Tag: home reno

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Before & Afters Design DIY Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: creating the perfect forever home for a growing family

When Corrie C and her husband John bought their weatherboard bungalow in Victoria’s Bentleigh East, they had grand plans to renovate, but – like many of us –limited funds.

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However, fast forward a year and a half and Corrie, pregnant with daughter number two, decided it was now or never; so together, they went hammer and tongs to finish the reno before the new bub arrived. “We started in April 2014 and finished August 2014,” says Corrie. “Being heavily pregnant, working and juggling a toddler, there were definitely moments of regret during the renovation (usually in the middle of the night when visiting the toilet via a thin plank of wood while we had no floor!) but we’re now over the moon with the results.”

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With John being a plumber – as well as a Jack-of-all-trades – they were lucky enough to do a big chunk of the work themselves, with the help of an excellent carpenter. Renovating the main bathroom, kitchen (to include a butler’s pantry) and laundry, and then adding a bedroom, ensuite and rear deck; the home went from a three bedroom, one bathroom house to a four bedroom, two bathroom, three living area (including an indoor/outdoor living space) property.

With the kitchen and deck being their favourite spaces, they were – and remain to this day – blown away by the transformation. “I love all of it but the kitchen and deck are definite favourites of both John and I. The addition of our rear deck has created a really awesome place for the kids to play, for us to entertain and a great place for my hubby to watch the football/cricket on the flat screen TV!”

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After

While the home did include some bargains, including the deck’s bi-fold doors bought via eBay and the kitchen cabinetry from IKEA, Corrie admits her greatest challenge was sticking to budget. “My biggest learning would be that no matter how tightly you manage your budget there are always blow outs! Inevitably you always end up spending more than planned on things. My advice would be to shop around and always ask for a better price on everything! There is always room to move if someone wants your business.”

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With the renovation costing $100,000, the property, which was purchased for $600,000 in 2010, now has an estimated value of $900,000, not a bad effort for first time renovators! As a result, the couple has most certainly caught the reno bug. However, while they would love to do it again, they are happy to call their newly transformed house, their forever home. “I’m super proud of my hubby for what he achieved with this reno and the blood, sweat and tears (and long nights) he put into making it as beautiful as it is. Above everything, we’ve created a lifestyle that we love with open plan, indoor/outdoor living, space for the girls and a lovely retreat for us in the master bedroom.”

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Architecture RENO ADDICT Shopping

Make a statement with the new Deco interior door range from Corinthian Doors

Doors can often be an overlooked element of a reno, but for most people, they’re the first thing they see when they enter a room. So a good first impression is a must!

ohyk18PRPKPhlqojmPz0KyHFT-i5XeSJ1ckOoFD9XLoCorinthian Doors, Australia’s leading manufacturer of interior doors, has recently launched a contemporary new range, the Deco collection, consisting of 15 routered modern door designs influenced by the international Art Deco design movement.

OvgTNzR4JkiPBumZcyog_Y_ILErZj42kPgRPR3mVk94Using clean simple lines, the interior doors range has been developed to inspire Australian homeowners and renovators to use them as a feature of their interiors scheme. With 15 designs to choose from, Corinthian Doors offer the latest contemporary designs and largest range of routered internal doors in Australia.

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The new Deco door range from Corinthian Doors is available at all good hardware stores. Prices start from $153.

For more information.

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Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to create a designer kitchen for less

As the renovation boom continues to thrive, Australians are reinventing their homes more frequently than ever. Kitchens have been said to sell houses, so spending big on a kitchen renovation can be a worthy investment in the long run.

Copyright Eliot Cohen - Zeitgeist Photographyemail: eliot@zeitgeist.com.au

Therefore the below advice couldn’t have come at a better time, with the professional kitchen designers at The Good Guys sharing their expert advice, on how to get a designer look in the kitchen, for less!

  • Share your budget with a professional designer as they will be able to provide you with helpful and expert advice on getting the most for your dollar.
  • To avoid any changes to your design, select quality finishes that look great but won’t date quickly, and spend as much as you can afford on durable work surfaces. The cost of quality: priceless.
  • Buy appliances through your kitchen company. This will allow you to take advantage of package deals and ensure the delivery of your kitchen happens at the same time.
  • The best bang for your buck in terms of cabinetry comes in the form of a melamine. Alternatively for a fraction more, ask about the satin smooth melamine finish that will give the impression of a high-end kitchen.
  • Kitchen doors are less expensive than drawers and by positioning them correctly, your designer will be able to maximise storage while continuing the vertical and horizontal lines throughout the kitchen for the most streamlined finish.
  • Use the concept of colour blocking to bring a designer edge to your kitchen – by bringing in a contrasting row of coloured or timber grain cabinetry, you instantly add a wow factor.
  • Contrasting benchtops in material, colour or thickness is another trick to achieving a luxe look.
  • New technologies have given life to laminates, and with The Good Guys Kitchen’s European imported range you can achieve a stone or timber look or select from a wide range of colours.

