Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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The most exciting design feature in your home is the contrast between that white and neon chevron throw and your tasteful dove grey couch.
When you step into your house, you’re greeted by a sea of neutral tones. You’re sick of pretending to care about scented candles.
Perhaps you, like Manhattan resident Chris Kooluris, could do with a trip down memory lane. This used to be his bedroom:
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/nFtxZ07.jpg" alt="">
Some US$48,000 later, this is his bedroom:
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/NPPiq6k.jpg" alt="">
Chris and his home <a href="/expert-insights/building/fantasy-renovation-manhattan-gamer-turns-his-apartment-into-a-video-game-arcade">made headlines last week</a> when he revealed his home, which he transformed into a home arcade – complete with pinball machines, arcade games, and action figures. 
If you’re feeling a little jealous of Chris’s apartment, never fear. You too could one day live in your own video game arcade.
First, you’ll need to get rid of all that timber. Timber floorboards, desk, cabinet, bedhead – there’s no room for organic materials in a 1980s style video game arcade. Out it goes.
Next, paint those sandy beige walls over to dove grey, and move in your first arcade game. This one’s pretty special: it’s a Donkey Kong: Kong Off game.
Chris tells Property Observer that this game used to belong to Donkey Kong champion Steve Weibe himself, and is signed by Weibe and his supposed nemesis (and hot sauce purveyor), Billy Mitchell. For those who aren’t as well versed in their Donkey Kong battle mythology as they should be, it might be time to take a break from the renovations to sit down and watch <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/" target="_blank">King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/sn17cfn.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $3,000 (AU $3,184)</li>
</ul>
The next arcade game in Chris’s collection is the Punch Out!! (fully restored, of course)
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/3.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $2,100 (AUD $2,229)</li>
</ul>
Then comes the flooring. Chris chose colourful carpet floor tiles for his home arcade.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/PKPNQwl%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: US $1,200 (AU $1,274)</li>
</ul>
Time for some more games, courtesy of Disney. There’s Tron, which Chris tells us is an original, “in very good condition with new side art, control panel and plastics”.
Then there’s Fix It Felix Junior, which some might recognise from the movie Wreck It Ralph. According to Chris, as few as 30 Fix It Felix original units exist, with less than 10 in private homes. He also got a Ms Pac Man unit, which plays 60 different games.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/fIvlU5W%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>
Cost: Tron – US $2,500 (AU $2,652). Fix It Felix Junior – US $6,500 (AU $6,897). Ms Pac Man 60-1 – US $2,000 (AU $2,122)
</li>
</ul>
But of course, you don’t want to let your hobby make you anti-social. You’ll need a multi-player unit, like this Street Fighter II themed Dream Home Arcade Pedestal, which plays 25,000 different games.
And, of course, a television to go with it. And don’t forget the décor. It will look best surrounded by video game marquees.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/eIm3hhl%20-%20Imgur.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Dream Home Arcade Pedestal – US $3,000 (AU $3,184). Sony 55 inch television – US $1,700 (AU $1,804). Video game marquees – US $500 (AU $531).</li>
</ul>
Even the most enthusiastic gamer has basic human needs. For that, there’s a vending machine. Look, it even has fruit.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/pgif5x5%20-%20Imgur%201.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Rhino vending machine – US $350 (AU $371)</li>
</ul>
You tossed that bed, but you have to sleep on something. Chris went for a leather fold out futon, so there was plenty of room for game play in waking hours.  And, of course, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quilt.
<ul>
<li>Cost: Fold out bed - US $750 (AU $796). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quilt - US $45 (AU $48).</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/xQwnhqo.png" alt="">
Any renovation show will tell you that details are everything. There’s Transformers artwork by Tom Whalen, stools, Twin Galaxies logo decal (apparently drawn up by Chris’s then fiancée) and Street Fighter action figures.
<ul>
<li>
Cost: Transformers artwork by Tom Whalen (framed) - US $350 (AU $371). Stools - US $300 (AU $318). Twin Galaxies Fat Head - US $120 (AU $127). Street Fighter SOTA Action Figures - US $600 (AU $637)
</li>
</ul>
But if you think that’s those constitute the finishing touches, you’re wrong. First, you’re going to have to lay down US $15,000 (AU $15,917) on a collection of Transformers. Property Observer, having a few Transformers collector contacts of our own, guesses that this collection (partially pictured below) took quite a few years for Chris to amass.
 <img src="/images/2014/06/13/nB8tKmo%20-%20Imgur.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Cost: Transformers collection - US $15,000 (AU $15,917).</li>
</ul>
Finally, there’s the pinball machine. While <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/05/arcadia/" target="_blank">Chris told Wired </a>that he once promised to contain his hobby to a single room of his apartment, it seems that it’s spilled over into his living room, with this Lord Of The Rings themed pinball machine. 
