Woman’s Day (New Zealand)

INSIDE THEIR NEW LOVE NEST!

The smitten kittens reveal why they wanted to move in while the show was still on air

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For a couple who’ve just come off the drama-filled “social experiment” Married At First Sight Australia, Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton have come out relatively unscathed.

Not only did they avoid most of the dinner party squabbles and survive the cruel couple-swap challenges, but they also managed to solve their main roadblock – doing long distance – by moving in with each other before the show even finished airing!

“It does feel quite insane,” Tahnee, 27, admits to Woman’s Day as she nestles into Ollie in their cute two-bedroom home in the heart of Sydney’s trendy Darlinghur­st.

“I remember hearing expert Alessandra [Rampolla] say, ‘Love doesn’t wait around for you to get your life in order,’” adds Ollie, 26, who left his hometown of Perth in order to move in with Tahnee.

“So I was like, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it as soon as possible,’ and it felt very organic. It didn’t feel premature at all.”

Tahnee explains that what viewers sometimes forget is that they’ve actually been together for almost a year now and have already technicall­y lived with each other in Sydney, where the show is filmed.

“So it’s not all that different, really,” she enthuses.

We’re sitting in their living room, which has only just been furnished, and is decked out from head to toe in white and beige decor.

When asked if it was a joint effort designing the new space, Tahnee giggles. “Well, I already had a couch to begin with,” she says, pointing to a white linen two-seater. “So it was me!”

“But if I want to include something somewhere, I make sure I’m heard,” Ollie adds, hinting that Tahnee isn’t the only one who has a flair for interiors.

SPACE FOR LOVE

Alongside the new furnishing­s, mementoes from how their love story began are peppered throughout – a framed portrait full of Polaroids from their time on MAFS stands tall on a mantelpiec­e, while their pet fish, which became a symbol of their love during the experiment, swim healthily around a fish tank in their kitchen.

Though they want to honour their past, they’re also keen to create new memories, which if recent rumours are to be believed, may include a nursery going into their attic...

“Careful what you say!” Ollie warns Tahnee, before they both erupt into laughter. “This is how they stitch us up!”

The couple generated headlines

‘So I thought if we’re going to do it, we should do it ASAP’

recently when they told the media they had been discussing baby names and while they’re reluctant to touch on the subject any further, Tahnee quickly pivots and appears to confirm they’ve settled on a name after all – Blake, if it’s a girl.

“Oh, what are you doing?!” Ollie sighs, slapping his head in disbelief.

GROWING FAMILY

Baby talk aside, the couple is making their relationsh­ip their number-one priority, though there’s talk of a joint podcast similar to 2020 participan­ts Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson’s – and maybe even a real-life wedding to come.

“We’ll see,” smiles Tahnee. “My sister’s getting married in March in Thailand next year, so we can’t be doing anything before then – she’ll have a meltdown!”

“We just want to build ourselves up to be a powerhouse couple,” adds Ollie. “I want us to be infallible.”

 ?? ?? The couple are thrilled with their new Sydney home.
The couple are thrilled with their new Sydney home.
 ?? ?? Long-distance wasn’t working for the pair.
Long-distance wasn’t working for the pair.
 ?? ??
 ?? ??

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