Vignettes are a great way to decorate any space with the purpose of keeping that space impactful, yet minimal and of course aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Vignettes are a small cluster of items, usually 3 to 5 different pieces located in different rooms of your home. They are designed to be appealing, elegant and sophisticated whilst aiming to create an emotional connection and showcase your ‘lifestyle/personality’.
The most common areas to place a vignette include, kitchen benches, study nooks, bathroom vanity benchtops and robe shelving. The items need to be specific to the space that you are showcasing as they are designed to assist in defining the usage of the space as well as being visually pleasing. Again, they need to be simple, elegant, and sophisticated which simply comes down to what items you have to work with and how you place them. For example, a kitchen vignette could include appropriate items such as a cookbook, wooden chopping boards, utensils and holder, jars, artificial/real greenery (plant, herbs or flowers), bowls, etc. You would not include any item that you wouldn’t ordinarily find in the space you are creating the vignette for as this would look out of place and mostly questionable. You don’t want people talking about your vignette for the wrong reasons.
These tips alone, along with your creative flare, some inspiration and maybe a few favourite shops that are your ‘go to’ for both practical and quirky items, you really can’t go wrong. Also note that vignettes don’t have to be expensive to look ‘amazing’ and when describing them as needing to be elegant and sophisticated, one mustn’t misinterpret that to also mean expensive. Be assured that you can achieve simplicity, elegance and sophistication on any budget.
So don’t be afraid to also use these tips for your own home. You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to be willing to experiment. Grab some things from around the home before you go buying anything new and see what comes of it. No doubt you’ll surprise yourself, as this component to home decorating is no different to giving your bedroom a makeover with a new quilt cover and cushions or even a new set of towels for the bathroom.
So, step outside your comfort zone and create a vignette today!
When building a home for the first time you may hear terminology you are not familiar with. From draw downs, earthworks to plate height it may all start to sound like another language. Here at Ultra Living Homes we want you to be as involved and understanding of the entire process as possible. Below are some common terms and phrases you may come across:
Introduced by the Government on the 1st of July 2000 for Australian Citizens, it was developed to help offset the effect of GST on first home buyers. The scheme varies state to state however it is generally a one-off payment for those who satisfy specific criteria to help them break into the property market for the first time. Currently, the FHOG is $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. For specific information relating to Queensland first home buyers grant click the link below:
The sum of money that a lender or bank can loan to you. Many factors will influence your borrowing capacity such as: salary, monthly expenses, assets, equity, existing loans etc.
Stamp duty (also referred to as transfer duty) is a tax levied on the transfer of property. When purchasing a house and land package the stamp duty is only paid on the land – not the house which offers buyers quite the saving.
A fixed rate home loan is a loan whereby the interest rate is locked in for a certain period. Over this time regardless of what is happening in the market your loan repayment amounts, and interest rate will not change. This is great for some people as it gives you peace of mind as to what your exact repayments will be!
A home loan in which the interest rate fluctuates on the outstanding amount as market interest rates change. When interest rates decline, variable home loan borrowers will benefit as the repayments on their loan will decrease as well. However, when the interest rates rise, borrowers on a variable home loan will find the amount payable on their loan also increases.
A guarantor is someone who will agree to honour your contract if you are unable to make your repayments. Acting as a guarantor means you are guaranteeing that you will continue to pay the loan or mortgage in the event the borrower is unable to do so. Having a guarantor on your loan can make lenders more inclined to approve the loan. First home buyers often use a parent or legal guardians as a guarantor. This can help, particularly if you do not have sufficient deposit, but your parents can guarantee the deposit by using equity in the family home.
Pre-approval is an important step in building your first home. It gives you an indication of the amount a lender will lend you which will help you narrow down options within your price range. Pre-approval is not a guarantee that the home loan will be funded, so you still need to get final approval. Whilst not mandatory to seek pre-approval, it can make the overall process easier both in terms of seeking finance down the track and also knowing what budget you should be working towards.
Also referred to as unconditional loan approval, Formal approval is the point at which the lender has everything required to approve your loan. Once this is granted, the sale of land can proceed. To achieve formal finance approval, the bank will require two contracts; one for the land and one for the build.
A drawdown is a progressive payment from your loan funds released to the builder at various stages of construction. At Ultra Living Homes, we use HIA contracts which specify set percentages for each major milestone such as deposit, slab, frame, enclosed, fixing and practical completion.
The purchase of both land and the construction of a new home at a fixed price. House and land packages are a fantastic way for a first home buyer to enter the property market as they represent great value. Ultra Living Homes have a great range of fixed price house and land packages available. The benefit of a fixed price contract is in knowing your full costs upfront with no hidden surprises.
Before construction can start on your home, you need to prove ownership of the land. This comes in the form of a Land Title which is a certificate or deed confirming your legal ownership of the property.
In a new estate, developers often create design guidelines to ensure consistency amongst homes when it comes to design, style and overall appearance. These are commonly referred to as Estate Covenants. When purchasing land in a new estate, it is important to see if there are any specific guidelines your home will need to adhere to. When building with Ultra Living Homes, we ensure that any Estate Covenant requirements are addressed early to ensure a smooth approvals process.
With over 1500 Wattyl colours on offer, choosing a colour palette for your new home can be overwhelming! Ornamental Pearl, Husk Gold and Movie Star – they all sound more like Hollywood names than a wall colour!
Investing time into getting the palette right is well worth the effort as colour can completely transform the look and feel of a home.
Here are some tips to help guide you:
A tried and tested way to choose the colour pallete for a room is to use your darkest tones for the floor, a lighter tint for the walls and then the lightest tint for the ceiling.
The way in which a room receives light (natural or artificial) will affect how the colour appears on the walls.
For example:
Cool warm colours interact well with the natural light in south facing rooms whilst darker colours will appear more vibrant and softer colours can have a soft glowing affect. Lighting in your home can play a key role in the overall feel of the colour palette you choose.
Most likely the largest rooms will be either a living or kitchen area and these are a great place to start when choosing the colour pallete. Once you have a colour in mind for these rooms, picking a shade or tint from the same hue for adjoining rooms will ensure there is a cohesive flow throughout the home whilst still giving an element of depth to the colours.
Using colours is a powerful tool to help evoke moods in a room. Warm colours can be joyful, promote intimacy, and be comforting and vibrant. Cooler tones will promote relaxation, and bring calmness to a room.
Using these basic colour schemes can really help your colour vision come to life:
Analogous colours – calming colours which appear next to each other on the colour wheel. Think greens, teals, blues etc. Pairing these colours will create a cohesive, soothing flow to your home.
Monochromatic colours – A single base hue paired with different shades, tints and hues of the same colour. Choosing a monochromatic palette will create a minimalist design and allow you to provide pops of colour and really bring in your own unique style with your own furnishings and décor.
Complementary colours – Are 2 opposing colours on the wheel such as red and purple which will provide striking, bold looks. Whilst not on the colour wheel black and white are a timeless example of complementary colours often paired together which create a versatile look.
Bringing elements of the outside in is a perfect way to achieve a peaceful environment within your home whilst it is also known to improve overall mental health and promote happiness! Think coastal tones and native greenery.
Still unsure? Don’t be! Here at Ultra Living Homes, we are here to help every step of the way. As part of our commitment to service excellence, we offer all of our clients a complimentary colour consultation with an experienced interior designer. Enjoy a colour selection process with a professional to help you fine-tune the preferred style for your beautiful new home.
Brooklyn Square Pty Ltd ABN 78 640 802 008
QBCC Licence No. 15197458
