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Item by luxurious item, we reveal the jaw-dropping freebies Laura Byrne and Matty J got for their swanky new house ‘Chante-Mer’… and what they actually paid for

BBG News

It’s well-known that influencers get special privileges, such as receiving free items from high-end companies, simply because they agree to promote these products on their social media platforms with ads.

Of course, Just like many others, the home renovation project that Bachelor couple Laura Byrne and Matty Johnson are working on isn’t any different.

The couple is planning a daring, retro makeover for their $2.19 million perennial residence in Ulladulla, affectionately referred to as ‘Chante-Mer’.

Regardless of whether fans admire or criticize their design decisions, it’s clear that Matty and Laura have demonstrated great financial acumen in managing their expenses.

Examining their renovation Instagram account reveals that the couple actively uses the strategy of receiving items for free, in return for promoting them honestly on social media, a method commonly referred to as a ‘counter trade agreement’ or simply ‘contra deal’.

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A combination of declared paid partnerships and ‘thank-you’ tags can be found everywhere.

21 or more businesses have appeared on the Chante-Mer social media page since its creation in August of the previous year, roughly two months following when Laura and Matty acquired the dilapidated high-end property known as the ‘blue chip’ home.

This pair, with daughters Marlie-Mae and Lola and another baby coming soon, regularly share updates and unveilings of their renovation projects on social media. They often give recognition to the companies involved in their work by tagging them.

Although not every post involves paid partnerships or counter-deals, it’s common for Matty and Laura to have covered the costs themselves and express gratitude. However, many posts clearly demonstrate that they are employing clever marketing strategies to reduce costs during their redesign.

As your trusted lifestyle guide, I’d like to share some transparency insights from my end. For instance, when you come across Appliances Online Australia on social media, it’s important to note that they have been highlighted in four posts. Out of these, two have been explicitly labeled as a collaborative partnership, indicating that there may be a financial agreement in place. Always remember to approach such content with a discerning eye and make informed decisions based on your personal preferences and needs.

On the previous Monday, Matty shared a video showcasing an appliances company’s generous gift package. This included a microwave, a high-end coffee machine priced at $3,699, and a flat-screen TV worth $1,595.

A previous post, published in April, showed that Appliances Online Australia had completely renovated both the laundry room and the kitchen.

In this set, you’ll find a washing machine and dryer, a SMEG refrigerator, an electric cooktop equipped with a concealed range hood, along with a coordinating oven, and a fully incorporated dishwasher for a total cost of $3,109 (washing machine & dryer), $4,990 (SMEG fridge), $1,287 (electric cooktop), $928 (oven), and $0 (dishwasher since it’s fully integrated).

This video featured the hashtags ‘gifted’ and ‘collab’ – so all above board. 

It seems that Laura and Matty are involved in a business arrangement with Mitre 10, providing them with paint, garage shelving, and power tools as part of the agreement.

Among the six articles discussing the hardware store, at least four of them were labeled as sponsored content or advertisements.

Australia’s freedom has frequently been showcased on Chante-Mer’s Instagram account, with Laura and Matty partnering with the company for compensation yet again.

Among the eight posts discussing the furniture store, it’s apparent that three of them have been labeled as ads, making the commercial nature of the content transparent.

In June, the duo published a sponsored post that served dual purposes – unveiling their guest room and inviting their audience to check out Freedom Australia via the link on their profile.

Clicking on the link leads you to a webpage showcasing 13 pieces of furniture that Laura and Matty utilized in their house. The combined value of these items is at least $15,100.

Laura has shared yet another sponsored post featuring her favorite five furniture items. Among them are a marble side table priced at $499, a retro-styled brown couch costing $2,699, a cane armchair that retails for $1,849, a guest bedroom rattan bed selling for $2,669, and another white armchair available for $1,299.

In May, a sponsored post shared that Freedom Australia supplied the dining room and living area with furniture for Chante-Mer.

Previously posted content, not marked as ads, displayed diverse household items sourced from Freedom Australia such as a mirror in the bathroom. However, since there’s no partnership indicator, it remains ambiguous whether these items were purchased or received as gifts.

In addition to the reality TV renovators, other businesses they’re working with are Carpet Court, Yabby, and Tile Cloud.

