Style guru Neale Whitaker launches new HOME and Realestate magazine

TRENDS come and go, and that’s why style guru Neale Whitaker — in Perth to launch a new Sunday Times magazine — says “to hell with them”.

Launch of Newscorps new lifestyle products and The Sunday Times ultimate guide to property Subiaco Hotel Neale Whitaker and Jean Redfern

TRENDS come and go, and that’s why Neale Whitaker says “to hell with them”.

The Vogue Living Editor-in-Chief and judge from the reality renovation series The Block, was in town this week for the exclusive launch party or the new combined HOME and Realestate magazine inside The Sunday Times.

At the event he spoke about how to have a stylish abode, and said while trends were interesting to look at, people needed to stay true to themselves.

“Homes are incredibly personal,” he said.

“I believe a home should represent the journey you have in it.”

Jean Redfern, one of two winners of The Sunday Times home makeover competition.

Second winner Jackie Mulquiney of Darch, with Neale Whitaker

The design guru also offered more tailored advice to the two lucky winners of The Sunday Times home makeover competition on Thursday night.

Newlywed Jean Redfern was one of the winners, and she wanted to use her $10,000 prize to redecorate her “mix-matched” bedroom in her Yokine home.

Mrs Redfern said she’d like to use colour, art and lighting to create the ultimate bedroom that is “really relaxing”.

Whitaker suggested not to buy her art first.

“The art is the most important thing, in many ways it makes the room,” he said.

“But don’t design a room around your art.”

To improve her interior look, he said she should choose matching bedside tables and consider lamps over pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.

Whitaker also said she should upgrade their bed.

“The bigger the bed the more luxurious to the bedroom.”

Mrs Redfern will create her new look with $2500 to spend at Myer, $4500 at Empire and $3000 at Snooze.

The second winner, Jackie Mulquiney of Darch, wanted to revamp her “outdated” kitchen to have better storage and a coastal/beach style.

The Vogue Living Editor-in-Chief and judge from the reality renovation series The Block, Neale Whitaker. Picture: Alf Sorbello

Whitaker said to keep the budget down she should go for cosmetic changes and keep the “carcass” of the kitchen.

“You could make a big change to this kitchen by changing the bench top and every cupboard door,” he said.

Ms Mulquiney will use the total $10,000 cash prize at Proform in Malaga.

* Neale Whitaker writes a weekly ‘style guru’ column for The Sunday Times’ HOME magazine. This weekend the celebrity TV judge speaks about how art is providing plenty of debate among the judging panel on the latest series of The Block, which recently began filming.