<ul>
<li>Cost: Lord of the Rings pinball machine - US $7,000 (AU $7,428)</li>
</ul>
“Arcades are a gateway drug for a pinball collection,” Chris told Wired. While it looks like he'll press "A" to continue, the average person might put have put the controller down a long time ago.
All photos supplied by Chris Kooluris.
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Renovation recreation: How to turn your bedroom into an arcade

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At the recent Milan Design Week, it was all about the new. The biggest design fair in the world offered up inflatable LED lamps, <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/21/shibari-rubber-dipped-foam-seat-by-ichiro-inc-milan-2014/" target="_blank">bondage inspired foam and rubber seats</a> and anything a 3D printer could spit out. 
But for every recycled glass mirror-trestle table hybrid, there is a design trend that sits ignored in the dustbin of the 20th century. Property Observer looks at the five forgotten interior trends that deserve a comeback – and those that should never return.
FIVE DESIGN TRENDS WE WANT TO SEE AGAIN
<ol>
<li>
SUNKEN LOUNGES <img src="/images/2014/05/23/1.jpg" alt=""> Hanazono House. Source: Sekkastyle With home owners and investors obsessed with flexibility, there’s a good reason that conversation pits are out of fashion. What if you decide that space would be better off as a dining area? Filling in a sunken lounge is a good deal more difficult than pushing the sofa to the other corner of the room. But living rooms are for living, and why should <a href="https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/03/mad-men-don-drapers-apartment" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Don Draper get all the fun?</a>  
</li>
<li>
WALLPAPER <img src="/images/2014/05/23/10317697_518321434939406_2904862071506270990_o.jpg" alt=""> Source: NLXL A casualty of the minimalist movement, wallpaper that is too busy can make a small space look smaller, a dark space look darker, and is much more polarising than a “tasteful” wash of dove grey paint. What if your best friend’s cousin’s mother-in-law doesn’t like it? Grow a design spine and slap some wallpaper on your wall. Keep it to a single wall of the room as a feature to avoid swamping the space. European design studio Studio Job’s Archive collection for NLXL (pictured above) shows just how far the medium has come since the mustard yellow and amber days of the 1970s. For a lesson in how not to use wallpaper, see <a href="https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/wallpaper-madness-too-much-house-rules-adam-and-li/2262853/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Adam and Lisa’s house on Channel 7’s House Rules</a>. Our property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok recently examined the <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-wallpaper-house-rules-in-home-decorating-he-said-she-said">house rules that should be in place for decorating with wallpaper</a>. 
</li>
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PARQUET FLOORING <img src="/images/2014/05/23/10-211-ELIZABETH-ST_2010_HI.jpg" alt=""> Source:  Roman and Williams The polished concrete floors seen in every warehouse conversion of the last two years are great, and easy to clean. But what if you want to add some textural intrigue and warmth to your flooring, without buying a dozen rugs? Enter parquetry. While the glossy floorboards in juxtaposing tones of the past might be a bit much, a tasteful herringbone or chevron design in a single dark colour can bring interest without overwhelming a space. 
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CHANDELIERS <img src="/images/2014/05/23/harmonie2.jpg" alt=""> Source: Atelier Alain Ellouz Forget grandiose crystal chandeliers – difficult to pull off, even more difficult to clean. Today’s chandeliers and pendant lights prove that lighting can be used to make a statement without making a fuss, and come in a variety of materials. A <a href="/expert-insights/investing/chandeliers-hanging-in-the-garage-he-said-she-said">chandelier in the garage?</a> That might be a little too far.  
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MOOD LIGHTING <img src="/images/2014/05/23/roman%20and%20williams1.JPG" alt=""> Source: Roman and Williams  Good lighting can go a long way, adding warmth and intimacy to your home. On the other hand, bad lighting can be sterile and unflattering. Ambient light has come a long way from the “after 5” feel of the 60s den. Think about ditching the down lights, or at the very least, installing a dimmer.
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While we're firm believers in second chances, we do hope that some interior design trends never get their shot at redemption. See the five interior features of the 20th century that should never come back on the next page.
 The five designs we don't want to see again on the next page.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 FIVE DESIGN TRENDS WE NEVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN 
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MOUNTED TAXIDERMY For people who want their home to look like a hunting lodge. Great if you enjoy colonialism and cruelty.  <img src="/images/2014/06/13/mounted-taxidermy-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Orin Zebest/Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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WHITE PAPER LANTERNS Flimsy, difficult to clean and easy to break. <img src="/images/2014/06/13/white-lantern-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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BEADED CURTAINS Faux crystal beads that get in your face = instant glamour (or so we thought) <img src="/images/2014/06/13/beaded-curtain-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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LAVA LAMPS Don't. <img src="/images/2014/06/13/lava-lamp-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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INFLATABLE FURNITURE Who can forget the noise that a plastic inflatable couch would make against sweaty knees? <img src="/images/2014/06/13/inflatable-furniture-june-13-one.jpg" alt=""> Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
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Don't call it a comeback: Five retro design trends that deserve to return

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Land developers in Sydney have been producing large numbers of new lots and charging more for land, but data from a specialist residential property researcher shows sales are now declining and could fall rapidly if pricing is not reduced.
