After a stint overseas, like many Aussies, Rachel Gadiel returned to Australia in 2020 during the pandemic. Originally a Sydneysider, Rachel was deterred by the house prices in her former hometown and so looked to the beautiful NSW coastal town of Mollymook as an alternative. “I had been visiting the south coast for years and have family down here. I saw this house and thought that buying it made much more sense than buying a beachside apartment in Sydney,” says Rachel who was keen to reside near the ocean.
BEFORE front elevationAFTER The exterior of the home was painted in a textured render in Dulux Casper White
Originally built in the late 1980’s, Rachel saw plenty of potential in the home before undertaking a renovation that spanned nine months and finished in August this year. “I felt this house had incredible potential as it had amazing light, great bones and was in a fabulous location near the beach,” says Rachel who engaged an architect (Fox & Wolf Design) and builder (HDG Constructions) to turn her creative vision into reality.
BEFORE loungeAFTER loungeAFTER dining
Combining a modern Mediterranean aesthetic with a Palm Springs inspired feel, the renovation is bright, breezy and fairy neutral except for some pops of pink. “The pink door and pink tiles are my favourite thing. I’m a fan of pink and think it’s a great neutral and because I’m single I wasn’t afraid to go with it. That said, every man who has seen the house think it’s quite neutral apart from the tiling,” says Rachel.
BEFORE bathroomAFTER Tile Cloud tiles and a Reece vanity feature in the bathroom.
Most of the renovation was cosmetic apart from the removal of the wall between the living and dining areas and the open plan space is Rachel’s favourite part of the home. “I love the open plan living and dining and all the natural light in the house. The way the indoor/outdoor living flows beautifully makes it a lovely place to be,” says Rachel.
BEFORE kitchenAFTER kitchenAFTER A brand new deck runs off the kitchen and connects the home with the outdoors
Not only was the whole house overhauled, the home’s lower level was also transformed from a brick and concrete storage area into a self-contained studio. Designed to provide a secondary income stream via Airbnb, the space now features a kitchenette, dining area, bed, bathroom and rear courtyard.
BEFORE studio
AFTER studio
“It was literally an open cement slab next to the garage. My big concern with the studio was that there wouldn’t be enough light but my architect made sure there were enough windows and sliding doors. It’s a great addition to the property.”
For 14 seasons we’ve seen Shaynna Blaze as a judge on The Block, as well as helping homeowners spruce up their spaces on Selling Houses Australia. Now, for the first time, Shaynna is doing it for herself and her family in the heartwarming new series, Country Home Rescue with Shaynna Blaze, set to premiere this Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Shaynna and daughter Carly
In Country Home Rescue, Shaynna, together with her children, embarks on the restoration of a dilapidated historical home in regional Victoria. Watch as they navigate through a never-ending maze of problems when their grand plans are sideswiped by building restrictions, frustrating delays and a huge budget blowout.
Carly, Shaynna and Jess
It will take every ounce of passion and persistence to turn this renovation nightmare into the forever home of their dreams. But you’ll be amazed as it’s revealed, room by room.
In episode one, Shaynna dreams of turning a 130-year-old country house into her family’s forever home. The run-down property was originally purchased as a film set for the family’s first filmmaking project. Now Shaynna wants daughter Carly and son Jess to chip in and build the dream together. She just has to convince them first!
As she plots out the renovation strategy, christening rooms with their very own ‘titles’, we get a sneak peek into the complex (and sometimes off-the-wall) machinations of her design imagination. The plan sounds simple: renovate the existing house and features to create the perfect country home retreat, but the house, and its 1890s DNA, has other plans for Shaynna’s workload and the budget.
We can’t wait to tune in as the judge becomes the renovator and to see Shyanna in the role of mum too! It’s bound to be a goodie!
Country Home Rescue with Shaynna Blaze, 7.30pm, Wednesday 16 November 2022, on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Block 2022: Omar & Oz millionaires as 2 houses don’t sell
With Omar and Oz crowned winners and walking away with more than $1.5m profit between them, the good news really…
“Moving from a sprawling modernist house to an apartment would normally be a difficult adjustment, but after a substantial cull, it was a surprisingly smooth transition,” says Kate Cowen of her charming beachfront mansion apartment that’s located inside an historic 1861 St Kilda building.
Lounge room
Kate made the decision to downsize due to the changing dynamics of her family – her two daughters are now adults, and she doesn’t need so many rooms. Having engaged Bower Architecture and Interiors on her previous home, Kate entrusted the practice again with the interior refurbishment of the apartment that had been home to the previous owners for the past 30 years.
The kitchen cabinetry was designed to appear like beautifully crafted furniture pieces
“Kate’s brief to us was to transform the existing dark spaces into a refuge that she would love spending time in. It was to be unapologetically a space for her and the rich and joyful life she leads as a fabulously single woman,” says Anna Dutton, co-director at Bower Architecture and Interiors. A frequent entertainer, the home also gracefully adapts to host large and small groups of family and friends with the interiors providing a canvas for Kate’s large collection of artwork and sculptures.
The view to the ocean
“Kate is a collector of magical objects and art, frequently finding curios in auction houses, second hand store or even left by the side of the road, restoring them and giving them a second life. Artworks have been selected with passion over time with many of them reminiscent of different eras throughout Kate’s life,” says Anna. Rather than compete with the collection, the refurbishment features pared back, timeless lines and finishes that also celebrate the existing character of the Victorian interior.
Kate Cowen
The spaces were reconfigured to subtly conceal the more private areas of the home from the first floor living and entertainment zone. “There are few rooms, but the volumes are breathtaking. The four metre ceilings and living area overlooking the beach are gob-smacking – everyone who visits has the same reaction,” says Kate.
