Tag: three birds renovations

The 5 kitchen design elements Three Birds Renovations swear by

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date September 14, 2021
No Comments on The 5 kitchen design elements Three Birds Renovations swear by

Bonnie, Lana and Erin are Three Birds Renovations, the serial renovators who transform suburban Aussie houses into stunning family dream homes. Their fresh take on modern living manages to be both practical and magazine-worthy with their latest project, House 14, the first of its kind for the design trio.

Dubbed “Three Birds Dream Home”, House 14 brings together all the best design features from the Three Birds most loved homes, offering a breezy, open floorplan ultimate family home, perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining – and it’s available as an exclusive knockdown rebuild package with Rawson Homes.

And the heart of the home is the kitchen. Here, the renovation trio share their trademark five kitchen design elements, for you to replicate at home.

1. Open plan layout

The main reason we love open plan living is the fact that it brings everyone together. Don’t shut the kitchen away in a room of its own, instead merge it with the dining and living room, for one collaborative airy and open space. Whether you’re big on entertaining, or it’s just for your own family, we’re busier than ever these days and an open plan layout causes people to congregate in one space. The key to make it workable is to create distinct zones for different activities within the space.

2. Island bench

A great place for friends and family to congregate, the kitchen island is a Three Birds signature, a family mecca for homework, dinner prep and a wine after work. What makes it stand out is the curved design and custom cabinetry. We also love a dishwasher that can be integrated into the island bench and the Electrolux Built-Under Dishwasher with MyTime comes with an inverter system that means it’s ultra-quiet so it won’t disturb your post-dinner TV watching. Just add barstools and statement pendant lighting.

3. Butler’s pantry

A Butler’s Pantry, or BP in Three Birds shorthand is great as a place for meal prep and hiding mess so that the main kitchen remains inviting. In House 14 we added a butler’s pantry to increase the kitchen storage space and to have a separate area in which to prep meals and keep the small appliances, without cluttering the benchtops in the main kitchen.

4. Open to the outdoors

Us lucky duck Australians love indoor/outdoor living and we love an easy flow from the outdoor entertaining area to the kitchen, so that the chef is part of the entertaining action. In House 14 this meant doors opening directly from the kitchen onto the patio.

5. Great design and functionality

Make your kitchen a space that looks great and functions well, so that you want to be in it. When we’re designing our kitchens we always position the dishwasher next to the sink for easy loading and the cutlery and crockery drawers are close by for easy emptying. Plus, we love custom cabinetry as it gives you all the freedom to choose your desired layout, profile and colours, while ensuring your appliances fit perfectly into the space. In House 14 it allowed us space for family favourite the big 609L capacity Electrolux French door fridge.

The big kitchen reveal

Photography by Jacqui Turk I am so excited to finally share my new kitchen with you today! Seeing these beautiful pictures makes the last two months of mess and chaos…

My new navy and gold laundry revealed: before and after

Our kitchen was the very first room we renovated in this house, almost four years ago. It was a case of “I’m not buying the house unless we can afford…

Tags butlers pantry, kitchen, kitchen appliances, kitchen design, kitchens, three birds renovations

House Tours

Three Birds Renovations: an amazing staycation home built for entertaining

Post author By Caoimhe Hanrahan-Lawrence
Post date April 28, 2021
No Comments on Three Birds Renovations: an amazing staycation home built for entertaining

Bonnie, Lana, and Erin of Three Birds Renovations have revealed the kitchen and laundry of their latest home renovation. Get your margaritas and resort-wear ready, House 13 is an incredible holiday-at-home staycation.

Building the home from the ground up, the kitchen features crisp, white tones, with spacious, open-plan marble benches, giving the home a truly luxurious feel.

Electrolux Flexibridge Induction Cooktop and 501L Stainless Steel Refrigerator

Three Birds co-founder and director Erin Cayless says: “We think the kitchen should be the hub of the home. It’s where families gather to eat, drink and chat, so we love to design kitchens that are enjoyable to use.”

With plenty of room for kids, House 13 is an impressive space for entertaining whilst maintaining the functional aspects of the house. In the kitchen, the placement of the stovetop within the island bench was an important decision when considering the flow of the kitchen. Owners can interact with guests when cooking and entertaining, or keep an eye on the kids doing homework or playing outside while preparing dinner.

Electrolux 10kg Front Load Washer and 9kg Heat Pump Dryer

The laundry is also an important area for the homeowners – the days of the humble home laundry are over. With two washers and dryers, plenty of natural light and a door to outside, making it a functional and beautiful space, it’s the perfect example of why more laundry space is always better.

Electrolux 681L French Door Fridge and Vintec 198 Bottle Wine Cabinet

House 13 also features a very generously sized pool house. It is decked out with all the amenities and appliances you could possibly need, along with a Three Birds Renovations favourite, a European laundry tucked behind louvred doors.

Images provided by Electrolux.

For more information.

Three Birds Renovations: dated cottage to curvacious family home

Utilising space, championing storage, and building a home fit to last are vital elements to consider for families looking to renovate and modernise their homes. These factors were key when…

Three Birds Renovations: laundry design essentials

No matter the size of your laundry, no matter your reno budget, here are the hard and fast rules for a successful laundry refurb. From where to locate the laundry if…

Tags electrolux, pool house, staycation, three birds renovations

Architecture Design Designers House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT Shopping

Three Birds Renovations: dated cottage to curvacious family home

Post author By Skye Viviers
Post date November 11, 2020
No Comments on Three Birds Renovations: dated cottage to curvacious family home

Utilising space, championing storage, and building a home fit to last are vital elements to consider for families looking to renovate and modernise their homes. These factors were key when the Three Birds undertook a renovation for two of their followers, Cath and Sarah, and their sons, Chaise and Addison, in their latest project, “Contemporary Cottage”.

Situated in the historic town of Windsor NSW, this cottage hosted features that were slightly outdated and didn’t offer the much-needed space for a family whose two boys were growing. Finding ways to open up the internal rooms and make the most of the space within the existing footprint of the home by rethinking spaces and adding interesting niches and secret storage, Erin, Bonnie and Lana were able to transform this tight home into a spacious family retreat.

