Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

Roberts Co has entered a new phase of growth following its acquisition by Arada, one of the world’s fastest-growing property developers in Australia.

The acquisition is supported by a $50 million capital injection into Roberts Co’s Australian balance sheet, consisting of the previously announced $25 million recapitalisation and an additional $25 million in new funding from Arada.

This investment strengthens Roberts Co’s financial position, stabilises operations, and provides the foundation for strategic expansion beyond its New South Wales base, with a focus on new opportunities in Queensland, including the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions.

With Arada’s international resources and financial backing, Roberts Co will broaden its portfolio across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, reinforcing its strong market position in New South Wales and setting itself to capture growth in one of Australia’s most dynamic construction markets.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said Roberts Co has a proud Australian heritage, an outstanding delivery record, and a strong reputation for collaboration with clients and partners.

"By combining this expertise with Arada’s global scale and financial capacity, we are creating a platform for sustained growth in the Australian market,"&nbsp;Alkhoshaibi said.

“Our $50 million capital injection, including new funds from Arada, underlines our commitment to both stabilise and expand Roberts Co’s operations, particularly into the fast-growing Queensland market. We see significant potential in South-East Queensland’s pipeline and are confident Roberts Co is well placed to deliver lasting value for clients and communities.”

George Kostas, CEO of Roberts Co, said Queensland, and particularly South-East Queensland, is one of the most active and opportunity-rich regions in Australia right now.

"The lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will bring unprecedented investment across housing, transport, and infrastructure. Roberts Co is eager to play a major role in that transformation and secure a meaningful share of this fast-growing market.”

Arada pours more funds into Roberts Co, flags expansion into South East Queensland construction market

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Architect Andrew Verri of Jigsaw Housing has won the ACT Emerging Architect Prize at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 ACT Architecture Awards.
The awards were held on Saturday night at the National Arboretum in Canberra.
<img alt="verrijune24one" src="/images/stories/2013/06/verrijune24one.jpg" width="370" height="553">
"Andrew’s commitment to smaller, smarter, sustainable homes is providing significant leadership within the architectural profession and the residential construction industry more broadly," the jury said.

Verri has been an active member of the Australian Institute of Architects for over 10 years, serving on its sustainability and practice committees.
Jigsaw Housing was established three years ago and also won the Clean Green Category and Business of the Year in the Canberra Business Point Awards last year.
His company also won the award for Environmental Innovation at the 2012 Sustainable Cities Awards and was voted in the Top 50 Your Future Home Sustainable Building Leaders 2012 by the general public.
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Jigsaw Housing's Andrew Verri wins emerging architect prize at 2013 ACT Architecture Awards