Living room
A refined steel staircase connects to the lower level of the apartment where the master bedroom, second bedroom, retreat/third bedroom and bathroom are now situated in what was originally two voluminous Victorian spaces complete with ornate cornices and fireplaces.
“Rather than break the majesty of the original spaces, we carefully introduced walls which are separated from the ornate ceilings by fine steel framed windows which allow the lines of the original rooms to flow through them. In addition, they spread natural light throughout the spaces,” says Anna.
Bedroom
And while many of the finishes are on the neutral side, there’s an explosion of colour in the powder room and bathroom where saturated turquoise Moroccan Zellige tiles are combined with a curved tiled ceiling in a nod to St Kilda’s colourful bathhouse history.
Inspired by the classic Arts & Crafts style homes in the surrounding neighbourhood, this unique North London home is full of drama from the street. It features a triple height entrance hall and six-metre-tall angular windows that provide a theatrical connection between inside and out. Designed by Robert Hirschfield Architects, the home is a modern interpretation of the classic Arts & Craft style and accordingly features vertical hanging tiles, roofs with low eaves, dormer windows, gable roofs and part-rendered elevations.
The home from the street
The front door sits within a recessed entrance porch and is wrapped in the same dark linear brick as the front elevation. The sloping nature of the site also inspired the decision to split the home into half-stories, connected by a helical staircase and series of bridge links.
Entry
“One of the biggest challenges of the project was rationalising the significant change in level from the street to the rear garden. A key design decision made early on was to partially excavate the front section of the site, so that the entrance point was lowered to alleviate the access problems created by the existing steep driveway. This also allowed the building itself to be stepped in section, responding to the topography of the site without increasing the height of the roof-line,” says architect Robert Hirschfield.
Bedroom
Bathroom
The large central staircase allows for vertical circulation through the building (linking the front and back levels at various landings), and the bridges offer different views through the home. Contrasting materials provide further visual interest.
StaircaseKitchen and dining
The interior palette utilises a mix of whites, greys and softer tones, with textures chosen to contrast with the external roughness of dark brick against white render. Brighter tones are found in some areas in the form of colourful light fittings and paint colours in the entrance, powder room and master ensuite.
Powder room
The newly configured property provides the family with an arrangement suited to open plan living, while still offering key spaces that can be closed off for privacy. “The house has been described by the client as being a comfortable, luxury family home while accomplishing the brief in an elegant, mature and intelligent way.”
From chef Tom Walton, this one is sure to steal the show this summer. Fresh, vibrant and zesty, it’s the summer salad you’ve been waiting for. A gorgeous dish that’s easy to whip up, it makes a festive side plate for entertaining, Christmas parties or taking along to summer BBQs. This recipe is made with Delcado avocados.
Tom Walton’s green goddess pasta salad
4 Delcado avocados
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
1 cup natural yoghurt
Pinch of dried chili flakes
2 handfuls of basil leaves
2 handfuls of flat leaf parsley leaves
Salt and pepper (to taste)
2 cobs of corn
500 g spiral pasta
200 g diced bacon
2 tbsp tiny capers
1 punnet grape tomatoes (halved)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup semi-dried cherry tomatoes
To make the Green Goddess sauce, scoop the flesh of 2 Delcados, the lemon zest, juice, yoghurt, chili flakes, and half the basil and parsley into a blender with some salt and pepper to taste. Blend to a smooth sauce. Taste and adjust if needed, and set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the corn cobs for 5 minutes, then remove (but do not drain the water). Set the corn aside and allow to cool.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 9 minutes (or according to pack instructions). Drain, then refresh under cold water and drain again.
Meanwhile once the corn has cooled, cut it off the cob and set aside.
Cook the bacon in a frying pan until crispy. Add the caper for 2 minutes toward the end to become slightly crisp and fragrant.
Roughly chop the remaining parsley and combine in a large mixing bowl with the cooked pasta, corn, tomatoes, bacon, and capers. Pour in the avocado sauce and olive oil. Toss gently to combine and season to taste.
Scoop the remaining 2 Delcados from their skin and cut into large wedges. Add to the salad, tossing a couple times more to mix.
Serve the salad scattered with the semi dried tomatoes and remaining basil leaves.
TIPS:
Delcados are the ideal choice for this dish thanks to their smooth, buttery texture, making for a perfectly creamy Green Goddess sauce. Delcados are slow grown, left on the tree for nearly twice as long as other avocados to let their rich, unique flavour develop.
For effortless entertaining, you can prep the Delcado Green Goddess sauce, pasta and corn ahead of time and keep them separately in the fridge. Simply mix everything together and add the final touches when you’re ready to serve.
Dinner, Lunch
Australian summer, avocado, pasta, salad, summer lunch
Pop Architecture worked alongside Beatrix Rowe Interior Design to carefully transform the extension and renovation of South Yarra House. This spectacular renovation combines the original Edwardian-era features with striking contemporary design and materials that work together to maximise natural light. Located in the same-named area in Melbourne’s south, South Yarra House showcases how embracing simplicity and natural elements can breathe new life into a home.
The client’s brief stipulated a focus on light and flow throughout new and existing areas, respect for the original Edwardian features, and a preference for curved edges and real materials. “This brief lead to a strong passive design philosophy and further exploration of the core idea via strategically placed glazing and the effect of light on curved forms and carefully selected materials,” says Justine Brennan, director at Pop Architecture.
A sculptural corbelled brick form anchors the addition of the red brick Edwardian home. Drawing inspiration from its surroundings, the home is heavily centred on the majestic Eucalyptus tree towering over the north-facing backyard. The impressive tree is immediately visible upon entering the Edwardian portion of the house through the introduction of a clerestory window in the main entry corridor. The tree continues to reveal itself as you move through the house.
