Wattyl and Caesarstone have collaborated once again to help take the guesswork and mystery out of choosing a successful colour/finishes scheme when planning a new kitchen, bathroom or living space. Launched in 2019, the concept has been used by literally thousands of consumers when planning renovations and new builds.
Wattyl’s Confetti Shower and Tipi, Caesarstone Calacatta Maximus and Polytec Ligurian
In this latest, Perfect Pairings 3, eight palettes have been created by professional designers and colour experts, illustrating how the latest Caesarstone surfaces, Wattyl paints and Polytec cabinetry can be beautifully paired to create a particular look or ambience.
For the first time, three of the palettes focus on outdoor settings, showcasing Caesarstone’s new collection of UV and water-resistant outdoor quartz surfaces alongside Wattyl’s latest colour offerings in its Solagard exterior paint.
Wattyl’s After and Earth Child, Caesarstone Midday and Polytec Prime Oak and Empire Oak
Reflecting current design and colour trends, the pairings incorporate everything from raw neutrals and a splendid sun-kissed amber to more saturated lush greens and a calming Mediterranean blue.
Wattyl’s Winter Mushroom, Gretna and Smoked Jade, Caesarstone Arabetto and Polytec Plantation Ash and Verdelho
The aim of Perfect Pairings 3 is to provide an informative and inspirational guide to the many homeowners looking to update their interiors with confidence and flair.
You’ve seen the renovation TV shows – fixing up an old property to look fabulous looks relatively straightforward and fun, right? It can be, if you approach the project in the right way and avoid the many pitfalls. I’ve renovated many houses, and made plenty of mistakes, so here are my top 10 tips to avoid a renovation full of regret.
Location, location, location
It doesn’t matter how much potential your fixer-upper has, the one thing you won’t be able to bash into shape is the location. As with any other purchase, the location has to be your starting point, then work backwards. It’s very easy to get starry-eyed about the property itself, but if the location is a dud, you won’t get the result you’re looking for.
It’s a phrase you hear a lot but buying a renovation project with solid foundations is absolutely crucial. Unless you really are starting from scratch, the subfloor and the roof have to be in good condition because those are the most expensive things to fix. People say you should buy the worst house in the best street, but I don’t actually agree with that. It could be the worst house for a good reason; maybe there is something seriously wrong with the bones, or it has a floor plan which may be impossible to fix.
Get the full picture
Some people don’t bother to organise reports if they’re planning to renovate, but make sure you organise a building and pest inspection at a minimum – and do not rely on the one provided by the vendor! Also, get an independent plumber and electrician to take a look and give you some realistic advice around your plans.
Factor in things like difficult access at the property you are going to buy. If tradies are going to have problems getting in and out of the property, they may add a bit more to the quote for the inconvenience. If you are planning to buy a terrace (where everything has to go in and out of the door) or if there is no parking, then your costs may climb.
Spy on the neighbours
Okay, maybe don’t literally spy on them, but they are the experts in terms of what works and what doesn’t, as they will have already done the hard work. So, look at some recent sales of similar properties and see what the floorplans are like. Maybe they thought of something that you didn’t. This is also a great way to ensure you don’t overcapitalise on a property. Do you really need that fourth bathroom, or can you perhaps spend your money more wisely?
You’ve seen the renovation shows and project managing everything yourself doesn’t seem that hard. Bad news: real-life can’t be edited to look like a walk in the park! The renovation is going to take over your life, so you’re about to embark on a steep and expensive learning curve. It’s worth thinking about getting a project manager in from the get-go.
Don’t dream too big
If you’re faced with two properties, and one has the right floorplan but is in worse condition, I’d probably go with that one. Having the vision to shift the kitchen from one end of the house to the other is one thing, doing it is a whole different headache.
Investigate local development applications
All councils operate differently, so it’s well worth digging into the local development applications to see what has been given the green light and what’s been refused. You don’t want to see your dreams in tatters at the hands of the council.
Taste is subjective, of course, but if you’re planning to flip your property and are a fan of yellow tiles and purple walls, you’re going to minimise the appeal to any potential buyers coming through the door. Make it easy for people to fall in love with the place.
Bolster the budget
Lastly, I would strongly advise factoring in an extra 10 to 20 percent of your estimate, as costs always get out of control. Little costs here and there quickly add up, and you need to be ready for it. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s said, ‘My renovation came in way under budget’.
Analysis by all you can read magazine subscription app Readly has found that, based on what we are reading, Aussies love rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into renovations and the garden. We’re making, crafting, and learning to DIY! The stats show that there has been a 242% increase in the readership of the home and renovation magazine category. That’s huge!
With spring in the air, this is only set to increase as we will be pulling up our sleeves and getting stuck into our homes a little more.
So, what can we start thinking about this spring? We have rounded up some advice from the experts.
