Somerville House
AF: I love the layout and structure of this laundry. Lots of storage on one side. The washer/ dryer side is exactly what I am after. TL: Agree, the layout is great, and I enjoy all the storage options. Can't tell from the angle the photo is taken, but I imagine it might feel a little narrow, with the floor space only being the width of the doorway?
AF: I mainly like the layout and think thus could work similarly with relocating our front door. Although this would be the easterly elevation. TL: I like the differet levels and roof lines, and think something like this could work, noting the equivalent of this "view" would be from the driveway in my head (rather than the street, if that makes sense). I don't mind the mix of media/cladding, not a fan of the light/"speckled" bricks though.
AF: I like the contrast of the timber bench top to the cabinetry. Unsure of the practicalities of the timber bench top though. How do they perform with temperature, wear, moisture and stains? It does look amazing though. TL: Timber bench top v white looks nice, though it feels a bit matchy with the floor. It does have potentially two of my pet peeves - exposed cabinetry and (potentially) an annoying corner storage cupboard. I like all the drawers though.
AF: I drove past this house in Melba. I love the use of different materials in the facade to create interest. I hate the original bricks and how disjointed the tiles are from the new part but if they were classed and reroofed it would be great. I’ll try and get another photo that isn’t in the rain and hopefully I won’t look like too much of a creepy stalker.
AF: this is my dad's study at his house. As much as I like to think we are very different, I quite like how this study is quite compact, yet is still big enough for two desks and great bookshelves while maintaining the ability to close the door on it and switch off from work. TL: I don't spend any time in this room, but from the photo it looks to be an odd size - if the room is going to be this large, why not make it marginally bigger so that you could use it as a bedroom if WFH requirements suddenly end?
AF: I like the coloured cabinets. Tamara doesn’t like the shaker doors but I like how they add some vibrancy to the space. TL: I don't like things that collect dust unnecessarily in intricate nooks and crannies. Case in point, the decorative books on the high shelf. Looks lovely in the photo, not practical in my kitchen unless the reno comes with a very dedicated cleaner. I do like the colours (would go for a less shiny tap, perhaps) and the size of the island looks practical.
AF: I like the openness of this space. You never feel tucked away or jammed in. You can engage with people outside the kitchen. TL: I do not need any more walnut laminate in my life (we have enough in the existing kitchen and neither this nor the 70s equivalent does much for me), and I'm not convinced by concrete benches or floors. To be honest, the first thing I thought when I saw this photo was "at least one child would knock themselves out on that sharp concrete corner." The giant fridge looks practical, as do the easy open drawers.
AF: I really like the layout of this kitchen. TL: This looks nice, though I'd prefer cabinets instead of an exposed recipe book shelf in real life. I'm not overly sold on low microwaves, though I'm not sure what I don't like about them? It does make sense for it to have its own spot, and not be taking up bench space.
AF: I don’t like the stone bench. It looks a bit like something got spilled. I do like the cabinets though. TL: I don't like much about this, to be honest. The fittings are too bright, the corners are too sharp, there's hardly any useable bench space, and I'm not even short, but how on earth do you reach those top cabinets? I don't understand how you live in this space.
AF: I don’t hate this but it seems a little disjointed. I don’t mind the idea of cladding over our existing render but I would use a darker colour. I really like the timber door. The pyramid roof is a bit boring. TL: I think the colour palette is too stark for me, which is what puts me off the whole thing. The only warmth is the timber door, which I like, along with the windows either side. But the cladded space looks like how the four year old draws houses, and I'm not sure what brings it all together?
AF: I don’t really like the boba for scarves. The space could probably be better used. TL: I like that there are doors, so you could theoretically close off visibility of your junk and clutter. But otherwise I don't think this kind of storage works for how we live - all that space to stage scarves? Do kids actually hang/tuck shoes in storage like that? Do people still own CDs?
AF: not a fan of the wainscoting. Hadnt considered an electric fireplace. Would this fit anywhere? TL: While I don't mind Scandi, this feels very Scandi and I don't think I'd lean that heavily into the style.
AF: I love the view of the garden and all the light. TL: I like that the large windows frame the garden - it's almost like using outside as artwork!
AF: this seems a bit sterile TL: I like the ceiling, it makes the room a little more visually interesting. But it doesn't have the warmth I'd be looking for in a family space?
AF: I like this. Not sure where it would fit. But I like the cosiness. TL: I like the visual warmth of this space. The cupboard curtain is kind of funny, but a solution to hiding non-styled accumulated life things, I suppose!
