Tag: home

What’s Trending: Tones and Textures

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Terrace Floors + Furnishings give us the lowdown on how to get our space looking and feeling cosy this season.

Muted tones and plenty of texture make for warm and inviting interiors as the cooler weather hits. Here are just some of the pieces you can find at Terrace Floors + Furnishings’ Eastwood showroom to help you achieve the ultimate cosy vibes.

Combine Warmth and Texture

The sky may be grey, but it’s all about the rebirth of warm colour palettes this season. Think warm whites, soothing taupes, and rich, earthy tones.

Pair earthy colours with layers of richly textured fabrics to add another dimension to your home. The use of complex textures and a multitude of materials in any room adds both a visual and physical warmth to the space.

The Armadillo Winnow rug, shown here, offers the perfect level of tactility and softness with its crosshatch weave and thick wool pile, while the L&M Home Palermo Rectangle Cushion (see Steal the Style below) will add another layer of comfort to your sofa or bed. Woven on a traditional handloom in the finest European linen, the handmade nature of this textured design means each piece is totally unique.

Mix Old with New

From the resurgence of fully curved sofas to more subtle details like rounded or sloped chair arms, chair backs, and tables, rounded shapes soften a space and create flow. The Ethnicraft Barrow Lounge Chair is a perfect example of this. It’s the time of year to cosy up with a good book, so pick one off the bookshelf and sink into this beautifully comfy, vintage-style chair inspired by the 50s. Add the GlobeWest Axel Bench Seat (see below) with its rounded bolster pillows for a contemporary – and even comfier – look and feel to your home.

Black is back

The easiest way to play with modern pieces and to make statement pieces pop is by adding a black accent piece to your space. For example, the Ethnicraft Black Bok Side Table (left) allows you to start small, and it works well in compact spaces which can easily be overwhelmed by too much black. The Ethnicraft Blackbird Sideboard is another great addition as it’s sleek oak and black finish can easily adapt to a range of interior styles, from modern to mid-century. Try teaming it with the GlobeWest Lorne Canopy lamp to bring even more cosy warmth and a soft glow to your interior.

Terrace Floors + Furnishings’ tip is to invest in a single piece of black furniture and decide how you like it before you add more black to your home decor. If you love the look, you can add a single black accent piece to every room in your house — the colour will become a thread that ties all your rooms together. And because black is a neutral, it pairs well with a variety of colour schemes, particularly alongside neutrals like olive green, taupe and other earthy colours.

STEAL THE STYLE

1. Ethnicraft Barrow Lounge Chair, $1540; 2. GlobeWest Lorne Canopy Table Lamp, $380; 3. GlobeWest Axel Bench Seat, $1605; 4. Ethnicraft Black Bok Side Table, $795; 5. Armadillo Winnow Rug, from $1350; 6. Ethnicraft Oak Blackbird Sideboard, $4305; 7. L&M Home Palermo Rectangle Cushion, $110

Terrace Floors + Furnishings
51 Glen Osmond Rd, Eastwood
terracefloors.com.au
@terracefloors

What’s The Best Way to Sell Your Home?

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There’s more involved in selling your humble abode than whacking up a ‘For Sale’ sign and crossing your fingers. There are a few ways to get buyers to sign on the dotted line, according to Harris Real Estate Property Expert Georgie Todd.

Are You Off the Market?

In an off-market residential sale, the seller chooses to sell their property privately. That means the property isn’t listed on sites like realestate.com.au or domain.com.au.

At Harris Real Estate, this is done through an off-market database of more than 22,000 registered buyers and listed on Harris’ off-market website.

So, how does it work? Harris reaches out directly to buyers by performing an automatic search of all buyers who have outlined requirements like the property being sold. Harris then get in touch with buyers direct who’ve outlined requirements similar to the property being sold and reach out to attendees or enquiries of similar listings they’ve recently sold.

Upside: There’s a level of privacy and exclusivity that comes with an off-market sale, for both the buyer and seller. Buyers often get access to properties that aren’t available to the public, and sellers can avoid the hassle of preparing their property for public inspection and paying presentation and marketing costs.

