Our office space/studio apartment reveal.

For the last 5 months or so we have been working on building a studio apartment/office space on top of our detached garage at the front of our home.

During all of the changes that have happened in the first 6 months of 2020 with the bushfires, floods and COVID 19 this has been our constant. It has been great in a way to have a project to focus on in uncertain times. Simon was front and centre and did a lot of the design and construction himself.

We also employed a lot of friends and utilised their trades and skills which made it a pleasant and smooth process. It was nice to have familiar faces on the job.

We wanted to utilise the space (about 58 square mtrs) to maximise every possible inch and corner.

We wanted to fit in an entry way, laundry space, bathroom, kitchen, office and living area and lots of storage. We wanted it to feel light and airy and a nice place to be.

Spiral staircases helped us get to the next levels with only a small amount of space taken up. 

White walls, floors and minimal furnishings with a neutral palette kept the space feeling bright and spacious. 

We added hints of brass, rattan and plants to bring in colour, texture and add interest.

For the forseeable future it will be our Real Estate's office space and eventually it will be a space for our boy's when they want to move out. At the moment the boy's are enjoying using the space for study (Finn has his HSC this year) after hours. 

Now that we have the t.v, wifi and Foxtel hooked up I can imagine they will love it as a place to hang out and catch up with friends as well!

I've popped up a few photos of the interiors and details below. I will do a bigger post on the whole build once we complete the landscaping at the front of the house.

The Entry Way

We kept the slab downstairs and painted it with Dulux Luxafloor in Vivid White.

This is what we did with the floors in our house so we knew it would look great and be low maintenance.

We made the console table to fit the space and hung the kombi artwork to identify it as an office space. The citrine crystal signifies wealth and prosperity, the apples add freshness and a pop of colour and the forever flowers were made from bits n pieces from Barefoot Gypsy Homewares and Feathers.

Spiral Staircase - Spiralworks

Lounge Area

Upstairs we kept the palette neutral and calming. The use of white paint, floors and furnishings really opens up the space and creates an airy feel. Plants were a must!

I've tried to keep the space very simple and pared back.

Again we signified the room as a work space with the surfboard with The Beaches Real Estate on it.

An old surfboard painted white with craft letters stuck on. It's hung on the wall with 3M picture strips. The company logo is repeated on the t.v with the kombi.

Walls - Dulux Vivid White - Wash n Wear

Floors - 130mm cypress pine painted in 2 x coats of Feast Watson proof seal and 5 x coats of Feast Watson flooring paint in white.

Mirror - West Elm

Sofa - Ikea

Coffee Table - Freedom

Rug - Miss Amara Loves

Floor Lamp - Beacon Lighting

Side Table - Hope and May

Fiddle Leaf - Foley's Nursery

Pot - Bunnings

We wanted lots of storage for office supplies and eventually when someone lives in the space.

We replicated what we have in our home with a wall of storage and shelves.

I styled these with home and interior books and bits n bobs in the same tones. 

Again plants were used for colour and life. I love a trailing plant on a shelf!

Bookcases - Billy Bookcases - IKEA. 

We also used the IKEA Oxberg doors and extender pieces. 

We had our carpenter build them in with a kickboard and pelmet to finish them off nicely.

Decorating items were a mix from Target, Adairs, Kmart and Typo.

The desk space fit nicely in the corner and the rattan cupboard holds the printer, paper and other office supplies.

Table - IKEA

Chairs - Temple and Webster

Rug - Miss Amara Loves

Cabinet - Freedom

Cushions - Target

Kitchen

For the kitchen we chose a Kaboodle kitchen carcass, doors and kickboards from Bunnings.

We chose the Alpine profile in Macaroon.

The kitchen is about 5 metres long. At the moment we have kept it simple with just a sink and fridge space.  The other appliances will be added at a later date once it is utilised as a living space.

Sink - Hardware + General - A Blanco undermount sink

Tap - Phoenix tap in brushed gold

Cupboard handles - IKEA

Bench top - Quantum Quartz in Michaelangelo - Set in Stone, Brookvale

Shutters - Plantation Shutters - I Seek Blinds

Forever flowers - a mix from Feathers + Barefoot Gypsy Homewares

Vase - Adairs

Kombi - Riot Art Shop

Rainbow - Target

Coffee machine - Breville Oracle Touch

Bathroom

Glass shower screens to come...

Tiles - 600 x 600 - Beaumont Tiles

Toilet - Hardware + General - Parisi in wall toilet

Tapware/Shower head - Phoenix

Vanity - Hardware + General - Marquis

Other items throughout the space...

LED downlights

Daikin ducted reverse cycle air conditioning

Windows - Bradnam Signature Series. Double Glazed

Frameless Glass balustrade - Hardware + General

Below is a peek of the exterior in progress. 

I will share more of the build in another post once the exterior and landscaping is complete.

I hope that answers any questions you have regarding the interior of our studio apartment and office space. Thank you for following along!

I've kept some videos of the finished space on my Instagram under my saved stories.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like answered x

Latest home inspo from The Three Birds - Kitchen + Laundry

The Three Birds are back with their latest project, a collaboration with Sophie Bell (@peppahart) to build Sophie's "Hinterland Hidewaway" in Northern NSW. 

The inspiration is mediterranean farm house with lots of white render, arch ways, natural materials and green space outside. I love it and can't wait to see the rest of the house once it's revealed.

