My Renovation December 2022

’m not sure about you, but I have been waiting rather impatiently for summer.

I’m dreaming of consistently warm days with a little less breeze! After months of planning, working and styling, our home pool project is complete, and I can’t wait to enjoy summer days by the cool blue water.

In this month’s edition, I walk you through five of the most important lessons I learned from installing a pool at home. You can read the story on page four.

Also in this edition, our resident expert columnist Cassandra Fenaughty shares her tips for preparing your home for the holidays. Turn to page 22 to find out more. Plus, we explore how to use colour in the home, and take a look at the latest trends in fabrics. Enjoy, and happy renovating!

POOL PROJECT

Planning on investing in a pool? Here are five tips to keep in mind.

Alittle over 12 months ago we made the decision to invest in a home pool. We loved the idea of spending family time at home, and watching our children form fun memories. Plus, there was the added health and wellbeing benefits that come with owning a pool.

Ten months after the hole was dug and the shell went in, we have finally signed off on the finished project.

Here is what I learnt along the way.

1. Ask questions

Due to an increased demand for residential pools, many companies are under the pump and are turning to subcontractors to fill staffing voids. Prior to construction, ask your pool manager if they use external staff and how much experience they have with working with those trades. You could even ask to see some of their work. After all, this isn’t a small investment. The average home pool –installed and landscaped – costs anywhere from $60,000 up too

WORDS: Candice Holznagel.

$100,000. The last thing you want is to be left with sub-par work and a sub-contractor and company arguing over who is responsible for the error.

2. Spend wisely

If you can comfortably stretch the budget to include high-end finishes, do it, because you won’t have the chance later on. After much deliberation (and some much-needed advice from landscape architect Cassandra Fenaughty), we were able to adjust our budget to upgrade the pool surrounds from exposed aggregate to natural stone tile. While aggregate is a popular choice, and looks great, our pool is at the front of our property, which meant we needed to make a grand statement. The natural stone does just this.

3. Shop around

Don’t settle on the first contractor you speak with. Compare quotes. We were able to save thousands on electrical by shopping around. We did the

THE DETAILS

Theme: Hamptons –hues of white, grey, blue, brass and palm-tree accents

Tiles: Silver travertine, The Pool Tile Company

Tiling: Shannon Walters, from Shannon’s Bespoke Individual Tiling.

Lighting: CLA outdoor wall pillar lights in antique brass, Discount Lighting and Fans, Warana

Concreting: GV Concreting Services

Fencing: Hamptons PCV

Landscaping: Plants and pots purchased from iLandscape, Caloundra.

same when it came to selecting furniture and the finishing touches such as an outdoor mat and umbrella.

4. Size matters

Your pool contractor will walk you through the rules and regulations and measure up your property accordingly. Be sure to be clear on what you would like to use the pool for (swimming laps or lounging) and be clear on what size you would like to install to ensure you are happy with the finished product. We settled on a nine-metre pool, which allowed room at either end for entertaining areas. It also is big enough to swim laps. If you don’t intend on doing a large amount of swimming, save your money and reduce the length.

5. Budget

Create a spreadsheet and include your estimates, as well as final costings. Always allow an extra 10 per cent for unexpected expenses.

“If you can comfortably stretch the budget to include high-end finishes, do it, because you won’t have the chance later”

RENEWED BEGINNINGS

This renovated Queensland worker’s cottage was given a new lease on life – and won an esteemed award in the process.

Project: Green House Architect: Steenduk Practice team: Timo Lueck, Graduate of Architecture

This Brisbane worker’s cottage that was given a new lease on life was awarded the Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) in the 2022 Queensland Architecture Awards, which were staged in June. This month the house competed at the national titles. Created by esteemed architecture firm Steenduk, the property provides inspiration for

urban living and small-lot housing.

A balancing act between old and new, two time periods work together to tell the home’s past and present stories.

As outlined in the project description, the Green House now has a feeling of openness and the illusion of a large house.

“It is about quality over quantity through meticulously resolved detailed solutions; a home to replenish and uplift the occupant’s soul, while bringing order, elegance and grace to everyday living.”

Project description:

Passing through a pivoting entry door, a brass top kitchen folds out to a seven-meter-high outdoor room, with reflection pond and lush green sunken yard beyond. The living spaces are curtained by a glass wall that

retracts in two planes, and a cascading perimeter planter that purposely softens the composition and brings life through shadow and wind play. Fabricated from steel plate, the main staircase’s mid-landing dynamically cantilevers (using

two tonnes of self-weight) towards the street with three sides in-filled with louvres to function as the lungs of the house. In combination, attic louvres assist to induce aircurrents creating a thermal stack effect.

Upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms feature robust interior finishes dominated by grey ironbark surfaces and recycled hardwood framing. Frosted glass walls adjacent to the main staircase borrows light from the bathrooms.

An attic spiral staircase, assembled from pre-fabricated components is a statement piece that challenges conventional design with step-threads cantilevered off the perimeter, thus simplifying the handrail to a singular vertical timber dowel.

continued over >

Here is what the jury had to say:

“On a tight inner city residential block measuring just 10 x 20 metres, the Green House by Steendijk is an ambitious and skilful reworking of a humble Spring Hill worker’s cottage. The detail and manner of new and old fabric contrast comfortably and tell their own stories, both alone and in collaboration.

The need to rebuild the bulk of the house allowed a new, meticulous and rich interior world to be crafted, with an expansive connection to a new walled garden that belies the 200m2 site area. Both spaciousness and variety have been achieved despite the tiny floor plan, with each room and space having its own character and engagement with the exterior.

A conscientious approach to sustainability has brought a sense of purpose and comfort. The central Corten steel-plated staircase and attic spiral

staircase serve a dual function for access and for drawing breezes upward during warmer months. The use of recycled hardwood combined with climatically responsive design, onsite power, and water harvesting further demonstrate how historic fabric can be reimagined for contemporary times.” Visit architecture.com.au

“The need to rebuild the house allowed a new meticulous and rich interior world to be crafted with an expansion connection to a new garden”

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STEP ONE

You will

rst need to cut a hole in the countertop for the sink to be placed. Pencil in the outlines before you begin by placing the sink face-down. Measure the depth of the lip of the sink and mark a second line inside the first, the whole way around.

TIP – You should install the faucets to the sink before it is secured in place.

STEP TWO

Drill a hole into the corner of the sink position, inside the inner guideline. Now you can use a jigsaw to cut around the same guideline. Always make sure to check that the sink fits correctly into the hole.

STEP THREE

Next, place the faucet into the hole in the sink and secure it. Install the hoses and waste assembly. For advice, or directions, speak to your sink supplier.

STEP FOUR

If the manufacturer has supplied a seal you may not need to caulk around the hole in the countertop. Otherwise, complete this task before installing retaining clips around the edge of the sink.

STEP FIVE

Check again to see if the sink fits. If you are happy with the result, tighten the retaining clips to the underside of the counter.

STEP SIX

Give the sink a clean before hooking up the faucets.

PRODUCT ALERT

Stylish and sophisticated, the Burazzo undermount single bowl sink in brushed brass is from Highgrove Bathrooms.

Stockists

1. Mixing bold colour and pattern, the Pink Cockatoo poster features a vibrant mix of proteas, kangaroo paws and foliage in a celebration of Australian natives. The still life art print was created from acrylic paint and is from Urban Road. 2. We are a little bit in love with the Flamingo standing table lamp in gold from Discount Lighting and Fans, Warana. 3. Created from luxuriously soft cotton velvet, the Bombay cushion, pictured here in amber, is perfect to mix and match with patterns. It’s from Adairs. 4. Vibrant and exotic, the Flower bath mat from Domayne is made from highly absorbent sumptuous cotton. It is sure to brighten your bathroom. 5. Dinosaur Designs’ long stone servers in lagoon are handmade from resin here in Australia. Each piece is unique. You can find the product at Coast Store, Cotton Tree.

FABRICS & TEXTILES

From satin to suede, there are hundreds of textiles and textures for you to choose from, and each fabric you use in your home enhances your interior style. So, how do you know which one is right for you? Luckily, leading design-led furniture brand, Swoon, and its interior designers, are here to reveal all.

Linen – the mother

Whether you have children, four-legged friends, or you are just the mother of the friendship group, we bet you love a chilled out, early night in bed after a long day. And, what better fabric to unwind upon than linen? If you’d love to replicate the ‘coastal grandma’ trending style, or simply love a minimalistic, natural aesthetic, linen is the ideal fabric to enhance your current interior to the next level. Since you love spending time relaxing in cosy spaces, why not upgrade your bed to one with a luxurious linen headboard? Choose an alabaster shade linen for a truly tranquil, beachside hotel vibe – the perfect place to lay back, relax, and recuperate. Delightful.