Sales activity volumes in Sydney fell by 7% in the March quarter compared with the December quarter, Research4’s National Land Survey Program found. It was the first fall in activity levels since December 2012.
“We think the Sydney [land] market is going to moderate ... Where it goes from here will depend on how [developers] manage pricing,” Research4 director of strategic research Colin Keane told Property Observer.
“It’s either going to stabilise and fall away quietly, or drop quickly if they keep pushing prices up.”
On average across the Sydney market median lot pricing rose by 1.8% in the March quarter, Research4’s data shows.
In the city’s west and south west, median prices rose by 17% during the quarter.
Keane said the sizable jump in prices in those regions was mainly due to price rises at a development by Landcom and Greenfields Development Company at Oran Park, and at Stockland’s Willowdale.
Research4’s figures show median lot prices in Sydney’s North West rose by 7% in the March quarter, while median lot prices in the Lower Hunter fell by around 4%.
The median price for land across the Sydney region was $283,000 for a 516 square metre block, Keane said.
“We think the pricing is problematic in the Sydney market now,” he said. “I don’t think developers can push prices any further. The might have to take a hit and reduce their prices over the coming months.”
Land prices last fell in Sydney in September 2013, according to Research4’s data.
While prices have been rising, lot sizes have been falling so cost per square metre is at a record high, Keane said. In 2010, the median lot size was 600 square metres. In 2012 it was 550 square metres and now is it around 510 square metres.
Keane said land developers may not be aware that a problem was emerging, as the market was still good and customer cancellation rates were still very low.
“The market is still really good but I think now is a good time to start thinking about the next 12 months and the next 12 months is going to be tighter in terms of demand and [customers] are going to be looking at saving in pricing,” he said.
The Sydney land market has historically suffered from significant supply shortages, but Keane said since June 2013 the land market had been fully meeting underlying demand and exceeding demand in some locations.
“It used to be an issue five years ago but with the South West market coming online we have seen lots of land coming on the market,” he said.
Demand would also fall as net overseas migration into NSW and visa applications had moderated, while the number of loans issued to second home buyers was falling, Keane said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics housing finance figures for the month of March will be released on Tuesday May 13, but the February result showed the number of finance commitments for the purchase of new dwellings around Australia fell by 5% in seasonally adjusted terms compared with January.
On approvals for new dwellings, Housing Industry Association chief economist, Harley Dale said: “Building approvals for the month of March 2014 were consistent with healthy growth in new home building activity this year, although the approvals cycle itself may well have peaked.”
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Sydney land sales could rapidly decline if prices not reduced warns researcher

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A 37 year old Manhattan resident has converted his apartment into a gamer’s paradise.
Chris Kooluris told <a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/turned-apartment-arcade-article-1.1816727" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a> that he decided to indulge his nostalgia after reading Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, a novel about 1980s gamer culture. He’s spent US $26,000 on his interiors renovation, including a number of vintage arcade games and a leather fold out bed (complete with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bed linen).
The senior vice president of a global public relations firm, Kooluris reportedly custom built a four-player arcade console, where he can play thousands of games, including Street Fighter II. Thousands of dollars have gone towards first-edition Transformers action figures.
But it seems that nurturing Kooluris’ inner child has come at a loss – he told The New York Daily News that in the process of building his arcade, his fiancée left him.
In truth, it seems that Kooluris’ extreme renovation makeover was inspired by more than just a book. After moving in with his fiancée, his apartment failed to sell and he reportedly began feeling uncomfortable in his new surroundings.
"This is the extreme reaction of someone who isn't surrounded by his own stuff," he told The New York Daily News. But while Koolouris and his friends reportedly love his arcade-apartment hybrid, it seems that Koolouris might have taken a tiger uppercut to the heart.
"Now that my fiancée and I are no longer together, it's hard to enjoy the room as much as I want to," he explained to The New York Daily News.  "I always end up thinking about her."
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Fantasy renovation: Manhattan gamer turns his apartment into a video game arcade

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The NSW government has extended the first home owner grant in its June 17 budget.
First-time buyers who purchase new properties - houses or apartments - worth up to $750,000 will now qualify for the $15,000 payment from July 1. 
The previous threshold had been $650,000 since the June 2012 budget. 
