Author: Jodie Bowker

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RENO ADDICT The Block

The Block auction results 2021

For those just after the important stuff from last night’s 2021 Block auctions, here we go:

1st: Mitch and Mark

2nd: Josh and Luke

3rd: Tanya and Vito

4th: Kirsty and Jesse

5th: Ronnie and Georgia

Image via 9now

So yes, probably not what many expected and just goes to show, as ever, that it doesn’t really matter who the favourites are or how they behaved on the show, anything can happen on auction night and it did! Not to take away from Mitch and Mark though, who my money was on to win (them or Kirsty and Jesse anyway!). They deserved it.

Last night’s (always!) much-anticipated auction episode kicked off with Josh and Luke dropping Tanya right in it over the cheating scandal (all as guilty as each other really but it was her who took that photo of the production schedule and then pretended she’d been sent it by a tradie). Off to a gripping start!

Then came the reserves ($3.5m for everyone except Kirsty and Jesse who got $4.2m!). Everyone felt deflated and Ronnie and Georgia (in tears) changed their strategy, which would have put Kirsty and Jesse first and themselves second. After more consideration and discussion with their agent, in light of the high reserves, Ronnie and Georgia decided to pitch themselves first. Sadly, it ended up putting them at a disadvantage and they came last.

Pic via Ronnie & Georgia’s Instagram

The contestants got together and discussed walking away over the too-high reserves as a point of principal. Meanwhile Scotty spoke to the powers that be and he and Shelley revealed the reserves were going to be reduced by $100k each. Ronnie and Georgia stuck with their second plan to put their house first at auction, followed by houses 2, 3, 4 and 5 in that order.

Here’s what went down…

House 1: Ronnie and Georgia: $3.4m reserve

Bids opened at $3m and ended at $3,696,000; a profit of $296k for the couple. This gave them a very surprising last place.

House 2: Mitch and Mark: $3.4m reserve

It was bought by Block regular Danny Wallis, an IT entrepreneur (and his extremely annoying bidding, I might add!) for $4,044,444 giving them a profit of $644,444 and first place (plus a bonus $100k for winning). I loved watching their emotion and utter shock as the bids went up and up and how they felt bad to have beaten their friends Ronnie and Georgia. BLESS! Well done boys!

Image via 9now

House 3: Tanya and Vito: $3.4m reserve

With their $3.4m reserve, they sold (also to Danny Wallis) for $3.8m. A profit of 400k and beating Ronnie and Georgia who were, until then, in second place. I’ve got to say, I was surprised! This put them third overall.

House 4: Josh and Luke: $3.4m reserve

Bidding started at $3.2m and kept going! It went for $3,930,000 to Frank Valentic’s client, giving them a $530k profit, second place overall and many tears, Again, BLESS! Got to give it to them, for all their bad attitude towards the judges at times, they pulled off a serious result for rookies! Nobody saw that coming!

House 5: Kirsty and Jesse: $4.1 reserve

Bidding started at $3m (Danny Wallis) and was at $3.7m in less than a minute! And Danny got it in the end for $4,401,523, a profit of $301k for the couple. It was a hard watch and the bids were slow. But they were grateful and happy nonetheless!

Scotty declared Ronnie and Georgia the unsung heroes of the night for going first and giving everyone else the best chance to make money. There’s no doubt they would have made a lot more had they not gone first and it seem a little unfair, but that’s the nature of the game and they took it with good grace!

Until next year, folks!

All our Block coverage

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House Tours Interviews RENO ADDICT Smart Home Styling

Real reno: Breathing fresh life into a dated Sydney terrace

After

There is such thing as too much choice, and when you own a furniture and homewares store and you’re attempting a home renovation, making a decision can be near to impossible. “Being exposed to so much every day made it hard as I’d love something then get sick of it quickly,” explains Andrew Algar, owner of Contents International Design. “So I tried hard to find different, natural finishes that wouldn’t date and would always be beautiful.”

After

Before

A once dated terrace in Sydney’s Bondi Junction, Andrew and his wife Michelle lived in the home for two years before starting work; a considerable time when you find out what they went through. “Whenever it rained, the kitchen was 10cm underwater so we always had kitchen shoes ready at the entrance… and then there was the very old, steep timber staircase that was a hard negotiation sober, let alone at night!”

After

Before

But living in the home for some time did have its benefits, with the couple changing their renovation plans once they got to know the space better. What was going to be an extension with some cosmetic changes instead became a full-blown demolition. “We soon realised most of what was there wasn’t worth building off, so we gutted it, only leaving the façade and side walls.”

