Tag: charlie albone

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Interviews Outdoor & Exteriors

Charlie Albone’s top gardening tips for inside and out

Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone

Plant Life Balance, a leader in Australia’s green space industry, has just launched the Greener Spaces Better Places initiative with ambassador Charlie Albone. And it seems we’ve never been more interested in plants than since the onset of COVID-19 with 44.2% of Australians believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the importance of nature in their family’s lives. Additionally, sales of herb and vegetable plants in Australia has increased by 27%.

Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone

But, if you’re like most people, caring for greenery can seem like an intimidating task but this is where Charlie’s expertise comes in. “There’s a green thumb in us all, and we’re seeing this now more than ever as people turn to gardening – successfully – for the first time since lockdowns. I’m looking forward to sharing my story and top tips so more aspiring gardeners can feel confident to get out there and get their hands dirty!” says Charlie.

Charlie’s tips for indoor plants 

Life for an indoor plant is tough as not much has evolved in a dark cave with air-conditioning. You need to show your indoor plants some love. 

  • Pick wisely; selecting tropical plants with big leaves, peace lily, devils’ ivy and monstera are all fail safe. 
  • Put them in a well-lit ventilated area, the more natural you can make the environment the better the success. 
  • Overwatering will kill them as quickly as underwatering them so come up with a routine and stick to it. Regularity is the key to success and each situation will be different but start with a little bit every three days and see how your plants respond. Adjust the amount of water before adjusting the regularity. 
  • Take your indoor plants for a shower once a month – this will replicate rain, wash off the dust from the leaves and soak the root balls giving them a boost of hydration. Don’t use any hot water as this could scold the leaves. 
  • If you are showering your plants, you shouldn’t need to wipe the dust off your leaves, however for super shiny specimens, dab the smallest amount of olive oil on a cloth and shine them up.
Charlie Albone

How to pick a plant for the outdoors

It can be a daunting process picking plants for a garden, they seem like such a big investment and you desperately want them to succeed. Although it’s never fool proof, you need to follow a process to get the best chance of success. 

  • First up you need to study where your new plant baby is going to go. This will stop you from buying things you like the look of but simply won’t grow in the spot you want them to grow in. Work out how much sun the spot gets, if it’s full sun, semi shade or full shade. Then dig a hole and pour a big bucket of water into it and see how quickly it drains away, this will tell you a lot about your soil and how it drains. 
  • When you’re at the nursery don’t be scared to ask for advice, plant people love to share their knowledge and now you know your sun requirements and how the soil drains you stand a good chance of getting the right plant for your spot. 
  • Improve your soil with compost, known as black gold, it helps to bind sandy soil together and break up clay by bringing in worms. (Heavy clay can also do with a handful of gypsum) 
  • Soak your plant in its pot in a large bucket of water before planting to ensure it’s completely hydrated, leave it in there until all the air bubbles have stopped. You can add in some seaweed tonic if you want to help settle it in quicker. 
  • Your plant is used to living like a king at the nursery so establish it with plenty of water as this will ensure good root growth and establishment. 
Charlie Albone

Tips for getting the right plant for your spot 

  • The leaf will tell you so much about a plant, as a rule of thumb small leaves can take lots of sun and large leaves need more shade. If they are hairy, silver, or succulent, chances are they like baking in hot sun too. 
  • Buy fast growing plants in small sizes and slow growers in larger sizes to make your dollar go further, in the end they will catch up to each other. 
  • Research the plant and find its mature height so you can plan your planting scheme, these are often given in perfect growing conditions in a natural habitat so for your garden you can plan for it to get to 75 per cent of this height. 
Charlie Albone

For more on Greener Spaces Better Spaces

Charlie Albone and Juliet Love share a first look at their new home

With two sons, it didn’t take long for Aussie landscape designer and TV host Charlie Albone and his interior stylist wife Juliet Love, to outgrow their two-bedroom home. After going…

Covet my coffee table: with Juliet Love & Charlie Albone

Photography by Susan Papazian This week, we’re excited to give you a glimpse of the home of interior-exterior design duo and husband and wife, Juliet Love and Charlie Albone. Juliet…
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Designers Interviews Styling

Juliet Love on her new role at Better Homes & Gardens and working with Charlie

Juliet Love and Charlie Alone

A long-time friend of the blog, we caught up with stylist and interior designer Juliet Love recently when we heard she was joining Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens as the show’s permanent decorating presenter. Replacing Tara Dennis, who left last year, Juliet will be working alongside her husband Charlie Albone who she just so happened to meet working in television, many moons ago.

“Charlie had been doing Selling Houses Australia for a few years when we met so he was the seasoned professional and I was the novice. He was so kind to me from day one,” says Juliet who explains that the couple were engaged 10 months later, married not long after that and now share two beautiful children together. 

Juliet Love

Juliet first worked on Better Homes and Gardens as a guest presenter in 2021 and is thrilled with the permanent role that will see her give viewers fresh ideas on how to transform their homes for less – there will be cosmetic room makeovers, clever storage solutions and craft projects. “I’m passionate about showing people how easy it is to add some affordable creativity and beauty within their homes, so working on the show is a dream come true,” says Juliet.

Juliet on set
Behind the scenes on set

As for working with her husband, Juliet had always hoped to do another show together and it’s worked out quite nicely (given their role as parents), that most of their shoot days are separate. “Charlie and I mostly film separate stories, but we will do more makeovers together this year. It’s always a laugh with Charlie around – lots of pranks and jokes! I still get excited to work with him to this day, butterflies even. I’m like a giddy schoolgirl!” says Juliet who says that they wouldn’t be able to balance children and their careers without the help of very hands-on grandparents.

Juliet with her husband Charlie Albone
Juliet with her husband Charlie Albone

TV and parenting commitments aside, Juliet is continuing with her other styling work and is working on a homewares line due to launch later this year. The couple are also continuing their own Sydney home renovation with a plunge pool and pergola with rooftop vegetable garden in the works. “It will be pretty spectacular! I also can’t wait for that to finish because once that’s done, I can finally do the front of the house – we’re taking it from red brick to white weatherboard,” says Juliet.

And while Charlie is the resident landscaping expert and Juliet handles the interiors, the couple tend to consult each other on the bigger decisions at home. Upon first meeting, they both had rather different styles, (Juliet’s was more formal and Charlie’s more rustic) but they’ve learnt to compromise. “Over time, our styles have evolved, and I think we’ve been good for each other in that way. We have a mutual respect for each other’s eye for design, which I think helps us end up with the best overall result,” says Juliet.

