Tag: green wall

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Bathrooms The Block

The Block room reveals: season 14 main bathrooms

How good was it to be watching the first proper room reveal last night? Loved it! Loads of renovating to watch, just enough drama and rookie errors, and some pretty impressive rooms (although there were things about most of them I’d personally change). But for so early on in the competition? Well done, I say!

BIANCA AND CARLA: Second place

My favourite! That timber ceiling! Loved it! That feature wall! OK, it fell down a little on storage but they should have won, right?! They only lost by half a point mind you.

The judges loved the feature wall. “This is heaven,” said Darren. “Holy cow, that’s two big slabs of natural stone. That’s a massive decision.” He said he was seeing big risks that had paid off in spades.

The frosted window offended Neale. “Peel that decal off ASAP because it’s really spoiling this beautiful bathroom!” Agreed!

Shaynna said they were going for a corporate St Kilda market and they were onto a winner. The timber vanity was beautiful. And Darren spotted the speakers inside it.

They all agreed there wasn’t enough storage and no face level storage (why hasn’t everyone learned this from previous seasons?!).

Darren said he couldn’t wait to see the rest of the apartment if it continued in this direction.

My pick to buy: The Northcliffe vanity by my friends at Ingrain Design who did the vanities for my old apartment bathroom. I’m still mourning them… And their Jersey timber stool.

COURTNEY AND HANS: First place

OK, OK, it was a nice faux terrazzo floor and there wasn’t much to fault but did it really deserve first place?! Even my husband was saying “come on, where’s the contrast?!” The judges however, obviously thought differently!

Darren said “Well, that’s more like it!” All three loved the terrazzo-style floor tiles. Darren liked that it was faux terrazzo which made it much more practical. Neale said the floor choice was exactly the thing to elevate the room. “They’re doing a contemporary take on the original heritage of the building.”

Shaynna said it was incredibly functional and the bath and vanity were inexpensive but didn’t feel cheap. Darren liked the double vanity. He said the perimiter-lit dropped ceiling was a real success. And I have to agree, that was fab.

Shaynna liked the touch of personality from the quirky pot (jury’s out there for me!) and the hanging plant which stopped it being a big, white, clinical box.

Neale said whatever happened to them last week they hadn’t let get to them and they had delivered to a high level this week.

My pick to buy: Terrazzo soap by Fazeek and Rokha stool. We’re still waiting on the tile details…

HAYDEN AND SARA: Last place

That green wall! I hated it! Eeesh. But I loved a lot about it. I’d have to remove that green wall though. And I wasn’t alone in that view!

Neale walked in and said: “I’m not liking anything I’m seeing in here. I feel like this bathroom is not big enough. This thing (the green wall) behind me feels like two other people. It feels so over the top. It’s just an ugly choice.”

Shaynna said it was very weird styling. Neale said it was not high end and he found it quite dated. Shaynna said there were too many heroes (brass, tiles, green wall).

Darren said  he was feeling concerned looking at the very heritage feel of the lights and cornicing. Did they choose this apartment because the top floor was too modern for their plans?

Neale said you’ve got to know what your style is and who your buyer is. “I was expecting great things today and I’m disappointed.”

My pick to buy: Scala tumbled brass tapware

KERRIE AND SPENCE: Fourth place

Spence took on the lion’s share of the building work this week, almost having a nervous breakdown in the process! They pulled off a great room (tiling aside) but maybe get a little help next week, eh?!

I loved the open and airy layout and feel of the apartment but the tiles and fittings weren’t my favourite. It was all a bit too… basic? Well executed, very functional and practical; inoffensive but just a bit meh. The judges were on the same page.

Shaynna thought the quality of the room was amazing with “absolute knockout execution”. It didn’t feel hurried and was clearly done by perfectionists. Oh, the irony!

Neale said it was light, bright, spacious and functional, but very polite. He said he’d like to see them take a little bit of risk every now and again.

Shaynna and Darren loved the ample storage. Shaynna was also first to notice the floor and wall tile lines being out, saying it would drive her insane. Neale said he wished she hadn’t pointed it out because now he couldn’t stop seeing it!

(Tradies weigh in on the tiling stuff up)

Darren said it wasn’t memorable enough and he would like to see them up the luxe factor.

My pick to buy: Erroll curve rectangle mirror 

NORM AND JESS: Third place

Darren loved it, asking how could you not choose this apartment?! “Norm and Jess came second last last week but they’ve got the best apartment here!”