Downside: There may be fewer potential buyers, which could limit the final sale price.

Do You Want More Control?

The Private Treaty method of sale is where a property is listed for sale with no advertised end date to suggest when offers are due. The seller may accept, reject, or counter the offers made by the buyers until an agreed-upon price is reached.

Upside: Private Treaty allows the seller to have greater control over the sales process and the final price.

Downside: It may take longer to sell the property as negotiations can take time. The seller may also have to wait for the right offer. If the property isn’t priced correctly, it may sit on the market for an extended period without receiving any offers. It also allows buyers to have conditions on their offers, such as ‘subject to finance’ or a building inspection, plus a 48-hour cooling-off period.

Make Me Your Best Offer

The Best Offer or ‘Expressions of Interest’ method of sale is where the property is marketed with an advertised price guide, range, or the potential buyer may be asked to contact the agent. Buyers are then invited to submit their best offer by a specified deadline. The seller considers all offers and decides which offer to accept, reject, or counter before or on the due date.

Upside: This method of sale creates a sense of urgency and competition among buyers, which may result in a higher sale price.

Downside: Potential buyers sometimes have limited time to view the property.

Going Once, Going Twice…

Finally, you can sell your property through auction where potential buyers compete by placing bids until a reserve price is met and the highest bidder is determined. The auction is typically conducted by a licensed auctioneer who oversees the bidding process.

Before the auction, the seller will usually set a reserve price, which is the minimum amount they’re willing to accept for the property. If an agreed price is met, the auctioneer will confirm the sale with the highest bidder and a contract for sale will be signed on the day of the auction.

If the bidding doesn’t reach the reserve price, the property may not be sold – this is called ‘holding the property over’ or ‘passing it in’.

Upside: An auction can create a sense of urgency among potential buyers, and the competitive bidding process can result in a higher sale price for the seller. There’s also no cooling-off period.

Downside: There’s a risk that the property may not sell if the bidding doesn’t reach the reserve price, or if there are few interested buyers.

Get in touch with Georgie Todd from Harris Real Estate if you’re looking to sell.

Georgie Todd
Property Consultant
0420 492 936
georgie@harrisre.com.au
@georgie_todd_realestate

Bowerbird Mother’s Day Gift Guide

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Looking for a last-minute gift for Mum? Head to Bowerbird for inspo this weekend (May 5–7).

For the Mums who like trinkets

If Mum needs a new vase for the bunch of flowers you’ve bought, South Australian artist Alicia Butt has you covered. Specialising in ceramics, Alicia’s small business Ali Potter Ceramics is a one-woman operation where she handcrafts ceramics to create stunning creations, everything from beakers and mugs to vases and trinket dishes.

Ali Potter Ceramics
@alipotter_ceramics

For the Mums who like handmade jewellery

Creator of mitchell.maker, Carolyn Mitchell, describes her handmade, recycled sterling silver jewellery as ‘simple, strong and timeless’ – just like Mum. Carolyn uses the ancient lost wax method of casting metal to create her tactile pieces. Browse Carolyn’s Bowerbird stall for a pair of silver earrings, pendants or rings.

mitchell.maker
mitchell-maker.myshopify.com
@mitchell.maker

For the Mums whose homes smell delicious

It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a new candle for Mum’s collection. Find one or a sweet-scented diffuser at the Mojo Candle Co. stall. The vessels are hand-cut from reclaimed wine and beer bottles, filled with natural soy wax infused with modern, sophisticated fragrances and topped with sustainable cork stoppers.

Mojo Candle Co.
mojocandleco.com.au
@mojocandleco

For the stylish Mums

It’s officially winter! Keep Mum cosy and stylish with a scarf or shrug designed and knitted by boutique knitwear label sheep-ish. Using 100 per cent Australian merino wool, the sheep-ish range includes merino shrugs, ponchos, scarves, wrist warmers, headbands, baby blankets and cushions.

sheep-ish
sheep-ish.com.au

For the Mums who love nature

Inspired by our diverse and colourful birdlife, Songbird is an art and stationery label that showcases iconic birds, all while raising awareness of some of the most vulnerable and critically endangered varieties. In 2011, Songbird founder, Alexandra Sommer, travelled to a small village in Thailand and was overwhelmed by the immense talent of local women. Today, Songbird provides employment to their team of artisans in Thailand who help create pieces that’ll make Mum’s heart sing this Mother’s Day.

