Tag: reno

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Design RENO ADDICT

How to create the perfect designer walk-in wardrobe by The Block’s Frank Valentic

Whether you have an abundance of space or an area that requires you to be smart with your storage options, there’s always ways to improve the efficiency and functionality of your walk-in-wardrobe. Here’s some tips from Block buyer’s advocate Frank Valentic to assist you if you’re thinking of renovating and adding a walk in wardrobe to your home, or even just altering your existing space.

Ayden & Jess Walk in Robe
Ayden & Jess’ walk-in wardrobe
  1. Shelving: For anything that’s accessed regularly, shelving is the perfect idea as it’s quick and easy to grab in a hurry. Shelving also allows you to customise the space to suit what you are storing. It’s a great idea to try to ensure your shelving size caters to the item you’re storing so as to not waste any space. Always ensure there is a good variety in size to cover everything from shoes, hats, handbags and folded up items to long dresses, coats and pants. Interchangeable shelving space for this reason is perfect for this type of storage as it allows you to adjust space for the seasons and means it’s not too personally customised and will appeal to buyers if you are planning to sell the property in the future.
  1. Light: This is a room where good lighting is essential, natural light is a great accessory in deciding what to wear but make sure you have good quality blinds that can be closed when the room’s not in use to ensure your clothes don’t fade. A window that can be opened is also ideal for allowing fresh air and circulation in what’s often a small/tight space.
Josh & Charlotte Walk in Robe
Josh & Charlotte’s walk-in wardrobe
  1. Drawers and Dividers: Drawers are essential to put away everyday items like underwear and socks. Segmenting drawers will make your space just that much more efficient and is a great idea for items that can easily become a bit of a mess such as jewellery. Again, adjustable dividers are a great idea to give you the ability to change the size and shape of the space.
  1. Hooks: Don’t waste space on walls and doors, add hooks as they are a great way to get accessories such as jewellery, scarfs and ties out of the way.
  1. Mirrors: A mirror or two is not only essential for this particular space, but they will also make the room appear larger and more spacious.
Tim & Anastacia Walk in Robe
Tim & Anastasia’s walk-in wardrobe
  1. Neutral colours: Sticking to a neutral palette in this space is best to ensure clothes and accessories are clearly visible and it will make it more efficient in selecting items to wear. Lighter colours if you have a small space will also make the area feel larger.
  1. Practical positioning: Give the room a flow effect and order items in the way you would make your selections on a daily basis, for example, position accessories closer to the exit so you can quickly and easily grab them on your way out.

Make sure to keep in mind that while having a large area for a walk in wardrobe is almost every women’s dream, it should not come at the cost of space in your master bedroom or ensuite. Getting your proportions right is vital for a functional home design and could be a costly decision if not balanced well when it comes time to sell your property.

— Frank Valentic, buyers’ advocate judge on The Block and director of Advantage Property Consulting. 

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Get reno ready with an intensive interior design workshop

Renovating can be extremely exciting, but it can also be extremely overwhelming, time-consuming and expensive! So how do you go about creating your dream home, without forking out thousands on an interior designer?

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Introducing the two-day intensive workshop from G.A.B.B.E, where they will teach you everything you need to know about your dream home renovation and have you walk away with interior fixtures and finishes schedules.

What many people don’t realise — and what sees them go over budget — is that when you get a quote off your builder you need to present them with a full documentation package, not just drawings and plans. For builders to quote properly they need schedules and finishes and a full idea of what they need to quote on. Without this you are receiving quotes from builders that don’t actually reflect what you want, ultimately leading to you spending more money than you have!

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Each workshop will only take four people (or four couples), so they’re extremely hands on. They will run every month in G.A.B.B.E’s Melbourne headquarters, with the first this weekend. And there’s still one space left! So hurry!

For more information.

Categories
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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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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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Taubmans’ tips for an Easter weekend paint party

Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint can instantly transform your home, but let’s be honest, there’s a lot more fun ways to spend your time! That being said, if you had some pals to help you out, it’d be whole lot more enjoyable and a whole lot quicker, but how to rope them in?! Taubmans believe they have the answer, having put together a Paint Party Planning 101 how-to-guide. Featuring playful and fun tips, they believe this Easter weekend is the time to invite your friends round, harness their creative spirit, pump up the tunes and make painting fun.