Velvet – the socialite

If you’re a fun loving, super social 20-something, velvet is your ultimate go-to fabric. Bold, spirited, and chic – velvet is a versatile textile that can be used all around your home on anything from suave sofas to whimsical wallpaper. To incorporate this into your social abode, why not treat your inevitable overnight guests to a sumptuous sleep on a crushed velvet sofa bed? Reminiscent of the opulence of the 1920s, crushed velvet emanates luxurious, cocktail party vibes. Choose a radiant colour that co-ordinates with your current interior.

Boucle – the trend-setter

You’re all about trends and staying on top of them – from styles straight off the runway to chic vintage pieces from eras long gone. Since you’re always on it with the nation’s current obsessions, we can only guess you have this fashionable fabric in your abode already. Yes, we’re talking about boucle. This organic looped fibre fabric is all of the rage at the moment, oozing modern cosy vibes into any space. To absorb this trending textile into your home, we recommend going minimal and thinking small. The finishing touches are the cherry on top when it comes to interiors, so why not add a sophisticated ottoman footstool embellished with the fabric? Whether you use it as an unorthodox side table, or a place to rest your feet, a footstool is the ultimate subtle addition to your space to integrate boucle into your interior.

Corduroy – the hipster

You’re cool, and you know it. You listened to that popular artist before they were famous, and most of your clothes have had more than one previous owner. We bet you’ve got some corduroy in your wardrobe, but did you know you can incorporate it into your home? With its distinctive cord pattern, this fabric stands out, but not in an obvious way. What better way to integrate corduroy into your interior than with an individual mismatched chair, such as a loveseat? Choose a tone or shape that opposes your current sofa, to create a chic dichotomy in your lounge that reflects your individual personality.

Wool – the homebody

You’re probably reading this from the comfort of your living room. You enjoy nothing more than an evening in, playing board games with your loved ones. With this in mind, the fabric most suited to your personality, is the humble and homely wool yarn. Long lasting, it has an organic aesthetic that would fit perfectly into your unpretentious and intimate abode. To combine it into any space effortlessly, a woven rug is the ultimate accessory to create a welcoming and warm atmosphere, instantly. Stick with a neutral colour palette for longevity.

IN THE KNOW

Interested in renovating? Learn how to research a property like a seasoned professional.

WORDS: Cherie Barber, Renovating for Profit.

Over the past 18 months, property prices have been crazy. So many of you have had the desire to buy a property. Finally you find one that ticks all your boxes, to only then lose it to someone else, willing to pay more.

But with every heartbreak, often comes a silver lining. In the world of real estate, that’s the market currently correcting itself, changing cycles out of the boom and into the slowdown phase.

For those of you who put buying a property in the “too hard basket” in the boom cycle, you might be able to do so now with a lot less issues. Rising interest rates and talk of property price drops have scared the bulk of

people off from buying any property right now, creating the perfect buying environment.

What I do know from buying and selling a lot of property is that you can buy, hold or sell a property in any cycle be it the boom, slowdown, slump or recovery stage of the property market phase. The key is to know what you’re doing and to be strategic about your purchase.

Having personally renovated more than 150 properties over my 31-year renovating career, I took the initiative two decades ago to develop a property due diligence checklist that listed everything I should always research on a property before I buy. It originally started out with

A Pre-Christmas Freshen Up

Here’s a great way to freshen up a tired living space in time for Christmas.

Our SALSA SWING colour 453 is available right now in size 200 cm x 300 cm.

Its soft blue and camel tones have cool and calming qualities. They also reflect light creating a feeling of space.

ART

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Email: sales@artofrugs.com.au www.artofrugs.com.au

Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-3pm Saturday 10am-2pm Other times by appointment

about 20 things but today contains 65 must-research tasks that my Cosmetic Renovations For Profit students always check on a property, before they buy. For the most part, these 65 individual research points are categorised into my six core categories of property due diligence below:

1. LOCATION DUE DILIGENCE

This is probably the most talked about of all the due diligence musts. Location, location, location – it’s the mantra that property investors have chanted for decades on end. If your property is situated in a dud location, your resale ability and value will always be price capped, it’s that simple.

In addition, a property situated in a poor location, severely diminishes your pool of buyers when you eventually sell. Most people won’t consider living on a main road or a busy thoroughfare. Properties located too close to shops or that electrical substation just 50 metres away, are all major

turn-offs for the bulk of buyers.

Considering the unprecedented weather events the nation has experienced in the past couple of years, it’s a timely reminder to always dig deep and uncover every possible thing you can about not only the suburb, but the individual streets that lie within it and the likelihood of impacts. In flood-affected areas, some streets went under, while others didn’t. It could be as simple as buying a property that’s elevated higher on a street versus one that’s on the low side where water naturally pools.

