The design duo

Soften your bathroom

With so much glass and so many tiles in one space, a bathroom can often come off as quite cold, or even clinical. By adding some aesthetic touches such as indoor plants, and some timber grain as an option for a shelf or vanity top, the entire space can be softened with some added warmth.

All in the details

Take some time researching the latest in bathroom design, as the small features can often make the biggest impact. An example of this is shower drains! Previously thought of as a simple hole in the middle of the shower area, nowadays we have access to a wide range of floor grates that give a modern twist.

Your personal gallery

Long hallways are essentially your own personal gallery and are just screaming out for beautiful artwork to adorn their walls, and if permitting, a full size mirror. We love a combination of family and personal photos as well as a beautiful piece of art that says something about the people that live in the home, whether it be colours, or a landscape piece depicting your favourite holiday destination. Let your hallway tell the story of your home and set the tone for what’s to come.

Maximise storage space

Make as much use of the available space in your kitchen as possible! Efficient storage will reduce clutter and mess, allowing for an easy-to-use space. Where possible, use overhead cabinets to store the items that you might not need everyday, which still need a home. Consider using deep drawers to store cooking pots and crockery as this can often be a more functional way to store items.

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READY, SET, RENOVATE!

12 reno tips from Three Birds Renovations

by Bonnie Hindmarsh, Lana Taylor and Erin Cayless

1. Create a vision board – this is crucial to nailing the style of your renovation and keeping on track throughout the renovation process. We teach budding renovators exactly how to do this in our six-week online course, The Reno School. We also get our inspiration from Instagram, Pinterest, holidays we’ve been on and hotels we love, the list goes on.

2. Confirm your budget – you’ll need to have a good handle on your budget right from the start. There’s no point engaging with trades before you have some idea of the budget you have to work with. They’ll be able to help you with quotes to make it more accurate. 4. No house is un-flippable – believe it or not, you can turn any house around – sometimes the more dilapidated the better. We know from experience – the first renovation the Three Birds ever did was a hoarder’s hovel; the garden was so overgrown you could barely see the house and the neighbour swore the same bed sheet had been hanging on the Hills Hoist for over 10 years! As long as everything’s structurally sound, it’ll stand up to rehab.

3. Don’t skimp on planning – renovations can be daunting, but with enough planning and ensuring you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, it can be really enjoyable. You only get one chance to get it right so nailing the layout and considering if you want areas like a built-in outdoor BBQ, is essential in the planning stage.