Taubmans Paint Party Planning 101 Infographic
Click here for the larger graphic

Here are some of their Paint Party tips:

  • Stuck on colour? Get inspired by design guru, Shaynna Blaze on Taubmans’ website or digitally colour your room with any Taubmans hue using their Paint Your Own Room tool before you paint for real.
  • Get creative and dial-up the fun by requesting guests come in fancy dress. Their suggestion? Bunny onesies of course. Not a fan of a theme? White tees will do the trick – free reign to get messy.
  • Photobooth your house. Set up a camera tripod and capture the transformation as it unfolds, thrills, spills and all!

As Taubmans colour creative director and brand ambassador, Shaynna has long been a believer of using a colourful lick of paint to inject personality into a room. “While painting can be seen as a daunting task to some, it is actually one of the easiest, most affordable and, most importantly, fun ways to update a room in your home. Coating your room with a beautiful new hue is not only a great way to make a change to your space, it’s also the perfect excuse to get together with your friends and get the job that you’ve been putting off, done and dusted for good.”

And of course it helps if you feed them chocolate (eggs) and provide alcohol too…

For more information.

Categories
Before & Afters Design Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: all-beige home transformed into entertainer’s dream

While veteran decorators, this seven-year-old federation style home in Pakenham, Victoria, marked the first renovation project for Yvonne Wilkins and her husband Ian. Doing much of the work themselves, they transformed a dated interior, which was all beige (and I mean all beige: ceilings, walls, floors, doors, fixtures and fittings!) into a beautiful entertainer’s home.

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“We had the front facade rendered which completely altered the look of our home and we completely revamped the front garden,” explains Yvonne. “Internally, we repainted the entire home with Dulux Antique White; laid Spotted Gum laminate flooring over the old existing terracotta floor tiles; updated the kitchen and installed a 40-metre indoor/outdoor alfresco room.”

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Having originally bought the home in 2012 for $330,000 and selling it in 2014 for $370,000, the whole renovation process cost $20,000, leaving them with a tidy profit of $20,000. “The market was a bit slow at the time,” says Yvonne. “So we would definitely have received a lot more if we had waited for the market to improve. But we just wanted to move again and tackle another project.”

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Before: alfresco
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After: alfresco

With the alfresco room marking the home’s most significant change, it became a hub of activity all year round. Featuring a raked ceiling and aluminum plantation shutters, the room also housed a barbecue area, a hot spot for family get-togethers. At the time believing this would be their forever home, Yvonne and Ian were adamant about not cutting corners.

“We put all our time and effort into bringing this home to the standard that we were happy with as we were deciding to live in it permanently,” explains Yvonne. “But of course once it was all completed, we got itchy feet and we were looking to tackle another project and decided to sell. We are now in the throes of building a new home and looking forward to landscaping, painting, wallpapering and decorating.”

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Also a standout in the home is the kitchen, with the revamp costing only $2,500. “We used a Rust-oleum product in Diamond White to resurface the benchtops; spray painted the Tassie Oak kitchen cupboard doors in an Antique White satin; painted the tiled splashback in a White Knight tile paint and replaced the handles with antique wrought-iron look ones. We also installed two overhead pendant lights above the island bench from Bunnings and matched these lights with the five-tier wrought iron light in the alfresco room.”

Now with one renovation, many decoration projects and even a few new builds under their belt, Yvonne has an abundance of advice for would-be renovators. “Go for it! You not only learn more on the way, but it’s so satisfying to know that you have achieved most of the work yourself. Also make sure that you not only keep to a strict budget, but have a contingency to work to in case you come across any unforeseen surprises, especially in older homes. We were one of the fortunate ones.”

Categories
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.

Categories
Architecture Design Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Knocking down walls: what to consider first, with Joe Snell

Across Australia, the drive is on to unleash our homes’ full potential and lifestyle value. Our renovation radars need to be focused on maximising the space, light and lifestyle appeal of what we already own.

Ask yourself how could a disused or neglected part of my home be made into a beautiful asset? Big-ticket items such as views, garages and pools are no longer the only assets. Rather in a hot property market, every inch counts. Once neglected areas such as side paths, old laundry rooms, tiny courtyards, overgrown yards and boxed in kitchens are now assets ready to be brought to life. In contemporary living terms, this means opening up and refreshing every inch of a space. Nothing has to be too dark, small or cluttered. Rather, emphasise what you already own.

Image: iDesignArch
Image: iDesignArch

One clear path to unleashing a home’s potential is through improving its floor plan. If you’ve ever attended an open for inspection it’s not unusual to hear buyers talking about knocking down a wall. No one wants to buy a place and be limited by a constricted floor plan. Removing walls is a well known strategy for transforming a space thanks to television programs like House Rules, Selling Houses, The Block and Grand Designs showcasing the results.