Juliet and Charlie in the garden with their two sons
Juliet and Charlie in the garden with their two sons

And as for Juliet’s top home styling advice, she’s a big proponent of mood boards and of letting an interior evolve over time. “A vision board and a plan will help you achieve the look you want. If you include all the things that inspire you and that you love, including colours, textures, and images on the board, you can’t go wrong. I think the most beautiful homes are the ones that are layered over time and tell the story of the person living there.”

Charlie Albone and Juliet Love share a first look at their new home – The Interiors Addict

With two sons, it didn’t take long for Aussie landscape designer and TV host Charlie Albone and his interior stylist wife Juliet Love, to outgrow their two-bedroom home. After going…

Sustainable garden design: Charlie Albone’s top 7 tips!

While sustainability is an ever-increasing concern for many Australians, it’s not something you may have thought about with respect to your garden. From choosing your plants with purpose to harvesting…
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RENO ADDICT

Selling Houses Australia new presenters revealed to join Andrew Winter

Andrew Winter will be joined by new presenters Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott as production commences for the 14th season of the popular LifeStyle Channel renovation show. It’s hard to imagine not one but two new personalities on the show!

Photo: Nicholas Wilson

FOXTEL today announced the replacements for Shaynna Blaze and Charlie Albone after they both left the show. Production starts next week with the Selling Houses Australia team scouring the length and breadth of Australia’s heartland, bringing their inspired ideas and expertise for interior and exterior makeovers.

Shaynna’s replacement, Wendy Moore, headed up Australian Home Beautiful as editor-in-chief for more than 12 years, combining her expertise in interiors and design with a strength in communicating with a passionate audience. With interior design and makeover projects also under her belt, Wendy became a judge on Channel 7’s House Rules for seven seasons.

Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze were known for their banter and chemistry

More recently, she took on the role of Group General Manager of FOXTEL’s LifeStyle Group overseeing all aspects of FOXTEL’s iconic LifeStyle brand including LifeStyle, LifeStyle HOME, LifeStyle FOOD channels and FOX ARENA. She will reportedly continue in this role alongside her Selling Houses filming commitments.

Dennis Scott will be the new resident landscape expert, bringing a wealth of experience in sustainability and a passion for designing functional and uniquely Australian outdoor spaces. Dennis owns Lush Landscape Solutions in Brisbane and previously had an NRL career which spanned ten years. It began in 1996 when he played for the Brisbane Broncos. He then joined Canterbury-Bankstown in 1999 for the next six years, then linked with Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm for two seasons in 2005 and 2006.

Announcing his NRL retirement following a long battle with injury, Dennis made the tough transition to a career after sport. He undertook a mature age carpentry apprenticeship at his friend’s construction company. It was during this time where Dennis turned his hand to landscaping. He fell in love with it and realised his dream of starting his own business.

Charlie left the show late last year and replaced Jason Hodges as the landscaping expert on Better Homes & Gardens. Shaynna followed suit earlier this year and continues to be a judge on The Block. The end of an era indeed!

FOXTEL’s Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, said: “We welcome Wendy and Dennis to the Selling Houses Australia team who will bring their wealth of expertise and their own unique personalities to our much-loved flagship series with Andrew at the helm. With people spending more time in and on their homes, Selling Houses will continue to connect and thrive with our audience after an already incredible successful 13 years.”

Andrew Winter said: “I am actually a person that has always liked change… I mean I can’t even keep a house that long. The timeline for Selling Houses Australia has been completely thrown with everything going on in the world, and I have been waiting impatiently and can’t wait to get back out there. I am really looking forward to working with Wendy and Dennis and welcome them to the team because we are so ready to hit the road.” 

Selling Houses Australia is produced by Warner Bros International Television Productions (WBITVP) exclusively for FOXTEL’s LifeStyle Channel and returns in 2022.

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Design Designers House Tours Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Charlie Albone and Juliet Love share a first look at their new home

With two sons, it didn’t take long for Aussie landscape designer and TV host Charlie Albone and his interior stylist wife Juliet Love, to outgrow their two-bedroom home. After going on the real estate hunt, they eventually stumbled upon a two-storey beachside semi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs that was ripe for renovation. Despite falling for it, the couple thought it was out of their price range but decided to put in an offer anyway.

Juliet and Charlie in their newly renovated kitchen
Juliet and Charlie in their newly renovated kitchen

“As it turned out, the former owners needed to sell quickly, and a lot of buyers were put off by the dated interior, so we made a low offer and to our amazement they accepted it!” says Juliet, who has since renovated the home on a relative budget with a mix of clever styling tricks, secondhand and affordable finds.

Lounge and kitchen

“Our last home was a little more Hamptons with lots of navy and white, but this time around we wanted a more laid-back, calm feel. We went for a soft colour palette of white, blue and seafoam green,” says Juliet.

A largely cosmetic renovation, the biggest change took place in the kitchen and lounge area that was transformed from a pokey nineties kitchen full of black granite to a much more modern space courtesy of a mint green marble fishscale tile splashback, brass tapware, round glass pendant lights and large Caesarstone island bench. When it came to the flooring, Juliet used Porter’s Paints Wood Wash in ‘Conifer’ to update the original home’s yellow-hued pine.

In a clever move, she specified matching joinery in the nearby living area to ensure a seamless transition from the kitchen. The joinery houses a television, concealed shelving as well as open shelving that displays photos of family and friends and sentimental objects. “By using matching joinery, Caesarstone and brass hardware, it really makes the room flow,” says Juliet.

Living room cabinetry
Complementary joinery in the nearby living room

“The stylist in me is forever changing vignettes around the house, so I like to have some open shelving to display objects, but also added enclosed shelving below to hide some of the mess that comes with family life!”

Juliet Love
Juliet hung an inexpensive marble cross, tassle beads, straw fans, and a tribal necklace above the fireplace in the dining room, as a point of visual interest
Bedroom
Bedroom

With budget concerns top of mind, Juliet employed clever tricks and secondhand finds to realise her vision. “I like to mix high and low end generally, as I find you get the most visually interesting outcome for the least expense. I’m a big believer in having one or two big ticket items to elevate a home – if everything is cheap, it will look cheap. For us, we decided to invest in the marble splashback in the kitchen.”

Fish scale tiles
Fish scale marble tiles make a statement in the kitchen

Money was saved elsewhere by reusing old furniture including a chest of drawers that used to belong to Juliet’s grandfather and that she didn’t initially think would work.  “I didn’t think the drawers would fit with our vision of a breezy coastal abode, but we’ve placed them on the landing at the top of the stairs, and they works perfectly there.” She then added a round sisal rug, vintage pineapple lamp with a hessian shade, and some coral to work the piece into her interior scheme.