Songbird
songbirdcollection.com
@songbirdcollection

For the Mums who love a cuppa

Sit down with Mum to enjoy a cup of tea brewed by The Dandy Tea Co., founded by Renmark-born Mandy de Rose. Collaborating with local growers, Mandy creates the freshest, seasonal fruit and herbal blends to hand-blend her extensive range of teas. Yum!

The Dandy Tea Co.
@thedandyteaco

For the artistic Mums

Find Mum a new, pretty print for her lounge room at South Australia’s My Little Print Studio, which uses real flora and fauna to create cyanotypes (also known as a blueprint). This simple photographic printing process creates a bold and beautiful blue and white print that immediately connects its audience to nature. My Little Print Studio’s artworks have also been merged into gift cards, coasters, earrings, heat bags and tea towels, so you’re bound to find something unique for Mum. You can even pick up Mum her very own DYI cyanotype printing kit.

My Little Print Studio
mylittleprintstudio.com.au
@mylittleprintstudio

Bowerbird
May 5–7
Adelaide Showground
bowerbird.net.au

Inside a St Georges’ Gem

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Don’t miss the chance to explore 1397m² of pure Heaven nestled in the highly sought-after eastern suburb of St Georges.

OPEN INSPECTION

When: Wednesday, April 26 at 5.30pm;
Saturday, April 29 at 1.30pm;
Monday, May 1 at 5pm.
Where: 30 Purnana Avenue, St Georges

*Best offers by 12pm on Tuesday, May 2 (unless sold prior)

Winter hikes at Waterfall Gully, shopping sprees at Burnside Village and long summer days by the pool; this colonial style crowd pleaser on Purnana Avenue is a home for all seasons.

Fusing together timeless looks with contemporary functionality across an ultra-flexible floorplan of up to five bedrooms, the doors to this gorgeous St Georges’ gem opens for its next owners.

Whether the kids are lapping up the fun in the in-ground pool or you’re hitting aces on the tennis court, this fully renovated, dual-level home is a haven for the whole family.

Each room offers a space to reflect. First, there’s the cathedral-ceilinged living area that laps up lashings of light through its sea of northern windows/doors with views of the glistening pool. Find a spot near the Escea fireplace on chilly winter nights in.

The kitchen is a feature itself, showcasing provincial custom cabinetry, stone tops, a butler’s pantry, and a freestanding vintage-style Smeg oven.

Follow the oak floating floors and you’ll soon stumble across the home office, or fifth bedroom. A little further lies a formal lounge, and a master bedroom with a walk-in robe and an oversized ensuite defined by its striking monochromatic scheme and freestanding bath.

On the upper level, there’s more to explore, including another bathroom and three bedrooms; two of which feature walk-in robes.

Scroll the gallery below to see this picture-pretty property.

What We Love

  • Ideally placed in a whisper-quiet, tree-laden pocket of St Georges.
  • Powerful 5kW solar system.
  • Large fully tiled in-ground pool.
  • Large lock-up garage/carport and off-street parking for at least five cars.
  • Electronic gated entry for vehicle access.
  • Ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling.
  • Storage galore and large separate laundry.
  • Beautifully presented landscaped gardens with automatic watering system.
  • Just 10 minutes from the CBD and zoned for Glenunga International High and Linden Park Primary schools.

For more details, get in touch with Georgie Todd from Harris Real Estate.

Georgie Todd
Property Consultant
0420 492 936
georgie@harrisre.com.au
@georgie_todd_realestate

Terrace Life

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A HISTORIC VICTORIAN TERRACE IS GIVEN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE BY TWO HOME STYLING EXPERTS.

Interior shot of Unley home with green sofa.

Between them, the owners of this prestigious, historic home in Unley have more than 10 years’ experience in decorating homes for sale.