One of the standout ways they created more space was through the clever use of curves that can instantly enhance the flow of different rooms, while still defining the different spaces. As the home already had quite a lot of original curved features, such as corner walls in the corridor, it made sense to pay respect to the more fluid and softer style and embrace it in their new design.

To modernise the living area and reveal the space’s full potential, the decision was made to knock down the wall extending the living room space into a dining area “We’re massive fans of open-plan living for families and in a home of this size, removing a wall to increase living space makes a world of difference,” says Erin.

“Once this wall was down, the rest of the changes were cosmetic. This is the perfect example of a cosmetic reno and what can be done on a smaller, more achievable scale with less budget but big impact,” Erin adds.

To differentiate between the two rooms without losing that sense of flow, an arch wall was incorporated using Gyprock Flexible plasterboard. “We’re really happy with how these rooms turned out,” says Lana. “The lounge room is my favourite room in the whole house. The arched wall beautifully frames the dining area and automatically injects versatility into the property. The space is now multi-functional, offering rooms to entertain or relax.”

Space saving and storage was a special request from homeowners Cath and Sarah, so inclusions such as multi-purpose seating were a no brainer for the designer trio. Underneath the curved arch wall, they built a large double-sided bench seat which offered not only additional seating for both rooms but also provided plenty of storage room inside.

To marry the curved style throughout the house, the bathroom features include a rounded mirror, shower screen and stunning recessed arch. Perfect for extra storage and display space, recesses are great if there is the wall cavity space to fit them in.

“In the master ensuite, we created a curved recess shelving unit using Gyprock Flexible and finished with a Talostone engineered stone benchtop, delivering a high-end look that also provides a gorgeous nook for special pieces,” says Bonnie.

An important element they needed to tackle in the renovation was noise reduction. The cottage is located on a busy commuter road, up from a Royal Australian Air Force base. Couple this with two young children who love to play, and a solution for better acoustics and blocking out external noise was required.

Gyprock Superchek plasterboard was selected as the interior wall lining due to its sound resistant qualities, to reduce both the noise coming from outside and the noise transmission between the rooms inside the house.

This renovation shows how rethinking your floor plan and using creative design to open up rooms can really change the way you live in your house, and allows your home to grow as your family does.

For more on Gyprock solutions

Three Birds Renovations’ dirty blush office makeover

Sponsored by Intrim Has there ever been a better time for a bit of home office inspo? The Three Birds Renovations team recently made over their office, and although they’re…

From beach shack to ultimate seaside pad with Three Birds

The holiday home of Bonnie Hindmarsh was once a humble beach shack in Pearl Bay on the NSW Central Coast. But then, Bonnie’s life changed. With best friends Erin Cayless and…

Three Birds Renovations: laundry design essentials

No matter the size of your laundry, no matter your reno budget, here are the hard and fast rules for a successful laundry refurb. From where to locate the laundry if…

Tags reno, renovating, renovation, three birds renovations

DIY Expert Tips Shopping Styling

Three Birds Renovations’ dirty blush office makeover

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 16, 2020
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Barn doors Australia: Where to buy & different looks

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 10, 2020
23 Comments on Barn doors Australia: Where to buy & different looks

Get our FREE eBook: 10 tips to fall back in love with your home

This post was updated in February 2023.

There’s no denying it, barns door are in! They are all over Pinterest and the one featured in my own kitchen got a lot of comments. It may seem a bit adventurous to include one in your home, but they can easily be understated and on-trend, plus they’re ideal when you’re working with limited space! Below are some of our favourites.

One of the most popular places to buy barn doors and hardware these days is good old Bunnings! They stock a variety of brands like Corinthian and Hume with a great range of designs in solid timber, timber veneer or primed and ready to paint MDF. Bear in mind they’re usually special order items so expect to wait three to four weeks. Prices start from $289.

They also sell the black barn door hardware I used in my own kitchen which sells for just $232. I’m really happy with it, four years on.

Fancy something a little more custom? Check out Brisbane’s Billygoat Barn Doors, who have built quite the reputation on Instagram!

Barndoor Outlet: Based in Melbourne, Barn Door Outlet is an affordable online barn door and hardware specialist. Products range from pinewood barn doors, white barn doors, grey barn doors, DIY barn doors, hardware, locks and they also offer customisation.

Barndoor Outlet Australia — Barndoor Outlet barn doors work well on this mud room

Aubarndoor: Another Aussie barn door and hardware specialist, Aubarndoor offer a wide variety of stylish options including fishbone and metal framed glass door designs. The range also includes a variety of hardware finishes including white, stainless and black and they offer doors and hardware that supports a by-pass system too.

Ideal Barn Doors: Supplying a range of classic timber barn doors, they all come ready to be stained or painted so you can keep your options open. Also stocking hardware, the wide range includes everything from stainless steel and matte black to the more wacky designs of an anchor, guitar and axe! I am particularly in love with their black steel and glass iteration. Gorgeous!

Reeded glass barn door — Ideal Barn Doors also offer this on-trend reeded glass barn door

Obviously much more practical than us, blogger Katrina Chambers recently showed how easy it is to DIY an affordable barn door in your home. We think it looks fab!

Catering to popular demand, Doors Plus also exclusively stock the Glengary range of solid Ash barn doors.

These Safeglass doors from Doors Plus allow light to shine through

Prestige Barn Doors: This unique range includes barn doors made from reclaimed timber as well as Aztec and Chevron inspired designs. The company also produces souble or triple sliding barn doors that run along two or more tracks (see below), passing in front of and behind each other. Each door requires its own rolling door hardware kit with two hangers on each end of each panel.

Barn doors don’t have to be expensive, despite the impressive statement they make. Our carpenter achieved our look by covering the wall and a very plain and affordable oversized door with Easycraft’s popular EasyVJ wall panelling then painted it all in the same colour.

We love that the barn door trend isn’t just reserved for country or traditional interiors. Barn doors can be modern and sleek too. And practically, they’re obviously a massive space saver, perfect for applications like ensuites and butler’s pantries. And above all, they make a great visual statement, whether you want them to blend into the background (like mine) or stand out.

