The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Renovation

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Victoria couple Claire and Hagan have the smallest house in the Channel 7 House Rules history on the Mornington Peninsular.
They have a mortgage of $269,000 on the one-bedroom home described as a "shoe-box" by the owner.
Claire and Hagan have been engaged for two years and renovated the front of an old shop three years ago for a salon for hairdresser Claire. 
“I’ve worked really hard to build up my business and we spent all of our savings renovating the salon,” she says.
With the help of some mate, Hagan did all of the renovation which took about four months.
“We love what we have done to it, but we haven’t done anything to the actual house,” Hagan said.
<img src="/images/2016/06/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-09%20at%2012.38.47%20PM.png" alt="">
 
The couple have no money to spend on the rest of the house they share with their two daughters, Matilda, four, and Darcy, two.
They all share the same window-less bedroom along with their Great Dane Cleo, while Claire’s mum spends a couple of nights a week on the couch to help babysit while they’re at work.
“We have five rooms in one,” explains Claire.
“Our lounge room, dining, rumpus, kitchen and laundry.
"We really need extra room for the girls.”
Hagan said that he worries about their future.
“We’re saving and saving and we still haven’t saved enough to renovate.
"It’s breaking us really.”
While Claire admits she loves that their home is “weird”, she isn’t such a fan of the mould.
"It got a bit mouldy last winter and I was starting to worry we were going to get sick from it.” 
<img src="/images/2016/06/09/rules.jpg" alt="">
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The first couple on 2016's House Rules were Fil and Joe, who have a 1950's weatherboard house in Melbourne.
The second house transformed on air on this seasons House Rules was South Australian parents Michelle and Brooke.
The third house renovated on this year's House Rules series was Team NSW Nancy and Daniel, who's rundown 60's house lies halfway between their parent's homes.
The fourth house reveal on this year's Channel 7 House Rules series was Luke and brother Cody, the former owning a country cottage in Queensland.
Their appearance on House Rules is the longest period of time Australian Navy logistics officer Rob and his wife Rose have spent together in the last five years.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Claire and Hagan have smallest home in House Rules history

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The House Rules show on Channel 7 will be the longest period of time Australian Navy logistics officer Rob and his wife Rose have spent together in the last five years.
They have been married for eight years and the opportunity to renovate six houses across the country is like a second honeymoon.
Rob was away at sea when Rose found the perfect house in Western Australia after a three-week search, which has a $329,000 mortgage.
<img src="/images/2016/06/09/700_rules2.jpg" alt="">
Mum of three Rose said it was the backyard that she loved which made her buy the home.
“I think seeing the kids running around the backyard is what decided it for me.
"It had big springy buffalo turf on it and a fair amount of dandelions as well,” says Rose.
Rob doesn't want their renovation to effect the precious backyard either
“If they built a 10-foot decking in the backyard I would be mortified.
"The backyard is a really good size but to do that would just shrink it.”
Their renovating experience is a bathroom design in a former two-bedroom apartment they owned in Sydney. 
“I think we worked really well and we agreed on a lot more things than we thought we would which was nice,” says Rose.
The couple were the first couple to be eliminated on this years show.
Despite being upset, Rose said that they still feel like winners having their own home renovated.
"This is the only competition you enter where even the loser wins."
<img src="/images/2016/06/09/rules.jpg" alt="">
The first couple on 2016's House Rules were Fil and Joe, who have a 1950's weatherboard house in Melbourne.
The second house transformed on air on this seasons House Rules was South Australian parents Michelle and Brooke.
The third house renovated on this year's House Rules series was Team NSW Nancy and Daniel, who's rundown 60's house lies halfway between their parent's homes.
The fourth house reveal on this year's Channel 7 House Rules series was Luke and brother Cody, the former owning a country cottage in Queensland.
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Australian Navy officer Rob treating House Rules like a second honeymoon

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The third house renovated on this year's House Rules series was Team NSW Nancy and Daniel, who's rundown 60's house lies half way between their parent's homes.
Their south Sydney home which they settled on four years ago has a mortgage of $500,000.
When it came to choosing their home, its dire condition nearly scared them away.
"When we first walked in, we went, 'oh no, no' and we walked out," Nancy said.
"But then we came back," added Dan, after realising its potential.
Three years later and no renovations started, the couple were considering selling the house before being accepted onto the show.
“We were in the process of deciding whether we were going to actually go ahead and renovate, or if we were going to detonate and rebuild or sell, so we were tossing all of that up at the same time," Dan said.
"We were leaving it up to fate."
 