Sydney's runaway median dwelling price has moved from $541,000 as at June 2012 to sit currently at $678,500, according to RP Data, so the catchup decision barely keeps pace with actual price movements.
However Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale said the median price for new homes in NSW was around $650,000 which means most first home buyers will be able to get the full benefit. 
The threshold decision also brings NSW into line with several other states and territories.
Treasurer Andrew Constance initially announced the extended eligibility criteria for the first home owner grant by $100,000 with Premier Mike Baird in a visit to Sydney's north west.
“This will make the dream for young families of owning their own home that bit easier,” Andrew Constance said.
The government claims 100,000 new homes have been built since the March 2011 election. But NSW first home buyers still remain at well below the long term average in their buying habits, in part due to the desire to shift their buying to new homes, and also given affordability issues.
Last year around 7600 home owners secured the $15,000 grant, compared with 36,000 in 2011, after the scheme was restricted to new homes. 
<a href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/grants/fhog" target="_blank">The First Home Owner Grant (New Homes) scheme</a> was established in 2012 to assist eligible first home owners to purchase a new home or build their home by offering a $15,000 grant.
The take-up of the grant scheme has been greater in recent times - some 45 per cent higher in the four months to April compared with the same time in 2013.
The scheme applies to new homes only, houses or apartments, and is scheduled to be reduced to $10,000 on 1 January 2016.
In Victoria first home buyers qualify for the $10,000 First Home Bonus, but the value of the property must not exceed $750,000. Eligible recipients will also qualify for a reduction of up to 40% on stamp duty payable on first homes purchased below $600,000. 
Queensland's Great Start Grant valued at $15,000 is paid to first home buyers who are buying or building a new home valued up to $750,000.
The ACT offers first home buyers $12,500 when purchasing new, off the plan with the grant is capped at $750,000 purchases.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-national-guide-to-first-home-buyer-grants">Last month Property Observer published a national guide for first home buyers.</a>
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NSW first home buyers can buy up to $750,000 under extended FHOG

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Do you have the renovation chops to make it on TV? More importantly, have you ever thrown a punch? (It will make sense later.)
After watching Adam and Lisa’s triumphant comeback earlier this week with perfect scores all round, some viewers may be considering a crack at the reality TV show. Now’s your chance – applications are open for the third season of House Rules.
Property Observer perused the application forms for the show (don’t worry, there are no plans to don the overalls). We were glad to see that questions are a good deal less comprehensive than <a href="/expert-insights/building/want-to-join-the-block-2015-heres-how-to-apply">those put to contenders for The Block</a>, though we assume the process from couch to televised construction site is a long one.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the show, both you and your team member must be over 18 years old on the day of your application. You both also need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents for at least two years. While it might look like everything happens in a flash on television, contestants need to commit to a filming period of up to three to four months. Those who can’t take time off work need not apply.
Personal info
The application begins with the basics: Each person must fill in their name, contact details, occupation and previous education or work experience. While all the teams this season are partners, it looks like Seven is open to colleagues, siblings or friends competing together as well.
About You
While The Block wants to know your dream job, the highs and lows of your relationship and what brings you to arguments, House Rules is thankfully a little less intrusive. You’re asked to describe how you and you team mate met. You’re also asked who makes the big decisions and who has an eye for design – hopefully Seven is looking to shake up the “men build, women shop” trope built over previous seasons.
Contestants must detail any renovation, building and trades experience they have and explain why they would enter a home reno show.
Seven also casts a careful eye over your history, asking whether you have appeared in any other TV shows and if you have any criminal charges or convictions, or whether you’ve been subject to any non-judicial disciplinary hearings or tribunals.
If you’re prone to a blow up beyond the standard reality TV “I can’t do it anymore!” and storm out, you might be out of the running. The application also asks whether you’ve ever hit anyone in anger or self defense and to provide details if so.
You also have to detail anything that might stop you from physically working on a construction site.
About your home
Of course, it’s not all about you (and your partner). It’s also about your house. While Seven is obviously after a home that’s a <a href="/expert-insights/building/channel-7s-house-rules-returns-for-season-two">little worse for wear</a>, there’s a lot more that goes into picking the perfect makeover subject.
Seven wants to know your address, how many people live at your home (perhaps hoping for another <a href="/expert-insights/building/tasmanias-biggest-bedroomed-home-listings-for-house-rules-brady-bunch-style-families">Brooke and Grant situation</a>) and how long you’ve been living there.
They need to know who owns the property, when the house was purchased, its purchase price and the current mortgage – after all, that’s what the channel will have to cough up if you win. You need to state the current value of the house and how old it is, with details of any renovations.
You will have to describe the current condition of the home – if this season is anything to go by, the shabbier the better.
Then there are the practicalities of filming a television show. Is the property within 100 metres of a school? Is it under a flight path? Are there any restrictions to access on the property? Will your fellow contestants have to contend with asbestos or lead based paint?
