With an all-inclusive approach to design, Indah Island is known for its classic Hamptons style, but the real look is in how you bring it all together. Your home should be your sanctuary – your place of respite. You ought to love every single nook and space, every room should tell your story; your travels, your life and your family. We want you to feel like you’re on holiday every day; play music at a click of a finger, turn the kettle on without the leaving the couch, dim the lights, feel like you have a personal assistant at your fingertip. This can all be achieved with the Quantify product.

As an interior designer and project consultant, I am there to think outside the box. My job is to be the advice-giver and problem-solver. When coming across the Quantify product, it ticked all our boxes. Even our electricians are loving it. One of the most difficult things we’ve found when wanting to create smart home experiences is the time it takes, the money it costs and finding an experienced electrician who has the ability to install the product. Whenit comes tothe Quantify product,we have experienced none of the above. When installing, our everyday electrician was able to install efficiently, effectively and with no time delays.

When we design our clients’ homes, one of the major factors is creating experiences within the home. There is no limit to design, and I love to explore all avenues to create beautiful spaces. One of the best things we can achieve with Quantify’s Wi-Fi  solution is an easeof living and ease of installation for our electricians. The Quantify product can integrate with other systems for a complete solution and is the most cost effective and cheap alternative, with less wiring.

Part of the reason why we chose Quantify for our Hamptons farmhouse build, was because it was going to be easy and quick for our electricians to install. We also appreciated that we haven’t needed to factor in where to hide a hub or extra wires, which is particularly important from an interior design perspective. A house the size of our #indahislandfarmhouseproject would usually take several years to build, but we’re doing it in seven months. We needed a smart home solution that wasn’t going to chew up our valuable time and money. Quantify is a quick install solution that will deliver a brilliant living experience for us as homeowners, long term.

Quantify’s CEO Brett Savill agrees.

“It’s everything an electrician could want out of a home automation system,” Brett said

As an interior designer I am always considering how my clients’ homes can enhance their lifestyle. With our all-inclusive approach to design, we at Indah Island like to create experiences within your home. We love to explore all avenues to create beautiful spaces, including things like lighting, sound and electronics, all while keeping energy efficiency a priority.

This is why we chose Quantify, as it isn’t just smart home technology, it’s a way of life.

Everyone is well aware of the smart phone and smart car trends and now is the time we need to be thinking about smart homes. Smart home technology is often considered scary, confusing and expensive but Quantify have something you don’t need to be scared of. For a long time, I considered home automation to be too overwhelming for me to recommend to clients. There has always been a concern for ease of use and safety. However, Quantify have designed something with homeowners in mind – their solution simplifies the home automation experience for users, by making it easy to control, personalise and modify in the future. Not to mention it’s secure and affordable too.

Quantify’s qDimmer device, qLiving app, Amazon Alexa Dot and qPower device.

This is the first technology I have found that is designed to seamlessly fit with your lifestyle and truly make your living experience better. It’s easy and convenient to use and control via voice, touch or app from anywhere, anytime.

I love Quantify because their devices adapt effortlessly to any interior design, including my easy, breezy, coastal Hamptons style. Plus, it takes just 15 minutes to install a device and no extra cables are needed (which is great for electricians)!

This affordable technology is designed to change your home living experience without changing your lifestyle and we can’t wait to start using Quantify in our Indah Island Farmhouse.

Meet Indah Island’s new smart home tech partner

Indah Island is very pleased to announce it has entered a Spokesperson and Media Agreement with Perth-based smart home company, Quantify Technology.  www.quantifytechnology.com

Founded in 2015, Quantify have created easy to use, simple to install and adaptable products that transform traditionally wired houses into smart homes using a flexible wall switch connected to the WiFi.  

Their clever cloud-configured system allows all devices within a home to be controlled via touch, app or voice, with Amazon Alexa integration. Their solution has been designed to save time and energy, at a price point that enables wide-scale adoption. 

Their solution exists to enhance the lives of its users, while suiting the needs and desires of electricians, architects, designers, builders and beyond. 

We are currently collaborating with Quantify on our farm renovation which will be featured in 9Life’s home-renovation show Ready Set Reno in October. This new 12-month agreement will further extend our relationship with Quantify which we are looking forward to!

Quantify ticks all the boxes for our Ready Set Reno home renovation project. We chose to partner with Quantify because they provide an easy-to-install and easy-to-understand, customisable solution that looks exceptional. We’re thrilled to be able to promote their impressive living experience solution to the market.

• 

• 

• 

Quantify’s CEO Brett Savill said we will play an important role for Quantify moving forward. 

