154 Springvale Road Nunawading, VIC, 3131
House 10 was a new build first for the Three Birds Renovations trio. Collaborating with Three Birds team member, Sophie Bell, the team, who are renowned for their Reno school, suburban Australian home transformations and fresh take on modern, practical and magazine-worthy living, took on the challenge of turning Sophie's pocket of land in the Byron Bay Hinterland into the ultimate family dream home.
Combining fresh minimalism with crisp, neutral interiors and soft lines, Three Birds has created a truly remarkable, unique home that oozes style and organic sophistication. Leading the trend of Mediterranean-esque design for 2020, the country property features plenty of over-sized windows, framing the breath-taking surrounds and flooding the home in natural light. However, with so many windows came the challenge of maintaining privacy, security and regulating temperatures in an air-conditioner-free home, without compromising the look, feel and style. This challenge needed to be met strategically, with long-term living in mind for Sophie and her young family.
Stepping through the front door and into the spectacular art gallery-style entry, a broad, 1.8-metre-wide hallway opens up into the beautiful, bright, oversized entertaining space at the rear of the home.
"Sophie and her husband are big entertainers, and wanted to ensure they had the space for lots of family and friends," said Lana. "The open plan area seamlessly blends kitchen, dining and living areas together, with a breakfast nook in the corner for those casual moments."
The open staircase sees the lower steps extended to under the stairwell, creatively utilised as an art-like shelving unit, displaying bespoke statement pieces. The back-to-back sofas positioned in the centre of the room brings in a social, hotel-like feel, enabling people to sit and face any direction of their choosing; the kitchen area, dining space, fire place or stunning garden aspect. The wooden floors transition naturally to the outdoor terrace, with a wall of glass folding doors that can be simply pushed open to create an effortless flow between the outdoor al fresco area and inside living space.
"The whole house is built around entertaining!" says Lana, "We chose Luxaflex® LumiShade® for the living space. They're just so beautiful and whimsy, and really flexible, too!"
A contemporary take on a classic window covering, Luxaflex® LumiShade® combines the versatility of a vertical blind with the elegant appeal of a soft window furnishing. Ideal for indoor-outdoor living, the shades allow guests to easily walk through the individual fabric vanes whether they are opened or closed, and provide a smooth flow outside. Featuring the premium Luxaflex®; EDGE Vertical track system and soft sheer fabric, LumiShade® provides the perfect balance of style, durability and child safety features - ideal for a stylish young family.
With the main living and dining area reserved for family time, focusing on entertaining and bringing people together, Sophie and the Three Birds team decided against putting a TV in the central living space. Instead, a cozy media room was created, complete with double sided fireplace that looks through to the main living area.
"The media room was a genius decision for modern family living," said Erin. "It is just a gorgeous little space, that is really snug and warm, with glass sliding doors that lead outside to the terrace and garden."
Separated by beautiful double glass sliding doors, the media room was the only room to feature a TV. It was important to be able to block out light in order to create different scenes within the room, making it multi-purpose as a second living space, too. Three Birds chose Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® Shades, providing discreet blinds that could be recessed to open up the room to the outside. Paired with Luxaflex® PowerView® Motorisation, the blinds can be customised and scheduled to create different room 'Scenes', allowing for the control of light, privacy, and overall ambience.
"Sophie and her family can pre-programme the blinds to readjust to deflect the hot afternoon sun, close at night, or create the perfect cinema mood. It's really clever technology!" Erin added.
"The upstairs area is an oasis for adults," said Erin. A key focus was put on aesthetics and style, with a multi-use space designed as a peaceful retreat! Surround by a beautiful balcony that sat amongst the treetops of the Hinterland rainforest, the master suite was encompassed by a series of glass double doors, with an open bathroom that flowed on from the bedroom, a beautiful walk in wardrobe, complete with herringbone timber floors, a balcony-top outdoor shower and multiple sitting areas.
With so much natural light and organic surrounds, it was crucial the blinds in the bedroom were subtle when folded away, and nothing short of beautiful when down. Three Birds worked closely with the Luxaflex design team, choosing Luxaflex® Pirouette® Shadings in Magnolia for its soft, elegant look, discrete roll-up function and room darkening finish.
"The room is essentially glass, with an open bathroom and flowing balcony. You can eat, sleep, shower... have a cocktail before bed. It is the room that just has everything," Bonnie added, "But this meant we needed to ensure the window shades were gorgeous and functional."
The patented and innovative Luxaflex® Pirouette® Shadings provide softly curved, elegant horizontal fabric vanes that allow light and privacy to be controlled precisely with its unique design. Its soft fabric vanes and sheer backing draw natural light into the room, with the option to adjust them to reveal filtered views or create total privacy.
Luxaflex Pirouette Shadings are just amazing for controlling light, and appear to float effortlessly when drawn. We can choose to filter the light and keep the room nice and cool in summer, or keep them fully shut to keep the warmth inside in winter. The EasyRise lifting system means Sophie and her family can operate the blinds super easily using a safe mounted cord system. They have them open in the day, and pop them down at night.
After entering through the double doors and venturing down the hallway, the first left will be Sophie's little boy, Hendrix's bedroom, separated by a family bathroom in the middle and a second matching bedroom for baby Bell. With built in window seats in each child's room, Sophie wanted discrete blinds that recessed into the ceiling, creating a seamless, subtle finish that didn't interfere with the view, and ensuring maximum safety at all times.
"Hendrix's bedroom just screams fun" said Bonnie. "You walk in and the bunk beds are gorgeous and bringing the soft, organic shades of pink to the baby girl's room was so enjoyable."
The nursery offers the perfect balance of practicality and trend, choosing Luxaflex® Duette® Shades for both children's rooms with the understanding of the importance of controlling the light in these spaces a priority.
"We wanted discreet blinds that could be recessed into the window seats in the kids' rooms, with great insulation to keep them cosy when they're sleeping. They also provide maximum block out so they're perfect in the media room as well. The blackout works so well, once the kids are asleep we want them to stay asleep!" said Lana.
The Duette® fabric in block-out opacity provides maximum room darkening and zero view-through when closed, creating the ideal environment for a baby to sleep - even for naps during the day. The pleated fabric design of these shades also means they can be stacked tightly up into the head rail to allow light through when open.
"It's the perfect balance of light and privacy, and well insulated from heat and noise."
Over the hall from the children's bedrooms is the guest bedroom, featuring its own, large sliding doors out to the terrace. The bed head, which was built onto, not into, the wall, was painted a glorious, soft blush and pink hue. Luxaflex® LumiShade® were chosen for their discrete, whimsical effect on the room, controlling the sunlight and privacy without compromising on style.
"Luxaflex® LumiShade® are our new favorite blind," said Lana. "When pulled closed, you can still position them to see the view, and it's great for filtering the sun in the late afternoon. The softness of the fabric is so stunning, even when they are drawn it adds a gorgeous dimension to the styling," Lana continued.
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