“We’re fortunate that we get to see some amazing properties,” says Monika Tirrell, who along with husband, Peter, is a co-owner of Presenting Beautiful Homes, an Adelaide-based styling company that presents and prepares homes for sale. But the couple’s love for property styling started many years earlier. In the mid-eighties, they fell in love with this run-down terrace.

The property is one in a row of four almost identical Victorian villas – built in the 1890s it had lived a previous life as a boarding house and, as a result, was in a state of disrepair by the time Monika and Peter made their dream purchase.

Peter and Monika Tirrell from Presenting Beautiful Homes.
Peter and Monika Tirrell.

“We fell in love with it immediately, despite the challenges,” says Monika. “There were pink walls, bright red carpets and psychedelic patterns on the kitchen cupboards, but it just had so much potential, and it was such a beautiful building. We knew we could make it into a really lovely family home.”

Back then, the couple had a four-year-old son and were looking for room to grow. Fast forward 39 years, and their love for this grand, old terrace hasn’t wavered. It is the home where they have raised their three sons – “our six granddaughters now also get the enjoy it,” says Monika – and in a series of artful renovations, the once tired home has now been restored to its former glory.

The grand makeover is evident from the moment you arrive, with a gravel path making its way through immaculately manicured gardens bordered by box hedging. From the street it’s still a traditional Victorian, and inside the original part of the home still retains many of its ornate features including marble fireplaces and decorative cornices, while a new modern extension to the rear opens the property up to reveal a more contemporary, light-filled space.

The house sits quite high on the block and, from the front, a set of stairs leads to the entrance and what is the ‘ground floor’. The main living, dining and kitchen are all on this level, as is the new modern living space and outdoor dining area that leads from the kitchen. “It’s a bit like sitting up in the trees in summer, when all the doors are open,” says Monika.

While these new architecturally designed spaces are impressive, not surprisingly it’s the daring interior design choices that really make this property worthy of its dream-home tag. “We like to be quite bold with some of our choices,” says Monika, “and we’re not afraid to mix up wallpapers, and use colour in wall paint and furnishings. I figure we can always change it if it doesn’t work!”

Wallpaper has been used to great effect in the opulent dining area, while timeless furnishings, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman in the living space, are indicative of the couple’s style. “It had been on our wish list forever and we recently gifted it to each other for a milestone birthday,” says Monika.

A statement piece of art in the kitchen/dining area is also telling of their penchant for bold design – and their ability to mix and match pieces to great effect. “Midnight Blindfold by Australian artist Shane Bowden was purchased from an exhibition at The Gallery in Waymouth Street; we love the mystery the woman exudes.”

A Williams Burton Leopardi kitchen, featuring dark cabinetry offset by a large Calacatta marble benchtop.

Downstairs is home to four bedrooms and an additional living space that opens onto the garden. “The block slopes to a creek, which the boys loved when they were growing up. They would catch tadpoles and play in the mud out the back, which is pretty lucky when you’re only a few kilometres from the CBD!”

The ability to pay homage to this home’s historic significance, while still injecting their own unique, daring sense of interior style is what makes it such a success. There’s a cohesion that only comes with experience, and the confidence to go your own way.

“We tend to steer clear of anything too on trend and choose pieces that stand out to us, and then make them work within our home.”

Presenting Beautiful Homes
pbhomes.com.au
08 8297 8339
@presentingbeautifulhomes

How to Maximise Seating and Style

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From plumped up sofa seats to large-scale armchairs, these focus pieces add instant style – and comfort!

An accent chair is the perfect way to introduce a new visual element to your interior whilst maximising seating. Whether you have an empty corner nook or your room is missing a final design element, a stylish armchair can complete the look. So, take a seat; here are three ways to make a statement with your armchair.

1. Choose A Design

The simplest way to effectively add an armchair to your living space is to choose a design from the same range as your existing sofa in terms of colour and material. This will create a cohesive look and act as an extension of your sofa.

Black, leather armchair resting on rug, with wall-mounted TV in and greenery in the background.
Pastel pink, grey and white Munich Swivel Chairs at OzDesign Furniture.