After

The major transformation, which saw the attic turn into a third floor complete with bedroom and study, took 11 months, a shock for the first-time renovators. “This was our first house and our first reno so we had no previous experience to compare it to,” says Andrew. “Anyone who’s renovated or done any building understands that the whole process is trying, but it’s all for a good cause and the end result will make all that go away.”

After

Now, with a finished home, it’s difficult to pick a favourite part, though the staircase does get a special mention. “It’s a feature piece that is the centre of the home and links everything together. I am so happy with how it turned out, it was exactly as I’d imagined, just getting there was harder than I thought!”

After

After

Also worthy of note are the attic windows, which ended up being a bargain that transformed the space. “In the attic, we originally had a single dormer window looking out the front. It wasn’t until the place was gutted that I took a ladder up and realised you could see Botany Bay across to Kurnell from there! So we changed the DA and put in a full size dormer window facing the other way.” Paying a small council fee and with the materials already accounted for, the room was completely converted for a low price. “It now has dramatically more space with a view and a heap more light that pours down the open staircase.”

After

The finished product is a character home brought back to life. And in my opinion, new builds can never beat that!

Shop Contents International Design online (or at Sydney’s Moore Park).

For more beautiful homes

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Before & Afters Design DIY House Tours Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT

Real reno: the perfect property flip!

Before: kitchen

It’s always a thrill to see the For Sale sign go up on a home you’ve just finished renovating – especially when you’ve already found your next project. But what do you do when the stars don’t align and you want to buy before you’ve sold?

Before: kitchen
Before: kitchen

After: kitchen
After: kitchen

This is the situation our clients Kirra and Blake found themselves in on the very day their finished renovation went on the market. The couple, who live in the beautiful hinterland in Bogangar in Northern NSW, recently completed a makeover on a home they bought just over four years ago.

Blake, who is a builder, completed the work – an extensive renovation that completely overhauled the original ‘70s house and breathed fresh life into what is now a light and airy family home. The four-bedroom home backs on to nine acres of stunning nature reserve and is a 10-minute walk to Cabarita Beach.

Before: living room
Before: living room

After: living room
After: living room

“Even though we knew we were going to sell the house when it was finished,” says Kirra. “We renovated it exactly the way we wanted it to be for our lifestyle.” The result is bright and breezy – with stylish, simple neutrals such as new bamboo flooring and a fresh, new all-white kitchen – the perfect style for a home in this leafy green setting. Boasting a large wrap-around timber veranda, the finished product has four bedrooms – the main with ensuite, two bathrooms, double garage, oodles of storage (inside and out), a chicken coop, fruit trees, a vege garden … the works!

Before: exterior
Before: exterior

After: exterior
After: exterior

But with the renovation complete, and a new baby on the way, the time had come for the family of three to put the house on the market and shop around for a new project, one that would give them more space and some land of their own. As luck would have it, they found their next dream home immediately. The problem was, their own house had only just gone on the market.

A decision needed to be made! And quickly. “Houses with land attached are pretty scarce where we live,” explains Kirra. “And everyone wants them, so we really didn’t want to miss out, but it’s pretty scary to commit to another mortgage before you sell the house you already have.”

Before: dining
Before: dining room

After: Dining
After: dining room

Kirra and Blake had some options – but were pretty keen to maximise the sale price of the house they had put so much work into and didn’t want to be in the situation of having to accept an inferior offer because they were under financial pressure.

They originally bought the house for $320,000 and with Blake doing all the building work himself, the complete renovation came in at just over $70,000. The couple had put it on the market for offers over $535,000.

Before: bathroom
Before: bathroom

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After: bathroom

In their situation, they had a few options:

  • Take out bridging finance to secure the new home;
  • Put down a deposit on the new house with clauses in the purchase contract to give them an out if theirs did not sell;
  • Withdraw equity from their own home to put down a substantial deposit on the new one; or
  • Just sit tight and hope theirs sold quickly.

After: garden
After: garden

After: garden
After: garden

Given the appeal of their freshly renovated home to young families, and with assurances from their agent it would sell relatively quickly, Kirra and Blake decided to wait it out in the hope it sold before the new one was snapped up by somebody else! And while this was the easiest way to go in terms of organising new loans and so on, it was probably also the one with the most potential for heartache if they missed out.

After: bedroom
After: bedroom

But thankfully for Kirra and Blake, their home sold within a matter of days and they were able to put in an offer for the next house before anyone else. Their story had a happy ending because the home was exceptionally well renovated and was priced to meet the market.

But even when things don’t fall into place as easily as they did for Kirra and Blake, the good news is there are usually ways to secure your next purchase, even if your current property is still on the market. These are detailed here.

It can be a juggling act, but take heart, it can be done!

— Paul is the Director of CVG Finance, a leading brokerage offering financial services across all areas. 