Juliet's grandfather's chest of drawers looks at home on the landing
Juliet’s grandfather’s chest of drawers look at home on the landing

Affordable art is scattered throughout the home – another one of Juliet’s budget-friendly tips. “I love affordable artwork to dress your walls and elevate a space. Art literally changes the feel of a room in an instant,” says Juliet who sourced most of the pieces through Hop Home.

The kids’ playroom was created on a budget using IKEA furniture upcycled with unique brass hardware. Olive et Oriel jungle-themed wallpaper makes a statement in the space too where it hangs above the IKEA daybed. “With the wallpaper, I just used one panel behind the daybed, which was enough to give impact, without the expense of papering the entire wall or room,” says Juliet.

Playroom
Playroom
Boys' room
Boys’ room

Other kid-friendly design decisions include slipcovers on the sofa, wash and wear paint, replica Philippe Starck Ghost dining chairs that can be wiped down, a glass coffee table that stores decorative items underneath as well as many multi-purpose furniture items. “Our ottoman in the lounge room opens for storage, the day bed in the kids’ playroom rolls out into a double bed for when visitors come, and the floors are scooter-proof!”

We had to ask, does Charlie, who switched from Selling Houses Australia to Better Homes & Gardens this year, get a say in the decorating or does he stick to the outside? “He has excellent taste and is usually always right when it comes to style choices, which is quite frustrating! He always says that he’ll leave it to me, but he is quite opinionated, so ends up having a say in absolutely everything! I don’t mind that though because we work well together, and we end up with a better result in the long run!”

Of course, there are plans for the back yard, which will be stage two of the renovation. “We have a DA in to council for a small pool and a pavilion with an organic vege patch on top,” Juliet shares.

The couple also have a farm on the Central Coast, Charlie’s happy place where Juliet says they’d spend every weekend if he had his way! They’ve even established a small plant nursery there for landscaping projects for clients. “We like to get up there as much as possible, but now that both boys are at school, it is becoming more difficult as weekends are full of sports and kids parties! When we do go to the farm, Charlie goes straight into the garden and spends all weekend there.”

Photography: Brent Wilson

Covet my coffee table: with Juliet Love & Charlie Albone

Photography by Susan Papazian This week, we’re excited to give you a glimpse of the home of interior-exterior design duo and husband and wife, Juliet Love and Charlie Albone. Juliet…
Categories
Expert Tips Interviews Outdoor & Exteriors

Sustainable garden design: Charlie Albone’s top 7 tips!

While sustainability is an ever-increasing concern for many Australians, it’s not something you may have thought about with respect to your garden. From choosing your plants with purpose to harvesting seeds and composting advice, landscape gardener and star of Selling Houses Australia, Charlie Albone is back this month with his top seven tips for creating a more sustainable garden.

Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone

Plant with a purpose
“Choosing the right plant for the right spot as per water, soil and sun requirements is key to the success of a planting scheme. Spend time researching what plants are best suited to your garden’s unique environment – the more appropriate the plants, the less intervention and resources they will require to succeed,” says Charlie who likes choosing plants with added benefits too – think produce or cut flowers. “Plants like these will ensure your garden naturally works harder for you,” says Charlie.

Think long term about root growth when potting a plant
“What you see above the ground is only half the picture. Tease out congested root growth before planting so new roots find it easy to penetrate the soil and spread far. I always soak the root ball in a seaweed tonic to remove any dry spots and to supercharge new root growth,” says Charlie.

Know what seeds can and can’t be saved – and harvest those that can for another day
“Collecting seeds from your plants is a great way to ensure they live on. It allows you to reproduce the exact plant again and again. It’s also a lovely way to share plants with your neighbours and friends,” says Charlie.

Variety counts! A sustainable garden is one rich in biodiversity.
“Try to create a natural environment for your plants. Start with canopy plants, then move down to understory and ground covers. An example of this in the veggie patch would be tomatoes as a canopy plant, salad leaves in the sheltered understory and finally, trailing herbs such as thyme forming a ground cover,” says Charlie.

Not all composts are made equal
“Compost is one of the best things you can do for your soil as it boosts nutrient and water holding capacity as well as biodiversity in the soil. It’s easy to create your own and you can use almost all your food and garden waste. Just steer clear of meat and bread as they can attract vermin. For best results, dig compost through the bed before planting or apply as a mulch in established beds,” says Charlie.

Revive struggling plants by learning how to identify an issue and nip it in the bud
“You would be surprised how resilient plants can be in returning from the brink. In the same way as Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program is working with Zimbabwean and Colombian coffee farmers to help revive their precious farmland through collaboration with the community,” who recommends turning to your local gardening community when faced with an issue in your garden. “Most of the time someone else has dealt with the same problem before and can offer advice on how to overcome it,” says Charlie.

Get children involved
“Whether it’s newfound knowledge or a batch of fresh strawberries, the very best way to make your garden more sustainable is by inspiring others,” says Charlie who loves getting children used to getting their hands dirty in the garden. “Once they first experience the miracle of sowing a seed, watching it germinate and blossoming into a beautiful plant, they will be on their way to becoming lifelong sustainable gardeners.”

Charlie’s tips were inspired by the launch of Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program – an initiative restoring coffee farming communities in regions that have been devastated by conflicts, economic hardships or environmental disasters. Nespresso’s two new single-origin coffees, Tamuka mu Zimbabwe and Esperanza de Colombia, are both from regions where coffee was on the brink of disappearing altogether.

For more | Are natural, non-toxic paints the way of the future?

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors

Charlie Albone’s backyard makeover tips for summer

Charlie Albone

Summer is finally here which means long, lazy days in the backyard relaxing and entertaining friends. Few people know more about creating beautiful outdoor areas than landscape gardener and star of Selling Houses Australia, Charlie Albone.

Charlie Albone

“Now is the perfect opportunity to do up your outdoors as most people have a bit of extra time off to both enjoy their outdoor space and finish off reno jobs. Just plan ahead to ensure you can get the necessary tradesmen in so you’re not left with a half-finished yard,” says Charlie of the pre-Christmas push.

One of the most essential components for a great outdoor space is paving. Charlie has some great tips about paving, tiling and making the most of your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Charlie Albone

“Paving sets the whole tone for a project, it can dictate the style and quality of the garden space. It’s often difficult to replace if you do it last and instead choose all your furniture, plants, screens and so on first. So it’s important to get it done right first time around – spending some time on your paving choice will pay off in the end,” says Charlie.