“Having someone as notable as Natalee Bowen behind our brand will assist with opportunities as we look to build relationships in Australia and overseas,” he said.

“We are very pleased to have Natalee join us as a brand ambassador.”

At Indah Island we are always designing and creating beautiful homes for clients all over Australia, so when the opportunity comes to design and create our own homes there is always excitement in the air.

18 months ago, I was commissioned to go to the Hamptons to share the wonders of New York and The Hamptons district. We took 10 of the top builders from all around Australia, along with the editors from the magazines; House and Garden, Home Beautiful, In Style, Inside Out, Country Homes, and of course Grand Design. It was an opportunity to show case all the classic Hampton styled homes, including designs all the way back to the 1800’s. It was a magnificent adventure both for builders and the editors to capture why the Hamptons style is so popular and to experience and understand the longevity of the style.

I got to exhibit the lifestyle of the Hampton’s and showcase the different styles within the homes themselves. We had the opportunity to wine and dine within some of the most beautiful homes such as Tommy Hilfiger, Vince Camuto (the owner of Nine West), Marc Jacobs and of course Martha’s Vineyard. We were sanctioned to sail around Sag Harbor in a yacht, dine in East Hampton, stay in Montauk at Gurney’s famous resort and indulge in some of the fabulously famous spots that only the likes of celebrities get to go. However, it is not true the Hampton’s influence is only for the rich and fabulous as on this trip the questions gathered; how do we take from the Hampton’s style and create our own here in Australia? We know exactly how!

A few years back, we had the opportunity to purchase my husband’s 5th generation original homestead. His father was born there so there was always a huge amount of sentimentality with this property. We dreamed of restoring the home into its former glory so it was decided… We were to design and create a true Hampton’s style farmhouse, right here in Western Australia! We wanted to encapsulate the true look of the Hampton’s as it was back in the 1800’s, as the Hamptons really originated from the barn style farmhouses. It wasn’t until the late 1900- early 2000’s, that the rich and famous starting buying into the area as their beach playground. We started the project early February this year to create our very own WA Hamptons Farm House and hope to finish around September! That quick I hear you mummer… YES! It is all about scheduling and timing. Not to mention the Hampton’s is such a detailed style, so once we are at lock up that’s really when the fun begins.

We are using some fantastic products to create such a unique and quick build. We are framing this home with True Core steel, which has been incredibly fast to see go up. Here in WA, we are so use to building double brick and tile (as my builder-father would say, if it not brick it won’t last). Well we beg to differ, as True Core steel is the future of framing. We choose True Core steel for many reasons; It is strong, straight and precise- it won’t twist or warp over time giving the home its longevity, it is fire resistant- which was a huge factor building in the country and it is termite and borer proof- another factor to why it has the ability to go up so fast.

 

We are staying very true to our design atheistic using cladding and an array of other incredible products that we will keep you up to date with as we progress. Excitingly, we also have Dave Franklin, Channel 9Now ‘The Block’ landscaper, weaving his magic on our Hampton’s Farm, so stay tuned for all the behind the scenes information and we look forward to sharing this incredible build with you right here in Western Australia! You can also watch all our updates of the #indahislandfarmproject on Instagram at @indahisland.

When we had considered ‘The Top 4 Questions’ (Check out our To Build or Renovate Blog) for my family and I, we decided to buy a home in an area we loved, that we could renovate to become our dream Hamptons home. We searched and searched and found the suburb and block we wanted but the house was a disaster! It was a horrid mess of faux-orange mediterranean walls on the exterior with green internal walls and a sunken lounge, which can be a renovator’s nightmare.

All this and to finish the dreadful green floral drapery, we knew there and then, we were going to buy this home but it all had to go. It was the view that took our breath away. It was on the water and this was really all that mattered to us at the time. So, where to start, what to do, how could we turn this mediterranean mess in to a stunning Hamptons home? With all this in mind, the worst design crime of this home was the way in which it turned its back on the water and light, with solid walls on the marina side and exterior shutters making the living spaces dark and gloomy. We were keen to instantly bring home the enduring chic of the Hamptons style so embarked on our whirlwind renovation.

The first step was resolving the sunken lounge, removing a nib wall between the front door and living room, both in which improved the flow throughout the home. The mezzanine level was extended and squared off. The round columns (which needed to be kept for structural reasons) were replaced with squared-paneled newel posts. The external shutters were binned in favour of white internal shutters and new window architraves. Keeping true to the Hamptons style it was all clean lines, very classic and stylish, but also felt very homely and comfortable. We chose materials that suited the classic style like marble, oak and ceramic to fit with our white on white palette. To complete the colour palette, we added occasional blues to create a relaxing vibe and comfortable chairs paired with a solid timber table in our elegant eating area. As an Interior Designer I knew we had to choose the right style of chair, rug and cushion to change the rooms feel. To finish off our rooms we accessorized with an eclectic mix of pieces, many referencing the waterside location and embellishing the sitting room’s blues, white cupboards and coffee tables.