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Before & Afters Design DIY House Tours Outdoor & Exteriors Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: Gold Coast ’70s home in major need of some TLC

Before: Front

Picking up the keys to their new home on a Friday after work, Ashlea Kerr and her husband Nathan wasted no time in starting their reno. “Literally that night we started pulling down daggy blinds and curtains and painting the house,” explains Ashlea. “We had a wedding to go to the next day and we turned up with paint in our hair and all over our hands, but with the biggest smiles on our faces. We were so excited as first time home buyers and renovators!”

Before: Front
Before: Front

After: Front
After: Front

Previously a rental property, the Gold Coast home was in dire need of some TLC. Built in the 1970s, it stood out for all the wrong reasons, thanks to its brown window frames, small patio roof and no garden or fence. However, it had its drawcards, a 3.5 car garage and a pool – so Ashlea decided to look pass the rental look and try to see the potential.

Before: Deck
Before: Rear deck

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After: Rear deck

Buying the home for $377,000 in late 2012, the reno they hoped to complete in one year, blew out to two! Spending $100,000, but doing a lot of the work themselves, they replaced all the floors, doors and windows, built a back deck and fly over roof, completely made over the pool and garden, installed a new kitchen, bathroom and laundry, updated the roof and added new internal fixtures. “We often say that the house although built in the late ’70s is virtually brand new,” says Ashlea. “Everything is new – paint on the walls, new floors, roof, gardens, painted exterior – there is nothing we haven’t touched!”

Before: Pool
Before: Pool

After: Pool
After: Pool

Now valued at $500,000, the couple initially thought they had renovated their forever home, however that was until they caught the renovation bug! “We thought this would be a long-term house for us, but now we would like to purchase elsewhere and do it all over again. We didn’t realise the satisfaction we would get from doing all the hard work ourselves and seeing the changes in the home – it’s great!”

Before: Kitchen
Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen
After: Kitchen

It is for that reason Ashlea is so proud of the kitchen; an area of the home the couple did a great amount of DIY in, and as a result saved a lot of cash. “With our kitchen we went direct to a cabinet-maker and then built the cabinetry ourselves. It was dated lino that is now refreshed with a modern look of Carrara Marble Laminex and white two pac cupboards. We also added a waterfall benchtop to make it look a little grander. It is a small kitchen so we kept the colours light and tried to keep them flowing through the rest of the home. I think we nailed it!”

Before: Bathroom
Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom
After: Bathroom

After: Bathroom
After: Bathroom

However, Ashlea does admit her favourite room is actually the one area she left to the trained professionals! “The bathroom is most definitely my favourite. I could live in there! The tiles and fittings are so gorgeous and it turned out just like I imagined. This is one project we didn’t DIY and left to the professionals and I am glad we did, as a lot of work went into it and we wouldn’t have known where to start.”

Before: Living room
Before: Living room

After: Living room
After: Living room

With two years of work under their belts, the first time renovators have learnt a lot. And their biggest lesson? Be realistic with your timeline! “You have great big expectations that it will be done in no time at all, but you have to still have a life/work balance. There was one point we worked every weekend for three months on our home and at the end of it we were burnt out and exhausted. This was our first year of marriage too – so it was a real test! You have to be realistic and set realistic expectations. A reno is not something you can rush. You don’t want to have to do a project again, you want to do it right the first time.”

For more on Ashlea’s renovating adventures.

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Architecture Bathrooms Before & Afters Design House Tours Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: a dated home’s contemporary overhaul

Featuring patterned carpet, vinyl flooring and dark internal brick walls; the 1980s Perth home was in vital need for a contemporary overhaul!

Before - Kitchen
Before – Kitchen

After - Kitchen
After – Kitchen

With the homeowners employing the help of design studio LAHAUS, Lara Staunton and her team of interior architects had 12 weeks and $250,000 to create an open plan home fit for a young family. “The potential of the house was the large spaces and the opportunity to lighten and brighten the whole home,” explains Lara. “Once renovated the family would benefit from the generous floor area.”

Before - Stairwell
Before – Stairwell

After - Stairwell
After – Stairwell

Renovating the entirety of the interiors, which included a kitchen, three bathrooms, a laundry, floor finishes, windows and sliding doors; the biggest challenge was the lack of natural light. “We had to select the material palette carefully to encourage the natural light to travel through the house and into the spaces,” says Lara. “For this reason the stairwell and slot window, which directly links the interior to the native trees in the exterior, are my favourite parts of the home. The light just pours into this room.”

Before - Kitchen
Before – Kitchen

After - Kitchen
After – Kitchen

Another standout area is the kitchen, which was transformed from a small U-shaped layout. “We completely changed the orientation and built a large kitchen island over three metres long. This has become the heart of the home and caters perfectly for modern living.”