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The recent baby boom in the City of Melbourne has meant existing community facilities are unable to cope with demand.
Interestingly, the boom is largely attributed to the CBD. If there was ever proof of the shift towards urbanised living: this has to be it.
New facilities are being planned to cater for the unexpected number of new babies in the municipality, covering the CBD and a number of Melbourne's inner suburbs. The facilities will provide postnatal care, and venues forparent programs and play groups.
It is well documented that a concentration of student populations can act as a precursor for urban renewal, which in turn provides the catalyst for others, such as single professionals and young urbanites to follow. The recent baby boom shows that new families are the next wave of central city apartment dwellers.
Whilst raising a family in the suburbs may be less expensive, for many this scenario is no longer the preferred option. With congestion bearing heavily on liveability and making for expensive and time-consuming car usage, the better option is to reside closer to the CBD.
As a result, diverse medium and high-rise apartment developments should be a focus, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, to manage both an increase in population and changes in housing preferences.
The future of housing architecture will need to be configured for a diverse range of households and consider demographic aspects such as age and culture. If we also believe affordability – in terms of both purchase price and ongoing cost of running – is a long-term consideration for a family, then we will require more from less as the size of dwellings reduces.
Future housing demand will necessitate greater flexibility in the design of small apartments, at a workable cost level, appealing to diverse household types. A pre-industrial era village or traditional old-fashioned neighbourhood offers each of its residents a chance to develop the network of bonds amongst each other that underpins a healthy community. In this setting, residents can work from home (65% of new businesses start in the home), study, raise a family, house extended families, retire or just hang out.
We will see vertical neighbourhoods consisting of a range of apartments attractive to a range of occupants. There may be roof top gardens for growing food or practicing tai-chi and book clubs or dining clubs can form, catering for the traditional community feel of earlier low rise developments.
While apartments as small as 25 to 30 square metres provide an entry point for home ownership and can accommodate an elderly relative, adolescent or adult child, apartments of 55 square metres can be configured to accommodate a living area, kitchen, bathroom and two other flexible spaces – one being a bedroom and the other possibly being a nursery enabling the families looking to live inner-city.
What this suggests is that the planning policies for our cities must have an inherent ability to dissect and discern direction and flexibly respond to challenges of social change and increasing diversity.
We as a society are changing too rapidly to recycle or rebrand conventional solutions or resort to stereotype prejudices about what constitutes appropriate housing standards, particularly when it comes to apartments and flats.
New development stemming from population growth requires an open mind by governments and planners. Higher density developments are one basic solution to restrict the waste of arable land, reliance on cars as primary transport and provide better-networked communities.
Other forms of inner city and central apartments have been generally accepted and are very much a part of the increasingly diverse society we now have. The fear of density remains palpable in determining planning policy.
Whilst it has been widely accepted that traditional two parent households will be marginally less over the next two decades compared with the number of single households, predicted to soar by 63.7%, little has been forecast in Australia of apartments being a desired family home.
Architects, developers and planners need to recognise this as an emerging residential typology. The apartment-as-family-home is part of Melbourne’s future housing mix.
Rob Stent is a director Melbourne-based architecture, interior and urban design practice Hayball and is a past president of the Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. Among the buildings he has designed is Lend Lease’s completed Serrata apartment building in Docklands, one of Melbourne's first apartment buildings to achieve a four-star Green Star rating.
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robstent-hjZyKHkPah

New high-rise apartment projects part of Melbourne's residential mix: Rob Stent

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The popularity of home renovation reality television shows like <a target="_blank" href="/news">Channel Seven's House Rules</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-gap-narrows-between-the-block-sky-high-and-house-rules-theblock9-houserules_on7/2013060662039">Channel Nine's The Block</a> are clearly having an impact on homeowners but a new survey has found that the vast majority of homeowners wish to renovate to improve their quality of living not to sell and make a profit.
Two out of five home owners (43%) surveyed by Mortgage Choice said they are planning to renovate their homes.
However, of these more than three quarters (77.3%) gave as their reason “to improve my quality of living”. 
Less than a quarter (22.7%) said they were renovating to sell their home and make a profit with around 15% planning to renovate to accommodate the needs of their growing families.
Hardly any plan to renovate to accommodate grandparents or relatives.
 
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="491" valign="top">
Why are you planning to renovate? 
</td>
<td width="113" valign="top">
Results
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
To improve my quality of living
</td>
<td width="113">
77.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
For profit
</td>
<td width="113">
22.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
To accommodate growing children
</td>
<td width="113">
9.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
To accommodate a new child
</td>
<td width="113">
4.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
To accommodate grandparents/relatives moving into the same
</td>
<td width="113">
0.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Other
</td>
<td width="113">
6.3%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Source: Mortgage Choice
Reflecting the improved lifestyle motivations behind renovating, the kitchen and the bathroom are the areas of the house to get makeovers first, the survey found followed by outdoor entertaining areas and the living room.
 
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="491" valign="top">
What area/room will you renovate first
</td>
<td width="113" valign="top">
Results
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Kitchen
</td>
<td width="113">
28.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Bathroom
</td>
<td width="113">
27.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Outdoor entertainment area
</td>
<td width="113">
15.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Living room
</td>
<td width="113">
10.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Bedroom
</td>
<td width="113">
6.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Laundry
</td>
<td width="113">
3.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Study
</td>
<td width="113">
1.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="491">
Other
</td>
<td width="113">
8.1%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: Mortgage Choice
 The survey also found that the majority of those planning renovations (53%) plan to make major cosmetic renovations with no structural changes such as re-tiling or replacing kitchen cupboards with just over quarter (27%) planning major structural changes such as increasing room space or change the layout of their home.
Most renovation budgets are under $50,000.
The results of the Mortgage Choice 2013 Homeowners’ Intention Survey was based on the responses of over 1,000 Australian mortgage holders, with 444 answering 'yes' to the question: "Are you planning to renovate your home?"
“While renovations can potentially increase the value of a property, our survey results show that the purpose for many Australians is to improve their lifestyle by customising their home to suit them,” said Mortgage Choice spokesperson Belinda Williamson
“This lifestyle focus was further highlighted by the fact that of those Australians intending to renovate, 15% were looking to renew their outdoor entertainment area first. This was among the top three most popular areas to renovate and followed upgrading the kitchen and bathroom at 28% and 27% of respondents, respectively.”
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Pleasure not profit the reason for most home renovations: Mortgage Choice survey

