#Tasmanian Timber Furniture Hobart

[thepastisalreadywritten]

By Keiran Smith

15 January 2024

SYDNEY (AP) — A day after an Australian became queen of Denmark, her native land on Monday celebrated the unlikely fairy tale with cocktails, picnics and a “Danish Fiesta.”

Mary Donaldson’s journey from Tasmania to the world’s first Australian-born queen has captivated both Danes and Australians.

People gathered to mark the occasion across Australia, including Queen Mary’s hometown of Hobart, the capital of the southern island state of Tasmania.

In Melbourne, scores gathered at Denmark House, one of Melbourne’s oldest social clubs, to celebrate the coronation with a special cultural event.

“It’s not something that happens every day that you have an Australian becoming queen. I don’t know if it will ever happen again,” Danish Club Vice President Lykka Borup told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mary’s husband, Crown Prince Frederik, was proclaimed king of the European nation on Sunday, two weeks after his 83-year-old mother, Queen Margrethe II, announced she would be the first Danish royal to abdicate in about 900 years.

Several landmarks in Hobart were lit up in Denmark’s red and white colors, as many residents celebrated with a picnic or a high tea at Taroona Beach, near Queen Mary’s childhood home.

Celebrations were also held at the Slip Inn, the Sydney pub where the royal couple first met during the 2000 Olympics.

The establishment announced it was hosting a “Danish Fiesta” during January, with a special “There’s Something About Mary” cocktail.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Queen Mary’s ascension as a “great day.”

“She has carried herself in a way that I think just brings enormous support and pride to all Australians,” he told the ABC’s Radio National program on Monday.

“We’re very proud that Hobart-born Mary Donaldson has become the queen of Denmark,” he said.

Albanese said his government has made a donation to a charity that works to protect the endangered Tasmanian devil.

“Mary grew up in Tasmania, and so it is fitting Australia marks this occasion with a gift to support the conservation of the Tasmanian devil,” he said in a statement.

Jeremy Rockliff, premier of Mary’s home state, said Tasmanians “could not be prouder of Queen Mary, and there was always an open invitation for the royal couple to visit."

The Tasmanian government also said it would send a gift of a table of Huon pine, a Tasmanian timber, handmade by a local furniture maker, and make a donation to a charity that supports children’s wellbeing.

It’s a cause that the 51-year-old Queen Mary, a mother of four, actively supported during her two decades as crown princess of Denmark.

[rocklee30878]

Benjamin John Design

Are you looking for a Tasmanian Timber Furniture Maker in Hobart? Visit Benjamin John Design. Benjamin John Design is known to be a renowned custom furniture maker in Hobart. Contact us at +61 460830391 for more details.

[jeremystrele]

A Dramatic Riverfront Home In Tasmania

A Dramatic Riverfront Home In Tasmania

Architecture

by Amelia Barnes

House at Otago Bay frames uninterrupted water views from its upper storey. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

A terrace softens the distinction between the house and landscape. This is set down so outdoor furniture does not crowd the view. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

Terraces are laid with Australian bluestone. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The house adopts a two-storey floor plan, the upper of which embraces dramatic water and mountain views. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

 Perched above the water, the living space features a continuously curving timber ceiling that expands the length of the home. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The ceiling lifts in the east to address Mount Direction, then again in the west to take in the river and Mount Wellington. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The kitchen window faces the courtyard and brings in morning light. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The bathroom and bedroom have their own views of nature. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

Hardwood timber features on the exterior. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The house’s lower floor is embedded in the steep ground, framing sheltered views across the native grasses to the water.  Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

The framing of views is so successful, that the home feels completely removed from civilisation, despite being mere metres away from other properties. Photo – Paul Hermes. Styling – Inside Story

When the owners of this site in Tasmania’s Otago (about 20 minutes from Hobart) engaged Victorian-based practice Topology Studio to design their house, they requested dramatic views of River Derwent and the mountains beyond. At the same time, the owners were keen to embrace native vegetation at the water’s forefront. Topology Studio’s response, ‘Why don’t we have both?’

Topology Studio have designed a two storey house that separately embraces these dual outlooks. Perched above the water, the living space features a continuously curving timber ceiling that expands the length of the home. This ceiling lifts in the east to address Mount Direction, then again in the west to take in the river and  kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Meanwhile, the lower floor is embedded in the steep ground, framing sheltered views across the native grasses to the water. 