Before - Bathroom
Before – Bathroom

After - Bathroom
After – Bathroom

As a seasoned renovator and designer, Lara was able to save her clients significant cash, with all kitchen and bathroom products receiving trade discounts. However, that’s not the only reason she’d recommend homeowners engage a professional. “It can be easy to lose your way during construction,” explains Lara. “Trades and suppliers can talk people into increasing the scope of work for their own benefit, so it is important to stay grounded and question every decision. By working with a designer or project manager — who is experienced in the renovation field — you can be directed by them and know that you are receiving competitive rates for trades and subcontractors.”

For more on LAHAUS.

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Bathrooms Before & Afters Design DIY House Tours Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: the Hamptons inspired home with a French twist

As first time renovators, Mazzy and Jeff Espiritu had high hopes for their renovation. With the aim to have their whole house completed in just the one year, two years later they’ve only finished the top floor (real renos are nothing like reality shows, are they?!). But what is done, is looking incredible. So we thought we would share with you the open plan kitchen/living/dining space and the main bathroom.

Before: Kitchen
Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen/Dining
After: Kitchen/Dining

“I saw the potential the moment I stepped into the house during home inspection,” says Mazzy. “The house was old but it had a lot of character, and we knew we could work with it to create a Hamptons/French style cottage if we just allocated some renovation money.”

Putting $80,000 into the kitchen and bathroom, these rooms alone have added an estimated $150,000 to the value of the 1950s Thornleigh property. Enlarging both spaces, the bathroom by removing a linen cupboard and the kitchen by removing the surrounding walls to create a shared living/dining space, Mazzy and Jeff did a lot of the work themselves. “We did the styling, layout design, gyprock work, waterproofing, tiling, painting and installed all the appliances/decor that didn’t require trades.”

Before: Bathroom
Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom
After: Bathroom

Unsurprisingly, doing all the handiwork themselves was a huge learning curve and one that led to many a challenge. “In the bathroom we definitely underestimated the difficulty in tiling with 600x600mm porcelain tiles, especially with the walls being uneven. We had to level the walls before putting them on. Also in the kitchen, redesigning it to make it functional, practical and visually appealing was a huge effort. We had so much options, which made it very difficult to choose whilst staying within budget.”

Before: Kitchen/Dining
Before: Kitchen/Dining

After: Kitchen/Dining
After: Kitchen/Dining

However, the challenges were worth it, especially in the kitchen, with the couple favouring the light and bright space. “Knocking down the walls to create an open plan living area has made such a difference. It’s allowed for air and light to flow throughout the top floor. It also caters easily for entertaining people and makes cooking more enjoyable with plenty of room to move around.”

Before: Bedroom
Before: Bedroom

After: Living
After: Living

Still in the process of renovating, Mazzy is very happy with the results thus far, even if she does admit she’s a little traumatised! “Renovating is not for everyone and it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. Just the thought is exhausting. We’re a bit traumatised for now as we’re still trying to get over the current challenges.”

Before: Bathroom
Before: Bathroom

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After: Bathroom

However, if that doesn’t scare you(!) and you decide to take the plunge, Mazzy recommends doing your research and being prepared. “Research, research, research. It’ll build your knowledge and help you make wise decisions before and throughout the renovation process. There is a lot of thought and weighing-up that you should do before going ahead.”

To follow their renovation journey, visit Mazzy’s blog.

For more Real Renos.

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Architecture Before & Afters Design House Tours Outdoor & Exteriors Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: the most enviable indoor/outdoor living space

After

With the impending arrival of baby number three, Amanda Attwood and her husband Jim, were on a tight renovation deadline. Completely a large-scale reno in just four months, the couple transformed their tired and worn Queenslander into an open-plan family friendly home.

After
After

“The house was ripe for renovation,” explains Amanda. “It was in some serious need of an intervention and definitely needed some love!”

Before: Kitchen
Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen
After: Kitchen

With her husband a seasoned builder and owner of Brisbane business, Divine Renovations, the couple were well equipped to take on an extensive project. Changing the internal layout and opening up the back of the home to create an indoor/outdoor living space, the new layout is ideal for their young family. “Opening the kitchen up and using bi-fold windows and doors has created such a lovely aspect and is perfect for the kids,” says Amanda. “I can be cooking dinner and watching them play anywhere in the yard – including the pool. And with the new heated outdoor area, we can also enjoy the space year round.”