Some more barn door inspo from around the internet:

Have you installed a barn door in your home? Please tell us about it in the comments!

Have you checked out our new, dedicated renovation section? Our former sister site Reno Addict is now part of this site!

Video tour: Jen’s kitchen

Kitchens

Three Birds Renovations: laundry design essentials

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 1, 2019
1 Comment on Three Birds Renovations: laundry design essentials

No matter the size of your laundry, no matter your reno budget, here are the hard and fast rules for a successful laundry refurb. From where to locate the laundry if you’re starting from scratch, to cabinetry, fixtures and appliances, Electrolux has teamed up with Three Birds Renovations to share 10 rules for laundry design.

Three Birds Renovations say: “The funny thing about laundries is that we’re in them almost daily, yet people often approach these spaces as an afterthought. Expectation versus reality is another key challenge. Our biggest tip for laundry success is to create a solid vision board before you even start the process. Then, once you have a cohesive vision for the entire project, you’ll have something to aim towards and it always comes in handy to refer back to along the way to make sure you’re on track.”

Here, Bonnie, Lana and Erin from Three Birds Renovations share the do’s and don’ts of laundry design:

Do:

Remember that your laundry deserves to look beautiful too! Those loads of washing might just seem like less of a chore when you’re doing it in a beautiful space
Invest in quality appliances that will do the job and last the distance. In our latest renovation (House 10), this family of four with two young kids spent half their time in the laundry, so they needed quality appliances. We opted for the Electrolux 10kg UltimateCare System (EWF14013) and 9kg Heat Pump Condenser Dryer (EDH3896GDW) because of their superior washing and drying capabilities. Plus, they looked amazing under bench in this Mediterranean Villa-style family home.
Consider your laundry a wet room and choose your materials accordingly. Tiles are a great choice for flooring and we often do a tile skirting board, so the walls don’t get wet when you’re mopping the floor.
Plan the layout to maximise storage and bench space. Try to locate your laundry with easy external access to the washing line.

Don’t:

Forget to choose your appliances early in the planning process. You’ll need to design the cabinetry to fit around the size of your appliances and your decision of a top or front loader machine will dictate where your bench goes.
Position your laundry close to a bedroom where the spinning washing machine is likely to be disruptive to sleeping kids.
Forget the lighting. You’ll need task lighting to make sure you can see what you’re doing, and we also love accent lighting, like a pendant, just because it looks hot.
Forget about ventilation. Laundries without an extractor fan are just asking for mould. A window that opens is a bonus for added airflow.
Forget to style your laundry. A lush green plant on a laundry shelf is always a good idea in a laundry. The room exists to make things look, feel and smell fresh, so bringing in some real plants just makes sense.

Three Birds’ kitchen renovation tips

Tags electrolux, laundries, laundry, laundry appliances, laundry design, three birds renovations

Design RENO ADDICT

Three Birds part of new boutique Brisbane reno show

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date May 21, 2019
No Comments on Three Birds part of new boutique Brisbane reno show

Three Birds Renovations will present and exhibit at the event

Created by professional renovator and small business enthusiast Renee Watson, the inaugural Reno Home Show hits Brisbane this July and promises to offer a boutique yet approachable home renovation show experience. “When I was looking for an event to exhibit my renovation business I felt there was no real option for small local grass roots renovation businesses who are doing great work and looking to engage with renovation focused customers,” says Renee who set about filling the gap.

Whether renovating your kitchen or bathroom, updating fixtures and fittings, undergoing a complete renovation or simply looking for reno inspo, there will be plenty to be found with more than 100 designers, architects, stylists, home builders, trades and product suppliers exhibiting at the Brisbane Showgrounds in July. “It’s all about creating a community atmosphere in a beautifully rustic space where stall holders can get to know one another and visitors can talk face-to-face with designers and trades to create the home of their dreams and improve their liveability,” says Renee.

And given 75 per cent of exhibitors have never exhibited in a home show before, it’s a great opportunity for Brisbane based renovators to access new suppliers. “We’re different to other home shows in that this is a celebration of service and product providers from grassroots, one-person businesses to advanced boutique brands,” says Renee.

Noteworthy exhibitors and presenters include Three Birds Renovations (it’s their first ever Brisbane event), acclaimed Brisbane architect Shaun Lockyer, mavenHome interior architect and designer Lee Talbot (she will hold a masterclass on how to create an interior mood board) and Undercover Architect founder Amelia Lee. The Block’s Michael and Carlene of Cedar and Suede will also exhibit alongside their vintage caravan Dolly and will be running exclusive private group workshops on how to renovate a vintage caravan.

Some of architect Shaun Lockyer’s work. Photography: Scott Burrows

The visitor experience will include interactive workshops, panel discussions, display spaces, homewares, real-life rooms, conversations with professional renovators, design workshops and a live styling stage. “The event is for people who love their homes and love renovating, decorating and home improvements. Whether they’ve done it before or they’re doing it for the first time, they can meet everyone they need to bring their vision to life under the one roof at the Reno Home Show,” says Renee.

Reno Home Show
Exhibition Hall
Brisbane Showgrounds
July 20-21, 2019

For more | Check out our dedicated renovating section Reno Addict

Tags brisbane, home reno, home renovation show, reno, reno addict, reno show, renovating, renovation show, shaun lockyer, three birds renovations

Appliances Design Designers Kitchens RENO ADDICT Styling

Three Birds Renovations’ six top kitchen design rules

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 12, 2018
2 Comments on Three Birds Renovations’ six top kitchen design rules

Three Birds kitchen — I love this Three Birds Renovations kitchen - the green cabinetry is an inspired choice

“Of all the spaces you renovate, the kitchen can be the most challenging. It’s usually the heart of the home and whether you’re a master chef or reluctant one, it’s a major feature of your space, so you want it to look good,” says Three Birds Renovations’ Bonnie Hindmarsh, who explains that designing a kitchen is a high-stakes enterprise.

