Build a House in 10 Weeks? Experience of a Couple from Australia

The homeowner and author of this interior, Liah, says that from every room in the house you get a luxurious view of Lake Conoolah. When her husband and teenage son go crabbing, Liah can watch them right from the window.

This romantic option definitely justified selling the old house in New South Wales, the hassle of moving and, of course, the grand construction. But building a new house took surprisingly fast: Liah's husband David is a builder, he actively participated in construction and renovation, and the family celebrated their housewarming after just two and a half months.

Externally, the house very much resembles Scandinavian houses: for example, in Iceland, houses were traditionally tarred so black exteriors are popular there. The idea of living in a similar house came to Liah: northern solutions inspire women. Indeed, tar was not needed for the realization of this idea — they used facade paint Tikkurila instead.

Scandinavian motifs are also present in the interior: for example, in the form of white walls, black-and-white framed pictures, IKEA lamps, and an abundance of wood. The kitchen island was built by David himself from old planks, and the concrete countertops were poured on-site. By the way, the floor is vinyl, although it looks very much like natural wood.

Many things were moved from the family's old house — and fit in perfectly in the new one. Some items Liah had bought earlier, while working in an interior store, but never used. For example, a collection of straw hats and vintage interior doors found their moment in this home.

Liah says her favorite spot is the living room area. "At first, we wanted to separate it from the kitchen like a library. But during construction, we suddenly realized: why not just leave everything as it is? Although the house isn't very big, now that guests come over, everyone notes how spacious and cozy it is."