Before: Outdoor area
Before: Outdoor area

After: Outdoor Area
After: Outdoor Area

Alongside the outdoor transformation, the kitchen and bathrooms were renovated, a wall was removed between the kitchen and living area and new walls, ceilings and lights were put into all the rooms. “Internally we made some significant layout changes that have made a huge difference to how we use the space. Removing the wall between the kitchen and living room and creating a custom TV/display unit has totally changed the house, and the display unit was also our biggest bargain.”

Before: Living
Before: Living

After: Living
After: Living

With the renovation costing $250,000 and the house being purchased for $445,000 in 2005, a recent bank valuation estimated the Queensland property’s worth to be $1,000,000. Giving them a tidy profit, should they wish to sell.

Before: Backyard
Before: Backyard

After: Backyard
After: Backyard

However, while selling is not on the cards at the moment, there are many lessons Amanda will put into play should she renovate again. “Don’t rush into design decisions. Explore options and ideas rather than making quick or rash decisions. And remember that while renovating can be stressful, it only is if you let it. Accept the challenges and learn to problem solve.”

For more Real Renos.

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Real reno: hoarder’s home to open-plan modern living

When best friends Lana Taylor, Bonnie Hindmarsh and Erin Cayless tired of their corporate careers, they saw it as the perfect opportunity to go into business together.

Friends Bonnie, Lana and Erin made a $155,000 profit on this, their first renovation
Friends Bonnie, Lana and Erin made a $155,000 profit on this, their first renovation

Starting boutique renovations company, Three Birds Renovations, their first project — just finished a few short months ago – saw them take on a challenge so daunting, many veteran renovators would have run a mile!

Before: Master
Before: master bedroom

master after
After: master bedroom

“The house was in terrible condition,” explains Lana. “Every room was filled almost to the roof with rubbish. We even had to guess some of our measurements because we couldn’t get the tape measure across the room. It was extremely dark inside and the front yard was so overgrown that you couldn’t see the house from the street and school kids had to walk out onto the road to get past! One neighbour over the side fence even had the unfortunate view of the same bed sheet hanging on the Hills Hoist for 10 years. Almost daily we would have people honking their horns and stopping their cars to tell us how much they loved what we were doing. It was an unexpected perk!”

Before: Kitchen
Before: kitchen

kitchen after
After: kitchen

Knocking down almost every wall inside the Castle Hill home (in Sydney’s north-west), the end result saw an open-plan design that was light, breezy and modern. Transforming the three separate rooms of kitchen, living and dining into one large space, they also stole centimetres from neighbouring bedrooms to create a luxury master suite. “We knew it was important to create a luxury master suite so we stole space from each of the other bedrooms and the hallway to create a parents’ retreat with ensuite,” says Lana. “This meant moving some walls less than 30 centimetres (which sounds a bit silly) but we were committed to creating the right end result rather than going with the easier or cheaper option.”

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Before: lounge

lounge2 after
After: lounge

lounge after another shot
After: lounge

Taking just six weeks to renovate, every single item in the house was changed, except for the floors. “Underneath all that stuff the floors were original hardwood, so we decided to sand and stain them. They came up beautifully in the end. And through a stroke of good fortune, the roof was in great condition and was already the exact dark grey colour we wanted, so no update was needed there either.”

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Before: facade

After: facade
After: facade

Running the whole project themselves, Lana admits they weren’t on the tools too much! “Our intent is to always book tradies to do the work, but when the budget gets tight, it is tempting to put your hand up to do some of the painting or landscaping. In the end, we laid most of the turf (and when I say we I mean our husbands!).”

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Before: alfresco

After: alfresco
After: alfresco

Having originally bought the property for $808,500, renovating it for $90,000 and selling it 10 weeks later for $1,055,000, they made a gross profit of $155,000: not bad for a two-and-a-half-month turnover! Inspired by their success, they have now completed a second reno — also in Castle Hill — which has just gone on the market. It’s equally, if not more, gorgeous! Check it out here before it gets snapped up.

Follow the girls’ latest projects on Instagram.

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Real reno: beautiful reno done on a tight $25,000 budget

Renovating can be hard work, let alone when you add wedding preparations, working full-time and medical school into the mix. But that was exactly what Christie Papageorgiou and her now-husband Matthew, did.

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Before

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After

“This was our first reno and I’m hoping it wont be our last,” says Christie “Although it definitely was full on! At the same time we were planning our wedding, I was working full-time as an interior designer and Matthew had exams.”

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Before

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After

Taking three months to complete, the couple did most of the work themselves, as a result spending just $25,000. Predominantly a superficial renovation, they gutted the whole home right down to its core, knocked down the kitchen/living room wall and added a small nib wall at the entry.

“Floors, fixtures and wall finishes were all removed, creating a blank canvas. Then we had all new plumbing and electrical work throughout the whole home, as well as a completely new bathroom, kitchen and laundry. The floorplan pretty much stayed the same – though we did swap the dining and lounge areas as the new openings and wall allowed us to do so.”