“There are ways to renovate a kitchen on a budget, but it is still usually one of the most expensive rooms in a home, so you need to be happy with the end result. And if all that wasn’t pressure enough, we know that kitchens sell houses, so this is a real reno moment where you can add some serious value,” says Bonnie who, along with her business partners Erin Cayless and Lana Taylor, abides by six golden rules when it comes to designing a kitchen.

Timeless design
“There are two places you can start – how it works or how it looks. Truth be told, it doesn’t really matter which of the two options you start with because both intersect pretty quickly as you move through the design process. You’ll need to toggle between these two things constantly,” says Bonnie who is a big proponent of using a vision board to formulate her ideas.

“We like to bring to life the overall vision for the home in the kitchen, referring back to our vision board for finishes, cabinetry style plus the colour, thickness and profiles of the bench top and splash back.”

Be selfish
“Design your kitchen for you, not others. How will you, as the owner, live in the space? How do you like to cook every day or entertain? Everyone is different so meet your needs,” says Bonnie.

Quality appliances
“A builder is only as good as their tools and the same can be said for the appliances in your kitchen. Choose appliances that look good, fit into your layout and offer the functions you need,” says Bonnie who specified an Electrolux integrated dishwasher in this kitchen so as not to break up the lovely green cabinetry of the island bench.

The integrated dishwasher ensures a seamless finish

The Three Birds Renovations team also selected an Electrolux induction cooktop, steam and pyrolytic oven, a built-in microwave oven and French door fridge for this kitchen.

Alfresco access
“The best kitchens will meet our outdoor connector test. All kitchens should be connected to, or very close to the outdoors, even if it’s only a courtyard,” says Bonnie who likes to be able to pass food from the kitchen to the outdoors with ease. “It doesn’t matter if it’s through a window or a door – you just need to have that access. That’s the test. An indoor/outdoor servery is a great solution for this and suits our Australian lifestyle perfectly,” says Bonnie.

Natural light
“We are skylight obsessed. They’re great practical additions that bring in another layer of light and no room in the house benefits from this more than the kitchen, which requires both ambient and task lighting. We can’t tell you how much a skylight changes the absolute look and feel of any room,” says Bonnie.

Beautiful styling
“A place for everything and everything in its place is our rule. In other words, don’t let your lovely new kitchen become a dumping ground for paperwork and overflowing fruit bowls, and fruit flies! A great kitchen has a place for everything – even your mail pile, bills included,” says Bonnie

For more | Check out the Electrolux appliance line-up

Tags appliances, design, electrolux, interior design, interiors, kitchen, kitchen design, styling, three birds renovations

Bathrooms Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Three Birds Renovations on being creative with tiles

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date October 18, 2018
No Comments on Three Birds Renovations on being creative with tiles

Lauded for their fabulous renovation projects, Three Birds Renovations recently undertook their biggest project yet – the home of the company’s creative director Bonnie Hindmarsh. Located on five acres in Sydney’s Hills District, the sprawling self-described ‘modern coastal barn’ is home to her family of six and brings the designer’s love of coastal style to the country.

And while the home boasts multiple swoon-worthy features, its tiles are at the top of the list. Sourced entirely from National Tiles in Melbourne, the lineup includes penny round, subway, ceramic and terracotta tiles laid in random, herringbone, grid and brick fashion. Proving that stunning results can arise just as much from the type of tiles selected as from the way in which they are laid, Bonnie shares her creative tile tips below…

“Many of our previous renovations have been flip houses so when we were tiling we kept the patterns fairly simple so that they appeal to a wide range of buyers. But when you’re designing a forever home, you’ve got license to be more creative in tile choices and how you lay them. At the end of the day you’ve got to love them because you’ve got to live with them,” says Bonnie.

“You can turn a room from drab to fab depending on the way you lay the tiles and in my forever home, there was no way I was going to be conservative in my choices,” she adds.

Herringbone
“The herringbone pattern is a gorgeous way to accentuate a plain rectangular tile,” says Bonnie, who chose a subtle apricot gloss tile, laid in a herringbone pattern, for the laundry. “The decision to lay them like that, rather than the stretcher bond pattern we often see for subway tiles, adds so much detail and interest to my over-sized laundry.”

The tiles on the laundry room floor are also herringbone, but smaller-scale mosaics. “The Carrara marble white tiles are laid in sheets so there’s no fuss for your tiler to create a perfect herringbone pattern with tiny tiles.” Genius!

laundry herringbone — A closer look at the floor tile

When it came to the gorgeous pale blue powder room, Bonnie chose to lay the tiles in a herringbone pattern again. “The stunning Cotto Glamour Rombo feature wall tiles in the powder room are diamond shaped and could have been laid in a number of ways. I chose to create a herringbone pattern with these tiles too, for maximum detail and impact on the wall.”

Straight
If pattern isn’t your thing, you can always play it straight and Bonnie’s laundry tub is a great example of this. Purpose built to wash her beloved dogs, the tub features square tiles in two colours – apricot and greige. “The tub is laid in a straight lay, an almost basic pattern, but the two complementary colours make this feature look anything but ordinary,” says Bonnie.

The laundry tub features straight lay tiling to great effect

The main bathroom features some straight lay too. “The shower is also tiled in a straight (sometimes called stack bond) pattern, but you’d never guess,” says Bonnie of the randomly placed Crayon Bianco Matt and Crayon Azzurro Gloss tiles that combine to create a feature that is truly stunning.

Ceiling mosaics
It’s an unusual choice but Bonnie’s home features a number of ceilings covered in mosaic tiles, and it works.“I immediately fell in love with the pillar of Carrara marble white diamond tiles in National Tiles’ Melbourne showroom and knew they’d be perfect to wrap right around the shower in the ensuite, ceiling included.”

And boy are they beautiful!

The main bathroom features another mosaic-covered ceiling but this time the adornment is a marble penny round tile. “The vision for the main bathroom was inspired by an underground train station and the Carrara white penny rounds were perfect for covering the huge curved ceiling, walls and floor,” says Bonnie.