The framing of these views is so successful, that the home feels completely removed from civilisation, despite being mere metres away from other properties. ‘A blank wall to the south curves to follow site contours, directing views away from the neighbours,’ explains Amy Hallett, director of Topology Studio. 

Hardworking materials were chosen for the project in response to the site’s weather conditions and bushfire regulations, and the client’s desires. ‘They asked for materials that would endure in a harsh environment, and recognised that the quality of materials and space was more important than just the floor area,’ Amy says. Locally manufactured, bespoke concrete blocks complement the tones of the setting, alongside hardwood timber on the exterior, and Australian bluestone on the terraces. These carefully selected materials and refined geometry have produced a home that is precise, yet textured and warm.

The owners of this home are well aware of its significance within the landscape, and have been lovingly tending to the site since the project’s completion last year. ‘They have amazing energy and every time we visit they have done more to reestablish the native vegetation across the site,’ says Amy.

The house was a winner at the 2019 Australian Institute of Architects Tasmanian Architecture Awards, the 2019 Think Brick Awards the 2019 ArchiTeam Awards. And it’s shortlisted in The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards too – check out the other finalists here!

[wowfloors-blog]

Flooring Specialists in Hobart Recommend These Wood Floor Types for Homes with Pets

Owning pets is an enriching experience, but it also comes at individual costs besides the veterinary bill. Homes with pets usually witness a flurry of activity. Destroyed furniture and furnishings, torn curtains and decorations, etc. are a common sight in homes with pets. However, being a pet parent should not prevent you from having a beautiful home. Most customers believe that owning a pet means that you cannot take any freedoms, such as timber flooring with home design. But, flooring specialists in Hobart and other Tasmanian cities are confident that choosing the right variety of wood can ensure that your furry family members leave no impact on them.

Pet compatible timber types

Here are some wood types to consider if you want your timber flooring to be resilient against your pet's claws:

•    Ipe

Brazilian walnut or ipe is one such wood type that is both exotic and resilient against scratches of minor to moderate kind. This hard, dense type of wood is usually used to line decks, where it is expected to provide resilience against footfall and exterior forces. So, you can expect a well-polished layer of ipe-wood to offer a brilliant service against your hyperactive pets.

•    Hard maple

Hard maple is also a viable solution for homes with four-legged members. The Janka hardness rating usually rates the strength quality of a specific wood type; and, hard maple scores an impressive 1,450 in this metric. So, you can rest assured that your floor sanding and polishing expenses will be a bare minimum even when with pets around.

•    Bamboo-strand weave

Bamboo-strand weave can also be a cost-effective hardwood flooring solution for homes with pets. It is because of the resin layering over bamboo-strand that the flooring remains scratch-resistant. Certain brands of bamboo-strand flooring score an impressive 2,000 and 3,000, which is even more than hard maple. You can expect your floor sanding and polishing expenses to go even lower than you expected with bamboo-strand weave.

Pre-finished wooden floors are also another effective solution. Certain pre-finished wood brands coat their products with aluminium oxide to guarantee extra resilience, but they can be costly. Some flooring specialists in Hobart and other Tasmanian cities offer certain varieties of engineered wood that offer pet owners some respite, but these types can survive a very nominal number of sanding and polishing jobs.

Thus, if you own pets and dream of a hardwood floor in your home, all is not lost! There are plenty of options to explore.

[rodcanobjectdesign-blog]

Design Practitioner Research

Duncan Meerding is a furniture and lighting designer who re-designs the mundane. He is a Hobart based designer who uses mundane objects that tend to have natural characteristics and are sourced from ‘waste’ materials or from sustainable timber plantations. As for the actual design’s themselves Meerding says that “(his) designs draw heavily from the vast natural beauty of the Tasmanian wilderness. With a focus on form and texture, much of my work features organic curving lines inspired by the local landscape.” (Meerding, D 2017)

Meerding makes use of several characteristics that I would like to highlight in my upcoming re-design of a mundane object. 

He makes use and highlights the natural tactility of the materials used, like the bark on a log.

He is also very involved with the process of making his objects by using tradition hand-made techniques as well as using machines other technologies to assist in the process.

He sources sustainable and recycled materials to design his works from and tries to reduce the amount of waste in every step of his design process to fully maximise his sustainability effort.

A great example of his work using sustainable materials is his series of cracked log lights, in which he sources logs that have sometimes been left to the elements, and embraces the flaws that are associated with the natural mundane object by highlighting those features in the final design.

In a YouTube video about his design process, Duncan says that even a design like his propeller light, which was made using more industrial design process, is inspired by the natural shape of a tear drop or petal shape (Duncan Meerding Design 2017, 1:10). 

