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Attractive connection

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Wrapped around two internal courtyards the Miro 280 has an attractive connection

Attractive connection

Wrapped around two internal courtyards, the Miro 280 design by
Gallery Living is a home that will be energy efficient, beautiful and long-lasting

Wrapped around two internal courtyards the Miro 280 has an attractive connection


So you've found a new home and you love it. But what about in five or 10 years' time? Will you still love the look and feel of it down the track? Well, I may have found a design that fulfils long-term appeal, but also provides light and beauty, innovative design and a contemporary point of difference to other home options.

Setting itself apart is the spacious four bedroom, two-bathroom Miro 280 design by Gallery Living. It's one of my favourite designs that I've seen in the past two or three years. With a distinctive floorplan, that from above looks like a capital I (or an H on its side), it is designed around two internal courtyards that teem the home with light throughout the day.

There's two main living zones in the Miro 280 - placed on either side of one of the courtyards and with windows and doors on multiple sides of these spaces as the sun moves during the day, so does the light coming in. A new version of the Miro 280 design is on display to view at Mt Barker in the Aston Hills development.

Gallery Living's Juliet Haslam says the Miro 280 steps away from traditional home design and often surprises visitors walking through with its innovative layout. "It is a modern evolution from the traditional large box family home, bringing architectural details, functionality and ever present connection with the outside," Juliet says.  "We wanted to challenge tradition that larger family homes always struggle to have direct light in every living area.

By wrapping the house around the central courtyard we ensure every living area is light -filled and open. With clever window design specific to each different block, we can use this unique feature to make this large family home very energy-efficient, dramatically cutting down household heating and cooling costs. "The central courtyard also clearly separates the front section of the house to a parents' area that opens out into its own outdoor areas."

As soon as you open the door of the Miro 280 display at Aston Hills, it's clear you're entering a home with a difference. The view to the internal courtyard is ahead, and beyond that the kitchen, yet the open lounge next to you is partially blocked from sight with a striking black partition wall creating an element of privacy. There's tall windows in all directions and you could initially think this home will lack privacy, but, like the front lounge, careful placement of partition walls as dividers and room angles ensures there will be privacy for all family members.

The home offers four bedrooms with the master suite being to the far right of the design past the front lounge, while the remaining three bedrooms are at the opposite point of the home facing the rear and side gardens. All but one comes with good-size wardrobes as standard, and in between the spacious study has the option of being a fifth bedroom.
The study is positioned at the home's narrowest point between both internal courtyards, so if you do work or study at home, it will be a tranquil space. The study and the courtyards help define the home's zones: the parents' wing to the front, the family open plan area at the rear and the children's wing off to one side.

Juliet says the Miro 280 has become one of Gallery Living's most popular family designs. "The Miro 280 is a family home for people who want a large, light -filled, affordable home," she says. 'We are often told by people coming through the home for the first time how surprised and impressed they are by it. "From the front the Miro is deceptively simple but as soon as you walk-in the front door the home opens up around the internal courtyard. "The front section of the lounge and master bedroom creates a parents' sanctuary, and as you move into the home, past the study, the open plan living, kitchen and dining create a great open family space that leads directly to either the rear yard or side alfresco that is perfect for entertaining and an outdoor kitchen. The children's rooms are in a separate area, which also includes a large amount of storage space."

As well as good storage throughout, including in the hallway and in the double garage, the interior of the Aston Hills display showcases Gallery Living's middle level specification that includes many of the standard fittings, and also a few upgrades. Elegant Quickstep floorboards seamlessly flow through the living zones creating a warmth in the larger spaces, while carpet softens the front lounge and bedrooms. The galley-style kitchen and its impressive Caesarstone-topped island bench with waterfall ends (optional upgrade), and cupboards on both sides is a flagship space.