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Before

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After

Having had minimal work prior to the renovation, the two-bedroom South Australian property was as Christie called it, “stuck in the 80s!” With brown bathroom tiles accompanied by brown glazing to the shower and an indescribable smell, the couple were still able to look past the home’s failings and sees its potential. “Our initial thoughts were that it was quite a dated home – but it did have a really strong core we could work from. However, we did originally buy the unit as an investment property with no plans to renovate. My husband ideally wanted a larger home – but I couldn’t get past the potential of this small space.”

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Before

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Before

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After

While the home had had a couple of upgrades prior to them moving in, demolishing became a bit of a headache thanks to three layers of tiling on the kitchen splashback! “Under the kitchen tiles was a thick layer of awesome bright orange patterned vinyl – a reminder of the 80s. On the plus side, I now know how to use a jack hammer!”

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Before

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After

Alongside the kitchen transformation, Christie marks the biggest change to the home coming as a result of knocking down the kitchen/living room wall and opening up the space. “There was a lack of natural light, hence why we made the decision to create an opening between the kitchen and living space. The feeling of creating something fresh and airy was important to us. We feel our home now has such a peaceful feeling about it, and is definitely a nice place to relax.

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Before

After
After

Having lived in the property for three months, since the completion of the renovation in December, the couple have no plans to sell. Though when they do though, they’ll have a tidy profit to collect. “We have an estimate of approximately a $50,000-to-$80,000 increase in value to the home.”

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Real reno: DIY kitchen inspiration from Perth

Pokey, with no bench space or storage and mice living under the pantry (!), Hayley Kessner knew a good project when she saw one. Married to a builder and an interior designer herself, the dark, dank and uninviting kitchen of her new home in Perth was in dire need of renovation, and she had the perfect team to tackle it: them.

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“100 percent of the kitchen was done ourselves,” explains Hayley. “From the very initial design – my husband Chadd worked out all the structural elements, whilst I took care of the floorplan. We then chose all the materials and finishes together. I really wanted to push the boundaries and do some difficult DIY projects that I had seen floating around the internet, so that I knew they would work before I made any suggestions to clients. Thankfully, we pulled off every idea!”

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Originally a little room with a load bearing wall separating it from the rest of the house, they immediately knocked it down and installed supporting beams in the ceiling. Replacing all the cabinetry, benches, electricals and plumbing, the last stage of the renovation saw the cosmetic makeover begin, which included spraying the lower cabinets in flat black enamel paint, replacing the island benchtop, hand painting the grout and pendants, replacing the cabinetry handles with DIY leather straps and the biggest job of all: creating concrete benchtops.

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“We laid concrete directly over the existing laminate benchtops that ran along the walls of the kitchen,” says Hayley. “We sanded down the laminate then poured concrete over the top. Once it was dry, Chadd sanded down the concrete for a smooth finish — this was the absolute worst part of the entire renovation by far. Because the fronts were off all the doors and drawers, every single thing was covered in dust. We had to wash it all. It was so worth it in the long run though, the concrete brings the most beautiful texture to the space and adds that perfect element of grunge that was needed to tie it into the rest of the house.”

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Now open plan, the kitchen shares the same space as the lounge and dining areas and, as a result, flows on beautifully to the rest of the house. “The house was built in the sixties and definitely has some traditional elements like the Jarrah floors and the decorative cornices. I didn’t want to bring in a highly modern kitchen that would look new and out-of-place. I think what we built fits just right with the look of the rest of the home.”

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Having done all the work themselves, Hayley estimates the cost of the kitchen renovation to be around $10,000. And while there were some big-ticket items, she notes the replacement of the island bench as her most cost-efficient move. “The simplest update was probably swapping out the laminate island bench with a piece of laminated pine we bought from Bunnings. We softened the edges with a sander and rubbed an oak stain on it before sealing it with some food-safe oil. It was $99 for the pine and $11 for the stain, and it makes a huge difference.”

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Home to Hayley, Chadd and their three children (10, eight and three) it was also very important that storage was kept front of mind. “The kitchen now has ample storage, plenty of bench space and looks so good. All the under-bench storage is deep drawers, so nothing gets lost and everything gets used. We also decided to take up some of the dining space by installing a big two-door pantry that is also fitted with open drawers — again making every space accessible. The other key is to get rid of appliances you don’t use. No one really needs a hot dog/milkshake/cake pop maker. We have in our cupboards only what we use all the time.”

For more on Hayley’s projects or to ask her questions about what she did or used here, visit her website.

