Trendsideas

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

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

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

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

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

While the floors in this interior were colour-matched to echo sandy beaches nearby, salt-soaked driftwood would not be suitable fare for the room's Escea DS1150 double sided, gas fire

With its multi-toned presence connecting with surrounding elements, this parquet floor is an ideal co-ordinating feature and a splash of lively, eye-catching decor in its own right

Down the garden path – here, a glass gate allows the eye to follow the ‘lavastone’ bluestone steppers to the Karaka and shaded deck, a favourite spot deep within the garden

A schist wall gives this garden an air of having been there forever – ideal for a landscape design that pays homage to the heritage of cottage gardens