SHORT ON SPACE?

Just think smart and you’ll feel like you’re living large.

Studio living is an increasingly growing prospect for people who are needing to scale down their living space size to accommodate the increasing cost of real estate in Sydney. But there are studios and there are studios. Just like any property, the variation in size and layout is extensive. Ideally, a studio has a large main room, a balcony, separate kitchen and bathroom, and a car space if you are very very lucky.

White always makes a space seem larger, so paint walls white throughout to create a clear canvas to work with. Use bold colours to brighten and liven the space. Ideally you will have lots of light in your apartment, and this also creates a greater sense of space. Having a balcony off the main room really extends the living area. Take advantage of the extra floor space and place a table and chairs out there so you can dine al fresco whenever weather permits. Place plants on planter racks on the wall to maximise floor area. A pot plant in the corner is fine as this is usually dead space anyway and it is important to bring life to your living.

There are ingenious ways to deal with transforming the space from living to bedroom. Try getting a couch that has moveable sections so you can create a couch by day and a bed by night. Consider a fold out table attached to the wall and wall mounted hooks for chairs, so when you want to dine or work on a computer, you can set everything up simply and easily, then when you don’t need a table, you have an open floor space.

If there are window sills, take advantage of them to put on potted plants. Also an indoor plant in a floor pot is a great idea to beautify your home and create more oxygen, just make sure you have a waterproof mat under it if you are placing it on carpet. With bathrooms and kitchens, again, white and bright is the way to go. If you have windows in both, you are really in luck as this creates more of an open feel. Cupboard space is often limited so think attractive and practical storage units from Ikea or Howards. So with close attention to detail and thinking outside the square, a studio can feel spacious.

Images sourced via Pinterest

GET COZY FOR WINTER

With winter upon us, now is the time to prepare your home (and mind) for the chilly months ahead. Many of us are not great fans of this cold season and just want it to pass as quickly as it comes upon us. But getting winter-ready allows you to make the most of the shorter days and actually start to look forward to them.

Firstly, think cosy. Look at your stock of blankets and throws and if they just don’t seem up to another stint, then out with the old, in with the new, I say! Check out the gorgeously sumptuous new ranges of snuggly blankies at your local homeware stores and chose your favourite colour. Now is not the time to hold back in the colour department. Winter is dull in itself, so brighten your world. If some of your old blankets are salvageable, then wash them according to instructions with Eucalyptus oil and they will be dust-mite free and literally ready to roll. A word to the allergy-prone, though… avoid wool like the plague as this is one of the rare occasions where synthetic is better, for your breathing anyway.

If you’re feeling particularly decadent, go for fur. Personally I only go for fake, but I won’t preach, it’s up to you. Having said that, check out the faux fur rugs at Temple & Webster. Then building on the decadent theme, imagine cosy nights to come, cuddled up in your throw, curled on the rug with beautiful scented candles and the odd ambient lamp light glowing tranquilly. Then add to this a partner, or a book, or a glass of glühwein (or all three if you are greedy) and Bob will most certainly be your uncle. (By the way, that is honestly how you spell gluevine – the German spiced wine that was made for winter nights.)

On a more practical note, (sorry to drag you away from the previous mental picture) check your windows and doorways for draughts. So much of the heat in a home is lost through tiny cracks and crevices. In the case of windows, rolling self-adhesive weather-stripping (felt, vinyl, rubber or silicone) down the side of a window works wonders. Where gaps are around non-moveable places, window and door frames for example, use some gap filler (caulk) and a caulking gun. And for under draughty doorways, you can’t go past a good door snake. Again venture into colourful territory here. Please note, if renting, you’ll need permission to put on the weather stripping and gap filler, so be safe, not sorry, and ask first.

Back to beautification, make sure you have a few indoor plants that will add colour and oxygen. Cyclamens, African violets, polyanthus and orchids are gorgeous things and bloom beautifully throughout winter. If you prefer to stick to green, Madonna lilies love the indoors and bless you with the occasional white flower, then Devil’s ivy, Philodendrum and rubber plant grow fantastically well indoors. Also many herbs will grow on a sunny window sill and can be added to your hearty winter dishes. For walls, search on-line for an uplifting print (try The Print Emporium for heavenly pieces.) All you need now is some great food and wine – non-alcoholic cocktails even better – and you’ll be wishing winter would never end.

Images sourced on Pinterest

HOME, SWEET HOME? NOT FOR EVERYONE

With our home environment being never so important as now, many of us are realising that the confines of those four walls make home feel far from sweet. The drastic increase in social distancing and isolation can mean that the proverbial cracks are really starting to show and what had just been a niggling voice telling us we need to move somewhere larger is fast becoming a shout. But don’t be discouraged, there are still excellent properties available in the current market, and as a buyer you are now in the enviable position of having the upper hand.

Whether you are considering moving up from a studio to a one bed, a one bed to a two bed or an apartment to a terrace house, you still have a startling number of options, especially if you are looking at new developments. With many outstanding properties complete and ripe for the taking, in this buyer’s market you will be able to pick and choose without the fear of missing out or stressful competition of the real estate market in recent times.

No matter if you're looking to upgrade to a one or two bedroom apartment or an expansive three bedroom terrace house, Cramer has a great selection of affordable new properties in fantastic locations. By highly respected developer, Toga, Surry Hills Village and Wick’s Place offer impeccably designed apartments with generous proportions, good-sized balconies and a very high level of finish. Their on-site development facilities are second-to-none, so staying at home will be a joy, not a trial, so come and check them out in a one-on-one appointment.

