Perfect choice

Diaz Homes showcased its signature approach to craftsmanship and client collaboration through its award-winning Walkerville project. Winner of the South Australia People's Choice Home at the 2025 HIA South Australia Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards, the project blends a contemporary coastal facade with a calming, luxurious interior.

Inspired by modern northern NSW and Queensland architecture, the design embraces premium materials, including PGH Morada Blanco bricks in a slender linear profile. This project shows how architectural quality materials and thoughtful finishes come to life when a skilled builder and committed client share a clear vision. ‘We chose CSR because of its trademark reliability and service,’ says David Girolamo at Diaz Homes.

Modern twist on timeless design

See how the Clipsal Solis™ Collection adds a touch of bespoke luxury to a contemporary residential project designed and built by Design Builders in Lake Taupo, New Zealand. Created to elevate high-end builds, the Solis Collection of power points and light switches has a timeless aesthetic that blends contemporary style with smart home functionality.

Explore how the Lake Taupo property features the pinnacle range of Solis T Series, which combines the old-school feel of robust toggles with thin, flush covers in a range of premium finishes.

Handcrafted touch

Bringing artisan character to contemporary spaces, the Valentia Diamond pattern tile series from Tiento pairs a handcrafted look with geometry and colour. Subtle linear brushstrokes sit over a cement-look base, creating movement and depth that elevates feature walls, splashbacks, entryways and high-traffic floors alike.

Made in Spain and rated R10 for slip resistance, the range is suited to both wall and floor applications – ideal for projects where aesthetics and performance need to work together. Available in 223×223mm format with a 10mm thickness.

Mood lighting

Compact yet refined, the Orb Sur Mini wall light for Lighting Republic pairs a matt opal glass sphere with a streamlined cylindrical frame in White, Iron or Old Brass. Designed for wall cavities and cabinetry, the electrical connection can be completed outside the fitting for a clean, concealed finish.

The opal globe casts a soft, diffused glow – ideal for discreet ambient lighting. Measuring 30×80×80mm, White features an aluminium frame, while Iron and Old Brass are crafted from solid brass. Available from RJ Living.

New homes forecast

The James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2026 is the third annual research report which showcases current design directions. It translates global design signals and local data into a forward-looking perspective on Australian housing.

Grounded in creative expression, this year’s Forecast recognises homes as dynamic environments that reflect identity, support wellbeing and adapt to life’s evolving rhythms. Insights are decoded into four lifestyle themes, representing distinct needs and aspirations, and expressed through eight Modern Looks refined for Australian homeowners.

The Forecast delivers practical, design-led direction for renovations, extensions and new builds.

More than tapware

Lucent Designs tapware represents the intersection of design and functional precision. Each piece is crafted with a sculptural sensibility, drawing inspiration from the interplay of light, materiality and form. Defined by its restrained elegance and enduring finishes, Lucent Designs elevates everyday rituals into moments of quiet luxury.

Engineered for performance yet designed to be admired, the collection embodies a timeless aesthetic that transcends trends. More than tapware, Lucent Designs is a statement of intent, created for spaces where detail matters, and where design is not just seen, but felt.

Ultra-realistic flames

Make a statement with the Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace, redefining home luxury with elegance and innovation. It features ultra-realistic flames, dynamic glowing logs and immersive sound effects that evoke the cosy look and feel of a real fire.

Designed for seamless integration into modern homes, the Rinnai EL Electric Fireplace delivers sophisticated ambience to enhance any space with warmth and sumptuousness – all without the need for flueing. With a range of sizes from 1000mm to 1800mm, flexible installation options and smart control integration, the Rinnai EL is designed to meet the needs of homeowners, architects and interior designers seeking both style and performance.

Build faster, safer, smarter

Builders are under increasing pressure to deliver faster, safer and more cost-effective projects without compromising quality. MiTek Posi-Strut offers a smarter approach to floor framing, combining the strength of timber with the versatility of open web design.

This allows for easy service integration, reducing onsite modifications and delays. Lightweight and quick to install, Posi-Strut helps streamline construction while improving safety by minimising manual handling and working at heights. For builders looking to increase efficiency and consistency across projects, Posi-Strut delivers practical, proven value where it matters most — onsite.

A non-lead flashing solution

German-engineered and celebrating 25 years in Australia, Wakaflex has become the country’s most widely used non-lead flashing solution. Its polyisobutylene (PIB)-based polymer rubber construction, reinforced with an aluminium mesh, features chemical self-bonding capability that creates a continuous waterproof seal when overlapped – a key advantage as storms become more severe.

Its inert, non-toxic composition also means it won’t contaminate rainwater, making it safe for potable water systems. This is a growing priority for off-grid and sustainability-focused builds. Ease of installation is another reason Wakaflex has become a preferred flashing for roofers and builders nationwide. Lightweight and flexible, and requiring no specialist tools, it helps reduce labour time and onsite complexity.

Quiet whole-of-home comfort

Recognised by CHOICE® as Australia’s best air-conditioner brand, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) applies its proven engineering expertise across its ducted systems. Trusted across residential, multi-residential and light commercial projects, these solutions are engineered for performance and seamless integration.

They deliver quiet, consistent whole-of-home comfort, with MHIAA’s optional zoning solution enabling individual control of up to eight zones. A Blue Fin anti-corrosion technology helps them perform reliably in our harsh climate, while robust, energy-efficient engineering ensures depend¬able performance across projects of all sizes, making them a smart choice for builders and developers alike.

Cladding system for facades

The Dulux® Acratex® StoneShield™ lightweight cladding system is an alternative walling system to traditional masonry construction. It’s designed as a totally integrated, multi-layered, non-load bearing lightweight cladding system for facades. It delivers a weatherproof external building envelope that provides excellent thermal performance (R-Value) with continuous insulation to reduce thermal bridging and also offers noise reduction performance.

Suitable for both residential and commercial construction, StoneShield also meets BAL and FRL requirements, making it ideal for facades, boundary and separating walls. Explore how StoneShield can enhance your next project.

Sick of quoting tyre-kickers?

Like most custom builders, you’re probably frustrated by losing weeks every year pricing under-budget enquiries. Sadly, four out of five enquiries don’t have the budget to build their project. That’s your time down the drain. Ready to re-claim control of your week?

Use ProCalc’s free quote analyser to eliminate tyre-kickers before you quote them. It helps you quickly see which clients can afford their project and what jobs are worth quoting.