Before

Restaurant quality

To maximise the space left for dining, Jono created bespoke banquette seating in the corner. “This way, I was able to push the seating right up against the wall, allowing a thoroughfare between the dining and kitchen, with direct access to the bi-fold doors and back deck,” he explains. (See page 18 for more on how to DIY the timber base.) What’s the secret ingredient in the groovy wall-mounted back rests? Pool noodles! Jono upholstered the foam water toys by wrapping them in wadding and fabric, stapling to thin MDF boards and screwing in position to the walls. They provide added comfort and a hint of high-end design without the expense. A curated gallery wall injects personality, while an extendable lamp offers quirky mood lighting. 

Diy Bench Seat

Proud of your carpentry skills? Check out our video and be inspired to build an L-shaped banquette base

We used 18mm MDF panels to build our banquette bases and lids, cut to size with a circular saw and joined with timber adhesive and a nail gun, plus 1.2m continuous (or piano) hinges. We painted the interiors and lids, then secured the boxes in position to wall studs and to the base using 50mm screws. We then glued 134mm engineered timber floorboards in Blackbutt (see product details, previous page) to the recessed kickboards and the sides.

Top 3 Tips For Project Success

“Before you start, measure out the seats with masking tape on the floor to give you an accurate idea of scale in your space.”

”Charged tools and fresh saw blades and sanding discs will make for a smooth process.”

“Don’t underestimate the importance of safety, no matter how experienced you are.”

Diy I Dea

Custom-made bench seats capitalise on a corner space for dining and perform double duty as added storage

Scan

LEFT Throw pillows transform the dining seat to a daybed lounge in an instant, and can be quickly hidden away at meal times

See how we put together this custom piece: bunnings.com.au/ build-a-banquette

ABOVE The sliding doors were retained and now lead out onto a lush fernery in the exterior side passage, which was rejuvenated and refreshed by landscaping legend

Inge Jabara. RIGHT AND OPPOSITE For product details, see following pages.

MAIN BEDROOM & ENSUITE

Style abounds in the new and improved parents’ retreat, where all design elements make the most of the compact size

Suite success

A small floor plan in the bedroom meant getting inventive to create a grand adults’ retreat, but luckily the adjoining ensuite’s layout was perfectly practical, so was kept. Jono opted for wainscoting behind the bed rather than adding a bedhead. “I wanted it to have the grandeur of a main bedroom, but adding a bedhead would make it feel smaller,” he says. “This was a DIY project and its more traditional feel elevates the room.” In the ensuite (see next page), removing an ill-placed window above the vanity allowed hanging space for a duo of mirrors, and adding a Velux skylight above the shower provided an improved source of natural light. Kitkat mosaic wall and patterned floor tiles paired with warm timber tones have a calm yet character-filled effect. 

A pendant light frees up space on the bedside table, while choosing a DIY batten-fixture model means you can swap it out whenever the mood takes you. Walls are painted in Dulux Mellow Beige

How To Repair Holes In Walls

Have picture hooks made marks, or taking out a power point left a gaping hole? View our video (below left) on how to tackle one of the most DIY-able jobs in a reno

For small holes: All you need is a tub of Selleys Spakfilla. Remove any loose plaster, then use the supplied applicator to push the ready-mixed filler into the hole in a scraping motion.

For large holes: Arm yourself with a specialist repair patch (we like Pfeiffer ‘Wall Patch’) in a suitable size. Remove any loose plaster, peel off the patch backing and centre the self-adhesive mesh over the hole, pressing into place. Using a scraper, apply a thin layer of filler, ensuring the application is smooth, then allow to dry and repeat for a second coat.

Scan the QR code

What holes? Give your walls a flawless finish: bunnings.com.au/repair-wall-holes

Once your repair is dry, smooth over with 120-grit abrasive paper and paint To match your existing wall colour for a flawless finish, take a 50 cent coin-sized sample in store and ask about our Paint Colour Matching Service.

BELOW Tim Clark’s pro crew built a robust cantilevered benchtop from structural timber and James Hardie ‘Scyon Secura’ fibre cement panels. This was then waterproofed and covered with beautifully textured tiles that flow up to form a splashback. That fabulous retro wall light is a brass fitting Jono Fleming reclaimed from the living room and spray-painted black. Genius!

‘Samos’ 132cm DC ceiling fan in White, $289.49, I/N: 0192610. Brilliant ‘Odyssey’ 30cm domed glass DIY pendant light, $158, I/N: 0277218, with Luce Bella ‘Vintage ST58 E27’ 25W globe, $9.88, I/N: 0254461. (On top of bedding) Smart Home Products ‘Lisbon’ 160cm x 120cm throw rug, $14, I/N: 0300564†. Hume ‘Frontier’ 2000mm internal barn door track & fitting set in Black, $285, I/N: 0066569†, and FBDS1 2150mm x 1000mm x 35mm internal barn doors, $464 each, I/N: 0064595.

