Latest news with #NicholasElias
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
An enticing round door in a coastal Aussie suburb marks the entrance to a spectacular home quite unlike anything nearby: 'It's paradise'
A few blocks back from the breezy foreshore in a coastal Queensland suburb stands Lantern - a four-bedroom home that's a far cry from the sleepy beach cottages surrounding it. Designed by architect Nicholas Elias - better known for state infrastructure and cultural buildings than residential design - the home in Redcliffe, Moreton Bay, is a one-off in every sense. While the build draws inspiration from traditional Queenslander houses, raised for airflow and expansion, Lantern reinterprets that logic for a new era of 'sustainability, slow living, and local craftsmanship'. It's built to last - not just materially, but emotionally. 'Lantern's brief was to offer a fresh take on the Queensland tradition of raising a house, building underneath, and extending out the back,' owner Hayden Kidd told FEMAIL. 'We applied that tried-and-true philosophy with modern technology to create a home that's cutting-edge yet crafted with love.' From the street, Lantern is unmissable. Clad in ribbed shiplap milled from native Blackbutt timber, its textures respond to shifting light like skin - soft and matte in the morning, rich and golden by dusk. There's no plasterboard and no concrete slab. Inside, blind-fixed Queensland Walnut veneer lines the walls, creating warmth and cohesion that envelops rather than performs. Underfoot, cork flooring leads to a sunken lounge that opens to the garden. Overhead, etched glass pivot doors filter natural light. 'You feel the space as much as you see it,' Hayden said. 'Natural materials interact with light to shift the mood throughout the day. The house takes on different personalities depending on the time.' Even the bathrooms are immersive: handcrafted Japanese tiles, solid steel pedestal vanities, and soft acoustic fabric panels evoke boutique hotels more than suburbia. But Lantern isn't about luxury for its own sake. Every element - from locally made furniture to endemic landscaping - is placed with purpose. At the heart of the home is a kitchen designed for company, featuring a sculpted booth, garden planters, dual appliance suites, and a hidden scullery. Flowing outward, a natural plunge pool and sunken alfresco lounge extend the living space into the garden without hard boundaries. 'The interiors and garden are so integrated that the entire block feels like living space - which is how we all want to live in this climate,' Hayden said. Step through the round pivot entry door - custom-built and anchored with gallery-worthy precision - and you're immediately enveloped. The foyer opens into a dim, mood-lit space that guests often liken to a Museum of Old and New Art exhibit or a boutique cocktail lounge. With its local materials and hyper-specific details, Lantern is a house that couldn't exist anywhere else. 'Architecture is often seen as trend-driven,' Hayden said. 'But true architecture - and what we've aimed to create - challenges perceptions and enhances how you live.' The build took over five years, partly due to the level of detail, and partly because nearly everything was custom-made by local hands. 'Our tradies initially pushed back against the bold vision,' Hayden admitted. 'But they ended up so proud, they bring their kids over to show what they helped create.' Even the furniture has a story: built by nearby makers using regionally sourced timbers and fittings crafted by local steel fabricators. The entire project was overseen by Redcliffe-based Vanda & Sons Constructions, with a network of south-east Queensland businesses shaping the finished home. That community-minded ethos is part of what makes Lantern feel so rooted in its setting. Redcliffe, 30 kilometres north-east of Brisbane CBD, has long drawn weekenders to its historic jetty, swimming beaches, and café strip. Now, fresh energy is arriving: boutique coffee spots, Saturday markets, and young families seeking bigger backyards. Good schools are minutes away, and the marina keeps boaters happy. Lantern - with its timber ribs and garden-as-living-space - fits perfectly into this evolving landscape, reminding us that coastal homes can honour tradition while embracing the future. 