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How to set up a kitchen island bench
Week 5: Robby and Mat
The room: Living and dining spaces
Cash spent: $21,225 (Budget: $20,000)
Score: 29.5 (with bonus gnome)/30 (first place)
“This room feels so much more spacious, functional and inviting,” said Darren Palmer.
Robby and Mat’s winning room is a great example of a well-considered floorplan, creating generous spaces to gather, entertain and eat
The boys had a bit of cash to splash out on their living and dining spaces, and they used the money to great effect, as well as stashing some away for their secret wine cellar. And it was a good investment, securing them a win from the judges.
The success of the rooms in House 5 was largely due to careful planning. Robby and Mat reworked their floorplan to give the living area even more space. The boys are designing what they call an “entertainers’ home”, so the focus was on creating opportunities for large groups to gather, including a huge corner sofa (labelled a “conversation pit” by Darren Palmer) and a dining table that seats 10 people. They even spent time distressing and “ageing” the new table to make it look as though it was an older piece of furniture.
“Wow. This is exactly hitting the brief,” said Marty Fox on entry, adding that “no matter where you are sitting in this room, you get to actually appreciate the architecture, the views and the liveability of it”.
The rich colours of the oak flooring won praise from Shaynna Blaze, who said it was “absolutely divine”, and a perfect match with the sheer curtains that framed the room.
Design tip
A high ceiling poses lots of problems when it comes to lighting choices. The best idea is to go big – aim for oversized and dramatic pendants to give the space a sense of purpose, supplemented by strategically placed downlights for extra illumination.
What colour paint did they use?
The paint colours that Mat and Robby used in their living and dining rooms were ‘Tokyo Snow’ and ‘White Beam’ by British Paints.
Create the look yourself with these D.I.Y. projects
More D.I.Y. Advice
Health & Safety
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.