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For more information.

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Architecture Before & Afters Design DIY House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT

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
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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
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After: lounge
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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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RENO ADDICT

New home improvement website makes renovating easier in NSW

Renovators will be able to save time, money and stress, thanks to the new one-stop home improvement shop launched by the NSW Government’s Department of Planning and Environment.

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The new PlanningHub, which is a collection of ePlanning tools, aims to slash red tape. Making it easier to understand whether adding straightforward features to your home needs planning approval, or you can just get straight into it.

So, whether you want to update your bathroom, add another level to your home or build a deck, the PlanningHub will make understanding the complying development options, a lot easier.

For more information.

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Competitions Expert Tips Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Greville Pabst says the next Block auctions will have much happier endings

With the intense time pressure, the late nights and the limited funds, I can’t be the only one who wonders how The Block’s contestants can actually create high-end properties. Especially when you add to the mix that this series they’re renovating in the wealthy suburb of South Yarra… well it truly makes me beg the question: are these townhouses even going to sell?!

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But rather than speculate I decided to go straight to the source and chatted to one of The Block Triple Threat’s newest faces, buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst. “It was my perception at first that buyers may be apprehensive about the quality, but the contestants do go back and fix all the abnormalities. There are really two aspects to The Block, there’s the television reality aspect and then there’s the presentation for marketing and sale. The contestants have a certain amount of time to prepare for reveal but after the feedback is given, they fix any issues.”

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Greville, with buyer’s advocates Nicole and Frank

Greville also believes this series’ auctions will have happier endings than years past, thanks to the properties being so unique (four-level townhouses with double garages and cellars) and the involvement of himself and fellow buyer’s advocates Frank Valentic and Nicole Jacobs. “The contestants are really valuing our feedback and taking it on board. A classic example is in Josh and Charlotte’s bathroom, I walked in and said ‘Where’s the ventilation?’ and Josh immediately took it on board and said ‘Yes, I’m going to put it in!’.”

And Greville should be listened to! With 30 years in the property business, he is the CEO of WBP Property, one of Australia’s largest property valuation companies. He also frequents ABC Radio as a property expert on their Saturday Morning program and for the last eight years, has written a property column in Melbourne’s Herald Sun. Television, however, is a new realm for Greville, and he’s finding out all the tricks of the trade!

“What’s been really interesting is how much footage they take. It normally takes about five hours to shoot just one reveal! They film so much that at the end of the day, none of us know which part they’re going to use. So the fun thing is you get to see how they slice and dice that particular day. It’s been interesting watching it and so far, I’m really happy.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”NSuhGRySgSADHbF8ugjyOufuTd6k5rRO”]Greville is also enjoying the experience for the fact he gets to share his learnings with the public, believing he can help give buyers the right advice when it comes to making such a big investment. As after all, though many of The Block’s rooms are beautiful, one shouldn’t go buying a property based off cushions and pendants!

“I really liked being on the show as we’re giving a different perspective to the interior designer judges. They’re looking at the furnishings and all those other things, but as a buyer’s advocate — in most cases — when you buy a property, all those dressings aren’t included. So while we look at them and see they look nice, they really don’t come into play when we are making a buyer’s decision. Rather, it’s the floor plan, orientation, light, aspect, size and quality of renovation.”

Find all The Block latest here.

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Design DIY RENO ADDICT

Your how-to renovation guide from Block buyer’s advocate Greville Pabst

A well-executed renovation can add considerable value to your property when it comes time to sell it, but home renovations are not for the faint hearted. Renovating your home is a significant undertaking with many things to consider before you’ve even picked up the tools. That’s why we decided to create The WBP Renovator’s Guide to Property, to make all those tough decisions, easy!

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Each property is unique and needs to be judged on its own merits, including its location, style and size. Taking these factors into consideration will help you decide where your money is best spent.

Researching your suburb and understanding the needs of the demographic of the area is critical to determine where to allocate your funds and maximise the value of your property. For example, residents of lower density outer suburbs will be influenced by different features to those living in higher density inner city areas.

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Our guide to renovating property lists increasing a property’s physical floor space by adding bedrooms, an additional bathroom or a modern kitchen as some of the surest ways to add value. These additions do come at an expense though, so buyers need to avoid overcapitalising — costs should not exceed the value added to the property.