You also need to say whether you’ve submitted any development application plans for the property, and describe your design style.
Photos and videos
Then comes the audio/visual component. Applicants need to submit photos of their home’s exterior and just about every room inside. You’re also encouraged to submit a copy of its current layout, along with a proposed house layout. Seven also encourages contestants to submit a video tour of their home, but it’s not compulsory.
Interests and hobbies
At this stage, you’re given a list of hobbies and interests to check off. They range from the obvious (renovation and design, sport, fashion) to the bizarre (medical).
Terms and conditions
No matter how passionate you are about renovating (or having your mortgage paid off), a few details can kill your application before it’s even been submitted.
In particular, you can’t be an employee or associated with any news or media outlet, including a web based media outlet, either in Australia or elsewhere (unfortunately ruling Property Observer out). If you, a family member or anyone living at your house has been an employee, officer, director or agent of Seven or its affiliates in the past two years, you’re also out.
At this stage, Seven also notifies you that you won’t be paid for your audition and that you’ll behave yourself once you’re there.
While you won’t be signing over your life if you sign up for House Rules, you will be signing over your medical details. All contestants must agree to a medical or psychological test including a drug and prohibited substances screen and a communicable disease check-up, with information from the test handed over to the producers.
For those worried about being edited in an ugly light (a common complaint from Steve of The Block: Fans v Faves), you might have good reason:
“The Producers will own the copyright in the Recording and may edit the Recording in any way and may synchronise the audio from the Recording with other visual images and the vision from the Recording with other audio.”
So if you do throw your hat in the ring, don’t complain if you end up looking like a dill in front of your friends.
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House Rules season three: Do you have what it takes?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As the demand for greener and cooler cities increases, new “green infrastructure” technologies, such as green roofs and walls, are coming to the fore. But what are they?
Put simply, green roofs and walls are landscaped building surfaces. Australia has been relatively slow on the uptake of this movement, with much of the available expertise, systems and materials based in the northern hemisphere.
Earlier this year saw the release of <a href="https://www.growinggreenguide.org/" target="_blank">Growing Green Guide</a>: a free guide to green roofs, walls and facades in Victoria – a collaborative local and state government project, which I contributed to.
And at the <a href="https://melbflowershow.com.au/" target="_blank">Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show</a> there was a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.683709495010102.1073741855.230588870322169&amp;type=1" target="_blank">pop-up garden display</a> by the <a href="https://www.land-environment.unimelb.edu.au/" target="_blank">Melbourne School of Land and Environment</a> demonstrating many of the ideas and techniques behind green infrastructure.
Here’s a snapshot and some important design factors.
The impact of green infrastructure
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/43706/area14mp/cjsp4wft-1394603337.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/43706/width237/cjsp4wft-1394603337.jpg" alt=""></a>
A trellis-based facade in Copenhagen, Denmark. John Rayner
Green roofs, as mentioned already, are a landscape constructed on a roof and include a range of different types. They can be a small, container beds two metres deep supporting trees and shrubs, or lightweight configurations of only a few centimetres in depth and more than a hectare in size covered in succulent and herbaceous vegetation.
Green walls fall into two very different types. Living walls support plants through irrigated, vertical containers or felt-based structures fixed to a wall surface. Green facades use climbing plants to provide green coverage over a wall, either directly on the building surface or more commonly using a steel trellis or cable system, with plants grown in-ground or in containers that are supported across the building facade.
The evidence of benefits associated with green roofs and walls is increasing as research efforts (from the <a href="https://www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof/" target="_blank">US</a>, <a href="https://www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">UK</a> and <a href="https://land-environment.unimelb.edu.au/research/research-groups/green-infrastructure-research-group/" target="_blank">Australia</a>) expand across the globe. Green roofs have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778810001453" target="_blank">been shown</a> in a number of studies to reduce building energy budgets, slightly reducing winter heating costs but providing more significant reductions to summer cooling.
A <a href="https://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/zoning__environment/files/pdf/chapter4_2_6.pdf" target="_blank">modelling study</a> in Toronto on the implementation of green roofs across low-rise, flat roofs greater than 350 square-metres concluded that ambient air temperatures across the city could be reduced by up to 2C.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/44246/area14mp/m3tnm6h5-1395194065.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/44246/width668/m3tnm6h5-1395194065.jpg" alt=""></a>
Millenium Park, Chicago. John Rayner
The benefits of retaining stormwater on green roofs are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204605000496">well established</a> and tend to form the basis of many city <a href="https://myplantconnection.com/green-roofs-legislation.php">green roofs tax</a> or incentive schemes, particularly in North America.