Knocking down a single wall, or numerous walls, has become a hugely popular solution for creating more light, space and value. Australians are world leaders when it comes to open plan living and there’s a huge premium placed on contemporary design to deliver free flowing spaces where the lounge room, kitchen and ideally, indoors and outdoors, merge.

Image: Tommy Welsh
Image: Tommy Welsh

There are certainly positives to rearranging a home’s floor plan through removing walls. But before you start knocking them down, please remember that when it comes to design, nothing is in isolation, rather it’s all connected.

Consider the following before undergoing your wall removal project:

  1. Acoustics: the more you open up a space, the more it creates echoes and noise problems. There is such a thing as too open when it comes to sound.
  2. Be careful about stripping a space of its character. Traditional buildings such as terraces, semis, cottages and pre-1960s apartments, were designed with separate rooms because privacy and warmth were of major importance compared to today’s premiums on light and space. With a traditional building, consider retaining the feeling of the building’s original spacing by leaving a beam where the wall once stood. Beams can also help give a sense of grace that suits traditional spaces. Sometimes, your mind wants to know that the beams are holding everything up so emotionally you feel safe and secure.
  3. Creating a social home that’s not too hectic. We all love the idea of the social home where the kitchen is at the heart of the action. It’s the place where everyone congregates and therefore it should be located in the best part of your site. In open plan living, the kitchen and lounge room create a feeling of connection rather than isolation. However, consider creating a sense of division somewhere amongst this openness once the wall/walls are removed. Try to create two living areas that give the opportunity for families to handle the complexities of sharing a space. For example, where are the kids going to play Lego where it’s not in the way of the adults? Perhaps consider a half wall, or a flexible solution like a bi-fold, which will give you the right amount of area division so kids have their own play space and aren’t on top of the adults. Then you have the best of both worlds.

At the end of the day, knocking down a wall can be all the difference in terms of space, light and a lovely home, but think very carefully about it, and do your planning, as you want openness but not over exposure.

—Joe Snell is an architect and judge on Channel 7’s House Rules, coming back to our screens soon. Read all articles by Joe.

Categories
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!

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“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!”

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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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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
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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.

Categories
Designers House Rules RENO ADDICT

House Rules 2015 sneak peek video

House Rules judge and Reno Addict resident expert, architect Joe Snell

Hoorah for another home show about to start! I have to admit I only got into House Rules at the end of the last series. I’d decided I just didn’t have enough TV time left to watch it as well as The Block, and Grand Designs and Selling Houses Australia… and all the others!

But I actually really love the concept and think it’s a fresh take on the reality renovation genre. I mean, what better prize in this day and age than having your mortgage paid off?! And I love the emotions involved because the contestants own homes are the ones being made over. It adds a whole extra element to reveal time!

House Rules judge and Reno Addict resident expert, architect Joe Snell
House Rules judge and Reno Addict resident expert, architect Joe Snell. Photo by Jacqui Turk

[contextly_sidebar id=”dYJg2Wj3UkrijqRFzB4tyMIlWTuQssGE”]I’m also a big fan of host Johanna Griggs. she’s just so down to earth and real! I think I’d like to have a coffee and a chat with Joh! And then there’s architect Joe Snell, one of the resident experts on our sister site, Reno Addict. He is so super passionate about good design, it’s contagious, and it’s great to see his TV career taking off.

Hope you enjoy the series preview video above.

We look forward to bringing you more about the Channel 7 show, due to start again soon, in the coming weeks.

Are you a House Rules fan? Which is your favourite reality TV show?

Categories
Before & Afters Design House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT

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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“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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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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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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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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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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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.”

Categories
DIY Kitchens RENO ADDICT Shopping

The package deal that will save you money on your kitchen renovation

Kitchen renovations are by no means cheap, so how can home renovators save as much as possible, without skimping on quality?

reno addict tradelink

One way is through major suppliers, such as Tradelink, who now cater directly to home renovators by creating packages of quality and on trend products for one very competitive and affordable price.

The latest Tradelink exclusive offer is the Abey Project Squareline sink and MK2 Mixmaster tap, plus sink accessories, for $299 (which to purchase individually would cost over $500).

The stainless steel two-bowl sink comes complete with grooved timber cutting board (for convenient chopping of ingredients with high water content) and a colander that fits perfectly into the smaller bowl.