For our gardens:
Tammy Huynh, horticulturist and owner of Leaf an Impression says that if you have been thinking of starting a veggie patch, now is the time to do it. Here are her tips:
You will need at least 6-to-8 hours of sun (depending on what you’re growing) and access to a garden bed or pots. If your soil is hard to dig, it’s likely to be made up of a lot of clay. You can help ‘soften’ the soil by adding soil conditioners like compost, aged manure, blood and bone, and gypsum. If it’s too difficult to dig, consider a raised garden bed and fill with a good quality mix from your nursery.
For most parts of the country, now is the time to sow: tomatoes, beans, eggplants, zucchinis, chillies, sweetcorn, silverbeet, squash, leafy greens like lettuce, rocket, spinach, bok choy, endive and herbs. Always check plant labels, especially on seed packets, to understand when to plant in your area. Just because you can buy tomato seeds in winter, it does not mean you should sow them!
To maximise your harvest, ensure you prepare the soil well beforehand. This includes adding organic matter like compost or aged manures. My go-to is always homemade compost and handfuls of dynamic lifter (which is made up of composted chook manure). Fork all the ingredients into soil and blend in well. Sow seeds or plant seedlings, ensuring there is sufficient spacing between plants, otherwise this will cause problems with air flow and sunlight later down the track. As plants are growing, feed with a liquid fertiliser specially formulated for veggies.
For leafy greens, you can start harvesting quite early. Always remove the outer leaves first and take a handful at a time. Pick fruiting veggies (tomatoes, zucchinis, beans) when ripe, otherwise pests, birds, or other critters will quite happily help themselves. To help extend your harvest, sow successive seeds or seedlings, but only grow as much as you will eat, otherwise you end up wasting food and precious resources.
Veggies are growing plants, so they also need to be watered quite regularly, especially during the hotter months. Watering early in the morning is ideal, as the plants take up the water before it evaporates. You can also mulch plants with lucerne or sugar cane mulch, which will help conserve soil moisture.
For our clutter:
Jo Carmichael, from All Sorted Out, gets you started on this with four easy steps:
The wardrobe: It’s best to start with our own wardrobe and clothing edit first, before moving onto rifling through the kids or partner’s things. Move seasonal items, heavy jackets, sweaters, and wintery boots up to the top shelf. Bring down the summer items – placing them within easy reach.
The entrance or Mudroom: Store and remove the items which have been left here the last few months. Maybe the numerous rain jackets could be rotated out, and the straw hats could hang ready for sunny days outside. A fresh pump pack of sunscreen to match the hand sanitiser should now be stationed here. Tidy the shoe basket – are there old sneakers here no longer worn, that could be tossed? A decluttered entrance ready for spring is just what you need.
Pet paraphernalia: Dogs, cats and other beloved animals certainly come with their fair share of equipment. Now is a good time to check their blankets, bedding, where the food is stored ensuring it all smells fresh and looks welcoming. Glance at the leads, brushes, and toys – maybe the worn out ones could be replaced!
The pantry: With Covid-19 we have all been working and cooking from home more than usual. The hot weather can affect the freshness of some pantry items. Get the condiments, sauces and spices out of the pantry, check they are still fresh, wipe bottles and lids clean if in good order, or toss – making a note on the shopping list of what needs replenishing. Wipe the pantry shelf clean before returning the items.
Freshening up the interior of our home:
Jane Thomson, interior designer, says, “With naughty Covid still impinging on our lives, we’re spending more time in our abodes. Now more than ever, we are bound to make our surroundings as yummy and as nurturing as possible.”
Here are Jane’s insights into kitchen makeovers that won’t cost the earth:
Obviously the easiest way to refresh your kitchen is to paint your existing cupboards and drawers. Painting gives maximum impact and is inexpensive. These days there are so many products available from your local Bunnings or hardware store to transform surfaces, in order for you to prepare the surfaces and paint over most door and drawer materials.
Changing your kitchen handles is super easy and takes no time. Look for brands that have gorgeous accent handles and some practical door and drawer pulls. A personal brand favourite of mine is LO & CO.
Re-tiling your splashback is also one of the easiest and inexpensive ways of zjooshing your look. Mosaics, subway tiles, stone tiles all look amazing. Alternatively, use tile paint, which is one of the cheapest ways to reinvigorate your tired look.
Adding a humble pendant or pendants to an island bench can also change the overall look of your kitchen. Some cheeky concealed lighting to the underside of your top kitchen cabinets also looks amazing. Lighting is everything.
Another way to zjoosh your kitchen look is to remove a door from your top cupboards and replace with open shelving. Style with plants, cookbooks, and artwork that can sit easily on a shelf.
New faucets or mixers also add a quick and easy way to freshen your look, especially brass and black fittings.
If you have a little extra budget in the kitty, you could also look at installing a new benchtop.
Jane also points out that when you’re looking to freshen up the rest of your home with paint or accessories, the colours of the season are soft whites, greens, coral and peacock blue or green.
