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Week 5: Emma and Ben

The room: Living and dining spaces

Cash spent: $22,269 (Budget: $20,000)

Score: 22/30 (fourth place)

“I am really fond of the architecture in this house; I love that pitched roof and the way they have treated it with all those skylights,” said Darren Palmer.

A modern living room with a high ceiling, featuring a fireplace on the left with firewood stored beneath. The space includes a green sofa, white armchairs, and a small round coffee table with books. Two large pieces of wall art are displayed—one above the fireplace and another on the right wall.

A soft and considered colour palette from Emma and Ben created a comfortable and cosy living and dining space


Emma and Ben kept their colour palette muted with a soft and cosy design for their living and dining spaces, with a view to being the backdrop of the kitchen to come, which will be their wow factor.

Starting with a base of a subtle and pared-back herringbone timber floor, the centrepiece for their room was a curvaceous Venetian plaster fireplace. The fireplace was offset by a custom-made bench seat with a rustic timber benchtop, under a huge wall-mounted television screen, a choice the judges applauded.

These houses are large and lend themselves to strong styling decisions and furniture choices. Emma and Ben chose a dark and dramatic dining table that was a sleek oval shape, surrounded by comfortable chairs.

A modern dining area with a round table surrounded by six upholstered chairs. The table is set with plates, glasses, cutlery, and a floral centerpiece. In the background, a living room features a green sofa with cushions and two pieces of wall art.

The space of House 1 was generous (judge Shaynna Blaze said it had “grandeur”), with high ceilings flooded with light courtesy of a bank of skylights in the pitched roof.

A wall of softly draped curtains framed the soon-to-be revealed rural views, while a huge soft green sofa and pair of armchairs created an inviting, luxurious living hub for their home.

Design tip

Don’t have the budget (or the expertise) for Venetian plaster? Try using specialised paints to create a textural element, such as a concrete or chalk-like finish.

What colour paint did they use?

The paint colour that Emma and Ben used in their living and dining rooms was ‘Gently’ by British Paints.

Create the look yourself with these D.I.Y. projects

How to install a TV wall mount

How to paint a room

How to install skirting boards

Buyer’s guide to indoor lighting

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. 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 or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.