Country charmer A rural homestead has had a fantastic facelift

THIS TRADITIONAL RURAL HOMESTEAD WAS GIVEN A FACELIFT WITH PRACTICAL TOUCHES – AND A HINT OF WHIMSY

IT WAS A NEW

experience for the House Rules contestants when they had the chance to renovate dairy farmers Toad and Mandy’s home in Candelo, in the Bega hinterland on NSW’s south coast. “This is one of the big things for me – the fact that we have a heritage homestead on the series,” says judge and interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. “It means it’s not just about suburban boxes, it’s about Australia’s design heritage.” The resulting renovation features a rich collection of patterns, timber and white joinery – all tied together with a blue palette that unites the rooms aesthetically. Judge Wendy Moore of Home Beautiful felt that the colour scheme helped make this renovation the most cohesive one yet. “Blue is such a versatile shade,” she explains. “In its darker manifestations, it’s moody and dramatic; when used with white, it’s fresh and clean.” Swathed in feature tiles, the Art Deco-inspired bathroom (next page) – which was requested in the House Rules – was controversial, but the judges agreed it was a big risk that succeeded in creating a dramatic and unexpected haven in this charming country home.

LAUNDRY

Wendy liked that Toad and Mandy’s new laundry (right & top right) offered a great sense of practicality without compromising the aesthetics. “There’s so much storage, which is great for a family,” she says. “I also really loved the modern appliances and the sink, which worked well with the rural location.”

DINING ROOM

The dramatic yet classic rug was the key to the dining zone (opposite), thought judge Drew Heath. “It allowed the dining room to feel like its own space,” he explains. He also approved of the use of a sideboard (top left) to store crockery and cutlery, rather than keeping them in the kitchen. Adds Wendy: “The deep teal feature wall and that fabulous textured artwork worked beautifully with their table and setting – this is a room to covet.”

An ‘Annalise’ extension table and ‘Carrelage’ handwoven rug, both from Early Settler, anchor the dining room. Timber-lined walls, splashed in White, serve as a backdrop to a floral framed artwork from Early Settler.

FLOOR: Arcade ‘Retiro’ tiles in Blue and White, Beaumont Tiles.

FLOOR: Engineered timber oak flooring in Butternut, Carpet Court.

The laundry was a big hit with judge Wendy. “Upcycling the laundry tub was such a lovely idea and the floor tiles (above) felt absolutely perfect for this room and the home,” she says.