Other features that add value to keep in mind are having manicured gardens and building a garage, all of which can add up to $100,000 to a property’s value.

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Before renovating, engage an architect for guidance, source quotes from a local builder and seek property advice to determine market value before and after the proposed renovation. Following these simple guidelines and planning ahead can help save you time and money and significantly maximise the value of your property.

WBP Property Group’s Renovator’s Guide to Property is available here.

— Greville Pabst is the chief executive of WBP Property Group and one of The Block’s new buyer’s advocates.

Categories
Architecture Before & Afters Design Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: single fronted heritage home’s two-storey transformation

Approached by her fiancé’s parents to renovate their home, Trish Gabriel took on her biggest project to date, changing — or improving — every single element of the Albert Park property in Melbourne.

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“This was a full structural renovation,” explains Trish. “Apart from the front facade and part of the existing roof — which due to the heritage listing were retained with cosmetic works — all internal and external material and structural elements are new.”

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With an improved floor plan, the 1930s single-fronted Victorian dockworker’s home went from a two-bedroom, one-bathroom single-storey house, to a three-bedroom, two-bathroom double-story property. Blending Victorian architecture with modern features, the residence is open plan, maximising natural light through skylights and large windows.

“The rooms and the hallway at the front of the house have this Victorian feel with large cornices, decorative arches, ceiling roses, inviting architraves and skirting that frame each of the doors,” says Trish. “However, as you step down into the main space, all features become modern with shadow line cornices, a custom designed staircase made from powder coated metal and European oak and square set/plaster reveal skylight windows.”

Before (Living)
Before (living)
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After
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With the renovation costing approximately $420,000, a large part of the budget went towards the new open plan living space and the second storey, additions Trish is very glad were included. “The biggest change has to be the second storey, which incorporates the master bedroom with integrated joinery, ensuite (with skylight window above the shower) and a large balcony with city glimpses.”

After (second story master bedroom)
After (second storey master bedroom)
After (ensuite)
After (ensuite)

Being involved in all stages of the renovation, from initial design concepts to the selection of fittings, fixtures and joinery, Trish took just over two years to complete the project, with actual construction lasting 11 months. With the property having been bought for $930,000 in 2012, it is now on the market with an estimated selling price of $1.65 million.

After (main bathroom)
After (main bathroom)

Working in the design industry for close to 10 years, this project marks Trish’s first renovation under her own business, design by t, where she aims to create beautiful homes with minimal impact on the environment.

Photography by Axiom Photography

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

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 RENO ADDICT

Ask an Architect: the great online resource for renovators

Home renovations can be hugely daunting. However, you only need to watch an episode of The Block, read one of our amazing real renos or talk to a friend, to realise that there’s really more good renovation stories than bad!

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But where do you start if you’ve decided to renovate your home? One of the best places is Ask An Architect, a website developed by the Australian Institute of Architects. Designed to demystify the renovation process and make architecture something everybody can easily access, they offer sound and affordable advice.

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An unbiased voice of reason, an expert architect can work with you to take the mystery out of what might seem an incredibly complex process. No matter how big or small the renovation, the site will help you balance what’s possible against what’s desired, establish the project budget, offer advice to secure development approvals, help with your selection of builders, look at any issues with quality control and construction, assist with the design and more.

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Some of the most useful features include the detailed Cost Guide to help you budget, the ArchiAdvice and ArchiDesign Pre-Purchase Packages – which offer you a direct line to a qualified architect at competitive prices, a handy online question and answer service, relevant upcoming events, the Find an Architect directory of professional architects, a gallery for inspiration and Pinterest tools to help you start scrapbooking ideas.

Visit Ask an Architect.

Categories
Design DIY RENO ADDICT

Shaynna Blaze’s 7 tips on how to avoid renovation mistakes

Enthusiasm for your DIY projects and renovations is the best attitude to have before beginning any task, but this shouldn’t be at the cost of having a level head. Taking on a project too hastily can often result in costly mistakes. On Selling Houses Australia, I’ve seen the same error made time and time again so I’ve put together my top tips on how to avoid these throughout your next renovation.

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  1. Leave the specialist jobs to the pros

Taking on skills you aren’t trained for is not only risky but also dangerous. Jobs such as plumbing, electrics and construction should never be attempted by anyone other than a qualified professional. If you’re looking to do things like open up a room by knocking down a wall, it’s always important to consult a builder first. A builder will be able to identify if a wall is load-bearing or structural, i.e whether or not it can be knocked down. Not consulting a professional for these major jobs is a mistake many DIYers make, which can result in major damage to your home, turning what would have initially seemed like an easy way to cut costs into unplanned repairs.

