A contemporary blonde brick holiday home

Are you old enough to remember blonde brick? I am. Just the thought of it has me cringing. Many crimes against design sensibility were committed in the 70s in the name of the insipid blocks. Fortunately the 80s saw the popularity of blonde bricks wane, replaced by their chocolate counterparts. (Urgh! Dark brown bricks with tumbled edges ... that's a horror story for another time.) Back to blonde bricks or should that be that blonde bricks are back. Loving this contemporary home with a retro vibe at Sorrento on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. A series of pavilions make this holiday house just perfect for a getaway by yourself or with a crowd, this blonde beauty is by Melbourne-based residential design and construct company InForm.

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Jo's favourite fireplaces 2016

Caroline Holdaway Design from this post

Bangia Agostinho from this post

Austin Design Associates from this post

Doherty Design Studio from this post

Leanne Ford from this post

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An oasis of calm

With its combination of natural materials, simple yet luxurious finishes and a muted colour palette this Mayfair apartment by Rose Uniacke is, in her words, "a restful, gracious, quietly English home." An oasis of calm in the hubbub of London life.

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A labour of love

Originally two keepers cottages this West Sussex flint house was extended and remodelled but not into a modern McMansion. No. Something just a little more special was achieved. Newly constructed rooms were given character and warmth with the extensive use of reclaimed oak and elm timbers and old York stone slabs. A modern glass link almost disappears while allowing light to flood into this quintessentially English home. Even the "new" oak beams were hollowed out to hide modern services. Truly a labour of love. Eckensfield by Caroline Holdaway Design.

An Australian beachside luxe family home

Just because it's a family home doesn't mean you can't have those extra touches, the luxe finishes, the custom cabinetry, the well considered design. Sydney- based multi-disciplinary design studio The Designory gets it just right with this Bronte house. Love the open plan living, the fabulous kitchen, the rumpus room opening to the garden but most of all it's about the details for me. Did you notice the shoe storage under the custom wardrobes?

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