What fab potential. Love it.

Agree! Loads of potential! And would be a blank canvas with new flooring and paint job. Matt O, what is allure gen loc 4 flooring you refer to?

This is the floor

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/carpet-flooring-rugs/flooring/vinyl-flooring-vinyl-tiles/allure-locking-gen-4-gotham-oak-silver-vinyl-flooring.html

Paint the beams out too.

I love the beams as they are-I say leave!

Hey Matt,

I like your thinking so far.

Regarding the balustrade, I'd be inclined to paint it white along with the skirting and window architraves which will soften the look of them but also tie nicely with the Lexicon Quarter on the walls.

The fireplace wall would be a great spot to wall mount your TV and you could get a lowline TV unit in a light to mid colour timber which will give you some added storage and also hide all of the GPO's on that wall.

White plantation shutters would suit perfectly, however have a back up plan as those shutters (esp. good quality ones) can be expensive.

Keep the ceiling beams as they are. They appear to be in good condition and the colour of the timber is beautiful. You've got quite a feature there without needing to do anything to it.

A good sized jute rug under the dining table would help to lift the darkness of the table and chairs. Coastal style tends to be more on the lighter side of things so this would help. You can get jute rugs, not only in plain, but with colour and patterns which would look great. If you're handy with a paint brush, you could paint both the table and chairs white to lighten them up.

To add some colour pops to the space I'd suggest using colours in blues, aqua, light greens etc - add some solid colour and patterned cushions to the lounges, maybe a blue heavy textured throw on the chaise part of the lounge.

Hope this helps.

Have fun with it.

Leah

Ahhh, the eighties. So many good songs, bad fashion and questionable interior design choices.

Thanks for all the replies.
Just a note, the furniture in the photos is not ours, was previous owners. Looking at putting a white leather lounge (maybe nick scali rezza) down near the large window with the tv wall mounted as suggested. All the stained timber (except beams) will be painted in lexicon quarter. And as suggested will add some blues into the mix with cushion, rugs etc.

The house is split level, picture level is on slab, entry level has untouched hardwood floors always been covered in carpet since built. Looking at getting these sanded then unclear on finish (satin/matte).

Also will be removing 80's yellow kitchen continuing the flooring through from lounge. Thinking of putting in a L shape
(Remove the section sticking out for slider) , with no top cupboards, white cupboards and bench,aqua blue splash back subway tiles and the possibility of a island.

I like all of the above ideas, it is a shame though we make all these alterations and yet soon the 80's will be the "in thing" in a couple of years. Not that I like the 80's .... but maybe I will when I see what ideas come forth.

Kill two birds with one stone and replace the balustrade with a full length, double sided cabinet. This will blur the height difference between the rooms while creating more if a sense of the two rooms working independently of each other, and provide a place for interesting piece or two on the top(like sculpture). In the process, you could ensure the traffic flow and furniture of the rooms works best with the passage to the lounge where it is, and if not, decide where it works best and build the cabinet either side of the passage.

Sounds like an incredible reno ahead of you, Matt O.

Venetians would be brilliant, but have you also considered roller blinds for the windows?

If you are going for an old-meets-new look roller blinds will add to the modern edge of your place. Just something else to consider :)

They're DIY install, too, which means they're convenient and more affordable while you renovate the rest of the house.

Can't wait to see the end product!

We think our Nelson Street project would provide you with some "Hamptonesque" inspiration.

In regards to interior paint, a tired & tested combination that has never failed us is White Exchange Half for the walls &

Lexicon Half for the skirting, doors and trims.

Pulled up the carpet expecting raw hardwood boards to discover these. The dilemma I now face was I had planned for a matte finish rather than gloss. The floors are in perfect condition, it's as if they were polished during the build and owners decided to lay carpet straight over them.

Thanks for advice on blinds. Will be putting plantation shutters in living room, (will be spraying the windows white internally) but unclear on rest of house. Any suggestions on +/- rollers vs Venetians.

Matt O. Those are beautiful boards don't stress over preferring the matt. Think of the money you've saved - put it in rugs or furniture.

You might need to reconsider the pale oak if the floors meet anywhere

Thanks, no it's split level. Floorboards one level, tiles the other, cheers.

Here are some coastal ideas... I think I'm liking the white painted beams even though you could leave timber. Love the linen and woven textures too...

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