Before and after: Transforming a Collaroy bachelor pad from tacky to terrific

A BACHELOR improves his chances of love after winning a competition by online dating service eHarmony and retailer thehome.com.au to makeover his ‘tacky’ bachelor pad.

Hadyn’s living room before the makeover.

WHEN Hadyn Black’s friends dropped by his converted garage, he’d tell them he was renovating.

“I used to tell people that I was still doing it up, so it wasn’t 100 per cent ready,” he says.

But six months after moving into the studio-style space in Collaroy and things had not changed.

Cold and uninviting, the space had a tired hand-me-down lounge at one end and a dated and disorganised bedroom at the other.

And Haydn’s lack of style was doing nothing for his popularity with the ladies.

“It was pretty bland,” the 26-year-old says.

“There was not much co-ordination of colour going on.”

News_Image_File: The renovated living room.

So when online dating service eHarmony and retailer TheHome.com.au ran a competition to find Australia’s tackiest bachelor pad, Hadyn thought the time to act had arrived.

Blank canvas

Stylist Emma Blomfield from Nest Designs says once most of the existing furniture was removed, it was clear she could work with the available space.

“You strip away the furniture and decor and the bones of the space had quite a lot of potential,” says Emma.

“There is a kitchenette and bathroom which were recently renovated so we didn’t touch those. They didn’t need any work beyond a general tidy up.”News_Image_File: The lamp and picture on the wall add a great new look.News_Image_File: Hadyn Black had his bachelor pad at Collaroy restyled by The Home.

Working to a $3000 budget, Emma started by painting the living and bedroom spaces two shades of blue from the Taubmans range.

“I wanted it to be a bit more masculine,” she says.

“But it’s not too far down the masculine track so if Haydn was to meet someone, she would feel comfortable there.”

The old lounge was turfed in favour of an upholstered two-seater sofa with legs that allows it to feel lighter in the space while the geometric rug defines the living zone and provides a palette for the room.

News_Image_File: These colours brighten up his outdoor area.News_Image_File: A coat of paint adds a fresh look to the bachelor pad.

Not everything in Hadyn’s home hit the council clean up though.

“The bedside tables had some good lines, as did the chest of drawers but the lounge had to go,” says Emma.

“You couldn’t live with that. It was a hand-me-down which had been handed down a few too many times I think.”

The glass side table was also re-used, along with the retro chair and timber desk Hadyn already had.

News_Image_File: How Haydn’s bedroom looked before the makeover.

Sun, sand and sea

With the key pieces of furniture in place, Emma took her cues from Haydn’s proximity to the beach to create a space with a little more personality.

“I wanted to make sure there was some coastal element to the interiors,” she says.

“There was no hint in there of anything he was into as it was so we needed to include something that personalised it.

A few beach-themed prints did the trick.

News_Image_File: A new lamp adds a softer touch.News_Image_File: Haydn’s new stylish bedroom.

For those struggling with spaces lacking personality, Emma suggests looking to your hobbies and collections for inspiration and grouping like things together.

“Vignettes are the biggest way to inject personality,” says Emma.

“Look to your own objects or collections to reflect who you are.

“I’m not saying you should hang your golf clubs on the wall. It’s about hinting at other interests without going overboard.”

Haydn is now enjoying more interest from the ladies. But he’s still single.