Call it a lesson or practicing what you preach, but for Rebeka Morgan, founder of BuildHer Collective, teaching her two sons the ways of the industry was an obvious rite of passage. Beyond the entrepreneurial exercise, a coherent, colour coded home full of personality was realised. Maybe that was the point all along.
“It's really important to do what you teach and teach what you do.’
When Rebeka Morgan speaks there’s a quiet authority – it’s never abrupt or confronting - it’s confidence, built on a ‘been there, done that’ foundation. The BuildHer Collective began out of a frustration. Rebeka was seeing so many avoidable issues on buildings and projects, things she knew were no-one’s responsibility, but there was clearly a need to educate homeowners or first-time developers about the business of building and the management of a project. Ultimately, this evolved into a business providing space to help women build their own properties and develop for profit through education and masterclasses. Today BuildHer is a multi-faceted building and design powerhouse, but at its core, it is still everything Rebeka believes about the industry.
BuildHer Collective is no stranger to Laminex - or these pages - and after many successful projects, builds and renovations, the use of Laminex and the Laminex family of products has proven to be a key element to their successes, both aesthetically and financially.
“We share all the information of why we make the decisions we do with our members, and what we're doing along the way. And I think it's really important, [because] there's a big difference between teaching something you're not physically involved in and teaching something that you're actually doing. We're able to use the projects we do ourselves to showcase the entire process to our members, detailing what the process is, to work out what to do. We then show it all the way through to sales and outcome. It's so much fun telling people what you're going to do before you do it,” explains Rebeka, “[it means] there's no fear.”
Cliff Street House was perhaps a little different, but the outcome and lessons developed by BuildHer would be the same. The renovation would be undertaken by Rebeka’s two older sons (she has 7 children) both of which are carpenters, but this would be the first time they would project manage their own build.
“Start with your kitchen,” says Rebeka, “everything kind of hinges off your kitchen. It's the flow from kitchen to dining to lounge to outside, and that's really the key to how a house will perform.”
“One of the most important things we try and build in, is a mudroom laundry/butler's pantry area, creating a connection between your work area and outside, but it also makes it easy to bring things in and walk through. So, in these areas we use Laminex, as well as the kitchen. And, as you're basically setting a tone here, it will knock on and roll out through the entire space.”
Just as Rebeka says, the palette began in the mudroom entrance and kitchen. The warm, inviting, and colourful palette is brought to life through the extensive use of Laminex Outback Clay in these areas. With push-pull overhead cabinet doors, complementary stone and stainless features, the whole living space feels bespoke and special. Even key, peripheral details like the windows receive proper consideration in the shape of thin steel frames – making sure the house leaves any notions of a quick strip and flip behind. It feels measured and personal, and all the things that return positive result. The lessons have been absorbed and implemented.
The earthy tones continue throughout the home, paint in the living areas was matched - “I chose Kangaroo Pouch by Dulux. There were a few that were a close match, but this one had the most fun name,” laughs Rebeka - and whereas the Laminex Outback Clay brings with it the energy of the Australian desert, Laminex Peruvian Clay is a little quieter and softer, perfect for bedrooms and the custom joinery the brothers specified in these spaces.
Design continuity is evident in the thoughtful attention to detail, where a cohesive aesthetic of custom pieces elevates everyday functionality. Laminex Outback Clay is featured in the laundry and built-in entertainment unit, flowing seamlessly with bespoke bedroom joinery clad in Laminex Peruvian Clay – delivering a storage solution that is both practical and refined. This considered integration of custom Laminex feels distinctive yet understated, creating a harmonious sense of connection throughout the home.
Establishing the design language and theme for any home is always an important development, particularly when renovating for imminent sale. The choices we make in fittings, décor and furniture are crucial to creating that perfect first impression and can often set off the right emotions and feelings in potential buyers. Cliff St hit the nail on the head, balancing and harmonising with the base tones established in the home with a sculptural deep red sofa, organically shaped coffee tables in timber and a tiled kitchen table that makes a statement of fun and permanency.
What Rebeka and her team at BuildHer would like to pass on to their students and clients is what they’re doing isn’t a reinvention of the wheel. It is to give you the confidence to make the right decisions, to make sure your project remains your project and that when executed correctly this can be a lot of fun - and when it’s fun you do your best work.
“People love colour but are often too afraid to use it in their own homes and we know that by being a bit more playful and having a bit more fun, it can set you aside from a trend rather than being inside it,” says Rebeka.
There’s no doubt that the Cliff St project didn’t have a chance of being anything else, Rebeka wouldn’t have allowed it, but the results speak volumes to the BuildHer Collective process and program: Develop and maintain a design consistency, use practical solutions like Laminex and – in time and with a little experience – have fun. The BuildHer Collective is a great resource for any prospective builder, developer or project manager, all you need to do is ask.
Learn more about the project and learn more about BuildHer Collective portfolio on their website.
Products used within Cliff Street are Laminex Peruvian Clay and Laminex Outback Clay.
Credits:
Project: BuildHer Collective
Builder: Beirin Projects, LM Building Group & Benjamin Morgan
Architecture: Obi Office
Photographer: Dylan James Lark
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