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Old and new parts of home brought together to flow with nature

By Jen Bishop • 2 Comments

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Ex Blockheads Deb and Andy Saunders from DNA of Design, have transformed a mismatched and outdated home and transported it into the 21st Century. The clients, Mishelle and Ross, have a blended family of seven, so it was essential that the new home was practical to support their busy family dynamics. Set on the Gold Coast Hinterland, the home was inspired by the surrounding nature and renovated with large family living in mind. 

 “We were heavily inspired by the home’s surroundings, located on the Gold Coast and enveloped by lush forestry that’s home to a koala or two and plenty of kangaroos – we love how they regularly gather among these large gum trees. It’s such an amazing view,” says Deb. “We used the colours of the bark and leaves from the gum trees to inspire the design of the entire home. We wanted it to feel as though the interior and exterior spaces were in complete harmony with nature. One of our favourite parts is the new wing of the house that reaches right out into the trees, bringing all that nature inside to feel like you’re floating.”

The overall style feels natural and relaxed, playing into the wabi-sabi design philosophy but with a contemporary flair incorporating clean lines and shapes. 

The façade comprises Queenslander-inspired features with bright timber cladding and a large porch. Facing west, the front of the home is subject to significant heat during the tough Queensland summers. In order to keep it cool but still remain stylish and in line with the wabi-sabi aesthetic, awnings were selected from the Luxaflex Evo Awning range. They’re made in Australia specifically for our climate.⁠ Additionally, to create a statement piece and a sense of privacy outside, modular walls were added behind the mailbox, blending with the style of the home whilst also adding character to the surrounding landscape. 

Originally tired and uninviting, the inside of the home underwent drastic changes to convert it into a space that was practical for the blended family. “We moved the kitchen from upstairs to the downstairs area and added a new living and sitting space downstairs too. We love how the house now hugs the pool and outdoor area (which was previously mainly accessible via the old staircase) which means that the entire floorplan flows more seamlessly. Seeing the home take on such a brand-new, fresh aesthetic and improve its functionality in many ways has been incredibly satisfying to witness,” says Deb. 

Central to creating a seamless flow throughout was the transformation of all the walls, utilising Gyprock Supercheck to enable a more cohesive look and feel. “At the start of the renovation, we thought it would be impossible to make the old and new sections work together, but Gyprock helped us achieve this harmony without any issues. Everything now looks so seamless; you can’t even tell where the old part ends and the new part begins.”

Being the heart of the home, the kitchen was a major part of the renovation – transforming it from its drab 90s feel to a modern family space. “The kitchen, pantry, and laundry are probably the hero areas of the home. These three spaces flow so well off one another that they’re almost like one large room, yet they can still be closed off and separated when needed,” says Deb. 

Butler’s pantry

Sitting in the new downstairs extension, a stone benchtop was chosen to bring a sense of the outdoors in via natural materials. Featuring gold flecks, it was paired with brass finishings. “We found it quite challenging to join the old and new sections of the house. In the original part of the house, we ended up building the laundry and butler’s pantry, while we built the kitchen in the extension area. In the end, the whole area flows like a dream and the space we created is now big and roomy. Something else that stands out is the ceiling height in the living room alongside a soaring sandstone fireplace, it’s absolutely insane how gorgeous it looks. We then added a mezzanine above the kitchen due to engineering issues that we worked around.” 

Master bedroom
Master ensuite

Moving to the master bedroom and ensuite, a hotel-like suite has been designed. Opening up with a grand entrance, the bedroom hallways feature two walk-in robes for the couple on either side. Through the bedroom, the ensuite stands at the end of the space with double showers and a standalone bath. Deb and Andy wanted the space to feel like a spa, so a neutral palette and earthy tones were incorporated to induce a calming feel.

“The main challenge with this space was the lack of natural light. To overcome this, we extended one side of the room and opened it up by installing glass sliding doors overlooking the tree-filled backyard,” describes Deb. “We decided to create a layered effect using Luxaflex Duette Shades and Sheer Curtains to help make the rooms appear fuller and more finished. These coverings worked perfectly, with a gorgeous, lightweight feel and soft white tone to match the rest of the home’s aesthetic.” 