Green roofs act like a sponge on a roof, absorbing and storing rainfall and allowing re-use form plants, in turn reducing urban water run-off. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/34/3/1036">One study</a> involving a green roof with a 60mm deep substrate (soil substitute) showed rainfall retention of almost 83%.
Green roofs and walls have been shown to increase property values, partly because people like to view them, but more because they provide more recreational and amenity uses. In one <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12076-010-0046-4">New York study</a> rentals were shown to be 16% higher in buildings with green roofs compared to those without.
The <a href="https://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/resources/2012-green-roof-industry-survey">dramatic growth</a> in green roofs and walls across the US over recent years, despite generally poor economic conditions, suggests demand for these installations will continue.
Why not try this at home?
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/43707/area14mp/2rdj5fd7-1394603510.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/43707/width237/2rdj5fd7-1394603510.jpg" alt=""></a>
Chicago Cultural Centre extensive green roof. John Raynor
Naturally, green roofs and walls need to be planned and designed properly to ensure they are successful. The most significant issue to consider is weight loading. A roof or wall must have the structural capacity for the mass of a green roof, wall or facade installation – both at construction and over time.
Not all plants will succeed on the sometimes hostile and elevated environment of a roof or wall; and vegetation growth is strongly limited by the depth, available volume, air, water, nutrition and environmental conditions present at the site.
Low growing succulents, such as <a href="https://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/images/2012_05/sedum-laconicum-northeast-4.jpg">sedums</a>, and drought-tolerant perennials including many Australian plants, are widely used because of these constraints.
Waterproofing is another key issue and most structures will require additional specialised treatments to ensure the integrity of the structure is not compromised by the installation. Excess water will need to be drained away, particularly from green roofs.
Most modern systems, such as those produced by German green-roof company <a href="https://www.zinco-greenroof.com/EN/greenroof_systems/index.php">Zinco</a>, incorporate lightweight plastic drainage cells to provide this outcome.
<a href="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/44344/area14mp/s34t4mbm-1395270896.jpg"><img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/44344/width668/s34t4mbm-1395270896.jpg" alt=""></a>
The High Line in Manhattan, New York City at West 20th Street. Wikimedia Commons
While the <a href="https://www.growinggreenguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/growing_green_guide_ebook_130214.pdf" target="_blank">Growing Green Guide</a> was written to increase local understanding and skills amongst architectural and design professionals in Melbourne, it is also relevant to a wider Australian audience.
Who knows? Australia might even have its own version of New York’s aerial greenway <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City">High Line</a> one day.
John Rayner is senior lecturer in urban horticulture at the University of Melbourne.
John Rayner receives funding from the Australian and Victorian governments, the City of Melbourne and Melbourne Water and is affiliated with Green Roofs Australasia. He helped to write the 'Growing Green Guide' and is involved in the green infrastrucure display at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>.
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jake-cSmGT7VXVf

Green roofs and walls – a growth area in urban design

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The House Rules contestants Adam and Lisa wanted wallpaper.
But they got more than they bargained for, especially with the controversial choice of bottle top wallpaper in the dining room which seriously clashed the rest of the house.
Today, our property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok discuss wallpaper - and while they don’t mind the odd layer, they certainly don’t favour wallpapering the whole house. 
HE SAID:<img src="/images/2014/03/28/jc-silhouette-7.jpg" style="float: right;">
I’m okay with wallpaper making a statement, but only if used sparingly or as a feature on one wall.  
Generally, wallpaper works best in rooms needing a lift, perhaps a poky second bedroom or a plain bathroom - such as the delightful Vivienne Westwood wallpaper in a bathroom of the Castlecrag mid-century home (pictured below). The property was sold by interior designer Tina De Salis and her husband Edward for $3.01 million in 2012<a href="https://www.randw.com.au/506596/" target="_blank"> through Mark O'Brien of Richardson &amp; Wrench Castlecrag &amp; Northbridge</a>. 
 <img src="/images/2014/05/30/castlecrag-may-30-one.jpg" alt="">
Wallpaper took off in a big way during the 1920s. In this 'Golden Age of Wallpaper', more than 400 million rolls were sold as an affordable and mass-produced alternative to expensive silk and tapestry wall coverings.  
These days, snazzy wallpapers can be an inexpensive solution for jazzing up an original Art Deco bathroom – my preference is the Florence Broadhurst Cockatoos design in black and white (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/05/30/Florence-Broadhurst-Wallpaper-Black-Cockatoo-design-wall-may-30-one.jpg" alt="">
The Sydney designer Greg Natale is a strong advocate for Florence Broadhurst wallpapers which initially shot to prominence during the 1960s and 1970s when used by leading decorators of the day, including the late design doyen, Leslie Walford.  
Featuring rich colours, metallic finishes and vigorous designs, the hand screen-printed wallpaper collection was revived during 1990s by David and Helen Lennie, owners of Signature Prints, who drove the business exponentially while establishing the Florence Broadhurst name internationally. 