Sliding doors moment

“The goal in this space was to really give it that main suite energy it deserves,” says Jono Fleming. The first step? Installing blackbutt engineered flooring throughout the bedroom and robe. “Having one consistent floor makes it feel bigger,” he explains. Timber hues were also a considered choice: “Australians tend to default to light, coastal-style timbers, but we are in the suburbs, this is a family home, and I wanted it to feel warm so I chose deeper tones.” The archway entry into the wardrobe was kept in place, but the mirrored wardrobes were replaced with large open storage that extends all the way to the ceiling. Barn doors provide extra privacy. “Now, when you shut those, you have a full dressing area that can be closed off to the bedroom,” explains Jono, who also designed the smaller archway leading into the ensuite. 

Diy I Dea

Barn doors can transform a room from open plan to privacy protected, and track hardware kits are straightforward to install

ABOVE Living Elements 750mm x 500mm x 26mm framed oblong mirrors in Black, $109.96 each, I/N: 0225479. Cibo Design ‘Tonic’ 1500mm wall hung vanity in White, $959 (cabinet only), I/N: 0138279†, finished with Hafele 46mm x 34mm cabinet knobs in Matt Black, $10.13 each, I/N: 0165816†. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

JONO FLEMING Interior designer and stylist

Top 3 Tips For A Wardrobe To Love

“Do a stocktake on your items and think about how you store your clothes. Are you a hanger or a folder?

This will help determine your wardrobe design.”

Up the wall

Elegant walnut-stained wainscoting brings a sense of sophistication and ‘cocoons’ the sleeping zone, but takes up much less room than a bulky bedhead.

Store and order

Jono used Multistore ‘Loft’ system wardrobe internals in Beach finish as a cohesive, efficient way to bolster storage capacity in the wardrobe area.

Light show

A Velux skylight above the shower allows a flood of sun in and shines a spotlight on the Decor8 ‘Barcelona’ feature floor tiles, which have a traditional encaustic look.

Vanity af fair

How gorgeous are these Mondella ‘Rumba’ marble-look basins! They elevate the ensuite, while the matt black ‘Resonance’ wall-top tap set adds a modern edge.

“Open storage is great for a dressing room, but doors will help hide mess.”

“There are some great off-the-shelf systems for shoe storage, or build your own pull-out trays using drawer runners as we did.”

TOP LEFT DIY wainscoting made using Project Panel 1200mm x 810mm x 3mm premium BC grade pine plywood, $27.77, I/N: 0340268•, NSFP 3m x 30mm x 12mm DAR select Tasmanian oak, $17.40, I/N: 0070186•, and Cabot’s water based interior stain in Walnut, $25.30/250ml, I/N: 1520295. Verve Design 30cm natural linen lampshade, $53.87, I/N: 0264637.

Bedside table, for similar try Milano Decor ‘Paddington’ bedside table with drawers in Light Brown, $79.95*, I/N: 0290363. BELOW LEFT AND RIGHT Decor8 ‘Kenzo’ 296mm x 293mm gloss porcelain mosaic tile in White, $17.90, I/N: 0289537, and 125mm x 125mm gloss ceramic wall tile in Satin White, $69.47, I/N: 0295840†. All other products, stylist’s own.

James Hardie ‘Axon’ 2750mm x 1200mm x 9mm cladding in 133mm Smooth profile, $172.75/3.3sqm, I/N: 0710207. Corinthian 2040mm x 920mm x 40mm translucent glass entrance door in Blonde Oak, $1,074, I/N: 0075760. Verve Design ‘Bristol’ outdoor farm wall lights, $55.86 each, I/N: 4371473 (globes sold separately). Sandleford ‘Matilda’ galvanised steel picket fence letterbox in Black, $108, I/N: 3210075. DIY driveway rejuvenation using Berger ‘Jet Dry’ heavy duty gloss paving paint in Smoke Grey, $248.90/10L, I/N: 1411066.

BOTTOM LEFT ‘Meyer’ lemon tree in Northcote Pottery 54cm studded pot in White, $114.40, I/N: 2800979 (plant sold separately). 610mm x 406mm x 30mm travertine natural stone pavers, $24.14 each, I/N: 0131434. Pathway lights, for similar try Solar Magic 15lm LED pathlight, $13, I/N: 0185884. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

FACADE & GARDEN

A front-of-house face lift has turned this home from boring to beguiling, and added energy-saving benefits

Make an entrance

Creating ambience and setting the tone for the rest of the house was essential for landscape designer and landscaper Inge Jabara, who made sweeping changes to the design of the front garden. The old brick and picket fence was removed, along with overgrown hedges that almost barricaded the front door. “The new 1500mm high white picket fence is an ideal height for privacy – but you can still chat to your neighbours over it,” says Inge. On the front facade, new smaller double-glazed modern windows were installed along with James Hardie fibre-cement cladding over the brick. “This allowed extra insulation to go between the cladding and the house,” says Jono Fleming. He chose muted-green Dulux White Cabbage for the external paint colour to stand out on the street. A new front door was installed for a fresh first impression, with neat timber panels in a complementary stain concealing the old-fashioned ‘fancy’ columns.

“The

Top 3 Tips For A Facade Fix

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! This house had a good-quality driveway. Giving it a lick of paint made it look like a brand-new pour.”

“A new fence has an instant impact on the street appeal of the home.”

“Use the pathway to take guests on a journey through the garden, instead of just straight to the front door.”

Tim Clark, builder

Trim trees, bushes and hedges into the shape you want – tall or short, oval or square – with RYOBI garden tools