Neale said the bathroom had the luxury of extreme height. Darren said the Japanese maple was his favourite tree ever and Neale thought it looked stunning.

Shaynna loved the backlit marble in the niches and the simple styling; just the right amount. Neale said the level of sophistication was just next level.

Take that, any of you doubting the Queenslanders!

Darren realised the bath was plastic (which they hadn’t! Seriously, how?!) but said: “It looks a million dollars.” Shaynna said you’d never know. “It was a very clever and smart solution.”

Oh, you’ve got to laugh!

She said they’d got the visual impact 100% but there were some functionality issues. The towel rail was too close to the vanity and there wasn’t enough storage.

Overall, the judges said they’d thought about their buyer and that buyer would definitely want their bathroom.

My pick to buy: Concrete mirror by Nood Co.

Get the look with this grey terrazzo stone (this one’s the real deal!) bath.

What did you think? Did the right couple win? Are you enjoying this season so far?

Read all our Block coverage.

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Categories
DIY Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Two courtyard makeovers you could achieve this weekend!

As Spring approaches, thoughts turn to those long days of sunshine ahead and ways we can maximise our outdoor living space. It’s literally an extension of your home, so if you can find an easy way to turn a barren, unusable space into an inviting, resort-style balcony or courtyard, then what are you waiting for?

There are a few key things to remember when creating an outdoor room:

  • Privacy is important; you can often achieve this through screening or vegetation
  • Make it as multi-purpose as possible (eg, a lounging, eating and possibly even cooking area)
  • Make sure there’s sufficient shade
  • If you can factor in some storage, all the better
  • Create a smooth indoor/outdoor flow so there’s no jarring transition when you step outside.

With those pointers in mind, here are two courtyard makeovers that can be tackled in a weekend, and use the warmth of merbau timber to soften the surrounding surfaces.

Suburban oasis

This half-day makeover relied almost entirely on paint, plants and a flexible DIY decking system to transform a bleak slab of concrete into a beautiful outdoor room, for around $5,000.

BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

I started with an industrial clean, then painted the walls a muted grey and used Good Times modular decking system for the hard surfaces, and for screening on both sides that were overlooked by neighbours. It also worked perfectly as a day bed, creating a cosy lounging area for the owners. The beauty of this DIY system is that you don’t need any holes or footings; you simply lay the framing straight over the top of what’s there. Plants, rustic pots and artful styling provide the homely touches that turn it into a true outdoor room.

City chic

This 12 square metre courtyard in Sydney’s Chippendale flowed out from an inner city studio, so was valuable space that had basically been relegated to a clothes-drying area. Engulfed in greenery, it had the potential to be an inner city oasis, but was anything but!

For around $3,000, I turned it into a proper outdoor entertaining area, with merbau decking boards, a daybed, integrated barbecue and bench, and a foldaway table. The deck was raised to make it level with the studio floor, creating that all-important, seamless indoor/outdoor flow.

It now easily doubles as an outdoor kitchen, as well as a calming oasis to relax in.

–Cherie Barber is the director of Renovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit.

Categories
Design Expert Tips RENO ADDICT Styling

How to: Use walls to add texture to a room

Image courtesy of HGTV

From wallpaper to speckled paint, exposed brick and the living green variety, there are myriad ways for walls to bring texture to a room.

Image courtesy of HGTV
Image courtesy of HGTV

Wallpaper

When it comes to texture, wallpaper can always be relied upon to bring this to a room. Whether subtle or dramatic, wallpaper will change the feel in the room making it perfect for creating an overall vibe.

Paint

Textured paint is a great way to add texture to any space whether you purchase a ready-made one or make your own (texture can be added to paint with the use of joint compound). As an added bonus it conceals uneven or chipped walls too.

Image courtesy of Somhome
Image courtesy of Somhome

Water colour

Painting a wall in a water colour design is a great way to add unique texture to a space, and it also has a lovely painterly quality. Any colours can be used to create this look, however it is best to use hues that complement one another – a trio of purple, blue and pink is one such alternative.

Speckled paint

Adding paint speckles to a wall is a great way to add texture to a space, depending on what colours are used. In a child’s bedroom, speckling bright coloured paint on a neutral toned wall is a great way to add texture and create a unique space that is unlike any other. Speckling paint can also be achieved through flicking the paint on the paintbrush onto the wall.

