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Former The Block stars Carlene and Michael Duffy at home in Tallebudgera, where house prices have quadrupled over the past decade. Pictures: Adam Head.
When Michael and Carlene Duffy bought their forever home 17 years ago, it was a fire-ravaged mess they never imagined would be worth what it is today.
The home renovating, interior design couple and TV hosts made famous by The Block chose Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast to put down their roots — and haven’t looked back.
Carlene and Michael Duffy at their home in Tallebudgera, which they purchased in 2009 and have completely rebuilt. Pictures: Adam Head.
Inside the home of Michael and Carlene Duffy in Tallebudgera. Image: Mindy Cooke.
New figures from PropTrack show the Tallebudgera area has recorded extraordinary house price growth over the past decade of around 270 per cent — almost quadrupling values. It’s one of the strongest growth suburbs in Queensland in the last 10 years.
“To be honest, I don’t follow real estate and I’m never that one who’s super interested in sales in the area,” Ms Duffy said.
“As soon as i drove into the area — especially into the street — it just felt like home to me.
“I just wanted to be in the trees. It feels removed, but not that removed because you’re still only 10 minutes from the beach, and close to Palm Beach, Burleigh and Currumbin.”
Inside the home of Michael and Carlene Duffy in Tallebudgera. Image: Mindy Cooke.
She said the couple never intended to sell because they knew the renovation would be a long-term project and they bought for the lifestyle — not for capital gain.
“Anyone super money motivated would have just finished it, sold it, and moved on to the next project, but I’m more lifestyle motivated. I’d just be buying back in to the same market anyway.”
But the couple really took a punt on the original property, which had been on the market for a year before they decided to give it a new lease on life.
“It wasn’t appealing because the work required within the foundations meant that someone would need to spend a lot of money on bulldozing it or a lot of money fitting it out,” Ms Duffy said. “We chose the latter.”
Michael and Carlene Duffy could not have picked a better location to build their dream home. Pictures: Adam Head
And, the renovation is still ongoing, but it has come a long way from the original 1970s rundown brick house they first laid eyes on.
The Duffys first graced Australian screens in 2014 on The Block Glasshouse. They were tipped to win, but famously ended up coming last, taking home just $10,000.
Carlene now runs her own interior design studio called Carlene Duffy Studio and is a host on Open Homes Australia, while Michael is a commercial pilot for QantasLink. three quarters of an acre
Now a three-level, U-shaped residence, their property sits on 3000 sqm and is separated into two distinct wings, connected by a glass-lined breezeway.
The main residence has five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, but there is an attached self-contained space with a bedroom and bathroom that is perfect for visitors or extended family.
The hero of the home is the kitchen, where an island takes centre stage thanks to a round dining table nestled inside it, with a booth seat on one side that encourages guests to gather around.
The Block Glasshouse contestants Carlene and Michael Duffy in 2014. Picture: Mike Batterham.
There’s also an office, a games room, a rumpus room, and a media room, accessible via an indoor staircase wrapped around a tree planted indoors.
Michael and Carlene’s children, Stella, 15, and Paddy, 17, were given their own large bedrooms and a light-filled master suite was added to the back of the home, offering views to the bush and creek.
The Duffys’ renovation spirit is not only confined to homes, with the pair having also flipped two campervans.
But they don’t currently have any other personal projects on the go.
“I would love to get stuck into another personal project, but at the moment, we’ve got our hands full,” Ms Duffy said.
“Michael started laying the crazy pave in the games room and it’s just stalled, and will probably be like that for a few months more because we have busy lives!
“I furnished the place eight years ago and I haven’t touched it since. I’m not someone who changes up their house a lot and maybe that’s because I do it every day for others.
“Flipping also feels less appealing these days because I’m not sure the returns are there.”
But she did recently buy a commercial building in Burleigh Heads for Carlene Duffy Studio that she will soon be renovating.