The heart of MODERN LMNG E We love creating contemporary spaces for Download our catalogue or book a free in-home design consultation with a Kinsman Kitchen Designer today at kinsman.com.au. i/.-.. KINSMAN Kitchens Visit our showrooms at UK GOOD GUYS Page 1 of 6
CREATIVE WAYS JOSH AND BRANDON'S QUEENSLAND HOME SHOWCASES A COMBINATION OF BLOKEY PRACTICALITY AND INNOVATIVE TOUCHES WORDS LYNNE TESTONI PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN DOWNS Page 2 of 6
IT CAN BE QUITE a challenge to design a home for two men - especially if you wish to avoid the usual blokey stereotypes and unfriendly surfaces. For the lads' pad of music-loving Queensland brothers Josh and Brandon, the House Rules teams managed to bring in a stylish edge of country charm, while still making it perfect for the tradie duo. A darker palette - including a muted mix of textural finishes in the kitchen and tactile materials in the living zone - adds depth and character to the scheme, while elements of timber throughout introduce warmth. The highlight for the show's judges was the bedrooms, particularly Brandon's 'modern bushman'-themed room; a timber-clad feature wall, touches of the homeowners' requisite blue and orange colourway and layers of natural materials all added up to create a comfortable haven for the carpenters. "We all loved it," says House Rules judge and interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. "It was absolutely a sense of taking a rather cliched thought and bringing it up to date. It felt extremely Australian and very inspirational." KITCHEN & DINING The kitchen (above & below) was designed to be simple, understated and practical, with an on-trend two-tone finish and a dark, composite-stone benchtop giving a chic edge. HR judge and Home Beautiful's Wendy Moore liked the mix of materials, especially the tile splashback, and felt that the U-shape layout was a good choice, being wide enough for two people to work in at once. The floating timber floor unifies the open-plan space and helps to connect the kitchen seamlessly with the neighbouring dining area (right), where a sweeping wooden table delivers a note of country charm. LIVING ROOM A length of navy panelling running to dado height in the living room creates a focal point and chic display space (opposite). Wendy thought it was a fun and practical way to show off photos and artwork. "It's a great way to have flexibility with how you want to set up your pictures, and to be able to swap them around," she says. "It's really nice and it feels quite good in the room." An expansive corner sofa found at Early Settler is a perfect fit, complemented by a circular coffee table found on Gumtree and grounded by a hide rug from Early Settler. > Page 3 of 6
THINKYOU SHOULD START WITH DESIGNING A ROOM; TO ME, THE FLOOR IS NEVER RESPECTED ENOUGH AND USED ASA CUE. AS A DESIGNER, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANY HOOK" - DREW HEATH, JUDGE PAINT: Clean & Protect Low Sheen in White Infinity, British Paints. Page 4 of 6
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Page: Section: Region: Circulation: Type: Size: 156 General News National, AU 82339 Magazines Lifestyle 3,595.00 sq.cms. press clip I! 77LE.S; «S M li/e i/i Devonshire Blue Jeans. tont Tiles. ^ 1 "I LOVE THE wfactyof THESE TILES. THEY ARE SO DEEP AND RICH AND THEY'VE GOT A REALLY NICE *vay%(jnitfr irs QUITE A REFINED LOOK, LIKE I A WELL-TAILORED SUIT" - WENDY MOORE, JUDGE VANITY: -Aurora' glass top in Matte Grey. Highgrove BATHROOM When planning an ensuite (top left, right & above), it's important to look at the bedroom and bathroom as a whole, says Laurence, who was full of praise for the rich colour of the tiles and how well they worked back with the bedhead and linen in the adjacent sleeping zone. "The choice of the blue is exquisite, it's a wonderful greyed-off denim," he says. "And it's one of these relationships where the bedroom and the bathroom are just spot-on - a lovely flow." 'W Page 6 of 6