‘No liquids, no food, no crayons’: Parents ridiculed for $1m all white home

A NSW family has been slammed for their “unusable” white and marble beach house, where “no liquids” are allowed in the loungeroom.

A couple with a young son have been ridiculed over their decision to create an all-white living room with “no liquids allowed” as part of a lavish $1 million interior fit out.

Interior designer Nina and her husband Trent showcased the recent renovation of their $3.2 million Avalon home, in Sydney’s northern beaches, on Thursday’s episode of ABC’s new series Grand Designs Transformations.

The renovation, which took five months, saw a number of luxurious features added to their 1980s four-bedroom home including a handcrafted white marble island kitchen bench and outdoor bath.

But it was their all-white living room – complete with a white bouclé couch and white bamboo silk rug – that drew the ire of viewers who felt it was impractical for a young family.

The NSW beach house was renovated for just over $1 million. Picture: ABC

Couple Trent and Nina originally purchased the property for $3.2 million. Picture: ABC

The European-style design choice was questioned by co-host Yasmine Ghoniem, who pointed out flaws of the all-white interior considering the couple share a young son named Harley.

“I’m just imagining Harley with spaghetti and grubby fingers,” she told the pair before Trent admitted it was a “concern” in the back of his mind.

When touring the finished property, Ghoniem pointed out some people might consider the white living room, which features matching white bouclé armchairs, to be “gallery-like” rather than “family living”.

“We do have pretty strict rules,” explained Nina.

“There’s no liquids. Cheese and crackers [are] basically all that’s allowed in this room,” she said laughing.

The all-white interior had already caused headaches for the couple, with Trent revealing there had already been an “incident” involving their son’s crayons.

“We had a drawing on the rug incident with crayons,” he shared, adding the crayons were “all colours of the rainbow”.

“It really was a work of art, just in the wrong place,” he quipped.

The loungeroom features a white bouclé couch and white bamboo silk rug. Picture: ABC

It was suggested that some people might consider the loungeroom “gallery-like” rather than “family living”. Picture: ABC

While the white rug has caused issues, he said the large marble coffee table in the centre of the room was a hit with his son.

“Harley loves jumping on that coffee table. It’s kind of good because we know it’s nice and robust so he can’t break it.”

Despite the rules, the couple said the house had “completely” transformed their lifestyle.

“It does sound corny but we are entertaining every weekend. We are hosting birthdays, we are hosting lunches, it’s just non-stop friends and family.”

However, when asked if they would do anything differently in the renovation, the pair admitted they would have bought a rug that “cleaned slightly better”.

The family have already experienced a crayon “incident” on the white rug. Picture: ABC

The couple joked they would have preferred a rug that was easier to clean. Picture: ABC

Viewers were quick to head online to blast the design choice, with one critic even suggesting the living room was “unusable”.

“Over the top! … I had to laugh when they talked about the child drawing all over the plush white carpet,” one person wrote on a Facebook group dedicated to discussion about renovations.

“Try telling your guests you can’t take a glass of wine into the living room (including placing it on the marble coffee table), but cheese [and] crackers is fine. Eye roll,” said another.

“I’d get tired telling my kids not to take anything in that lounge room,” another wrote.

“How they ruined something perfectly good. All that horrific, monolithic marble. And the unusable room … the couch didn’t even look comfy, just stylish,” another comment read.

“Some of the design features were cool (kitchen island) but otherwise it was all a bit … white,” read another comment.

Grand Designs transformation must be the worst taste, most out of touch piece abc has done for ages. $3.6m house on Coast being ripped up for some tasteless white marble that will add another $1m. Crass. Turning off now.

— JaneF 💉 💉 💉 💉 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ (@ArchyJaneF) January 13, 2024

Others slammed the show over the “obscene” displays of wealth while “millions are struggling” during the current climate.

“Grand Designs transformation must be the worst taste, most out of touch piece ABC has done for ages,” one person wrote.

“Program like that makes me sick.

“It really didn’t feel like a home but rather a display of wealth.”

Originally published as ‘No liquids, no food, no crayons’: Parents ridiculed for $1m all white home