What is your best advice for creating an inviting deck or patio area?
“Make sure you have the proportions you need for the amount of people you have in the garden. Nothing is worse than being cramped or feeling like you’re too small for the space. Spend time planning to ensure you get all the items you want in your garden rather than jumping in without considering the space as a whole,” says Charlie.

What hard surfaces would you recommend for paving?
“Porcelains are huge at the moment. Amber Tiles’ Urban Surface range is super hard-wearing and comes in a variety of colours and sizes. A new trend we are seeing is wrapping the paving or tiling down into the pool for a continuous streamlined look – this can be done with a porcelain. Limestone is also a great timeless hit if you are after something that won’t age and will always look top notch,” says Charlie.

What are the best ways to create shade if there is none?
“I love a pergola with a deciduous climber such as wisteria as this lets in winter sun but people also like a fixed structure such as a roof. Just make sure it’s got good ventilation and lighting. Retractable shade sails are also nice as they offer some softness and can be pulled back in winter, and umbrellas are a cheap, flexible alternative,” says Charlie.

How should you light the space?
“Natural light is the best option as it’s the most relaxing. However, for night-time drama, up or down light features are great. Try to think of garden lighting as creating shadows rather than lighting for practicality. Staggered cross lighting down a path also looks much nicer than a flood light. However stronger lighting for certain areas such as a barbecue, can be used. You don’t want to end up burning anything because you can’t see properly!” says Charlie. 

How do you work out what amount of outdoor space is best for green planting?
“When it comes to planting, I always say more is more but realistically you should have as much space for planting that you can successfully maintain. A large poorly kept garden is much worse than a small well maintained one,” says Charlie.

What furniture would you recommend for entertaining?
“You get what you pay for in outdoor furniture and flimsy won’t cut it. Not only does outdoor furniture have to contend with all the rigors of life, it has to put up with UV and all sorts of weather conditions. Consider how you want to use the space and dress it accordingly whilst remembering you’ll need to leave enough space around the furniture to move so it doesn’t feel cramped,” says Charlie.

Are you a fan of outdoor wall art or garden features?
“It all depends on the garden and the actual feature. If it’s not considered as part of the design then it can often look like a cheap add on which I’m definitely not a fan of! If the garden is set up to make the most of a feature with considered sight lines and complementary planting then it can look fantastic,” says Charlie.

Charlie his wife, interior stylist Juliet Love, are both brand ambassadors for Amber Tiles.

Early Settler’s stylish new outdoor furniture range

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Covet my coffee table Expert Tips House Tours

Covet my coffee table: with Juliet Love & Charlie Albone

Photography by Susan Papazian

This week, we’re excited to give you a glimpse of the home of interior-exterior design duo and husband and wife, Juliet Love and Charlie Albone. Juliet is a talented interior stylist and author, and husband Charlie is the award-winning landscaping guru from Selling Houses Australia. Of course, it’s no surprise their Sydney home is beautiful, but Juliet admits it’s rarely this tidy and perfect with two young boys running around!

“A coffee table anchors a room and provides a focal point, so it’s very important,” says Juliet. “It’s also somewhere to express your taste and personality.” We couldn’t agree more.

Theirs is from Nick Scali. “I chose it because we didn’t want to spend a fortune on furniture with two young boys running wild in the house, and it looks like a much more expensive designer version! When I designed our home, I wanted it to be light, bright and airy, so the glass and chrome table helps with this, allowing light to bounce off it around the room.”

On the table is a white marble and silver circular tray from Pottery Barn (“I love trays on coffee tables — they provide a dedicated space for decorative items”), a Waterford Crystal fishbowl vase (Juliet’s absolute favourite flower vessel) which was a wedding gift from a special friend, a small tiger cowrie shell which Juliet’s mum had in the house when she was a child, a brass lobster from Style My Home (“because I saw it and had to have it”), and a round gold dish from Freedom. The book is Beauty At Home by Aerin Lauder.

“I am always changing things around,” says Juliet. “It drives Charlie crazy! I keep the background neutral and add in decorative accessories. The great thing about accessories is that they aren’t as expensive as big ticket items like furniture, so you can get away with changing things up more frequently. I love flowers and cushions for a quick update.”

The stylist’s coffee table styling must-haves are elements from nature (crystal, driftwood or shells, for example), hard cover books (she’s written her own, Love Style) on subjects that interest you, flowers, a tray, and a splash of metal. We think it’s a great formula.

“Use the rules of balance for styling it,” she advises. “Take a photo from above and you’ll then be able to see whether any one element is overwhelming. Also consider vertical space and keep all decorative items fairly low; you don’t want anything to be too high or it will look odd. Also, don’t overload the surface. I’ve seen some coffee tables lately that are overflowing and therefore overwhelming to the eye. You’ll lose all impact you may have otherwise had. Place items on your coffee table as a magazine editor would curate images for a magazine: only the very best will make the cut.”

The couple recently moved back to Sydney after living on a farm in the country (which they’ve kept hold of) for a while. “It’s by the beach, so we spend a lot of time down there. When we moved in, the walls were all sponged mustard yellow, with dark mahogany built-in furniture and beige carpet. I basically just whitewashed all the walls and built-ins, put in a new limewashed timber floor, sisal rugs, and some furniture with slipcovers in white and blue, mostly navy. With Charlie traveling for work so frequently, it became too isolating being on the farm. We’re much happier back in Sydney closer to family and friends.”

The move has also prompted the couple to open a studio together in Woollahra’s Edgecliff Road, under the Inspired Exteriors banner. “It’s a great little design precinct now, with Porter’s Paints, No Chintz, Candana Bathrooms, Cameron Kimber Interiors, Sambag, Sonoma and Cotton Love Home right next door, so we’re in good company! Our design team is in the front office, and we have a separate office at the back of the block for the landscape construction team, so it is perfect for our business. We have a gorgeous little display window out front which I am having great fun decorating.”

Parents and parents-to-be will be delighted to hear that a child-friendly house doesn’t have to be a boring one! Juliet tries to strike a balance between a home that feels ‘adult’, and one that sons Leo and Hartford can enjoy and be carefree in. “I am conscious that I’ve seen a lot of homes where, once a baby arrives, all sense of personality is lost; every item taken off every surface. I don’t think it has to be that way. My mum told me that she made it very clear when I was a child what was off limits, and I steered clear of those things. I have tried to teach the boys the same thing and so far it works well! They know there are (just a few) spots in the house that they can’t make their play area. The coffee table is one of those spots. I also have a tan leather sofa that hides a multitude of sins, and armchairs and dining chairs with slip covers that I can throw in the washing machine, so the kids don’t feel like there’s nothing they can touch!

