Making a real impression by designing & building with exceptional people is exactly the effect JL Design & the client as owner-builder have achieved with “Scarborough House” in Scarborough, NSW. The brief required the dwelling to take maximum advantage of stunning views over the ocean & nearby escarpment cliffs. The residence was also to be a contemporary modernist four bedroom family dwelling, maximising built external living & pool areas. The client was extensively involved with the overall design, & carried out material selection, interior detailing and selection of fixtures and fittings. This collective method guaranteed a result where the client as the builder, through continued personal investment throughout the design and construction achieved a stunning result. The concrete, steelwork, windows, timber & various forms of cladding, joinery and concealed lighting are all custom made hand crafted elements. The design called for minimal tolerances, requiring a high level of skill and cooperation between trades. “Scarborough House” features BlueScope Colorbond monument matt ribbed wall cladding with rendered & ‘rendered look’ areas in off-white. A vertical feature hardwood timber screen to the side of the entry softens the ‘industrial’ feel, giving a modernist external appearance. Carefully calculated overhangs allow a passive solar solution to heating & cooling, with efficient reverse-cycle air conditioning required only during weather extremes. Internally, timber floors to the upper living areas give a feel of comfort & warmth. The warm, substantial character of the dwelling is carefully composed by means of the clarity of the detailing, a palette of tactical natural materials and the careful manipulation of light.

Vistafolia is the easiest, most practical and attractive solution to creating stunning environments with a natural looking green wall. Our seamless foliage panels create the look of a lush, vibrant and energizing green wall that instantly refreshes featureless spaces. We provided the perfect cladding solution to dress up the length of this entry ramp, softening the brick pillars and concrete walls with elegant, welcoming greenery as the landscape designer specified for the privacy screening brief. The various textures and shadings of the foliage provide a pleasing visual experience and uplift, enhancing the customer journey through the space.

Vistafolia is the simplest, most practical and attractive solution to creating stunning environments with a natural looking green wall. Our seamless foliage panels create the look of a lush, vibrant, and energizing green wall that instantly refreshes featureless spaces, such as the entrance to this parking lot in Miami FL. We provided the perfect layer solution to dress up the length of the parking lot entry ramp, softening the brick pillars and concrete walls with elegant, welcoming greenery as the landscape designer specified for the privacy screening brief. The various textures and shadings of the foliage provide a pleasing visual experience and uplift, enhancing the customer journey through the space.

Built on a dune overlooking Lake Michigan, this residence appears to emerge from the landscape. The project brief called for an artful house that promotes wellness and outdoor living. Rugged beauty and four-season adventure drew the owners to the area but presented challenges, including wildfire risk. The site needed a durable shelter that responsibly integrates with the environment. Clad in sand-colored stucco, the house will intentionally be obscured by grasses and junipers over time. Outdoor spaces are layered to match the undulating topography. A steel superstructure enables an ultra-thin roof with overhangs for passive solar design that withstand gale-force winds and heavy snow loads. A crushed-granite courtyard offers refuge on windy days. This space is enclosed by operable Cor-Ten panels that rotate open to reveal dune views or close for a cloistered experience. The courtyard is further defined by a deconstructed roof with an aperture that frames sky views. Expansive glazing and porcelain flooring unites interior and exterior, evoking a sense of inhabiting an infinity house. A screen porch, concealed by louvers, is a contemporary interpretation of a time-honored lake house vernacular. ​Layers of light and an edited palette of materials unify the interior and evoke a laid-back feeling of beach towns. On both levels, bronze glass walls artfully define rooms while preserving views.

Location: Situated on Bunurong country near the town of Sorrento, the site was uniquely positioned between the back beach and the footy oval. The broad wedge-shaped site featured a steep vegetated dune climbing 6 meters to the rear and remnant coastal Moonah trees at the front, providing a distinctive natural context. Design Brief: The objective was to create an enduring 4-bedroom holiday house that harmonized with its coastal environment. The design was intended to be both stylish and robust, offering high amenity and serviceability. This house was envisioned as a long-term investment, serving the dual purpose of accommodating a growing family and functioning as a part-time rental property. Architectural Features: Contextual Integration: The architectural response meticulously respected and enhanced the site's natural features, seamlessly integrating the vegetated dune and preserving the Moonah trees within the landscape strategy. Materiality and Aesthetics: The material palette was selected for its durability and ability to withstand the harsh coastal conditions while maintaining a refined and stylish appearance. This included the use of resilient, high-quality materials that age gracefully over time. Spatial Versatility: The spatial configuration was designed to adapt to the evolving needs of a growing family and the demands of a rental property. Flexible spaces were created to provide a balance between communal living areas and private retreats. Indoor-Outdoor Connectivity: Emphasizing seamless indoor-outdoor connections, the design featured expansive glazing, outdoor terraces, and integrated landscaping to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. High Amenity and Comfort: The house boasted a laminate black-butt chef's kitchen, stone and tile surfaces, and state-of-the-art climate control systems, including integrated heating and cooling, to ensure year-round comfort and ease of maintenance. The architectural vision aimed to create a timeless residence that would serve as a cherished family retreat and a sought-after rental property, responding elegantly to its coastal context and the demands of modern living.