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Classic Constructions, Melinda Boag Design and Paul Tilse Architect won the HIA 2013 Australian display home of the year.
The display home, Aston, is located 3.5 kilometres southwest of the Canberra CBD in the suburb of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Yarralumla</a>.
<a target="_blank" href="https://theaston.com.au/">The Aston's </a>formal entrance at 15 Abbott Street, Yarralumla certainly sets the tone and character for this elegantly appointed home.
The home features ironbark polished timber floorboards, floor to ceiling bi-fold doors and bluestone walls at the entrance to the lounge.
Aston also includes a Sonos integrated sound system with wi-fi control throughout the house and a Blumotion system is integrated into the kitchen.
The property, which was formally opened for inspections last November, also boasts an outdoor pool and landscaped gardens.
What the judges said:
This home has exceptional attention to detail and carefully blends multiple materials to provide a distinctive home. Featuring integrated internal living areas with external entertaining areas, the free-?owing open plan design is an entertainer’s delight.
The Aston was also the winner of the HIA Kitchen up to $30,000 
Classic Constructions is a family owned business, established in 1987 by Michael and George Tanchevski.
Melinda Boag Design was established in 1993 and is a Canberra-based Interior Design business.
2013 Australian display home of the year finalists:
Metricon, Hunter
Sarpel Homes Pty Ltd, New South Wales
Martin Locke Homes, North Queensland
Abode New Homes Pty Ltd, Northern Territory
Ryan Designer Homes, Queensland
Precision Homes (Australia) Pty Ltd, South Australia
Hotondo Homes, Tasmania
Englehart Homes, Victoria
Ross Grif?n Homes, Western Australia
</body></html>

ntrotman-Et3xWpamVh

Aston in Yarralumla wins for Classic Constructions in HIA 2013 Australian display home of the year