Photography by Heather Robbins

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Architecture Bathrooms Before & Afters Design House Tours Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: 5-bedroom waterfront Gold Coast home

“When I first saw the house I thought it was hideously ugly,” explains Hayley Little. “It was painted a depressing shade of brown and didn’t feel warm or inviting. But the view was magnificent. We look out onto the Gold Coast Broadwater.”

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Having already undertaken six renovations with her builder husband Terry, Hayley instantly had some ideas on how to freshen up the property; from the big changes of swapping the roof (from curved to pitched) and adding a media room, fifth bedroom and ensuite to the simpler updates of painting inside and out and updating the kitchen. “It was a structural renovation, we didn’t change the existing floorplan very much, just added a few rooms. We did lots of smaller changes like removing the old staircase, re-carpeting, pushing the garage out, renovating two of the bathrooms and laundry, adding some benchtop and storage space to the kitchen and changing the door hardware, tapware and splashback, enclosing the balcony with glass louvres and more!”

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Taking around a year to complete, Hayley marks the paint job as the easiest and most effective update. That, partnered with the changed roofline and the new white cedar shutters throughout the house are her favourite changes to the property. “From the outside, the biggest change would definitely be changing the roofline. Inside I think the paint and new white cedar shutters made a huge difference to the overall vibe of the house.”

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In contrast, Hayley says the hardest job was just working with the parts of the house she didn’t like and the fact she had a budget to stick to! “The hardest thing was working with what was already there. It is so much easier to start from scratch. I also found the budget hard to work within! My husband did so much of the work himself though, so obviously we didn’t pay for labour. But we ended up spending upwards of $250,000.”

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It also wouldn’t be a home reno if there weren’t some unexpected issues to deal with and Hayley had her fair share! “We went on a holiday to the USA during the roof removal, and then when we came home we had to stay at a hotel for a couple of months. We were hoping to move back in but we hadn’t anticipated the weather, it rained constantly for weeks and threw out the timeline dramatically.”

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With Hayley and Terry owning their own building business Caribbean Contractors, they have been renovating together since meeting in 1995, a partnership that they find incredibly rewarding. “We work well together as we both know each other’s strengths and we both know our roles in renovating a house. Basically, I decide on the designs and colours and my husband makes it work structurally and within the budget. It works for us.”

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Before & Afters House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: flipped floorplan works wonders on California bungalow

Buying their 1929 California bungalow in 2002, it took Jennifer French and her husband Ian a whole decade to complete their renovation. But looking at the finished project, it was certainly worth the wait!

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“When we bought, we knew we would renovate but it took us about five years to employ some architects,” explains Jennifer. “They came up with so many things we hadn’t thought about. We were just going to update the kitchen and take out a wall, but they were thinking so much bigger. So it then took us four years to finally decide to do it! I’m married to an accountant so the shock of how much everything cost had to sink in with him!”

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Taking off two fibro 1070s additions and rebuilding in the same area — but with a larger footprint — the three-bed, one-and-a-half-bath home became a four-bed house with four toilets (one ensuite, one bathroom and two powder rooms), a studio, formal and informal living rooms and a dining room.

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The biggest job was definitely the transformation of the kitchen and dining area, creating an open plan living space that had previously been lacking. “We took out the adjoining wall between the kitchen and TV room, and put the kitchen where the old TV room was and the casual dining room where the old kitchen was. We then added another room for the TV room. We really opened up the floor plan, as originally they had all been individual rooms and the kitchen had four walls. Now the kitchen is completely open and goes out onto a covered deck, perfect for entertaining.”

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Situated in the Sydney suburb of Roseville, the original property had standout architraves and skirtings and ornate bedroom ceilings. Jennifer wanted to stay true to the house’s design. “Our brief to the architects was that we wanted the house to look like it had always been in this format; that the additions weren’t just tack-ons. So we matched the architraves and skirting boards to the existing ones, stained the four different types of timber floors the same dark colour and gave all the bedroom ceilings (bar the master) the same ornate design.”

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While the renovation was the result of 10 years of preparation, the actual construction only took seven months (but then another two years to do all the gardens and painting!). Jennifer and Ian did a lot of the labour themselves, painting the whole house inside and out, as well as picking the finishes, fittings and colours. Even so, the whole reno wasn’t cheap, costing around 60% of what they paid for the property. Yet while they have no plans to sell, the current market value is about two and a half times the original purchase price, meaning the project is sure to have been a fine investment.

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Having done multiple personal renovation projects herself, Jennifer also runs her own interior decorating and colour consulting business, Inside Out Colour and Design, where she helps others with their renos.

Have a great real reno to share with us? Submit it for consideration.

