Turning the tables on the House Rules design expert

Carolyn Burns-McCrave is perhaps best known for her role as a design expert and mentor for Channel 7’s renovation reality show House Rules.  

McCrave’s time on the show is spent doling out advice to newbie renovators before disappearing in a puff of smoke and leaving them to either doubt every move they’ve ever made or revel in the glory of their design genius.

Now it’s time for McCrave to have a little taste of her own medicine: the designer’s four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Mitcham, Victoria is now up for sale.

From the outside, McCrave’s property might appear quaint – even small – but a look inside the house reveals it’s full of drawcards, with a 780-square metre block, pristine wooden floorboards, built-in robes, gas-heating and split-system air-conditioning.

The block is perfect for anyone who loves to entertain, or those with a green thumb; there’s a large patio area, and lawn to spare. Avid gardeners will enjoy the convenience of a large garden shed to store their tools.

The master bedroom features a walk-in robe and stunning ensuite with stone benchtops and even a walk-in shower.

It’s the main bathroom that will entice many buyers, though; double sinks and a claw-foot tub adorn the space, with dark tiles and two-toned walls delivering a sense of classic elegance.

Open-plan living and high ceilings make the dining, living and entertaining areas appear huge.

It seems almost every space has its own set of house rules to meet.  

The interior design tiptoes between styles, with some areas evoking a Hamptons feel, others reminiscent of a cosy cottage, and some with slight industrial touches, including the pressed metal splashback in the kitchen.

There’s even a touch of tropical comfort with splashes of greenery and bright floral upholstery.

The main bedroom is perhaps the least impressively designed, with a mishmash of furniture that might be more at home in the study of a genteel lord, and the soft feminine colour palette of the linen and oversized artwork that makes up the room’s centrepiece.

Styling preferences aren’t everything – the new owner will undoubtedly bend the property to their own style, and the master bedroom has a sweeping command of space that would be easy to work with.

The property will go to auction on Saturday, July 24 with a listing price of $1.65 million to $1.8 million.  

What do you think of this home? Does the designer touch make it worth the price tag?