Q
I’m a big fan of Hamptons
style. How can I incorporate
this into my kitchen design?
Sarah-Jane, via email
“The Hamptons style is elegant,
coastal and casual – making it
perfect for Australian homes,” says
Sue Hasler, design and retail
director for Freedom Kitchens
(freedomkitchens.com.au). “You
can bring the Hamptons to your
own kitchen design by choosing
a white or neutral colour palette
for your cabinetry in a Shaker
door profile, with sections of glass
doors in your overheads. Also
think about timber floors, pitched
ceilings with exposed beams,
large glass pendant lighting over
an island bench, and touches of
blue as a nod to the ocean.”Q
Do you have
any tips for
making my garden
dog-friendly? My
dog tends to trample
on garden beds. Michelle, via Facebook
“When considering a garden that’s
dog friendly, it’s crucial to consider
hardy plants, so your furry friend
can’t destroy and tear apart their
leaves,” says Julia Levitt of Sticks
& Stones Landscape Design
(sticksandstonesld.com.au). “Selecting
species with thicker, leathery leaves
will ensure their survival – Ligularia
reniformis, sometimes known as
tractor seat plant, is a good example.
Raised garden beds will also provide
protection from paws digging
through the garden. If you have the
space, fencing off areas will create
zones for your dog to be active
outside of your relaxing space.”A white palette and
Shaker-style cabinetry
give you the inside
running to a prized
Hamptons kitchen.Clumps of tractor seat plant
(Ligularia dentata reniformis)
will help discourage Rover’s
destructive tendencies.Q
I want to
replace
my ugly 1980s
bathroom. Is it
better to get a fixed
price from my
builder or go on a time-and-materials
basis? Gayle, via email
“If you are working with a builder
that you trust, a cost-plus contract
will almost always be the fairest
for both parties,” says Bill
Clifton of Robert Plumb Build
(robertplumbbuild.com.au), “assuming
there is complete transparency with
copies of all subcontractor and
supplier invoices, as well as copies
of timesheets from the builder’s
employees provided with the
builder’s invoice. Quite often, the
subfloor of old bathrooms will
need replacing if the old membrane
has failed, and this wouldn’t always
be allowed for in a fixed-price
contract but instead treated as
a variation. Variations tend to be
more costly than ‘cost adjustments’
in a cost-plus contract arrangement,
as they usually attract a higher
margin and the client doesn’t
benefit from any of the savings
that the builder may have made
throughout the process.”The in-out wall of this
Adelaide extension designed
by Ply Architecture benefits
from consistency in
the brickwork.Send us your
questions via Facebook
or Instagram, or email
us at insideout@bauer-
media.com.auQ
How do
I match my
original brick
with a new brick
to complete my
renovation? Miranda, via Facebook
“Brick matching is one of the most
important aspects of renovating
an existing property,” says Jai
Sanderson, general manager
marketing at PGH Bricks & Pavers
(pghbricks.com.au). “Whether it’s
a major extension or a small update,
consistency is key to achieving
a seamless appearance. However,
finding bricks that effortlessly blend
in with your existing home can be
challenging. When you’re sourcing
bricks to match existing brickwork,
consider the colour, size and texture
of the brick. When looking to match
your brick, it’s always wise to have
a sample of the brick and a photo
of the existing brickwork. There
are a range of brick suppliers and
brick-matching services available
to assist in this process.”THINGS WE LOVE
EDITED BY VICTORIA BAKER. PHOTOGRAPHY: (BEDROOM) MARTINA GEMMOLA, (ROOF) KENNY10/GETTY IMAGES, (KITCHEN) JOHN PAUL URIZAR, (BRICK WALL) SAM NOONAN. GARDEN IMAGE COURTESY OF STICKS & STONES LANDSCAPE DESIGN, STICKSANDSTONESLD.COM.AU. ARCHITECTURE: (BRICK WALL) PLY ARCHITECTURE, PLY.NET.AU. BUILD: (BRICK WALL) CITY TO SEA CONSTRUCTIONS, CITYTOSEACONSTRUCTIONS.COM.AU. ARTWORK (OPPOSITE), ARTIST UNKNOWN. PAINT COLOUR MAY VARY ON APPLICATION