Basket weave
Bonnie chose to use the basket weave tile lay pattern for the first time ever in her boys’ ensuite bathroom and it’s a gamble that has paid off. It’s also a great example of how you can make a simple tile look interesting if you lay it in a creative way. “Get creative! Even if you’re on a tight budget, the simplest of tiles can create a standout feature, if laid well.”

boys' bathroom — Boys’ bathroom – the navy gloss tiles make a standout feature wall and ceiling in the shower

More on National Tiles | More on Three Birds Renovations

Tags bathroom, Bonnie Hindmarsh, how to lay tiles, national tiles, penny rounds, reno, renovating, renovation, subway tiles, three birds, three birds renovations, tiles, tiling

House Tours RENO ADDICT

From beach shack to ultimate seaside pad with Three Birds

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date October 3, 2017
No Comments on From beach shack to ultimate seaside pad with Three Birds

The holiday home of Bonnie Hindmarsh was once a humble beach shack in Pearl Bay on the NSW Central Coast. But then, Bonnie’s life changed. With best friends Erin Cayless and Lana Taylor, they started Three Birds Renovations, the now well-known team flipping uber stylish houses for insane profits. So it was decided, it was time for Bonnie’s home to get a makeover! Today, they’re sharing the living room.

The shack had been renovated over the years but was certainly not perfect! They’d ripped up the old carpets and painted the walls and ceilings white, white-washing the original pine flooring and adding a couple of French doors to the lounge area and dining. The deck was another new addition which they extended, as well as renovating the kitchen.

Three Birds teamed up with online retailer Zanui to finish the home off with beautiful furniture and homewares. With the brief to create a fresh and relaxing home with a distinctly beachy vibe, the interior decorating was made easy thanks to Zanui’s extensive options.

“I just love their wide range of choices and it’s really easy to shop,” says Bonnie. “Take their artwork for example, you can filter by colour, theme and price – and then you get a heap of options. Their products cover absolutely everything from sofas to beds to bar carts and crockery. I was like a kid in a candy shop! We loved the challenge of making over every single space with their range, it was like putting together a giant fun puzzle where everything fits seamlessly. We’re seriously thrilled with the results.”

In this video Bonnie, who is the styling queen of the trio, talks us through what she chose for the room and why:

When it comes to renovating a holiday home, Bonnie has a few tips for keeping it in tip-top shape. “Consider adding an outdoor shower and tap so you can wash yourself off after a beautiful day down at the shore! And consider light-coloured flooring to hide any sand that happens to sneak past the outdoor shower!”

Giving your home a makeover can quickly add up, so forget about any form of structural change if cash is tight. “If you can afford to, repaint the walls and floors as it’ll make a big difference,” explains Bonnie. “If that’s still a stretch, change the space using new furniture, homewares and artwork. As a last resort, a few new cushions on your couch is a step in the right direction for that extra pizazz.”

Tags beach home, beach shack, design, holiday home, interiors, reno, renovating, renovations, three birds, three birds renovations

Designers House Tours RENO ADDICT Styling

House tour: Santorini style on Sydney’s north shore

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date September 29, 2017
2 Comments on House tour: Santorini style on Sydney’s north shore

Dubbed their biggest renovation challenge ever, best friends turned expert renovators Lana Taylor, Erin Cayless and Bonnie Hindmarsh (of Three Birds Renovations) recently completed a three-storey, three-bedroom, three-bathroom, modern Mediterranean-style villa in Sydney’s north. But there was some added pressure, with the house being Lana’s family home! “It’s been a beautiful house and I love it to death but the floor plan wasn’t built for a growing family,” explains Lana. “Our main aim was to build a beautiful home to last a lifetime.”

The new design involved completely flipping the house layout on its head, by placing the kitchen and living areas downstairs and linking it to the garden. The middle level, aptly named ‘kid’s world,’ became the domain of Lana’s two young children; while the top floor was converted into the ultimate parents’ retreat for Lana and her husband Jason.

The parents’ retreat boasts a luxurious master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, ensuite, open-plan office space and a sunny terrace. Inspired by Greece, the ensuite is white with a turquoise fish-scale tiled feature wall and just like the beautiful white-washed Santorini homes, a skylight above the shower bathes the room in natural light.

On the middle level, each child has a large bedroom, plus there is mud room, a large bathroom and a media room with glass balustrade that overlooks a void into the family area below. “I’ve always wanted a well-fitted out mud room,” says Lana. “So I created an ‘urban mud room’ with floor-to-ceiling shoe shelves for my family to take shoes on and off and get rid of those bulky school bags.”

Once a self-contained granny flat, the bottom level is now home to an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. Large windows, glass doors, high ceilings and white walls provide a light, fresh and welcoming space for the family to cook, eat, play and relax.

The all white kitchen is paired with neutral stone benchtops and a matching splashback. “I wanted the stone to be the hero of the kitchen,” explains Lana. Connecting the interior to the exterior is a large gas-strut window, allowing for easy al fresco dining all year round. And on the other side of the kitchen is not a butler’s pantry but a butler’s office! “The butler’s office was simply born out of the lifestyle that we lead,” says Lana. “I’m always on my laptop and I don’t want to be hidden away in a study when my kids are in the family space.”

The finished home is beautiful (what we’ve come to expert from the girls at Three Birds!) and Lana couldn’t be happier: “It’s not just the perfect family home, it’s also an expression of my style and showcases the expertise and attention to detail we have to all our projects.”

–The Birds used Gyprock in this renovation. To create a private oasis for Lana and Jason, Gyprock Soundchek™ plasterboard was used in the master suite. A high-density plasterboard with increased noise absorption properties, Soundchek has been specifically designed for internal walls and ceilings to reduce noise transfer. Gyprock Sensitive plasterboard was selected for the kids’ area. It’s a revolutionary hypoallergenic plasterboard that is the first and only residential plasterboard to be approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program as a better choice for asthma and allergy sufferers. Treated with a powerful but gentle anti-fungal agent, Sensitive is designed to resist mould growth.