The lowered ceiling, mirrored splashback, drop down pendant lighting and views on either side to the outdoors makes it feel genuinely social and the hub of home life. Striking semi-commercial style sliding doors (upgrade) lead out to the alfresco, which is a standard inclusion but has also been finished with some extras. "The alfresco under the main roof is standard and we have finished it with optional extras of hardwood timber decking, a feature wall and outdoor kitchen," Juliet says. "All living areas are directly connected to the outside, and the large alfresco is perfect for modern entertaining." Not to be forgotten is the design's wet areas, which have been impressively finished with timber laminate on vanities, spacious proportions and complete privacy.

The laundry is a fabulously long space leading to the second courtyard, while the three-way main bathroom is a great free-flowing multi-tasking space allowing several people to use it simultaneously. The ensuite, however, shouldn't be undervalued, despite being positioned unusually at the front of the home, Juliet says. "Traditionally the master bedroom faces the street and the ensuite sits behind it," she says. "By flipping this we have changed the master bedroom from the least private to a most beautiful bedroom with a sliding door straight out to internal courtyard, letting you pull back the curtains and enjoy the view on those rare parent sleep-in mornings. "The front ensuite also doubles as a sound buffer, which is perfect for noisy streets."

The Miro 280 design is suited to a wider block of 18m or greater and one that is 30m deep, and also would look great on acreage, particularly with its mix of designer weatherboard, Hebel and corrugate exterior cladding.

"We aim to design homes that look great today, and will still look great in 20 years' time. Aside from looking great, the fact that these materials do not retain excess heat, means that we can really increase the amount of glass (and hence light and warmth) in the design compared to using conventional materials like clay brick and concrete roof tiles."

 

23-Jul-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Find out more about the Miro 280

 

Top 4 alfrescos – Miro 280

admin 1 Storey, Media Articles, Miro
Miro 280 has a great alfresco It's all about the flow

Top 4 alfrescos - Miro 280

It's all about the flow

Miro 280 has a great alfresco It's all about the flow

This design takes the alfresco and integrates it seamlessly with the indoor kitchen and main living room. There's a solid exterior wall for you to add an outdoor kitchen and it comes complete with decking - so you'll be ready to party as soon as you move in. The innovative design also has a complementary internal courtyard as a second outdoor zone.

 

18-Jun-2017 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Find out more about the Miro 280

 

Artful thinking

admin 2 Storey, Media Articles
Long and lean, the two-storey Cezanne 290 design by Gallery Living offers a sustainable home

Artful thinking

Long and lean, the two-storey Cezanne 290 design by Gallery Living offers a sustainable home that is elegant, interesting and practical for family life

Long and lean, the two-storey Cezanne 290 design by Gallery Living offers a sustainable home

Think of a sleek, slender design but spacious enough to house a large family and you would be thinking of the Cezanne 290 by Gallery Living. With 292sqm total size, four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and a double garage, this design packs plenty of features within its two storeys and does so with unique style.

Like art, Gallery Living likes to create floorplans with a point of difference and the Cezanne 290 is a fine example of its creative thinking, both in turns of sustainable design and energy efficiency. One of four living areas is a formal living room at the front of the lower level, and it's open layout to the home's entry makes it a welcoming light -filled space.

Following an elongated open plan layout, the lower level is an entertainer's dream with a standout feature being the ability to open up the large living and dining areas to the side garden or alfresco (ideally facing north), creating extra space to enjoy with friends or family. Past the stairs and internal access to the garage is a classy kitchen which features a slick long island bench (with two inset sinks) that connects to the meals area, making it the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat before work.

The dining area has been given a generous space and a partition wall divides it from the family lounge at the rear. The wall in turn becomes both a practical feature (to mount the TV on) and a focal point that helps zone each space and add a sense of privacy within the open plan. Given the narrow nature of this design its 12m at its widest point - space efficiency is paramount, which can be seen with the inclusion of an European-style laundry placed opposite the kitchen. At first sight you may think it's a storage cupboard but a full-length laundry with cupboards and a long bench is carefully concealed behind the hi-folding doors.