Meanwhile the mixer tap uses just eight litres of water a minute (three-star WELS), has a slender swivel head and is finished in high quality, extremely durable polished chrome.

All Abbey products carry a 25-year warranty. Visit Tradelink for more information.

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Designers Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Interiors Addict TV: renovating tips with The Block’s Scott Cam

Lauren Ellis for Interiors Addict TV

Today, we’re excited to be launching our new, regular video series, Interiors Addict TV. Our first interview is with well-loved Block host Scott Cam.

Scott shares all his top tips for real life renovating outside the unrealistic time constraints, budgets and drama of The Block.

Also introducing the newest member of our team, Lauren Ellis, a television journalist and director of My Picket Fence. When she’s not reporting for Nine’s The Today Show, you’ll find Lauren interviewing Australia’s leading design experts, scouring interior stores for inspiration​​ and renovating her own home, one room at a time. She’s also a student at the International School of Colour and Design.

TV journalist Lauren Ellis is the newest member of the Interiors Addict team
TV journalist Lauren Ellis is the newest member of the Interiors Addict team

Follow Lauren on Instagram at @mypicketfence_

Categories
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?!

Profile shots - Greville Pabst 004 - crop

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.”

frank, greville, nicole interiors addict
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.

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

How to find good tradies. And keep them!

Hands down I owe a huge part of my renovation and house flipping success to a fantastic team of trades. The team has everything from builders, plumber and electricians to surveyors, town planners, property developers, estate agents, stone masons and great suppliers.

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There are loads of mainstream ways to find trades — the net, new apps, advertising etc — and there is naturally an important due diligence process that you must always follow that involves checking licences and insurance before you engage anyone. But today I am going to share with you my more common sense secrets to finding and keeping good trades; the human element, you could say. Unfortunately, people sometimes overlook these points when looking for and working with trades.

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Marty the builder, one of Naomi’s dream team!

Finding them

Ask other trades. If you are already working with a good team and want to add to it, ask the trades you are working with for their recommendations. Like attracts like, so if you like the trades you have, more than likely you will like the trades they enjoy working with too.

Meet with the tradies before you get them on site, offer to meet them on one of their job sites. This will allow you to get a feel for them and also get an idea of how they work. For me it is very simple: if they look me in the eye, shake my hand firmly and can hold a respectful conversation with me about the work they do, then we are off to a good start.

I generally ask them about what jobs they have on at the moment, who is in their team, what their lead times are and specifics about the task that I am keen to have them work on. I also find out who they know in the industry, as cross checking them with other trades is a great way to get honest feedback.

Then… give them a shot. Using a trade once does not mean they are yours forever. On the first job, make sure you communicate extremely well, in multiple mediums. Call them to tell them what you want done, meet them on site to show them and have the instructions and diagrams of what you want done written and stuck on the walls of the job. Then leave them to it. Don’t micromanage them or watch them work! That shows no trust.

Keeping them

This is all about respect, respect for their skill, their trade and most importantly them as people. How you do this really comes down to simple things that apply everywhere in life.

  • When I go on site I great every trade with a handshake and a big hello.
  • If I see someone on site I don’t know, I always introduce myself.
  • If I arrive to site with a coffee, I will always bring drinks for the tradespeople too.
  • Every day I tell them how happy I am with the job (as long as I am).
  • If I am not happy about something, I seek to understand before I seek to be understood.
  • I pay very quickly! Inspect the job as soon as it is complete and then you will be ready to pay as soon as that invoice comes in. I never leave a trade to wait for pay.
  • I get dirty! When required, I join my trades to demo and to clean up.
  • I show and interest in what they do and ask why. Most trades are so keen to share their knowledge they are just waiting for someone to ask.
  • I involve the trades in the project. Feeling part of a team can make all the difference.
  • I plan well. Trades are constantly being asked to do things at the drop of a hat. Be the standout client and book them in as much in advance as you can.

Enjoy your trades! It is so great to be part of a great team of tradespeople and it can be such a joy to be on site with a great team!

Got a question for Naomi or one of our other resident experts? Submit it for consideration here.

What advice would you add to the above?

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Architecture Design RENO ADDICT

Amity and Phil take on their own Block: a new family home

After staring on two series of The Block and winning one of them, Amity Dry and Phil Rankine are well versed in the world of renovation. So when they bought their own Adelaide home last year, it seemed like the natural decision to pick up the sledgehammer and start knocking down walls. That was until their builder had quite the radical idea.