<img src="/images/2016/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-01%20at%208.36.35%20AM.png" alt="">
Above, Daniel and Nancy's House Rules.
The couple have two kids, Jonathan, six, and Sophia, three, and didn't want to take time away from them renovating the home.
“We were going to renovate in stages and that would have taken so much of our time away from our children with every weekend spent on planning and renovating, so I really feel like this buys us 20 years with our children,” Nancy said.
They have a lot of concerns with the house, like dampness in the roof, poor layout and just being plain old and worn out..
Wanna-be house proud Dan shies away from inviting people over because of the state of their home.
“The reason we have applied for House Rules is because if someone is coming over Dan says, ‘Have they seen the house before? How long will they stay? Do they have to come over? Why can’t we go to their house?’ ” said Nancy.
A can-do attitude is what will see this pair through, who have limited hands-on experience in renovating.
“I wouldn’t call myself a renovator, not even a handyman,” says Dan.
The first couple on 2016's House Rules were Fil and Joe, who have a 1950's weatherboard house in Melbourne.
The second house transformed on air on this seasons House Rules was South Australian parents Michelle and Brooke.
 
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Nancy and Daniel's family more important than condition of House Rules homes

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The second house transformed on air on this seasons House Rules was South Australian parents Michelle and Brooke.
The Adelaide parents have a 1920's Californian bungalow with a mortgage of $426,000, their prize should they win the Channel 7 competition.
Michelle and Brooke were ecstatic to have bought a house in their dream suburb.
“We love the area; we love the people," Brooke said.
"It’s a great little community especially for Michelle as it’s very arty.
"We are so close to the city, the trams, the beach, close to everything.
Brooke, 43, is a landscaper and ex-footballer who spent a year on the Adelaide Crows books and notched up 165 games in the SANFL for West Adelaide and Glenelg.
“We are set up for retirement - we are next to the bowls club, the tennis club and the croquet club," added wife Michelle.
But the only reason they could afford their house is the fact it sits, literally, right next to the freight train main route from Adelaide to Melbourne.
“Even though we are used to them and they don’t bother us that much, every now and then this massive freight train comes by.” says Michelle.
The inside was a bit of a shambles as well, bringing the price down into their price range.
“I had always wanted a house we could do work to; an old character home we could put our love and inspiration into,” says landscaper Brooke, who admits to having plenty of love but not enough money to bring his ideas to life.
But he had a good start with some basic renos when they first moved in, mainly because cooking in the original kitchen ended up producing inedible meals.
“The chimney was still open so every time you were cooking if there was wind then soot would come down all into your food,” explains Brooke.
So they installed a new kitchen, but admit it is in the wrong location in the house as the bathroom sits right to it.
They did other basic necessities like painting, floorboards and fixing the ceilings – but alas, they have cracked and sagged again already.
“They are still the original horsehair ceilings so they have all dropped and so you can see all the gaps and the dust coming through,” he says.
Designer Michelle admits to being extremely nervous about handing over her keys and the design of her home to anyone else.
“I’m really particular and I know how I like things,” she admits.
“People say that when they buy me presents they are really nervous as I’m quite fussy; it’s rare that someone buys me something I love.”
Parents to Addison, eight, and Tildie, five, they wrestled with the idea of leaving their kids behind to embark on a national renovation tour, but in the end they say they are doing it for the benefit of their family.
“The reason it is all happening is for them, we stressed to them the whole time we are going to build a new house so you have a new room and can invite people over,”  says Brooke. 
The first couple on 2016's House Rules were Fil and Joe, who have a 1950's weatherboard house in Melbourne.
The third house renovated on this year's House Rules series was Team NSW Nancy and Daniel, who's rundown 60's house lies halfway between their parent's homes.
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Dream suburb too good to turn down for Michelle and Brooke