“It certainly doesn’t always look neat and tidy, in fact mostly it’s a chaotic mess! I often feel like I’m in Groundhog Day because the tidying is endless, but I also wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the way the children add laughter and fun to the house.”

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Interviews

Take 5 with Juliet Love

Juliet Love (left) and husband Charlie Albone

Each week we shine the spotlight on some of Australia’s best designers, artists and stylists and have them share with us what’s making them tick; anything from the best advice they’ve ever received to their favourite holiday destination. Today we chat to Juliet Love: stylist, TV presenter and author of Love Style.

Juliet Love (left) and husband Charlie Albone
Juliet Love (left) and husband and landscape designer, Charlie Albone

1. What is your favourite holiday destination?

My favourite holiday destination would have to be Capri. My best friend Lucie was married there, and I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid. The food, the scenery, the water, the architecture, the shopping, the people — there isn’t anything I don’t like about the Amalfi Coast. It’s truly spectacular.

2. What is the best gift you’ve ever been given?

The best gift I’ve been given is my Chanel 2.55 Bag. It was a birthday present from my husband and will last a lifetime. It’s a classic.

3. What three people would be at your perfect dinner party?

Nate Berkus for his style, Ellen DeGeneres for her humour and Deepak Chopra for his intellect.

4. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I’ve ever been given is to live in the moment and find joy in the little things. It’s all too easy in our modern world to get caught up in the fast pace of life and forget what’s important.

5. What is your favourite piece of furniture you own?

With so much mass-produced furniture around, I love things that have a history and tell a story. My favourite piece at home is my late grandfather’s timber dining table. It’s an oval extension table that was originally my great-grandmother’s. It’s well-loved and has lots of character (i.e. scratches and dents!). My grandfather would sit at the table after school to do his homework and now my own children, Leo and Hart, sit at the table to eat their dinner. It’s very special. I’ve made it more modern by replacing the carved timber dining chairs that go with it with some more contemporary upholstered high back chairs.

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Expert Tips Homewares Interviews Styling

Stylist Juliet Love on the 7 ways to get the designer look for less

With a very impressive resume, stylist Juliet Love has worked for the likes of Christian Dior and Mirvac, written for Home Beautiful and News Limited, co-hosted and presented on The Morning Show and The Lifestyle Channel and is the wife of landscape designer Charlie Albone (one of our Reno Addict resident experts) and the mother of two beautiful little boys. My, I feel tired just listing it all! And now, Juliet has added another profession to her growing list of achievements: author.

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Her first book, Love Style, is all about showing readers how they can create a beautiful home without having to employ a professional designer. Featuring simple tips, readers will learn how to: find their own style and inspiration, create mood boards, stick to a budget, use the rules of balance, harmony and proportion, mix patterns and colours and more!

Believing if a home’s decor is executed in the right way it can “literally take your breath away,” Juliet’s aim is to help readers create a home that is striking, expresses their personality, and most of all makes them feel happy and inspired. One of the biggest tricks of the trade she shares is how to get the designer look for less, and I couldn’t resist asking her for one little teaser. Juliet, kindly shared seven!

1. Not everything has to match

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Some of the most stylish rooms in the world aren’t perfectly coordinated. In
fact, often it’s the opposite. An eclectic mix is much more exciting visually so be adventurous and try a few items that you wouldn’t naturally assume go together. Create a ‘story’ by placing items together that might be different styles, but have something about them that is similar – a touch of gold paint, or an interesting shade of fuchsia in the detail of separate items is enough to tie pieces together.

2. Think big

When you’re talking decor and accessories, big is generally better. It just says luxury. A few carefully selected large-scale items make a room seem more substantial. Lots of little items tend to look cluttered and get lost amongst the mess.

3. Wallpaper in unexpected places

Wallpaper looks brilliant in small spaces – in an entry foyer, hallway, at the back of open bookshelves or cupboards, and even on the ceiling. Don’t just stick to traditional patterned wallpaper either; modern textured wallpaper can look fabulous too.

If you can’t afford to wallpaper an entire room, use wallpaper on a panel of the wall, or use a covered canvas as an artwork. Lining the back of open shelving with wallpaper and even the exterior of closet doors, will inject some unexpected visual excitement into a room.

4. Have one or two showstoppers

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It’s true you don’t have to spend a lot of money on every piece in the room, but you should consider investing in one or two items. If everything is cheap, then quite frankly everything is going to look cheap. The showstopper doesn’t have to be a piece of furniture – it would be equally effective to have an upscale Italian light fitting in the middle of your room as a dramatic piece.

5. Decorative moldings and architectural hardware

Adding paneling to sections of a wall — usually the lower area — or adding crown moldings to ceilings or walls, will give your space a designer look. Paint them a contrasting colour for the most striking effect. You can get easy-to-apply moldings for mass-produced furniture from inexpensive chain stores. When painted they can be transformed into an unrecognisable design piece.

New knobs and handles on cupboards and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms and even on bedroom furniture can be just the update your existing items need. Go for glass or coloured knobs, or contemporary silver for a more modern look.

6. The detail – accessories and embellishments

One thing that most professionally designed homes will have is an attention to detail through embellishments such as piping, fringes, edging on upholstery and decorative accents thoughtfully placed around the room to tell a story and bring the room to life. Think about adding a contrasting edge to your lampshades or curtains, or a distinctive piped border to your sofa to get a stylish look.

7. Hang art

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A common feature of expensive homes is the art that decorates the walls. The art itself doesn’t have to be extravagant, the trick is to hang it like you would see in a gallery – in multiple matching frames, or have one oversized artwork on a main wall.

For more great tips make sure you pick up Love Style, which is available at all good bookstores from the end of the week. For more information.

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors

Interiors Addict TV: with Charlie Albone from Selling Houses Australia

We love Charlie Albone, our resident expert on all things outdoor on sister site Reno Addict, and of course slightly better known for his role on the top rating LifeStyle show Selling Houses Australia.

In this episode of Interiors Addict TV, Lauren Ellis talks gardens with Charlie; everything from how to create a garden that suits your house, what formal gardens are all about and how not to make mistakes with colour! And don’t forget to watch to the end for Charlie’s number one gardening tip! Enjoy!

Watch all our other Interiors Addict TV episodes.