Duncan also states that he believes having the tangible materials to work with adds to the overall strength of the design process, and is a strength from the designer maker tradition that some designers have. (Duncan Meerding Design 2017, 1:40) “It’s important to understand the history of where that object came from and how it was made…” and “how you can get the most out of the materials both from an economic and environmental perspective.” Which he believes is an important point in any design making process. (Duncan Meerding Design 2017, 2:00)

Most of Duncan’s designed object share a focus on how light interacts through and around the objects rather than focusing on extreme detail like a wood carving for example, and is a prominent characteristic in his process for design, which he believes is due to the fact that he is legally blind and can only really see with peripheral vision, so he tends to focus on light fixtures and the way light interacts with objects and the environment rather than having really detailed objects.

Sources of information:

Duncan Meerding Design 2017, Duncan Meerding Design, online video, 28 March, YouTube, viewed 23 August 2017, <https://youtu.be/xo3WWkm9JFA>

Meerding, D 2017, Duncan Meerding, webpage, viewed 23 August 2017, <https://www.duncanmeerding.com.au/>

Images:

Meerdin, D 2015, Cracked Log Lamp, image, Duncan Meerding, viewed 23 August 2017, <https://www.duncanmeerding.com.au/>

Meerdin, D 2015, Tasmanian eucalypt propeller pendant, image, Duncan Meerding, viewed 23 August 2017, <https://www.duncanmeerding.com.au/>

[rocklee30878]

Bespoke Tasmanian Timber Furniture Maker Hobart - Benjamin John

Are you looking for a Bespoke Tasmanian Furniture Maker in Hobart? Visit Benjamin John Design. Benjamin John Design is known to be a renowned Bespoke furniture maker in Hobart. Contact us at +61 460830391 for more details.

[jeremystrele]

The Best Beach Houses Of 2019

The Best Beach Houses Of 2019

Homes

by Miriam McGarry

A hat box, a cake tin, or a stack of golden rings. The beach house is a designer object in the landscape. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Nestled between the sand dunes and the foreshore. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The house is made from robust materials, that will weather beautifully over time. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

This Circular Beach House Will Put You In A Spin

Inspired by the modest New Zealand ‘bach’ (aka equivalent of the Aussie ‘shack’) this St Andrews Beach House puts a circular spin on the coastal getaway! Austin Maynard Architects emphasises the use of different architectural styles for beach settings, with the aim of avoiding replicating a suburban home. We think they’ve definitely nailed that brief, with this circular surprise!

Revisit the original story here.

The walls, floor, and ceiling of the new living space was crafted entirely out of Tasmanian oak, and furniture items like a writing desk and coffee table were made out of leftover materials. Photo – Trevor Mein.

Captain Kelly’s Cottage by John Wardle Architects was originally built for maritime explorer Captain James Kelly and his daughter in the 1840s. Photo – Trevor Mein.

The Ultimate Heritage Restoration Project, On Remote Bruny Island

John Wardle needs little introduction… but Bruny Island might! This island requires a 20 minute ferry from Kettering, a town 30 minutes out of Hobart, but is WELL WORTH the trip. A personal project for the legendary architect, John Wardle has transformed the 1840s Captain Kelly’s Cottage with incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. Every angle and view from this historic transformation is breathtaking!

Revisit the original story here.

This holiday house is located in Sandy Point on the coastal dunes of eastern Victoria. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

This project was a finalist in the Dulux Colour Awards 2019, Residential Interior category. Wall colour is ‘Aloe Vera‘ by Dulux. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The use of warm timber panelling, slate tiles, and sage green walls throughout the interiors adds texture and depth to the space. Wall colour is ‘Spores‘ by Dulux. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

A Rugged Coastal Home By Kennedy Nolan

A rugged holiday home nestled into the coastal dunes of eastern Victoria. The Sandy Point home by Kennedy Nolan is all about the wooden panelling, the cosy indoor nooks, and connection with the stunning surrounding landscape.

Revisit the original story here.

The view into Holly McCauley and Nich Zalmstra’s house from the deck. The paper daisy flower garlands strung up here were saved from their wedding in March. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The Horses photograph above the couch is by Kara Rosenlund, who’s book Shelter  Holly designed in 2015. The Joshua Tree print was bought in the US after Nich proposed to Holly in Joshua Tree. The coffee table is made from the piece of wood that used to be the kitchen benchtop before renovations. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

An Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Bangalow Home – Transformed On A Budget!

