Trendsideas

Forming part of Australia's first 'Active Home', this nature-toned bathroom merges green energy efficiency with other environmental sensibilities, recycled elements included – one of three similar upstairs bathing spaces

This home's dramatic gabled roofline connects with nearby Te Mata Peak – strategic orientation, soaring ceilings and clerestory windows bring the warming sun deep into the interior 

This kitchen in an Arts & Crafts bungalow improves spacial configuration; exports the bar area; and has space efficient cabinetry in key areas – an arched doorway and crafted detailing conne...

Powder rooms are a great place for surprise and fun – and this upstairs powder room with its jazzy fish wallpaper and funky wood vanity achieves both

Grey tones play down this contemporary kitchen's presence, as do its transparent island pendants – letting the homeowner/artist's nearby artworks shine

Concealed lighting adds to the mood of this atmospheric, marble tile-clad bathroom while rounded vanity mirrors bounce all available light through the space, increasing the sense of roominess

This kitchen – part of a reshuffled/revamped space – offers light, warm cabinetry finishes and the refined coolness of stone benchtops and splashback

A 90s home is reborn as a Cape Cod retreat, featuring 10,000 hand-stained shingles, raked ceilings and a new slate roof, while character interior archways are retained

For this bathroom, a hero tile with dramatic patterning is reminiscent of nearby sandy shorelines, while the floor tiles and skirting follow suit – a coordinating Flaminia basin also picks up on the Black Dahlia tilework

Strong of form and materials, this bold, board-formed concrete home is a perfect response to an often stormy coastline – serene, sculptural interiors balance views and privacy

This coastal garden celebrates privacy, calm, and filtered light, along with soft tones & textures – the private space connects naturally with the home's interior living spaces

Three units are merged over two levels – a double-height living space opens to a sea-facing balcony while undulating walls and a sinuous staircase echo cliffs and beach boulders below; coastal hues/textures abound