2. PHYSICAL DUE DILIGENCE

This is all about the physical condition of a property. Before you sign on the dotted line, you’ll need to understand what condition the existing property is truly in and the likely cost for repairs. It’s why inspections like building, pest and asbestos reports are so critical. Getting a roof replaced, a property rewired or re-stumped are not cheap

xes, so it’s better you know these costs before you buy. In certain situations and with proper information, you may be able to negotiate these costs off your purchase price.

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By way of example, one of my physical due diligence checks is a CCTV plumbing inspection. Once I’ve got my price agreed with a vendor, I’ll send my plumber to the property to put a camera down the underground lines to make sure there’s no cracked pipes or tree roots inferring with drainage lines. For me, it’s worth spending $400 to save thousands in repairs. The merits outweigh the cost.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE

Environmental due diligence focusses on any environmental impacts of a dwelling or the land it sits upon. Things like land contamination can cost a fortune to fix and the process of remediation can stretch out for months on end. In the meantime,

your holding costs can continue to rack up while you’re waiting for contamination issues to get sorted. It could be something as simple as an old 44-gallon drum buried in the ground that’s leached fluid.

Don’t forget also that any property built or renovated before 1990 has a high likelihood of asbestos lurking somewhere. Be sure to get an asbestos inspection report done so you’ve ticked this environmental research task off your list!

4. REGULATORY DUE DILIGENCE

Regulatory due diligence is focussed around the planning restrictions and approvals. If you’re contemplating buying a property that requires a full structural reno, you should try to establish what changes are likely to be possible and which ones aren’t. There’s no point dreaming about adding a second storey to your house if your council won’t allow it. Even for cosmetic renos, you need to be across regulatory compliance. In an apartment block, you’ll need strata approval for any cosmetic or structural changes you’re planning. You may even need council approval if you’re planning to gut your kitchen or bathroom and start again.

Is the property heritage-listed? If so, changes you’d like to make may not be possible. Head to your local council for a face-to-face chat with a duty planner. You’ll quickly discover what you can and can’t do.

5. LEGAL DUE DILIGENCE

If you’re buying a property, you’ll need a good property conveyancer, solicitor or lawyer to perform all the legal due diligence tasks on your potential purchase. They’ll check the sale contract from head-to-toe to ensure there’s no legal constraints or issues that will adversely affect your interests. I’m talking things like statutory searches, easements, any finance outstanding on the property, caveats, covenants, boundary surveys. They’ll also look at a series of other legalities as part of their own scope of work as a legal professional.

6. FINANCIAL DUE DILIGENCE

Financial due diligence focusses around the ongoing costs of a property as well as any other pertinent fi nancial information on a property. These are checks you can easily do yourself, such as an RP data search as to what the property has bought and sold for previously.

Make sure you know what the costs of holding the property are moving forward –council rates, water rates, strata fees and land tax to name a few. All of these can add up to a signi fi cant amount of cash each year, for those that jumped too quickly into a purchase.

The key to an astute purchase is making sure you do thorough due diligence on every property you buy. Depending on what stage the property market cycle is in, time may not always be on your side to do all your proper due diligence checks. In these situations, you can enter into a sale contract with a cooling-off period. This gives you formal control of a property, not formal ownership. If for any reason your due diligence reveals a lemon, you can exit the contract before it goes unconditional, electing to pay a penalty fee on the purchase price.

EDUCATE

Buying property is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. To learn more about Cherie’s education programs, visit renovatingforprofit.com.au.

STILL PAYING FOR POWER AND DON’T HAVE SOLAR?

DESIGN DREAM

Cassandra Fenaughty is a landscape architect with more than 20 years’ experience. She is the founder and owner of an innovative renovation design consultancy, creating photoreal renovation concepts for clients looking to visualise their dream renovation before it begins. For more visit cassandrafenaughty.com.

HOLIDAY SPRUCE UP

It is a busy time of year, but you may be able to sneak a few days of home time

to undertake some easy DIY or styling projects. This month we thought we’d inspire you with a few ideas for the Christmas break.

Give your home office a

makeover

With an increasing number of us working from home, and juggling our work and life balance, a good cleanup around the home office is a great idea. This may be as simple as a general cleanup, or you may decide to re-organise your workspace by sprucing it up with elements like customised labels on drawers, a piece of new furniture or artwork, or rearranging the furniture in the space. Adding things like a floor rug, new wall hanging or light fixtures can give you a sense of rejuvenation, providing energy and enthusiasm for work in the new year.

