Tag: renos

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Before & Afters Design Expert Tips Real Renos RENO ADDICT Styling

Real Reno: Three Birds Renovations share House 4 in every detail

Before

By Lana Taylor

House 4 is done and dusted and to take you on the journey, I’ve got some obligatory B&As (before and afters) along with some Q&As that I pose to myself and then answer myself #slightlyawkward #multitasking.

BACKYARD

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Did we keep anything from the original backyard? The existing concrete porch proved a god-send as we anchored a new deck off it and then painted it and the deck the same colour to make it look like one large alfresco space.

Is that timber decking? No. In all our previous renos we’ve built timber decks (as you do) but at this house we branched out into fibre-cement decking called HardieDeck. It has the strength and durability of concrete (and is fire-proof), but with the smooth look and feel of a modern boat deck. And the best part is you can paint it any colour you want.

Who doesn’t love a privacy screen? Nobody, that’s who! A privacy screen offers so many benefits: 1) it hides you from your neighbours and vice versa 2) it helps create the feeling of an outdoor room and, if built used Scyon wall cladding, it can become an architectural feature of the house. PS – we are slightly obsessed with Scyon walls so you’ll start to see them popping up in many more of our renos.

Why did we remove the upstairs balcony? The rickety wooden balcony was both unattractive and structurally unstable. Rebuilding it would have been costly and only worthwhile if it had provided our future homeowners with a nice vista to look out on. Given that this one looked straight over the back fence into all the neighbouring houses (no thanks) we decided to scrap it altogether!

Best budget buy outside? We saved some cash with our external servery. We bought solid timber benches from our local hardware store and had our builder cut and install them.

MASTER SUITE

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Is that a clad wall behind the bed? Yes – and would you believe me if I told you it is the SAME Scyon wall cladding from the outdoor privacy screen? Who would have thought it could translate so well inside!? #bonnieknew

Where’s the wardrobe? Behind the wall, behind the bed. We love a walk-around robe almost more than a walk-in version.

Where is that gorgeous painting from hanging above the bed? This stunning artwork is called ‘We are Sole’ by artist Danielle Cross.

Which tiles did we use in the ensuite? All the tiles came from Amber. We used 600×600 Statuario Grey Polished Porcelain on the walls for a touch of marble style luxury and charcoal Durastone Herringbone 25×50 on the floor. The seafoam subways (Spanish handmade Menta) were our favourite and kick-started Bonnie’s love affair with this lightest shade of green.

What if people don’t want an open ensuite? We love an open ensuite but recognise we might not be in the majority. For those who prefer the privacy of a closed-in ensuite, this design can easily be adapted by installing two cavity slider doors in each nib wall.

FORMAL LIVING ROOM

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Is it the same room? Yes …. and no 😉  The before shot is of one of the rooms, but we removed the wall between it and another bedroom to turn the space into one large formal lounge with separate tapas bar.

Did I just say tapas bar? Every Aussie home needs a tapas bar, right!? Well maybe not, but we couldn’t resist in this reno. The formal lounge room was big so it worked to create two zones in the one space. 

Why didn’t we keep the yellow walls? I know this is the question on everyone’s lips but we opted instead for our fave white, Snow Drop by Taubmans. 

Our budget buy in this room? To save money we used cheap-as-chips IKEA sheer curtains ($12 for two).

Most practical decision? We learnt from House 3 that it’s best to separate your living spaces, so that one is truly an escape from the other. This was a challenge with the floor plan, but we solved it easily by adding French doors that can section off this zone from the rest of the house.

So that was Part 1 of the journey through the transformation. Next month we’ll share Part 2, which will showcase the kitchen, living and dining, along with the unlikely hero of the house –the stairwell.

–Lana Taylor is one third of Three Birds Renovations alongside Bonnie Hindmarsh and Erin Cayless, and one of our Resident Experts. The best friends and busy mums walked away from their corporate careers in pursuit of a more fulfilling life. They created Three Birds Renovations – a boutique renovation company where they buy, renovate and sell suburban homes. Their ultimate ambition is to build a life they love, hoping to inspire others to do the same.

Read all Three Birds Renovations’ posts.

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Five quick-fix renos to boost your property price

Need to sell your property, fast? If you only have a couple of weeks until open inspection, these reno ideas will make a big difference to the sale price.

Describing a property as a ‘renovator’s delight’ no longer has the romantic overtones it once did. If you need to sell your place quickly, hiring a property stylist who can highlight areas of interest for buyers with well-chosen, well-placed furniture and accessories, as well as good lighting is the best value for money.

But if you have a fortnight up your sleeve before open home and want to make some changes, here are five quick renovations you can make if you don’t have time for a full upgrade.

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  1. Paint

A fresh coat of paint can liven up a property and even help to highlight some of its features. But a paint job isn’t just a matter of making the walls and ceiling look new, it should also be used to neutralise the look of the property as that helps the stylist add value.

