Laura Byrne’s Controversial $2M Home Feature Divides Opinions

Bachelor star Laura Byrne has unveiled the most controversial feature in her seaside home renovation, leaving fans divided.

On Monday, the Life Uncut host shared the end result of covering her grand old fireplace in retro tiles that her followers said ‘look like spew.’

Laura and her husband Matty ‘J’ Byrne splashed out $2.19million on a rundown ‘blue chip’ home in Ulladulla, about 230 kilometres south of Sydney last year.

More than 120,000 people have opted in to follow the Bachelor power couple’s renovation @chante.mer.house on Instagram.

When Laura first shared the tiles that she ‘fell in love with’ in September, they proved so divisive that she posted the follow-up: ‘So I take it you don’t like the tiles’.

The simple photo, that showed blush, deep purple, rust, and mustard-coloured tiles  had attracted thousands of fiery comments.

‘As you guys know, the “spew tiles” have been the most controversial part of this reno,’ Laura began in her fireplace reveal video. 

‘But I wanted to do something bold and beautiful and really make it the heart of our home.

‘Here is the great fireplace reveal for everyone who has been following along. The most controversial of all our reno choices.

‘I found these tiles and absolutely fell in love with them, and thought that maybe a green border would be the way to go.’ 

Laura’s intention was to create ‘contrast’ and add to her ’70s inspired ‘retro’ style interiors with the green tile border.

But instead, she and Matt decided ‘to bag’ (plaster) the bottom half of the fireplace and add curved edges so that it matches the rest of the house. 

‘Things started to come together, and so we threw away the green [tiles], we bagged the whole bottom half of the fireplace, and we put in this beautiful soft pink grout to tie it together,’ Laura said.

‘I could not be more happy with how it has turned out. It’s so beautiful and here’s your reminder that it’s okay to do something really fun with your interiors.’

In one camp of opinion, naysayers said the tiles looked ‘a bit like the urine chart at the doctors’, ‘will not age well’ and are ‘pretty terrible’ as well as ‘DISGUSTING.’ 

In the other, some design fans said they adored the colours and encouraged Laura to ‘go with her instinct’. 

Somewhere in-between the two were the more polite critics who said they didn’t like the design, but that Laura should do what she wants with her house. 

However, feedback on the fireplace reveal has been overwhelmingly positive. 

‘Love that you modernised it but kept the character, choosing to use the tones and colours of the original space,’ one commented.

‘I just love that you have your own unique style and are going for it. It feels like a home that is loved,’ added another. 

‘Glad you kept the layout pretty similar to the original. Appreciate how sympathetic you are to the old girl. Doing a great Reno,’ wrote another fan. 

The ‘soft exaggerated edges of the fireplace’ were deemed ‘so cool and different’ by another supporter.

Many fans praised the decision ‘to not include the green tiles’, saying that it ‘saved’ Laura’s vision. 

‘She’s quirky and I love it! Matches the vibe of the house,’ a follower wrote.

Laura and Matt recently hit the ‘halfway’ milestone of renovating the two-storey oceanfront property that was was last sold in 1984 for $62,500.

The reality TV stars turned entrepreneurs expanded their multi-million property portfolio by purchasing the dilapidated oceanfront home last October.

The locale holds special meaning for the happy couple, as they tied the knot in 2022 at nearby Cupitts Estate Winery.