Tags design, house tour, interiors, reno, renovations, sydney, three birds, three birds renovations

Before & Afters Expert Tips House Tours Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real Reno: Three Birds share latest inspirational renovation

Post author By Lauren Ellis
Post date October 6, 2016
4 Comments on Real Reno: Three Birds share latest inspirational renovation

Three Birds Renovations have done it again with house five – transforming a fibro shack in Sydney’s north-west into a spectacular Hamptons haven, all in just nine weeks! It’s the first time the talented trio and Reno Addict resident experts have extended a home and used splashes of bold colour, which can be considered risky when renovating to sell. With the first open home scheduled for this Saturday, we spoke to marketing extraordinaire Lana Taylor to get the inside scope on the Baulkham Hills reno and all the before and afters.

You must be incredibly proud of house five? It’s always daunting when we start the next project, thinking how can we do better than the last house, but we definitely feel we have and all of our trades have been voluntarily saying “oh this is your best one yet” so we are confident it is. We are very proud of it but I’m also not hugely surprised because of the effort that went into it.

What is it that makes this house that much better? We loved the original aesthetic, which had a cottage look. A lot of the other homes we’ve renovated had an ugly brick façade. I think the fact that we clad the whole house with weatherboard (something we’ve never done before) gives a beautiful finish and relaxed feel to the house along with the colour choice. We’ve always been obsessed with white and grey and while we did paint this house grey, the pink front door, dark charcoal extension out the back and the green kitchen make this home really special.

Lets talk about that front door. It’s beautiful and what a statement! Bonnie definitely wanted to do a front door that got noticed and that everyone would fall in love with. She became obsessed with the colour blush but she got cold feet a few times wondering, “is it too polarising? Will it turn off male buyers?” But I think it’s an absolute winner. The post on Instagram of the pink door was our most popular post ever!

Is it the first time you’ve completed an extension? It’s just a simple one, about six metres by four, but it had to be done. With the extension and by converting the garage, we were able to create two living spaces which is a must for any family home and we were also able to add a fourth bedroom.

There are so many areas to sit and relax throughout the home. Was that intentional? We have learnt along the way about the importance of multiple living spaces and ones that are an escape from the other. Having two living spaces very close to each other, or open, defeats the purpose a little bit and so we created two very separate living spaces. We’ve also never had a beautiful, covered front porch like this, which we furnished to create another sitting spot. Then there’s the front foyer or entry space, which could easily convert into a study or another relaxing space. And the deck, there’s two levels to it. There’s the lower level and then the upper deck and so we did take it all into consideration. We always try to design homes we would want to live in with our kids.

The charcoal wall in the entry is very on-trend but also a little risky when you’re renovating to sell? It was a bit of a risk because the colour smacks you in the face the minute you walk in the front door and we were also worried about whether it’d make the space feel too small. We decided to give it a go and painted the wall in Taubman’s gravel and it just totally worked. The beautiful chairs are from West Elm and the bird picture from Oz Design.

What’s your favourite space in house five? The ensuite is certainly my favourite bathroom. I love how big it is! We created a wide open ensuite with a big walk-in shower and a half-wall to mount the bath on. The Caroma freestanding bath is gorgeous just being a miniature tub (it’s only 1400 long) and it has flat walls, so it sits flush with the wall avoiding all the dusk pockets you get with a normal freestanding bath. And then, it’s the stunning fan tiles from Amber Tiles that we used on the huge wall to create a statement when you look through. We used white grout to make each tile individually pop.

The kitchen has a very relaxed feel to it? It’s a very special kitchen that’s extremely calming. Bonnie spent a lot of time looking at lots of samples to find the right pastel green and I think the colour she picked in the end, called Misty Lake, was perfect. The other risk was combining gold and silver, which is quite unusual. The rule of thumb is that you have all your metallics matching but in this kitchen we have silver tapware (to match the oven) and gold handles and pendants. I remember questioning Bonnie a few times and she said “yeah I’ve seen it on Pinterest, it’s fine” and I think we’ve proven it can look beautiful. The other feature is the island. Rather than a typical kitchen island, which runs all the way to the floor, we made half of it look like a table. We did that to help the kitchen flow seamlessly into the other living spaces. The other piece worth mentioning is the Caesarstone on the backbench, which runs up the wall, then wraps around to create a floating shelf. We also integrated all the Fisher and Paykel appliances. It’s very much the hub of the house and you are part of everything when you’re in that kitchen.

To view the house on realestate.com.au and find out more about the open home this Saturday, click here.

–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.

Tags before and after, building, construction, hamptons, home reno, home renovation, interiors, reno, renovate, three birds renovations

Before & Afters Design Expert Tips Real Renos RENO ADDICT Styling

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

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 5, 2016
7 Comments on Real Reno: Three Birds Renovations share House 4 in every detail

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

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

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

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.

Read all Three Birds Renovations’ posts.

Tags Bonnie Hindmarsh, Erin Cayless, flipping, friends, Lana Taylor, mums, property, reno, renos, renovating, suburbs, three birds, three birds renovations

Expert Tips Real Renos RENO ADDICT

How to plan a 30-day flip with Three Birds Renovations

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date February 8, 2016
No Comments on How to plan a 30-day flip with Three Birds Renovations

By Lana Taylor (one-third of Three Birds Renovations)

You’ve all heard the cliché that “you don’t plan to fail, you fail to plan”. Well, in the world of property flipping that couldn’t be more accurate. And the most crucial thing to realise is that most of this planning has to take place before the house is even yours – in the settlement period (which usually takes about six weeks).

So for all you budding flippers out there, get your notepad and pencil out as I interview our Operations Guru-slash-Standover-Woman, Erin Cayless, to share the 10 steps to success when planning a 30-day flip. And even if you’re not flipping a house, just renovating your own home, you might pick up some tips on how to make your reno as fast and painless as possible. There’s nothing worse than a home reno that drags on ’til the cows come home — all that dust!!

Lana: HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PLANNING STAGE OF A RENO?

Erin: In my opinion it is the most important part of a reno. Without thorough and detailed planning, the reno will fall apart and run over budget. This is especially important if you are running the reno yourself to maximise your profit rather than paying a builder to do it.

Lana: WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO PLANNING A 30-DAY FLIP?

