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At Home With ... Kristine Franklin From The Painted Hive
Take a tour around budget decorating guru Kristine Franklin's Melbourne abode and tell us what you think for the chance to win a $50 voucher
Since moving in eight years ago, Kristine Franklin and her husband Luke have made their original newlywed digs into a stylish family home, having welcomed two beautiful children into the world and taken on a friendly hound Coops. They weren’t the only additions to the family, though – Franklin’s blog, The Painted Hive, was also borne out of this house. In her journey towards ‘affordable awesomeness’, Franklin shares the budget decorating tricks, tips and inspiration she’s picked up by refurbishing her own home. The eclectic decor showcases Franklin’s talent for decorating with pre-loved finds and DIY projects.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Kristine’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Vintage & Nostalgia Co. – has been announced. Well done, romanylambert!
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Kristine’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Vintage & Nostalgia Co. – has been announced. Well done, romanylambert!
How long have you lived in this house for and how did you and your house meet?
We’ve been here for around eight years now. I always feel embarrassed admitting this, but the house is actually in the same street I grew up in, and yes, my parents still live up the road!
I know what you’re thinking; “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Thankfully, it’s actually far from it. My parents are great and we’re all really good at keeping to ourselves. The house happened to come up for sale when my husband (then boyfriend) and I were seriously looking to buy. We went for an inspection merely out of market interest (as we’d both agreed the location wasn’t ideal), though it was just perfect!
When Franklin and her husband Luke moved in, one of her major decorating touches was adding wallpaper from Inspirations Paint. “I knew I wanted wallpaper somewhere and our little entrance wall seemed like the perfect spot,” she says. “I was initially tempted by all the trendy, colourful patterns, though, and am so glad I ended up going for something more timeless. I have not once contemplated removing or changing this vintage-inspired neutral,” she says.
Browse a wide selection of wallpapers for your home
We’ve been here for around eight years now. I always feel embarrassed admitting this, but the house is actually in the same street I grew up in, and yes, my parents still live up the road!
I know what you’re thinking; “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Thankfully, it’s actually far from it. My parents are great and we’re all really good at keeping to ourselves. The house happened to come up for sale when my husband (then boyfriend) and I were seriously looking to buy. We went for an inspection merely out of market interest (as we’d both agreed the location wasn’t ideal), though it was just perfect!
When Franklin and her husband Luke moved in, one of her major decorating touches was adding wallpaper from Inspirations Paint. “I knew I wanted wallpaper somewhere and our little entrance wall seemed like the perfect spot,” she says. “I was initially tempted by all the trendy, colourful patterns, though, and am so glad I ended up going for something more timeless. I have not once contemplated removing or changing this vintage-inspired neutral,” she says.
Browse a wide selection of wallpapers for your home
What made you start blogging?
Quite a few years ago, I was refurbishing and on-selling furniture. I think I must have been hunting down some inspiration when I first stumbled across the awesome land of DIY blogs. I could scarcely believe all these real people were doing what I was already doing and sharing it all with the world. I became instantly hooked!
The next big decorating trend is…
Parquetry; on floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, artwork … everywhere! In contrast to the more fussy, traditional styles, though, I think bold, geometric shapes will reign.
Quite a few years ago, I was refurbishing and on-selling furniture. I think I must have been hunting down some inspiration when I first stumbled across the awesome land of DIY blogs. I could scarcely believe all these real people were doing what I was already doing and sharing it all with the world. I became instantly hooked!
The next big decorating trend is…
Parquetry; on floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, artwork … everywhere! In contrast to the more fussy, traditional styles, though, I think bold, geometric shapes will reign.
To me, great design is…
The perfect marriage of practical meets pretty.
The birdcage pictured here used to belong to Franklin’s uncle. She found it stored under her parent’s home a few years ago and decided it was a good fit for her home.
The perfect marriage of practical meets pretty.
The birdcage pictured here used to belong to Franklin’s uncle. She found it stored under her parent’s home a few years ago and decided it was a good fit for her home.
Describe your home in 5 words.
Little, cosy, tidy, lived-in, loved …oh, and unfinished!
What’s your signature dish?
Dish? As in food? I do enjoy cooking, though have much less motivation for preparing gourmet meals since the kids came along. At the moment, cooking for me usually involves navigating the kitchen with a toddler attached to one leg! When I do get the chance, I really like Asian cuisine.
Little, cosy, tidy, lived-in, loved …oh, and unfinished!
What’s your signature dish?
Dish? As in food? I do enjoy cooking, though have much less motivation for preparing gourmet meals since the kids came along. At the moment, cooking for me usually involves navigating the kitchen with a toddler attached to one leg! When I do get the chance, I really like Asian cuisine.
What makes you happiest at home?
That’s actually a tricky question. Of course spending quality time with family is number one. That
said, I’m with my kids 24/7, so I also relish in having a quiet moment to myself.
That’s actually a tricky question. Of course spending quality time with family is number one. That
said, I’m with my kids 24/7, so I also relish in having a quiet moment to myself.
How would you describe your decorating style?
I almost want to whisper when I say ‘Country’. Let’s face it, it sounds kinda daggy and does tend to conjure up visions of bad folk art and too much gingham. Maybe I should go with ‘Farmhouse’ instead. That sounds a bit more trendy. Either way, my style has that country-inspired collected look and homey feel.
I almost want to whisper when I say ‘Country’. Let’s face it, it sounds kinda daggy and does tend to conjure up visions of bad folk art and too much gingham. Maybe I should go with ‘Farmhouse’ instead. That sounds a bit more trendy. Either way, my style has that country-inspired collected look and homey feel.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Muster the kids and check my emails.
