Add CategoryOne of the worst storms in Victoria’s history, freight issues and budget blowouts threaten to derail celebrity designer Shaynna Blaze’s dream home restoration, as the stress begins to spectacularly to mount.
In the third instalment of her new television series Country Home Rescue, where The Block judge is breathing new life into a 130-year-old dilapidated weatherboard in Kyneton in country Victoria, Blaze embarks on the “hero” rooms of the home – the kitchen, dining and living area.
“I think what’s so good about this house is that all of the ideas I am putting into it means that I want to be there a long time,” she said of the ambitious project she has embarked on with the help of her kids, Jess and Carly.
“If I can get 20-something years of joy and laughter reverberating around these walls, people will feel it.”
Warning: Spoilers ahead
![Interior designer Shaynna Blaze](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 800 450"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Disaster strikes in the form of a mammoth storm that causes damage, delays works and eats Shaynna's budget. Picture: Channel 9
The open plan living, kitchen and dining area is a new addition to the home, with the back of the property demolished to make way.
“I want to create a feeling of a room that’s always been there,” Blaze explained. “I want people to walk in and feel like they’re actually being given a hug of a house that’s been there for 120 years.”
However, her dream of creating bespoke pieces for the area sees her budget quickly blow out.
An elegant, custom-designed dining table sets Blaze back up to $7000. Financial woes are compounded by a ballooning timeline due to torrential storm.
And Blaze’s difficult design decisions continue, when her dream chevron flooring is unavailable due to freight delays, thanks to the Covid pandemic.
The storm has a disastrous impact on works. Picture: Channel 9
But it’s the fierce storm which really causes havoc for the renovation team, with insulation blown away, trees blocking road access, power cuts and difficulty getting tradies onto site.
“Every time I think I am clawing back time and money, something happens, and now Mother Nature is kicking in,” Blaze said.
“It is worst case scenario. It’s actually dire, to tell you the truth. All the hard work the guys have done to get us watertight for this storm, the wind has ripped it off.”
The storm depletes all of Shaynna's $100,000 contingency budget. Picture: Channel 9
The storm costs the team two weeks, with the impact hitting Blaze’s already struggling finances hard.
Her contingency budget of $100,000 was eaten up in the first few weeks of the renovation, with no wiggle room left.
To save costs, she contemplates abandoning her plans to use wood panelling on the ceiling but her builder Matt saves the day and after crunching the numbers, they push on with the idea.
The end result is spectacular. Picture: Channel 9
The end result pays homage to Blaze’s love of Art Deco design with curved benches, which were popular in kitchens during the 1950s and 60s, and pine panelling of the 1910s and 20s.
A striking bay window takes centre stage, in addition to an array of artwork, soaring panelled ceilings and a show-stopping, specially handcrafted chevron patterned fireplace.
The space is bright, modern and inviting. Picture: Channel 9
The transformation is spectacular. Picture: Channel 9
Blaze’s dream kitchen is unveiled, featuring black cabinetry, expansive stone benchtops, custom lighting, open shelving and a butler’s pantry, complete with a designated space for just about everything one needs in a kitchen.
The family trio unveil the new space to their chef friend Shane, and it’s an instant hit.
“I think what she has achieved with this house, it’s a real home,” he said.
The kitchen is a real show-stopper. Picture: Channel 9
Shaynna's chef friend was impressed by the outcome. Picture: Channel 9
Blaze’s goal to create a “magical” space, where family and conservation connect, is realised when the clan enjoys their first meal in their home, courtesy of Shane.
”It’s one thing to design a space have an emotion that you want to put into it but until people are in the space and are using you don’t know how that’s going to happen,” she said.
“And it just felt easy, and it felt relaxed and it just felt natural.”
Country Home Rescue airs Wednesdays on Channel 9. Catch up after that on 9Now.