The Block’s Deb and Andy Unearth Modern Coastal Interior Design Paradise From A Gold Coast Home Renovation

Deb and Andy have come a long way from their debut in 2019’s season of The Block. The pair’s penchant for coastal styling, accompanied by their fun-loving dynamic, made them fast favourites in the show. 

They have taken their home renovation skills and enthusiastic charm into DNA of Design — a platform to share their latest projects and tips. Their House 2 transformation, also known as ‘Unearthed’, sees an old Gold Coast home reconstructed into a showpiece of modern coastal interior design. 

We recently joined them in the impressive dwelling, and they took us on an entertaining journey through each room. Read the rest of the article to discover their use of brushed brass fixtures in the coastal renovation, and some clever tactics to overcome design challenges.

The original structure of the home contains most of the bedrooms, a study, and a sitting room. It feels calm, with a veil of warm neutrals and soft-edged furniture punctuating the communal areas. It’s a genial introduction to what the rest of the home provides, except that the rest of the home is mostly a new build.

Descending down from the mezzanine level are the living, dining, and kitchen — all comfortably situated under a 17m high ceiling. It highlights the grand openness of these areas, letting natural light vivify the modern coastal interior design.

The lofted level above the kitchen is a unique element of the project, representing how a home renovation challenge can actually become a special part of the overall design. 

“We had to add this in because we had some structural engineering issues that came up, but as it turns out, it was a really great addition to the house, and it's given another extra seating area with views over here to this brand-new extension,” explains Deb.

Tucked neatly beneath the mezzanine is the kitchen, which is inconspicuously large, but as you enter into the space you can see that it opens up into the butler’s pantry and laundry — which actually forms back into the original part of the home. 

“So in the kitchen, I really love that we've got the greige joinery and we've got all of the brushed brass in here, which ties in so well with this beautiful gold veining in the stone. It all works really well together. It just subtly ties everything in,” Deb continues.

The primary bedroom encapsulates the talent showcased in Deb and Andy’s tenure on The Block: modern coastal interior design and styling. A checkered bedspread injects a playful element into the centre of the space, with surrounding decor layering the room with organic shapes and soft tones. 

A cleverly deliberate frame of the bathtub hints at a space we’re always excited to see — the primary ensuite. 

Open, airy, and indulgent — this room is where brushed brass shines best, accenting the space from floor to ceiling. The wet room formation is the ultimate couple’s retreat, with double shower droppers, hand showers, and vanities gifting an enhanced sense of luxury.

“It is really hard to make a space full of hard surfaces look soft, but some of the choices here have helped us to do this. We've gone for the brushed brass again. This gorgeous Pixi Tap, which has a tile insert so this handmade tile on the wall is in a tap as well. Ties everything together really perfectly,” says Deb.

Emerging outside into the sleek pool area, it is the perfect moment to take stock and truly appreciate the scale of the home. Once seen in the cradle of surrounding bushland, you can see that the project takes on its titular meaning — a brilliant creation unearthed from the minds of two passionate people. We’re excited to see what else Deb and Andy produce from their DNA of Design journey. 

Have you seen their House 1 project? It’s another example of their coastal renovation prowess.