Heart of refinement

Interiors by Sonja McAuliffe, Archertec Interiors

From the interior designers

Interior design statement

This is a new home on the elevated hills of Jerrabomberra just outside of Canberra Australia, designed by Architects Ring & Associates.  It was an exciting project to be involved with.

The house plans included a lot of living space and open areas that gave Archertec Interiors a challenging task ahead but a great opportunity to design and fill the interiors with creative joinery. 

To best ensure the quality of construction, a well-considered plan with select materials  chosen with experience and knowledge was crucial to helping our contractors build innovative and alternative interior architecture. 

Quality joinery finishes were selected and coordinated to match the architecture. 

Solid timber benchtops and timber veneer details can be seen on vanity tops and in feature joinery pieces like the wine cellar on show at the end of the main kitchen. 

Natural white marble stone used in the kitchen and master suite contrast against the dark charcoals and timbers used in the cabinetry. 

2pac polyurethane joinery finishes were colour matched to the veins of the stone or added for bold pops of colour to match feature tiles for creative impact. 

Dedicated time was taken to review and check all details and shop drawings. 

Samples of joinery doors were made for the owner prior to the real piece being made. 

Stone samples, handle samples, finished timber veneer pieces were ordered to check colour and finish was perfect.

The joinery design and details did pose some challenging complexities. 

For example, in the main bathroom the vanity and mirror cabinet are wall mounted and cantilevered off the short back wall to conceal the toilet suite sitting behind the joinery. 

Engineered steel frames were designed to support the joinery off the floor and cleverly designed to look light weight and see through. 

In the master suite, the vanity joinery is combined with custom furniture and creative shelving to flow and complement patterns that repeat within the joinery.

Recessed lighting is integrated within the mirrors and underneath suspended pieces to create ambiance in the room as well as to provide additional task lighting for make-up and dressing.

The owner was adamant the interior architecture had to be unique and creative. 

The challenge was set, so it was important that we delivered individual and distinctive ideas that were not seen as typical in current interiors. 

The finished interior feels rich, dynamic and of high quality with attention to detail applied to every element.  The owner was thrilled with the result.

The selected materials and finishes used throughout the interior included:

·      Solid Spotted Gum timber vanity tops in the guest powder room and main bathroom.

·      Eveneer Almond timber veneer finish for the main joinery and built in furniture in the master en-suite and bedroom.

·      2Pac polyurethane satin finishes colour matched to tiles or stone bench tops.  Colours included from Dulux – Black Caviar, Castlecliff, Haast, Natural White, Mount Buller & Deep Lake.

·      Natural Super White Granite feature benches in the main kitchen with Caesarstone Snow quartz stone bench tops to match the natural white main cabinet finish in the kitchen.

·      Spotted Gum timber veneer joinery in the feature wine cellar at the end of the main kitchen.

·      Natural Carrara Marble feature vanity tops in the master suite to match the Carrara look mosaic floor tiles.

·      Polytec Bottega Oak Woodmatt timber look-a-like joinery finish to the study library joinery.

·      Polytec Notaio Walnut Woodmatt timber look-a-like joinery finish in the outdoor bathroom.

·      Dekton Radium porcelain slabs for the outdoor alfresco benchtops and splashback.

·      Polytec Alfresco range Cinder Matt for the main outdoor alfresco joinery.

Designed by: Archertec Interiors

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Adam McGrath, Hcreations