Month: September 2020

A Australian Circus Family's Home Juggles Extra Room

High ceilings would be liked by A lot of people . But Australian couple Nigel Martin and Louise Clarke Necessary the extra headroom. Circus actors with Bamboozled Productions, the couple updated their 1890 bluestone cottage with an extension to allow lots of space for juggling, practicing show patterns and adapting to a constant stream of traveling actors.

The home is within, ahem, unicycling distance of the Adelaide central business district, and the couple collaborated closely with designer-builder Philip Monaghan to tailor it for their needs. But unlike the couple’s carefully orchestrated and practiced carnival patterns, the design procedure was more natural. “Home design is instinctual for me,” Clarke says. “I don’t have any established formula; I just go with what I think could work and hope for the best.”

at a Glance
Who lives here:
Louise Clarke and Nigel Martin with their kids, Jai (age 16) and Onni (two)
Location: Norwood, South Australia
Size: 140 square meters (1,507 square feet); 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a home office
Price: Extension: $354,000 Australian (about U.S.$339,521); garden: $61,000 Australian (about U.S.$58,895)

Jeni Lee

The aim was to create a home that would be cozy and warm in the winter, yet cool in the summer — and of course would have room for Martin (shown here) to manage. “I think we could have been more experimental. I threw from the rammed-earth walls last moment, but I knew they’d work, and I love them,” says Clarke.

Sofa: Jardan; Persian rug: Kavir Rug Gallery; chairs: Flourish Gift and Home; side table: handmade, Council of Things; credenza: Danish, Hans J. Wegner; Roman dividers: Rainfords

Jeni Lee

A connected layout helps the relatives keep an eye on one another’s routines. Clarke, from the bathroom here, states, “I can stand at the kitchen chair and see Onni from the tub while conversing with Jai in the living room and others in the kitchen, and watch outside all at precisely the same time.” That’s Onni on the bench and Jai from the door.

Sink: Oliveria; sink fixture: Methven; couch: Jardan; tiles: Eco Tile Factory

Jeni Lee

The counters have been custom made using recycled jarrah timber, a very sustainable and durable hardwood from Western Australia. Windows help deliver northern lighting in.

Benchtops: Total Joinery

Jeni Lee

Philip Monaghan constructed the 10-seat dining table, windows and door frames from recycled jarrah.

Art: David Bromley, Flourish Gift and Home; kimono storage: Church Studios; pendant lighting: David Turbridge

Jeni Lee

Block-mounted circus posters have been clustered onto one main artwork wall in Jai’s room with a huge painting by Martin’s grandfather, Western Australian artist John Lunghi. Martin based on a drawing the painting as a boy.

Plantation shutters: Rainfords; jute rug: Ikea

Jeni Lee

This teenager’s retreat includes a loft bed, making extra space for audio and circus practice.

Pendant light: Ikea

Jeni Lee

The music room includes built-in storage for circus gear and a foldout bed for guests.

Rug: hand-tufted Persian, Kavir Rug Gallery

Jeni Lee

The master bedroom features original hardwood floors, a traditional Victorian fireplace and ceiling roses, an Indian bedspread and a Chinese brush painting.

Nighstands: Like Butter; table lamps: Ikea

Jeni Lee

The contemporary bathroom includes Moroccan-style wall tiles in a stunning shade of turquoise and a hand-crafted silver-plated light colour. The floor tiles are rough-cut slate.

Tiles: Eco Tile Factory; fixtures: Methven; basin: Villeroy & Boch

Jeni Lee

The home office is a transitional room between the old cabin and the brand new extension at the back. It was the original lounge room and has a combustion woodstove.

The couch and trestle table are secondhand locates, and the storage cabinet is a classic painted Tibetan cabinet. The art is by John Lunghi.

Rug: Birds of Passage; wall stencil: Scandinavian Design Center; chairs: Hans Wegner replicas, Church Studios

Jeni Lee

As frequent travelers residing in a drought-prone region, Martin and Clarke had a self-sufficient garden with drought-tolerant plants. The couple worked with designer Caroline Dawes and Stuart McHaffie of Garden Partner to create a low-maintenance landscape fed by rainwater tanks.

The couple wanted the layout of the garden to reflect the home, so the decks and collecting areas are all placed at different angles and use many unique materials.

When Clarke is not on the road, her favourite spot to be is to the patio, sitting on a beanbag with the fire lit and looking back at the home. “I always think I live here; that’s amazing; it is beautiful,” she states.

Jeni Lee

A small courtyard connects the main home with a fourth bedroom, currently setup as a music room. The main bathroom also overlooks this personal courtyard.

Jeni Lee

Corrugated iron, a classic Australian construction material, partially clads the new extension. Hebel was also used as cladding because of its insulating qualities. The window frames were all made by Philip Monaghan by hand from recycled jarrah timber.

Jeni Lee

The symmetrical bluestone outside is heritage listed and has a distinctive California bungalow gate. Wisteria paths over the classic Australian veranda.

See more photos of the home

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8 High-Impact Places for Accent Colors

Accent colors make all of the difference in a home’s palette, adding dimension and visual appeal. Your favorite accent colours can take center stage, while others fade into the background, but both are significant.

Use accent colours to highlight certain components, create focal pieces and draw the eye across a room. Not sure where to begin? Here are eight excellent places for splashes of color.

Vendome Press

Paint and accessories. Sometimes an accent color simply does not feel right about the walls. This designer painted the window frame over the sink to create an instant focal point, and found accessories in the same colour to show off supporting the glass cupboard doors.

Paul Anater

Cabinet finishes. If you have upper and lower cabinets, paint a number of them. A natural wood finish is your predominant hue inside this kitchen’s palette, but the sage-green upper cabinets draw the eye above the sink. Note the butcher block island has been painted in the same colour for a harmonious layout.

Emily Ruddo

Upholstery. A monochromatic design could be beautiful, but playing with unconventional colours will give your room a lively appearance. Choosing playful colours on select pieces of upholstery is a great way to get this done. I really like the way the bright fuchsia about the dining chairs and living room chair joins both adjoining spaces collectively here.

Atmosphere Interior Design Inc..

Art. With the ideal accent shade, dark wood flooring and black leather furniture texture like they belong into a bachelor pad. Use artwork to accent neutral rooms, like this, because it can be changed out easily for another color or a neutral in the future.

Tile. White tile looks clean in bathrooms, but it might feel somewhat dull. Find an accent tile in one of your favorite colours and install a decorative strip of it. This colored tile was set up in a vertical band from floor to ceiling to get a little but powerful design component.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Lighting. Good lighting could make all of the difference in how a room looks. Why don’t you take it a step farther and use your fittings to highlight a accent color?

The posh red ring and matching sconces in this room fit a subtle pencil-line detail around the center table, pulling the inside layout together.

The Couture Rooms

Pillows. A couple of colorful, well-placed throw cushions could be of the color you need. This is an easy way to add color without a significant investment of time or money. Scatter throw pillows on the floor, sofas or chairs, using colours that connect with another textiles in the room.

Marie Burgos Design

Rugs. Use a colorful area rug to anchor your area and specify your accent color. This massive pastel area rug stands out from the good couch but coordinates with all the throw pillows, to get a more balanced and harmonious area.

More: The way to Accent a Neutral Space With Color

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