Behind this, the large master bedroom is given its own private wing with a long built -in wardrobe on one side of the room, and a luxurious ensuite on the other. Here the ensuite offers both a shower and a deep bath, a wide vanity and toilet. Upstairs is a private oasis for the rest of the family, with three bedrooms nestled at the rear but not far from the spacious rumpus room. This space could easily double as a home theatre, perfect for enjoying a movie with the family or friends.

A slimline bathroom upstairs makes the second level feel self-sufficient from the rest of the home, with a separate toilet leaving plenty of room in the bathroom for a large shower and long vanity. With recess niches scattered throughout living areas (for bookshelves and trinkets), this design creates interest through clever thinking and inclusions. This thinking extends right through to the contemporary facade where a mix of materials, colour and lines give it a bold edge.

Gallery Living's Cezanne 290 has all the features to keep a family comfortable and zoned spaces ensure privacy and quiet time.

Features you will love:

Side facing views outdoors: Your outdoor space should never be forgotten when choosing a home design and this one makes it a focal point of the home layout. Easy access via two sets of sliding doors open out to the garden to make the most of warm weather and to make entertaining a breeze.

Room divider: The clever installation of a partition wall gives the impression of private spaces without disrupting the flow of the open plan on the lower level.

Crisp fresh interior: Sometimes you've just got to love a bright white glossy interior. It's easy to keep up with trends and it attracts natural light. adding to the spacious feel of your home

 

18-Jun-17 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

 

Monet 265: It’s a work of art

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Monet 265 is a work of art

Monet 265: It's a work of art

Natural light and a bold palette create a home with vibrancy and personality in Gallery Living's Monet 265

Natural light and a bold palette create a home with vibrancy and personality in the Monet 265

Colour, light and vibrancy are three qualities that make for a pleasant living environment, and when they all cometogether it's easy to see how a home will be a welcoming place to live. Such is the case with Gallery Living's new Monet 265 display home at Aston Hills, Mt Barker. It's the unique design of this three/four bedroom home that captures light through it right to the centre of the home, but when paired with dashes of monochrome, it becomes a creative pace with something interesting at each turn.

I admit the Monet 265 is one of my favourite floorplans, as I love the idea of an internal courtyard that centres the living zones and filters light to each at different times of the day. The design comes in various size options but the layout is similar to its compact Monet 195 version, which you'll find at Evanston South.

In the 265 there's a double garage and a study (or fourth bedroom) at the front, then a dramatic living room with a black feature wall that opens to a central courtyard, before a window-lined hallway guides you to the kitchen, dining and second living zone. What's delightfully different about this design is the multiple outdoor zones linked to these living areas.

The rear lounge/dining area is bordered by a choice of two outdoor leisure areas, so the aspect from any point in the living area is going to feel connected to the back garden or alfresco. The dual aspect of sunlight, plus windows on a third side, will also give you ample spots to bask in the sun as the weather cools, while in summer it will offer great cross-ventilation when everything is open and the breeze blows through.

Gallery Living's Sales Manager Russell Slater says the Monet 265 is a luxury courtyard home with large living and entertaining spaces, both internally and externally. "The use of a large central courtyard makes light the consistent theme of the Monet 265, along with a very luxurious feeling of space," he says. "It also allows for seamless integration of designed outdoor spaces as part of the internal house aesthetic.

Families benefit from the courtyard as they enjoy the open/light benefits associated with large, open-plan living areas, but also the important functional benefits of spatially separated (but visually connected) living spaces, allowing families to feel connected while pursing individual activities. "It's a home that is a breath of fresh air to return to everyday with open light and generous sized functional spaces and lots of storage."

Pitched towards professional families who want light-filled open spaces and separate living and working areas, Russell says the study at the front provides the option to operate a home office or studio. The home's structured sophistication starts at the entry, where a raised ceiling with box edge is a stunning feature.