Image courtesy of Inside Out magazine
Image courtesy of Inside Out magazine

Timber

Much like painting brick, painting timber is great for an injection of texture. If the timber isn’t smooth, painting over it will create a unique, rustic design in the room. Similarly, leaving timber exposed and unpainted will also retain texture in a space.

Brick

With the industrial aesthetic trending, exposed brick has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Leaving bricks exposed, or roughly painting over brick to give it a faux worn look adds fabulous texture to a space. Much like wallpaper, exposed brick allows any space to have a unique texture and feeling.

Image courtesy of Atlas Concorde
Image courtesy of Atlas Concorde

Three dimensional tiles

Three dimensional tiles, or tiles that appear that way, are a great way to add something different to a space and will usually make it feel larger too. Three dimensional tiles are easy to clean and maintain, however it’s worth considering that they don’t age that well.

Metal

Exposed metal, or pressed metal is a great way to incorporate an industrial feeling into a space. Metal works better as a feature on a wall – don’t cover the entire thing as it can be overwhelming. Exposed metal tends to look more rustic the older it gets – its unique patina only improves with age.

Image courtesy of Home Desogning
Image courtesy of Home Designing

Green walls

Green walls are a great way to add texture and they provide a host of other benefits too. While they can be difficult to construct and maintain they can help improve air quality, focus and productivity. In purely aesthetic terms, filling a wall full of greenery will leave a lasting impact whenever you walk in to the space. When paired with neutral soft and hard furnishings, the greenery will pop all the more.

Naomi Findlay is one of our resident experts, principal of Silk Home and founder of the International Institute of Home Staging. 

Read all her articles for Reno Addict.

Categories
Bathrooms RENO ADDICT

New minimal bathroomware from Raymor

The old adage ‘less is more’ certainly comes to mind with Raymor’s fresh new range of bathroom wares that combine clean, modern lines with subtle curves and smart design solutions for compact bathing spaces.

Raymor Timber Hero-Green

And it was this simple, unfettered design that inspired an organic themed bathroom with timber-look tiles and a large, living green wall as its eye-catching feature.

The timber tiles and green feature wall called for simple bathroom fixtures and fittings so as not to overwhelm the space – exactly where Raymor’s new range fits in.

Raymor Wentworth Wall Hung Vanity TThe wall hung Wentworth vanity features a crisp white ceramic top and gloss white polyurethane cabinetry. Minimal bevel grip finger pulls and soft close drawers complete the look and make it just as beautiful to use. And while it looks compact in size, the Jamaica bath has added depth for full body immersion – an indulgent design feature.

Tanami Bath Set 160mm

The Tanami collection of tap ware features gentle curves and is aptly named as it invokes the simplicity of Japanese design.

But when it comes to a fabulous design solution for a compact space, the Byron wall faced toilet suite really comes up trumps. The concealed cistern makes it the perfect choice for a tiny powder room or small bathroom.

Visit Raymor or tradelink for more.

Categories
House Tours The Block

The high drama Block Glasshouse terrace reveals

OMG, I  don’t know about you but I got seriously high blood pressure watching last night’s terrace reveals. Agh! So much work to do, Keith handing out extra work and stopping plans in their tracks at every turn and serious amounts of tantrums, tears and rain. Nightmare! Apart from Max and Karstan of course, who seemed pretty chilled about everything! So it’s really quite staggering that the end results were, in the main, so slick and impressive. I’m amazed that four out of five couples finished, let alone anything else!

Carlene & Michael: 2nd place

H1 Rm9 C&M Terrace EA 27

“How good is this?” and “Incredible,” were Shaynna’s words, followed by a “wow” from Darren. The judges all loved the timber cladding. Neale said the exposed brick in the indoor living area which he initially had misgivings about now made total sense in the context of the outdoor area. Darren said it felt like an urban oasis and Shaynna was amazed they’d achieved so much in just seven days, thinking of everything. Despite being close to the street, Neale said it had a feeling of seclusion which was perfect. It was going so very well until they “forgot” to put Max & Karstan’s ugly pipe lamp in their room for judging, as per the rules, losing them a point. When it came to the small upstairs terrace, Neale was in love again, calling it a real gem. The outdoor shower and vertical garden also went down well. “Michael and Carlene have a phenomenal apartment, ” said Shaynna, with Darren adding: “They’re sitting on a goldmine.” And just to finish it off, Neale declared they’d nailed it.