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Painting the walls of your home is a great way to freshen up your living space, and add value to your home at the same time.  
Hiring a professional painter means you’ll have an impeccable finish, save you loads of time and means you won’t have to deal with the mess. But it can be an expensive exercise, and may not fit in your budget. If you’re thinking about a DIY paint job, we’ve got some tips to get you painting like a pro.
1. It’s all about the prep
All of the painting pros know that the most important part of a great paint job happens before the paintbrushes come out. To start with, fill any holes in your walls with a filler, and smooth over with a filling knife. Then, use sandpaper to give your surfaces a good sanding, ridding your wall of imperfections and ensuring it is smooth. The next step is to remove dust and dirt from the wall by cleaning the surface with a damp cloth – sugar soap is great for this – and let it dry. The cleaning process is important, because you want your paint to grip to the wall, not dust particles, giving you a smoother finish.    
2. Watch the weather
Yep, believe it or not, mother nature can impact your paint job. If the air in the room where you’re painting is warm and dry, your paint will dry more quickly and consistently. If it’s cold in your room, use a heater to warm the air, and a fan to push the air throughout the room. Humidity is your enemy – it will delay the drying process – however using a fan in the room during and after your paint job will assist with keeping humidity levels low. If the paint is taking longer than four hours to dry, try using a dehumidifier. Make sure you check your paint tin for directions on paint performance and drying times.
3. Use a canvas drop cloth
As tempting as it is to get an old sheet from the linen cupboard, make the effort to borrow or buy a canvas drop cloth to cover your floors or carpet; bed sheets won’t stop paint spills from seeping through to your flooring. ‘What about plastic sheets?’ you might be saying to yourself… While doing a good job of protecting your floors, they prevent paint from drying quickly, and you’ll be bound to step in your spills and spread paint everywhere.  
4. Splurge for the blue tape 
It’s important to tape edges where you don’t want paint to cross, such as the tops of skirting board and door handles. Masking tape can do the job, but the blue painter’s tape will do the job better – with less chance of leaking as well as not leaving a sticky reside that can be annoying to clean off afterwards. To create a good seal and prevent bleeding, use a putty knife to press over the tape. It’s often not worth your while to tape windows – just paint somewhat carefully and use a razor blade to scrape paint spills off the glass when you’re finished. Paint should come off glass easily, and this process is often a lot easier and quicker than taping the window in the first place. 
5. Boxing, without gloves
If you’re painting a big surface, you will probably require more than one paint tin, and often the colour can slightly vary from one tin to another. Painters use a process called ‘boxing’ to prevent this – pouring all of paint from multiple tins into one big bucket to ensure a consistent colour from the first wall to the last. Make sure you give the bucket a good stir with a long stick that reaches the bottom, and you’re all set for an even colour.   
6. 1200 techniques 
Everyone has their own painting techniques that they swear by – chat to your family and friends about their own painting experiences or you can find loads of tips online. Some people prefer to use rollers, others spray; it may take a couple of times before you work out what suits you and your space best. However, good painting technique always begins from top to bottom – starting with the ceiling, cornices and moving on to walls, doors and window frames. Starting with the ceiling means that it won’t matter too much if paint runs down the walls – you can paint over this later – and it’s a good idea to use googles for eye protection (we all know what happened to Michelangelo).     
7. Don’t skip the clean up! 
If you’re not planning to paint ever again and hate the environment, you can ignore this section and just wrap all of your painting gear in the canvas drop cloths and throw them away in a colourful heap. But for everyone else – and hopefully that is everyone – make sure you take the time to clean your equipment properly so that it’s good for you and your family and friends to use next time. Use warm water and soap to wash your brushes (hot water can cause the bristles to fall out), wiping off excess paint and squeezing the bristles with a cloth. Be patient, it will take multiple ‘rinse and repeats’. Store your brushes in newspaper or cloth. With your rollers, use detergent and warm water to lather and rinse paint off. Once the roller is clean and dry, wrap in plastic wrap and store vertically so the roller does not flatten. To rid brushes and rollers of oil-based paint, soak in paint thinner (in a well ventilated room) overnight before the usual rinsing process. 
Ready to get painting? Perhaps the best tip of all is to drag all of your friends to your house to help. Reward them with food and beverages and it can be a really fun way to spend a weekend. 
 For more information, click <a href="https://www.homestart.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
 
