Deborah Hutton’s build with Building Solutions Studio

Television personality Deborah Hutton relocated from Sydney a few years back to a beachside house on the NSW South Coast with a grand plan to build her ‘forever home’ on a cliffside site. But when the former host of such real estate shows as Amazing Homes and Find Me a Beach House showed off the steep location to a builder friend, the response was blunt. “He said, ‘I think you’re mad – this one is just too hard’,” Deborah recalls. She remained determined, and with the new house plans drawn up, Deborah set to work on interior design, which led to her discovery of the Bunnings Building Solutions Studio (BSS) in Sydney’s Castle Hill.

Read on for how BSS supports builders and their clients with projects, and why PowerPass members should visit one of the three Studios to experience the extensive range and competitive price points with their own clients.

How did Deborah Hutton work with Bunnings Building Solutions Studio?

At the start of her house renovations, Deborah’s strongest resolve was tested at the start when a landslip saw parts of the block drop by six metres, requiring months of intensive Geotech work to stabilise the site.

With the new house plans drawn up by renowned architect Walter Barda, builder Adam Smith of Toki Construction took charge of the project, which involved demolition of the old house and the building of a new three-storey house into the cliff, as well as a separate self-contained studio at street level.

“I knew we would need as much help as we could get on this one to make it come together,” Adam says. While Adam was busy onsite, Deborah set to work with Bunnings Building Solutions Studio.

“My first reaction walking in was, ‘This might be the best-kept secret in the building game!’” Deborah says of BSS, which brings ease to selecting from a wide range of interior products and documenting those selections for a seamless integration into the build. She calls the style she’s creating ‘British Colonial’ and, at the Studio, she was paired with BSS interior designer and Studio Manager Sarah, who guided her through a range of design and product choices for the new house, which is scheduled for completion later this year.

“BSS has streamlined so much of the build and made the world of difference to what we’re doing,” Deborah says.

Tip: Outside of BSS, Bunnings Trade also offers dedicated specialists across all areas of your build - from Landscape Specialists to our 134 TRADE team ready to support you with your next job.

What value did Deborah Hutton get from Bunnings Building Solutions Studio?

• A variety of ranges and options: “From flooring to tiles and doors, and kitchen benchtops, it’s all in one place and in situ, so you can get a good idea of how it will actually look,” Deborah says.
• In-House interior design expert: “BSS is for the residential and non-residential builders who don’t have a selection space or interior designer as part of their team. We provide them with our studio and expertise to support them in selecting the right products for the project,” Sarah says.
• Choice without overwhelm: “BSS helped me put everything into focus, especially seeing the way some things worked together and others didn’t,” Deborah says. “That was the case when comparing the Beaumont Tiles against the Top Deck Flooring – the combination was ideal.”
• Touch, feel and see it all: “It’s a sensory journey, I have felt my way around this Studio a number of times!” Deborah laughs. “I’m constantly drawn to the texture and that’s how I landed on the Weathertex cladding. It looked beautiful in the studio and, after seeing Adam’s reaction, the direction was easily confirmed.”
• Brands available beyond the warehouse: “The brands in the Studio are ones I know by reputation and they’re good,” Deborah says. Sarah adds: “Not everything in the Studio is available in our warehouse. We have brands that are PowerPass exclusive access only in here, as well as many familiar brands.”
• Free expert advice: “Sarah’s guidance on so many choices has proven to be spot-on when I’ve later checked in with Adam,” Deborah says.

Tip: Did you know PowerPass members can unlock benefits at select Beaumont Tiles stores around the nation?

What products did Deborah Hutton choose for her house build?

Deborah and Adam share five products that they’ve chosen in the Bunnings Building Solutions Studio for this latest build.

• Porter’s Paints: “The matte, eggshell finish of Porter’s Paint will help create the effect of making the house feel not brand new, but as if it’s been there for a while,” Adam says.
• Beaumont Tiles: “Beaumont has a new dimension tile I am putting in the master ensuite and in the studio bathroom, and it has the most beautiful texture that I just keep touching!” Deborah says.
• Weathertex Cladding: “When living right on the coast, it’s important to have materials that can cope with the moisture and salt, so Weathertex offered the perfect solution for the external cladding,” Adam says. “We’re also using it internally for the detailed ceilings.”
• Hume Doors & Timber: “Too often, the choice of doors is left to the very end – and it shouldn’t be, as they create important flow throughout the house, like with internal cavity sliders. It can also be the front door that makes the first statement,” Adam says.
• Top Deck Flooring: “I fell in love with the engineered floorboards by Top Deck Flooring – especially the wide boards in dark oak in the Lavanda collection – that we will be using throughout the living areas, and will go perfectly with the dark plantation shutters,” Deborah says.

How the team at Bunnings Building Solutions Studio can help you

• Providing information: “I need as much information as possible on the products: the specs, thickness and limitations,” Adam says. “The more time Deb spends at BSS, the more she has come to me armed with the right information so that we can then make the best decisions onsite.”
• Saving you valuable time: “At BSS, it’s all here in one place and with the advice of dedicated specialists,” Adam says. “And while I love wandering the aisles of Bunnings, having everything in one location has saved me a lot of footwork!”
• Streamlining the process: “I said to Deb early on that the more streamlined she can make the process, the easier it is for everyone down the line, so arriving onsite with clearer ideas has helped the team,” Adam says.
• Remaining budget-friendly: “The Studio has been designed to cater to all scales and budgets of a building project. So whether you’re a builder working on 10 builds in a year, or a designer with just one project and on a budget, we work with all of them,” Sarah says.

Tip: Our Assisted Living range is also available through BSS, all certified and SDA approved. Tradie Jared Hills shares his story on how Bunnings Trade supports him in the Assisted Living space.

Want to save time and money?

Find out how a Sydney builder is using BSS to his advantage.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Q: What is Bunnings Building Solutions Studio? A: BSS offers builders, architects, designers and their clients an exclusive space showcasing extensive fit out and solutions for your build, as well as product ranges beyond what’s available at the warehouse.

Q: Where are Bunnings Building Solutions Studios located? A: There are also Studios in Port Melbourne, Victoria and Cannon Hill, Queensland.

Q: What’s at Building Solutions Studios? A: From the slab to the final touches of your build, BSS covers many areas of external and internal fit-out, including:

• Kitchens
• Custom joinery
• External and internal doors
• Front-of-wall plumbing
• Flooring and tiles
• Staircases
• Door hardware (including smart locks)
• Windows
• Appliances
• Assisted Living ranges to meet SDA and DDA requirements

Q: Who can visit the studios?

A: PowerPass customers and their clients are eligible for a Studio tour – including builders, architects and designers.