Erin: I think there are 10 main steps:

Step 1. Before buying the house, contact a local certifier to get the 149 certificate checked. This will confirm that the renos you want to do at that property, can be done e.g – a 149 will tell you if you are in a flood zone which could mean you need to get a DA (Development Application) and that could take months. That would be a showstopper for us as we are only interested in doing renos that are either Exempt or Complying Development as a CDC can get passed through council much more quickly.

Step 2. Assuming you get past step 1 and have purchased the house ie – exchanged contracts, you need to spend time at the property to work out exactly what changes you want to make. This will include drawing up a new floor plan. We hand-draw our plans using a pencil, ruler and rubber (it’s easier and more enjoyable than you think). Remember, you don’t actually own the property yet, as it hasn’t settled, so you need to negotiate “access visits” with the agent. On one of our projects, the house was already vacant and the owners were happy for us to spend as much time in the house as we wanted. This is the ideal scenario as it gives you maximum time for planning. If the house is still occupied, you should still get at least 2 access visits and if that’s the case, try and stretch them out to be several hours in duration.

Step 3. If your reno plans extend beyond replacing just fixtures and finishes you may need to engage a structural engineer. If so, meet them onsite to discuss your hand-drawn plans and see if they are possible. The engineer will tell you how much significant structural work will be required to meet your reno vision.

Step 4. Meet a builder on site to run through your plans. Share with him any feedback your engineer may have given you. Give the builder a written scope of work (which you may have adjusted during his visit) and ask him to come back with a quote. You should repeat this step with a few builders to get comparative costs. Once you’ve received all the quotes from your builders, check to see if they are within your budget. Discuss with each builder if necessary – especially if you need to bring costs down. Appoint a builder.

Step 5. Engage a draftsman to draw up official plans for the certifier and ask your engineer to return to the site so he can prepare final drawings. Give the draftsman’s and engineer’s plans to the certifier for the CDC (Complying Development Certificate) application. The sooner you get the plans to your certifier the better. This also allows the certifier time to give you feedback on your plans if they think they need adjusting in order to get them through council.

Step 6. Choose a proposed start date for your reno. You can’t start your reno the day after settlement because you need to wait for council to issue the CDC, and that process can’t commence until they you are confirmed as the new owner. Get your solicitor to send a letter to your certifier confirming you as the new owners. How long the council will take to issue your CDC depends on the council and can take between 2-21 days. Ask your certifier to give their best estimate on how long approval will take based on the complexity of your plans and their experience with that council. Use that as your start date.

Step 7. Sit down with your builder and develop a week-by-week, day-by-day reno schedule with him. His work schedule will determine when other trades need to be onsite so it’s important to sort this out first before locking in other trades like plumbers and electricians.

Step 8. Co-ordinate all other trades (eg – tiler, plumber, electrician, landscaper, glazier, painter) to meet you on site and quote. Give them a written scope of work including the dates they are required on site (which you should have worked out with your builder prior). Get a few different companies to quote for the same scope of work so you can compare costs, then appoint your Tradies. This should ideally happen 2-3 weeks out from settlement.

Step 9. Determine what fixtures and fittings you want and can afford. You need to know this so you can order in advance and have them ready onsite when the Trades need them. Some things have long lead-times (eg window shutters) so you need to place orders in the pre-settlement planning phase.

Step 10. You’ve settled on the property and the house is yours. Get the letter from your solicitor (see step 8) and await your CDC. You may need to adjust your reno schedule based on exactly when the CDC comes through.

Lana: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’VE EVER FORGOTTEN TO DO?

Erin: Ordering the porta-loo and working out where to put the man-hole — gets me at every house.

Read all Three Birds’ posts | Send Three Birds question | Find out more about Three Birds

Tags Bonnie Hindmarsh, Erin Cayless, flip, fliping, flipper, investment property, Lana Taylor, property porfolio, real estate, reno, renovating, renovations, three birds renovations

Before & Afters Design Real Renos RENO ADDICT Styling

Real reno: Three Birds Renovations’ latest spectacular transformation

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date November 8, 2015
17 Comments on Real reno: Three Birds Renovations’ latest spectacular transformation

Lana Taylor, one third of Three Birds Renovations, our new Resident Experts, tells us all about their latest reno success story…

With a purchase price of $1.3m, we risked more money than ever on this four-bedder in Beecroft, NSW. We had to increase its value by at least $350,000 in seven weeks to make it worthwhile. Welcome to Three Birds Renovations’ third reno in 10 months!

For this transformation, we changed the whole floorplan, moved the kitchen downstairs, cut in a void, created a luxury master with dressing room and built an alfresco wonderland in the backyard. Did I mention we did it in seven weeks!?

I could write and write and write about the finer details of this reno but let’s face it – we all just want the highlights package, right?

Biggest transformation – the kitchen

At1w_Aww26AnT730TGtsIYSQfk2VEBkQb-OwFKkmZoo — After: kitchen

The kitchen originally sat upstairs on the entry level of the house – unfortunately this meant it had no connection to the backyard (a big no-no for any family home). So we knew we had to move it downstairs but that was easier said than done. Downstairs was a dungeon (no joke, I could see the remnants of medieval shackles on the walls). It was a long, dark, skinny space. We had to make that kitchen look as ‘fat’ as possible so of course we employed a lot of white and tried to let in loads of natural light.

1FtooAG9ZEQ5gPXrnm-Qnl3nAiIHpfauUnMkuJ6NYns — After: kitchen

We cut in as many French doors as our engineer would allow and to be sure of a bright kitchen, even on the darkest days, we didn’t scrimp on down lights. We considered doing a window splashback, but that only looks good when there’s a lush rainforest growing outside of it. With our barren land, we weren’t going to grow anything in seven weeks! Instead we chose Calacatta Gold Talostone for the splashbacks – they looked light, bright and just like marble. Of course we ‘bookmatched’ them. Bookmatching has nothing to do with a trip to the library (as I discovered in a rather embarrassing conversation with our stonemason), rather it means the veins from the splashback were joined/matched with the veins on their corresponding benchtops. Still not clear? Trust me, it’s cool.