I don’t really have anything on this one. Without the table, it’s just a corner of a room. TL: I like a dedicated dining space - in the Before times, there was a ritual to eating breakfasts and dinners together, and I like the idea of having a dedicated space to do that. This isn't necessarily the space I'd like, but the dedicated dining area is something I'd be interested to explore
AF: I like the vaulted ceilings and the awesome windows. Connects really well to inside and out. TL: I like the flow between inside and outside - ideally I want us to be able to move pretty much effortlessly between indoor and outdoor living spaces, and this achieves that nicely. The lack of storage in the dining space would probably drive me nuts if I lived in it though, or I'd ruin the space by trying to shove a sideboard in it or something.
AF: really like the use of colour of the cabinetry. The shaker doors are nice too. TL: I like that this feels (at least from this picture/angle) like its own, dedicated space, not just part of a massive open plan kitchen/dining/living vortex.
AF: I don’t really like the shelving. The vertical battens are cool though. TL: I don't think I'm sold on the vertical thingys
AF: I can’t articulate why. But I don’t like this. Maybe it’s because they are on legs. TL: It's overwhelmingly Modern, which isn't really my thing. That's also not a great place to store a cello.
AF: I like this layout. Although, would want a solid island. The open space at the bottom seems like a waste of storage. TL: There's both a lot going on here, and an absence that I find difficult to explain? The floor is very busy, but at least the tones are warm. I like all the drawers, but the white and the dark feel stark by contrast. I don't like the roof, and the novelty fishbowl and hook are a hard no for me. I don't "get" the island in this one, and though I appreciate the seating, wouldn't it be annoying having the stools in a thoroughfare? Or is it only my kids who would leave them out as a trip hazard?
AF: like the skylight, the floor, the white cabinets. Don’t like the freestanding stove or the veneered cabinets. Possibly too similar to our current cabinets. TL: Seriously, no walnut veneer or exposed shelves.
AF: I don’t hate the chevron flooring, but don’t really like how yellow the timber is. It probably reminds me too much of our existing tongue and groove flooring. The island seems a bit far away from the rest of the kitchen. Also don’t really like the sink in the island. TL: I don't think I'm sold on the two-level island, but perhaps I could be persuaded. And again, how do you access/use those top cupboards?
AF:Don’t like this the cabinetry looks temporary and there are no doors to put things away in. I feel everything would get dusty. I don’t really like the range either. TL: I like the ceiling, the asymmetry is cool.
AF: that roof is an interesting idea. I have explored vergolas and insulated roofs before but haven’t seen them intergrated. How weathertight would that be? Would it keep rain off people eating at the table?
AF:I don’t mind the idea of the deciduous pergola but would like a weatherproof space outside. See our backyard landscape plans for our previous idea. TL: I very much like the idea of a deciduous pergola haha. Our compromise in the original deck plans was 1/3 deciduous, 2/3 covered. I like the doors, and the idea of being able to throw them open and essentially join the indoor and outdoor living spaces.
AF: I quite like the structure. Would need some solid roof though.
AF: I like the cladding and the big opening with the house. I like the part covered and part open roof. TL: Again, I like the ability to connect indoors and outdoors. I also like that it's flat and there's no trip hazard runners between inside and outside.
AF: I don’t understand what is going on here. Do you have some pics from a different angle?
AF: Love it. Love everyting about it.
AF: I don’t hate this. But it seems a bit minimalist for when it actually gets used. Would be ideal to have more storage for documents, printer, docking station etc It would need a proper office chair.
AF: I don’t mind this space. Noise could be an issue and shutting it off from common areas could be difficult depending on its placement, but it’s an idea worth exploring how it could work. I don’t like the yellow though. TL: The ceiling is fun, and the mezzanine concept is novel but only works if the house is otherwise empty. Or you have excellent noise cancelling headphones, I suppose.
AF: I generally don’t like being approached from behind when working at a desk. Side access is preferred.
AF: it’s not bad. Would prefer the rail a little lower and some more cabinets.
AF: Don’t really like the big drawers and stacked washer dryer. The open shelves aren’t overly practical. TL: I don't think I'm neat enough for this space to be functional.
AF: this looks lovely, but am not sure it would be as practical when being used by 5 people on a daily basis. Storage seems a bit limited. I really like the colours though.
AF: Really like the rough rough sawn timber. This seems a little more practical than the other muddy. Possibly a hanging rail for coats could be handy?
AF: I really like the full length shelf. And the shower not just being a glass box in the corner. Is the shower open at both ends?
AF: I’m not a huge fan of the vertical subway tiles and don’t really like the shower fittings. Are there glass sides for the shower? I feel this could get messy.
AF: this is a bit boring.
TL: I like that this one is light; the window is a nice touch, assuming it looks out on a very private space!!! I also like the drawers in the vanity.
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