This 80s fibro shack in Bangalow in the NSW Northern Rivers is one of the cutest – and most affordable –renovations we’ve featured. Over the past 3.5 years, cabinet maker Nich Zalmstra has transformed this humble home from something he and graphic designer partner Holly McCauley ‘hated the look of’ into a dreamy family home.

Revisit the original story here.

Kip & Co co-founder Kate Heppel, partner Mal of DMS Landscapes and their cute kids Zig, Viv, and Fern (and Snoop the dog!) share this gorgeous Sorrento home. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

How about those concrete bench tops (cast by Mal!). Concrete wall tiles from Bespoke Tile and Stone. Fruit basket from a trip to Darwin. Vase from The Mill Castlemaine. Window seat trinkets from Kate’s travels over the years. Teapot, enamelware and tea towels from Kip&Co. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

A Colourful Family Beach Shack, Wrapped In Shingles!

This little shack went gangbusters on Instagram when we first featured it in May – and it is pretty clear why. The shingled shack is absolutely charming, and combines a story-book exterior, with a low key and colourful interior. Owned by Kate Heppell of Kip&Co and her partner Mal, this shack is full of joy, loose Nordic vibes, and of course, Kate’s stunning bedding and homewares.

Revisit the original story here.

Refined beachy vibes in Torquay. Photo – Annette O’Brien.

A cosy lounge room corner. Photo – Annette O’Brien.

Plenty of room for both entertaining and relaxing. Photo – Annette O’Brien.

An Artist’s Freshly Renovated, Light-Filled Beach Haven In Torquay

This Jan Juc house has an outrageously cute back story. The owner purchased this home, but had actually grown up in it! Scroll through the wisteria laced, light-filled santuary, as see why Pru was inspired to return back to the home her parent’s built in the 80s – and give it a completely jaw-dropping renovation!

Revisit the original story here.

The timber clad house has the highest possible environmental credentials! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files. Styling – Lucy Feagins.

The rugged Cape Paterson setting. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files. Styling – Lucy Feagins.

Has sustainability ever looked so good? Kitchen, with artwork by Bobby Clark, ceramics by Simone Karras, with Sukin Kimmy Hogan Hand Wash and Hand Cream. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files. Styling – Lucy Feagins.

A Coastal Home That Treads Lightly On The Earth

This timber-clad residence in Cape Paterson may, at first glance, appear as a straightforward architecturally designed home – but in addition to being exceptionally designed, it is also the first home in Victoria to achieve a 10 Star energy rating. As part of an eco village called ‘The Cape’ the beach house combines a deeply considered environmental strategy with the brilliant design of Clare Cousins Architects and The Sociable Weaver.

Revisit the original story here.

[jeremystrele]

A Dream Weekend Away At The Retreat, Pumphouse Point

A Dream Weekend Away At The Retreat, Pumphouse Point

Stays

Chelsea Hall

The Retreat at Pumphouse Point – stunning views over Lake St Clair! Photo – Adam Gibson.

The secluded architectural hideaway has been designed by JAWS Architects. Photo – Adam Gibson.

Stunning architectural details in the bushland. Photo – Adam Gibson.

The larder is stocked-full with Tassie fare! Photo – Adam Gibson.

Pumphouse Point reflected in the exterior of The Retreat. Photo – Adam Gibson.

The heavenly outdoor bath! Photo – Adam Gibson.

A spectacular aerial shot of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake. Pumphouse Point Photo – Adam Gibson.

Timber exterior details. Photo – Jason Futrill.

Photo – Adam Gibson.

Photo – Adam Gibson.

The dining room. Photo – Adam Gibson.

Looking out toward the lake. Photo – Adam Gibson.

The original 1940s Pumphouse is a striking 5-story industrial relic perched over the lake. Photo – courtesy of Pumphouse Point.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Tasmania a few times now, and always find making the trip over Bass Strait instantly relaxing and rejuvenating. So, after a cancelled trip south earlier this year, I was quick to jump when the opportunity arose to visit Tassie for a kid-free weekend away at Pumphouse Point.

Nestled within central Tasmania over Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, Pumphouse Point rests inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hobart Airport provides a sampling of all Tasmania has to offer, taking you past historic towns, wineries, distilleries, and cherry farms, winding alongside the picturesque River Derwent, through grasslands and over spectacular mountainous highlands.

We stopped at the scenic town of New Norfolk on the way, to visit the incredible antiques wonderland, The Drill Hall Emporium, and sister store, Flywheel, a beautiful stationery outlet and working letterpress studio. A quick trip to MONA was another highlight, and never fails to enchant.