In addition to the Eucalyptus tree, the design took inspiration from “the distinctive ornate brick chimneys punctuating the surrounding skyline” as well as the “dramatic effect of the northern sun hitting the otherwise nondescript corrugated iron fences in the back laneway. The ivory colour, curved parapet, and textured vertical corbel of the brick element, distills these influences into a simple yet striking focal point of the house,” describes Justine.
The single-storey addition sits at the rear of the existing, renovated home, which opens to the garden and courtyard space. A rooftop terrace sits on top of the addition, as an extension of the outdoor area. Throughout the home, subtle curves and an amalgamation of textures add modern touches and a point of difference. The original central corridor at the front of the home, opens up to a shared living, dining and kitchen space. Its vaulted ceiling and architrave detailing emphasising the Edwardian-era characteristics of the home. Curved plaster and rounded smooth stone cultivate an element of sculptural design and contrast in the home. Highlighting this contrast is the difference between the strong solid materials, like brickwork, stone and hard plaster in contradistinction with gentle elements like timber fretwork in the existing portion of the home. This contrast is embodied in the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen.
A key standout in the home is the brick form. “We had always conceived the sculptural form as having a vertical striated effect to evoke the qualities of the light-play we loved in the existing back laneway. While we explored many materials and applications to achieve this, it was bricks laid in the corbelled method that finally allowed us to create this effect,” says Justine. Adbri Masonry’s sandhurst stone quarter height concrete block in ivory was the ideal choice to achieve this. “We wanted a solid, slim format brick but with beautiful texture and tone. The Sandhurst Stone concrete block worked perfectly and allowed us to meet our intention of laying bricks vertically in a stepped fashion,” added Justine.
The sculptural brick form is featured in the addition of the home, creating a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The brick form wall stretches from the kitchen and laundry indoors, to the outdoor patio, including a woodfire pizza oven. “The construction of the feature brick form itself was one of the most satisfying parts of the project. Once the selected brick had been decided, it was a very collaborative process to resolve the final detailing which greatly enriched the design outcome. The bricklayer recalled learning the ‘corduroy’ method on one of his first ever jobs over 40 years ago, and was excited to revisit the technique in a contemporary way,” says Justine.
“Now a fully functioning and reimagined brick home, the owner often remarks that they enjoy living with such an interactive brick element. They particularly love the way the brick form takes on the characteristics of the day, changing colour and contrast as the day unfolds,” remarks Justine.
Located in Carlton, just north of the Melbourne CBD, this circa 1902 apartment was once home to a trio of university students before it underwent a gorgeous makeover courtesy of The Stylesmiths. “The owner had lent the apartment to their son and his uni mates and needless to say, the transformation from uni lodge to angelic home has been tremendous!” says The Stylesmiths interior designer Kristen Dahl-Feathers who worked on the project with fellow designer Carlie Ng.
Lounge and dining
“When we were first engaged, we weren’t sure if the owners wanted to renovate it and rent it out or move into it as a retirement pad. But we are thrilled that they fell in love with the design and decided to go ahead and live in it themselves,” says Kristen.
Kitchen and mezzanine
With a design brief that focussed on contemporary classic design, with a pared back palette, The Stylesmiths team set about making the compact home feel open and airy. Downstairs, in the communal area, the kitchen is highly detailed yet simple and classic with panelled joinery and curved marble benchtops set on top of a custom designed fluted base.
Once a makeshift bedroom, the mezzanine now functions as a library
Already part of the apartment, the mezzanine was made larger to create room for a library and its adjacent spiral staircase was replaced with a beautiful new timber design with concealed laundry below. “After a few proposals we landed on a built-in library with bookshelves and a large desk up on the mezzanine,” says Kristen.
Kitchen and lounge
Notable products feature throughout including Artedomus marble, Cromwell lighting fixtures, the Bell table from The Woodroom, Armadillo & Co rugs and Mokum fabrics. Bathroom and kitchen hardware was sourced from Perrin and Rowe, The English Tapware Company and Brodware.
The Woodroom’s gorgeous Bell table features in the dining alcove
A standout feature of the home, large bay windows draw the eye in three of the rooms. In the main bedroom, soft roman blinds bring attention to a custom window seat, the living room features a custom tan leather banquette that forms seating for the dining table, and the second bedroom uses the alcove to house an antique desk. “The unique alcoves really make the project special, and each has been given individual purpose, successfully maximising every inch of the available space,” says Kristen.
Bedroom
Overall, the designers were thrilled with the end result. “We loved the aesthetic. The way the stone, fabrics, furniture and colours came together and are bathed in so much natural light makes the home feel at one with its environment.”
Despite its relatively diminutive proportions (it sits on 405 square metres of land and has a 10 metre frontage), this Scandinavian inspired Brisbane home sits proud on the street. “Even though our house is only eight metres wide it looks quite grand because we don’t have a garage attached to the side,” says the home’s owner and interior designer Christal Fysentzou.
Front elevation
Designed in collaboration with Koda Design, Christal managed the interiors while her husband Chris Fysentzou was across the build – all under the banner of their company Zou Build.
“We wanted to create a different form of Queenslander as we are in an area with a traditional character overlay. We really like Scandinavian design and there are lots of gables in Queenslanders too,” says Christal. Gable aside, the balcony and balustrade details are two more obvious nods to the classic Queenslander design vernacular.
Multiple skylights flood the lounge room with natural light
Inside, the interior looks to the Mediterranean for inspiration with lots of organic tones and finishes including a rendered, textured finish that features on the downstairs living room wall, kitchen island bench and rangehood. The kitchen also features Stone Ambassadors engineered stone in ‘Ottoman Grey’ and plenty of curves. “The kitchen curves work to soften the space and give it that Mediterranean feel,” says Christal.