H1 Rm9 C&M Terrace EA 28

Get Carlene & Michael’s look: Haman indigo cushion, pom pom magenta cushions, Emmett copper pendants, replica Fermob Luxembourg counter stool, replica Fermob Luxembourg chair, Outdeco Gardenscreen Cumulus, Kalahari outdoor beanbags.

Chris & Jenna: last place

H2 Rm9 C&J Terrace EA 17

With their not one but two terraces, Chris & Jenna were falling seriously behind. Even Keith took pity on them and chose to muck in and help. Bless, what a secret softie! Not that it went down well with some of the other contestants… Nothing could stop the overwhelming reality of the sheer amount of work though, resulting in tears and domestics. With two unfinished rooms in a row you couldn’t help but feel sorry for them and nobody wants to see a man cry (poor Chris!).

While they were probably expecting the worst, Neale was very complimentary about the ivy wall and what they’d managed to achieve, creatively, on a budget. Shaynna commended them for picking themselves up each week and really trying but couldn’t ignore what hadn’t been finished but “damn well good on them!”). Neale said despite it not being finished you could see it was going to be really strong. The generous comments ended when the judges got upstairs to the rooftop however! The huge TV got plenty of criticism for being ugly and impractical. “Downstairs I could forgive them a lot but up here really doesn’t work,” summed up Neale.

H2 Rm9 C&J Terrace EA 15

Get Chris & Jenna’s look: Sky blue outdoor scatter cushion, tangerine outdoor pillow cushion, steel hexagon with hanging bromeliad plant, Fluid Hoshi Design in limestone, Oracular Design Planter in limestone, Geometric Divine Design Planter in limestone,  Geometric Divine Design Tealight in limestone.

Max & Karstan: 3rd place

The Block in Melbourne

All the judges agreed the couple’s room was warm, cohesive and tied in well with the apartment. Darren loved the remote control blinds and the hanging plants. Neale said the vertical garden was one of the best examples he’d seen yet and that the terrace had made a massive difference in finishing off the apartment, which in previous weeks had been criticised for being too cold and clinical. These two did lose a point though for not incorporating Dee and Darren’s hideous trumpet lights!

The Block in Melbourne

Get Max & Karstan’s look: Vertiscape green wall modules, Pop & Scott pots, Pop plant hanging string garden kit, Outdeco Gardenscreen Marakesh black.

Shannon & Simon: 4th place

H4 Rm9 S&S Terrace EA 19

The boys seemed to have one hurdle after another to overcome this week but, in their usual style, remained good humoured! But the judges couldn’t agree on the space. While Darren and Neale loved the hanging and other pots, Shaynna hated them and said they didn’t fit with the rest of the apartment. Neale said it just fell short of being absolutely brilliant while Shaynna said it was borderline boring. Owch! Neale’s hipster’s terrace was Shaynna’s abandoned warehouse! The boys also lost a point for not incorporating Michael and Carlene’s lamp.

H4 Rm9 S&S Terrace EA 33

Get Shannon & Simon’s look: Radial wall mural, wire powdercoated chairs, wire bar stools, steel macrame net.

Dee & Darren: WINNERS!

H5 Rm9 D&D Terrace EA 5

You’ve got to agree, the double Ds’ idea to create a mezzanine with city views was GENIUS. Neale and Shaynna agreed it was like a little Tuscan retreat. Neale said every now and again, more is more! As usual, the styling got big compliments. Neale said he couldn’t remember the last time he saw an apartment which was totally holistic in the way it came together. Darren got so excited when he spotted the mezzanine and ran up to check out the city views, saying you could happily sit their quietly, completely removed from the hustle and bustle of life. Shaynna said it was the sort of wow factor that would create a bidding war. Again, they lost a point though for not incorporating Chris and Jenna’s disco vertical garden. What a surprise!

The Block in Melbourne

Get Dee & Darren’s look: medium lantern, mini lantern, rustic pine reclaimed coffee table, Maine botanical cushion, 3-piece outdoor setting,  adjustable wall spotlight in copper,

After the terrace judging, in true Block style, came the big surprise that the next two weeks would be spent doing the sixth apartment between them all, with those creating winning rooms getting to take cash off their reserve prices. Will be interesting seeing all the couples working together to achieve one cohesive home. Eek!  Can’t wait for next week!

See all our Block coverage.