<img src="/images/2014/05/30/Florence-Broadhurst-in-Art-Deco-Bathroom-may-30-one.jpg" alt="">
While Natale’s Hollywood-style interiors have been splashed across the pages of interiors magazines including Belle, his distinctive decorating style also featured in Inner West Courier real estate pages during late 2012 when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-five+dock-111968655" target="_blank">Laing + Simmons Drummoyne agent Frank Colacicco was marketing</a> a Five Dock house that subsequently sold for $1.34 million. Love the art deco tiles (above) in the bathroom, but the wallpaper is a little over the top. Ditto the wallpapered bedroom (below) doesn't appeal to me, cushions, bedhead and side tables included.
<img src="/images/2014/05/30/Florence-Broadhurst-wallpaper-in-Five-Dock-house-may-30-one.jpg" alt="">
For Margie Blok's opinion click through to the next page below.
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<img src="/images/2014/03/28/mb-silhouette-6.jpg" style="float: left;">SHE SAID:
In my book, the old adage of “less is more” should be heeded when using wallpaper – and in one or two rooms only.
If House Rules contestants, Lisa and Adam, had mentioned “subtle and calm” instead of “wow statement in every room”, then the renovation of their home could have ended up without that nightmare reveal of clashing wallpapers in the open-plan living and dining areas. 
 <img src="/images/2014/05/30/HOUSE%20RULES%20BOTTLETOP%20WALLPAPER.jpg" alt="">
Photo courtesy of Channel 7.
When it comes to choosing wallpaper, DIY renovators should exercise restraint and err on the side of caution, rather than express gaudy evidence of their personal taste in every room. 
Wallpaper should be used as part of a fundamental framework of an overall decorative scheme. It should form the background of a room, not the foreground. For subtle sophistication and a visually rich effect, opt for classic wallpapers with a strié or grasscloth finish.
Given the extraordinary range of wallpapers on the market, it can be confusing to pick the right style and shade for a particular room. While you might lust after a Florence Broadhurst wallpaper spotted in a magazine or admire the wallpaper in a Kit Kemp-designed Firmdale hotel in London, or, it doesn’t mean these will work well in your home. 
<img src="/images/2014/05/30/Kit%20Kemp%20desinged%20room%20at%20The%20Dorset%20Hotel%20London.jpg" alt="">
If you’re uncertain about the type of wallpaper to use, peruse the <a href="https://www.houzz.com" target="_blank">Houzz website</a> - it’s a terrific visual springboard for decorative and architectural ideas. 
Or engage an interior designer to sort it out for you – especially if you don’t have the time and energy to do the choosing, measuring and ordering associated with wallpapering and redecorating.
OTHER HE SAID/SHE SAID COLUMNS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
<a href="/expert-insights/building/designer-chicken-coops-for-the-fussiest-of-fowls-he-said-she-said">Designer chicken coops for the fussiest of fowls: He Said/She Said</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/investing/a-frame-houses-do-they-work-he-said-she-said">A-Frame houses, do they work? He Said/She Said</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/investing/do-australian-homes-need-the-formal-dining-room-he-said-she-said">Do Australian homes need the formal dining room? He Said/She Said</a>
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The wallpaper house rules in home decorating: He Said/She Said

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Once you’ve made the decision to build a new home, and that itself is an exciting decision, the next choice is finding the right home design.
With many builders and designs out there, it can become overwhelming and confusing.
<ol>
<li>
How long do you plan to live there? The first question you need to identify is the timeframe; how long do you plan to live in the home? If your plan is short-term, you’ll learn very quickly what works well, what you like, and what you don’t like, so next time you can learn from the experience and make the design better to suit your requirements. If you’re designing your forever home, you’ll want to establish the following points. 
</li>
<li>
Children  The age and number of children will determine many factors. In addition to the number of bedrooms, parents of young children might want a rumpus room for the kids to play in, while teenage children might require a quiet space away from living areas to study. You can ‘zone’ the kids are of the home, or have a ‘kids wing’. This enables you to close doors to hide the mess or dull the noise. <img src="/images/2014/05/23/Kids%20wing.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
</li>
<li>
Location of bedrooms  Do you want the master bedroom at the front of the home or at the rear? Do you want your room to be close to the kids? You’ll need to think about the proximity of bedrooms to the bathroom, laundry noise, living room noise and access to your room. 
</li>
<li>
Versatile design  This is a home that will adapt as you need it to. Using the above example, a spare room can be used as a rumpus and converted into a study as the kids get older. By the time your children are young adults (being realistic, kids are staying at home a lot longer these days) it can be set up as a separate living room. 
