The top features of our Mater Prize Home according to an interior stylist

It’s one thing for a house to tick all the boxes on paper: amazing location (it doesn’t get much better than being waterfront with your own pontoon on the Gold Coast!); enough bedrooms for the whole family (5 should do the trick!); and a stunning open plan living, dining and kitchen area for entertaining. But for a house to feel like home, it needs heart. That’s where our interior stylist Brett Rundle comes in. He takes good bones and a great floor plan and transforms it into a stunning place to call home with the right furnishings and carefully considered finishing touches.

We sat down with Brett to find out more about his design choices for our latest Mater Prize Home lottery No. 309, plus, his favourite features within the house. 

How would you best describe this house? 

“This is a modern contemporary home, smartly designed to get the most out of the interior spaces. It has the added bonus of meeting a high standard in energy efficiency, too. Large tinted windows throughout allow loads of natural light inside, while keeping the energy bills to a minimum. The smart finishes and design make for a very liveable and homely space.”

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What was the inspiration behind your styling?

“As it is quite a modern sleek interior, I’ve incorporated some retro-inspired pieces to give a bright and fun factor to the overall look. I wanted the interior to be welcoming and comfortable while complementing its up-to-date design aspects.”

What are your 5 favourite features in this prize home?

1. “I’m always drawn to the outdoor areas in most homes, and this property delivers with its waterfront location. From the outdoor area you can also see down to the lake at the end of the estate which is so serene in the afternoons.
2. The simplicity in the design of this home is a standout. Easily maintained and sensibly thought out—upkeep here will be breeze. The home also features a dark tinting on the windows that provides extra privacy.
3. The flooring we chose for this home is a Vinyl Plank—so durable and lovely underfoot—it is virtually indestructible.
4. The upstairs lounge: It’s a great addition and essentially a ‘must’ in a modern home. A great space to be away from the main living areas to enjoy TV, movies, some gaming, or just to chill.
5. The main bedroom’s ensuite has a fantastic bath that overlooks the water. And the finishes in there are luxury hotel-worthy. After all, who doesn’t want a luxurious bathroom to relax and unwind in?!”

Talk us through some of your furniture choices.

“For this home, the accent colour palette I introduced throughout was burnt orange and a dusty blue. Some of the pieces used to incorporate this scheme include corduroy dining chairs, quilt sets, cushions, artwork and accessories—all used to give those pops of dramatic colour throughout.”

What advice do you have for using colour in the home in a sophisticated way?

“I try to always keep the building finishes neutral but cleverly bring in colour through smaller items in the home. This way you can change your colour scheme quite easily against the home’s palette. Remember that ‘trends’ are exactly that, and tend to date quickly, so keep your colour choices to simple, changeable things.”

What’s your favourite room in this house?

“As much as I love the outdoor space and extra lounge room, the kid’s bedroom is filled with fun and lively styling to give any child a place to call their own. It features a framed bed, stuffed plush jungle animals, customised bookshelves, animal wall art, storage ottoman, shag rugs—and a very stylish designer replica velvet chair. I really enjoyed bringing this room to life!”

If you lived in this Mater Prize Home, how would you spend your weekends? 

“There would be many lazy days spent alfresco, cooking up a feast in the outdoor kitchen, hosting friends and family, swimming in the beautiful pool, or fishing right off the pontoon. And with all the things the greater Gold Coast area has to offer, anyone would be spoilt for choices: theme parks, beaches, amazing shopping, visiting National Parks in the Hinterland—the list goes on… It really is a fantastic location, and clearly shows why so many people call the Gold Coast home.

Ready to move in as soon as possible?! Buy your tickets today to win this luxurious waterfront Mater Prize Home lottery that’s been professionally styled by Brett Rundle. Plus, it’s not just your life that will change with this lottery. For every ticket you purchase you’re helping support the vital medical research and patient care at Mater.

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