Categories
Bedrooms Design Designers Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT Styling

Real reno: A luxe guest suite you’d never want to leave

You know what they say about house guests and fish? Well I’d certainly be doing my utmost to stay more than three days in this gorgeous guest wing, newly renovated by interior designer Lynne Bradley. Not only is it a smart yet serene space that is big on comfort, it even has its own kitchen attached. As I said, when can I stay??

Guest suite
The guest suite of your dreams

“My brief was to create an elegant, sophisticated and inviting suite that oozed luxury and comfort. My clients want to make their guests not only feel at home but also to feel private from the workings of the rest of the home,” says Lynne of the guest wing that is located on the ground floor just off the entry foyer of a tri-level family home.

Lounge area
Guest lounge area

Home to a family of four, including two young adult sons, the large home was built 15 years ago and sits on a steep slope overlooking bushland. “My clients often have their elderly parents/in-laws stay over and host international friends a few times per year,” says Lynne.

Entry foyer
View to the home’s entry foyer

A study in blue, the room draws on Hamptons styling. “I didn’t reference any particular design period although the room hints at a modern interpretation of the Hamptons style which is a look that resonates with my clients,” says Lynne. Having carried out other renovations to the home in the year prior, Lynne was careful to connect the suite’s aesthetics to the rest of the home. The dark blue wall is one such element. “I was very keen to choose a dark blue wall colour to create depth and contrast to the crisp white trim of the woodwork as well as linking back to the deep blue accents in the entrance.” She chose natural sisal flooring to connect with the floorboards in the foyer and kitchen area.

Kitchen
Guest kitchen

Of her favourite part of the renovation, Lynne loves the bed zone. “The rug underneath the bed, with its bold striped border give an illusion of width to this space whilst also adding a soft foot fall from the bed. The stools at the foot of the bed allow guests to place bedding there as well as somewhere to put their shoes on and converse with someone sitting on the nearby sofa,” says Lynne.

“It was important to inject pattern and texture into this space, so I had the bed and sofa custom made in patterned textiles. I love the bed area – the layering of the sisal, rug and upholstery is delicious!”

Bed details
One more look at the bedside details

Photography: Craig Wall

For more | Guest bedroom ideas from The Block

Categories
Bathrooms House Tours The Block

The first Block series 13 room reveals

So, here we are with season 13 of The Block’s first room reveals! To be honest, I wasn’t loving any of them and thought the judges were very kind, that said, it is week 1 and they only had 48 hours, so we can’t expect masterpieces. Yet!

The stakes were high because depending on how well they did, the couples got to choose their preferred house from the five 1920s California bungalows.

So, here’s how they did! What did you think?

Sarah and Jason

Older (read mid-40s!) Perth couple Sarah and Jason, a nurse and a plumber, came in third. Their Myne by Prudence Caroline artwork was gorgeous but personally, I didn’t feel the room pulled together very well at all. But what do I know?! Shaynna criticised them for pulling out the period features people buy these kinds of houses for. But Neale was kinder, saying the room had come together really well.

But can we please talk about the state of that rug and the creased bed linen?! I hope it’s true that the room in reality was better than these photos!

Our pick: Branford dresser from Pottery Barn

***

Ronnie and Georgia

This pair came first, which is just the start of the drama, as this enabled them to get their first choice house, house 3, and all the goodies that came in the mystery safe (vouchers and cash). They also got to take the same amount they spent on their challenge room from another couple’s budget. Poor Elyse and Josh did not take the news well, and Georgia wasn’t too happy with their reaction. Well, you’d hardly expect them to be delighted but the tension was 100% clear! Eek! Tears already!

Back to the room, which turned out well, if a little too grey for my liking, despite the floor-sanding disaster and eventual carpeting. Neale liked the ceiling rose with the modern pendant and the cornicing. He said it was a great balance of heritage detailing and contemporary flavour. Shaynna said the lighting could have been better planned as the pendant was offset to the bed.

I really liked the wardrobe!

Our pick: Jersey doona cover set

***

Josh and Elyse

I think I liked this room the best, although agreed with Shaynna they should have left some period details behind! Darren said it was very Blocky! But Neale said more like it belonged on The Block in week 5, 6 or 7. Darren said the floor had come up a treat. Didn’t it just? I’d seen enough carpet! I admired the fact they tried to do something different, even if I didn’t love that feature wall colour.

They came 2nd.

Our pick: Bedhead by Heatherly Design Bedheads

***

Sticks and Wombat

Bless them! I’m just going to love this pair, especially Wombat! What a character! I love what they did with the bedhead even though I don’t think it suits the house at all! The less said about that armchair, the better. Darren walked in and straight away said two blokes did this room! Correct! Shaynna said it felt very eighties but Neale said even though the room 70% sucked, the remaining 30% was gold and he was intrigued to know more about the people behind it!

They came 4th.

Our pick: Merino chunky knit throw by Cindee Collections

***

Hannah and Clint

A mixed bag of reviews for this room, which came last. Darren said the cornice was lovely and the wall colour pretty, but everything else was lacking personality. Shaynna said it lacked soul because it was trying to be perfect. Darren said it lacked a big ticket item for a focal point but was still a very strong start. Neale said he hoped they wouldn’t be as safe next time.

Our pick: Kimmy Hogan print

***

The episode finished with us seeing how they got started on the next challenge: the main bathroom, which they’ll have a week to complete. A big call! Clearly, there’s going to be a lot of drama, but we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?!

I can’t wait to see what they do. We’ll be bringing you each and every room reveal, as always!

Fancy giving The Block a go yourself? Pop back later today for some top tips from the man who is responsible for casting the contestants!

The Block latest.