Client: Private Residence In West London Brief: To supply & install wood flooring to areas
Living room - transitional light wood floor living room idea in London

The brief called for a simple bedroom for one that allowed space for rest and meditation. The room offers abundant natural light and ventilation. Shannon Battisson

A neutral colour palette was the main aspect of the brief setting the tone for a sophisticated and elegant home. The main tile we chose is called "Paris White". It is a light colour tile with darker flecks and gently undulating vein patterning reminiscent of sandy shorelines. It has a smooth matt surface that feels lovely to the touch and is very easy to clean. We used this tile on both the walls and the floor of this Family bathroom. We combined the tile with feature mosaics and pebbles to add interest and texture. The mosaic has glass pieces which catch the light and reflect it. The pebbles have an impeccably smooth feel and while neutral in tone the variance in stone colours create a dynamic interplay. The brushed gold tapware possesses a gentle hue, and its brushed finish exudes a timeless, classic appeal.

This high-end solid oak boot room was designed and handcrafted for our client’s home in Guildford, Surrey. Our brief was to create a durable and functional boot room with a classically stylish look. Handcrafted in sustainable oak this fitted furniture incorporates lots of practical storage and traditional high-quality features that will stand the test of time. Traditional joinery and design Traditionally constructed in solid oak, the floor to ceiling cabinetry features soft close doors with a two-panel shaker style and torus skirting. Torus skirting boards are a hallmark of heritage and elegance. The convex moulded profile in a bullnose ridge is a feature that has adorned prestigious interiors for centuries. A hardwearing clear matt lacquer finish maintains the character of the wood and looks like a natural oil or wax finish but is more resistant to scratches. Customised storage maximises the space The boot room has been exceptionally well-planned to include made to measure boxed shelving for footwear of all types and sizes. A solid oak bench with a soft closing seat also incorporates traditionally constructed drawers, which are ideal for smaller accessories such as gloves and scarves. Hardware was an important consideration too. The sturdy coat hooks and iron bar type handles have a traditional character with a matching black coated matt finish.

The client’s brief was to create a space reminiscent of their beloved downtown Chicago industrial loft, in a rural farm setting, while incorporating their unique collection of vintage and architectural salvage. The result is a custom designed space that blends life on the farm with an industrial sensibility. The new house is located on approximately the same footprint as the original farm house on the property. Barely visible from the road due to the protection of conifer trees and a long driveway, the house sits on the edge of a field with views of the neighbouring 60 acre farm and creek that runs along the length of the property. The main level open living space is conceived as a transparent social hub for viewing the landscape. Large sliding glass doors create strong visual connections with an adjacent barn on one end and a mature black walnut tree on the other. The house is situated to optimize views, while at the same time protecting occupants from blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds. The wall to wall sliding doors on the south side of the main living space provide expansive views to the creek, and allow for breezes to flow throughout. The wrap around aluminum louvered sun shade tempers the sun. The subdued exterior material palette is defined by horizontal wood siding, standing seam metal roofing and large format polished concrete blocks. The interiors were driven by the owners’ desire to have a home that would properly feature their unique vintage collection, and yet have a modern open layout. Polished concrete floors and steel beams on the main level set the industrial tone and are paired with a stainless steel island counter top, backsplash and industrial range hood in the kitchen. An old drinking fountain is built-in to the mudroom millwork, carefully restored bi-parting doors frame the library entrance, and a vibrant antique stained glass panel is set into the foyer wall allowing diffused coloured light to spill into the hallway. Upstairs, refurbished claw foot tubs are situated to view the landscape. The double height library with mezzanine serves as a prominent feature and quiet retreat for the residents. The white oak millwork exquisitely displays the homeowners’ vast collection of books and manuscripts. The material palette is complemented by steel counter tops, stainless steel ladder hardware and matte black metal mezzanine guards. The stairs carry the same language, with white oak open risers and stainless steel woven wire mesh panels set into a matte black steel frame. The overall effect is a truly sublime blend of an industrial modern aesthetic punctuated by personal elements of the owners’ storied life. Photography: James Brittain

