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Cherie Barber’s 5 top tips for first time renovators

August 17, 2016 3 Comments

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Renovating an old property is one of the most satisfying projects you can do, especially when itโ€™s all finished and you have the creative satisfaction โ€“ and hopefully the financial rewards โ€“ of restoring a rough diamond to its sparkling best.

However, renovating can also be a minefield. Youโ€™re inevitably dealing with older properties, which will have ageing electricals and plumbing, possibly asbestos and almost definitely a range of unforeseen problems youโ€™ll need to set aside extra time, money and patience to resolve. Thatโ€™s why you should always allow a contingency of 10% for any budget.

Here are my top five tips for first-time renovators:

Target highly visible changes

First time renovators would be wise to cut their teeth on a small cosmetic renovation rather than launch straight into an ambitious structural renovation that could financially spiral out of control. Things like changing the flooring, updating lights and window furnishings, painting throughout, and modernising the kitchen and bathroom, can absolutely transform a property. And theyโ€™re quite manageable projects for first-timers as long as youโ€™re highly disciplined with your budget and time management, and have a good team of tradies by your side (see my tips on how to find good tradies).

Before
Before

2583_49-53 Warialda St Koagah(2nd Shoot)_100_889

DIY vs outsourcing

DIY can be a great way to keep costs down on a renovation, but you have to be selective about what you take on yourself and what you outsource. Dodgy work is easy to spot, and will likely be picked up by potential buyers, so rather than save money, you could actually devalue your property. Tradies will tell you that Monday is usually their busiest time, as weekend DIYers swamp them with requests to fix botched projects. Unless youโ€™re an experienced handyperson equipped with a good set of tools (otherwise thereโ€™s more money blown on purchasing or hiring tools), then perhaps limit yourself to the more straightforward jobs, like painting. And NEVER attempt to do any plumbing or electrical work yourself. Itโ€™s not only illegal, but highly risky.

Beware asbestos

Any property built or renovated before 1987 potentially has asbestos somewhere. It was commonly used as wall linings, and externally, on eaves, roofs, fences and as wall cladding. DIY renovators must educate themselves about where itโ€™s typically found and what to do if they suspect thereโ€™s asbestos present. Iโ€™m an ambassador for the Asbestos Awareness campaign and have made a video that specifically explains where to look for asbestos in older properties.

Retain, recycle, re-use

Even though the first instinct might be to demolish, youโ€™ll save money โ€“ and help the environment โ€“ by instead looking at what could be recycled or retained. If youโ€™re pulling up old brick pavers from the front of the house, think about whether you could re-use them out the back. Plants can easily be moved rather than pulled up and discarded. If you canโ€™t re-use your old roof tiles, put an ad on Gumtree and give someone else the opportunity to. Even if you donโ€™t make money on the transaction, youโ€™ll save on skip costs.

Cosmetically refresh

On the subject of retain and re-use, youโ€™ll save big dollars on kitchens and bathrooms by doing a โ€œcosmetic refreshโ€ of surfaces, rather than ditching the lot and starting from scratch. There are specialty products for everything from painting tiles, cabinetry and benchtops, to giving old appliances the stainless steel paint treatment. White Knight and Rust-Oleum have a range of products specifically for sprucing up old bathrooms and kitchens.

Before
Before

RUSE KITCHEN- 7

–Cherie Barber is the director ofย Renovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit.ย 

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Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

โ€œWe are very honoured to have been a part ofย The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,โ€ he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find ๐Ÿค—

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
๐Ÿ“ธ @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ N The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

โœ”๏ธ ventilation holes
โœ”๏ธ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
โœ”๏ธ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
โœ”๏ธ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
โœ”๏ธ Brabantia make things as sustainably as possible
โœ”๏ธ compact, sleek, European design
โœ”๏ธ 10 year warranty
โœ”๏ธ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
Kids and husband messing with my vignettes again๐Ÿคจ

PS. The coaster was RIGHT THERE ๐Ÿคช
#weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ Need a new blanket? Look no fu #weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ

Need a new blanket? Look no further than these gorgeous South African blankets from @baobabcollective, sustainably sourced, ethically crafted and imported by a Southern Highlands couple.

On the blog now via link in bio.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Comments

  1. AvatarJenni says

    August 23, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Although really nervous, I am going to attempt to update my kitchen which has water damage in cupboards (presumably from a leaking dishwasher before I purchased the property). I really enjoy Cherie’s renos on the living room. You have inspired me to have a go! Thanks.

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      August 23, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Good luck with it!

      Reply
  2. AvatarJenni says

    August 30, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    Barry & Cherie have given me the confidence to tackle jobs that I never thought I’d be capable of.

    Reply

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