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The Block star Rachel Carr reveals her surprising interior styling obsession and her clever white furniture hack

By Rachael Gavin|

Rachel Carr and her husband Ryan became familiar faces as contestants on the 2022 season of The Block.

The pair ended up earning a profit of $169,000.85 when their house was just one of three homes to sell at arguably the show's most dramatic auction in years.

While Ryan looked after the room layouts, Rachel took on the interior design and styling, turning their Gisborne property into a stunning contemporary lodge home.

After wowing us with her flair for creating cosy, welcoming interiors on The Block, Rachel will now be sharing her tips and tricks for all things home and living as a contributor for 9Honey Living.

READ MORE: ?Rachel and Ryan open up about their future plans and next big project after The Block 2022

Rachel and Ryan The Block 2022
Rachel and Ryan's house sold after being passed in at The Block auctions. (Nine)

It's a chance for Rachel to share more of her skills than we saw on the show, including a passion we never knew she had: designing tablescapes.

Yep, Rachel's secret obsession จC which her family is treated to at even the most casual of get-togethers จC is creating a full table setting with all the trimmings.

"If I'm having a dinner party or I'm having friends over or even if it's for a barbecue, I have to have actual linen napkins, I have to have salad servers, it all has to be themed," she told 9Honey Living.?

Rachel and Ryan Living and Dining Week 7 Room Reveal The Block 2022
Rachel styled this table on The Block. (Nine)

"So I've stocked up, I've got a collection of that now and I'll mix and match and that's probably what I spend my most money on. Ryan's like 'If I see another pair of salad serversกญ' because tablescapes are my Achilles' heel.

"We'll have family over for a very casual Sunday barbecue and I've done a theme and there's a full tablescape and there's lemons as place card holders. It's ridiculous but I love it, I'm a real fiend for it. I just think it's fun."

Rachel Carr The Block 2022
Rachel Carr was a contestant on The Block 2022 and is now a 9Honey Living contributor. (Supplied)

Rachel is also a big fan of cushions and throws because she loves a cosy vibe in the home. In fact, she's all about creating a space that makes her feel happy and relaxed, which is why her own house has a Mediterranean/coastal vibe.

"You know the feeling you get when you're on holiday? I want to feel like that in my own house," she explained.

Of course that means lots of white, which a lot of people can shy away from จC especially when they have kids, because of how easily white furniture and homewares get dirty.

READ MORE: Rachel and Ryan on finally getting a win with their living and dining room by staying true to their vision?

With three children aged five and under, Rachel knows the risks of white interiors but she's got it quite literally covered with a handy hack.

"All my cushions, my dining chairs and everything is fabric and I can remove all the covers and wash them very simply," she said.

One thing Block fans will remember about Rachel and Ryan is how focused they were on creating a feel and a layout that flowed right throughout the house. That meant they ended up with one of the most consistent houses on The Block this year, and it's because of a lesson the couple learnt renovating their own home.

READ MORE:? How to bring a touch of The Hamptons into your home

The Block 2022 family reunion photos rachel and ryan
Rachel and Ryan with two of their three children Everleigh and Mila. (Nine)

When Rachel and Ryan moved in they started transforming their ensuite into a Santorini boutique hotel-esque space, but later on did their family bathroom in a more coastal style.

"Some people don't like a flow, some people like all the rooms to be completely different. I like a flow in my house and wish I had married them up a little more," she said.

"But luckily I can change certain things out to connect them more, I can change things out like pendants and soft furnishings like towels to make it flow."

The last big renovation Rachel and Ryan did to their home was their pool area, where they added a cabana. Next on the cards is to redo the study and some DIY projects, which hopefully you'll read all about here soon.

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