Lovers of European-inspired stained wood flooring can now get the look with home-grown Australian hardwood species. The new contemporary stained range from Boral is a first of its kind, featuring local (and certified sustainable) Blackbutt and Spotted Gum timbers.
High quality, and easy to install, the metallon boards are inspired by the aesthetics of precious metals, transforming the earthy beauty of Australian hardwoods into the colours of Copper, Tungsten, Pewter, Cobalt and Titanium.
“Stained engineered floors are extremely popular and when matched with the natural beauty of Australian species, prove to be a versatile and multi-dimensional timber flooring solution that aligns with evolving Australian architecture and design trends,” said Leon Travis, national sales and distribution manager at Boral Timber.
Using the click-lock installation system, the hard-wearing Blackbutt and Spotted Gum boards are pre-finished for minimal fuss and mess. The boards can be sanded back for a more natural finish or re-stained.
Prices start at $114.38 per m2 (not including installation). Click here for more info.
Changing the kitchen layout and laying hardwood floors throughout made a huge difference to Illona McArthur’s family home in Parkdale VIC. We love the practical lessons learned and shared from this kitchen reno.
Illona and her husband spent around $90,000 and three months on the reno and estimate they’ve added around $200,000 of value to their 90s brick veneer home in the process. It was the third and most adventurous reno for the pair, who are fast becoming serial renovators! “Our first reno was mostly just painting, modernising the window furnishings and landscaping. The second, I wasn’t confident with my own style and we were guided by our builder for many aspects of the layout as well as finishings. This reno, I had two years to plan, so I had lots of time to really evaluated how we live and what our needs were,” says Illona. “We recently bought a run-down investment unit which we renovated as well. I can’t wait for the next project!”
When they first moved in, Illona loved the house but knew they’d want to replace the pink kitchen floor tiles and update the kitchen a bit. “Two years later and after playing with various kitchen layouts, we decided to bite the bullet and reconfigure the entire kitchen space, which involved knocking out a load-bearing pantry. The room was a great size so moving the pantry allowed us to really see how much room we had to work with.” They also decided to reconfigure the master bedroom, ensuite, walk-in robe and powder room. “It was easy to see the potential once we dared to look beyond the original layout,” Illona said.
BeforeAfter
While the couple renovated for themselves and not to sell, they have been bitten by the bug and are already looking for their next project. “We just can’t help ourselves. Mind you, I just love this house. It is so beautiful and I am so proud of what we have achieved with this renovation, I’m not sure I could leave it.”
After
The flooring throughout the home was changed from pink/grey tiles to hardwood flooring. They chose standard grade spotted gum (“which has all the beautiful knots and colour variations of the natural timber”). The pantry which sat in the middle of the room was torn out, giving a large open space to build a new kitchen and dining area. Two additional skylights put in over the kitchen let in lots more natural light.
“My husband and I (well, mostly my husband!) did all the demolition works,” Illona said. “We sold our old kitchen on eBay to a gorgeous young couple renovating their first home – they turned up with a kitchen knife and began the painstaking task of trying to cut through the silicon holding the solid granite benchtop together. It was too painful to watch so we left them to it for two days before my husband just got in there and starting pulling the kitchen apart for them!”
They found a local builder who was happy to build without professional drawings which enabled Illona to literally develop the space as the frames went up. “The cabinet maker was even able to build the kitchen from the drawings I drew myself. We stayed living in our house during the renovation which allowed me to be on site for any decision that needed to be made, whether it was placement of the skylights or hand picking the timber boards which ran up the face of the island. Styling has been an ongoing project and I would say I have finally completed the kitchen space.”
As with most renos, there was the odd nasty surprise and once the plasterboard came off, they realised how unsafe the wiring throughout the house was, bumping up the electrician’s bill. “We also found that there was a gas pipe that had been leaking in the kitchen. I often smelt gas but it came and went and was never a very strong smell. Fixing this increased the plumbing expense as did having to replace the hot water service which decided to blow up two weeks before the renovation commenced!” Ouch!
The kitchen is definitely their favourite part of the reno. “We ran the hardwood flooring up the face of the island bench. It is just fantastic.” Illona’s biggest advice is to take your time planning and sourcing the materials and furnishings. “Ensure you find a great builder who will meet your needs. If you don’t have your own design style then employ people who do to help. If you do, then employ a builder who will allow you to express it to create your dream home. We did and it was a wonderful experience.
“Go with your gut, we met with quite a few builders before choosing one and a few of them didn’t get the job simply because they didn’t address me in our initial conversations, only my husband. I knew I couldn’t work with a builder who didn’t respect my input from the start. Just enjoy the creative aspect of renovating. It seems hard when you don’t have plasterboard or hot water but it is totally worth it in the end.”