Read Charlie’s articles on Reno Addict.

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Architecture Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Creating a perfect indoor-outdoor living space with Charlie Albone

Creating a home with the perfect indoor-outdoor living space is high on everybody’s wish list. But turning your ideas into a reality can be tricky. It is important to remember that contrasting landscapes and architecture don’t make a seamless property, rather it is vital that the inside and outside of your property marry together to give your home a real sense of flow. Below are five ways you can achieve this.

Charlie Albone reno addict
Our resident expert Charlie

1. Plant material

Choosing the right plant material for your garden sets the tone for the space. Formal gardens look best with hedging plants such as Buxus and Viburnum combined with classical flowering plants like Hydrangea and Anemones. Tropical gardens require plants like Gingers and Heliconias to give life to the textural greens of palms and bamboos

2. Scale and proportion

Getting the scale and proportion of your outbuildings, hard surfaces (such as paving and decks) and plant material right is vital in creating a house that sits in the garden comfortably. Look at your property’s architecture for this. If you have chunky posts in the house then repeating them in your pergolas or cabanas will make the whole space feel like it was built as one.

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Credit: Home Designing

3. Colour

Colour is a fantastic way to bring the inside out and vise-versa, however it’s very important to check the colours you have selected work in both light settings. Internal artificial light has a very different effect on colour than external natural light. Just as you would paint various areas of a room a colour before committing to it, you need to do the same outdoors. I have also found when trying to match an internal colour to go for double strength outside.

4. Material repetition

Material repetition is a great way to create continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. The obvious example is to carry the internal floor material out to the verandah or deck as this lengthens the ‘road’ the eye travels upon to create a feeling of additional space. The indoor flooring can also be used in other areas of the garden, repeating the flooring around the pool area or a private reading space will drag the features of the house out into the garden. Additionally, repeating materials outside doesn’t mean you have to use them in the same treatment, for example timber species used in the flooring can be replicated in the outdoor furniture.

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Credit: Nobswall

5. Positioning

When designing an outside space for your property, remember that it will be seen from the inside of the house, so position your features in prominent sight lines from the home’s windows and doors. Use the windows of the property as a picture frame for your outside features, as this will extend the eye line deep into the outer regions of the property, making it feel bigger.

For more on Charlie.

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Design Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

How to design the perfect cabana, with Charlie Albone

Cabanas can be a great place to escape the hot sun whilst still enjoying the outdoors. They can also be the ideal structure to get creative with and give your garden an architectural element. But how do you make sure your cabana is a beautiful addition to your landscape design rather than eyesore?

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Our expert Charlie Albone. Image: The Lifestyle Channel

Location

The location of your structure is paramount, and it’s all relative to the size of the garden. You don’t want it too close to your house as it can block light to the home and impose itself to a point where you feel dominated by its presence. If you have a large block, a good idea is having your cabana at the bottom of the garden as this can be a great excuse to travel through the garden enjoying the greenery.

Regulations

It’s important you keep up to date with all your council’s regulations including pool-fencing rules. Many people would like a cabana within their pool area to sit and enjoy the water, but in NSW for example, it’s no longer legal to have a shelter with cooking facilities (including a BBQ) within the pool fenced area. These rules and regulations tend to change from council to council or more accurately from pool certifier to pool certifier, but either way, it’s best to check with your council before going to the expense of designing and drafting plans for a shelter.

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Credit: Houzz

Design

When designing a cabana for your garden, there are two ways you can go about it. The first and more sympathetic way, is to design a structure that is in keeping with the rest of the garden style. The other way is to have something that stands out and juxtaposes with the surroundings. The proportions of the cabana are also important to the feel of the garden; think about width, depth and height of the roof line to make the structure comfortable to be in as well as fitting in its surroundings in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Walls

The walls of the cabana are one of the most important finishes to consider when designing the space, as these are what you look at and what set the tone for the space. Personally, I think using natural products is a surefire way to ensure the design remains timeless. This would include things like timber boards with a beautiful exposed grain and sandstone blocks with their character filled banding. Things to steer clear of that will quickly date are artificial stack-stone tiles, composite timbers and brightly coloured plastics.

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Photo credit: Barefoot Floor

Flooring

The floor must complement the walls to give a cohesive feel to the space and again natural products like stone give the best results.

Roofing

The roof is the element that makes the cabana an undercover area. Again, this will have to suit the style of the cabana and a great trick to make it feel in keeping with your house is to mirror the roofline of the property. A bit of forward thinking when designing the roof of the structure will allow you to add in lights, fans and overhead heating. Having sections of the roof open will add a feeling of space and openness and if the roof itself can be seen from above having a living green roof is a great way to add in greenery.

Photo credit: Lolmad
Photo credit: Lolmad

Plants

Plants are an element of the cabana that should never be overlooked. Surrounding the structure is a good starting point, vertical gardens or climbers can introduce greenery to the walls and planter boxes or pots will bring it in at ground level. As tempting as it may be to try to gain maximum floor space by deleting plants from the design remember it will actually look bigger if you soften the edges and surround the space with plants.

For more on Charlie.

Read all Charlie’s articles for Reno Addict.

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Design Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Styling

Charlie Albone and Juliet Love’s landscape and styling tips for your balcony

Alfresco living is a widely celebrated aspect of the Australian lifestyle, so whether you’re happiest throwing a dinner party or prefer nothing more than a quiet drink watching the sun go down, your balcony offers the perfect space to enjoy your own city oasis.

Our resident expert Charlie Albone, and his stylist wife Juliet Love, have teamed up with leading developer Mirvac to help Australians create their ultimate outdoor space this autumn. So to help get your balcony looking bespoke and beautiful for 2015, Charlie and Juliet have pulled together their top landscaping and styling tips for the perfect outdoor space.  

Charlie’s top balcony landscaping tips

Charlie Albone reno addict

  1. Green walls get the green thumbs up

It’s no secret that vertical gardens, otherwise known as green walls, are a gardening trend on its way up. Aside from their aesthetic appeal, the concept of a green wall makes them suitable for any balcony size as they require very little space. They also have a positive effect on the environment as the increased green space within the urban environment helps reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect.

  1. Weathering the conditions

Densely populated suburban areas receive milder temperatures and reliable rainfall allowing you to successfully grow a wider range of plants. If your balcony gets a lot of sun then try herb gardens, grasses or succulents as they are more tolerant of heat and harsher climates.

  1. Potting appeal

Decorative or oversized pot plants are an ideal option for adding visual appeal and breaking up a space. Potted plants dry out much quicker than plants in the ground so ensure you keep the watering up during hot dry weather.

