Room Reveal: The Gatwick Terraces
- 8 Oct 2018
Norm and Jess: The score 30/30
It’s a room win - at last! Norm and Jess continually referred to themselves as the underdogs this week. But boy did they prove everyone wrong, presenting a simply stunning outdoor area, scoring themselves their first win of the season! The space came complete with architectural steel sculptural feature, concrete planters, a marble-topped BBQ, outdoor lounge, custom table, water feature - and even a grassed area at the side, suitable for animals.
All three judges loved it - especially Shaynna who was blown away upon stepping foot in the grand outdoor space.
“How expansive is this,” she said. “I love the fact that this beautiful table is right there, and that hanging plant above, which over time will cascade down,” she said, referring to the gorgeous timber and steel table.
“We have got the Vergola above us. And that panel - it reminds me of a tattoo. St Kilda is filled with tattoo parlours, so for me, that is brilliant.
Norm and Jess dressed their area with custom concrete planters, which all three agree said “luxury” to buyers.
But the space was also functional. As well as having an extensive area to dine in, the couple also included a large outdoor kitchen, and a long 5-metre herb garden, running atop the wall.
“Everywhere you turn out here, there is another beautiful thing to look at. I feel so good in this space - it says everything you want in a terrace,” Shaynna enthused.
Neale agreed: “Everything is artistic and sculptural.”
We agree - we’re obsessed with your gorgeous outdoor sanctuary. When’s the house-warming?
“I love the fact that this beautiful table is right there, and that hanging plant above, which over time will cascade down,” Shaynna said.
“Everywhere you turn out here, there is another beautiful thing to look at. I feel so good in this space - it says everything you want in a terrace,” Shaynna enthused.
Kerrie and Spence: The score 25/30
Kerrie and Spence kept it cosy and comforting on their terrace, which featured an L-shaped white and timber lounge, light grey tiles, a dark grey table with eight stools (designed to match their piece inside), dark grey circular rug, a hanging chair and lots of greenery.
It was this last feature that Darren said he loved most, saying the space had “lots of life.”
Shaynna agreed, pointing out that the use of bamboo leant their terrace a sense of privacy - music to Kerrie’s ears.
“We wanted this to be a lush, private, green space to hang out in,” she explained.
Darren thought they’d achieved that, saying they had presented a lovely outdoor living space that flowed well from their apartment. “It feels like a proper room,” he said.
The one point all three judges agreed on was the fact the couple should have included a BBQ in the well-ventilated corner of their terrace, pointing out that having “St Kilda’s biggest kitchen” wasn’t quite enough, and that buyers would be expecting that inclusion.
All up, though, all three thought they’d done a great job, with Darren saying he loved all the terrace’s elements.
“They have planned it well. The lighting layout is good, I love the sculptural piece...the tile choice - it’s literally full of life,” he said. “Kerrie and Spence should be really proud of the job they have done - they have created a very valuable piece of real estate.”
And we agree - well done, guys! Your apartment is now complete.
Darren thought Kerrie and Spence had presented a lovely outdoor living space that flowed well from their apartment.
“Kerrie and Spence should be really proud of the job they have done - they have created a very valuable piece of real estate.” said Darren and we agree - well done, guys!
Hans and Courtney: The score 23.5/30
Hans and Courtney chose to bring the outdoors in with their beautiful, lush, Scandi-style outdoor area, which Hans described as a modern take on a conservatory - complete with neon palm tree art installation! As well as furnishing the area with plenty of green - think giant fiddle figs, Monsteras and palms - they also chose to dress it with simple white and grey furniture with timber accents, a hanging chair and a gorgeous, large jute rug. They finished the space with a hero piece, an amazing copper pot, aged to showcase a lovely oxidized light green.
But, arguably, the biggest hero piece of their room was that fantastic outdoor movie projector - perfect for summer movie nights. The couple rigged the space with a large, black overhead fan and two ceiling heaters, making it useable all year round - and Darren couldn’t get enough.
“I love it,” he said. “And I love that window seat. I think they’ve used this space really well.”
But though he was a fan of their light, bright outdoor space, it was the use of white - including those light-coloured floor tiles - that proved too bland for Shaynna, who thought their space was a wasted opportunity. She believed they should have designed it to be bolder, to ensure a contrast between the indoors and their multi-purpose outdoor area.
We disagree - we love its elegant simplicity. Darren - we’re siding with you.
Hans and Courtney chose to bring the outdoors in with their beautiful, lush, Scandi-style outdoor area.
“I love it,” Darren said. “And I love that window seat. I think they’ve used this space really well.”
Hayden and Sara: The score 28.5/30
The couple knocked it out of the park this week with their gorgeous terrace. All three judges were unanimous in their praise, particularly Neale, who said he thought The Gatwick had never looked more elegant in its 80 year history. Keeping it super chic with a wrap around bar, they featured a sitting and dining area with custom outdoor kitchen, complete with amazing formed concrete bench, teppanyaki BBQ and those stunning twin tubular exhaust fans.
“When you come and inspect this apartment, this is what you will remember,” he said. “And that is what you want - you want it to be the crusciendo that comes at the end.”
The couple went all-out this week, employing a landscape designer, who placed plants strategically both in pots and on custom-made timber shelves. They selected a variety of statement pieces, including an enormous cactus, succulents, and plenty of larger pieces to give the space that ‘wow factor.’
This also came via the use of that stunning green marble behind the BBQ area - a hero piece. Surprisingly, the other statement in their terrace came via the diamond-shaped planter the couple made during a challenge, which Shaynna said was “a spectacular vision.”
Darren also loved the way the space worked from a functionality point of view, with its integrated heating and cooling elements, and he also loved the use of linear panels on the roof.
“That is really elegant,” he said. “Every detail in here is spot-on and perfect, from the formed concrete, to the stone splash back, to the teppanyaki, the extraction, the furniture...I love it all!”
Neale agreed and said buyers would surely be able to see themselves relaxing in the refined, yet comfortable, space.
“Now this is what I call selling the lifestyle,” he said. “And I have to say, this is the most sophisticated and resolved I have seen Hayden and Sara be.”
We agree - we are in LOVE with what you guys have created. Well done, Hayden and Sara. You saved the best till last!
All three judges were unanimous in their praise, Hayden and Sara saved the best till last.
Neale said buyers would surely be able to see themselves relaxing in the refined, yet comfortable, space. Well done, Hayden and Sara.
Bianca and Carla: The score 29/30
Bianca and Carla called on the services of Dave Franklin, Block garden designer extraordinaire, who delivered a stunning, sophisticated space, featuring a custom-made five-metre long table made from recycled timber, BBQ at the end, those fifty year-old Zycads - and that stunning fireplace, which utilised the original chimney from the old Gatwick.
But, arguably the hero was that skyline.
“That view! That connection to tree tops and the skyline - it’s spectacular,” said Darren, upon stepping inside.
He particularly loved that Dave had decided to keep the plant line low, so as not to obscure the view. All three were also particularly taken with that roaring fire - perfect on the wet, windy reveal day, which they pointed out would be a real focal point from inside the living area.
Neale, in particular, liked the way the girls managed to interplay the more traditional building with 21st century inclusions.
“Its traditional, it’s modern, it’s sexy and glamorous - it’s all of those things, at once.
All of them loved the enormous table, which they agreed would be the perfect spot to entertain. And with the possibility to seat 12, they couldn’t help but think you could have one heck of a dinner party up there. We agree - we can’t wait to pop over and test it out
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