The living space/media room on the middle level was a tough nut to crack from a styling perspective. We chose the gorgeous teal couch (from BoConcept) very early in the reno and knew it was going to pack a punch in that room. What we didn't realise was how difficult it was going to be to add all the other pieces around it without overloading the room with too many things to look at.

CREAMS + WHITES ONLY

You'll notice that we chose only creams and whites to surround the teal couch. All the cushions (including the oversized Losari floor cushions) are very muted, as is the rug and ottoman.

NOT TOO MANY PATTERNS

Too many patterns was another challenge for us as we didn't want to make the room too busy. The pattern on the rug and cushions was just enough with the criss-cross look of the rattan side table (from Freedom). Even with the occasional chair from OZ Design we resisted the urge to get it upholstered in one of Grace Garrett's mediterranean patterns (like the cushions) because it would be too much for that space. Instead we opted for a plain linen colour and if you look reeeally closely you might see we chose a pattern just for the piping and buttons.

NO ARTWORK

This was our final styling decision - not to place any art on the large white wall behind the occasional chair. We had already had a large print made specifically for that space but once we'd put all the furniture in the room with the bright teal couch and abundance of patterns we felt a blank wall was the right decision, especially when the windows provided such a green, leafy outlook. Artwork would have simply been a distraction.

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

I had picked up some gorgeous indoor plants from Topical Empire and was desperate to use them in this room but Bon was a bit reluctant at first. She was unsure if it was going to clash with teal couch but in the end we think it turned out fab and helped connect the inside with the leafy outside vista.

SLIMLINE TV WALL

Not sure if you saw in Episode 5, but my original idea was to create loads of niches and nooks on the TV wall (I was trying to replicate the Santorini-vibe I had created in the Urban Mud Room). But with a vigorous shake of the head (watch the ep, it's hilarious) that idea was quickly scuppered by Bon. Instead we opted for a simple flat screen TV mounted above a wall hung slimline storage unit (another winner from BoConcept).

Styling challenge complete! I hope you love the end result as much as we do xx

Lana is a little obsessed with these babies. Not only are they pretty but they have PowerView Motorisation #holyremotecontrolblinds... they are not only great for controlling light and privacy, but they cut the glare on those lazy days in front of the TV.

ENTER THE COMP HERE

LANA'S TOP 5 MUST HAVES IN AN
URBAN MUD ROOM

The concept of a mud room is nothing new. In fact, they’re a staple in many homes located in wet, cold areas and in country locations.

Northbridge, NSW, is none of the above, but I designed my forever home to have a mud room right at my front door to accommodate my take on urban family living.

Why do I need an urban mud room, I hear you ask?