'After living in a place for over 10 years, you gain a wealth of local knowledge to embed into a building's specifics, ultimately creating a beautiful way to live,' Hayden said. Given its detail, deep community ties, and years in the making, it's almost surprising the owners are now parting with Lantern. But for Hayden, the build was never meant to be a one-off - it was just the beginning. 'We've created an iconic home that's truly special - we call it 'living in art'.' 'The area is entering a rapid gentrification phase that will support many more architectural and luxury homes. With the team we've built through Lantern, we're excited to deliver more special homes and positive change for the Redcliffe Peninsula.' For now, the timber glows quietly on Greenup Street - a modern-day Queenslander raised not just on stilts, but on skill, intention, and place.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sydney Morning Herald
The six hottest properties on the market right now
From bold lines to subtle finishes, we've rounded up the best of the luxury property market in Australia right now. Woollahra NSW A four-bedroom home plus a one-bedroom self-contained apartment is hard to find anywhere in Woollahra, let alone in the village centre. Beautifully renovated from top to toe, the property features double-height ceilings over the key living areas, a media room with surround sound and a fireplace, a lift to the upper-level bedrooms and an internal courtyard with a plunge pool. 63 Walpole Street, Kew Vic An imaginative renovation has swept this magnificent Victorian mansion into the 21st century. Bold colours and striking light fittings work well with heritage details, while the modern extension by Neil Architecture results in warm, character-filled interiors. The living room's original painted ceiling is a standout. 'It's a stunning, tasteful modernisation of a classic mansion,' the agent says. 12 Greenup Street, Redcliffe Qld From the circular pivoting entry door to the barrel-vaulted ceilings in Queensland walnut veneer, Lantern is a celebration of fine materials and outstanding craftsmanship. Designed by award-winning architect Nicholas Elias, the home has two main-bedroom suites, two living zones, an eye-catching curvy kitchen with an integrated planter box, and a plunge pool set amid landscaped gardens.
The Age
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Age
The six hottest properties on the market right now
From bold lines to subtle finishes, we've rounded up the best of the luxury property market in Australia right now. Woollahra NSW A four-bedroom home plus a one-bedroom self-contained apartment is hard to find anywhere in Woollahra, let alone in the village centre. Beautifully renovated from top to toe, the property features double-height ceilings over the key living areas, a media room with surround sound and a fireplace, a lift to the upper-level bedrooms and an internal courtyard with a plunge pool. 63 Walpole Street, Kew Vic An imaginative renovation has swept this magnificent Victorian mansion into the 21st century. Bold colours and striking light fittings work well with heritage details, while the modern extension by Neil Architecture results in warm, character-filled interiors. The living room's original painted ceiling is a standout. 'It's a stunning, tasteful modernisation of a classic mansion,' the agent says. 12 Greenup Street, Redcliffe Qld From the circular pivoting entry door to the barrel-vaulted ceilings in Queensland walnut veneer, Lantern is a celebration of fine materials and outstanding craftsmanship. Designed by award-winning architect Nicholas Elias, the home has two main-bedroom suites, two living zones, an eye-catching curvy kitchen with an integrated planter box, and a plunge pool set amid landscaped gardens.