It was an exciting process and a fabulous experience as the Interior Designer became the client. I was my own client and probably the worst client I had! When you’re exposed to so much beauty and choice daily, to narrow down your choices, was a huge test of my restraint. Our ‘before and after’ transformation was amazing! With great design and clever aesthetic choices, you can really achieve the look you want to create no matter what you begun with.

How do you know you if renovating is the best choice? A question we get asked daily from clients is “What should I do to my home?” Should you stay and renovate, knock over and start again or find something new?

When renovating you must always take the challenge head on! You need to think out side the box to create your dream Hamptons home. The image you’ve created in your head has to be brought to life; you must always think literally and creatively. Remember, things don’t always go to plan when you renovate, it is like peeling back layers of an onion. There is always a flow on effect so you need to be on the ball at every moment, ready to re-create. When building, however, it is very easy to create your dream Hamptons home and you can plan every aspect and have sizes as you want, make it as livable as you want, rooms where you need them and the look is fresh rather than re-faced. Building new opens up a Pandora’s box of ideas.

 

When creating a new home, a few things to keep in mind are how you want to live, do you like open plan or do you prefer separate rooms? Are you an indoor or outdoor person? What rooms do you spend most of your time in? What is your style? It is a huge decision that takes much consideration. I have 4 questions I always ask our clients and each of these serve to provoke their thoughts and allows them to think about things objectively.

Top 4 Questions

 

1. What don’t you like about your home? Start to think about what your dislikes and likes are of your current home. Maybe it’s the flow of the house or the way it looks that is making your feel uneasy. Sometimes it comes down to timing, is it time for you downsize or up-size?

 

2. Do you love the area? You might have great friends in the neighborhood or a favourite park you take your pets and kids. You may love your neighbors and/or the area so much that the thought of leaving is just out of the question. You need to consider what lifestyle this area is giving you. I know when I chose our home it needed to be near the ocean!

 

3. How much longer do you want to live there? Do you want this to be your forever home or maybe it is only in your 5-10 year plan? You can start weighing up if it is worth staying in your home or move on to greener pastures. Many clients renovate with the intent to flip, and then re-fall in love with their own home again with its new Hamptons feel.

 

4. What is your budget? You need to research what could you add to your house that would be worth your money. This is a great time to go and see other homes in the area, check the market on similar homes and prices, then ask yourself, is it worth renovating and refreshing your home or should you build new? Your next step would be to see if there is land available and work out how much your dream home would be worth to build. Also, check to see if you have time on your side to build. A renovation may take 3- 9 months, where as a build could take 14-24 months, both dependent on the detail. The factors at play here are – do you need to move out for a period of time? What is the cost of renting property whilst you wait for your new home to be built? If you need extra support with this, jump onto our website ‘Blog’ for working within $10K, $20K and $30K budgets.

Once you have considered all of the above, you get to the fun part! Start looking at Instagram, Pinterest, cut out your favourite looks in magazines and start collating a mood board of images. Sometime you don’t even know what you like in the picture but it may just feel right. The feeling you get when you look at you mood board is what you are looking to achieve. When all the images are placed together you can start to see a style coming through and without even releasing, voile you have your style. No doubt if your reading this article, then your style is classic, coastal and all about the Hamptons.

The Hamptons is often referred to as the playground for the rich and famous, but beyond the high society that frequents this seaside community, it is an architectural wonderland that has inspired designers for generations. Right now, the Hamptons style is a predominant force in exterior and interior design in Australia. It’s on the hit list of every major retailer and builder with consumers referencing this look above any other.

We are often asked, “Is it as expensive as it looks?” Well, we have worked within many different budgets and deciding on a realistic budget is an essential part of planning any renovation, if not the most important part! When to comes to how and where to spend, we have put together suggestions so you can get the look you want, without completely emptying your bank accounts.

On a $10K budget

Firstly, freshen up internal and external walls with a new colour – look to a coastal-inspired palette of creams, whites, greys and blues. Use trim on the windows and doors for a crisp, modern look and add paneling to the walls throughout for a pristine finish. You can pick and choose particular areas to add paneling if the budget doesn’t allow your full home. Focus on the layout of your home; you can reposition furniture to create an inviting space for free. Lastly, invest in key furniture pieces, bringing in soft furnishings such as cushions or a lampshade to pull the Hamptons look together. Choose neutral tones in natural materials such as cotton and linen.

