After living in Newcastle and watching the prices of real estate go up and up, Emma Johnson and her partner Brendan Pullan bought an affordable block of land near Gwandalan, where Brendan grew up. What began as a potential investment, soon turned into an exciting first home project for this creative couple. “At first, we didn’t know if we wanted to build straight away but we fell in love with the area,” says Emma. “My family is just down the road and a group of our friends have moved back to the area. We also have many beautiful beaches and the lake close by, so we decided to start the building process with the idea of making it our home,” says Brendan.
The couple had a clear vision of what they wanted in a house and enlisted the help of McDonald Jones to bring it to life. “This is our first build, so we wanted to put our money and trust into a company that had a good reputation,” says Brendan.
“We didn’t want a lot of stress with the build and for us, being able to lock in a price through McDonald Jones was a bonus.”
Emma adds that they looked through a number of display homes but kept coming back to the first one they stepped foot inside, the Miami. “It just felt right for us. We loved the fact that the master bedroom was tucked away at the back of the home, plus the kitchen opened onto a great outdoor area.”
“We wanted high ceilings throughout the house and a step down into the central entertainment area so the rooms feel bigger because the ceiling is almost three metres high,” says Brendan.
Light, airy, and welcoming was the overall brief. Emma and Brendan also cited a number of other non-negotiables when it came to their design. “We wanted high ceilings throughout the house and a step down into the central entertainment area so the rooms feel bigger because the ceiling is almost three metres high,” says Brendan. A large home study providing plenty of space to work from home, a window splashback in the kitchen, a double alfresco area for outside entertaining and extra bedrooms for visitors, were also on the list. “My family comes from Tamworth, so we really wanted space for them to be able to come and stay,” remarks Emma.
Moving into their finished home was even sweeter for Emma and Brendan, having recently welcomed baby Louie into their family. Despite juggling work and parenthood, the pair put their own spin on their new digs, with custom tiling in the alfresco area and front façade, as well as feature tiles in the kitchen. “I saw these tiles at a restaurant and fell in love – they’re handmade and called Discoteca by Jatana Interiors. They were a bit of a splurge but luckily we only needed one square metre so I could justify it!” says Emma.
Chunky Tops
“We splurged on the benchtops as extras throughout the home,” says Emma. “We used Caesarstone in Adamina in 60mm and we used the same finish in the kitchen and all the bathrooms.” Choosing a thicker benchtop with a waterfall edge gives a more luxurious aesthetic, with a cohesive side view, where the stone runs to the ground.
A subtle nod to the ‘70s disco era continues throughout the home, with Emma influenced by her love of disco music, thanks to her dad. “That era influenced my style and I feel the place has a bit of a retro-feel thanks to the velvet kitchen stools, the light pendants, the tiles and some of the colours and textures we chose,” says Emma. “I think we’ve used the solid base of a McDonald Jones home and added our own spin, so it feels warm and welcoming.”
With an overall neutral colour palette, Emma gravitated towards olive green, rust, tones of pink, mustard, and sage green to add pops of colour throughout their home. Her background as a yoga teacher also inspired her interior design choices.
“I guess I’m aware of those lovely ambient things like lighting and plants which can make a home feel peaceful and calm,” says Emma.
Sheer Goodness
“We installed all the window furnishings ourselves through DIY Blinds. We chose ceiling mount sheers which make the windows and space look bigger,” says Brendan. The curtains add a softness to the house and allow light to dapple through whilst still providing privacy.
A subtle nod to the ‘70s disco era continues throughout the home, with Emma influenced by her love of disco music, thanks to her dad.
For Emma and Brendan, investing money into a new build has been both rewarding and a learning experience. “The best thing about building with McDonald Jones is that you have a clean slate, then you can devise elements of the design to suit your needs,” says Brendan. “Now we know the process, we would do it again one day – 100%.”
This little family of three is ready to kick back and enjoy their new sanctuary but according to Emma, there’s still one thing missing. “Brendan hasn’t given the tick of approval yet, but I really want a disco ball hanging in the alfresco area!” says Emma. And with her clever design choices paying off so far, we say, why not!
Resort Ensuite
“Before this house, we rented a beautiful old terrace in Cooks Hill, Newcastle and we were inspired by its bathroom that had a skylight over double shower heads and indoor plants hanging down,” says Emma.“We recreated the look in our ensuite and it gives that resort kind of feel.” Emma and Brendan have bought the outside in, by using indoor plants throughout their home adding a tranquil and calm ambience.
