TV: Episode 15 - Pushing The Envelope

Edgy design is brave, but does it accommodate a practical lifestyle? Lynda Reeves shops for reclaimed architectural pieces, tours a glass and concrete home and an avant-garde pool.

Sometimes you have to move to find out what your friends really think of your house. I remember when I renovated a three storey classic Victorian and made it contemporary. I used all the latest materials, did all kinds of crazy things — really pushed the limits. Then I moved and my friend Blooma said, "I always hated that house. I never knew where I was — it didn't matter what room I was in, I was in the wrong room. It seemed like all you wanted to do was shock me." And she was right. So there's a point: It's fine to do something really outrageous, but it's still your home and it has to be comfortable. So, if you want to be modern, how far can you push the envelope?