Kitchen
Grey limewashed American Oak timber floors work to further soften the spaces. “We tried to make the house light and bright and kept the interior neutral and fresh,” says Christal. 16 internal skylights were key to realising that dream and ensure that neighbouring properties will never be able to build out the home’s light.
Master bedroom
Ensuite
A clever design feature, that really works to maximise the block, there is a multi-purpose space that sits under the house. The area can fit four cars but also acts as an extension of the backyard and pool. “It’s a great place for the kids to play,” says Christal of the outdoor area that gets a lot of use by the couple’s two daughters Andrea and Sophia.
The girls’ rooms feature loft beds so that they can entertain their friends without encroaching on the communal areas
A statement spiral staircase connects the home’s alfresco area with the pool and outdoor fireplace and nearby Astroturf was a low-maintenance option. “We love that we can entertain all year round in our garden – the pool in summer and fireplace in winter. We have such great weather in Queensland and it’s important to emphasise that in our houses,” says Christal.
Inspired by the features of a typical Queenslander, this family home flips the tradition. While most Queenslander homes are weatherboard with battens underneath, this Brisbane abode sports the complete opposite. “The house has battens on the upper level to protect the home from the sun and provide extra privacy, whilst the weatherboard lower level now sits on a darker base below,” says architect and owner Tim Stewart.
The house from the street
Home to Tim, his wife Sarah and their four children, the original single storey home was built around five years ago and expanded recently when the family outgrew it. “We added this renovation to gain much needed space. From the outside, the external screen acts to tie the old and new together by presenting a new façade to both,” says Tim of the home that sits on just 400 square metres.
Master bedroom
From the outset, the renovation had a fairly simple design brief that included plenty of space for everyone, a robust set of materials and a laidback feel. Tongue and groove flooring, wall and ceiling cladding, burnished concrete floors and a terrazzo kitchen island bench are all highlights of the home. “The materials give the home a warm but casual family feel,” says Tim.
Lovely furniture features throughout include one of the Tim’s favourite items – a dining table designed by South Australia’s Timberwolf Design. “It’s beautiful quality, Australian made and was brilliant value.”
Kitchen and diningLiving room
The living room connects seamlessly with the backyard courtesy of stacked glass doors while crazy paving, landscaping and a lap pool complete the scene. “The biggest splurge was the custom steel fabricated pool fence which was much more expensive than glass but it’s so much more elegant and functional,” says Tim.
Backyard. The pool can be seen on the right.
The home is adjacent to a bike path and the public edges of the park and bike path influenced the layout of the home. “The living, dining and kitchen area is a gathering space that can interact with neighbours and the community. As a completed entity, the home gives beyond the family and out to the surrounding neighbourhood.”
New insights from Pinterest have revealed that good things come in small packages, with Aussies looking to better utilise the spaces in their homes, with a 35% increase in searches for “space saving furniture”.
In this evolving economy, less is more and based on their searches, it seems many Aussies on Pinterest are being inspired to shift to a minimalist lifestyle. With people increasingly working from home, making the most of the available space has become more important than ever before. Pinterest insights show a 40% increase in searches for “apartment living” as Aussies search for inspiration to jazz up their compact living spaces.
If your home has been feeling stale with all the clutter, now’s your opportunity to find inspiration to transform every nook and cranny into something refreshing.
In the past four weeks, Pinterest has seen a:
55% increase in searches for “small playroom ideas”
35% increase in searches for “small bathroom interior”
30% increase in searches for “small pantry design ideas”
Whether you’re planning an easy and fun new project this spring or a complete living space revamp, Pinterest can be a great place for interior design inspiration.
Designed by Smac Studio’s Shona McElroy, this semi-detached/duplex house is in Sydney’s Dover Heights and is home to a busy young family that loves to entertain. A relatively small home, the recently renovated abode manages to fit in four bedrooms, two bathrooms, storage and several entertaining areas without compromising on style.
Lounge, dining and bar
“The brief was very relaxed. They wanted it to feel really welcoming and calming and like a sanctuary and also to reflect their family. They have three young daughters and a little girl dog too so it was a very feminine energy! The owner is really drawn to things that are quite glam, but she also wanted the home to feel quite calm,” says Shona.
Bar
The owners have a large family and spend a lot of time entertaining, so Shona included details such as a big bench seat across from the kitchen – perfect for perching on at parties. “For a small house, it has a lot of entertaining capacity,” says Shona.
Sentimental items are showcased in large shelves above the kitchen and in the niche next to the kitchen bench seat. “The have some beautiful ornamental items that they like to showcase. They also like to collect pretty items when they goes overseas.”
Kitchen bench seat
The open plan kitchen features shaker style cabinet doors and a curved island bench made from Palladian marble. “We loved the idea of an interesting stone profile on the bench, and then we ribbed the underside,” says Shona. There’s also a hidden pantry, concealed by pocket sliding doors, which houses a variety of appliances and extra storage.
Kitchen
The ensuite is a luxurious space that combines bronze framed mirrors that work to make the space feel larger, Murano glass wall sconces, sheer curtains and a double vanity trough sink carved out of stone. “That beautiful stone had all the pink and bronze tones through it. It’s a very harmonious, functional and really gorgeous place to be.”
Ensuite
Master bedroom
The bespoke dressing table was designed to evoke memories of the owner’s grandmother
Another standout space is the powder room which features a blush hued stone, Venetian plaster, panelled mirrors and a beautiful Spence & Lyda pendant light. “I always like to pack a punch with the powder room. I think it’s somewhere where you can have the most fun in the house. And I think it should be a real reflection of the overall design of your house and what you want your guests to experience.”
I’ve known of Art Hide since my very earliest days of blogging as both our businesses started around the same time. What Art Hide did, and continue to do, to change the way we look at cowhide rugs is so innovative, creative and stylish, it’s no surprise they’re still going strong (now both here and in the United States). And excitingly, the time has come for their annual big sale where you can save hundreds (even thousands) of dollars!