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Amity and Phil

“We bought the house with a reno in mind,” explains Amity. “It wasn’t our dream house but we knew we could make it work because we loved the block, street and location. Yet when our builders, Scott Salisbury Homes, brought back the designs – which were all great – they said to us, ‘We have one more idea, why don’t we knock it all down and start from scratch?’”

A rendering of the front of the house
A rendering of the front of the house

While the idea did prick her interest, Amity was immediately worried, being a fan of character homes rather than their modern counterparts. “I’m not a modern, new house kind of girl. But then I started to think what if we could do my dream house; a Hamptons Queenslander Edwardian weatherboard, and the builders said, ‘We can do whatever you want!’ So I got really excited by that idea and also, as we’ve never built from scratch before, we thought it’d be something fun and new for us.”

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A rendering of the back of the house

With the original house due to be knocked down in two weeks’ time, they are aiming to have the slab laid by April and to be in the home by Christmas. However, since the purchase back in October, they haven’t been sitting on their laurels, with Amity taking a lead role in the designing of the floorplan. Doing copious amounts of research (such as looking at floorplans online, visiting homes she liked and taking and collecting lots of photos), in collaboration with Scott Salisbury Homes, she’s now arrived at the dream family home for them and their two children.

“We wanted to create a home that suits our family now, but also one that will work when our children are teenagers; because that’ll happen in a flash! We’ve focused a lot on the flow from indoors to outdoors, which was something we loved in The Block All-Stars house. We had these bi-fold doors that went all the way across the back of the house and brought the outside in, and even though it was quite small it made it feel so much bigger. So we definitely want to do that here too. We also have a beautiful wraparound veranda at the front, which both my and Phil’s work spaces open up onto. And then there’s a big kitchen with butler’s pantry, which is super exciting!”

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With three bedrooms, two bathrooms and four living spaces — Phil’s study, Amity’s music/formal living room, a playroom and a casual living room — the floorplan can easily shift to five bedrooms plus study, should they decide to sell. “That’s something we learnt on The Block; that you have to make sure your home suits your needs but that it still appeals to a large market. We definitely want to be here for some time, but it’s something you have to consider early on.”

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A rendering of the living room

You can follow Amity and Phil’s progress on their new blog Doing Our Block and catch them on this Thursday’s The Block Open House. Watch this space for further updates on the build too!

Disclosure: Amity and Phil are ambassadors for Scott Salisbury Homes.

Categories
Bedrooms Interviews RENO ADDICT The Block

Undeterred by last night’s Block elimination, Matt wants to be one of Australia’s top interior designers

While Matt and Kim Di Costa may not have made it through last night’s The Block Triple Threat elimination (read all about it here), it’s certainly not dampened Matt’s spirits for the future. With several projects on the horizon and a dream to be one of Australia’s best interior designers, last night’s episode signaled a change in direction, as the newlyweds moved to a more luxe and classy look.

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Matt and Kim. Credit: Channel 9

“In our room we weren’t repeating a look we had done before, we were creating something we were aspiring to,” explains Matt. “I feel in the last couple seasons of The Block, we’ve been seeing a lot of the same stuff. It’s not because the contestants aren’t pushing the boundaries, I think it’s sponsor driven, time issues and a lot of them having fallen into the groove of following what’s really close to on trend. There haven’t been many couples trying to step past that and I think what we did is coming; that kind of luxe injection into contemporary rooms. We hadn’t really seen luxe on The Block before, and we really wanted to show people what is possible on $10,000.”

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Matt and Kim’s The Block Triple Threat bedroom

While they didn’t get the result they were hoping for, they both had a great time, feeling a lot more confident and brave than their first time on 2013’s The Block Sky High. “It was really fun,” says Matt. “We had such a good time. I suppose the first one you’re not as emotionally prepared, but this time we were just excited to come back and try and make history with another room. It was very emotional but we had a ton of fun, which is what The Block should be.”

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While Matt says they had big plans for The Block — had they got through — they have many upcoming projects that will show off their new and more mature side. “We just bought a house in Perth that we’re going to put an extension on and completely redo the interiors. You’ll see a lot of the ideas we would have done on this season of The Block in this house, so we’re really excited about that.”

They also have their own business, Sky High Renders, they’re filming six episodes of Matt & Kim To The Rescue (where they will transform houses in just three days!) and they have a couple of interiors projects on the go, including a cafe. “I want to be one of the best interior designers in Australia,” explains Matt. “It’s a long road, but I think it’s just about picking the right projects. It comes down to study and having the guts to do it. So this year I just hope I have the right projects come to me.”

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.