Tag: value

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Appliances Bedrooms Dining Homewares House Tours Kids Rooms Styling

How I styled a Point Piper house with ALDI Special Buys

Sponsored by ALDI Australia

Styling a waterfront house in one of Sydney’s ritziest suburbs entirely with ALDI Special Buys might sound like a tall order but it was a surprisingly easy! I teamed up with the supermarket on this exciting project last week and I have to say, I’m pleased as punch with the results.

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Come on in to ‘the ALDI Special Buys house’ in Sydney’s Point Piper

I’ve been a long time ALDI shopper and I love the thrill of the latest Special Buys catalogue as much as the next person. I had no idea how many different things you could buy via Special Buys though, and this was the whole premise behind teaming up with ALDI. We showcased around 300+ products in the house, from furniture to bed linen, small appliances, toys and ski wear. Some of the items, like a queen size upholstered bed ($229), washing machine ($229), clothes dryer ($249), garment steamer ($89.99), gold cutlery ($29.99), 65-inch ultra HD television ($799) and replica Eames lounge ($349) have already been on sale this year and others, like a coffee table, chests of drawers ($89.99), bedside tables ($39.99) and children’s single bed ($99.99), were sneak peeks of what’s coming in 2017.

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Cushions ($16.99), throws ($16.99), the ottoman ($39.99), premium coffee table ($69.99), melamine tray ($7.99), champagne flutes ($9.99 for a set of six), cook books ($12.99) and table lamp ($49.99) are all ALDI Special Buys.
Gold cutlery, matte black and marble have been three big trends in homewares this year
Gold cutlery, matte black and marble have been three big trends in homewares this year. Everything in this image bar the table is from ALDI, even the cheese and grapes!
This replica butterfly chair was a recent Special Buy at $199
This replica butterfly chair was a recent Special Buy at $199

I love a genuine bargain, and by that I mean good value not cheap and disposable, and I believe that’s what you get with ALDI. It really resonates with Interiors Addict’s ‘style without the snobbery’ ethos.

You really can furnish your entire home with ALDI Special Buys if you have your finger on the pulse and watch out for what’s coming up via the catalogues, app or email newsletter (Special Buys are announced just a week before they go on sale on Wednesdays and Saturdays and are there until they sell out). You’ll have heard the stories about people queuing up to nab a bargain so don’t hang around!

The kitchen was my favourite room in the house. From the vintage style mint microwave, kettle and toaster (similar in a different colour will be available soon) to the copper pans and utensils, Expressi capsule coffee machine and professional grade blender, it all looked so fabulous together!
The kitchen was my favourite room in the house. From the vintage style mint microwave ($89.99), kettle ($39.99) and toaster ($49.99) –similar in a different colour will be available soon– to the copper pans ($69.99 for the set) and utensils ($3.99), Expressi capsule coffee machine ($79.99) and professional grade blender ($139), it all looked so fabulous together!

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Popular Special Buys are often repeated so I'm hoping that happens with these gorgeous copper pans!
Popular Special Buys are often repeated so I’m hoping that happens with these gorgeous copper pans!

A room I think you’ll love is the cute kid’s room. We furnished it for under $450 (thank you to Sack Me! for lending us the linen). This kid’s bed will be out next year for just $99.99 and available in white, blue and pink, along with this fantastic $89.99 chest of drawers arriving in 2017. The teepee and wooden toys are so cute!

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In the master bedroom, the hero was the grey upholstered queen bed, a snip at just $229. A mattress was available for $249 too and this bed also came in single, double and king sizes. What I loved about this styling job was that the ALDI Special Buys products didn’t look out of place in this expensive Sydney home, which says a lot about their quality.

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This $39.99 bedside will be available early next year. And how cute is the gold lamp?