Sofa: Plush
Muster the kids and check my emails.
Sofa: Plush
What are your favourite rooms in the house and why?
Any and all of the finished ones! I especially love our master bedroom (when the bed is made). It just has a nice relaxing vibe. I also like our living space (when there are no toys to trip over). The large bay window frames a really lovely view.
Can you share your biggest decorating fail with us?
Hmmm. Maybe my choice of carpet. When we first moved into our house, the original carpet was threadbare. We replaced it with a nice neutral plush pile, which is fine, though I just wish I had gone with something more natural and textural, like a jute or seagrass.
Any and all of the finished ones! I especially love our master bedroom (when the bed is made). It just has a nice relaxing vibe. I also like our living space (when there are no toys to trip over). The large bay window frames a really lovely view.
Can you share your biggest decorating fail with us?
Hmmm. Maybe my choice of carpet. When we first moved into our house, the original carpet was threadbare. We replaced it with a nice neutral plush pile, which is fine, though I just wish I had gone with something more natural and textural, like a jute or seagrass.
As a very crafty homeowner, every item in Franklin’s home appears to have a story to be told. The map behind the bed is just one of these upcycling projects. “I bought the frame from a local op shop (it was one of those “Honey, stop the car” moments when I saw it sitting out the front!) and I created the map by copy-pasting sections from an online zoomable map to create a large digital file in Photoshop. I then had it printed for $30,” she explains.
Bedlinen: Ezibuy
Bedlinen: Ezibuy
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
Ummm, I wish I could answer this with something romantic and whimsical, but at the moment I simply love having a few moments to myself! That or having a big family barbecue at my parent’s house (with the obligatory glass, or two, of bubbles, of course!).
Ummm, I wish I could answer this with something romantic and whimsical, but at the moment I simply love having a few moments to myself! That or having a big family barbecue at my parent’s house (with the obligatory glass, or two, of bubbles, of course!).
This beautiful draw set showcases Franklin’s talent for DIY. It was originally an Ikea MOPPE chest in which she stained, sealed and added some new drawer pulls.
Their friendly ‘gingerbread’ canine, Coops, pictured here, having a rest in the master bedroom.
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
I think I’m just plain happy looking around the finished spaces in our home and revelling in what I’ve been able to achieve on such a tight budget.
One of these achievements is this armoire from eBay, which Franklin paid roughly $90 for. “It was originally quite generic, with a raw knotty pine finish, so I painted it and added some new hardware,” she says.
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
I think I’m just plain happy looking around the finished spaces in our home and revelling in what I’ve been able to achieve on such a tight budget.
One of these achievements is this armoire from eBay, which Franklin paid roughly $90 for. “It was originally quite generic, with a raw knotty pine finish, so I painted it and added some new hardware,” she says.
Franklin’s home office occupies a full wall of their second living space just off the kitchen. The paintings are from charity shops, aside from the owl, which Franklin found as a free printable online. Her healthy book collection comes from years of collecting.
View more inspiring home offices
Where do you love to write and what could you not write without?
This is a really boring answer, though I’m happiest simply sitting at the desk in our make-do home office and I absolutely need my computer to write.
View more inspiring home offices
Where do you love to write and what could you not write without?
This is a really boring answer, though I’m happiest simply sitting at the desk in our make-do home office and I absolutely need my computer to write.
This is Charlotte’s bedroom, which Franklin had to finish decorating from the hospital where she spent two months after giving birth. Buying from eBay and online stores was the easiest way to complete the room. She purchased the genuine antique cedar chest for $300, which now serves as a changing table.
Check out more popular nursery designs
Check out more popular nursery designs
You will not see [blank] in any house of mine.
I never like to say never, but I’ve managed to work out I’m a neutrals girl at heart. For my home, I really can’t see the use of bright or bold colours on anything other than a subtle scale.
Mirror: Oz Design
I never like to say never, but I’ve managed to work out I’m a neutrals girl at heart. For my home, I really can’t see the use of bright or bold colours on anything other than a subtle scale.
Mirror: Oz Design
Franklin pictured sitting in her entryway.
What’s your next big project?
We really need to get onto updating our kitchen and bathroom. Before that, though, I have to finish decorating both of the kids’ rooms.
Visit The Painted Hive for DIY projects and tips, and to find out more about how Kristine transformed her home.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Kristine’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Vintage & Nostalgia Co. – has now been announced. Well done romanylambert.
If you’d like to submit your blog for this series, follow the instructions found here.
MORE
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
At Home With … Kristie Castagna From Elements at Home
At Home With … Rachael Honner From Hip Brown Home Blog
What’s your next big project?
We really need to get onto updating our kitchen and bathroom. Before that, though, I have to finish decorating both of the kids’ rooms.
Visit The Painted Hive for DIY projects and tips, and to find out more about how Kristine transformed her home.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Kristine’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Vintage & Nostalgia Co. – has now been announced. Well done romanylambert.
If you’d like to submit your blog for this series, follow the instructions found here.
MORE
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
At Home With … Kristie Castagna From Elements at Home
At Home With … Rachael Honner From Hip Brown Home Blog
Who lives here: Kristine Franklin, her husband Luke, daughter Charlotte, son Riley and their dog Coops
Location: Melbourne (outer north-east)
Firstly, what do we need to know about your blog?
Well, for starters, the fact it’s totally awesome, of course. Nah, seriously – it’s a budget-friendly DIY-focused home improvement blog designed to enlighten, encourage and empower. It features a heap of inspiring projects and tutorials chronicling my own adventures in affordable decorating.
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