AS SEEN ON FRIDAY, 7.30PM After James Treble creates three distinct zones in the one space. DESIGN CHALLENGE: Before ALFRESCO REVIVAL Reno stars Kyal and Kara Demmrich and design expert James Treble add their personal touch to a jaded outdoor area Danny and Robyn Richards and their two daughters are a fun-loving family who enjoy spending time together outdoors. But their new home has a bland outside entertainment area that lacks personality and comfort, forcing them indoors. They know they have a great opportunity with the space, but are stumped on what to do with it. The area runs along the back of the house, but lacks functionality and has a strange island bench that gets in the way. The space also has a kitchen at one end, with a wall-mounted TV. The challenge for our two design teams, James Treble and Kyal and Kara Demmrich, is to redesign the space so it tempts the Richards outside more often, while taking into account their preferences. Danny would like a sports bar area near the TV, Robyn would like a relaxation area, and they d all like a dining area to enjoy family meals. Despite being a competition, the designers have agreed to work together to demolish the beige kitchen and replace it with something cooler and more functional. Each team usually has to build an item that is included in their plans, but with the kitchen being renovated, their task is to come up with their own splashback for the new kitchen. The winning team s splashback will become a permanent fixture. 06 MAY 208 Australian Handyman
2 After The K Team opt for the resort feel in this challenge. THE KITCHEN In this design challenge, both teams work together to demolish the old kitchen and build a new one. The old cabinets are unscrewed, the bench removed from the floor and the TV and bracket are detached from the wall. Thankfully, Danny and Robyn have spare floor tiles to fill the gap left by the removed island bench. With the kitchen empty, the posts are painted with Taubmans Cotton Ball white, and the wall is given a fresh colour, Viking Grey. This ties in with the new glass cabinet doors, which are painted Oriental Night blue on the inside of the glass. Before Kyal paints them, he applies a surface preparation so the paint bonds to the glass. After the Kaboodle cabinets are assembled and the doors attached, the sink is fitted and a new Matador bar fridge connected. The only thing left for Danny and Robyn to decide is which tiled splashback they prefer. The Richards family with The Living Room s Barry Du Bois, Kyal and Kara Demmrich and James Treble. Would James splashback (LEFT) get the nod over Kyal and Kara s (RIGHT)? Handyman.net.au MAY 208 07
THE REVEAL JAMES 08 MAY 208 Australian Handyman James creates three distinct areas in the space using the contemporary Coral Bay range of furniture from Mimosa. He places a nine-piece dining setting near the kitchen for family dinners and for Danny and his friends to watch the footy on TV, while a five-piece corner lounge sits at the opposite end. Robyn can use the L-shaped lounge and armchair for entertaining friends with a glass of wine or relaxing as she watches the girls play in the pool. A third zone is hidden around the corner with four armchairs for the girls to have their own space with friends. To add a splash of colour, James hangs pot plants near the sink area so the greenery is at eye level. More plants and lanterns are placed for styling. For his splashback, he complements the modern furniture with geometric shapes in the form of hexagonal tiles. Grey grout contrasts with the white tiles and makes their shape pop. James furniture choices are soft and laidback, designed for comfort.
THE REVEAL KYAL AND KARA Kyal and Kara have gone for a relaxed island-resort theme by using timber furniture with a warmer feel. As there are large sliding doors to the living room, their plan is to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. They combine the Avani corner sofa setting with the Mareeba bar setting, and style with several ferns and palms. The tall dining table can act as a bar for when Danny and his mates watch sport, but it can also work as an island bench if more space is required. Kyal and Kara have also zoned the outdoor space. Around the corner they place a timber hammock along with a couple of lounges for a chill-out zone. Just outside the alfresco area, in a disused part of the garden, they set up a fire pit and pizza oven that the Richards can use on cold winter nights. For their splashback, Kara chooses a marble tile mosaic and white grouting that gives the wall a natural feel. 2 Kyal and Kara s design seems to say just add people.
THE DECISION Danny and Robyn love both designs and struggle to pick a winner. Robyn is so torn, she leaves the decision to Danny. The four armchairs around the corner for their two daughters to escape to with their friends just tips Danny over the edge, and James is declared the winner. TOP PICKS Eden 30mm Charcoal Green Earth Plastic Hanging Basket, $6. bunnings.com.au Mimosa 9-Piece Coral Bay Dining Setting, $899. mimosaoutdoors.com.au Matador 8L Stainless Steel Single Door Bar Fridge, $699. matadorbbqs.com.au Coulson 326 x 32mm White Carrara Hexagon Mosaic Tile Sheet, $23. coulson.com.au Haven 30cm Coastal Chic Natural Castaway Lantern, $40. haveninspired.com.au Chapala Large BBQ Pizza Oven, $549. chapala.com.au Lytworx Colour Changing LED Flameless Candle Set with Remote, $20. bunnings.com.au 0 MAY 208 Australian Handyman