visit was an opportunity to experience a deep relaxation and restfulness, in part due to the extraordinary hospitality of our friends, but also due to the thoughtful way they have designed, furnished and accessorised their new home that they have named Bransen. Every single detail was well considered and thoughtfully rendered. Between meals (for enjoying delicious food and local wine was very much the theme of our stay), I took time to ponder what makes an outstanding new build project, and some of the many ways that interior design can influence mood and wellbeing.

My friends have happily traded the convenience of life in the city, with its proximity to amenities, family and friends, for a lifestyle that offers space, a slower pace and fulfilment. They have invested time and great thought into designing a space that is ‘zoned’ to provide a substantial and private guest wing that can essentially be closed up when not in use. This smart design feature means guests can relax, knowing they are not impacting on their hosts’ personal space and enjoying large well-appointed bedrooms, bathrooms and even living spaces. Guests and hosts can come together in the shared zones but also have time out and enjoy some privacy. Although the goal of our weekend was to spend time together, I’m sure that if we had been staying for more than just a couple of nights, this feature would be priceless for both parties.

In addition to the layout, great thought has gone into every fitting and fixture. From wide spotted-gum floorboards to passive heating/cooling and locally sourced art and accessories, this gem reflects its owners’ personality and style. Having witnessed our friends’ journey through the build and fit-out, we enjoyed seeing features like the large-format porcelain tiles that are used as huge join-free splashbacks in the kitchen and butler’s pantry. Although these are more common now, at the time they were installed they were new and quite difficult to source. And in a regional area, it was even more difficult to find tilers who had any experience in installing such large and fragile pieces. Luckily there are some good tradies out there who are willing to learn on the job and be very, very careful! The result is magnificent, fuss-free and seamless. Each tile is slightly different, creating the appearance of highly polished natural stone but it’s so easy to clean and the colours are warm and beautiful. I’m looking forward to specifying this finish in a Kate Kerin Interiors kitchen soon.

Supporting local businesses, artists and artisans is an important way to minimise our carbon footprint as well as being a good neighbour. The elegant bathrooms in Bransen feature handcrafted timber vanities by Wild Willow Timber Designs, using mid-century recycled construction timbers such as blackbutt, ash and tallowwood. The variations in the wood create interest and movement, and each vanity is completely unique and non-repeatable. The vanities are topped with custom basins by Mudgee local Brett Niven, whose gorgeous pots and platters are featured in other parts of the home as well, alongside art by a variety of Mudgee region artists.

By supporting and commissioning local craftspeople, my friends are not only contributing to the local economy, they are also doing their bit for the planet through reducing the transportation footprint of their products and by using recycled materials. And the interior designer in me loves the uniqueness of these rooms; no-one will ever have a bathroom that is the same as these. Did they cost more than off-the-shelf products? Well… maybe a bit… but there are many mass-produced products that are just as expensive, if not more. In recent projects I’ve enjoyed specifying cabinets and wall treatments that are custom made by local businesses, and they look terrific. I highly recommend my design clients consider commissioning a custom-made piece, as the investment is not usually huge and individualised pieces will reflect the client’s personality in very special ways.

While we’re on the subject of the environment, the other impressive feature of Bransen is its self-sufficiency. Mudgee can be very hot in summer, and freezing cold in winter – and those extremes of temperature are only going to increase as time goes by. One of the advantages of undertaking a new build is the opportunity to install energy saving solutions right from the start, along with other environmentally-friendly designs. This home features 43 solar panels on the northern and western sides of the roof. These 16.6kw panels feed into a 13.5-kilowatt Tesla Powerwall 2 located in the garage, and the end result is the complete absence of power bills. Sure, the system was an investment that may take a few years to pay off (four, to be exact) but if you’re planning to stay in your home for at least that long, there doesn’t seem to be much down side. My friends don’t worry about heating or cooling costs, whether they’re running the washing machine on peak or off peak, or whether they left a couple of lights on while they were out. They are generating their own power, using what they need and saving the rest either for a rainy day (literally!) or to sell back to the grid. And a clever little app means they can check what the sun is doing for them at any time of day and watch their savings grow as time goes by. In Bransen, windows and doors are placed opposite each other to enhance the flow of fresh air through the home, made of Eco-Glass to maintain thermal efficiency. Good insulation ensures that the home stays cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal help from ducted air conditioning. Fresh air is much better for health, mood and wellbeing than re-circulated air.

In addition, these clever home-owners have three 22,500 litre rain water tanks at the bottom of their (admittedly large) backyard. Storing a total of 65,000 litres, they are ready for a long hot summer – the tanks won’t quite see them through the season but they’ll certainly allow for guilt-free watering of the beautiful garden, which contains fruit trees, ornamentals and even a kitchen garden with herbs and veggies.

So the lessons I took back to northern Sydney from my lovely weekend away were many. First, that the smart layout of a new home can allow hosts and guests to live comfortably together without awkwardness or feeling cramped. Sourcing fittings and fixtures from local artisans is sustainable and not necessarily any more expensive than purchasing mass produced items. Setting up a new home with sustainable features such as solar panels, water tanks and passive heating/cooling solutions is a wise investment that will pay off in just a few short years. Retrofitting an existing home is also possible, but a new build presents the perfect opportunity to do it right from the very start. Choosing fittings and fixtures that speak to the owner’s personality leads to pride and enjoyment, every time you look at that object. And finally, when homeowners are justifiably house-proud, a feeling of wellbeing results in everyone who stays, whether resident or guest. It’s true that success is all in the details – loving choices, thorough research and careful planning lead to home happiness. My husband and I feel lucky to have not only enjoyed our friends’ company, but also to have learned from their new-build journey. We look forward to implementing some of their great ideas ourselves, one day.

Kate Kerin Interiors specialises in working with residential clients in Sydney, particularly older people who are downsizing or live independently in lifestyle resorts. Contact Kate for an initial consultation to talk about your project.

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