It’s safe to say that star renovators Kyal and Kara are passionate about interior design.

Here’s an insight into their personal style at home and how to create it.

How would you describe your style at home?

Kyal: Sophisticated coastal

Kara: Clean and organic and perhaps a little bit retro

How do you achieve this style in your home?

Kyal: By capturing as much natural, northern light as I could with high ceilings. Not allowing timber features to be overpowered by too much colour. By keeping colours relatively neutral, you allow natural materials to create warmth and interest. Square set ceilings and 140mm wide timber floorboards help in creating a sense of space.

Kara: We chose neutral wall colours such as whites and greys, that way we can add touches of colour in soft furnishings. I do like to mix things up regularly, and changing a throw and cushions is much easier to do than re-paint. I also like to use natural materials to style the home, for example, gathering some driftwood and placing in a vase with some natives.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Kyal: I like to draw inspiration from commercial spaces such as restaurants, bars and cafes. They are usually designed to create a strong impact. You can take elements of these spaces and pare them back for the home.

Kara: I’m always on the lookout for things that inspire. Whenever we travel, I take pictures of the most random things like someone’s front door or a timber cart that is being used to sell street food. We spent some time in the Caribbean in 2013, I love that they use a lot of natural materials such as stone.

Do you have a favourite piece in your home?

Kyal: My favourite piece is an old round oak coffee table. It was my parents’ old dining table. My dad cut the legs down and it was actually what I learnt to walk around. Since then we’ve stripped the stain and restored the timber. It has a lot of character and history which is what I love about it. Maybe one day my kids will learn to walk around the same table.

Kara: We have a large mirror in our bedroom that is framed with beautiful recycled Oregon weatherboards. It was the first thing that Kyal made for me and is the perfect example of how you don’t have to spend a fortune to have beautiful pieces around the home. The mirror is from an old built-in wardrobe door and the timber was going to be thrown out.

What are the most important things to think about when creating a style for your home?

Kara: Remember to keep the style consistent. You want the style to flow from room to room. This doesn’t mean that every room needs to look the same, just make sure there are consistent elements; for example you may decide to carry the same flooring and window coverings throughout.

Also, think about your lifestyle and what you find important. For example, if you enjoy the outdoors, consider how you link the indoor and outdoor spaces.

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