When former Block contestants Ronnie and Georgia Caceres first set their sights on a tired, old 1960s home in the Perth suburb of Embleton, they had no idea what lay ahead. What started as a simple makeover project soon escalated into a complete rebuild, with the couple stripping the house back to its stud frame before embarking on an extensive renovation. “We underestimated the work involved but in true Ronnie and Georgia fashion, we got carried away!” says Georgia.
The first challenge was dealing with the home’s significant amount of asbestos and navigating the intricacies of renovation regulations. “Working within the existing footprint spared us from needing council approval which was a relief,” says Georgia who engaged her longstanding trades to assist with the renovation alongside her partner Ronnie who did most of the building work. “Utilising space and layout efficiently was key, as was keeping to a strict budget,” says Georgia who combined a couple of the home’s original rooms to create an open plan kitchen, living and dining room.
Taking inspiration from the home’s original architecture, the couple’s vision for the home began to take shape. “As soon as I saw the skillion roof, I knew it would make a lovely Palm-Springs inspired mid-century home,” says Georgia who preserved the character of the home while infusing it with modern touches.
For Georgia, the project was a departure from her usual minimalist style, and it allowed for a bit more creative freedom. “I’m usually quite pared back but I thought I’d have a bit of fun with colour in this one,” says Georgia. The home’s palette includes a dirty pink paint shade (Taubmans Chalkware) as well as a muted green in the joinery (Laminex Seed).
Some of the home’s standout features include its hybrid timber flooring, feature tiling and bathroom fixtures (vanity, sink, tapware, tiles and mirror) were all sourced from Beaumont Tiles. “We chose the hybrid flooring for its durability and we loved how the Beaumont Tiles bathroom packages made outfitting the space a breeze,” says Georgia.
Creating continuity throughout the home, circular motifs are a repeat design feature and can be seen in the tiles, cupboard handles and lighting choices.
The renovation process was documented on the couple’s Instagram and YouTube channel where it garnered the attention of an interstate investor who swooped when it was put up for sale recently. “We had 120 groups through the property and seven offers on the first day. The response from buyers was overwhelming which was a nice bookend for us. The interstate buyer has since rented it out for an incredible yield.”
Photography: Lulu Cavanagh | Follow Ronnie & Georgia