<html><body>
Amy and Sean, the renovation rookies paid $365,000 for their Brisbane home which is being renovated this week on the Channel 7 series, House Rules.
And their mortgage has been revealed as just $300,000, the smallest among the five competition couples, with NSW yet to be advised.
The previous smallest mortgage was Jane and Plinio in Hobart who paid $355,000 and have a $315,000 mortgage or prize at stake in the Channel 7 home renovation stress series.
The Hobart buyers had the cheapest house in the series hosted by Johanna Griggs. 
The 1960 Nundah, Brisband three bedroom house on a 405 square metre block sold through Go Gecko estate agent Renee Rennie in June last year.
It has 90 square metres of space.
Set nine kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, it was listed with $350,000 plus hopes.  It sold within nine days of its initial marketing with the title held in Sean's name.
RP Data gives <a target="_blank" href="/news">the suburb's median house price as $585,000</a>, having gone up 6.8% over the past year.
Property Observer reported this week that <a target="_blank" href="/news">renovation delights</a> are all the go in Brisbane this year.
The state-versus-state renovation series, from the makers of My Kitchen Rules, delivers exiting true home renovations.
The six contestant couples have put their entire home on the line promising an emotional return to their new homes after the seven-day renovation.
The teams have to work independently on their own zone within each house but they also have to work as a team to ensure each room complements the other when it's completed. The prize is having their mortgage wiped completely.
The six teams competing are: <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802165/michelle-steve-nsw/"></a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802165/michelle-steve-nsw/">Michelle &amp; Steve</a> (Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales) <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802279/nick-chris-vic/"></a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802347/amy-sean-qld/">Amy &amp; Sean</a> (Nundah, Queensland)
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802523/carly-leighton-sa/">Carly &amp; Leighton</a> (Warradale, South Australia) <a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802965/jemma-ben-wa/"></a>
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802965/jemma-ben-wa/">Jemma &amp; Ben</a> (Melville, Western Australia)
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16803037/jane-plinio-tas/">Jane &amp; Plinio</a> (New Town, Tasmania)
<a target="_blank" href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/teams/article/-/16802279/nick-chris-vic/">Nick and Chris</a> (Preston, Victoria)
Each of the six House Rules teams hand over the keys to their homes and allow their competitors free reign to transform their house, so the host Johanna Griggs expects lots of passion and pride in the way teams tackle the renovations.
"It's a bunch of likeable Australians with amazing back stories," Griggs said.
The highest mortgage, and therefore potential prize, is the $545,000 mortgage of the Perth newlyweds Jemma Blenkinsop, who runs a spray-tan business and builder, Ben Van Ryt.
They were first-home buyers in late 2011, but with the Perth property market the way it is, they couldn't afford to renovate their 1950s Melville home <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/house-rules-judging-with-%24545000-perth-mortgage-repayment-reward-possibility-on-the-line-houserules-theblock9/2013052061490">that cost $555,000</a>.
Adelaide's Carly and Leighton have a $450,000 mortgage secured to buy a 1957 sandstone house in Warradale.
The South Australian couple actually <a target="_blank" href="/news">paid $450,000 for the house </a>which had been listed with $485,000 hopes in May 2012.
Nick and Chris, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/preston-house-rules-renovation-with-%24524000-mortgage-after-%24555000-purchase/2013052961771">the Channel 7 Melbourne House Rules brothers bought their Californian bungalow in Preston</a> for $555,000 last August.
It comes with a mortgage of $524,ooo which will be wiped off the 1930s bungalow which went to July 2012 Ray White auction without success, subsequently being listed at $580,000.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Smallest mortgage rests with Amy and Sean, the Nundah renovation rookies in House Rules, Brisbane Queensland

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Retro kitchens are proving to be a hit with Queensland property hunters, with a 1950s home in Tarragindi being snappily sold recently for $534,000.
The home (pictured above) retains many original features including built-in cabinetry and high ceilings with decorative cornering, but the stand out room is the mint green kitchen. 
Situated on 607 square metres, the three-bedroom home was purchased in 1984 for $76,000.
<a href="https://www.remax.com.au/DisplayProperty.asp?guid=%7bA2F5BE43-0FFD-4CF0-B4BA-36DA4321E7B1%7d" target="_blank">Jerri Harrison-Taylor of Re/Max</a> says the property sold within a week of being listed and she was inundated with calls in the brief time it was on the market.
Not too far away in the suburb of Annerley is an original workers cottage with a blue and white tiled retro kitchen.
The Real Estate Insitute of Queensland's Nicola McDougall <a href="/news">has written on Property Observer today</a> about the appeal of retro kitchens to potential buyers.
Located on Prince Street, the home (pictured below) was built around the turn of the 20th Century and has an asking price of $450,000.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/06/june11annerley]}
It sits on a 412-square-metre allotment and includes three bedrooms and one bathroom.
It is listed through <a href="https://www.reiq.com/House/for-sale/annerley/2504310.aspx" target="_blank">Chris Warren of Re/Max Colonial.</a>
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Queenland retro kitchens a hot option as 1950s Tarragindi house sells

