ZEN ZONE

With light, views and a gentle, minimalist aesthetic, this renovated Sydney home exudes serenity.

- Georgia Madden

EXTERIOR Bowral Bricks ‘Bowral 50’ bricks in Simmental Silver (exterior) and ‘Bowral 76’ bricks in Simmental Silver (terrace, path and pool area), all from Brickworks. Columns painted Dulux Narrow Neck Quarter.

ENERGY BOOST

If you’re looking for an affordable building material that can help you save on heating and cooling costs, brick is hard to go past. “Bricks have a high thermal mass, which makes them an incredibly energy-efficient building material,” says Brett Ward, general manager of international marketing at Brickworks Building Products. “Brick moderates a home’s internal temperatures and averages out day and night extremes to maintain a very comfortable air temperature, which can save up to two tonnes of carbon pollution each year by using less energy on heating and cooling. If you combine bricks with insulation, you can lower the carbon footprint of your home and reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 40 per cent.”

LIVING Concert P3 pendant light by Jørn Utzon, Cult Design. Barramundi Dreaming Lissadell Country by Shirley Purdie. Sofa, coffee table, ottoman and armchairs, all Project 82. Austral Bricks ‘Bowral 50’ bricks in Simmental Silver (interior walls) and ‘Bowral 76’ bricks in Simmental Silver (hallway floor). The windows with deep blackbutt reveal overlook the swimming pool and reflect light back into the house.

STAIRS TO KITCHEN “We’ve used levels very carefully throughout so the separation of spaces is quite informal,” says Andrew. “There’s no flight of stairs that’s too imposing.”