The open-plan kitchen is another standout and, as Russell says, it's the heart of the home. "Every home and family revolve around the kitchen in today's busy life and a large island bench is so much more than a food-preparation space, becoming the secondary dining table, homework area and perfect entertaining hub of the home," he says.

"It's important for us that the kitchen is spacious and situated where it can directly link to all other living areas." A dedicated breakfast bar at one end of the long island has room for bar stools on two sides, while the white and timber-look cabinetry and a discreet walk-in pantry make it a sleek space that is accented with white subway tiles and dark grout lines.

Within the living/dining zone, storage is integrated along the middle wall with a built-in cupboard and a set of floor-to-ceiling shelves, which become a feature of the space. Mirroring the bold black wall in the first lounge, the second living space has a recessed wall for the entertainment unit to sit within, and by being painted black it adds another focal point.

"It has been important in this design to streamline the interior spaces with clean, unbroken finishes that allow for the central courtyard to be the focus," Russell says. "Window placement has been carefully considered, and the large amounts of storage carefully integrated into walls so as not to detract from the openness and light."

This ties in with the home's aesthetic, which mixes openness with a structured feel, polished off by the arbours that feature in both outdoor courtyards. "The interior is an open and sophisticated blend with modern architectural details such as feature windows, varied ceiling heights, semi commercial window frames and square set cornice details," Russell says.

The Monet 265 will best suit a block with a minimum 15m width and 30m depth, but also corner blocks as displayed at Mt Barker. "We chose to display this plan as it is readily adaptable to take full advantage of a corner allotment (which many traditional plans struggle with)," Russell says. "The specification on display is representative of a medium level of upgrades and reflective of the level of finish most people choose for this house in their building contracts."

What I really like about this design is that it utilises a block so well and doesn't leave any part of it unused. The living zones all face one side and, with a clear view to the rear yard and courtyard, there's a clear connection to the outdoors. On the other side where the bedrooms run in a row, there is room enough for a path that leads to a private courtyard outside the master bedroom.

Gallery Living's designers have indented the floorplan, allowing for a courtyard nook to be an extension of the master bedroom, so I'd add a set of sliding doors here and use it to its full potential. In between the bedrooms (all with built-in wardrobes) are the laundry and bathrooms, with a long ensuite off the master, which includes a wide shower, double-basin vanity, designer mixer taps and 2.lm-high tiling as standard. The main bathroom follows suit but is separated into a powder room, bath/shower room with a curvaceous Caroma Classic bath.

30-Apr-17 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

This exact house model is no longer available, to see a similar house please view the  Monet 230.

 

Point of difference

admin 1 Storey, Media Articles, Picasso
The alternative style of the Picasso 250 is a point of difference

Point of difference

The alternative style of the Picasso 250 design by Gallery Living makes it an ideal choice for a home, a holiday residence or a retirement haven

The alternative style of the Picasso 250 is a point of difference

Gallery Living's Picasso 250 is the perfect answer if you're looking for a home with a difference and one that is open, light -filled and energy efficient. It has been designed to soak up the northern aspect with its skillion roof, raked ceiling and highlight windows that create low-to-high cross ventilation. The Picasso 250 is a unique home design with a modern mixed-material facade and a double garage at the front that creates much-needed privacy.

Almost out of sight from the street, the entry has been made into an indoor-outdoor focal point and it's this subtle difference that is appealing. With three bedrooms plus a study, two bathrooms and two living areas, the long 24.5m design has a thoughtful layout with a focus on open and airy rooms created by its high pitched ceiling. The first living area sits at the front of the home, followed by the spacious master bedroom with ensuite, the study, two minor bedrooms and a three-way bathroom, all running the length of the southern side.

This leaves the northern side for an open-plan dining/kitchen/family area, with three sets of sliding doors and windows opening out to the main garden. This home has been designed so one of the longer sides of the home orients north in order to maximise the home's energy efficiency throughout the year. As seen in the display at Evanston South, an alfresco with a timber deck and outdoor kitchen (upgrade) is an optional inclusion which adds a fabulous entertaining area adjacent the garden.

