A project close to us (literal and metaphorical), my parents purchased an original 80s brick home that made for a satisfying yet accessible transformation. With Hacienda vibes, lush beautiful acreage and streams of natural light through in-built skylights we drew inspiration from the original stained glass windows to create a timeless aesthetic that feels like a true representation of their 60+ years of life.

Kitchen

Cabinetry colour – Taubman’s Irish Blessing created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Wall colour – Barely Beige Quarter, Taubmans

Cabinetry – MCDAS Projects

Cabinetry pulls – Hepburn Hardware

Splashback tiles – National Tiles

Benchtop – Organic White, Caesarstone

Kitchen tapware – Abey Australia

Kitchen butler’s sink – Abey Australia

Sink in butler’s pantry – Abey Australia

Oven – Smeg

Fridge – Fisher Paykel

Flooring – Decorug 

Vase – Vintage

Stools – Satara Living

Wooden shelf – Recycled

Rangehood – rendered by Render X

Dining Room

Round Dining Table – Saloon Round Dining Table by Canvas and Sasson

Chairs – Vintage (painted)

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Pendant light – House of Orange

Flooring – Decorug

Wall panelling – 100mm EasyVJ from Easycraft

Vase – Vintage

Wall render – Render X

Wall colour – Barely Beige Quarter, Taubmans

Laundry & Linen Cupboard

Cupboard handles – Etsy

Cupboards – Laminex Spinefex

Basket – Bishiri Bolga Basket

Rug – Persian from AU Rugs

Powder Room

Wall paint colour – Taubman’s Soldier On created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Timber vanity – Zanui (retrofitted bedside table)

Stone basin – Stone and Rock

Tapwear – ABI Interiors

Mirror – Gallery Direct

Artwork – Vintage

Vases – Vintage

Wall panelling – Easy VJ from Easycraft

Door – Hume Doors

Master Bedroom

Wall colour – Taubman’s The In-between created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Bedside table – One World Collection 

Dresser – Left by previous owner’s

Mirror – Facebook Marketplace

Lamp – Parent’s already owned

Wall light – Emac & Lawton Lighting

Ottoman – Jenna Sherpa Ottoman by Pillow Talk

Bedding quilt cover – Parent’s already owned, an old Laura Ashley

Bed – Facebook Marketplace 

Artwork – Parent’s previous pieces

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Rug – Tribe Home

Chair – Oma & Opa’s 50+ year old TV chair reupholstered by Foam World

Flooring – Decorug

Office/Flex Space

Wall Colour – Taubman’s Noodie Roodie created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Sofa – Vintage covered in Warwick Fabric

Throw – Target

Cushions – Heirloom Stripe in Rosewater by Aura Home

Ottoman – Jenna Sherpa Ottoman by  Pillow Talk

Rug – Tribe Home

Mirror – Mum and Dad’s

Wall lamp – Emac & Lawton Lighting

Curtains – DIY Blinds

Desk – left by previous owner

Lamp – left by previous owner

Guest Bedroom 1

Wall colour – Taubman’s The In-between created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Artwork – Oma’s framed embroidery framed by Left Bank Art Group

Wall light – Fat Shack Vintage

Curtains – DIY Curtains and Blinds DIY Blinds

Bedding Coverlet – Verdant Country Quilt from Canvas and Sasson

Round Pom Pom Cushion – H&M Home

Bed – Michael’s childhood bed 

Flooring – Decorug

Guest Bedroom 2

Wall colour – Taubman’s Noodie Roodie created with Coloursmith App. Scan the above QR code at paint counter to get your colour tinted.

Artwork Embroideries – Oma’s framed embroidery framed by Left Bank Art Group

Artwork Tulips – Painted by Mum’s friend

Lamp – Facebook Marketplace

Bolster Cushion – Luxury Velvet Bolster by Aura Home

Bedding Quilt Cover – Left by previous owners

Bedside Table – Left by previous owners

Bed – Left by previous owners

Exterior

Paint colour – Taubmans, Cotton Ball

Bench seat – Left by previous owner and painted black

Garden lamp – Original

That should be it – but if not, please ask questions in the comments section below because no doubt others will have the same.

