Jenna Densten, former The Block contestant, invites us in to her home. Pictures: Kit Haselden
Having smashed, painted and decorated through two seasons of The Block, Jenna Densten and her husband Josh made light work of renovating their own property in North Melbourne.
The mother of two says they fell in love with a Victorian cottage in a quiet tree-lined street, which became their next project.
“We love how quaint our little house looks between our neighbours’ homes,” she says. “We have split the property into two homes. The original weatherboard cottage is now a detached self-contained studio and we have just finished building a new three-bedroom architectural dwelling to the back of the block.”
Jenna, who runs the Design School in Melbourne where she teaches Certificate IV in interior decoration, says unlike The Block, this home was about creating a space that was specific to their family needs.
“Home to us is somewhere you can switch off, feel safe, that reflects our personalities,” Jenna says.
The decor is neutral and warm, with American oak joinery and a great mix of vintage and new furniture and objects that have taken years to source.
“Our favourite area is the lounge room,” she says. “We have an open fire and great record collection so in winter the atmosphere is very cosy.”
Who: The Block All Star and interior designer, Jenna Densten
Where: North Melbourne with her husband Josh, and daughters Feddie, 4, and Story, four months
Inspiration: Californian casual
Home is: Somewhere to create memories
Words: Catherine Nikas-Boulos
Photos: Kit Haselden
More: thedesignschool.co
Loom towels
Super soft Loom towels.
These Loom towels are gorgeous, super soft and the perfect way to soften a bathroom. They also complement our Venetian plaster finish perfectly.
Mirror
Arch shaped mirror.
This mirror is a stand out in our lounge room. It’s huge and reflects the internal courtyard from every angle in our living space.
Vintage lamps
Vintage lamp helps create a unique space.
We found these gorgeous vintage lamps for our bedroom and they are not only functional, but add a touch of interest. We love to mix old and new which helps to create a unique space.
Light switches
Light switch to suit neutral tones.
These are my favourite light switches as you can change the colour to match your styling mood. The copper HPM Excel VIVO switch goes perfectly with our neutral tones.
Dining table
Customs designed dining table.
We custom designed this new table and paired it with these old vintage armchairs. Again, we love mixing old and new.
Favourite thing
Jenna Densten on her leather sofa.
This stunning aged leather sofa was a vintage find. It was big enough to fit the space, practical for kids and was already worn in — bonus!
Armchair
Sarah Ellison armchair
This gorgeous Sarah Ellison armchair provides a great spot in our bedroom for reading and relaxing. The texture and curves compliment everything in our home, plus it’s super comfortable.
Lamp
We have a large curved ceiling and wanted to keep it clean. We opted for this Lampe de Marseille wall lamp which provides beautiful ambient light.
Linen curtains and wall lamp.
Linen curtains
These curtains provide a gorgeous filtered light and softness to our space. They draw the eye upwards and enhance the height of the ceiling. Curtains always warm up a space and create a homely feel.
Storage boxes
Jenna and Josh’s children play in front of Ikea storage boxes.
These Ikea boxes fit perfectly under our plinth and provide ample storage for all the toys. Anyone would think they were custom designed to fit the space but we just got lucky.