The Easter break poses a welcome opportunity to undertake DIY and ‘fix-it’ jobs that have been put off around the home. A good place to start is a simple yet effective update to your deck! You can simply ‘refresh’ or create on-trend looks thanks to Feast Watson’s range of decking products. Here are some handy tips:
Starting from scratch
A new deck always starts with the right timber choice and the right timber treatments. Feast Watson have pulled together a collection of some of the most popular timbers perfect for creating inspiring and on-trend decking.
CYPRESS PINE is an Australian softwood, despite its apparent hardness. It varies in colour from pale yellow to variegated browns. Although Cypress Pine has a fine even texture, knots are very common and it tends to be brittle and prone to fine surface checking.
JARRAH is a heavy, tough Australian hardwood with a distinctive dark red colouration.
SPOTTED GUM is a very dense, oily Australian hardwood that ranges from pale to dark brown. It is essential to weather and clean Spotted Gum with Feast Watson Woodclean (as per label instructions). Note: Spotted Gum is often present in decking timber sold as ‘mixed hardwood’.
TREATED PINE is Radiata Pine that has been pressure treated to resist decay, termites and fungi. This treatment involves saturating the timber, so it is essential to leave Treated Pine to dry properly before staining. Tip: When choosing your timber and constructing your deck you’ll need to allow it to weather in its final position for four-to-six weeks before coating. After this time, prepare timber for coating using Feast Watson Woodclean as per the instructions. For best results, lightly sand the surface to remove any grain raise. Remember to remove all sanding dust before coating.
Looking for a simple refresh?
It’s difficult to state an exact timeframe for how often timber decks should be recoated because it is dependent on so many factors; quality of the coating, amount of foot traffic, degree of exposure to UV radiation and the weather. As a rule of thumb, we suggest you conduct a regular annual inspection of the coating, and touch up any areas that are looking worn. A full recoat is required when the overall coating is looking tired and in need of a refresh. Tip: Refresh regularly as it’s easier to maintain the coating before it becomes too worn and the timber underneath starts to degrade.
Decking Oil: Try Feast Watson Decking Oil to refresh your deck. It’s a hardwearing, semi-transparent timber coating that enhances the natural beauty of timber whilst protecting it from Australia’s harsh conditions. If you’re looking for a higher sheen, try Feast Watson Wet Look Deck.
BeforeAfter
Looking for a whole new style?
When it comes to home renovation and decorating, there has been a move away from traditional finishes that simply protect and maintain the natural look of timber. The newest trends in decking are finishes that create a unique statement and provide impressive bases for outdoor entertaining.
Grey Look Deck
Feast Watson Grey Look Deck provides an immediate grey, naturally weathered timber look and durable protection. Formulated to appear grey, the finish protects timber from harsh Australian conditions and will increase in colour intensity over time.
Wet Look Deck
Feast Watson Wet Look Deck provides homeowners with a timber finish that has a long lasting, freshly coated ‘wet’ look. Feast Watson Wet Look Deck is a great base for an outdoor room in need of a fresh, clean look.
Dark Deck
Try Feast Watson Timber Deck & Stain for a deep colour option. We’re seeing a resurgence in the use of darker coloured stains such as black and ebony, to enhance outdoor areas. Feast Watson Timber Deck & Stain in Black Japan is a great dark colour option and can be matched with interior flooring to encourage style consistency throughout the home.
For a new decking look or a simple decking update, try Feast Watson Grey Look Deck, Wet Look Deck, Decking Oil and Timber & Decking Stain and more. To find out more about Feast Watson products and their application, visit their website and for inspiration, check out the Feast Watson Instagram.
In interiors you have two kinds of furniture: the type that blends into a space and the type that demands attention, and the Østberg Bench by Sawdust Bureau is certainly the latter.
Made from spotted gum, the statement bench features a series of folded loops that form slots to store books, magazines and media equipment. Supported by a cabinet with a concealed, push-to-open hideaway nook, the bench is also punctuated with two pairs of polished brass red bookends. Able to seat three people, the bench further doubles as a coffee table or a standalone gallery piece.
Made in a limited edition of 10, each piece is stamped with an edition number and maker’s mark. Once the release of 10 pieces are exhausted, this unique design will never be reproduced.
Sawdust Bureau is the brainchild of designer Bryan Cush and American engineer Greg Bielawiec. Based in Melbourne, their goal is to produce high-quality, handmade, low volume, fully customisable pieces of furniture, made only from 100% Australian timbers.