In the bathroom, we literally had everything you could ever need from the towels ($8.99) and mosaic bath mat ($14.99), bin ($13.99), hair straightener ($19.99), hairdryer ($19.99), digital scales ($12.99) and laundry hamper ($29.99), from Special Buys. These were complemented by ALDI’s everyday grocery range of skincare and cosmetics.

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In the laundry we had appliances, steam mop ($69.99 and new for 2017!), ironing board ($39.99), clothes horse ($19.99), steam cleaner ($39.99), vacuum ($99.99) and much more!

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And we even went so far as to set up a home office/gym with everything down to an office desk($79.99 and new for 2017!) 3D printer ($499) and elliptical trainer ($299) and an amazing outdoor space with trampoline ($149), pizza oven ($199), wicker dining set ($399), daybed ($169) and more!

This $199 pizza oven flew off the shelves
This $199 pizza oven has been a popular product this year and it is easy to see why!
This glass-topped table and stools is great value at $399
This glass-topped table and stools is great value at $399

You can watch my interview with A Current Affair below and a quick tour with 9Homes here.

Are YOU an ALDI shopper? I’d love to hear about your best buys from the middle of the store. Comment below!

 

Categories
Design RENO ADDICT Styling

Secrets of a property stylist: How to add value and attract buyers

There’s an art to selling a home and it doesn’t just involve finding the right real estate agent. A lust-worthy interior can have buyers lining up at the front door potentially adding tens-of-thousands of dollars to the sale price.

“We’re not just creating a look, we’re illustrating a lifestyle,” says property stylist Melissa Rice who launched The Hired Home after 14 years in the real estate industry. “More often than not, the first introduction a buyer has to the property is through the internet and if the photos are bland, with no furniture and no emotion, you will have less buyers there. People want to see colour and personality in a home because that’s how they want to live. Buyers don’t want to live in a white box.”

Having an on-trend, snap-worthy interior can add up to 30% to the value of the property and according to Melissa, it starts with a good declutter and refresh. “I think the biggest turn off is if the property doesn’t present well; the furniture is tired, the home is messy and dark. People want light and airy and bright,” she said.

“It’s so important to present the home to its full potential, not only in the look but the floor plan. If it’s a small bedroom apartment we will try to fit in a study nook and things like that, so everything is addressed.”

Melissa recommends sellers update light fittings, install new carpet and apply a fresh coat of paint before the home is listed. “When someone is living in a property it doesn’t matter how clean and tidy they are, it just gets tired. Even light switch covers; over time they start to discolour.”

The same rule applies when styling. “Once you start using a product it doesn’t look fresh and clean anymore,” said Melissa who recommends investing in new towels, curtains, white linen and accent cushions to really lift the home.

“In bedrooms I tell people they must pull the furniture off the walls. A lot of times people believe pushing beds to the corner of a room is going to make it feel bigger, it’s not. For shelving, we would probably style about 60% of the shelf, leaving space for the eye to rest. Not every space has to have something on it.”

You can find out more about Melissa and the The Hired Home here.

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Bathrooms RENO ADDICT

Great value bathroom vanities online, direct to your door

Sponsored by Allure Bathrooms

There are many reasons bathroom renovations get put off and put off (sometimes for years) despite a brand new shiny one being top of many people’s wish lists. Two of these are the expense and having better things to do with your weekend then traipse around bathroom showrooms. But did you know, as with most things these days, you can now get a great deal online and not have to leave the comfort of your own home? Yes, even with bathrooms. So long as you have a tape measure, you’re set!

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Allure Bathrooms are one such supplier, specialising in a wide range of great value vanities at all budgets, delivered direct to your home. Having replaced one last year, I know a new vanity alone can transform the look of a tired bathroom, not to mention adding valuable storage space you may not have had before.

Starting at just $549, they have a wide range a range of styles and sizes, from contemporary, wall mounted bathroom vanity units to more traditional, timber ones. Whether you want one basin or two, sleek and modern or traditional, a budget buy for your investment property or something really fancy for your spacious family bathroom, Allure have you covered.