On a $20K budget

Splurge a bit on your exterior and get the classic weatherboard look and add crisp, white trims. Then, you can freshen up the colour both inside and out, keeping to white-on-white or a soft, coastal-inspired palette of white, blue, grey and cream. This budget allows you to revamp your kitchen with shaker-style cabinetry and a white subway tile splashback. In your most common living areas, soften up the space with furnishings – floor rugs, throws and cushions in neutral tones and natural materials such as jute and linen will complement your home’s seaside colour palette. Lastly, bring greenery inside to for a seamless indoor/outdoor feel – a few oversized pot plants and palms will create the perfect holiday-at-home look and add vibrant colour to a neutral palette

 

On a $30K budget

Create a classic weatherboard exterior and add trims for a crisp, elegant finish. You now can add columns and a balcony at the entrance of your home for a real ‘wow’ factor and an unmistakably Hamptons-inspired façade. Within this budget you can now focus on the kitchen and wet areas, using cladding on the walls and incorporating shaker-style cabinetry and a white subway tile splashback. Add statement pedant lights and bar stools for decorative touches. The best part of this budget is you can update the flooring and internal paint colours with similar hues to create a seamless flow from indoor to outdoor living. Lastly, revamp your furnishings with a few larger pieces, such as wicker armchairs and a jute rug. These can be complemented with soft textiles such as throws and cushions in neutral shades, as well as lush indoor greenery such as large, potted palms.

 

Renovating my own home

When we renovated our own home, we had to be aware of our budget and have realistic expectations. We had brought a 20-year-old run down home, the worst house but on the best street, in a fabulous location. There was a lot of planning and budgeting discussed and this is why we completed two renovations, a few years apart.

The first renovation, we did before we moved in. We guttered and moved walls, re-did flooring and cabinetry, painted internal and external, and added bi-fold doors to take advantage of the marina view. This was all completed in 8 weeks! Our second renovation, which was televised on Channel 9, saw the next transformation of external works. We added a pool, an alfresco, beautiful detailed balustrade works and re-decked the leveled area.

A great way to showcase a home’s character is by creating layers when building or renovating. By using the foundation of the home, you can create this character and layering on the walls. When looking at a Hampton’s style home or a take of, paneling is a major detail that is reflected throughout the home. Within paneling you can choose many different styles; Traditional Wainscoting, Shiplap, Dado Rails, Picture Rails, and Full Wall paneling.

 

Traditional Wainscoting

Wainscoting replicates a traditional look, using different mouldings and trims that would conventionally go to a Dado height of 1.2 metres from the floor. This look is formed by layers of squares or rectangles to emphasis depth on the walls. These mouldings are typically highlighted in white, to create a band of detail throughout the house. Contact your local carpenter or trade in this area as it can be worked in with your skirting. The biggest use of Traditional Wainscoting is preferably in an entrance, up the stairs, when creating a more formal room or in bathrooms and bedrooms to add another layer of detail and character. It can be made out of wood trim mouldings, plasterboard or cut out wooden panels depending on your budget. If you’re on a tight budget, you must consider where this look is going to make the biggest impact, and research around for different products to create the look as this is a big factor in your budget.

 

Shiplap

Shiplap is the use of vertical or horizontal boards on a full wall. This layer is used to emphasis detail in a room, area and wall. The best part is you can use it throughout your home, only in certain areas or just to create a feature wall in one room. It can also be used in wet areas; we suggest using the Scyon Wall products through James Hardie, as these are a waterproof product that can line a wall in a wet area to create that Shiplap affect. We love suggesting Shiplapping as it is very cost effective, and a great way to detail a bedroom wall, as you can add a popping colour as a feature or even replace a bed head. It is easy to install and can be a good DIY project over a weekend.

Dado rails

Dado Rails are another great use of mouldings and trim to emphasis a space. They are a stand out feature that can be used on all height walls not just restricted to tall walls as they are normally at a 1.2 metre height. Dado Rails can be painted in white to stand out or painted the same colour as the wall to add depth. We suggest using this look in entrances, up the staircase and in formal rooms, if it doesn’t fit your budget to fit out the whole home.

 

Picture Rails

Picture Rails are traditionally known to hold a painting or picture, with a hook and wire, therefore no need to drill holes in walls. They are now used in a more contemporary sense to draw the eyes to a higher level in a room to create height, depth and character. These details are traditionally used in a higher wall, but we are now seeing them in homes even at a 2.6 metre high roof. It is a great way to manipulate where you hang your artwork and be able to rotate your styles without making holes in the walls; making it easy every time you restyle your home, or change the look of a room.