  1. Do your research

Google and YouTube have revolutionised the DIY world by showing us what we can achieve ourselves within our homes. It’s important to remember that you won’t always find the right answer from one Google search or by watching a YouTube tutorial. Before starting a task, make sure you research thoroughly and understand what it takes to achieve the best result.

  1. Plan and budget your project

Before you begin any renovation, it’s important to plan out the project and break it up into stages. This will ensure that the project is completed both on time and on budget. Most people have champagne tastes and beer budgets so make sure you do your maths for the entire project and not just the cost per room. Too often I’ve seen walls with no plaster or missing flooring due to a lack of planning that results in DIYers running out of time and/or money to complete the job.

  1. Tackle the project room-by-room

Once you’ve got a plan and budget in place, it’s best to tackle your project room-by-room or stage-by-stage. This will break the job up into easy-to-manage tasks and won’t seem like such a daunting challenge. Also, keep in mind that having a clear design plan to begin with will ensure there is cohesion in the final look, otherwise you could end up with a disjointed disaster.

  1. Preparation is key before painting

Paint can be used to hide a multitude of sins but it can’t hide everything — including cracks and holes. Before you begin any paint job, it’s important to get the preparation right to ensure you get the best result. Filling in holes and sandpapering might seem tedious but if you get it right the first time, you’ll avoid touch-up jobs in the future.

  1. Be budget conscious without going cheap

There is a big misconception that ‘going cheap’ is the only way to be budget conscious. While you’ll always have a budget in mind, which you need to stick to, there are ways of saving money on a project without going for the cheapest of everything. This usually results in using lesser quality products, which need to be replaced or repaired more often, which ends up being a higher cost than if you’d chosen a quality product to begin with.

  1. Create a colourful finish

Once renovations are complete, it’s always nice to polish it off with a healthy dose of colour. Clinical, boring and no personality is certainly not a brief I’ve ever been given by a client and definitely aren’t moods I’d encourage. Before you pick up a brush, it’s important to take your time to choose a paint colour that will complete your look and make you happy with the result. Start off by seeking inspiration for the colour palette you want to create and select tones that will evoke the right mood for you and give your project a great finishing touch – no matter what the room.

– Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.  

Categories
Before & Afters House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT

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.

Categories
Kids Rooms RENO ADDICT

Dark family room tranformed into two fun kids bedrooms

I love a bit of DIY renovation, because what’s more encouraging than seeing everyday people like you and me, transform their homes into masterpieces? It tells me that while I lack a crafty bone in my body, there’s still hope! So I was very impressed to see Adelaide couple Katie Vagg and Ben Spry’s renovation project that converted an old, dark family room into two bright and fun modern kids bedrooms.

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After: Tayla’s bedroom
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After: Mason’s bedroom

Built in 1965, their home had all the beautiful mid-century features they loved — a stone fireplace, architectural corner windows, polished wooden floors — but their was one catch: they were one bedroom short.

With three children between them aged five, nine and 10, Katie and Ben dreamed of creating a room for each of them. So after deliberating over the floor plan they finally found a way, deciding to divide a family room into two functional bedrooms.

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Before: family room
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Before: family room

As a graphic designer, Katie’s experience in home and architectural design had been limited to paper, but with Ben being a production manager and quite the handyman, they had the confidence to tackle their project head on. The final result is two bedrooms full of personality; one for 10-year-old Mason, which features bold primary colours, teen furnishings and a long chalkboard wall, and the other for nine-year-old Tayla, which features a study nook, a built-in robe and a colour palette inspired by gelato and lollies.

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After: Mason’s bedroom

With a successful renovation under their belts, Katie and Ben share five renovation tips, which they wish they had known before:

  1. In the design and planning stage, make sure you know exactly what you want. Think about layout and the correct scale and measuring.
  2. Inspiration is very important and you need to visualise what you want to create. A Pinterest board is a great way to collect ideas.
  3. Budget is key, always allow a contingency for unexpected costs.
  4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it can be a great time saver in the long run.
  5. Make sure you are using the right tools, selecting the wrong equipment can cost a lot of time.
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After: Tayla’s bedroom

Katie and Ben were awarded the first Gyprock HomeStyle ‘Share your Style’ prize for this project. The competition celebrated the 2013 launch of HomeStyle magazine and invited renovators to showcase their home via Pinterest for a chance to win a share of $6,000 in prizes.