Design mattersGLENDA BARNES

STUCK IN THE NOUGHTIES?

Here are the ‘Top 8’ simple design tips to update your home.

With the mid to late 1990s and noughties came an explosion of cookie cutter, yellow brick family homes. And the style of the time? Think rose coloured carpet, hunter green walls topped with floral wallpaper borders, terracotta-look tiles, corrugated iron walls, redwood or pine timber boards finished with UV sensitive varnish that yellows over time, cream window and door frames, stencilled driveways, and the list goes on …

If this sounds familiar, but you don’t want to set out on a complete renovation, here are some simple ideas to give your home a more modern look and contemporary feel.

Curb appeal

Revive your driveway and pathways, fencing, letterbox and street numbers. Consider interesting tile lay patterns such as French lay, crazy pave and basket weave. And use natural stone, wherever possible. It’s often more cost effective if you let your fingers do the searching, and natural stone is also a softer more refined look.

Transform your entry way

New front door detail: handles, hinges, doorbell and intercom technology will also go a long way. Style with large architecturalshaped pots and planting.

Walls, walls, walls

If you have a tired brick façade, apply a textured render or bring a little bit of drama and design by choosing an exterior cladding like V-joint weatherboard.

Create an interior connection by bringing this indoors to a feature wall too.

Consider dressing an interior feature wall by applying a feature finish such as v-groove panelling, a mirror or a special plaster finish.

Modern colours go a long way

Bring some colour into your interiors.

Be bold with colour, remember you can always change it. Dulux and

Porters release seasonal reports where you can search which colours are trending.

Trending colours right now are soft seashell neutrals balanced by deeper moody hues like moss green, as well as dusty grey and blues to round out the palette. Instead of replacing old joinery door panels, respray.

Refinish floors

Renew yellowed timber boards with a sand and polish, ridding the old shiny polyurethane topcoat, direct fix timber laminate or engineered timber veneer board.

Replace narrow skirting boards with a more generous profile. Refresh old carpets with new in trending sandy tones and loop pile.

Joinery and door handles

Replace old, polished chrome joinery and door handles with new metal finishes and designs, such as natural living metals like brass, as well as gun metal and nickel.

Bathrooms

Swap out old bathroom fixtures and fittings for an instant refresh. Keep your existing plumbing positions and upgrade with new metal finishes. Re-grout tiles to freshen up the space.

The home of beautiful tiles & stone

Stone Arc offers a unique collaboration of tiles, stone and homewares

Husband and wife team Tony and Maree work with local designers, builders and home owners to create beautiful spaces to live in.

With more than 40 years experience in the stone and tile industry, Stone Arc has finally arrived on the Central Coast.

Stone Arc are also your local distributors for the ABI Interiors tapware and bathware range.

Lighting and windows

Where suitable, add pendant lights to areas such as above an island bench, dining table or over bedside tables. For windows, s-fold modern sheer curtains will hide outdated door or window frames.

With just a few modern touches, you can make a world of difference to your 90s or mid noughties home or even increase your home’s appeal for future buyers.

LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?

barnesandbarnes.com.au (Copacabana) avocaarchitectural.com.au (Avoca) loandcointeriors.com.au intrimmouldings.com.au rockcote.com.au (Ourimbah) porterspaints.com (Mitre 10, Kincumber) aboutspace.net.au

Unit 4, 11-13 Cochrone Street, Kincumber Monday - Friday 9-4pm. Saturday 9-2pm Email: info@stonearc.com.au Instagram: stone.arc.home