Carlene xx

It’s the last space to be revealed of our Tallebudgera project/our home and there isn’t much in it but somehow it’s one of the most significant design elements to this build. The breezeway! It was Michael’s cousin and partner who came up with the design concept for this and I’m so glad they did because I was seriously thinking, hell, how are we going to fill the space that is that giant concrete slab? The concrete foundations were huge and we certainly didn’t need more rooms!

The design called for us to cut into the existing concrete slab, instal a front courtyard and create the breezeway, which on a practical level just connects living/dining/ kitchen/deck to the the bedrooms bathrooms and rumpus. But you see, it’s the way the breezeway opens up to the pool and courtyard with a now flourishing garden at one end, that make this space far more than a thoroughfare. The breezeway is also responsible for making the front facade feel so interesting and unique. It means that when you pull up the driveway you can see all the way through to our pool and the valley beyond. The bonus is, we live in a quiet tree lined cul-de-sac and our house is set up high from the road which means we don’t have to worry about privacy.

Like I said, that garden at the end of the breezeway has been since filled with more plants (courtesy of Michael’s greenthumb parents), which have gone gangbusters and the feeling of ‘holiday’ that it creates just makes me so happy. It the same garden in which the main (kids) bathroom looks onto and with those louvres open we get amazing cross ventilation. I just need to address the fly screen a situation because ideally, I’d like to be able to leave those louvres open more.

The glass sliding doors are by A&L Windows and I have to say, sliding doors are by far the most practical, easy-to-open door. The engineered timber flooring is Black Mountain oak from Decorug as are the Persian rugs. The perks of being the spokespeople for a flooring brand! There aren’t many rugs that could withstand the foot traffic of a thoroughfare but these can and beyond that, it’s a real treat having handcrafted rugs in your home that you know you’ll have forever. They go a long way in creating warmth in this space and are key in making this thoroughfare a space in which you want to linger.

Since the house was photographed I’ve installed curtains in the breezeway because whilst we love the idea of it being open and fuss free, the sunlight comes in strong, sideways from the pool area in the morning and again from the front courtyard in the afternoon and it’s just a bit much. We installed sheer linen-look curtains in a colour called ‘linen’ and had the windows tinted, which helps diffuse the harsh sun. Maybe there is something wrong with my eyes but I hate bright light in the home so I often have sheers drawn in our house. It’s calmer.

Gosh I love this pic above. I also love that it’s the first thing you see when you walk in our front door and I love that you look straight out through that huge window to the pool and gum trees beyond. The idea behind this area was about creating a sort of mudroom with the initial plan to install drawers in the front of the bench to store school bags, shoes etc but at this point of the reno we were maxed out and couldn’t afford to spend anymore on cabinetry. Instead, we included a top opening mechanism, which is something Michael could do himself (free labour). As expected, a top opening bench seat is awkward so right now it’s storing items that only rarely get used until we get around to those drawers that I so want.  When we have people over, the bench seat quickly becomes a dumping ground for bags etc. which is fine for the time being but down the track I would love a dedicated mud room somewhere in the house, which I argue will both, house mess and keep us organised.  That market basket in the pic above is permanently there and it’s where I dump anything that eventually needs to go over to the other side of the house. It means that when I’m on my way to the bedrooms I can just pick up the basket and file everything away in its rightful place.

This little drop zone gets used A LOT. The green cabinet is HK Living from House of Orange. I love the hand painted look and this brand just nails simple, no fuss design. This cupboard stores everything that people leave at my house after a visit. It seems ridiculous that I would need a cupboard dedicated to forgotten items but it’s a busy house often filled with kids soooooooo……. Before anyone leaves my house I check the cupboard to see what might be theirs.

That crazy, amazing brass lamp is also HK Living from House of Orange and I think I got the last one in Australia (the may have restocked). I’m hoping it’s one of those pieces that will get handed down generations. In saying that, my kids would have to share my penchant for the quirky.