The Hornet Desert
I’ve rounded up my favourites here. Think you know cow hide rugs? Think again! Until 4 December 2022, you can save 20% off everything with free, guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery and, for the first time ever this year, they’re also throwing in a free premium rug pad. Amazing!
Add a circle to your room with the Trilogia Circulo in midnight blue
Whether you’re looking for something neutral in greys, whites and blacks (and we definitely count gold as a neutral around here too!), a showstopper in vibrant jewel tones of green and blue or an altogether more feminine piece with pinks and peaches, you’ll be amazed at the range. And with everything customisable to shape, size, pattern and colour, the options really are endless. You’ll also struggle to find a rug material more hardwearing than cow hide so when we call these modern heirlooms, it’s really no exaggeration. These are pieces you and your family will have for years to come.
The Trellis rug in pink proves cowhide can be soft and feminine too
The business is run by sisters Kura Perkins and Bree Hay-Hendry, creating originally designed and ethically sourced leather products. Art Hide is born out of a spirit of adventure, a love of people and a vision for what brings beauty to an environment. The duo’s background in textile design, business and PR, combined with the traditional skills of their meticulous leather-craft team and an array of cutting edge technologies, have seen them create thousands of timeless everyday masterpieces for hundreds of clients.
We think a touch of gold is always a good thing: Curvo gray and gold rug
Art Hide’s premium quality cowhide is sourced as a by-product of the meat industry from regulated tanneries, where methods involved in tanning and dyeing are always safe for workers and are non pollutant.
Linaje in grey, black and gold
A state of the art machine is used to laser burn intricate patterns into some of the rugs, while ’tiles’ of hide are stitched together with commercial grade nylon thread. All rugs feature a branded ribbon edge finish.
Green should always be seen with the Optico rug in Forest Green
Nervous about investing in an heirloom Art Hide rug without seeing it in person? Request one of their $5 Box of Feels be sent to you so you can see the colour and quality for yourself. They even pay for shipping to you and back, when you’re done.
Still struggling to visualise the whole rug in the context of your room? They’ve got you covered! Art Hide also offer free Room Service 3D renders where you upload a photo of your room and send it to them, with the rugs you’re interested in and any other information. They then send you back incredibly realistic renders of how the rug would look in your home.
The super versatile and neutral Olio rug in grey
With environmental and ethical concerns at the top of many of our minds these days, as we move away from fast and disposable homewares (and fashion) towards things that are more custom, unique and handmade, buying less but better things really is something we should aspire to.
The glamorous and sleek Estrella rug in black
Art Hide offer a 14-day no questions asked money back guarantee on all items which aren’t custom or on sale, plus free shipping on all orders.
The La Quinta natural grey circulo will have a place in your home for years to come
The popular geometric look of Angulo in green
This sort of Art Hide sale doesn’t happen often, so if you’ve been thinking about investing for your home or office, there’s never been a better time. I might just jump on it myself! Payment plans are also available for those who need them. Simply contact the team for more information.
Sale runs from 4 November to 4 December 2022 with 20% off all rugs, a free premium rug pad with every rug and free, guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery, Australia wide.
With Omar and Oz crowned winners and walking away with more than $1.5m profit between them, the good news really ended there. It was certainly a shocking set of auction results on tonight’s Block.
I need a lie down!
The Block Tree Change auctions
Two of the five houses had still not sold as of 9pm tonight (Sunday) after being passed in, while the three that did go were all bought by regular bidder Danny Wallis.
Taking the show to dizzying new heights, freshly minted millionaires Oz and Omar were crowned winners of The Block: Tree Change 2022, taking home a record-breaking $1,686,666.66 in prize money after selling their four-bedroom, 10-acre property for $5,666,666.66, which was $1,586,666.66 above their reserve price.
The pair made the largest sum any Blockheads have ever made over a reserve price in 18 series of The Block, netting them an additional $100,000 in prizemoney as the 2022 winners.
Omar and Oz react to their surprise sale price, taking out the win
From Oz and Omar’s incredible result, there was also heartache, with two couples, Ankur and Sharon, and Dylan and Jenny, failing to sell their homes at auction. Both properties were passed in when they failed to attract a bidder over their $4.08 million reserve price, also both attracting a highest bid of $4,075,000.
Ankur and Sharon
Both couples continued to negotiate with their highest bidders after filming, but as of 9pm tonight, November 6, Ankur and Sharon, and Dylan and Jenny, are still open to other offers to buy their homes.
Jenny and Dylan
It’s the first time that a Block property has failed to sell at auction since Series 4 in 2011, when the houses created by Josh and Jenna, and Rod and Tania, in Cameron Street, Richmond (Vic) were passed in.
Sarah-Jane and Tom take home a mere $20k
Fan favourites Tom and Sarah-Jane chose to go second in the auction order, but their home only sold for only $4,100,000.99, which was just $20,000.99 above their $4.08 million reserve price.
It’s the lowest profit a Block house has made since Series 9 Glasshouse in 2014.
Faring a bit better, Block latecomers Rachel and Ryan’s home went for $4,249,999.85 in a post-auction negotiation, getting them $169,000.85 over their $4.08 million reserve price.
Dylan and Jenny
Speaking about their stunning victory, Oz said: “We’re absolutely stoked that we took out the win this year – we had a plan and stuck to it. It is a competition, but seeing each team come in after us and not getting the results that they wanted really hurt.”
Omar said: “It took a while to sink in, but it felt amazing to get a win after the hard work we put in. But it’s very hard seeing others obviously not doing so well.”
Host Scott Cam said: “It was a bittersweet day. We had one incredible high and some crushing lows for our Blockheads, who all worked the hardest I’ve ever seen to deliver these houses.