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We’ve long been told that when it comes to selling your home, less is in fact more. That is, your fascination with the colour orange may help you feel all warm and fuzzy every time you open the front door but is probably not everyone’s idea of schmick interior design.
Personally I love orange, and red, and any other bright colour that screams look at me, look at me. I have also, as yet, not attempted to sell said property so the proof may well be in the pudding or hopefully any future would-be buyer will also be a tad colour-blind.
A number of news stories of late, however, appear to show that the tide is turning, and <a target="_blank" href="/news">what is old is actually becoming new and fashionable again</a>.
A movement which appears to me to be in-line with the current fascination of all things 50s, including beatnik fashion, is the increasing popularity of original properties from times gone by – sans renovation. Indeed, it appears the more original the better.
And according to a recent story about a property in <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/real-estate-agents-reporting-strong-interest-in-homes-with-original-features/story-fnii5v70-1226650491793" target="_blank">Brisbane,</a> demand for retro properties is definitely on the rise.
Jerri Harrison-Taylor, from RE/MAX Executives in Coorparoo, said she had been swamped with phone calls since the latest retro offering – a brick cavity house in Tarragindi – was listed. It sold in a week.
And one of the potential buyers said it was the “awesome” white-and-mint green kitchen that was one its main selling features. I completely agree.
I must admit I have long desired a property with black and white tiled floors and a claw bath and a servant for that matter.
My current abode has fabulous original parquetry floors which, just like the colour orange, make me smile every time I get home from work. Who knew that flooring could make you so damn happy? Or perhaps I am a little odd or just easily pleased.
I’ve always thought that part of the beauty of the Brisbane property market is its abundance of homes from yesteryear, especially within the inner-city precinct. And a new property listing on <a href="https://www.reiq.com/House/for-sale/annerley/2504310.aspx" target="_blank">reiq.com </a>for a home in Annerley certainly ticks all of the boxes of retro-cool. In fact, the kitchen goes even one better than I could possibly imagine and has blue-and-white tiled floors, complete with a very fetching red-trim.
Perhaps this renewed fascination with our architectural history has something to do with the current fast-pace of modern life or maybe it’s recognition of the superb workmanship that was part and parcel of homes of a particular bygone era.
Either way I believe your home should reflect your personality and what makes you smile – regardless of supposedly acceptable notions of contemporary colour palates. I reckon you worry about its saleability much later when, and a very big if, you ever decide to sell.
Nicola McDougall is the <a href="https://reiqblog.com/" target="_blank">REIQ</a>’s executive manager of corporate affairs.
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nmcdougall-hv3JvhUJmd

Your home should reflect your personality: Nicola McDougall

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Renovation shows are proving to be a hit with Australian viewers, with The Block remaining popular in its seventh season and Channel 7's new House Rules.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/house-rules-the-new-addictive-reality-television-show-on-the-block-renovates-for-keeps/2013051261200">DIY shows</a> are likely to have influenced and encouraged homeowners to give their own kitchen that lick of paint or change the tiles in their bathrooms.
Almost 5,000 renovations were listed on <a href="https://www.serviceseeking.com.au/" target="_blank">ServiceSeeking.com.au</a> in the last month, with a high level of renovation activity in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
ServiceSeeking.com.au gives customers an idea of how much money home renovation costs to possibly avoid overpriced quotes from tradespeople.
The website allows you to post your job, then sit back and wait for quotes to roll in.
Exterior painting is the cheapest trade service listed on the site, with an average quote of $40 per hour including paint.
Sydney accounted for almost half of the jobs, with <a href="/news">Blacktown</a> in Western Sydney taking out the renovation hot spot.
The median house price in Blacktown is $390,000 and the median unit price is $301,350.
The Hills Shire region took out the next two spots with <a href="/news">Baulkham Hills</a> and <a href="/news">Castle Hills</a>.
In Brisbane, <a href="/news">Mount Gravatt</a> listed the most renovations, followed by the Southeastern suburb <a href="/news">Eight Mile Plains</a> and <a href="/news">Morningside</a>. 
<a href="/news">Glen Waverley</a> topped Victoria’s list of DIY suburbs, followed by <a href="/news">Hampton Park</a> and <a href="/news">Mitcham</a>.
The average renovation was listed around $3,500.
Gina Rushton of ServiceSeeking.com.au says majority of the renovators on their site are part of “the Bunnings market”; that is, homeowners who have braved DIY where they can then call in the experts for the more difficult task. 
“It is the age of the DIY renovator of the Bunnings market; renovators who try to only need the experts for areas in which they don’t have the tools, skills or know-how.
“It isn’t uncommon for our builders to be called into unfinished homes where people have failed to do it all themselves, possibly inspired by shows like The Block.
“Our business have told us that they spend a lot of time completing half-done renovations,” says Rushton.
Allan Bayad from Handyman-Tastic says he would much rather start from new rather than trying to fix stuff-ups.
“If you or a mate start a renovation on your own and can’t complete it, then expect a trade to come to the rescue, then prepare to pay the full price," he says.
"Nine out of 10 households usually do it wrong. It’s not easy trying to fix stuff-ups."
Kitchens and bathrooms were the most popular renovation over the six months, followed by new floors and paint jobs.
The top eight renovating suburbs for New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria are as follows:
NSW
1. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Blacktown</a>
2. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Castle Hill</a>
3. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Baulkham Hills</a>
4. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Surry Hills</a>
5. <a target="_blank" href="/news">West Pennant Hills</a>
6. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Marrickville</a>
7. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Dee Why</a>
8. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Cherrybrook</a>
QLD
1. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mount Gravatt East</a>
2. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Eight Mile Plains</a>
3. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Morningside</a>
4. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Coorparoo</a>
5. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Annerley</a>
6. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Aspley</a>
7. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Capalaba</a>
8. <a target="_blank" href="/news">The Gap</a>
VIC
1. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Hampton Park</a>
2. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Glen Waverley</a>
3. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mitcham</a>
4. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Reservoir</a>
5. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mount Waverley</a>
6. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Bentleigh East</a>
7. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Craigieburn</a>
8. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Yarraville</a>
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Blacktown tops renovation nation as reality shows influencing the Bunnings market

