Shaynna Blaze’s Top Tips for a Stylish Modern Home Design
As a celebrated interior designer and judge on The Block, Shaynna Blaze knows a thing or two about nailing the ideal home style.
She recently partnered with Montgomery Homes in NSW to create a Signature Collection of interior designs with a modern lifestyle in mind.
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Shaynna Blaze has curated a collection of interior styles for Montgomery Homes.
Blaze curated each interior theme with distinctive design elements and smart functionality, which can be applied to any of Montgomery Homes’ 300-plus home designs.
The Signature Collection
Featuring styles such as Palm Springs, Boutique Hotel, Relaxed Bohemian, Australian Modernist, Mid Century Retro, Luxe Resort and more, the curated collection gives buyers ample choice over their home’s style.
These interiors pair well with any of Montgomery Homes designs and floorplans, from the Shorehaven 263 to the Trinity 286, including level and sloping sites.
“These home designs offer ultimate practicality and luxury, suiting both couples and families, whether you’re looking to downsize or are needing more space for your growing tribe,” Blaze says.
Shaynna Blaze’s ‘Mid Century Retro’ style at the Avoca 206 display home.
“Each home has its own personality with exceptional living spaces and luxurious bedroom quarters – there truly is something for everybody.
“Montgomery Homes is dedicated to curating designs which amplify the homeowner’s lifestyle – this really shines through floorplan features such as a butler’s pantry, mud room and rumpus room.”
If you’re looking to build your dream home, Blaze shares some tips on how to make it suit the modern lifestyle.
Future-focused design features
Blaze says clients have been gravitating towards several design features in 2023, as they seek a layout that will serve them well into the future.
One key focus is sustainability integrated in a seamless way.
“Consideration towards house orientation to maximise natural warmth, environmentally sustainable building materials and improving natural light with skylights are just a few of the items that are at the forefront of buyers’ minds,” Blaze says.
Design features such as mud rooms and butlers’ pantries are popular with modern families.
Mod-con features are also a high priority for homeowners to suit a social lifestyle.
Blaze highlights butlers’ pantries, home theatres, alfresco spaces and rumpus rooms as top additions.
Storage is another important demand – and for a home to last well into the future it needs plenty of it, she says.
For example, walk-in robes to all bedrooms make a practical and popular addition for growing families and their changing needs, to store toys, sporting equipment, luggage and other bulky miscellaneous items.
The Byron 323, on display at HomeWorld Thornton, incorporates this feature for modern families.
Key style trends
Although everyone has their own unique style, Blaze says there are some clear interior themes and trends in 2023.
“Using bold colours has been common – this can be on a strong black or even a muted pastel, coupled with textured tiles and finishes.”
Textures and neutral tones are on trend, as seen in the ‘Relaxed Bohemian’ theme.
She also highlights sleek minimalism, with clean lines and colour palettes that bring simple sophistication to a modern lifestyle.
A particularly popular style this year is “modern Hamptons”, she says, defined by a neutral colour palette and textures such as jute, rattan and linen.
The Relaxed Bohemian theme in the Signature Collection reflects this look, which can be viewed at the Carolina 1 311 display home at HomeWorld Thornton.
What a modern family wants
To accommodate the lifestyle of a modern family, Blaze says a home needs to be both spacious and functional.
She highlights The Bellevue 321 by Montgomery Homes as a perfect abode for a busy family with ample storage, a mud room and laundry, and a garage with side access to the house.
“Families want multiple living spaces so that everyone has their own zone to relax and rejuvenate, with the need for more bedrooms becoming prevalent as we see the rise of inter-generational living in Australia,” she says.
Showstopping kitchens never go out of style, like this Hamptons-inspired design at Bellevue 321.
“Spacious kitchens are also important. The kitchen is the heart of the home – from the morning breakfast rush to the pre-dinner homework station and not to mention the food preparation and cooking zone.
“Families and upsizers should consider the kitchen size and evaluate whether there is enough space for all the important tasks that take place in this area.”
Functional features for couples
On the other end of the spectrum, DINKS (double income, no kids) gravitate towards a slightly different design to accommodate their modern lifestyles.
“There’s more of an interest in multi-functional spaces to enable efficient use of space, flexibility, cost savings and inviting environments for socialising and hosting various types of gatherings,” Blaze says.
“DINK entertainers typically appreciate open floor plans that create a sense of spaciousness and flow between different living areas.”
Home theatres are popular additions for couples and families.
She says the Avoca 206 by Montgomery Homes is ideal for couples for its relatively small floorplan that maximises available space.
“Despite being one of Montgomery Homes’ smaller floorplans, this home has an overwhelming sense of spaciousness and that nothing has been left off the design,” she says.
“There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home theatre, butler’s pantry, mud room and a roomy open-plan kitchen, meals and family zone plus adjoining alfresco – it’s quite a unique design in this regard.”
The Signature Collection by Shaynna Blaze, exclusive to Montgomery Homes, is now available to view at selected display homes across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Visit the website for more information.
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