News.com.au
15-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Bogan to boujee: ‘Hobbit House' a work of architectural magic
Locals call it The Hobbit House thanks to its award-winning circular entry, and this architecturally-designed masterpiece at Redcliffe certainly turns heads. It is home to Hayden Kidd, a pilot, and Dan McKerrow, a veterinarian, and was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Nicholas Elias of Architectus, with its statement circular door the work of Frits Jurgens. 'When we first moved here we didn't really tell too many people where we lived because it used to be considered a bit bogan,' Kidd said. 'People judged a bit more back then but now the sentiment is that they wish they bought here before it became so expensive.' The couple have lived on the Redcliffe Peninsula for over a decade, starting out in more affordable homes that they renovated. Kidd said that with each sale, they moved close to the water. 'Eventually we were able to afford a new build,' he said. 'We engaged a family friend (Elias) who didn't usually do residential work but I think he enjoyed the project as it pushed boundaries.' And it is a far cry from the tired post-war cottage that it replaced, with the couple sharing their favourite features of the house. For Kidd, it is the lighting at night. 'The lighting creates a whole different feel,' he said. 'A few people have described it like a hug. 'It is a different world at night. It is more of a feeling.' Meanwhile, McKerrow's favourite feature is the 580sq m of blind-fixed Queensland walnut that envelopes the interiors. 'It is a single tree and you can see the grain changes as you move through the house,' he said. 'It feels like you are inside something living.' Located at 12 Greenup St in Redcliffe, Lantern includes cutting edge design and technology, including a solar system, EV charging circuit, dual-zoned ducted airconditioing, integrated smart lighting, irrigation, blinds and pool controls. 'From the floating upper level and sculptural steel staircase to the seamless interplay of light, timber, and stone, this is a home of artistic resolve and enduring elegance,' the listing by Place New Farm agent Heath Williams says. Inside boasts that walnut cladding, cork floors, sculpted Verde Alpi marble benches, and etched glass pivot doors. The kitchen features a sculpted booth, integrated garden planters, high-end appliances, and a concealed scullery. Flowing from this central hub, a sunken alfresco lounge and 1.9m deep natural-plunge pool extend the living zones outdoors, offering year-round lifestyle amenity. Every bathroom has handcrafted Japanese tiles, solid steel pedestal vanities, and rainfall showers, while the dual master suites offer flexibility for multi-generational living, enhanced by gallery nooks and custom wardrobe systems. Outside, the surrounding gardens require no mowing, and were inspired by Burle Marx. 'We had a lot of fun with this build,' Kidd said, 'We met some great tradies and tried to use local builderes and frabricators so we now have this wonderful network of people that we enjoy dealing with so we decided we were in a position to do more.' Brisbane penthouse bought for $10m, sold for $17.5m in 4 years Areas where Aussies are striking gold As for Redcliffe itself, McKerrow said the area had undergone significant gentrification. And while they are ready to let someone new enjoy Lantern, the couple are staying in the area. 'Obviously, Newport is also exhausted, no more land,' McKerrow said. 'So the next thing that is increasing is knock down rebuilds on the peninsula.' Kidd added: 'It's definitely not bogan anymore'. 'It is very much a case of people wishing they had bought earlier,' he said. 'We call it the northern beaches of Brisbane.'
Courier-Mail
15-06-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Blow up, glow up: The $12bn transformation of Qld suburbs
Once affordable Queensland suburbs are undergoing a $12.6 billion residential glow up, going from daggy to dreamy as older houses make way for modern marvels. Drab post-war homes and rundown Queenslanders are either being knocked down or extensively renovated, with architecturally-designed residences rising in new suburbs as the wealth belt continues to tighten across the state. The latest HIA Queensland Outlook for Autumn revealed that continued high demand for houses in the Sunshine State fuelled renovations to the tune of $12.6 billion last year. 'Council approvals for renovations in Queensland increased by 8.3 per cent in 2024, while lending for renovations increased by 13 per cent in the year to March 2025,' the report revealed. 'Total renovations investment in Queensland is expected to moderate at very high levels, driven by larger-scale work that require financing and approval. 'Queensland also has a disproportionately and relatively larger renovation market than its dwelling stock. 'The value of renovation investment in Queensland in 2024 was $12.6 billion, only $70 million lower than Victoria.' The report noted that Victoria has 700,000 more existing dwellings than Queensland, which only has 2.27 million homes. MORE: Unit owner told to turn music down and sing quietly Brisbane penthouse bought for $10m, sold for $17.5m in 4 years Areas where Aussies are striking gold Further, it was revealed that the average value of a owner-occupier renovation loan in Queensland was $208,950 in the March quarter, up from $171,160 at the same time last year. 