At the end of the project, the couple renamed the house “Unearthed” to fit with the wabi-sabi design philosophy that was incorporated into the interior design. Wabi-sabi originates from Japan and focuses on authenticity, simplicity, and embracing beauty in imperfection. It’s also about focusing on organic textures and tones. “The name and earthy interior style also fit well because the downstairs area of the home was quite literally built into the earth. all, the home’s style is earthy and modern with muted tones. It’s a soft space made for relaxing and unwinding,” says Deb. 

For more information on Gyprock | For more information on Luxaflex | For more information on DNA of Design

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August 8, 2023

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Pink and green should always be seen! From time t Pink and green should always be seen!

From time to time, we stray from our Australian-homes-only rule when we uncover something we really love! This project, by @2lgstudio (and also the interior design duo’s own home) is featured in Ornament Is Not a Crime, a new coffee table interiors book by Sydney-based design writer @rebeccalgross.

Head to the homepage via link in bio to read about this home and see more colourful pictures in an extract.

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Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?! Natas Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?!

Natasha from QLD recently finished a major reno of her Queenslander and this is her favourite room of all. We can see why!

She used @beaumont.tiles  Lux Calcutta slabs in gloss the wall and matt for the floor.

 "We have infused a Hamptons style whilst still remaining true to the traditions of old Queenslanders," she said. "Our bathroom is north west facing and captures such great morning light. We wrapped the cabinetry all the way along the vanity for ease of access for the bath, towels and accessories. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to create a more luxurious space. It's my favourite room in the house!"

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Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 very different looks last night which was great!

One question that kept coming up was just how important is the butler's pantry? Love to hear your thoughts. Do you have one? And which was your favourite last night? Please share in the comments.

Head to the blog via link in bio to find out who won and what the judges said. 

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Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

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Which was your fave?

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A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

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Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or bo Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or boring!

The latest @kaboodlekitchen trends release, in collaboration with stylist @jono.fleming, are anything but. These are just 4 of 6 new colours for the brand, sold in Bunnings.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the others (hint: one of them might be pink! 🩷). You'll also find out how to get a free copy of the latest Kaboodle edit magazine sent to you, chock full of inspiring real projects like my navy laundry!

Which of these is your pick? Would you venture outside of a white kitchen? What colour is yours?

#kaboodlekitchen #kaboodlelaundry #kaboodle #flatpackfurniture #flatpackkitchen #bunningskitchen #flatpackcabinets #budgetkitchen #ontrendkitchens #colourfulkitchen #colouredcabinets #kitchencolourtrends2023 #colourtrends2023 #boldkitchen #jonofleming #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #bunningsdiy #heartyourhome #realreno #realrenovations #kitchenbeforeandafter #kitchenonabudget #colourfullaundry #flatpacklaundry
Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own rug range this week and they're a bit gorgeous! 😍 These are the kind of beautiful, neutral, textured, natural, ethically and sustainably produced rugs that will stand the test of time.

Pop over to the blog via link in bio to read our chat with him.

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Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost pe Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost perfect score on the Block last night.

Even if their bedsides weren't exactly generous, they were bigger than most last night. What was going on there?!

As ever, love to know your thoughts. See more, read the judges' comments and shop the looks via link in bio now.

#theblockroomreveals
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatarkatherine clowery says

    September 11, 2023 at 10:34 am

    Hi Jen! I’m from Québec, Canada and I love your designs, ideas and concepts! I’m obsessed with this bathroom vassel and this kitchen. Would it be possible to tell me where ! could find the sink and the color of the kitchen cabinets? It would really be really great! Thank you very much!

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      September 11, 2023 at 12:44 pm

      Hi Katherine. There’s a link to DNA of Design, the designers, at the end of the blog post. Suggest contacting them for more info. Thanks!

      Reply

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