The ever stylish couple have been busy living a whirlwind life since starring in Channel Nine’s iconic program, The Block Sky High in 2013. Bec and George, who won the hearts of Australian audiences, were crowned The Block Sky High’s Favourite Couple. Since filming wrapped up, they certainly haven’t put down the hammer and nails. The couple, who’ve been together for 11 years, recently finished construction on their latest home in Melbourne. They called on the experts at Freedom Kitchens to design their kitchen and here Bec shares a few of her design tips.
Tell us about your latest renovation project.
This is one of two townhouses we’ve built in the Inner Western suburb of Spotswood, 5 minutes from the CBD and 5 minutes from Williamstown beach. We’ve always loved this area and bought into it years ago before the boom! The project has taken us 2 years to plan and 18 months to build, a long process of ever-changing decisions and long days of work.
The kitchen renovation in particular is very elegant. What was your design brief?
I love to cook and entertain, so the main brief for the design was that I could oversee the dining, living, alfresco and backyard areas, as well as have a large space to prepare food. Clean lines, crisp white and plenty of storage were also key elements! Every detail was thought through.
What were your key objectives when working with your Freedom Kitchens designer to create this kitchen space?
Our main objectives throughout the design consultations were to make sure we ticked all the boxes – functionality, ample preparation space, plenty of storage and something that won’t date quickly.
What materials have you selected and why?
We went for Freedom Kitchen’s Alaskan White Gloss cabinetry so that it would absorb all the natural light and really make the space feel light and airy. We added features like white shadow lines to be consistent with the all-white cabinetry. The integrated appliances just enhanced the symmetry and made the space look more complete.
You’ve essentially created an all-white kitchen but given it some serious wow factor. What are your tips for taking a white kitchen to the next level?
The great thing about having such a neutral base is you can really dress the area up with accessories and styling. The beauty of white is anything you add to it will just pop – like timber, metals and greenery.
You have a great eye for fashion and design. Of the current trends out there at the moment, what have you included and why?
The integrated appliances add such a modern touch to the kitchen. I also wanted to complement the white cabinetry with marble benchtops – this adds another texture to the space. My favourite element that is very on trend at the moment is the copper pendants. I think they complement the space perfectly. We decided to add a butler’s pantry because I absolutely hate clutter on my bench! I like everything to be away. So this was the perfect solution.
How can people incorporate the latest trends without creating a kitchen that will date too quickly?
I think the best thing about adding accessories to dress the kitchen is that they are interchangeable. If copper goes out of fashion in a few years’ time, I can change over the pendants. Sticking with neutral colours and finishes will give you more time before having to do a re-vamp. You don’t have to necessarily go with all white, but maybe an oyster grey. Steer away from bright colours like reds and don’t make the kitchen too heavy with something like all black.
