Real Living Australia - June 2018

THE KITCHEN

THE LIVING ROOM

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BLACK ACCENTS ADD INSTANT

IMPACT, BUT DON’T OVERDO IT

It’s true that black can create a dramatic

statement, but too much can be

overpowering. With this in mind, all of

the home’s aluminium window frames

were painted black to frame the views

and add sophistication. Taking her cue

from the windows, Lauren then powder-

coated every handle in the kitchen and

bathrooms black “to make them pop. It

was the most satisfying thing we did,”

she says. “It was a small investment that

really made a difference. Not everything

has to be big budget.”

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THINK BIG, BUT TAKE YOUR TIME

CHOOSING THE PERFECT PIECES

Lauren realised her existing, compact

furniture wouldn’t work here, so she

started afresh. The “sprawling” spaces

challenged her, but she found the

solution was to play with scale. “We

chose the biggest sizes of everything

• they make the space feel cosy,” she
  says. But she took her time with her
  purchases. “Be OK with the fact that
  some spots might look bare for
  a while,” she says. “Fill the home with
  pieces that have meaning instead of
  buying things simply to fill a room.”

See-through splashback

Rather than obstructing the

views, a five-metre window

doubles as a splashback in the

kitchen. Stools from Hunt

Furniture sit at the counter,

which features Menu salt and

pepper grinders, plates bought

in Japan and a clam bowl from

Matt Blatt. California

dreaming Another corner of

the open-plan living area has

a decidedly retro air, with an

Iluka sideboard from Jardan

and Swiss Miss photo of Palm

Springs by James Geer.

@reallivingmag

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