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The Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford has been relisted for sale after its contents were sold off and its been restyled on an estimated $10,000 package.
The decluttering of the Princeton, Double Bay penthouse may help its sale giving buyers some relief from the distinctive Walford style.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/oct3penthouse]}
It was initially listed for sale with $4.95 million-plus hopes through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs, but now the apartment comes with a $4 million-plus hopes through Christies inconjunction with Paul Biller and Brad Caldwell-Eyles at 1st City-Hasemer+Caldwell.Eyles.
It has been listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
<a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/570519/" target="_blank">The penthouse </a>with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco Double Bay complex with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
The apartment now has furniture installed by Kris and Greg Leveson who were among the pioneers of the Sydney property styling industry some 25 years ago after the then antique dealer couple discovered the business opportunity when they were selling their own family home.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may21walford]}
The Princeton interiors previously showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just six years ago after an international career spanning five decades. The bones of the apartment remain - polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors - and Walford devotees would see  a few remnants amid the decor.
The funeral of the doyen of Sydney interior decorators Leslie Walford was held at St Marks, Darling Point in February 2012 after he died peacefully at the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/walford.jpg">The Society of Interior Designers suggests Walford was one of the best-known figures in Australia in interior design having worked at the top levels of design for several decades, not only in Australia but also in Europe, Asia and the UK.
His business, Walford and Horgan Interiors – regarded by many as a byword for excellence in design – had many wealthy clients that included the media tycoons Reg Grundy and the Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer families.
He was described this week as “the man who 70 years ago began the slide away from drab interiors filled with Victorian brown furniture,” by John Furphy at the Australian Art Sales Digest.
"A good antique can be more of a friend than an object that doesn't have a past," Walford repeatedly suggested.
Surrounded by an eclectic collection of furniture and artwork, he celebrated his 85th birthday in January 2012 at his Double Bay penthouse, but abandoned his regular sojourn to <a href="/news">his Sri Lanka villa</a> due to his deterioriating health.
His entertaining tips were published in <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&amp;dat=19830206&amp;id=gp1WAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=BucDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=6419,1954543" target="_blank">a 1983 interview piece</a>.
His funeral notice acknowledged he was the dear friend of Richard (Dick) Keep and of Colin Davies.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
When he was two years old Walford’s father died and his mother took him from Sydney to England for his schooling, and from there he went to Paris to study design.
It was in Paris that he developed a passion for period furniture, returning to Australia aged 27. In 1957 he established an antiques and decorating business in Double Bay's Knox Street.
Walford, who was proud his parents had convict ancestors, grew up with a love of Sydney.
He was a foundation member of the Society of Interior Designers and its national president from 1965 to 1966 and again from 1978 to 1979.
He was very much tapped into the Sydney social set – and for many years wrote <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ef1jAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=JOcDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=1549,8720788&amp;dq=leslie+walford&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">a weekly Sunday paper column</a>, Our Town.
The bits and pieces that he’s sold to clients over the years turns up occasionally at auction, such as a <a href="https://www.mossgreen.com.au/auctions/artwork-detail.asp?idImage=3267" target="_blank">1957 acquisition</a> of an American feather picture of the eagle and flag.
In recognition of his contribution to the profession Walford was made a life fellow of the Design Institute of Australia, and in 2008 he was inducted into the DIA Design Hall of Fame.
Some of his collection was auctioned on his retirement in 2007 by auctioneer Mossgreen.
The contents of the Walford apartment were sold at another auction through Mossgreen last November. The sales tally suggest around $540,000 was grossed, including the buyer's premium, from about 400 household items.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford1.jpg">
The items represented five decades of accumulation by the noteworthy decorator to old Sydney money – and some later arrivistes.
They were listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
<a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/570519/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The penthouse </a>with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco building with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
The interiors showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just five years ago after an international career spanning five decades.
It was built with polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The initial Double Bay purchase cost $125,000 in 1975 from Sabrina Van der Linden.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford4.jpg">
The apartment, which comes with 500 square metres of space, was consolidated with another purchase in 1978 from the photographer Ann Riddell.
Born to parents who celebrated with two bottles of 1918 Bollinger, after his 1927 birth, Walford was sent off at the age of 11 to England. (The champers bottles, below, went unsold with a $100-150 estimate.)
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford3.jpg">
After time in the British Army, he studied interior design in Paris. He had self-deprecating pretensions, often joking he was conceived at the Ritz. Then hastening to add it was the <a href="https://www.photosau.com.au/BlueMountains/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=004039" target="_blank">Ritz Leura, Blue Mountains guesthouse </a>rather than the Paris hotel one he loved so much.
His penthouse apartment ceiling was painted with a bamboo and foliage pattern and suspended from this was a large Fortuny silk lantern from Venice.
"This traditional Chinoiserie effect is rather lovely in European decorating," Walford once told then SMH Sydney Magazine home decor columnist Margie Blok.
She was among the auction crowd that watched the Fortuny fabric tiered ceiling light (below) fetch $3,172.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford2.jpg">
Among the dearest items was a pair of Louis XV carved walnut fauteuil, signed Blanchard, French 18th-century armchairs that fetched $26,840.
A pair of Italian Blackamoor figures of two Nubian men, 19th-century, sold for $23,180.
A 19th-century French white porcelain and gilt bronze mounted elephant and pagoda form clock century fetched $7,320.
One of the cheapies appeared to be the Ross Watson painting, James II and youth, 1986 oil on canvas which fetched $3,416. His works are in significant private collections including Sir Elton John, James Wolfensohn and the British peer Lord Cholmondeley. <a href="https://www.rosswatson.com/index" target="_blank">Watson</a> was a 1990 Moet &amp; Chandon finalist.
The Historic Houses Trust (HHT) has become the home of some papers from the archive of the late Leslie Walford.
The Sydney Morning Herald's then Title Deeds columnist Margie Blok delivered a tribute at Walford's funeral.
"To a sparkling and beautiful star.
"He was the saviour of the most ordinary dinner party, for he could weave wonderful tales and rivet an audience," she said.
</body></html>

Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford relisted after re-styling

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september21pettit]}
Ken Woolley's latest Modernist Pettit + Sevitt project home, built recently with 21st Century thinking, was withdrawn from its weekend auction.
Initially listed in 2011 with $1.18 million plus hopes, it was most recently marketed, and remains with revised $850,000 plus expectations.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-kellyville-nsw-2155/152446">The five-bedroom, two-bathroom Lowline house project</a> by the veteran architect was built in the Sydney hills district suburb of Kellyville at the request of Val Sevitt, the widow of company co-founder Ron Sevitt.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pettitandsevitt.com.au/">It is three decades after the original building company closed its doors</a>. The original 1960s house design (pictured below) has been updated to meet modern building requirements.
<img height="273" width="400" src="/images/stories/2013/05/pettitandsevittmay1one.jpg" alt="pettitandsevittmay1one">
Pettit + Sevitt relaunched in 2009 under the directorship of Ron Sevitt’s widow, Val Sevitt, and her children, Colin Sevitt and Carol Perry.

At one stage Pettit + Sevitt was building 400 of Lowline houses a year with about 3,500 built in the 1960s and '70s.

McGrath agent Mark Vinogradov has the listing on 26 Country Club Circuit.
Image courtesy of the Powerhouse Museum.
</body></html>

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