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Interiors Addict

Changing Rooms episode 2 recap: Love and hate!

This week, Changing Rooms changed its timeslot to Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm. We tuned in to see how the rooms went down and it was definitely a case of love and hate. But overall, the homeowners were happier than not with their new look homes, created by interior designers Tim Leveson and Jane Thomson.

Tim Leveson with the blue team

Much like the nineties version of the show, there was a lot of opening paint cans of worryingly bold colours! And there was a lot of the homeowners looking at the designers like they’d completely lost the plot.

Jane Thomson with her yellow team

It made for some pretty good viewing, especially when we all knew Tim’s pleather kitchen was going to go down like a lead balloon (let’s face it, it makes good TV when they hate it!). But equally, Jane’s blue and gold bedroom was rather lovely, so they certainly kept us guessing! Let’s have a look at the rooms…

TIM’S ROOMS

Thankfully Tim thought better of his idea for bright red paint up the stairs and changed that for this surprisingly subtle pink. The homeowners loved this room.

Budget tables were DIY-d from recycled timber and hairpin metal legs.

I don’t think anyone was surprised (except Tim) when they hated the kitchen. The pleather (you read right) clad overhead cabinetry and full-on brass splashbacks which were pretty much glowing yellow, were an acquired taste! Having gutted and transformed their neighbours’ kitchen next-door, the couple definitely felt they got the raw end of the deal.

“This is not what we were hoping for, no, no, no.” When asked by host Natalie Bassingthwaite if there was anything they did like in the kitchen, it was a resounding no, followed by “total disaster” and “it’s bloody awful!”

Oh dear.

I was definitely not expecting them to like this master bedroom, especially as their house was very white on white before and this was a riot of pattern and colour,  but they did! Phew!

And they liked the en suite too.

JANE’S ROOMS

In true Changing Rooms style, we were led to believe this orange would be a disaster but it really didn’t look too bad. The homeowners loved everything Jane did, even crying tears of joy!

While I wasn’t hugely into the orange walls or the doodle wallpaper (oh, so many jokes!), I loved that black kitchen! It was a fantastic result on a budget.

And as someone with navy walls in my bedroom, I loved a lot about the master bedroom, including those brass lights.

Navy and gold is always a good idea in my book.

Next week, we can’t wait for our friend and contributor Naomi Findlay to be one of the featured designers, alongside Chris Caroll.

Are you watching? Did you watch the original show? What did you think of last week’s rooms? We’d love you to share with us in the comments.

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Interiors Addict

Natalie Bassingthwaighte to host Changing Rooms revamp

A huge hit in the nineties, the DIY home renovation show Changing Rooms will return to Australian television screens next year with Natalie Bassingthwaighte performing the hosting duties. Broadcast by the TEN and WIN Network, the show’s concept will see keen and creative couples swap houses with their family, friends or neighbours. With help from leading designers, each couple will revamp key rooms in each other’s homes before revealing the results at the end of the season.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Natalie Bassingthwaighte

“When Network Ten called to ask if I would be interested in hosting a show called ‘Changing Rooms’ I said ‘You had me at Changing Rooms’. I absolutely love everything to do with design and I am forever quite literally changing every room in my house! It’s the perfect fit and I am incredibly excited,” says Natalie who is best known for her roles in Neighbours, The Wrong Girl, So You Think You Can Dance Australia and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

“Natalie is the perfect choice to host Changing Rooms. She is fun, authentic, and engaging, and that is what has made her so popular with Australian television audiences for many years. We are thrilled to see her bring a contemporary twist to the original and best home renovation show,” says Sarah Thornton, Network Ten executive producer for Changing Rooms which commences production this October.

For more | Inside the chic but thrifty norsuHOME renovation

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The Block’s Dani Wales returns to TV this Saturday

After chatting to Dan Reilly about his return to The Block last week, it turns out his partner and ex-Blockhead herself, Dani Wales, will also be making a return to our screens.

dani wales interiors addict

Launching this Saturday on TEN, Healthy Homes TV Australia will follow Dani, alongside co-host Walt Collins, as they explore the latest innovations, ideas and products for the home and garden.

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Dani and Walt

Promising not to be yet another home makeover show, the duo will be staying far away from tired concepts and instead focusing on giving Aussies realistic projects that they can do themselves. “You certainly won’t see us running around with paintbrushes doing room reveals before the homeowners arrive home,” explains Dani, who blogs at Basic Habitat. “Healthy Homes TV Australia is about bringing you the latest ideas and products to help you achieve a look or style yourself.”

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Dani and Walt

Each week, Dani and Walt will visit a home and showcase how you too can transform your property. “We’re not tradies and we’re not pretending to be interior designers,” says Walt. “It’s a really honest and down to earth format which really does show you the things you can have a crack at yourself; how to achieve a designer look on a budget or how the latest air-conditioning technology can save you heaps of cash.”

Healthy Homes TV Australia launches Saturday 24 January at 1pm on TEN.

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Interiors Addict

Like Masterchef… but for renovators Groundbreaking show The Renovators is coming to Australia from t

Like Masterchef… but for renovators


Groundbreaking show The Renovators is coming to Australia from the makers of Masterchef and I couldn’t be more excited!

 

Network TEN and SHINE Australia claim the scale of this show has never been seen before on Australian television.

 

“We have scoured the country to find the very best renovators from all states, from all skill sets and from all age groups, all with a proven record in transforming properties and profiting from them,” said a spokesman for TEN. “Renovations are already well underway on a range of properties in varying degrees of dilapidation, from a fibro cottage to a sixties suburban to an inner city terrace, each attempting to increase its value which will be determined in a massive finale auction.

 

“The task: to transform these nightmares into real estate gold. The winner will be the last remaining contestant responsible for the property that has increased most in value and the prize is worth rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty for.”

 

In addition to these renovations, the contestants will congregate at the central Renovators’ warehouse – the largest television set in Australia – where they will be presented with regular design, decorating and construction challenges to win valuable assets and advantages for their own renovations.

 

Meet the judges

 

BRENDAN MOAR – Host

Qualified landscape architect and two time ASTRA award winner of Favourite Male TV Presenter, Brendan joins The Renovators having appeared in numerous lifestyle shows including Home, Moar Gardening and Dry Spell Gardening.

 

PETER HO – Judge

Design director of PHOOEY Architects in Melbourne, Peter has received international, national, state and local awards for his architectural work which tends toward sustainability. He’ll not only be casting his architectural eye on the home transformations, but also how the contestants use and re-use their materials – giving them the green thumbs-up, or down…

 

ROBYN HOLT – Judge

Design consultant Robyn Holt says design journalism and styling have been her passion for the past 20 years. As the Editor of Vogue Living for 10 years she has become known as a leader in the design industry and has been responsible for uncovering new talent in the field of interior design, celebrating known designers and presenting inspirational homes.

 

BARRY DU BOIS – Judge

Barry’s building career spans more than 30 years which includes a three-year posting as President of the Master Builders Association Eastern Suburbs. Retired at an enviable 46, he sailed around the world in his yacht and now spends six months of the year cruising international waters. With a character as big as the Renovators’ set, get ready to be bowled over by this loveable tradesman.

 

Coming soon to TEN. Watch this space for more info! I can’t wait, can you?