Upon arrival, it’s clear that Pumphouse Point is truly something special. The original 1940s Pumphouse is a striking 5-story industrial relic perched over the lake, while the original Hydro substation, the Shorehouse, is situated on the lake’s edge. After decades of inactivity, the site was redeveloped into boutique accommodation by Simon Currant AM (whose other projects include Peppermint Bay Hotel in Woodridge and Hobart restaurant Franklin, and before that Cradle Mountain Lodge and Strahan Village), with Cumulus Studio overseeing design of the Pumphouse and Shorehouse conversions.

We stayed at their newest offering, The Retreat, a secluded architectural hideaway designed by JAWS Architects. This timber-clad, luxury self-contained cabin is nestled in bushland on the edge of the lake. Tear yourself away from the views across to the Pumphouse, and inside you’re met with a showcase of furniture and interior details handcrafted by local Tasmanian artisans. The one-off timber furniture pieces in Tasmanian Oak are by Simon Ancher, there are hand-made ceramic bathroom basins by Lindsey Wherrett, and Tasmanian-made soft furnishings from The Spotted Quoll Studio.

The Pumphouse Point is surrounded by many walking tracks, but with an expansive larder brimming with the best local produce, wines and Tasmanian craft beers, ciders, spirits and cocktails, I have to admit it was hard to leave the room! It was tough to decide between a fire-side perch in my all-time favourite designer armchair, the Jardan Wilfred, (not Tasmanian made, but crafted from Tasmanian Oak and 100% Australian wool!) or the outdoor bathtub, taking in views across the lake.

One compelling reason to venture out was the delicious farmhouse fare dinners in the Shorehouse dining room. Meals are served at shared tables and we enjoyed exchanging stories with the other guests, and hearing about the day’s adventures exploring the local trails and sites. The farm-to-table feast is served in conjunction with Coal River Farm, and brings the best of Tasmanian food to this striking setting, enjoyed while overlooking wallabies grazing and the sun setting over Lake St Clair. A truly unforgettable experience!

Pumphouse Point is a historic industrial site, restored to offer boutique accommodation inside Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. To find our more about Pumphouse Point, visit www.pumphousepoint.com.au.

[wowfloors-blog]

Flooring Specialists in Hobart Recommend These Wood Floor Types for Homes with Pets

Owning pets is an enriching experience, but it also comes at individual costs besides the veterinary bill. Homes with pets usually witness a flurry of activity. Destroyed furniture and furnishings, torn curtains and decorations, etc. are a common sight in homes with pets. However, being a pet parent should not prevent you from having a beautiful home. Most customers believe that owning a pet means that you cannot take any freedoms, such as timber flooring with home design. But, flooring specialists in Hobart and other Tasmanian cities are confident that choosing the right variety of wood can ensure that your furry family members leave no impact on them.

Pet compatible timber types

Here are some wood types to consider if you want your timber flooring to be resilient against your pet's claws:

•    Ipe

Brazilian walnut or ipe is one such wood type that is both exotic and resilient against scratches of minor to moderate kind. This hard, dense type of wood is usually used to line decks, where it is expected to provide resilience against footfall and exterior forces. So, you can expect a well-polished layer of ipe-wood to offer a brilliant service against your hyperactive pets.

•    Hard maple

Hard maple is also a viable solution for homes with four-legged members. The Janka hardness rating usually rates the strength quality of a specific wood type; and, hard maple scores an impressive 1,450 in this metric. So, you can rest assured that your floor sanding and polishing expenses will be a bare minimum even when with pets around.

•    Bamboo-strand weave

Bamboo-strand weave can also be a cost-effective hardwood flooring solution for homes with pets. It is because of the resin layering over bamboo-strand that the flooring remains scratch-resistant. Certain brands of bamboo-strand flooring score an impressive 2,000 and 3,000, which is even more than hard maple. You can expect your floor sanding and polishing expenses to go even lower than you expected with bamboo-strand weave.

Pre-finished wooden floors are also another effective solution. Certain pre-finished wood brands coat their products with aluminium oxide to guarantee extra resilience, but they can be costly. Some flooring specialists in Hobart and other Tasmanian cities offer certain varieties of engineered wood that offer pet owners some respite, but these types can survive a very nominal number of sanding and polishing jobs.

Thus, if you own pets and dream of a hardwood floor in your home, all is not lost! There are plenty of options to explore.