Metal studded concrete, marble, the bling of polished brass. A touch of velvet, the caress of leather, the luxury of light. A contemporary home at Torquay on the surf coast of Victoria by Auhaus Architecture.

Photography: Derek Swalwell

Think beach house think white painted walls and accents of blue and sea green. Perhaps that should be pink or melon or citrus green. This modern family holiday home takes a fresh look at the beach theme with its hot fruit flavoured colour hits. Light, bright and stylishly relaxed. Just what you want for your vacation retreat by the sea. Cabana com Arte in Comporta, Portugal by Lisbon-based architectural and interior design studio Sa Aranha & Vasconcelos.

I can’t make up my mind what I like better. The black stairs and the encaustic tiles that link the two floors? The artwork, especially the photography? The sleek, black kitchen as counterbalance to the white, bright apartment? The light flooding in from the windows? The view? Perhaps all of it! Whatever it is, it’s apparent that I love this penthouse in the Dutch city of Utrecht, home to interior designer Jeroen van Zwetselaar of ZW6.

The beach shack, an unpretentious bolthole, a daydream stamped into the collective consciousness of Australians. Escape on a Friday night and head to the coast. Reluctantly drag the family home in the fading Sunday sun. A seachange wish, a rite of real estate passage. Save up. Get a toehold on a hillside overlooking the surf. Build the shack… or buy this one perched between the sea and the National Park at Seals Rocks on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. A compound of interconnected shacks designed by Bourne Blue Architecture and for sale via BresicWhitney. Surf, sand and snoozing on the daybed by the window.

(It may look like a laid back escape but the price will stun you.)

Photography and floorplan by BresicWhitney

I can’t believe a whole month has flown by already but I knew it had when I saw an email from Matilda Duffercy, Senior and Social Editor of Inside Out magazine, in my inbox.

Here is a sneaky peek at our March issue, which hits newsagents and digital outlets on Thursday! Biased though we may be, we really love it and think everyone else will, too. In this issue, there’s a big focus on mastering the kitchen space. We’ve sussed out some secrets from celeb cooks about their kitchens and how they make entertaining a breeze. There’s also just so much visual inspiration and hardworking tips that will help those planning their dream cooking zone.

Still in the world of food, I’ve included our best buys: placemats. Our market editor Joseph Gardner pulled together a lovely selection of pieces that sit right in the middle of pretty and practical. Craig Wall photographed it.

All the homes in this month’s issue are en pointe, but I’ve just included a preview of one of them. Lovers of modern industrial style will be drawn to this space that belongs to veterans of the film and television industry Lesley Crawford and Dennis Smith. The couple’s flair for design and upcycling is clear – check out that “chandelier”. Dennis put it together after no luck in the shops. This home was styled by Jane Frosh and photographed by Harold David.

Our kid’s room feature this month is made for little ones who loved to build things up and then knock it all down again – hard hat may be required. Stylist Vanessa Colyer Tay created a fantastic play zone. Sam McAdam-Cooper captured it beautifully.

The food feature is being sent to you at the perfect time, as it covers off great ideas for afternoon tea – with a bit of a fresh twist. Delish chicken sandwiches (crusts off of course), sweet cakes and some scones are looking very good as I type this email at 3:30pm. Styling by Danielle Selig, food styling by Bernadette Smithies, photography by Jeremy Simons.

Then to the cover. Oh to live like an interior designer. Homeowner Fiona Bateman has lovingly renovated this Edwardian home and it’s a beauty – perfect for her family of six. It was styled by Megan Morton with photography by Annabelle Hickson.

Can’t wait to see more in this month’s issue out tomorrow. Don’t fret if you aren’t in Australia though. You can read along on  Zinio, Google Play,  the Apple Newsstand and Nook.