'The value of approvals for alterations and additions in Queensland has reached new highs in the last few quarters, most recently sitting almost two-thirds above its decade average,' the report said. 'In chain volume terms, the value of renovation approvals in the 2024 calendar year has increased by 6.2 per cent to $2.9 billion. 'The number of loans issued for renovations has also increased in the 12 months to March 2025, up by 13.0 per cent to 11,220.' And those renovations are playing out right across the state. In Redcliffe, a seaside suburb once seen as the poor cousin of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, a 'triumph' by internationally acclaimed architect Nicholas Elias has been listed for sale, with top offers closing on July 1. The striking home is a far cry from the post-war home that stood in its place. Place New Farm agent Heath Williams, who is marketing the showstopper, said many of the high-spec new builds were popping up in suburbs where the land value was less prohibitive. He said many were also in areas not subject to character overlays. 'The suburbs closer to the city have land values that are too high and then you have to deal with remedial works which can open up a can of worms,' Mr Williams said. 'You wouldn't expect to see the calibre of some of these new builds in certain suburbs but every time values go up, that pushes buyers further out.' Meanwhile, in family-friendly Wavell Heights, the median house price has more than doubled in a decade, with the average home now selling for $1.209 million, up from $536,000. And there is no shortage of new builds and reimagined homes coming to life. Queensland Sotheby's International Realty agent Tyson Clarke has a brand new Hampton's-style residence for sale at 10 Calga Street in Wavell Heights. It replaced a post war cottage on a 746sq m block. 'People who did renovations a decade, now things like The Block have made renos trendy fashion statements,' Mr Clarke said. 'Buyers today want to move in and do nothing. They want it done, even if it costs them more at sale.' Mr Clarke said that many of the suburbs undergoing residential rejuvenation were also suburbs that had been held for decades. And once one sells, others tended to follow suit. 'There is a kind of changing of the guard in some of these suburbs,' he said. 'In Calga Street, for example, there are four houses that have been knocked down and rebuilt and at least another two starting on the renovation phase. 'I don't know that it is so much about stock, but rather about timing. Their needs have changed.' Mr Clarke added that the so-called 'rings' had moved out, as prices increased closer to the city. 'What was once a fringe ring is now inner-city,' he said. 'If you look at Wavell Heights, prior to January 2023, no properties sold over $3 million. 'Now high $2 million to low $3 million is the norm and we are seeing movement out to places like Virginia. 'What is also interesting is that the people who bought early in the inner and middel rings have seen huge equity growth, and they are moving closer in and going up a price bracket.' In Tarragindi, a solid brick house was knocked down to make way for a luxurious new home. But it is not just the overcooked Brisbane market where old is making way for new. In East Toowoomba, a recently completed Marc & Co designed masterpiece has replaced a tired 1950s home, while a resort-style residence with a pool and gazebo has replaced a tackle shing shop and high-set house in Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast. Up north, a Railway Estate house in Townsville has been extensively renovated and is now listed for offers over $699,000, while a classic 1935 Queenslander in the Cairns suburb of Manoora has been restored to its former glory. But the number of detached house approvals fell by 7.4 per cent in the March quarter across the state, according to the latest building approvals data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The biggest falls were recorded in Central Queensland (-48.7 per cent), followed by Gold Coast (-23.9 per cent), Downs & Western (-22.6 per cent), Greater Brisbane (-12.2 per cent), and Far North Queensland (-7.5 per cent), while the Sunshine Coast experienced a minor drop at -1.4 per cent over the quarter. North Queensland was the standout performer posting a massive 32.3 per cent gain, while small gains were also recorded Wide Bay Burnett (+4.6 per cent) and Mackay/Whitsunday (+3.8 per cent). 'Relatively affordable land and housing and rapid population growth – from both overseas and interstate – has catapulted Queensland out of the trough caused by higher interest rates,' HIA North Queensland executive director Peter Fry said. 'North Queensland in particular has seen building approvals surge in the last year, including increases of 50.8 per cent in Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday (+102.1 per cent in Mackay alone), +49.1 per cent in Central Queensland (+83.8 per cent in Gladstone, +35.3 per cent in Rockhampton) and +29.1 per cent in Townsville – North Queensland. 'Cairns and Far North is the main North Queensland region that is yet to see this kind of improvement, with building approvals up by just 0.7 per cent in the last year. Infrastructure bottlenecks are standing in the way of the next major wave of home building in Cairns.