Terraces are often rare and as such are highly desirable due to their larger proportions, courtyards and balconies. Cramer currently have three benchmark developments with beautifully finished brand new terraces on offer. Silkwood in Pagewood, Trinity in Rosebery and The Gentry in Alexandria offer an outstanding selection of terraces that will make you want to be at home, no matter what the social distancing requirements. So please feel free to contact us on 8302 1500 if any of these properties are of interest and we can arrange a one-on-one appointment at a time that suits you.

Silkwood, Pagewood

Trinity, Rosebery

The Gentry, Alexandria

THE GRANDEST OF ADDRESSES

Imagine a life where luxury brands, world famous beaches, beautiful leafy parklands, delectable food and excellent coffee are all on your doorstep. The Grand in Bondi Junction gives you all this and more. This highly boutique development of prestige properties accesses the best the East has to offer from the sanctuary of your luxurious apartment. Esteemed architects, Bates Smart, have created exclusively elegant homes with a refined attention to detail. Neutral tones, opulent finishes and the finest fittings grace these beautiful properties. From the striking exterior, to the indulgent spaces within, The Grand is destined to become a timeless classic.

Pop down to Rose Bay for a ferry ride to the CBD, enjoy bustling weekend markets, walk down the hill to Bondi or Tamarama for a swim or stroll/bike to Centennial Parklands for a picnic. Enjoy the easiest access to leading retail, prestigious schools, public transport, with daily conveniences at your fingertips. Go shopping in nearby Paddington, Woollahra or Double Bay villages. And best of all, you’ll have your new local at your door! Or with the seamless indoor/outdoor living, gourmet dream kitchen, opulent master bedroom suite and spa-like bathrooms, you may never want to leave your Grand private haven. Buy now and move in May/June 2020!

A NEW ERA IN HOUSES RISES UP IN ALEXANDRIA

Finally, property has caught up with technology. At The Gentry in Alexandria, discover  extraordinary terrace homes that are big on space, design and cutting edge home automation. Spanning four levels of luxury, these avant-garde homes offer three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private roof top garden terrace equipped with spa pool, outdoor TV, kitchen and dining area perfect for alfresco meals. 

Designed by a team of multi award-winning architects, fabulous finishes and smart design features include Tesla ports, temperature controlled wine room, superior home automation system, timber and polished concrete floors, integrated Miele appliances, porcelain bench tops and tiles, built-in wardrobes with desk space to list just some of the outstanding features of these unique properties. 

History hasn’t been forgotten though. The stunning heritage façade has been left untouched, proving old and new can coexist in harmony. Each terrace features raw, natural and solid finishes that ensure longevity so you will be able to enjoy your home for decades to come. Centrally located, Alexandria is fast becoming one of Sydney’s most desirable suburbs to live, work and play, ensuring The Gentry is position perfect and easily accessible to the best Sydney has to offer.

THE INNER WEST’S NEW URBAN VILLAGE

At front and centre of Marrickville’s revival is the extraordinary new lifestyle/residential development, Wicks Place on the Park. These brilliantly crafted, house-like apartments are surrounded by an imaginative retail and dining precinct that echoes the character and variety of Marrickville. The project has been designed by a team of multi award-winning architects, revitalising the way we live. Within buildings created around green spaces, walkable neighbourhoods and re-imagined warehouse spaces, each apartment feels intimately connected to this outstanding urban village yet offers a home base that will fast become your oasis.

Generous living spaces integrate wonderfully with nature creating seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, serene environments and gorgeous outlooks. Interior designers extraordinaire, Richards Stanisich, have imbued the house-like interiors with an organic quality consisting of soft colouration and beautifully detailed and layered finishes that create luxurious texture and warmth. Exquisite leathered finish granite island benches and splash-backs create a bespoke feel in the heart of the home, while you can rest assured everything else down to the smallest detail that maximises storage has been intelligently and diligently approached.

While only a few short kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, you’ll be world’s away enjoying the fantastic local cafes, restaurants, craft beer halls, bars and boutiques of thriving Marrickville. And if exercise is on your mind, Wicks Park is on your doorstep and Enmore Park’s close at hand, or try out the local tennis courts, sporting fields or new Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre.

A NEW VILLAGE EMERGES IN THE INNER EAST

Imagine a new village arising in Sydney, where the best of the old is combined with the most innovative concepts of well-being and lifestyle. Imagine no further, because Surry Hills Village is about to happen. Located in one of the Inner East’s most diverse, creative and vibrant areas, Surry Hills Village is a masterfully designed development creating an entirely new community within this historic area.

Featuring generous green spaces, a new public library and a retail and dining lane way inspired by European arcades, residents will get to enjoy the best of all worlds. Seductive archways add drama, as do the restored heritage-listed components of Surry Hills Village. The location already boasts the most hatted restaurants in one suburb, a brand new Coles supermarket and some of Sydney’s best cafes, bars and boutiques along nearby Crown and Dank Streets.

An extraordinary collaboration of multi-award-winning architects, interior designers and landscapers have united to preserve the rich cultural, urban and historical identity of the area and capture it within two stunningly beautiful interior schemes. Beautiful rooms are expertly proportioned and feature a flamboyant finishes that will take your breath away, with Venetian-style terrazzo, Corian and Marblo surfaces that sculpt and bounce light. Each property creates a private oasis of sophistication, comfort and beauty, just a heartbeat away from the village buzz. Whether choosing a lavish one bedroom, divine two bedroom or a sublimely glamorous penthouse, an apartment in Surry Hills Village will give you a home in the Inner East’s most exciting new address.