As Australia’s beautiful, balmy, and beachy state, there’s no question that Queensland stands out from the rest—as does its unique approach to home design.
“Queensland is known for its warm weather and beautiful natural surroundings, so many people seek homes that embrace the outdoors while staying cool and comfortable indoors,” explains Ebony O’Brien, Evolve Design Studio manager at Bold Living.
Here, O’Brien offers five design secrets for a perfect Queensland home.
1. Alfresco extravagance
Given Queensland’s ample sunshine, the best homes are designed to bring the inside out, and the outdoors in.
“Indoor-outdoor living is perfect for the Queensland climate and for entertaining. This is included in nearly all the floor plans that we develop for our clients,” says O’Brien.
O’Brien says the Bold Living Sophia design is a perfect example, with its central hub for meals and entertaining family and friends, and the alfresco area situated as a direct extension of this space.
She says many buyers add in an outdoor kitchen, resulting in an epic “double-entertaining, double-cooking area.”
The Bold Living Sophia has a generous outdoor entertaining area to complement the full-sized kitchen.
2. Open-plan layouts
Open-plan living is an essential feature of Queensland design, with the kitchen, living, dining, and alfresco spaces all seamlessly connected.
“You push the glass stacking doors right to the side, so you have a really open space,” says O’Brien.
In addition to central, open-plan living zones, many of the Bold Living designs feature four or five spacious bedrooms and quiet retreat zones for study or relaxation.
She points out the Bold Living Ascot design as a great example of a well-considered floorplan that caters to the needs of all sorts of families.
Designs like the Bold Living Ascot feature big, open plan floorplans that maximise space.
3. Rustic beauty
Embracing Queensland style means building with lots of natural materials and making them a highlight of the exterior of your home.
O’Brien says mixing brick and weatherboard, or even some artistically stacked stone, is an ideal way to add charm.
“You can add some decorative veranda brackets to bring in a little of that rustic look—inspired by an old Queenslander,” she says.
O’Brien points to the Bold Living Balwyn 402 design as a great example of a home that shows the perfect weatherboard and stone mix.
Combining stone and weatherboard, as the Bold Living Balwyn 402 does, gives a home a rustic feel.
4. Coastal colours
When it comes to the colour palette of a Queensland home, O’Brien says the latest designs look to the coast for inspiration.
“Key trends are light whites, beige, and creams. Sometimes we'll complement these tones using coastal blue tones, or what’s really popular at the moment are soft greens,” she says.
Having lighter colours for the exteriors also helps to reflect the heat and keep the house cool.
“An example of our classic coastal style is our Benson 405 design, which has a light exterior and some thoughtfully placed blue or green paint inside to follow the theme through,” she says.
Bold Living Benson 405's lighter colour palette matches coastal trends while also helping to reflect heat.
5. Light and airy
Letting in as much natural light as possible is a top feature of Queensland design, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to maximise every ray of sunshine.
This openness also helps with airflow and keeps the home cool and comfortable.
“Using large windows and sliding doors that flood the home with natural light and cross ventilation through open spaces keeps it cool without relying heavily on aircon.
Seamless transitions from the indoor to outdoor living areas are a great way to enjoy Queensland’s mild evenings and natural beauty,” says O’Brien.
Fortunately, the ultimate Queensland home style doesn’t have to push the budget, as there are many variations of the theme to choose from.
“At Bold Living, we can do affordable versions and customised high-end versions, working with the different budgets that clients come to us with,” she says.
English (US) · 