Buyers want to see themselves in the place and you’re more likely to attract them if you give them a blank canvas for their vision rather than keeping that bright purple in the bedroom, funky as it may have been at the time it was painted.

Time required: Depends on the size of the property, how many coats and whether you want to do it yourself or hire professionals, but anywhere from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks.

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Image source: Pinterest

  1. Replace, don’t renovate

Even a quick kitchen and bathroom renovation can take up to eight weeks so if you only have two weeks to play with, what should you do? Identify what looks the most dated and seek to replace parts and resurface fixtures rather than do a complete renovation.

Instead of gutting the kitchen, this might mean spray painting a tired looking splashback. In the bathroom, spraying tiles and resurfacing the bath or shower recess can make a huge difference.

In both places, replacing old tap fittings can instantly make sinks look newer, and while you’re doing the changeover you can also fix any minor leaks. Also consider replacing the handles to pantry cupboards, cutlery drawers and vanity compartments.

Time required: A few hours to a couple of days.

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  1. A grand entrance

Make a great first impression by focusing your efforts on the entrance to your home. Clean and tidy the entrance by removing debris, fixing the wobbly step and giving it a lick of paint. If you have greenery leading up to the house, landscape it.

Time required: A few hours to a day.

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  1. Opening doors

Speaking of entrances, doors can make a big impact so make sure they open and shut smoothly, without creaking, and the surfaces are free from scratches and dents.

Consider replacing the doors completely if they look dated, shabby or cheap. For the cost of a few quality doors you can transform your property significantly.

Time required: If you have the replacement doors ready, a day.

  1. Floor them

Worn, stained or wonky floors are highly noticeable, ruining the look of the property. You might be able to get away with a rug or a floor runner but if you can’t and need to replace the carpet or add floating floor boards, do it before your open home to make the place fresh from the ground up.

Time required: Professionals can replace the floors of a two-bedder in around 1-2 days. It’ll take longer for bigger properties or if you want to DIY.

Renovations don’t need to be big time-consuming projects. There are always little things that can make a big difference to the sales price of a property if you’re short on time.

Mark Foy is one of our resident experts and a director of Belle Property Surry Hills in Sydney.

Read all Mark’s articles. Got a question for Mark?

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RENO ADDICT The Block

Caro and Kingi share forever home reno with Interiors Addict

The public loved them on The Block, and since winning a substantial chunk of cash on the reality show in November, Caro and Kingi are now able to plough on with the renovation of their own “worst house on the best street” home in Townsville, QLD. Luckily for you, they’re going to be sharing their reno journey exclusively with Interiors Addict. Stay tuned for their updates every Monday!

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The couple hope to transform their 1970s red brick veneer house into a forever home for their family in six-to-nine months. “We have a little bit more experience now after The Block that’s for sure! But before the show we had little experience,” Caro says.

“We’re still not sure how much we’re going to spend, believe it or not! Since I am known for being the budget queen on The Block, I know we won’t be going over our budget once we set it! But also, it is our forever home so we are willing to spend a little bit on this house to make it exactly what we want. We will splurge on the areas that are important to us as a family and then be tight on areas that aren’t, I think that’s the key to any renovation.”

Kingi and Caro wait nervously for their auction results on The Block. Image via :news.com.au. Click for details
Kingi and Caro wait nervously for their auction results on The Block. Image via news.com.au. Click for details

The couple had their eye on this house for about nine months and it was passed in at auction with no bidders. “They finally accepted our offer and the house was ours. This house has such great bones. It’s massive structurally and that’s what we were looking for; something that has the potential to be a big family home without having to extend it too much or raise it to make it double story. It has beautiful hard wood timber floors which were like love a first sight.There are also stunning double-hung windows, which are so rare these days, and the bedrooms are huge, which is just what we were looking for.”

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On the down side, there is no air con, no wardrobes, no storage, two kitchens (“I know, what the?”) and sliding doors everywhere! “None of the fans work and living in Townsville it is like a sauna! But this house is in the perfect location. It’s the worst house in the best street, quiet and just 4kms to the beach and Townsville CBD. This house ticked all the boxes to turn it into our new family home.”

The biggest structural change they’re planning is extending one whole side of the house and turning the extension into their new kitchen. They’re also allowing for two living areas (one where the current kitchen is) and raising the roof to let some natural air flow through. “This house is very hot and wasn’t designed very well back in 1970. The heat it holds is just unbearable!”

Caro joked the biggest challenge will be not getting a divorce! “I think any couple that can survive renovations without killing each should be applauded!”

Her advice for would-be renovators is to plan, plan and plan some more. “Do one area at a time, don’t think about the whole house if you are doing a complete renovation. You will get overwhelmed and it will become very stressful. Take on one area at a time and finish that area before moving onto the next.”

Read Caro and Kingi’s first reno instalment on Monday!