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Property 101: Seven tips to paint like a pro

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The latest renovation series House Rules debuted last night with a 718,000 metro audience, finishing the night in 10th most watch show.
The new season of House Rules has a lot of heart, says host Johanna Griggs.
The fourth series of the reality renovation show features five sets of parents hoping to secure a better future for their children to wipe their mortgage. 
Each week, the six teams must renovate the interiors of each other's homes.
The home owners aren't allowed to work on their own properties, and instead must leave their set of house design rules for their competitors to carry out.
With little to no previous renovation or interior design experience, the House Rules teams have a steep learning curve, she said. 
House Rules on Channel 7 continues tonight with first up the renovation of the house of Fil and Joe from Melbourne, with their five design rules below.
The finale of Nine’s controversial dating show Married at First Sight was watched by 1.048 million metro viewers, airing from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, up on its season launch which drew 771,000 metro viewers, but down on last year’s finale, which attracted 1.290m metro viewers.
The season-ender is the only episode during season two which broke the 1m audience mark, mumbrella reported.
 
<a href="/images/2016/04/28/ChCl98JUUAAO0qv.jpg-large.jpeg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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House Rules returns with renovation of Fil and Joe house in Melbourne

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The two time Block renovation contestants, Dea and Darren Jolly have been working for their first big commercial project away from the show.
"Renovating our first house, and then competing in two back-to-back series of the television renovating competition The Block, my husband, Darren, and I experienced a fast and intense initiation into the world of building and renovating," she told Fairfax Media.
She said their learning curve was very steep.
"Building, renovating and real estate are our passions.
"By the end of the second series and Darren’s subsequent registration as a builder, we felt well prepared to tackle our own projects with our design-andconstruct business, D+D Home."
It is the renovation and extension of a California bungalow in Kew.
She has compiled a checklist of points crucial in the success of our projects that complement the usual checklists available
1. Create a decorating file.
Having a clear picture of what you want to achieve with a file for every room will not only help you to stay focused while making so many decisions, but will also give you something to refer to when describing your style to tradesmen and suppliers.
2. Get at least three quotes for every element of the build.  
3. Be realistic about renovation costs. Factor in that everything will cost about 30 per cent more and take 25 percent longer than expected.  
4. Keep receipts. Be vigilant about keeping every receipt for any future returns, warranty claims and tax purposes.
5. Be nice to everyone. Treating your tradies with respect will help you to achieve a better result.
6. Trust your instinct. It’s your home – do what you love. 
7. Map it out. Get your tape measure and a can of spray paint out and measure and mark out everything on the floor. 
8. Be on site as much as possible. 
9. Accept that it will be stressful. 
10. Take pictures. 
11. Pick a friend and a source of inspiration to refer back to. 
Pic courtesy of Domain.
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The Block's Dea Jolly's 11 top renovation tips