“As we’ve seen many times before, we’ll continue to negotiate with interested buyers to sell these homes, which are still on the market. I’m gunning for a positive result.”
Speaking about the shock results, The Block co-creator and executive producer, Julian Cress, said: “We’re in a very volatile real estate market and we’ve seen large and unexpected interest rate increases, including one just this week.
“While we had many registered bidders, clearly something has spooked the market. But we believe the properties are of incredible value and we think they will find new owners very soon, to deliver a well-deserved reward for our contestants’ hard work.”
It was Melbourne philanthropist Danny Wallis who saved the day by purchasing all three houses that sold on auction day.
Danny Wallis bought the three houses that sold
Danny said: “I probably spent too much at the first auction, but was surprised to pick up two more homes at what I feel was a bargain price, so I guess it all evened out in the end for me at least.”
This season of The Block was the biggest ever undertaken, with the couples each spending 12 weeks building 500-square metre homesteads complete with tennis courts, pools and wineries on 10 acres of land in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
Since premiering on Channel 9 in 2003, Australia’s richest reality program has awarded a total of $30,547,139.15 in prize money.
PREVIOUS BLOCK WINNERS
2003 – BONDI – Adam & Fiona, $256,000 2004 – MANLY – Jamie & Andrew, $178,000 2010 – VAUCLUSE – John & Neisha, $305,000 2011 – RICHMOND – Polly & Waz, $115,000 2012 – SOUTH MELBOURNE – Brad & Lara, $606,000 2013 – ALL STARS (BONDI) – Phil & Amity, $395,000 2013 – SKY HIGH (SOUTH MELBOURNE) – Alisa & Lysandra, $395,000 2014 – FANS v FAVES (ALBERT PARK) – Steve & Chantelle, $736,000 2014 – GLASSHOUSE (PRAHRAN) – Shannon & Simon, $435,000 2015 – TRIPLE THREAT (SOUTH YARRA) – Darren & Deanne, $935,000 2015 – THE BLOCKTAGON (SOUTH YARRA) – Dean & Shay, $755,000 2016 – PORT MELBOURNE – Will & Karlie, $815,000 2017 – ELSTERNWICK – Josh & Elyse, $547,000 2018 – GATWICK (ST KILDA) – Hayden & Sara, $645,000 2019 – OSLO (ST KILDA) – Tess & Luke, $730,000 2020 – BRIGHTON – Jimmy & Tam, $1,066,000 2021 – FANS v FAVES (HAMPTON) – Mitch & Mark , $744,444
The Block Tree Change 2022: all important kitchen week!
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The Block 2022 amazing landscaping reveals!
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Anyone who has watched the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, knows just how good Italian swim-ware fashion is. Pool Buoy, the team behind the stylish inflatable pools that exploded on Instagram last summer, are launching their new and extended collection LA PISCINA to take care of all your summer needs with this Italian inspired flare.
LA PISCINA brings the Italian Euro summer to your home with a new range of luxury inflatable pools, lavish lilos, pool floats, beach towels, hats and coolers to make this summer your best one yet. Pool Buoy is changing the way we summer by giving any outdoor entertaining area a way to vacay in style from their own backyard. It has contemporary and quirky designs that are guaranteed to make your summer one to remember.
The new LA PISCINA Pool Buoy collection consists of three new cheeky patterns:
Lucky Lorenzo – He’s the over familiar and over friendly summer fling, knows all the best lookout spots. Rides an orange Vespa which dictates his wardrobe choices daily. Secretly to no-one his mum still does his washing,
Frivolous Fran – When she has too many spritz, she insists on being referred to as Franny for short. Spends her days laying by LA PISCINA, over tanned and no one can tell if it’s fake or real anymore. She’s a floral delight.
Hourglass Amber – A sex siren, curves in all the right places. She’s as vague as she is see-through. A virgo but is out of sorts because mercury is in retrograde.
Founder of Pool Buoy, Rae Maxwell, said the new LA PISCINA collection was an ode to the Italian European summer we all wished we were at. “This collection was inspired by evocative Italian summer scenes of slick speed boats along the shore, bathing beauties perched on sun-drenched rocks and colourful sunbeds along the European beach.”
Designed for buoyant personalities, Pool Buoy is not only fun and family friendly, but environmentally responsible too. All designs are made with no nasties, heavyweight vinyl that is BPA free and are extra durable to use summer after summer.
Rachael Hallett and Karlie Suttie, creators of the wildly popular Mums who Clean Facebook Group with almost 350,000 members, share their top tips for getting on top of the spring cleaning. With summer seemingly nowhere in sight, we figure we’ve got a little longer this year!
Rachael and Karlie of Mums Who Clean
Make a plan
Spring cleaning can be challenging whether your place is big or small. But, like all big undertakings, making a plan is a good idea. Start by listing out every room of your house, thinking about things you probably don’t clean regularly. This may include baseboards, walls, behind and underneath furniture (and the furniture itself). A handy tip is to work from the top down, starting with ceilings, walls and cabinetry first and floors last. This helps ensure that any dust or debris that falls to the floor is cleaned up at the end, as opposed to cleaning the floors first.
Overhaul your cleaning supplies
Before getting stuck into the dirty work, ensure you have all the cleaning supplies you will need for the work ahead. It’s also a good time to replace those old rags, brushes or sponges you’ve been using the last few months that may have hidden bacteria of their own. Many cleaning products also have a shelf life, so any products that are old and out of date, such as multi-purpose cleaners, should be thrown away. This is also a good time to check the filter on your vacuum. A dirty filter can significantly affect your vacuum’s suction power, resulting in a less effective clean. Ideally, you should be cleaning your vacuum filter every three months to get rid of the dirt particles, crumbs and dust hiding inside or on newer vacuums, like the LG CordZero Handheld Vacuum with All-In-One Tower, the LG ThinQ mobile app sends notifications to your phone when you need to change the filter.
