Kicking it old school with House Rules

This week in Tasmania, the House Rules teams delivered a renovation that was at once groovy and contemporary - not an easy task! With the primary objective being to revamp the house while maintaining its 60s vibe, the couples set off to employ some creative DIY painting and tiling skills to deliver the most psychedelic house to date.

Renovating the bathroom

Kitchens and ensuites can make or break a renovation, and never has this been more true than in the latest episode of House Rules. Cassie and Matt have been leading the charge in renovating some of the other houses in the series to an excellent standard, so when it was time for the full reveal on Sunday, we were hoping their home would be treated as excellently as they have done for others.

Steve and Tiana did a brave tiling job in the ensuite, using a startling geometric tile that created a 3D illusion of space, and also tied into the 60s theme for the house. If you're new to the wet cut saw, don't choose this pattern for your first job as the edges will make a big difference to the end result.

Size and warmth

The hope the tiny house in Tasmania was that it could be made to feel bigger - something they could envision their family settling down in.

Fortunately for the Hobart couple, as every tradie knows, space can be created without breaking down walls. Good use of colour, windows, doors and lights meant the end result was a house that felt roomier without increasing it's footprint. Some teams even took to the ceilings to introduce more volume into the home.

While Cassie and Matt wanted some insulation in their 60s home, a couple of the teams went one step further and shared a new fireplace between their zones, to warm the house at night.

Reach for the rafters

One trick to increase perceived space is to increase ceiling volume, and Ryan and Marlee used this to great effect in the nautically themed guest bedroom. Not only did they do away with the low ceiling, they also covered it in the same white feature panelling as the wall, drawing the eye upwards.

They added in some rafters as well for good measure, completing the look and adding complexity to the room. Unfortunately, with all the bits and pieces the South Australian couple tried to cram in to fit with their nautical theme, the area did start to feel a bit crowded.

Scoreboard

At the end of the day it is a game and it's all about the score you can get. WA's Brian and Karina failed to impress this week, which kept them at the bottom of the ladder. Queensland couple Ben and Danielle seemed to be suitably inspired by their own home's renovation last week to top the leader board with a stunning master bedroom that has everyone buzzing.

However, while the plywood and aqua walls of the main bedroom were appreciated all round, there were some risky moves made, including bright pink flamingos. The front door is a hot shade of pink, and a giant poster of the bird features in the entryway. The flamingoes continued their presence in the laundry with a splashback that gave the judges pause, but won over the homeowners.

Not everybody is so bold with their painting and decorating, but if you're ready to make a big move and renovate a room or two, Kennards Hire is on hand to help.

Heading to Western Australia this week, the House Rules teams will fight it out to win over Karina and Brian, who are wanting a desert coastal theme for their renovated home.