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The return of Nine’s renovation reality program Reno Rumble secured disappointing results - with less than half the audience of its 2015 debut last year.
Just 395,000 metro viewers tuned in on its Monday night debut, which compared to <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/reality-tv-winter-schedule-masterchef-reno-rumble-house-rules-seven-nine-ten-simulcasting-debut-head-to-head-291814" target="_blank">873,000 last year across Nine and Gem</a>.
It finished fourth in the 7.30 timeslot behind Seven’s My Kitchen Rules, which managed an audience of 1.462 million, ABC’s 7.30 (778,000) watching Leigh Sales and the PM Malcolm Turnbull, and Ten’s All Star Family Feud which was watched by 674,000 metro viewers.
MKR was the most watched show of the evening and also the most-watched program across the key advertising demographics (16-39, 18-49 and 25-54) according to OzTAM overnight metro ratings.
On its second night the audience rose to 453,000 but still well behind MKR on 1.41 million, the 7.30 Report on 679,000 and Bondi Rescue on Channel 10 at 540,000.
<a href="https://theblock2016.castasugar.com/" target="_blank">Applications closed last week, March 14</a> for contestants on the next series of The Block to be filmed at Port Melbourne.
Filming appears scheduled for May with it going to air in late 2016 possibly.
But media analyst Steve Allen, managing director of Fusion Strategy, told Fairfax Media the host of both shows, Scott Cam "must be reeling."
"They're destroying his career. Unfortunately, it's going to taint Scott and Shelley's (Craft) reputation."
Nine intended to screen Reno Rumble on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday in the crucial 7.30pm time slot until otherwise rescheduled.
The series also sees original judges Darren Palmer and Romy Alwill replaced by Scottish interior decorators Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan.
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Rumble crumbles with the next The Block applicants under consideration

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Architect Conrad Johnston and his wife Katrina have sold their Balmain home.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-balmain-121742926" target="_blank">Stewart Place home</a> was a 100 year old worker’s cottage before its 2009 makeover.
Set on a sloping 241sq m block, the Fox Johnston architects director bought the property for $860,000 in 2006 then added a modern open-plan extension.
The original cottage now contains three bedrooms overlooking gardens ­designed by Daniel Baffsky from 360 Degrees Landscape.
On the second level there is a bedroom with ensuite and an adjoining study.
The interiors have green walls and an internal atrium.
The home sold ahead of its weekend auction having been listed with a price guide of $2.4 million to $2.5 million through Cobden &amp; Hayson agent Peter Gordon, with it selling at $2.5 million plus.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Fox Johnston Balmain workers cottage reno snapped up pre-auction

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With this year's television program The Block ending, here is a list compiled of the most successful and unsuccessful scores on The Block since the show started.

The highest scorers from this year's judging were Kingi and Carlo, but how did they fare against previous years?

35. Polly and Waz - Cameron Street, Richmond.

34. Mike and Andrew - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

33. Amie and Katrina - Cameron Street, Richmond

32. Dan and Dani - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

31. Tim and Anatasia - Triple Threat - Lowest room score in history (eight out of 30 for their study and staircase)

30. Rod and Tania - Cameron Street, Richmond

29. Dan and Dani - All Stars

28. Brad and Lara - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

27. Josh and Jenna - Cameron Street, Richmond

26. Mark and Duncan - All Stars

25. Andrew and Whitney - Blocktagon.

24. Luke and Ebony - Blocktagon.

23. Chris and Jenna - Glasshouse

22. Dale and Sophie - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

21. Josh and Jenna - All Stars

20. Chantelle and Steve - Fans v Faves

19. Ayden and Jess - Triple Threat

18. Suzi and Vonni - Blocktagon

17. Phil and Amity - All Stars

16. Darren and Diane - Triple Threat

15. Alisa and Lysandra - Fans v Faves

14. Madi and Jarrod - Sky High

13. Dean and Shay - Blocktagon

12. Trixie and Johnno - Sky High

11. Bec and George - Sky High

10. Josh and Charlotte - Triple Threat

9. Karstan and Max - Glasshouse

8. Kyal and Kara - Fans v Faves

7. Brad and Dale - Fans v Faves

6. Alisa and Lysandra - Sky High

5. Matt and Kim - Sky High

4. Shannon and Simon - Glasshouse

3. Darren and Deanna - Glasshouse

2. Kingi and Carlo - Blocktagon

1. Michael and Carlene - Glasshouse

With four properties in the top 10, the Glasshouse had the strongest average whereas the weakest judging scores came at Cameron Street, Richmond. 

We will no doubt get a bunch of newbie contestants next year, for Fairfax Media to further dwell on, though there's no indication yet that another site has been selected for another series.

<h2>Recently listed properties:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3783]
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