 

 

Full Panel walls

This is a look that has come back in trend; using straight lines of wood paneling in the shape of rectangles, floor to roof. This look increases depth in a room, and can be used as a feature instead of art and/ or wallpaper. It is a more modern take on a traditional look. When creating this layer, it is a great idea to pencil it out on the wall. That way your professional trade can see exactly where you want them to go, the heights you want them at, and to see if your wall is more suited to rectangles or squares. This way no mistake will be made and there are no surprises.

In all of these styles, the profiling of the moudling doesn’t necessarily have to be overly detailed; it can be a simple rectangle to create a more modern look or to the extreme of highly profiled scroll, for a more high-end traditional look and everything in between. It is great idea to look at moulding online, find inspirational images or speak to your carpenter or builder to show you the profiles. Make sure to place them on the wall of your home to see what works best in your space and what will create the look you want to achieve. My go to is Intrim Mouldings. They have a huge range of profiles that will create anything from modern, classic, traditional or more.

We are currently choosing our mouldings for our #indahislandfarmproject in Toodyay. Make sure you jump onto out social media @indahisland to follow our progress.

Deciding on a realistic budget is an essential part of planning any renovation, if not the most important part! Consider your needs and how you intend to use the space. It is for relaxed family living? Socialising and entertaining? How long you’re intending to stay in the house – the difference between five and 20 years could determine where to spend your dollars. This can also help separate ‘needs’ versus ‘wants’, and help you decide whether to redecorate, renovate OR both!

Redecorate

If your budget is on the smaller side, I would suggest investing in a few key pieces such as a linen lounge and several cane chairs, paired with a jute rug. These items can then be complemented with cushions in blue and white; the perfect inexpensive way to create a laidback, seaside feel.

When looking at your furnishings, there are numerous ways you can use furniture and decor to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor living areas too. You can enhance your new furniture purchases with some lush indoor greenery and soft textiles such as outdoor cushions in seaside tones of blue and white. Add a few oversized pot plants and palms as this will create the perfect holiday-at-home look and add vibrant colour to a neutral palette.

You could also consider redesigning the layout of your house, for a more open-plan living, as well as creating an outdoor entertaining space.

Renovate

Take a look around the inside of your home – what are the major areas that you spend time in every day? By changing the colour of the walls this can give you the most high-impact update. White on white is my go-to, but you could also try a soft grey or cream. For big wow factors, think exterior!

The exterior facade sets the tone for the rest of your home – the style here will be a good indicator of what can be expected inside. Although it might seem like a large area to refresh, it can be easily transformed using colour. A great way to bring some Hamptons style to your exterior is by painting your front door. This is an inexpensive update that will make your entrance a standout feature. This could be done in either a black or a crisp white depending on your exterior paint colour.

Next up is the kitchen – nothing screams ‘Hamptons’ like a great kitchen. You can include white shaker-style cabinets and a subway tile splashback. As with the outside, less is more, so rather than worrying about what’s on trend, look for classic pieces – from cabinetry and lighting to tapware and door handles – that will stand the test of time.

There is nothing more quintessentially Hamptons than a weatherboard facade, so with a bigger budget you can achieve this look. Defined by strong, clean lines, this style lends classic, coastal charm and timeless street appeal that leaves a great first impression. For a timeless decorative feature with a true Hamptons feel, you can enhance the lining board under the eaves and add square, shaker-style columns to the front of the home. A balcony or outdoor living space is another great way to bring the Hamptons look to your facade.

With a signature feature of a Hamptons home being an outdoor area designed to make the most of warm days and alfresco entertaining, this is a key reason the Hamptons look is ideally suited to the Australian lifestyle. Oversized bi-fold doors that open onto a balcony, deck, pool area or grassy backyard will encourage a seamless transition between your lounge room and dining space, not to mention opening up your living area to expand your entertaining space.

A larger budget allows you to look at the layout of your home and consider if you can structurally make it open-plan living, as well as looking at flooring options. Are there any walls that could be removed to create a bright, airy space? Is there a possibility of extending or replacing windows to maximise natural light? Colour-matching your flooring, both inside and out, with the walls will help to create a harmonious flow from your living room to your outdoor area. Keeping to a similar colour palette from your living room to your balcony will further encourage a harmonious indoor/outdoor flow in your new open-living home.

If you need any more advise, contact us and we’ll be happy to help!