Laundry 

I love all of the bright, white spaces , individual touches and attention to detail.

What do you think? Are you watching along?

House Tour - Lauren Conrad's California Home

I loved these photos of Lauren Conrad's California home. 

It looks light and airy filled with cool furniture and pretty touches. I especially love the flowers, books + crystal vignettes around the place. All of my favourite things! 

The house is gorgeous and styled beautifully but also feels warm and lived in. 

How amazing is her glass bottle collection?!

I've popped a few photos down below but pop over here to read all the details........

What do you think? Is it your style?

I could move in tomorrow! So many things I love about it!

All photos via My Domaine

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Drinking more water with SodaStream.

After our indulgent Easter weekend I felt like we all needed to bring some balance back into our lives. More water, fruits and vegetables were needed asap! I know I always feel happier and have more energy when I'm eating healthily and drinking lots of water. 

First thing yesterday after I dropped the boys off at school I headed to the greengrocers and stocked up on fresh fruit and vegetables. The veggies went straight into the pot to make a veggie soup and the fruit was chopped up to go into some sparkling water for the boys afternoon tea. 

Tap water is great but sometimes you need bubbles in your water to make it a little more appetising. 

I pulled out the SodaStream and made some fizzy fruit waters when the boys got home from school. So quick and easy!

SodaStream has easy-to-use Sparkling Water Makers to suit every countertop, and each machine comes with everything you need to make sparkling water anytime you like.

Each Sparkling Water Maker comes with a plastic BPA-free carbonating bottle. All bottles are safe, reusable, uniquely designed, and can save the average Australian family up to 2,190 bottles and cans over the three year life of the bottle. Every Sparkling Water Maker also comes with a C02 Cylinder which carbonates up to 60 litres of sparkling water. Once empty you can swap them at any Woolworths, Coles or Big W.

Fill, fizz and enjoy!

Everyone wanted to press the button. 

We like "high" fizz so we press the button 3 times and everyone gets a turn ;)

I made up a few combinations, orange & mint, lemon & lime and mixed berry. They were delicious and so refreshing. So much more flavoursome and thirst quenching than soft drink.

I find I always use my kitchen appliances more when they are in easy reach. 

I love that the SodaStream is compact enough to sit under the kitchen benches and blend in.

I've got this one here

You can find out more information and how SodaStream works here

Have you got a SodaStream? 

What are you favourite ingredients to add to your sparkling water?

I'd love to hear them x

I was given my Sparkling Water Maker from SodaStream but all opinions are my own.

I would never share a product that I didn't use myself and believe in.

The latest additon to my kitchen - Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre + My recipe for an Acai Bowl

I was recently approached by Vitamix to ask if we wanted to add the Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre to our kitchen appliances. As our old blender had just broken down it was perfect timing and we jumped at the chance to try it out. We had heard great things about Vitamix and wanted to see for ourselves if the hype was true. I am happy to report that it is!

This model works really well for us as we were looking for a blender that could stand up to blending large amounts of ice and hard ingredients like nuts etc. Kind of like a blender/food processor all in one. Also the 2 litre jug is the perfect size for our family of 5.

"It also effortlessly processes a full two litres in a single blend. The cool-running motor processes the toughest whole foods while ten variable speeds give you complete control over every dish."

One of our favourite breakfasts are Acai bowls (so fruity and fresh) and the Vitamix whipped it up so easily and quickly. The mix was lovely and smooth, it is really easy to make a batch up quickly for the boys to eat before school. I've popped the recipe down below if you're interested in making one yourself.

Acai Super Berry Bowl

(makes 2 bowls)

2 x Acai Pure frozen bricks

120ml Apple Juice

3/4 cup frozen strawberries

3/4 cup frozen raspberries

3/4 cup frozen blueberries

Granola, fresh fruit and mint to place on top.

Add your ingredients into the Vitamix. Blend on high til the mixture becomes velvety smooth.

As the mixture is very thick you need to continually push the mixture down amongst the blender blades to eliminate air pockets and ensure all ingredients are blended. (which in the past with our old blender caused a lot of my wooden spoons to be ruined!) This is not the case with the Vitamix as it comes with a lid that enables the tamper (that comes with the machine) to push down the mixture but stops short of hitting the blades. Genius!

Divide the Acai mixture into 2 bowls and top with your choice of fresh fruit and granola.

We purchase our Acai bricks in bulk from here

We love them! It's the perfect "cafe style" breakfast in the comfort of your own home.

The Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre comes with a recipe book and I'm looking forward to trying out different soups, smoothies and dips.

More info on the Vitamin Total Nutrition Centre-

Large Batches

The size and shape of the 2.0-litre container is ideal for blending medium to large batches.

Variable Speed Control

Easily adjust speed to achieve a variety of textures. The dial can be rotated at any point during the blend, so you’re in complete control.

Pulverise Seeds

The power and precision of our patented designs are able to pulverise every recipe ingredient, including the tiniest seeds.

Hot Soup

The blades in the Vitamix container reach speeds fast enough to create friction heat, bringing cold ingredients to steaming hot in about six minutes.

Who has used a Vitamix before? Do you have any recipes I must try?

What's your family's favourite breakfast?

Vitamix gifted me the blender but all opinions are my own. 

I only write about products I truly believe in.