EDITOR’S LETTER

HG

“There are eleven wonderfully UNIQUE houses in this issue, and I’m SURE at least one of them will RESONATE with you.”

Iabsolutely love the fabulous variety of houses in this issue. It’s fascinating to read about the personalities behind them, and see how these idyllic abodes have been created for a range of family configurations. I like the differing paces of dream realisation too – some people are impulsive, while others take their time. And let’s face it: buying property is full of unknowns and can be stressful. When it all works out, the aura of happiness that radiates from the owners is palpable.

There are eleven wonderfully unique houses in this issue, and I’m sure at least one of them will resonate with you. Take the gorgeous Mid-Century property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches that is home to Andrew and Michelle Algar. When they spotted it, the couple were desperately seeking a more familyfriendly set-up as Michelle was heavily pregnant with their second child. There was lots of interest and she was convinced that they would be pipped at the post, but Andrew was working hard behind the scenes and had already made an offer to secure their dream home. When you read the story on page 22, you will see how much they truly love living there with their young children.

Then there is the story of builder Steve Cahill (page 64), who popped into a property on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula where an auction was already in progress. He found himself with his hand in the air, buying a house he hadn’t even inspected. I think you will agree that the home he has created with his wife Lucy and the design finesse of Kate Walker is a keeper – a beautiful forever home for the couple and their three children. It’s also this issue’s cover star.

Another Sydney family home (page 78) came to fruition because of an excellent partnership between brave owners and architect Andrew Donaldson. The site was steep, rocky and daunting but there was amazing potential and sublime views to be captured for those with perseverance. Up in Brisbane, David and Hannah dramatically transformed a 1950s Queenslander into a light-filled family haven without a cliché in sight (page 100).

Elsewhere, professional renovator, Cherie Barber, shows us her great house and incredible set of wheels (page 55). Her first foray into the property market was a house on a busy road that was ‘a mistake’. She gave it a quick makeover and made a small profit which set her on the path to a career in house flipping. Today, Cherie is literally enjoying the sweet smell of success living in an expansive former lolly factory and driving a restored 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air called Mildred.

We trust the abundance of inspiration in this issue helps you achieve some sweet home dreams this year too.