  1. Styling your garden

Different garden styles evoke different emotions and set a distinct mood and tone for your space. Designing your garden to reflect a particular style that resonates with you starts with choosing a combination of similar plants known as a plant palate. Contrasting styles can also be achieved with the right balance between style and layout, however only select a few elements from each to avoid a busy mismatch of styles.

  1. Choosing the right plants 

Just because your balcony is shaded doesn’t mean you can’t grow stunning plants and flowers — there are plenty of beautiful plants and flowers that thrive in shady conditions. Walking Irises, Peace Lillies, Fuschias and Bleeding Hearts are just a few plants that will still blossom in low-light areas.

Juliet top 5 outdoor style tips

juliet and charlie reno addict
Juliet and Charlie

  1. Cushion candy

Stylish people know the power of a throw cushion or two — they can transform a space in seconds, making them a fun and easy decorating tool! From monochrome to vibrant floral prints, you can add a pop of colour and pattern to any outdoor ‘room’. Play with size and texture to achieve the most interesting look. For seasonal updates, experiment with trending colours or opt for geometric patterns for a more trans-seasonal look.

  1. Weather-proof your furnishings

Weather-proof outdoor furniture can be both stylish and practical. When styling your outdoor area, consider the elements your outdoor furniture will be exposed to and choose materials that are built for those conditions. For wet or damp weather, choose synthetic rattan and waterproof fabrics to prevent rotting.

  1. Don’t just look at it

With balmy nights and beautiful weather all year around, there’s no reason not to go outside. The simple addition of a table and chairs will immediately convert an outdoor area into an outdoor living area. Grouping your furniture and adding large pot plants to break up the space work well as virtual room dividers should you want a lounge that is separate to the dining area.

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  1. Balance the space

Symmetry and balance play an important role in good design and should be a priority when considering the layout of items within a space. The aim is to enhance some areas while concealing others by evenly distributing the proportions of furniture and decor. Select two or three focal points and spread them out within the space so the eye can rest on one before progressing to the other.

  1. Dine in style every season

Make your outdoor area an entertainer’s paradise by updating your dining table accessories to reflect seasonal trends. Consider the trending colours of each season and how they fit with your existing furniture and natural surroundings. Soft lighting from practical and pretty hurricane lamps or candle holders makes dining outside a delight.

For more information on Mirvac.

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Reader question: what to do with my raised veggie patch?

Reader Wendy has been struggling with her raised veggie garden and wants some advice from our Resident Expert Charlie Albone.

She asks:  “Hi Charlie. I am in Melbourne and I have tried so hard to establish a veggie garden in a raised garden bed. I’ve done three lots of planting with no success except for a few tomatoes. I want to rip it all out and put flowers instead. What flowers do you suggest?”

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Charlie says…

To get good veggies you need lots of direct sunlight — about six-to-eight hours a day — and if you’re not getting that, you won’t get much produce. Your problem is most plants that flower need lots of sun too! I’m assuming you have a shady spot from what you’ve told me, so I would go for something a bit unusual like Hydrangea Quercifolia or the ‘Oak leaf Hydrangea’ as it’s also known. This gets a lovely white spike like flower. If I’m totally off and you have a really hot spot and there’s something else up with your veggies, I would plant Euporhorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ or maybe annuals like Petunias.

Read all articles by Charlie here. Submit a question for our experts here.

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Designers RENO ADDICT

Andrew Winter chats about Selling Houses Australia season 8

Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze were known for their banter and chemistry

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting down to the new series of my favourite show, Selling Houses Australia, starting on Wednesday (4 February). I couldn’t wait to chat to host Andrew Winter, in my opinion, one of the most amusing men on television! Perhaps it is the Brit in me that finds his sarcasm and bluntness utterly hilarious, but I can often be heard shrieking at the television when he delivers one of his crushing comments about a homeowner’s decor choices or DIY handiwork. For me, the reasons this show is in its eighth series are obvious, and Andrew’s just one of them.

Andrew Winter
Andrew Winter

Andrew would like to say it’s all down to him, but he admits it has just as much to do with his co-hosts Charlie Albone and Shaynna Blaze, suspecting a lot of female viewers are tuning in for “young Charles” over him. But that’s okay, because he thinks he has the best job in the world. Forget that Great Barrier Reef job Andrew says, he gets to say what he really thinks as well as getting away with doing barely any manual labour (although he tells me he is “flat out” driving and fetching coffee!). And let’s not forget there is a real point to the show; helping people who really need to sell their most expensive asset and are failing miserably.

Eight series is no mean feat. Andrew remembers thinking if they managed to do five and get a sixth commissioned that would be pretty amazing, and now here we are. “I’m absolutely delighted and I still enjoy it. I think we’ve been on so long now that we’ve unintentionally become a barometer of the Australian housing market. We started the last series, for example, with a house on the Gold Coast that sold for 10k over what they expected and that hadn’t been heard of for five years before then! So it’s interesting to watch these thing over the years.”

Andrew, Charlie and Shaynna’s genuine chemistry is clear and I find they’ve all become more equal stars of the show as time has gone on. “The three of us get on really quite well despite being totally different,” Andrew says. “Charles has a pretty crude and appalling sense of humour which always shocks Shaynna, but I of course, am always perfectly lovely!” On a more serious note, Andrew says there’s no pretence. All three of them are experienced and qualified in what they do and they just get on with it. “Everyone thinks they’re an interior designer these days because they’ve done some six-week course, but come back to me when you’ve worked in the industry for five or 10 years, and Shaynna’s done that and more. Charlie runs his own landscaping business and I was a real estate agent for years.

Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze front Selling Houses Australia
Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze front Selling Houses Australia

“It’s not a fluffy makeover show. Our brief has always been clear: take a property that can’t be sold and sell it! Of course, it isn’t always possible but we will do our utmost.” And someone upstairs, says Andrew, is looking down on them and continuing to hand them the amazing stories of the homeowners which really add to the show’s appeal. “Maybe that’s why I can get away with being a bit harsh, cheeky or rude, because the end game is not about winning a prize, it’s about selling a house that really needs selling for whatever reason. We can get in there and kick it up the whatsit and get it sold.”

What always drives me mad though, is when, despite the trio’s efforts and an auction bringing a realistic selling price, homeowners get greedy or, for whatever reason, decide to dig their heels in and not sell. And this often brings some of frustrated Andrew’s harshest words! We can expect plenty of the same in the upcoming series, as well as the cheapest house they’ve ever worked on, with Andrew saying at least three episodes fall into the “confrontational” category. Can’t wait! “I’m so glad I live in a gated community with security,” Andrew quips.

