Space Invaders 2023
Silvana, Jose, Christina and Christian heart-warming reno
Silvana gives everything for her family and friends. She works full time, looks after her elderly mother, manages her husband Jose’s declining health as well as looking after her granddaughter, Giselle, and running the house.
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Over time the clutter has built and built to the point where Silvana now admits that it controls her. Her adult children Christina and Christian are so far past the point of trying to help as it ends in arguments every time. Growing up with nothing and relying on charities as a child, Silvana sees the value in everything and so holds onto it all. This large European family want to gather everyone together again, but their entertaining room is serving so many purposes that it’s now little more than a dumping ground. Will Silvana learn to let go in order to reunite this fractured family?
Living Room - Before
The house has a very 1980's feel and hasn't undergone any renovations since then. Despite the need for an update, Jose is particularly fond of the overpowering brick wall. However, the wall's outdated appearance actually makes the room appear smaller than it is, and the clutter in the room only adds to this effect.
Living Room - After
Cherie was given a tight deadline of two days to transform two rooms in order to create a more inviting space for the family to hold their reunions. With hard work and determination, the brick wall was replaced and the cold grey tiles were removed, making way for beautiful timber floorboards. The room was given a contemporary style with a sleek finish, complete with plenty of built-in storage, a massive entertainment unit, a spacious table, and an air conditioning unit.
In addition, to honor Jose's heritage, Cherie incorporated eye-catching Spanish-style tiling into the design, our gorgeous Arcade Central Multicolour Matt making the room truly unique and personalized. To add more character to the room, Cherie carefully selected the timber floorboards and wall cladding, as well as stunning benchtops that were inspired by Silvana's Italian heritage. The benchtops were made from stone, which Italy is renowned for producing with excellence for centuries.
"That's gorgeous, those tiles and the cupboard, Oh my God! all of it, beautiful lighting, the floors..." Silvana.
Featured Tiles: Arcade Central Multicolour Matt
Guest Room - Before
In this room, there is a flurry of activity. According to Silvana, the space is mainly used for storage purposes, but she has a strong desire to transform it into a guest bedroom with a cot for her granddaughter. With Peter's assistance, Silvana has come to understand her true emotions about the mess. She is feeling overwhelmed and frightened at the prospect of letting go of her possessions. Silvana is responsible for all of the household chores, and she has an intense need to maintain control over everything in her home. Despite this, she is willing to make changes and free up some time for her spouse and family. However, she is completely drained from all of the work.
Guest Room - After
The guest bedroom lacked character, but the addition of timber wall cladding provided texture and a soothing atmosphere, making it an ideal space for Silvana's mom and granddaughter to enjoy during their stay. To enhance the room's warmth and hospitality, a captivating feature wall was incorporated. Silvana was overwhelmed with emotions during the big reveal, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders from the guilt of not meeting her family's expectations. She is now free from the grip of clutter that once controlled her.
Casper's room
Was simply used for storage because of nightmares since the fire, he was sleeping with his parents instead. Now is a place where he can sleep on his own, but also have a friend over. Crucially with new fire alarms, it's his own personal space where he can feel safe.
