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Five easy cosmetic fixes you could do this Christmas break

December 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

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By Cherie Barber

The long summer weeks ahead hopefully offer a respite from work, a chance to relax and maybe a window to catch up on some much-needed improvements around the home. If you need some inspiration, hereโ€™s five projects that I promise will improve both the look and the value of your property.

Make an entrance

How your property first presents to visitors sends a vital message about who you are and how much pride you take in your home. So make sure those vital first impressions are communicating the right message. Garbage bins in full view, clutter on the front porch and a letter box hanging off its hinges are about as impressive as turning up to professional job interview in thongs and shorts. So cast a long, critical eye over your front faรงade and declutter, clean, repair and improve anything thatโ€™s letting the side down.

Go the extra mile

Okay, so now youโ€™ve removed all eyesores, trimmed and neatened the garden, done the patch-up painting and given the whole front an industrial tidy and clean, look at those creative touches that take it to the next level. Could you buy new furniture and pot plants for the front veranda; spotlights for the garden to give it a resort feel; a modern letter box, entrance light and house numbers; maybe even paint the front door in a funky, eye-catching colour? Theyโ€™re all easy improvements that together add up to a complete transformation.

Get fully decked out

A deck can be cheaply constructed and often doesnโ€™t need council approval, depending on the size. It adds tremendous value to a property, especially if you can create an easy flow between indoors and out, so the deck virtually becomes an extension of the home. And these days you donโ€™t even need to dig footings. Any handy DIYer can assemble a modular deck. You just lay it straight over a solid surface like concrete. Good Times modular deckingย is a popular choice.

A deck is a surefire way to add value

A brush with genius

Inside, thereโ€™s quite simply no bigger game changer than paint, especially when itโ€™s paired with a tasteful feature wall here and there. There are some gorgeous wallpapers on the market, so be brave and experiment with a strategic wall โ€“ say the end of a hallway, a bedroom wall or a discreet wall in the living room. Keep the rest of your paint palette neutral (think restful beiges or subtle greys) and let your feature walls provide the character highlights.

A wallpapered feature wall, like this one behind the bedhead, adds wow factor

Cosmetic creativity

Now, of course, the only problem with your freshly painted work of genius is that it makes everything else suddenly look dated and drab. So just like you did outside, you need to take off the rose-coloured glasses and get that critical eye working again. Shop sensibly, and things like contemporary light fittings, window dressings and maybe a rug or two shouldnโ€™t break the bank, but will provide those final touches that will strip years of a tired looking interior and inject some much-needed wow factor.

Modern feature lights can dramatically change a dated property

–Cherie Barber is a professional renovator and 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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I'm absolutely loving the simple yet on trend scal I'm absolutely loving the simple yet on trend scallop design and colour pop of these lampshades from new brand @soffle_lights 

Read founder Sophie Cartwright's top tips for transforming your rental home on the blog now. Via link in bio.

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While we featured a gloriously colourful home on M While we featured a gloriously colourful home on Monday, this one is a masterclass in serene neutrals! And how good is this bunk room?!

Take the tour on the blog now. Via link in bio.

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๐Ÿ“ท@the.palm.co
Washable rugs, eco-friendly play mats, reversible Washable rugs, eco-friendly play mats, reversible linen, gorgeous wallpaper and the chance to win a beautiful bouclรฉ recliner chair!

Today's kids room roundup is full of loveliness if we don't say ourselves!

Via link in bio now.

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A glass shower screen is not the only option! In A glass shower screen is not the only option!

In this 80s villa reno, @trentinidesign took inspiration from an archway typical of the era and used it throughout the home.

The bathroom was transformed from a classic three-piece set up that included a shower, bath and vanity. Kathryn removed the bath and split the room in half and designed an arch to sit between the two zones. 

โ€œI wanted something spectacular. Rather than having a vanity with a piece of glass like you would typically see, I was really trying to push myself as a designer. It was costly but it worked out well and the feedback has been great."

Swipe for the before and follow the link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#bathroomdesignideas #bathroomtrends2023 #showerscreen #showerscreens #archways #apartmentrenovation #interiorsblogger #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno
One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

Head over to the blog via link in bio to read all about why she went bold and full of pattern in this project, which is a stark contrast to her zen and neutral Northern Beaches abode.

There's also plenty of details about where things are from etc.

"Iโ€™m not an interior designer so I just chose what I liked and followed my gut. Ultimately this home has been an opportunity to explore my alter ego โ€“ it allowed me to do things that I wouldnโ€™t normally do.โ€

๐Ÿ“ท @tanikablair_photography 

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
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