Modern glamour Kayne and Aimee’s home is given a sleek refresh
TRADIE COUPLE KAYNE AND AIMEE’S OUTER-MELBOURNE PROPERTY IS REBORN AS A SLEEK, SUSTAINABLE HOME, COURTESY OF THE HOUSE RULES TEAMS
Nestled in a bush block on the outskirts of Melbourne, plumbers Kayne and Aimee’s ranch was ripe for reimagining. And the House Rules teams went all in to create a light-filled, modern eco-ranch by embracing texture, timber and upcycling. The competing teams developed a cohesive scheme featuring a soft, subtle palette and lots of earthy tones.
One feature that proved particularly striking – and polarising – was the freestanding stone fireplace separating the living and dining spaces. Judge Saul Myers said it clearly divided the zones while still keeping some elements of an open-plan design, not to mention warming up the chilly Victorian winters. Fellow judge Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen applauded the use of recycled materials, adding more credibility to the idea of sustainability than just using timber-look furniture and accessories.
CUSTOM STYLE
The petite kitchen (left) uses custom cabinetry made by Mr Cabinets, with Polytec’s Natural Oak Ravine timber veneer adding a textured and soft-to-touch profile. The gentle timber tones contrast with Crisp White to create a contemporary combination, with Merchants & Traders ‘Fleet’ drawer pulls from The Society Inc providing a unique edge.
ZONED SPACES
The dining area (below), designed by contestants
Rhi and Kimmy, was a big hit with all of the judges.
Saul commended the way they sectioned off the dining space in the open-plan living area, using a repurposed timber framework above the table to create an eating zone, while Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said he felt the twins were brave with scale. “They made the table actually ‘almost’ too large and created an extraordinary sort of gate-like structure, which they hung from the ceiling,” he says. “They proved themselves to get under the skin of how a space would be used.”
SMART STONE
A large and durable kitchen island (opposite) designed by Lenore and Bradley and made from Smartstone’s Pelle Grigio allows for extra preparation space without closing off the cooking zone from the dining area.
“RAFFIA-COVERED HANDLES ECHO THE OTHER NATURAL MATERIALS IN THE HOME” ~ FIONA GOULD, HB STYLE EDITOR