The central kitchen also looks directly design out to the garden and creates a real hub of the home, with a lengthy island offering ample benchtop space, storage and a good dynamic within the open plan. It essentially separates the dining zone from the lounge without, while still allowing wide corridors and uncluttered lines to keep the open plan free-flowing and family friendly.

Features you'll love: Let there be light: Square portholes line the open-plan area above the sliding glass doors for additional natural light. They add an interesting element to the unique design, enhancing the sense of space and a distinct feature.

Let's go outside: The outdoor area is perfect for entertainment and enjoying meals in the fresh air. The space can be converted to an indoor-outdoor zone and opened right up thanks to the three sets of glass sliding doors lining the north side.

Time out: The second living area set at the front of the home offers space away from the open-plan zone. Thanks to the distance from the main living area. it is perfect for movies or a read of your favourite novel in peace.

 

19-Feb-17 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Find out more about the Picasso 250.

 

A taste of the high life

admin 2 Storey, Media Articles, Rembrandt
the Rembrandt 365 maximises the investment

A taste of the high life

Maximising the investment on land with a view, the Rembrandt 365 by Gallery Living is a spacious home for entertaining and living well

the Rembrandt 365 maximises the investment

 Most modern homes these days incorporate an outdoor zone for entertaining, but when there's a view worth looking at it's essential you take advantage of it. Capturing that view and a space to enjoy it means considering the orientation of your home and whereabouts you want to be as you look out to the city, coast or hillside. So think about a two-storey home with views to the coast, and where you can enjoy the outlook from a choice of two balconies off the main living zone, plus if you need it an undercover alfresco downstairs for garden party entertaining.

We are at Gallery Living's Rembrandt 365 display home, a new design that has been built at Seaford Heights hillside Vista estate, where a gentle slope gives a great advantage out to the Moana coastline and 180-degree views. This two-storey design punches in at sizeable 363sqm, with a l2.4m frontage and l9.4m depth, and as Gallery Living's sales manger Russell Slater says, it would be an ideal home for "any land that offers you a view, front or rear, where the capture of it will increase your investment value".

"It is designed to maximise investment on land with a view, especially to the front. This home is perfect for any esplanade land facing the coast," he adds. "The Rembrandt 365 is all about making the most of views and direct! y tying that into both everyday living and entertaining. "All too often the upper level oftwo-storey homes doesn't let you make the most of a wonderful view over the coast or hills, but we wanted a design that directly linked your living time to the outside while increasing investment value on special blocks."

Considering this four-bedroom, two bathroom, two-living area plus a double garage design will fit on a minimum 15m wide by 30m deep block, it makes it a worthy option for many coastal or riverside blocks. Not that you need to limit it to a water view, as you may prefer a cityscape or bush views even, and that's where the innovative look of the Rembrandt 365 gives it cutting edge contemporary appeal: a home you could perfectly slot into an inner urban block or perch on the side of the Mt Lofty Ranges.

"Our design style is modern classic," Russell says. "We wanted to produce a striking home using modern designer materials, which is not a slave to trends and fads. "We always aim for balance to our homes and especially for two-storey homes, reducing the visual bulk and blandness that has become commonplace."

On show, the display features a specification  marginally above the standard option, so it gives visitors a good indication of the value they could get in finishes and fixtures, while always having the choice to stick to the standard range or upgrade. It's also a home which will appeal to families who like to entertain, those who like to gather relatives and friends over and centre life at their house, and like to do it year round, so having larger open indoor and outdoor zones does matter.

"Outdoor entertaining is a real passion for people now and this home offers an alfresco that flows out to the backyard, a front balcony to take in the view and a glass of wine, while the large rear balcony flows straight from the kitchen and dining area to provide a private, sheltered outdoor kitchen and entertainment area," Russell says.