Biggest gamble – the void

A void, by definition, is nothing, but it meant everything to us when we decided to add one to this house. With the kitchen moving downstairs we simply had to lift the lid on the dungeon — so we cut out the floor from the bedroom above to flood the downstairs with natural light. It was our biggest structural change and we lost floor space upstairs, but the new floorplan couldn’t have worked without it. The void (and its African mud chandelier) became the hero of the house.

Quickest transformation – spraying the bricks

Obsessed! That’s what we are with the concept of spraying brick. It’s just too easy and so impactful! We (when I say we, I mean our painter!) transformed the back of this house in just a couple of hours with a tin of paint and a spray gun. Between breakfast and lunch it had changed from a red brick eyesore into a gorgeous Gibraltar Grey estate. Of course the white trims were crucial in finishing the look but the major makeover came from spraying the bricks. Not only is this method quicker and cheaper than rendering, but we love the look of painted brick as it adds texture and dimension to an otherwise flat surface.

Overall winner – the backyard

The backyard proved our saviour! We used it to double the living space downstairs. Inside the house was skinny (have I mentioned that before?) — only 3.5 metres wide — so to make it feel like a suburban family home rather than an inner-city terrace we needed to add width (dare I say girth?), to the living, dining and kitchen. Our solution was to create an outdoor precinct running the length of the house.

When styling, we defined the outdoor zones to show potential buyers how to live in the space. Up one end we built an outdoor lounge pavilion with pergola, at the other end was an alfresco dining area just a stone’s throw from the kitchen, and in the middle we added wow factor with a sunken fire pit (which could easily convert into a sun lounge in summer). Last but not least, we anchored outside to in using our trademark gas-strut window and servery bench – and this is where I chose to sit when we popped the cork on the champers when all was said and done!

Our favourite room – ???

There’s a room in this house I haven’t mentioned – it’s our favourite room ever so it deserves its own post… stay tuned.

— Lana

For more before and after photos and to find out how much Three Birds Renovations sold this house for, visit their website.

Tags design, interiors, Lana Taylor, real reno, renovating, renovation, three birds, three birds renovations

Before & Afters Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Real reno: a six week reno and a $230,000 profit!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 8, 2015
No Comments on Real reno: a six week reno and a $230,000 profit!

When just a few months ago we took a look inside the amazing first reno by best friends Lana Taylor, Bonnie Hindmarsh and Erin Cayless, we knew we had not only stumbled upon a trio that had impeccable taste, but one that seriously knew how to renovate for profit. Their first reno, under their boutique business Three Birds Renovations, made a staggering $155,000 profit in just two and a half months (read all about it here), and their second? $230,000 in two months!

Situated in Sydney’s Castle Hill, the four-bedroom, two-storey house was purchased for $975,000 in January and sold for $1.32 million in March. With the renovation taking six weeks and costing $115,000, when it came to transforming the property the girls had three goals in mind. “With this renovation we wanted to transform ugly into beautiful, closed-off into connected and dark into light,” explains Lana. “It’s a cliché, but we wanted to create the house of our dreams.”

While the home was certainly livable prior to its renovation, the interiors lacked flow — with endless rooms and a tiny master suite, the exterior was beige and bland and outside housed an area said to be an alfresco zone but was really a random brick room that looked like a garage and led to nowhere! “We saw the potential straight away and knew it could be completely transformed,” says Lana. “Our main job was making the layout of the home open, open, open – even the shower screens have no doors! We tried (and we think succeeded!) to create a breezy, open-plan living style designed specifically for indoor/outdoor entertaining.”

To achieve this look, the girls removed several walls and moved the kitchen from the centre of the home up to the far end. This made the kitchen a destination rather than a thoroughfare and enabled them to connect it directly with the new alfresco area via a custom-built breakfast bar and gas strut window. Upstairs they converted four bedrooms down to three, which allowed them to deliver a large, luxury master suite that reflected the resort-style living they had created downstairs.

“Probably my biggest learning on this renovation was that you must make a master suite big,” explains Lana. “At first we tried to work within the original dimensions, but eventually the penny dropped and we decided to rip out the dividing wall with the bedroom next door and combine the two to create a proper parents’ retreat. As a result we had to build a new fourth bedroom downstairs and in hindsight this was a masterstroke because it provided a great guest or teenager’s room as it was located away from the other bedrooms. Most importantly, this change in floor plan allowed the master suite to truly live up to its name.”

Marking the luxury master as the home’s biggest change, the girls are also huge fans of the alfresco area and kitchen. “A kitchen needs to be an open, breezy space that invites people to take a seat, so by moving it to the end of the long room we created a new alfresco zone directly off the kitchen. Our finishing touch was to add a pair of French doors directly out to the pool giving mum the perfect view of the kids whilst preparing an early summer dinner.”

Now onto their third renovation, the girls of Three Birds Renovation are absolutely in their element. So what advice to they have for any newbie renovators? ” Firstly, don’t do it alone – grab a friend or two to share the load and build ideas. Secondly, be organised and plan, plan, plan – the devil is in the detail. And lastly you can achieve beauty on a budget – try not to spend more than 10-to-12% of the purchase price (or current value of your home).”

For more on Three Birds Renovation.

Tags Bonnie Hindmarsh, building, construction, design, diy, Erin Cayless, home reno, interiors, Lana Taylor, real estate, reno, renovating, renovating for profit, three birds renovations

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

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

Post author By Jodie Bowker
Post date March 16, 2015
No Comments on 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

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!

“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!”

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.”

tJ_SDUUdr2MLLtZxtL3_M4yWV7Y2IBZ3FpS4197xQpw — Before: lounge

lounge after another shot — After: lounge

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

OoF6LfM0YJQ-eY7_lOJHx2-0D5smZHsbAPHnxUCHAlc — Before: 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!).”

oEzeBpr8nqmGFRwdC-5kJFI8Qhmj-JHLqJ8kJIRwuxQ — Before: 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.

Tags Bonnie Hindmarsh, castle hill, diy, Erin Cayless, hoarding, home reno, Lana Taylor, real estate, real reno, reno, renovating for profit, sydney, three birds renovations