The vase is the iconic Frida Kahlo from Lovestar and is one I’ve had for a couple of years that gets shuffled around the house but has really found its home here. The bowls are vintage from The Grainery in Murwillimbah and they house our car keys, hair bands etc. The art is an indigenous piece that Michael’s brother sourced from his time in North Queensland a few years back. Many people love the idea of indigenous art but find the colours too heavy for their homes. By using a large white border and fine, white or timber frame you can give the art a lift and really make it work.

I had to be clever with my furnishings in this space because although IT IS a thoroughfare, it needed to feel like more than a thoroughfare. It needed to feel like our home. Leaving it unfurnished made the space too vacuous but furniture needed to be narrow so as not to impede on the space. The brass console above I picked up from the Salvos a few years ago and somehow it’s dimensions were PERFECT for this space. I think the blue book is from Big W (or maybe Kmart) and the Georg Genson silver bowl was gifted to me by a Danish work colleague in my pre-Block work life, and is a lovely little pop of architectual design.

And can we please take a moment for the oil lamp. It is vintage from The Grainery, a nice contrast to the Georg Gensen bowl and it’s just the most fabulous addition to this space. Don’t worry, the wiring has been updated and the cord is new. I HATE the downlights in this space (we installed waaaay too many) so at night I only flick on the lamps and some of the outdoor lighting and together they create the most delicate, calming ambience.

The artworks above are by by artist, Ilona Nelson from Signed and Numbered. They say that art is personal and I loved these pieces as soon as I laid eyes on them. I’ve used a dark walnut timber frame (which looks black in the photo) and a decent sized white mat for plenty of white space.

This is officially the last reveal of our Tallebudgera project. Sad really. Its been a rollercoaster and an absolute labour of love. The kitchen, living and dining are next in line for a renovation, although I hope not in the very very near future and besides, Michael’s focus has shifted to vintage caravans, which has become an unexpected and fulfilling passion. So expect more renovation reveals but of the mobile variety.

Carlene xx

It seems like a very non-eventful space in which to dedicate an entire blog post but our hallway is more than a hallway, this thoroughfare has serious SOUL and is definitely worthy of a conversation.

Michael made the decision, last minute, to step the hallway in to create more space and avoid the tunnel effect, which effectively made this space more of a room than a hallway. Off of our hallway are our 3 top floor bedrooms (there are 2 guests bedrooms downstairs) and the bathroom and the fact that the brick runs down the entire length means that each bedroom (and the bathroom) all get to enjoy that beautiful brick surface, which is a real treat. If you’ve read the previous blogs, you’ll know we’ve used Hawkesberry Bronze by PGH Bricks throughout the interior, paired with white mortar from The White Cement Company.

The hallway and the breezeway are the only rooms to don white walls and we’ve used Resene Black White, a really crisp, black-based white which, means  it doesn’t throw blues or pinks or yellows. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up painting the skirting the same grey as the bathrooms (Resene Foggy Grey) because the kids are constantly rubbing their feet up against that white and making it grubby. At least, if it’s grey I won’t see it.

The very long bench seat is also our linen cupboard, opening up from the top. The top opening mechanism is temporary, however, as ideally we want drawer fronts which are soooooo much easier to use but we were at the end of our budget so that’s a project for down the track. Those louvred windows from A&L Windows & Doors look out to our pool and to the other side of the house and when open, provide such a welcome breeze. With the amount of natural airflow provided by the number of windows built into this house design in general, it means for the most of the year, we shouldn’t need to use the ducted air con which was also installed during the build. You may be interested to know that until now, we’ve NEVER had home airconditioning, not even a split system. I’ve always deemed it an unnecessary luxury but after last year’s Summer, it’s more much more of a necessity. Where we once experienced only 4 days of suppressing heat, now it’s more like 4 weeks and for someone who works from home, I don’t have time to be affected by relentless heat. We’ve used Actron Air for those questioning and I’m feeling much better about our impending Summer (which officially arrives in 2 days, mind you).

Another space, another excuse for a cute vignette. The best part about this vignette is that no one ever touches it because it’s purely for aesthetics. I’ve styled it completely from pieces that I had sitting in other parts of the house and everything on the console, including the console itself is vintage. If you are  decking out a sparkling new house that needs some soul, hit your local opp shops. I’ve said it before, it’s where you find the quirkiest, coolest finds. The console, I sourced from The Gold Coast Antique Centre. I used to avoid antique centres because I associated them with very very old which meant very very expensive but most antique retailers also sell vintage items and the prices are subject to the material and its rareness. This console is pine and therefore totally affordable. The amber light I picked up from The Grainery at Murwillimbah and I think originally it was a pendant light but I always intended to plop it in amongst one of my vignettes.