For me, the fusion of the light -filled upper level spaces, is the selling point of this home. While it is open plan and all spaces revolve around the smart, sassy-styled galley kitchen plenty of wall cupboards and above and below counter storage plus the essential island - you still feel like you have multiple spaces to eat meals or sit back in, and there's a distinct holiday feel going on.

The family lounge with its floor-to-ceiling windows creates a bright space with ample views and the long balcony off it is sheltered and private even though it faces the street. At the back, the semi-enclosed balcony has plenty of space for a barbecue, an outdoor corner lounger and table and still lots of room to move.

On the upper level the home's owners will enjoy a secluded master bedroom, which in anyone's mind is large, featuring two sets of fitted built-in wardrobes and off it an equally spacious, long ensuite. Downstairs there are a further three bedrooms plus an open study, so this effectively also become a five-bedroom home if needed.

The Rembrandt 365's lower level shouldn't be overlooked, despite the upper level's charms, as the ground floor also provides a lounge connected to a decked alfresco - and there's a really nice feel about this space when the sun shines in. The mood is different perhaps due to the darker feature walls, but it is cosy and warm and very relaxed.

The amenities of the main bathroom and laundry are kept together, saving costs in the build and making it central and accessible. From visitor feedback it's apparent the balconies are winning them over, along with the views they encapsulate, and it's easy to see why. Take my advice, go out and stand on the front balcony and soak up the view then head to the back balcony, sit back and imagine how easy your next barbecue would be.

 

09-Oct-16 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Find out more about the Rembrandt 365. Note: no longer on display.

 

Space Saver

admin 1 Storey, Dali Villa, Media Articles
Dali Villa 170 is a space saver

Space Saver

For those after a smaller home and low-maintenance living, Gallery Living's Dali Villa 170 will be the perfect size for retirees, singles and couples

Dali Villa 170 is a space saver

Proving you can build a spacious home on a narrow block, Gallery Living's three-bedroom, two-bathroom Dali Villa 170 has been architecturally designed to maximise spaciousness.

Long and narrow, and designed to fit on villa blocks, the Dali Villa 170 reduces the need for passages and includes two living areas to create an open feel for modern living. The addition of an open-plan living/dining/ kitchen zone at the rear further increases its sense of space.

Although the Dali Villa is at the smaller end of the home-buying spectrum with a total of 156sqm, it is ideal for retirees, couples or first home buyers looking for a home that's not too big to look after, but larger than a homette.

The single hallway down the centre of the home creates an easy-flow floorplan with more spaces than you may expect. The master bedroom is positioned at the front, complete with a spacious ensuite and walk-in robe. The first living area is subtly tucked away from the street for privacy and quiet, providing an alternative option to the main living area, while opposite it is a study, which could also be a nursery, playroom or even a fourth bedroom.

It's an addition that will not go to waste. Branching off the hallway are bedrooms two and three, both with built-in wardrobes and natural light streaming through the large windows. A practical three-way bathroom in proximity to the bedrooms allows for multiple users. The division of this room makes the most of the space and promotes easy living.

The good-sized laundry backs on to the main bathroom, a welcome surprise for a design of this size - and it also provides direct outdoor access. The Dali Villa 170 is suited to blocks 9m or 10m wide making it perfect for subdivisions and also the more affordable blocks within them. The smaller allotment also goes hand-in-hand with low-maintenance living, both inside and outside the home.

The Dali Villa is also available in two slightly smaller configurations - the 130 and 155.

Features you'll love

Welcoming entrance: You don't realise how much you appreciate an undercover entrance until it's pouring with rain and you can't find your keys.

Master privileges: If a large master bedroom isn't enough, the walk-in wardrobe with ample hanging space and storage plus ensuite complete with shower and large vanity ought to do the trick.

Garage included: This narrow design has even allowed room for a single garage.

 

16-Oct-16 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

Find out more about the Dali Villa 170.

