How A New Zealand Architect Built His Home For $150,000 (With No Construction Experience!) Architecture by Amelia Barnes Architect William Samuels and Hannah D’Arcy designed and constructed their own 42 square metre home. Photo – Simon Devitt The home is located on leased land in Nelson, on New Zealand’s South Island, and can be relocated as required. Photo – Simon Devitt Building on leased land required the home to be relocatable should circumstances change. This informed the physical constraints of the house, which needed to be small enough to be readily transportable on loca ..read more

Clare Dubina’s Abstract + Dreamy Paintings Hero The Female Form Studio Visit by Christina Karras Clare Dubina inside her Brunswick studio. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files Clare has been a full-time artist for two years now, after an impressive career across retail, photography and visual merchandising. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files She says it’s certainly an unknown and unstable journey to be on, but ‘being able to do what you love is worth making a few sacrifices’. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files ‘My subject matter (since my uni days in 2 ..read more

Here’s How To Sharpen Up Your Interior With Cool Metals Interiors Lauren Li Stainless steel kitchens aren’t always cold. In this kitchen, by Amelda Wilde, it’s the combination of warm stone and tactile handmade Zellige tiles against the smooth stainless steel that creates a perfect balance. Photo – Cricket Saleh In a black-and-white space, adding something metallic gives a much-needed lift. This curved side table by Kristina Dam blends into the space while catching the eye. Photo – courtesy of Designstuff. A hint of chrome in the dining table and chair (the Series 7 Chair) adds ..read more

A Melbourne Architecture Power Couple’s Magic Family Home Homes by Lucy Feagins, Editor Joinery by Evolve. All appliances by Fisher & Paykel. Dowel Jones Sir Burly High Stools. Formakami JH5 pendants by Jaime Hayon from Finnish Design Shop. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli ‘Chorus VI’ painting by Jordy Hewitt. Dowel Jones Sir Burly High Stools. Formakami JH5 pendants by Jaime Hayon from Finnish Design Shop. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli Joinery by Evolve. Sussex Vod ..read more

Inside A Renovated 1970s Home Designed To Embrace Its Enchanting Garden Architecture by Christina Karras Aija’s Place by Curious Practice is located in Eleebana, 18 kilometres from Newcastle. Photo – Alexander McIntyre Careful updates have transformed the dated red-brick home without altering its existing character. Photo – Alexander McIntyre Despite the condition of the ageing house, there was a ‘beautiful tended garden’ that inspired much of the resulting renovation. Photo – Alexander McIntyre A small addition to the bedroom facilitated a much-needed connection to the lush b ..read more

How Tibrean + Taungurung Artist Iluka Sax-Williams Explores Kinship + Connection Through Art Studio Visit Jirra Lulla Harvey Tibrean + Taungurung artist Iluka Sax-Williams. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files Iluka’s finished work. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files Iluka stands in his new studio in Southbank, Melbourne. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files Iluka’s pyrography pen, which he uses to burn his designs onto the possum and kangaroo skin. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files Iluka says a piece can take anywhere f ..read more

How This Serene Backyard Cabin Was Designed To Survive Floods + Bushfires Architecture by Christina Karras Byron St Studio is a cabin and short stay accomodation located in New South Wales’ North Coast. Photo – Andy Macpherson ‘The exterior is clad in hardwood charred through a Japanese old age technique, making it both weather and fire resistant,’ owner Casey adds. Photo – Andy Macpherson ‘Being close to the ocean, we used galvanised steel posts to raise our building along with core-filled, half height Besser blocks.’ Photo – Andy Macpherson The two-bedroom home is a deliberat ..read more

See Zenn Design’s New Customisable Bed Range – Plus Your Chance To Win! Giveaway by Bea Taylor Zenn Design’s latest collection, ‘Ready For Bed’, features three of their most popular designs in two customisable fabrics. Photo – Kate Shanasy Face of the collection, Jacqui Felgate, knows exactly how good the beds are! ‘I found Zenn online during lockdown and bought the most amazing bed — more than a year later, I still get asked about it all the time!,’ she says. Photo – Kate Shanasy Ready For Bed – Krystal Bed, by Zenn Design. Photo – Kate Shanasy Ready For Bed – Harper Bed ..read more

A Sympathetically Restored Robin Boyd Home For Sale In Warrandyte On The Market by Bea Taylor 41 Koornong Crescent, North Warrandyte! Photo – Dylan James ‘The Fler’ house by Robin Boyd was built in 1956. Photo – Dylan James Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room invite the outside in! Photo – Dylan James Owners Taeler and Luke Jordan have given the home a sympathetic update. Photo – Dylan James They painted the 80s timber kitchen, to reflect the colours outside. Photo – Dylan James ‘Everything needed to be softened, so the windows, walls, floors and existing timbe ..read more

Before + After: A Major Transformation Of A Suburban Melbourne 1980s Brick Home (With Plenty Of DIY Inspo!) Interiors by Amelia Barnes The kitchen. Porter’s Paints Volcanic Ash features on the cabinetry, with brass hardware, and engineered stone benchtops that bounce light around the room. Photo – Jacqui Turk The light and bright scheme replaces the previous all-timber cabinetry and beige laminate benchtops. Photo – Jacqui Turk Interior designer Jono Fleming. Photo – Jacqui Turk A feature shelf suspended from the ceiling provides space to grow herbs indoors. Photo – Jacqui Tur ..read more