Declutter first
To boost your motivation, start by decluttering your space. Consider donating and selling anything you don’t need so that you are starting your spring clean with a fresh, spacious area. This will help you achieve a deep, thorough clean of the home as opposed to a superficial clean around the cluttered objects. If you aim to reduce the clutter on flat surfaces like tabletops and shelving, it will also become much easier to keep clean in the long term by reducing the places dust and debris can hide.
Set a new tone, with some fresh scents
There’s nothing better than the smell of citrus to power you through your spring cleaning. Distract yourself from the pungent odour of cleaning supplies by lighting a candle. You could even add a scent to your vacuum cleaner or mop water, so you leave a nice smell throughout the home. Some of our top scent suggestions are eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Clean your cleaning appliances
Dishwashers and washing machines are appliances we use daily to clean up messes. However, we sometimes forget that these appliances can also collect dirt, bacteria and even mould, especially if we aren’t careful to maintain them. The process can be as simple as using common household products such as vinegar and bi-carb soda and running through each machine on a normal cycle. Fortunately, newer washer machines and dishwashers these days come with self-cleaning functions that make cleaning your appliances a whole lot easier.
Expired? retired!
Give your fridge a makeover by throwing away expired, leftover foods and stocking up with fresh springtime fruits and vegetables. It’s important to seasonally clean out your fridge to prevent the growth of any harmful bacteria or mould. It’ll also make cooking much easier, with less clutter and time spent looking for that missing ingredient.
Don’t forget about the air in your home
Cleaning or replacing the filter on your air conditioner is one of the most important yet overlooked household chores. Air conditioner’s ducts can build up dirt and dust in winter, making it harder to dispel fresh air and worsening energy efficiency. Smart air conditioners come with a feature that allows you to monitor the status of your filter and advises when it needs changing.
Use a vacuum with HEPA technology to reduce allergens
Reduce springtime allergens from your home by using a vacuum with HEPA technology. HEPA technology captures dust and tiny airborne particles like pet dander and allergens, providing a much more effective clean. We suggest using this feature in combination with different accessories and cleaning tools so you can target other areas beyond carpets. For example, the LG CordZero All-in-One Tower includes a Bedding Power Punch Nozzle that can vacuum dust and allergens off soft furnishings such as curtains, pillows, lamp shades, mattresses and couches.
De-gunk your oven
Cleaning your oven is an essential part of spring cleaning. Nobody wants an oven filled with grease, grime and food debris. Not only can it compromise the flavouring of your baked goods, but it can be a fire hazard. As a first step, use your appliance’s self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn’t have this feature, you can clean your oven’s interior using a damp microfibre cloth or sponge, along with some bicarb soda and vinegar.
For those stubborn oven racks, our hack is to wrap each rack up with foil and pop a dishwasher table inside. Next, soak all your oven racks in the bath with hot water for at least 2 hours or overnight for the best result, making sure to first line the bottom of the tub with a towel for protection. Once finished, run a soapy steel wool or scourer over the rack to wipe off all the grime.
Tackle the grout
Cleaning grout between the tile flooring is an often-overlooked chore in our annual spring clean, as it’s a lot more labour-intensive than mopping. However, cleaning grout doesn’t have to be as labour-intensive as you think if you use the right products and techniques! We suggest pouring Long Life Grout Cleaner from Bunnings and lightly scrubbing with a hard bristle hand brush. After wiping the residue with a damp cloth, the grouting looked good as new, without a trace of dirt left between the tiles—this an easy hack to achieve a lighter and brighter bathroom look.
A sweet dessert using Barker's of New Zealand's Marmalade
1 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour
3 tsp Baking powder
1/2 cup Shredded coconut
1 cup Sugar
2 tbsp Barker’s Breakfast Marmalade
1 tbsp Lemon zest
1 cups Milk
125 mg Butter (melted)
2 Egg
2 tbsp Icing sugar
2 tbsp Lemon juice
1/4 cup Water
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced, 350°F, gas mark 4).
CAKE MIX: grease a 20cm round cake tin. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Pour batter into the tin. Bake for 40 minutes. When cooled, remove the rim and transfer cake to a cooling rack
SYRUP: combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring, until the mixture is reduced and syrupy. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving.
To serve, drizzle syrup over individual cake slices when serving
Dessert
breakfast cake, cake, coconut, marmalde
Foodie Friday: Ed Halmagyi’s cheesy mac-o-lanterns
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Foodie Friday: Vegan dark chocolate, nutmeg & Oreo cheesecake
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Rebeka Morgan of BuildHer Collective, an experienced builder, renovator and renovation educator, explains why the old game of renovating for profit no longer works.
Let’s go back a little with this conversation! Remember the times when developers were all men, they’d buy a renovators delight to tart up a bit. They’d throw a lick of paint on the walls and the tiles, then maybe they pop a box on the back and then resell it for a profit? The mantra was do it as cheaply as possible – which we think has given all developers a bad name!
Well, we are here to say that this does not work anymore!
The market is far too smart for that now. We know when a renovation is cheap and nasty and we are demanding better and more!
Why is this? The vast number of renovation shows have meant that we are more aware of how to renovate, we know what we want and we don’t want to pay for work which we could have done better ourselves. There is also way more access to information – purchasers now know what you bought a property for and how much time it took to renovate, and they’ll make their own calculations on what the renovation is worth (in most situations, forgetting to factor in holding costs, stamp duty and sale costs)!
So, does this mean you can’t make money renovating for profit?
No – but it does mean you need to focus on creating value, presenting a product that is fit for your market and providing solutions that will be valued and paid for by the purchaser.