 

Best of Build on 450sqm

admin 2 Storey, Media Articles
Rubens 230 Best of Build on 450sqm

Best of Build on 450sqm

That's a Great Fit - Don't rate a block by it's coverage — you'll be surprised how much house you can squeeze on 450sqm.

Rubens 230 Best of Build on 450sqm

Details: 243sqm total size 191 sqm living areas | 9m width | 22.5m depth | 3 bedrooms 2.5 bathrooms | 2 living areas | double garage | 2.7m ceilings (ground) 2.6m ceilings (upper)

Why we like it: Slim, stylish and light-filled with a smart. modern townhouse appearance and an abundance of internal space. Hidden assets are the discreet second lounge and long laundry, tucked almost out of sight.

 

19-Jun-16 -  The Sunday Mail Home Magazine 

 

Northern Exposure

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Slim line in design, creative in looks the Rubens 230 makes the most of a northern aspect

Northern Exposure

Slim line in design, creative in looks, Gallery Living's Rubens 230 makes the most of a northern aspect and treats you with unexpected luxuries

Slim line in design, creative in looks the Rubens 230 makes the most of a northern aspect

From the street Gallery Living's Rubens 230 oozes appeal, modern style and luxury. The two-storey home makes a bold statement with its clean lines and square finishes.

Beyond the welcoming portico and through the oversized door is a home that boasts space, practicality, natural light, sustainability and a true attention to detail. You only need to step inside the display home at St Clair to notice an abundance of light and the high ceilings emphasising space.

Ideal for savvy investors or young families, this is a well thought out floorplan that masters zoning and doesn't waste space by creating useful areas throughout the 9m wide design.

It's the nook by the front door complete with a shelf and mirror that's perfect for the last minute tie straightening or lipstick touch-up, and the 1.4m-wide entrance ideal for the hustle and bustle of the morning rush. The downstairs coat room is perfect to stash away school bags or store winter coats, and it's all these things that make this house well planned and purposeful.

Gallery Living's sales manager Russell Slater says the three-bedroom tw obathroom Rubens 230 is all about light -filled spaces and modern architectural details. "With the Rubens 230 we wanted to show that a two storey home on a 10-metre frontage allotment doesn't need to feel small, lacking or miss out on the light-filled and energy-saving benefits of strong passive energy design," Russell says.

The first of three living zones is the spacious lounge which in the display showcases the upgrade option of a slimline sliding glass door which closes it off from the open-plan zone, reducing noise and providing a degree of segregation while still allowing light to flow through.

"Often smaller homes force all-in-one living on to families but the Rubens 230 includes a separate lounge that can be shut-off or left open and connected to the main living area. This offers real flexibility for how different families can use the different spaces," Russell says.

On the other side of the staircase, you immediately feel the open aspect of the kitchen/ dining/living areas. The combination of 2.7m high ceilings and one side of the room comprising mainly windows and doors - with very little solid wall - it creates a real light, open ambience in this zone.

This side of the home has been aligned to face north and the light that streams through three sets of sliding glass doors, all of which open to a paved courtyard and outdoor  kitchen area will be perfect for sunny winter days and afternoon barbecues.

Surrounding the carpeted living area at the rear, and adding light in the hallway, are modern louvre windows, allowing  controllable ventilation with contemporary class." As you walk through the Rubens 230 you feel that spaces are opening up  around you and you lose sense of being on a villa-width allotment. With light-filled rooms, the interiors are clean and modern," Russell says.

A dropped ceiling bulkhead defines the galley-style  kitchen which is positioned at the heart of the home, and provides a welcome burst of colour. The glass splash back in bright orange is a lively addition, while the standout kitchen tap and deep  double sink offers modern appeal with its polished chrome surface.

A floor-to-ceiling pantry and overhead cupboards offer plenty of kitchen storage with clean and simple finishes, and a hidden alcove is ideal to store away appliances. The spacious kitchen island has a dark brown feature board on one side, drawers on the other and a Laminex Pure Mineralstone waterfall benchtop. One end has a breakfast bar with room to have stools on both sides making it a great place for casual meals.

