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Design Inspiration
Australian home design trends explained with James Hardie
Week 10: Emma and Ben
The room: Alfresco terrace and shed
Cash spent: $35,167 (Budget: $20,000)
Score: 26/30 (fourth place)
“I really feel that the alfresco area has honoured the exterior of the house,” said Darren Palmer, “which I really love.”
Emma and Ben created a huge timber deck and thoughtful outdoor entertaining area to capitalise on the views of their house
Emma and Ben decided to capitalise on the elevation of their home and its views by investing most of their time and energy into their new deck and alfresco area, creating a relaxing space that encouraged outdoor entertaining.
A large L-shaped outdoor sofa, timber dining table and outdoor kitchen provided plenty of space to cook, eat and congregate. The couple chose a dark and luxurious colour palette with charcoal tones that complemented the exterior of the house.
With the outdoor shed, Emma and Ben created two spaces – a garden workshop/toolshed on one end and a golf simulator at the other end.
The toolshed area was well equipped, with a workbench, plenty of tools and heaps of storage located in practical, hard-wearing metal cupboards and drawers.
It won lots of praise from the judges, with Marty Fox saying that “this is, exactly what you need – with space for the lawn mower, the blower, the whipper snipper”.
The golf simulator made the judges smile, adding it was a lot of fun and would appeal to the many keen golfers in the area.
Design tip
Retractable outdoor blinds are a stylish way to make an outdoor area weather-proof. Emma and Ben installed blinds around the perimeter of their deck, which will allow the sun to shine through on cold days, but keep the area dry in wet weather.
Create the look yourself with these D.I.Y. projects
How to mix and match your outdoor furniture
More D.I.Y. Advice
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.