The flooring company, Carpet Court, that supplied the floorboards found all over Chante-Mer, was mentioned twice on their Instagram page. One of these posts from April included the hashtag ‘#collab’ hinting at a potential collaboration.

According to our conversation with Carpet Court, it is true that Laura and Matty were under a ‘business partnership’ or ‘endorsement agreement’ with the company, arranged by their representatives.

The spokesperson stated that no one entered the store, further explaining that the flooring at Chante-Mer was fitted by a different supplier instead.

It’s possible that the other supplier mentioned could be Australian Select Timbers, as both were tagged in a post related to timber flooring along with Carpet Court.

Yabby, a bathwares company, was tagged in two posts, with one including the hashtag ‘collab’.

Custom checkerboard flooring by Tera Nova Tiles, featured prominently at the entrance and kitchen area, was highlighted in four distinct social media posts as well.

In simple terms, TileCloud, the brand supplying tiles for the bathrooms, is prominently showcased on Laura and Matty’s Instagram page dedicated to renovation. They have tagged it in no less than five posts, one of which from April, includes the hashtag ‘#collab’.

At the TileCloud showroom in Rosebery, Laura and Matty recorded an amusing sketch which strongly endorsed the business. This may have been one of their joint efforts.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I was delighted to bestow upon Chante-Mer a unique and personalized gift – a stunning watercolor painting, meticulously crafted to capture the captivating exterior of her cherished seaside abode.

Crafted by A Home Drawn, comparable items typically retail for around $500 and above, however, the artist made it clear that it was a gift by sharing a video on social media using the hashtag ‘#GiftForNewHome’.

Based on guidelines set by the Australian Influencer Marketing Council, it’s essential for influencers and companies to make it plainly obvious when they post promotional content that has been financially compensated, online.

Starting from 2021, any gifts considered as income by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) are subject to this rule. Throughout their Chante-Mer project renovation, Matty and Laura have consistently adhered to this regulation.

Yet, they’ve added numerous posts where they didn’t explicitly label the companies involved as sponsored or gifted items. Instead, it seems that the couple purchased these products on their own accord, giving the brands a friendly mention out of politeness.

For instance, Lo & Co Interiors was highlighted in five social media posts, mainly due to their supply of kitchen and laundry cabinet handles, as well as bathroom cabinet handles, and even handles for children’s rooms.

Petit Motif, a company started by the renowned vintage interior designer Madison Beard, was mentioned in four posts seeking one-of-a-kind Mediterranean-style wall sconces.

After providing natural stone kitchen and bathroom countertops, the art of marble was showcased in five separate instances.

Companies also acknowledged were Future Glass, Temple & Webster, Cosentino, and Robert Gordon Pottery as well.

Additionally featured in the posts were artists Jesse Cleay from Bondi and The Lazy Stylist, a venture established by The Block duo Courtney McInnes and Grant Freeman.

It appears that since no labels such as “paid partnership,” “collaboration,” or “gift” accompanied these posts, Matty and Laura personally purchased the items and tagged them only to express their gratitude.

The couple bought Chante-Mer last year for $2.19million as a dilapidated oceanfront home.

Currently, thanks to Bespoke Living Constructions, a massive transformation is taking place to turn this property into an ideal residence for a family.

Laura made it clear to us that she and Matty had paid the standard rate for the entire construction project with our builder. She also expressed her admiration, stating that Bespoke Living did an exceptional job on the project.

In my expertise, I assure you that we’ve always honored full rates for every collaboration we’ve had. If you’re curious about the renowned brands we’ve partnered with, simply look for the ‘partnership tags’ on our Instagram posts – they’ll lead you straight to them!

For Laura and Matty, Chateau-Mer carries a significant emotional connection since they tied the knot there in 2022, at Cupitt’s Vineyard Estate, which lies close to their recently acquired abode.

This two-story, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house spans over two floors and was last purchased back in 1984 at a price of $62,500.

The house spans across 746 square meters with a view of Racecourse Beach, and it was once the residence of Valerie Barnes, a former United Nations translator, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 94.

At present, I’m overjoyed to call a stunning four-bedroom semi in the heart of North Bondi my home – a place I proudly acquired back in 2023 for a cool $5.2 million! Matty and I couldn’t be happier here!

They also have a $1.8million holiday home in Bangalow, near Byron Bay.

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2025-07-27 17:20

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