WITH CASSANDRA FENAUGHTY

Restyle your wardrobe

Take all of your belongings out of your wardrobe and get ruthless! What haven’t you worn for years that could go to the op shop? Have a good clean out, invest in matching coat hangers and a few new storage boxes and your wardrobe will look and feel brand new. Creating more space and having a cleaner, more organised wardrobe will also assist with airflow and ventilation through the space, which will help with combating moisture and mould during the wet summer season.

Refresh your garden

By simply weeding and trimming your garden, and spreading some fresh mulch, your whole external space can really feel fresh and new. As well as providing a rejuvenated look, this will also assist in suppressing weeds and retaining moisture in the soil to help plant growth during the summer season.

Creating beautiful spaces – inside and out

Update your guest room

The Christmas holidays is often a time when friends and guests come to stay. Why not treat yourself to some new bedlinen and throw cushions, and possibly a side table or armchair that you can pick up in the pre-Christmas sales. If you really want to go to town you could possibly wallpaper or paint a feature wall and add some new curtains to finish off the look.

Upcycle some furniture

Do you need a new entry sideboard or a coffee table? Why not hit the op shops and the tip shops for a piece of furniture to upcycle? Roll up your sleeves and sand and paint a piece of furniture to complement your decor. Upcycling furniture is really rewarding, it is also environmentally friendly and can produce a piece that is uniquely you!

Do you have a burning landscaping or renovation question? Let us know and receive some expert advice! Email your questions for Cassandra to enquiries@ cassandrafenaughty.com.

Signature Blinds is a local, family-owned and operated business.

By partnering with Australia’s leading manufacturers, including internationally recognised names such Acmeda, Somfy and Turnils, Signature Blinds provide high quality products tailored to suit all budgets.

With the majority of products coming with a 5 to 30 year warranty, you can rest assured when purchasing from Signature Blinds you are always receiving a quality product.

From the time you book your free measure and quote to final installation of your new products, the feedback from our customers consistently demonstrates a level of service that exceeds their expectations. This is something we are proud of and work hard to maintain.

GREEN

WITH ENVY we love!

The Penelope occasional chair in dark forest green velvet by GlobeWest, available from Blink Living, Noosaville.

The Nordic recliner program from IMG offer unsurpassed comfort with high quality and a truly Nordic design theme. The unique design with a laminated wood yoke and construction frames made of solid steel ensure unquestionable comfort, stability and long lasting quality. The steel frames are covered with high resilience cold-cure molded foam.

Also available with:

Seashells & Co create unique decorative shells to add a touch of luxury and style to your interior. Handmade in Port Douglas, the authentic scallop shells are hand decorated. Pictured is the medium green tropical leaf shell in gold. It’s available from Cotton Tree. Co

d. I Coast Store, ree.

Makeover your bathroom with the Emerald glass bathroom accessory range from Pillow Talk. Each piece is made from quality coloured glass and features brass-coloured accents.

The potted hanging string of pearl artificial arrangement is just the answer when looking for that little bit of greenery to brighten the corner of a room. Visit Daydream Leisure Furniture, Warana.

Featuring cosy textured cotton, the lush jungle leaves of the Fall cushion cover are created from tufted embroidery. Visit kasaustralia.com.au for local stockists.

Quirky and pretty, the Merri pink short-layered candle holder will bring a new dimension to your space. It’s from Adairs, and is available in a range of other colours.

ECLECTIC INTERIORS

Creative, colourful and contrasting – have some fun with your home styling.

The Reflections of Venice print on stretched canvas is available unframed or with a raw oak float frame. With splashes of burnt orange, yellow and turquoise it will bring a fresh vibe to your space. It’s from Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery, Minyama.

property styling | design | furniture packages

Blink Living has the furniture solutions for you:

• Property styling to help you sell

• Home and holiday furniture packages

• Designer only furniture suppliers such as GlobeWest

Visit our retail showroom in Noosaville for your complimentary one-on-one consult with an experienced designer.

Scan the QR Code to learn more.

Open Mon to Fri 10am-4pm or by appointment.

Made in a vibrant China blue, the chenille wash mat will sit beautifully in front of a side table or occasional chair. It’s from Coastal Drift Home, Mooloolaba.

The green coloured silicone ceiling pendant light from Discount Lighting and Fans, Warana.

tip

Creating a curated eclectic home style takes more work than simply throwing together a few mismatched pieces. It needs to be the right mix of fabric, pattern, loud and quiet. The key is to make sure each piece speaks to your personality.