</li>
<li>
Lifestyle  Depending on your lifestyle to what features you have in the home. If you’re avid movie fans, you might consider a home theatre, or if you love entertaining, an alfresco or formal lounge could be ideal. If you run a business from home, a home office located near the entry would be perfect. <img src="/images/2014/05/23/Alfresco.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
</li>
<li>
Kitchen  Something you need to consider before finalising your kitchen is the infamous kitchen work triangle. The triangle is made up of the distance between the cooktop, sink and refrigerator. These three elements need to be close together, but not too close. Another thing you need to consider with your kitchen design is where you will store everything. A good way to work through it is to imaging dishing up dinner, unloading the dishwasher and baking a cake.  <img src="/images/2014/05/23/Kitchen.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
</li>
<li>
Block of land Your house must be suited to the block of land. If you have a narrow inner city allotment, your options are more restricted compared to a rural acreage block. In addition, if the land has a slope, you may need a split-level design. Every land estate has different design requirements; in some areas your front door must be set in front of your garage. 
</li>
<li>
Backyard  Depending on what you would like to achieve with a backyard will impact the size of the block of land you need and the size of the home. Keen gardeners, entertainers or people with pets may want a larger backyard than those who don’t spend much time outdoors. 
</li>
<li>
Think about the furniture you currently own  Many people like the look of a home, however when it comes to moving they realise there isn’t a place for their antique hall table or the room configuration doesn’t allow room for their couch. Imagine where everything you currently own will go. <img src="/images/2014/05/23/Furniture.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
</li>
<li>
Storage Builders and designers are very savvy when it comes to incorporating storage into your home. There is no wasted space with every nook and cranny being used wisely. You may consider extending the garage to allow extra room for storing bicycles or a boat. You also may want to add extra storage inside your home for toys, linen or coats. 
</li>
<li>
Study/computer nook  If you don’t want a complete study, but you still want somewhere to store your computer or charge your laptop, a study/computer nook is a great compromise. It is efficient use of space and provides the perfect place to store all your electronic devices and mail.  <img src="/images/2014/05/23/Study%20nook.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> 
</li>
<li>Don’t lose sight of the goal</li>
</ol>
Keep referring back to why you’re moving in the first place. If your reason for moving was to downsize, make sure you don’t get caught up in the design process and end up with a bigger home than you started with.
Similarly, if it’s an investment, consider the versatility of the home to suit a wide audience, so remember your audience and don’t take over with ‘this is what I would want’.
Natalie O’Shea is a designer at <a href="https://hotondo.com.au/" target="_blank">Hotondo Homes </a>and has been designing homes for over 15 years. Hotondo Homes is an Australian owned family business that was established in 1979.
Images courtesy of Hotondo Homes.
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12 tips to help choose the perfect home design

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It seems Australians place a lot of value on the humble handyman, with the market for small home repairs and maintenance set to grow to $881.9 million in 2018-19.
And it’s the <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/franchising/32446-the-seven-essential-elements-of-respect-in-a-successful-franchise-relationship">franchise companies</a> operating in the sector that are reaping the benefits.
According to a report published by IBISWorld this month, the local tradesman and handyman franchise industry currently generates revenues of $881.9 million, with profits totalling $418.9 million.
The industry has been growing at a rate of 3.2% since 2009, with annual growth set to chug along at a rate of 2.2% per year.
The sector employs close to 8000 Australians, with well-known brands such as Jim’s Group, VIP Home Services and Hire a Hubby the leaders when it comes to market share.
According to IBISWorld, the sector has blossomed due to the increasing number of Australians who lack the time and expertise to perform tasks around the home.
The sector has also benefitted from the steady rise in the number of households across Australia during the past five years and growth in capital expenditure on private properties.
Grey Army, a handyman business that predominately employs people over the age of 40, is one company to have benefited from the recent growth in the sector.
General manager Greg Miles told SmartCompany the business started 21 years ago, using sub-contractors to deliver “trustworthy and reliable” home maintenance to older Australians who are looking for old-fashioned service.
The business began franchising around 10 years ago and now has 75 individual franchises operating across Melbourne, with other master franchise agreements in place in the other states.
And while the business has “ebbed and flowed” over its lifetime, Miles says the company has experienced consistent growth over recent years.
Miles says many of the people who approach Grey Army to open a franchise are from all walks of life, and don’t necessarily come from a trade background, with the economic downturn of a few years ago influencing many older workers who had lost their jobs to look to operating a handyman franchise as a way of securing their future.
Miles says the market handyman franchise market is getting more competitive, although there are many “fringe dwellers” on the edges of the industry who are trying to operate their own business.
For the Grey Army, Australia’s ageing population is a major influence, with the company’s franchisees and its clients generally falling into the Baby Boomer generation.
“But it’s the same with any industry that is growing, there will always be more people looking to enter the industry,” says Miles.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.SmartCompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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