One of the best things about his profile on a top rating TV show these days, is that when Andrew consults privately to people trying to sell, they take his ideas on board, something that rarely happened in his 15 years as a real estate agent. “I go and sit there and they actually listen!”

I’ve already seen episode one and you’re in for a treat! and with Andrew pointing out that Foxtel is cheaper than ever, he hopes as many of you will be tuning in as possible!

Selling Houses Australia series 8 starts on Wednesday 4 February 2015 on the LifeStyle Channel at 8.30pm AEDT.

Tomorrow on the blog, Andrew shares the top three mistakes he thinks people make when selling their homes.  

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Charlie Albone: achieving my Chelsea Flower Show dream

I’ve just booked my place on this ‘Emotive Interiors’ workshop by the talented Sib

As a landscape designer, I am passionate about all elements of landscape design but it’s the feeling of being in a garden that ignites a spark in me. I have worked all over Australia, I have completed works in the UK and France and as well as running a successful business, I am the LifeStyle Channel’s resident landscape expert.

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Selling Houses Australia Series 8 starts 4 Feb 2015, only on the LifeStyle Channel

But there is one goal I have always dreamed about since a young age and that is to exhibit a large show garden at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show in London. In past years, I have visited the show and made films for the LifeStyle Channel and in 2014, I volunteered my time to build an exhibit for gardening royalty Alan Titchmarsh. But next year, I will finally be exhibiting my very own garden in a prime spot on the showground.

The plan for Charlie's Chelsea Flower Show garden
The plan for Charlie’s Chelsea Flower Show garden

The process of getting approved to exhibit at Chelsea is not an easy one. There are only eight large show garden spots and hundreds of applicants trying to get one of them. Firstly, you need the usual plans, perspectives, mood boards and documentation required for any large-scale project, but with Chelsea you also need to provide a design brief. This is to tell the judges what you are trying to achieve and without an actual client or any direction and with a limited word count available, is actually the hardest part of the process.

Paying for the garden is also a hurdle that has to be jumped over and sending a crew to the other side of the world to build a garden is not a cheap exercise. I approached Husqvarna and Gardena to help fund the garden as I felt they were a good fit, being at the forefront of innovation and quality in the horticultural industry. Along with donations from Conway Landscaping, Capricorn Quarries, Australian Plunge Pools and ME Lighting, we got there!

Upon receiving the email that informed me I would be there in a very prominent position, I felt a surreal mix of excited elation and the feeling of instant pressure to perform. This project has consumed my life in every way and is a process I am thoroughly enjoying.

My garden is inspired by the death of my father when I was 17. The space is a garden to meet with him and tell him about my life since his passing. I have designed a space to celebrate life but to also be emotive and intimate.

The garden is split into three sections and each element of the garden means something to me. The first third is a walk down a meandering path with romantic planting either side. The path is two metres wide so I can walk down it with my father and children hand in hand.

The central section is based around a large water feature that empties within five seconds to represent the feeling of life slipping away. Above this, hanging off the wall, will be a copper sculpture designed by myself and young award-winning sculpture Luke Storrier (son of Archibald winning Tim Storrier).

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The rear section is a sunken intimate courtyard that focuses around a dry stone fire pit, which represents my wife as the centre and fire in my life. Surrounding this sunken area are 17 hand-carved sandstone pillars that represent important people and family in my life.

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We can’t wait to follow the progress of Charlie’s garden. Watch this space!

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Designers House Rules Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT The Block

The Block Triple Threat starts 27 January & Selling Houses Australia series 8 on 4 February!

Hooray! We have a date to count down to, Blockheads! I was worried The Block Triple Threat might not start until next month, seeing as the TV channels seem to start previewing new things so ridiculously early these days. Sometimes by the time they actually start you’ve seen so many TVCs you’re already over it!

And my other favourite, Selling Houses Australia, has a new series 8 starting on 4 February. Can’t wait to tell you all about a new project I’m working on with one of its stars, Charlie Albone, very soon.

Selling Houses Australia series 8, starts 4 February, only on the LifeStyle Channel
Selling Houses Australia series 8, starts 4 February, only on the LifeStyle Channel

We only recently got Foxtel (I know!) and Selling Houses has become a serious addiction. Some formats are just so simple and brilliant. And as far as chemistry goes between hosts, you cannot beat Andrew Winter, Shaynna Blaze and Charlie as a trio! Love the banter! I especially love how they keep it real. The end results are often not perfect but they spend a sensible amount of money to do what needs to be done to get the place sold for the best price. There’s always a nice human interest story from the owners to get sucked into too. Just my cup of tea! And no bitching like on The Block (but that’s a different kind of show and however much people say they don’t like that element, it still seems to get the ratings!).

Shaynna Blaze Blank Canvas
We can’t wait to have Shaynna back on our screens in new Selling Houses and The Block

Which show are you a fan of? I’ll be watching both! Roll on Sunday night room reveals and a serious dose of Shaynna in our lives! House Rules must be starting soon too?

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Covet my coffee table House Tours Styling

Covet my coffee table: with Juliet Love & Charlie Albone

Today’s coffee table comes to you from the home of stylist and TV presenter Juliet Love of Love Style, and her husband Charlie Albone, landscape gardener and star of Selling Houses Australia.

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Earlier this year, they moved with their young son Leo to a new family home in country NSW, with plenty of gardens to keep Charlie busy!

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“Every item on our table has special meaning, from the silver Christofle tray which was a wedding gift and is engraved with our names and wedding date, to the turquoise egg in the nest which I gave to the guests at my baby shower for Leo, to the driftwood which my parents found on the beach when they were married,” Juliet explains.

“We have an acre of gardens on our property so the book about rural gardens provides some inspiration for that. Also, Charlie worked with the author Myles Baldwin, at the Australian Garden Show last year. The bonsai is just because I like to have living plants in the house, and I’m particularly into bonsai at the moment — I love their architectural shape. The mini ornamental ashtray with the horse is from Zara Home from a recent trip to Hong Kong.

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“Our coffee table is constantly changing (I can’t help myself, most flat surfaces in our home have some kind of ever-evolving display!) but this is how it is at the moment.”

The cushions on the sofa are from Pottery Barn and Willa Sky Home on Etsy.

Check out Juliet and Charlie’s work at Love Style and Inspired Exteriors. View all the other coffee tables in this regular feature.