Check out Caro and Kingi’s website or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

 

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Bathrooms DIY Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

How to save money on your bathroom reno with Baz DuBois

Our resident expert Baz DuBois shares his best advice. Don’t forget to contact us if you have a question for Baz!

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Don’t move the plumbing

A lot of people advise not moving plumbing to save money, particularly the drainage. That’s fine if the bathroom has a design and layout that suits you and or your family. If I am renovating a bathroom, I expect that it’s an investment that will be enjoyed over at least 10 years, so I do think the planning and layout is very important. The cost of changing the plumbing may not be that significant in the context of how it could improve the space and how long you’ll get out of the reno.

Planning

Once you’re happy with your brief, start with really broad strokes on paper and again don’t focus on detail or aesthetics at this stage. This is more about how you will move through and around the space. It was Louis Sullivan who first coined the phrase “Form ever follows function”. This simply means if all the functional aspects you require are met, the style and architectural beauty of the space will develop naturally.

Less is best

The less you replace the less it will cost. When you’re looking to do a bathroom makeover on a budget, be sure you don’t replace items and fixtures that still have good integrity. So often newbie renovators’ first step is to start demolishing. After the first day of hard labour and huge mess, you have removed walls and floor tiles, a bath and toilet that had years of life left in them but simply were not your style or colour choice. Before you spend big money on a full bathroom renovation, think about a mini low-cost refresh.

DIY

f you are happy to leave the plumbing fixtures (toilet, bath, shower etc) in the same place, there is a lot you can do on your own to really transform your bathroom. Let’s start by removing everything that doesn’t require a tradesman to replace and you can simply go to your local hardware store and get them off the shelf: toilet seat, shower screen, vanity, taps (yes you don’t have to be a tradesman to replace taps ad soap holders etc!

Look or style

If you’re looking to get another five years out of a bathroom that has integrity but you hate the look of it or the home’s for sale and it needs a refresh, there are some great quick-fix products on the market. You could consider painting the tiles with specialist paint or carefully removing the silicone around the bath and in all junctions and re-grouting the existing tiles. This will not only give a nice refreshed look, it will add years to the life of the bathroom. I recently had a bathroom that had been tiled to the ceiling with a white tile in a brick pattern with a terracotta feature about three-quarters of the way up. It was a very eighties look! I re-grouted the walls up to the feature with a product from Davco which only needs 1mm of existing grout removed and you simply skim the new polymer-based product over the top. I choose black but there are about 10 different colours. I then masked up the feature tiles and painted them with a tile paint in white to match the existing tiles. Lastly, from the feature up to the ceiling, I went for a very light mint and simply covered the junction between walls and ceiling with a timber scotia and painted that in white with the ceiling (which was dark). The bathroom now has a vintage or French chalet feel.

Vanities and storage

Some of the vanities you can buy off the shelf blow me away. When I think back 20 years, the choice of vanities was very limited and to go custom cost a fortune. But as good as the off the shelf stuff goes, I love getting an old chest of draws or a side table, giving it a revamp or paint finish and combining that with an off the shelf basin. It means you have something unique and cool. You may need a plumber to finish it off, but that would be the case either way.

Trades and critical path

Depending on your skill set you will need tradies for some or all of the work to be carried out. Whether your input is a little or a lot, you will save money by making sure you have a tight and achievable critical path. This is a document that sets out who will be doing what, in what order and how long it will take. The way I prepare my critical path is to carry out or build the reno on paper, i.e:

  • Demolition and remove shower screen tiles etc
  • Plumber turn off plumbing and remove taps and plumbing fixtures
  • Install new powerpoints
  • Patch walls
  • Waterproofing
  • Tiler
  • Painter.

The important part here is not what you know, although that helps, it’s more about starting this document so when you’re getting quotes on the work you can’t do yourself, you ask that tradie how long will your job take and what needs to be done before that trade starts? The more information you can get before you start, the smoother the reno will be. And we all know time is money.

The most fun I have had in a bathroom

I once renovated a studio apartment in Potts Point which had an oversized bathroom (a common mistake in small apartments). I knocked down all the bathroom walls and left the toliet where it was. Originally the shower was in the bath which ran perpendicular to the toilet. I removed the bath and used the plumbing for a new shower. To block the view of these two spaces from full view of the apartment, I positioned an armoire with the doors facing the main room. Inside the armoire on one side, I installed a vanity basin and on the other, shelves for storage. It was a very unique space. I gained an extra 2.5 metres squared for for the living area (10%) and all the potential buyers went nuts for it.

The biggest mistakes I have seen

If I have seen it and said it once, I have seen it and said it a thousand times: nothing will drain the life and personality out of a space quicker than ill-considered lighting.

Last but not least, have fun, draw it 100 times before you lift a hammer and remember, every big job is just a bunch of small jobs added together!

Read all Baz’s articles