The art is a good example of how being restricted by budget can work in your favour. Because we already owned the photo, I was only up for the cost of printing and framing. In saying that, I can’t emphasise enough the importance of getting your frame right. I favour timber frames although they are on the higher end of the price scale compared to a flat white or black. I like to mix up the colour and pattern of the timber rather than opt for a uniform look which risks looking stale. I also always opt for a plain white border to give the art/photo its moment to shine.

This is me below, kicking my feet up supervising the kids in the pool. Ha yeah right, I’ve never sat here, no one has time for sitting, it’s a pipe dream, but I do fold my washing here. And the kids like to jump up on the bench seat when they play ‘the floor is lava’ so you know,  it has its purpose.

The hand crafted rugs are all from Decorug and I’ll tell you what, they are key to the success of this space. Purchasing underlays though is on the to-do list because between Michael and the kids those things are never straight.  Hot tip; if you’re going to use runners, make sure you source a hard-wearing type because the idea is that you walk over them and some rugs just aren’t up to the challenge. These ones are indesctructible and because they’re patterned they don’t show marks. My type of rug!

Next week, it’s Paddy’s room up for reveal which is my favourite out of the kids’ bedrooms. Somehow it just suits him. It’s a smart room and Paddy is smart kid so you know……

Carlene xx

When styling a couple of our projects recently, we took the opportunity to take my range of rugs for Decorug out for a test drive. This is good, people because it’s not until you’ve actually seen a rug in situ that you can fully gauge whether or not you have made the right choice; the right colour, right dimensions, right style of rug for your space. And while your spaces may not resemble the below images, I’m taking some of the guesswork out of it just by showing how the rugs look in a styled space.

And so here they are (well here are a handful, you’ll have to see in store for the rest)…….

Soho rug in Charcoal / Ivory

This Soho rug wool and viscose, hand-braided rug comes in a really good range of neutral colours including ivory, platinum, silver, charcoal, and stone all of which you could use in any interior scheme. There is also a vibrant turquoise for the colour-lovers.

Soho rug in Charcoal / Ivory

I promise you will love the tactile feel of this rug underfoot.

Soho rug in Charcoal / Ivory

I have this Soho at home right now and I can report I’ve had zero shedding. Bonus!

Soho rug in Charcoal / Ivory

The Brookyln range (below) responds to my love of colour and sense of luxury. They are made from hand loomed ribbed bamboo silk. These rugs are crazy soft to touch and throw a beautiful luxurious sheen.  The best part is they come in a beautiful range of rich colours including Fuschia (pictured below), Claret, Ocean, and Mint. It’s also available in Cream and Smoke for amore neutral interior colour palette.

Brooklyn rug in Fuschia

I must have a bit of thing for pairing different shades of the same colour and because I’m a bit loose with my styling process (I don’t do moodboards etc), I do it almost subconsciously. It actually wasn’t until I started writing this post that I realised I’ve styled every shot this way.

Brooklyn rug in Fuschia

I am particularly loving how regal this purple looks against the brass, marble and tan of the leather sofa.

Brooklyn rug in Mint

Brooklyn rug in Mint

Brooklyn rug in Mint

I’m obsessed with this mint and emerald green combo at the moment. It’s deliciously rich and the partnership of these colours is sophisticated but packs a punch.

Brooklyn rug in Ocean.

The Brooklyn in Ocean is a really beautiful powder blue and not unlike the mint, when you pair it with a deeper blue, you get the most perfectly subtle contrast.

Brooklyn rug in Ocean.

Not shown here is the Whitehaven rug, which is a very fun and vibrant outdoor design made from handwoven, recycled PET. You wouldn’t know that it’s made from plastic, it is so super soft to touch. To see the colours and sizes available and the full range of thee other Carlene Duffy range, visit Decorug online.

Carlene xx