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Real renos: the real life version of The Block

With a renovation project so intense it could rival The Block, Rachael Turner gave herself just 12 weeks to transform a dilapidated and unlivable Brisbane house into an enviable family home! And she pulled it off. Big time!

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“It was completely derelict,” explains Rachael. “No one had lived there for two years. In fact it was so unlivable that when we won the house at auction and went to get money off the bank they wouldn’t give us any. The house was too far gone and they wouldn’t lend against it!”

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However, luckily the bank lent her money against the land and Rachael was able to get the plans drawn up and trades organised, all before settlement. With a huge scope of work to complete, day one saw the jobs begin, starting with the re-stuming and leveling of the house, asbestos removal, replacement of the roof and all-new electrics and plumbing. And that wasn’t even half of it! “We definitely gave ourselves a tough challenge by having a 12-week deadline. But we had to stick to budget and obviously the longer you hold a house the more holding costs you’ll have, and we had only factored in the 12 weeks. We had to stick to it.”

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What came next was removing walls, adding structural beams, redoing the kitchen, adding a bathroom (there wasn’t even one before, I’m not joking!), knocking out the back part of the house to put in a deck, and adding a study, laundry, front verandah, footbridge, driveway, carport and garden. So basically, she did a lot!

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With three bedrooms and now one bathroom, Rachael was aiming to spend only 15 percent of the property’s purchase price on the transformation. Unfortunately, that slipped to 25 percent, but for worthwhile reasons. Rachael deciding to spend on some big-ticket items that promised a good return. “Originally, we weren’t going to add a deck out the back or build the front footbridge, but we realised we would get a good return for these items so we decided to spend the extra.”

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Owning the house for less than six months (from late 2012 to early 2013), Rachael put the property on sale as soon as the last piece of turf was laid. Selling after just a couple of days on the market, she made a profit of just under 40 percent, which after renovation and sale costs, came in at just under 20 percent.

Rachael puts her success down to including some special points of difference, believing that you should spend money on the significant areas of your home that get the most use. “In the kitchen for example, we included high-end fittings and fixtures like soft close and full extension joinery. Then in the bathroom we had a dual shower head, heated towel rails and mirrored cabinets. All those little things actually don’t cost too much more, but from a sales perspective they are really worth it.”

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While she’s a big fan of those two rooms, her favourite part of the house would have to be the front portico and footbridge, and while the former was a nightmare to do (she had to get a development application approved) it made for great visual appeal. “I think for resale, they were the best things we did. It made the house accessible and gave it great street presence. The portico is really only four posts and a bit of tin – it’s nothing – but the value it added to the house was immediate.”

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Here’s a closer look at the end result:

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Obsessed with renovating and building, Rachael runs project management business Front Porch Properties. Doing both new builds and renovations, she helps clients in all departments from the initial design, to the construction and landscaping.

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Before & Afters House Tours Kitchens Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: Possum-infested purple kitchen made good!

With its rotting cabinetry, leaking dishwasher and even some resident possums, Nadine Wood’s kitchen was in serious need of renovation! “It was just revolting! I had originally thought we’d live in it for a while, but we ended up renovating it straight away. I always knew the space had potential; it’s got great sunlight and in the neighbouring room (I call it my breakfast room), there’s big east-facing windows.” The space has now become her favourite in the house.

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With the hope to one day knock down and rebuild their 1966 North Turramurra home in Sydney, Nadine created what she calls an affordable and temporary kitchen; replacing all the internals, but putting the new appliances in the same spot as where they originally were. “I didn’t want to go really cheap because there was always the thought in the back of my mind that we might end up living here for 20 years! I didn’t want to spend too much on the fixtures that were permanent to the house, in case we knock it down, but many of the things, like the carcasses, the doors and the handles, could easily be used in a new kitchen.”

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As an interior decorator and organiser, Nadine had all the necessary skills to design the kitchen; sourcing all the appliances and finishes and even building a lot of it herself. “The floors have all been re-polished, the cornices were changed (I had a great carpenter do that) and the upper cupboards were moved so there was an instant sense of space. I designed the kitchen and ordered it through DIY Australia and my husband and I built it and did all the painting. We then got a contact to put in the Caesarstone benches.”

What’s even better is Nadine managed to come in under budget, with the tiles and the blue-grey feature wall her cheapest but most effective quick fixes. “I always thought the splashback tiles would cost more, but they really didn’t and I just love them. I love the colour, it’s made the kitchen go from drab to something a lot nicer. Then the dark wall behind it (Porter’s Paints’ Atlantic), ties everything together beautifully. That’d have to be my favourite.”

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With her current home being her third personal reno project, Nadine is a serial renovator. With a great love of transforming spaces and making them both functional and beautiful, she also offers decorating services through her business, Fresh Focus Design.