The U-shaped staircase takes you to the bedroom quarters with a window above it bringing natural light to the upstairs landing. Two of the bedrooms have built -in wardrobes, while the large master bedroom at the front of the design, offers two sets of built-ins to ensure ample clothing storage.

Although uncommon, it really makes sense to have a wardrobe for each partner - a shopping enthusiast such as myself must have come up with this brilliant addition. The master bedroom encompasses the modern door-less entry to the ensuite, which has to be my favourite room in the Rubens 230.

It has a generous shower, a long vanity with handleless drawers, a large picture window facing the front of the home (with blinds, of course), stunning horizontally laid warm grey wall tiles and a freestanding bath to relax in. This is an ensuite that is all about indulgence, and was an unexpected treat.

Also upstairs is the main bathroom which follows the styling of the ensuite, creating a unified feel throughout the home. It brings the total toilet count to three as downstairs there is a powder room tucked under the staircase.

 

29-May-2016 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

 

Follow the Light

admin 1 Storey, Media Articles, Picasso
The Picasso 215 is a light energy-efficient home

Follow the Light

The Picasso 215 design by Gallery Living is a light energy-efficient home

The Picasso 215 is a light energy-efficient home

The four-bedroom Picasso 215 design from Gallery Living dares to be different. That's partly because it plays to its strength - making the most of a northerly aspect on a block to deliver a light-filled and energy-efficient home that enhances modern living. It can also offer a point of difference in street looks, via a mix of composite building materials and a skillion roof and raked ceiling with highlight windows allowing low to high cross ventilation.

The design is tailored to fit comfortably on a conventional allotment at least 16m wide, with all the main living, dining and kitchen areas located to one side of the layout. So the Picasso 215 typically suits an allotment where north faces one side of your block, rather than front or back yards. Naturally, it can be either side and the home can easily be mirror reversed.

This positioning will enhance your enjoyment of these main living and dining spaces. "This also means that the other wing of the home where all the bedrooms are located will be ideal for passive energy savings as they will be on the southern side of the home," Helen Lowrie, of Gallery Living, says. "This means the solar load is reduced on these rooms and allows for cool, darker bedrooms."

The Picasso 215's single pitch roofline is designed to maximise the natural light coming into the home and give it a fresh, bright atmosphere. The large, informal areas also feature an abundance of glass to let the outside garden views in. A natural courtyard is created behind the garage, accessible off the living rooms, allowing for a private outside entertaining area.

"Being able to open up to this area creates a much larger feel to the home," Helen says. The living room also opens out to the rear yard and an alfresco area (optional) can be built under the home's main roof to offer year-round entertainment. The generous, master bedroom spans about 14.4sqm, set to the front and allied to ensuite bathroom and walk-in robe facilities.

Across from the front entry point lies the separate lounge/ home theatre, giving you flexibility to entertain or relax. A partition wall here will house the TV while hiding the room from direct sight of the front door. The other three bedrooms line up intelligently around the second bathroom which has a separate vanity zone, and is tucked off a hallway behind the kitchen.

At the heart of the home the long galley kitchen boasts a walk-in pantry in one corner and island bar which looks across to the side garden. This design offers a nice balance of privacy and bright living/ entertaining space.

Gallery Living's use of specialist, composite materials in construction results in extra space built into their rooms compared with those homes built with traditional building materials and methods. "For instance, our living area is an extra 30cm wider than traditionally built homes which doesn't sound like a lot, but does add a lot of extra space to narrow homes which are only 7m wide," Helen says.

The Picasso 215 design has been very popular with a range of buyers including families with children and those without, Helen says.

 

01-May-16 - The Sunday Mail Home Magazine

This exact house model is no longer available, to see a similar house please view the  Picasso 195.