Client: Private Residence In West London Brief: To supply & install carpet to stairs, landings & rooms
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary carpeted u-shaped wood railing staircase remodel in London with carpeted risers

inspired by the client's brief for a mediterranean look with retro touches, this is our proposal for the second floor of a beautiful seafront townhouse. while keeping a more classical feel in the lower floors of the house, we have worked on a contemporary look on the first floor, mirroring the fact that this is a newly built floor.

This new home, situated in Cowaramup, Margaret River, posed a number of challenges, ranging from a sloping block, mandatory design guidelines, and bush fire attack levels. The brief was to achieve a solar passive home, not too far from the norm, in order to maintain a realistic budget. The house has achieved an 8.5 star energy efficiency rating without requiring the use of any non-standard glazing. It uses eave shading, breezeways, casement windows and ceiling fans for cooling in summer; and north-facing glass, a concrete slab and wood fire for heating in winter. Other green features include rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and solar power. Zero VOCs products have been used on the timber bench tops, concrete floors and rendered masonry walls to ensure the occupants avoid contact with any unnecessary chemicals in the home.

Client: Private Residence In South London Brief: To supply & install hardwood flooring to premises
Hallway - contemporary hallway idea in London

Valley Garden Landscapes North Manly Valley Garden Landscapes had been referred to our clients in North Manly by their rear neighbour whose garden also appears on the projects page as “New Pool No Problem”!!. They had recently bought the property and were keen to renovate their backyard landscaping, maximise the garden areas for their young family. The old layout included a large wall across the middle of the garden which effectively cut the space in two and made both the lawn and pool areas feel cramped and uninviting. The clients brief was to create an open family friendly garden with a coastal theme. The resulting garden is a great success from the renovated shed (now a beautiful pool cabana) to the large format bluestone paving, built in barbecue and restored decking. Troughs and bowls were chosen to complement the paving and planted up with low maintenance succulents. Fabulous, comfy lounge furniture has been installed to really create inviting living areas around the garden. The children can still play on the lawn area as well in the cabana which perfectly captures the last remnants of the afternoon sun. Looking for re-designing your backyard and outdoor landscape?

Stunning Kitchen and Laundry renovation in Bellevue Hill. The project aimed to improve the functionality and light up a tired and uncomfortable kitchen/laundry built 20 years ago. The brief required us to simplify the design to avoid cleaning as much as possible. For this reason the design doesn't expose any horizontal surface, integrates appliances and displays polished natural stone for the island, counter top and splash back.

e were especially pleased to work with this lovely client again, having designed a kitchen for her previously. This new project consisted of two briefs to maximise the space and natural light for a bijoux annexe; Design a sleek contemporary open plan kitchen plus utility. Design bedroom storage and a home working space within the open plan area. To achieve the contemporary uncluttered style that would maximise the sense of light and space, a true handleless design was the obvious choice. The main run of cabinets in the kitchen and on the wardrobe doors are acrylic gloss with a ply edge. The light reflecting qualities of the gloss doors is further accentuated by the tropical green toughened glass panel behind the sink. We just love this injection of colour. It not only really suits this modern space but will look fabulous when the patio area is developed. Our customer is planning to create a beautiful green oasis with plants on the patio, which will just make this area feel so connected to the outside. The sink area is finished off perfectly with a black Quooker Fusion tap. The kitchen island offers a great contrast with the main run of furniture. The concrete effect handleless doors and Konigstone quartz ‘Concrete fossil’ worktop create a real feature, and provide some texture. Extending the worktop down over the sides of the island complements the seamless and uncluttered style of this kitchen perfectly. Not only does it look great, but its a practical space too. Built into the island is an evo port for sockets, enabling it to double up as a work and food prep area. For a final flourish, the glass shelves are all fitted with LED lights behind them, offering more ambient lighting options.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Client: Private Residence In Central London Brief: To supply & install carpet to stairs
Staircase photo in London