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They also sell tapware, shower screens, basins, toilets, bath tubs and accessories. Pretty much everything you need except the tiles and flooring. And of course you just need someone to rip out and install at your house, whether that’s your trusted tradie, a plumber or yourself!

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If you’re in Melbourne you can even visit their Collingwood showroom and see for yourself, or give them a call on (03) 9419 5282 for some advice.

“Allure Bathrooms is passionate about bringing the best in quality contemporary bathroom products to Australians at a price they can afford. With guaranteed lowest prices and the best in contemporary bathroom design, a walk through of our showrooms in Melbourne will be enough to convince you that we have the bathroom supplies you need to give you the refined decor you desire. Come in and talk to us and we will help you bring your bathroom to life.”

Shop online.

Categories
RENO ADDICT Styling

Video: Diary of a Reno part 4

In the penultimate episode in our series, Naomi Findlay gives us a sneak peek of the almost-finished house and explains how she has reconfigured the floor plan to make better use of space and add value.

In the fifth and final episode, coming soon, we reveal the profit made when the renovated house is sold and talk to the real estate agent.

Naomi Findlay is principal of the International Institute of Home Staging and director of SILK Home Staging & Styling.

Categories
Designers Expert Tips

4 ways using an interior designer can actually save you money

By Ali Ross

There is no doubt the DIY design market is rapidly expanding. This trend is driven largely by the hot housing market and the design industry is more accessible now than ever.

We have daily design content delivered to our inboxes each morning as we eat our breakfast, while online platforms such as Pinterest provide us with an opportunity to gather new ideas and source products. Naturally, there is also an understanding that DIY renovating will save money. This isn’t always the case though.

Ali Ross says using an interior designer can actually cost you less than doing it yourself
Ali Ross says using an interior designer can actually cost you less than doing it yourself

As a design professional with over a decade of experience here in Australia and the US, one of my biggest learnings relates to the value a designer can add. You may not need an architect to run your project but consider using an interior designer for these reasons:

1. We add value through considered space planning, maximising the potential of a space in terms of flow and function and the level of comfort through thoughtful detailing. In other words, we get it right and we get it right the first time.

On a recent project, I was called on to help improve the flow and function of an entry, hall and lounge room. By simply filling in an oversized opening off the entry and recommending a new glazed door in a new location, it opened up a whole new way for the client to arrange and use the space. It was an obvious solution to me, but one that had been overlooked by the client. Now they actually enjoy using the space!

2. As professionals, we have the skills, experience and foresight to identify and solve problems and make the right decisions as they arise (or before) quickly and confidently. We take control of what can otherwise be a stressful process. Whether it’s selecting the appropriate tap spout length to suit a basin, establishing the perfect position for a power point to work in with a furniture plan or simply selecting a suitable size sofa or rug for a space, all of these small decisions impact the end result.

3. We have relationships with reputable trades and suppliers who we trust to deliver good services and products.

On a few occasions, I have been brought in to correct or ‘make good’ mistakes that have been made, with joinery in particular. One client had allowed a joiner to make some design-related decisions but the result was far from well resolved. In fact, they could hardly access one part of the wardrobe, the hardware that had been selected was cheap and the sliding doors were so thin they shook and shuddered along the tracks. When they decided to have new joinery built for another location, they didn’t hesitate to contact me.

4. Designers have access to trade pricing on all local and international furniture and this ranges from 10%-to-25% off retail. I pass on this trade pricing to my clients.

To give you an example, I recently completed a job where I provided a combination of bespoke joinery and furniture selections. The furniture purchases made for part of the home came to approximately $18,000. A trade discount ranging from 10%-to-20% was passed on to them, offering a saving of over $2,500. My fees for this part of the job were around $2,000, an amountmore than covered by the savings on the furniture.

When you consider these figures and facts – can you really afford not to use an interior designer?

Ali Ross has her own business, Ali Ross Design. See some of her work on her website.