Design collaborations are rarely straightforward, so when the graphic designer and interiors blogger Louise Bell joined forces with her husband, the architect Graeme Bell, to renovate their three-bedroom Sydney home, there was every chance that the project was destined for one of two outcomes - matrimonial mayhem or "the meeting of the minds". Fortunately for the Bells, it was overwhelmingly the latter.
"The original home has stayed much the same. We sanded the floorboards and had a contractor stain them with a finish called Black Japan. We also painted the walls in what I think is the ultimate white - Dulux China White, contrasting them with crisp Dulux Vivid White on all the windows, skirting boards and architraves; this forms the base palette for the decor," says Louise. "Graeme also renovated the original bathroom before building began on the new addition."
Linked by the same black floorboards, the kitchen/living room flows seamlessly from the old space. The kitchen would make even a take-away devotee weak at the knees. "It is a truly lovely place to be, which is lucky, because it's where I spend most of my time. Everything is pretty much within arm's reach, despite the fact that it's quite a big area. The integrated fridge, mirrored splashback and commercial-style tap are the three decisions we're most happy with," she says. "And the bookcase he designed is the icing on the cake. I love the homeliness it brings to a room that is so often difficult to integrate visually."
For Graeme, the kitchen is the functional heart of the house, not just a place for cooking. "The enormous island bench is not only a cooking surface, but houses books and magazine collections, as well as providing a surface for the kids to do their homework and craft." Graeme designed this space and new bathrooms to cleverly blend with the original house. "Because the home was in a period style, it was important that the new additions sympathised with the scale, proportions, alignment and configuration of the older elements but at the same time didn't mimic them. So I designed a contemporary open-plan addition with increased areas of glass for natural light and more ecologically sustainable features such as a larger roof overhang to control sun in summer, and larger, more flexible window and door openings for cross-ventilation."
With construction complete, Louise turned her attention to the interiors, creating an eclectic mix of vintage artefacts and bold bursts of colour - bringing the period property firmly into the 21st century. "I think you always have to have resale in mind when designing an interior. It's hard to believe you're ever going to sell your house, but when the time comes, it's better not to have to tone it down for prospective buyers. Graeme is the brains behind our renovation. Being an architect, he was keen to put a modern component into a federation house, so the entire addition is very clean, bright and relatively minimal - it's a really successful juxtaposition."
Colourful additions have mostly come from Table Tonic, Louise's online store (www.tabletonic.blogspot.com). "Bright Susani bedspreads, feathered Cameroon wedding hats and Ikat cushions are a perfect way of injecting a bit of life and colour into a room," she says.
With the renovation complete, Louise has only good things to say about the couple's team effort. "There's no doubt - a graphic designer-cum-frustrated interior designer and an architect are certainly a good match."
* Red Cover
View more photos at www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/at-home/house-home
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
Company%20Profile
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Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
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7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
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england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Background: Chemical Weapons
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White
Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse
Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):
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2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)
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5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)
A Bad Moms Christmas
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Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
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Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
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Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