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I’m not a massive believer in new years’ resolutions – mostly because I’m a firm advocate of regular goal-setting, all year round. And nowhere do my goals feature more prominently than when it comes to my property and renovation projects. A renovation can be such a colossal task but I always like to keep three very important tips in mind when setting goals around them. Remember, there is always time to set a goal or create a target – if you aim for nothing, you’ll get nowhere.
Tip one: Align your goals – I always make sure that whatever goal I am setting is aligned with my overall strategy. I don’t like goals that are based around say, the latest trend or publication. I like to make sure that all of my goals are perfectly aligned with the strategy that I’m using to govern my entire renovation business.
Tip two: Set a time frame – I always make sure that my goals are time bound. Not only do I ensure that my renovation goals are practical and relatively achievable, but I make sure that they’re set within a time period that’s going to push me a little. Remember, if you’re feeling comfortable and inside your comfort zone then you’re not pushing yourself hard enough!
Tip three: Make your goals actionable – I always try to make sure that my goals are broken down into bite-sized, achievable pieces. I often find that when people are starting out, they can be a little unrealistic when it comes to what is attainable. Often you’ll see people who want to renovate seven properties in just the first six months, keeping half and flipping the other half! That’s an amazing goal to have but it can often be too overwhelming, too big and scary to digest!
For example, if you’re just starting out, or even if you’re an experienced renovator but you want to refresh or revise your strategy, I like to break my goals down into smaller ones. You may decide that in the first few weeks you’re going to work on finding your patch before figuring out who the best real estate agents are in the area. And then maybe by the end of the second month (after becoming an expert in that space!) you’ll know what properties are worth in the area, what is selling and what the market’s expectations are.
You can also see that by breaking your goals down, you may actually achieve a big, audacious one within a three or six-month period, by taking it one small step at a time. In addition, setting small goals also allows you to see what you’ve achieved which will give you much more motivation going forward.
When you’re renovating your home yourself, it can be a time-consuming and costly endeavour. However, these costs don’t stop at your bank account. A major renovation can also take its toll on you and compromise your family’s sanity. Read on for four tips that can help you survive the process without going completely crazy.
Use a shipping container for storage
If you moved into your new home using a shipping container, this can be an ideal place to store your belongings throughout the renovation process. Rather than squeezing that extra sofa into your guest bedroom, you can store it in the container, where it is out of your way. There is already going to be enough chaos in your home with the renovation, so there is no need to make it worse with excess clutter. This extra storage also has the added bonus of keeping your belongings protected from the dust and debris that the renovation can create.
You can also rent or buy shipping containers to extend your house and create a pretty cool looking outdoor room or a special man-shed to keep the males of the house happy.
Send the kids to grandma’s house
If you have children, try to arrange for them to stay elsewhere during the renovations, with family members or close friends. The chaos and disorder of the renovation can be highly stressful and confusing for children, especially younger ones. Not to mention the potential hazards brought about by a DIY job.
These can include exposed wiring, uncovered nails and power tools lying around. If you are constantly worried about your child’s safety, you will not be able to focus on getting the work done, and the whole project can end up taking even longer than expected. To be on the safe side, it is wiser to just have the kids stay somewhere else where they will be out of harm’s way and they’ll probably have a much better time being spoiled by Grandma and Grandad anyway!
Create a plan before you start
You’ll probably begin your renovation project with tons of drive and motivation, thinking you can get it done in just a week or so. However, as the project drags on and unexpected delays pop up, your attention span dwindles and your motivation wanes.
Every day your project sits there unfinished is another day you have to live in an incomplete, disorganised home. To help combat this, develop a clear plan for how you will complete the project. Create a schedule or to-do list for each day and force yourself to stick to it. Pretend you’re on The Block if you have to!
Not only will this help you to stay on track and get the renovation completed in a timely manner, it also gives you a light at the end of the tunnel. It can be highly motivating to check items off your list each day so you can clearly see the progress you are making. Knowing that there is an official end in sight can give you the extra push you need to see the project through to completion.
Designate an area in your home as a construction-free zone
Renovating can upset your life in many ways, so it is important that you have an escape from all the chaos. Choose an area of your home that will be your sanctuary. Keep it as neat and clutter-free as possible, because the last thing you want is to leave one messy room for another. Resist the urge to store items from the room under renovation in this area (remember the first tip about your shipping container). Your construction-free zone should be your escape, so try to make it as comfortable and relaxing as possible. When you’re feeling overly stressed, this small respite can be just what you need to find the drive to finish the renovation.
No matter what you do, a renovation will be challenging both physically and emotionally, but the above tips can help you weather the storm. Whenever you feel like you are lacking in motivation, just imagine the finished project and how much better your life will be once it is done. This can give you the motivation needed to finish the renovation and get on with your life in your new home.
Author Bio: This article was written by Clive Smith the interstate removals general manager for Budget Self Pack Containers.
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