2. Create Contrast

For the more daring homeowners, there are endless ways to use a stylish accent chair to create contrast. Experiment with funky designs, a unique look, quirky finishes and more to really showcase your personality. The edgy Hugo designer chair from OZ Design Furniture, upholstered in buttery leather and supported by a powder coated black metal frame for a more masculine feel, is a great choice for those who are willing to push the boundaries.

3. CONSIDER TRENDS

Another standout piece from OZ Design is the Munich Swivel Chair, boasting a curvaceous tub design fora contemporary, on trend look. Perfect in the corner of a bedroom, this armchair is a fun addition to any home interior.

Live in style this season and discover OZ Design Furniture’s new pieces. Shop online or in store today.

OZ Design Furniture
800 Marion Road, Marion
08 8472 3630

Gepps X Home HQ
750 Main North Road, Gepps Cross
08 8472 3640
ozdesignfurniture.com.au

6 Steps to Selling Stress-Free

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We chat to property expert Georgie Todd from Harris Real Estate for her top tips.

Georgie Todd and her team.

1. Choose an Expert

During the last past two years, we’ve enjoyed a strong market, with high buyer demand and very high success rates but now, as the market changes, choosing an agent with skill and experience to ensure your property has the best opportunity of success has never been more important. It’s also important to choose an agent that you resonate with and who shares the same values as you. Your selling journey will be exactly that, a journey. Many of my clients say they miss the communication, the daily banter and support from my team – that is truly the biggest compliment that I take out of a sale.

2. Know the Market and Set a Realistic Price

Put your ‘buyer hat’ on and checkout the competition by looking at properties that have sold in your area or that are currently on the market. It’s important to make sure your property is priced realistically in relation to other homes that have recently sold to ensure the market engages with your home and want to view it. If your property is priced too high, then there is a risk that you will lose your best opportunity to obtain the right result. Your strongest buyer interest occurs in the first 7–14 days, so launching your property to the market with a competitive pricing strategy can be the difference between selling within 1–3 weeks at a premium price or being on the market for a longer duration and undergoing multiple price revisions to simply get a result.

3. Choose a Method of Sale

There are lot of factors to consider with regard to the method of sale – for example, where is your property located (not just the suburb, but even the location within a suburb can alter this decision), the type and style of property, and the target market. Most importantly, what is going on in the market, and what are the weekly auction clearance rates and external economic conditions?

Open living and dining area.

4. Prepare Your Property For Sale

Homes that are well presented, from the curb to the rear of the property, will not only generate the most interest and foot traffic at opens, but will also ensure the best price with the least days on market. Once again, put your ‘buyer hat’ on. When you enter an open home, what do you want to see? Many buyers will quite literally purchase based on ‘a feeling’ or ‘the vibe’ of the home. Give your property every opportunity to sell itself by presenting your home well. My team and I can project manage getting your home ready for sale and we have a great list of trades we work alongside to help make this process relatively stress free. There are also payment options to relieve the stress of upfront costs.

5. Market Your Property

It is essential to get the three P’s correct when marketing your property for sale – Price, Promotion and Presentation. Every property is different, and the market and location will determine the best way to market it.

6. Contracts

Once you have a buyer and the contract of sale is fully executed (signed by both the purchaser and the vendor), then your cooling off period will begin on the following business day. Each state differs slightly, but in South Australia the cooling off period lasts for two full business days with your deposit due on the following business day.

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR AGENT:

  • How long have you been in the industry?
  • How many properties have you sold in the last year?
  • What is your average days on market? An average auction or expression of interest campaign is 3–4 weeks.
  • How do you negotiate offers? This could also include, what is your strategy around pre-auction offers and handling multiple offer situations during a ‘best offer by’ campaign.
  • How many people are in your team and what are their roles?
  • Why do you think you can get the best result for my home?
  • Why you? Be mindful to choose an agent that you resonate with and who shares the same values as you.

Georgie Todd
Property Consultant
0420 492 936
georgie@harrisre.com.au
@georgie_todd_realestate