Style and flair mixed with practicality (ummm, yes that means storage!) has become the key and creating a home that the purchaser is willing to pay for which is more than the cost of the work. There is so much inspiration and imagery available now and our dreams of the home we will live in have adjusted accordingly!
The good news is that this is increasing the standard of the build and means that if you are working in this area you can do really well renovating for profit.
However, it’s not all good news.
With the increase of these renovation shows we have seen more people pick up tools and decide to tackle projects without really understanding the process and the costs, missing the mark and making either no profit or, much worse, a loss. We recently spoke to a couple who had great success in their first build (probably due to a rising market) but despite investing more than 500 hours of physical work on each of the two subsequent projects, they only just broke even. They couldn’t understand what had gone wrong.
We unfortunately hear this type of thing all the time, and whilst renovating for profit can be super fun, there is a key: profit. You do need to make a profit, and a profit that is worth the investment of time.
At BuildHer Collective, we have an amazing group of women, DevelopHers, who are renovating and developing for profit the right way! They know how to run the numbers and make sure they are adding value from the outset. With our experience in this game, we have identified 11 different aspects of renovating for profit that can make or break the budget!
If you have dreamed of renovating for profit, or perhaps you already are giving it a go and you want to know how to maximise your profits, then please join us for our free Stop Dreaming, Start Renovating – three evening event:
Stop Dreaming, Start Renovating for Profit!
When: Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 November 2022, 7.30-to-8.30pm
In no small part due to the current season of The Block, modern country interiors are in vogue again. But the look is hardly new. In fact, it’s its timelessness and classic appeal that makes it a winner. We’ve rounded up some stunning projects to inspire you if you’ve been thinking of embracing the look.
The modern country style is a huge part of builder Rachael Turner’s work at Front Porch Properties. “I think the appeal is a fusion of old and new which is good, because everything feels modern, fresh, clean lined and sophisticated, but then it’s got that kind of homey charm which is so endearing and lovely to live in, and the feeling of it is just so warm.”
While Rachael doesn’t own a TV, her colleagues keep her up to date on The Block and its country focus. “I think it makes a nice change that they’ve steered across in this direction this season, and the one thing I love is that through all the style trends that have come and gone over the years, people still love to revert back to country. There’s just something about it; a timeless charm that resonates with most people.”
A long time user and fan of Intrim timber mouldings, she says they play a huge part in pretty much every project she does. “They’re often overlooked when planning a reno, but for us, using mouldings is one of our signature traits.”
In her Brookfield Project in Queensland, (pictured), she wanted a tall skirting board with simple detailing to work with the modern farmhouse look. “I love a 185mm profile as it just adds a little bit of luxury to any wall and finishes it off beautifully. We always use a matching architrave for our door and window trims too.”
They used the same 185mm skirting boards to customise some of the feature cabinetry in the living room and pantry. “This brought such a lovely cohesion to where the skirting met with the cabinetry; a simple detail but it really elevated the cabinetry.”
SK1006 skirting was also used to customise cabinetry for a cohesive look
Ultimately, Rachael says you can use the modern country style in any home, even a really contemporary one. “You can make it warmer just by styling it with a modern country feel.”
Intrim products used:SK1006 skirting board in 185 x 18mm | SK1006 architraves in 66 x 18mm | DAR in 66 x 12mm
For tips on how to customise your cabinetry using skirting boards, watch Rachael’s video:
Andrew Terevenar of AFT Building Solutions loves modern country too. “It should have a homely, warm feeling. Each room should feel inviting and cosy, and whites and warm tones should be consistent throughout the home. I believe the only modern components should be in the technology, appliances and fixtures used. In essence the home should feel that it has character and soul.”
AFT Building Solutions used a lot of mouldings in their Australian Coastal Sanctuary project (pictured) in south western NSW.
And whether you’re on acreage or in the burbs, Andrew says walking into a country style home should feel like an escape from the daily grind. “Generally, the country style home is accented with warm, bright tones and filled with natural light which can make a massive difference to someone’s wellbeing and general mood.
“I believe any home can be modern country if the house is done right with the right feel and design. Personally, I love the French country look so obviously chair rails and wainscoting are a must but I have seen some fantastic projects using just mixes of VJ board and natural timbers.”
Intrim products used: SK945B skirting boards in 185mm and architraves in 90mm | IN32 inlay mould and CR22 chair rail to create wainscoting
This NSW Southern Highlands country barn and cottage (below) by Cottonwood & Co is giving us all the country feels and has all the trimmings (pardon the pun!).
“The cottage dated back to around the 1940s/50s so had some lovely old character details like beautiful cornices and ceiling roses, but unfortunately over the years it had undergone a number of basic and unsympathetic updates which weren’t in keeping with its original character,” says interior designer Nicki Dobrzynski.
“It therefore felt important that we put back some of those original details, like the lovely detailed skirting and architrave mouldings from Intrim, as well as the VJ boards which reinforce that country cottage look. I love using VJ board as it’s a more modern version of traditional headboard but still very classic and suits both traditional or contemporary settings.”
Nicki says the modern country look calls for matte finishes and weathered materials over highly polished and perfect surfaces. “Country homes are all about comfort, practicality, architectural charm, and a collected, laid back look. The modern country home tends to have more vintage and antique pieces, but also found and collected objects.”
She added that while any home can embrace elements of modern country, you need to be careful not to overdo it or your interior can end up feeling too much like a theme. “I personally believe the most successful interiors respond to, and connect with, the landscape and environment they’re in as well as the homeowner’s personal style and taste. It’ll feel inauthentic if you try to create a particular style when the architecture and setting don’t relate to one another. If you’re in the city and love the modern country look, my advice would be to keep things a little more restrained.”
