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Future-proof your backyard with these outdoor reno tips

By Amy Collins-Walker • Leave a Comment

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With a slowing property market, Aussie home ownership trends are changing with people choosing to stay put and renovate rather than relocate, according to the 2019 Adbri Masonry Great Australian Backyard Survey.

“It’s clear the current market conditions lend themselves towards people staying put for longer. The 2019 survey findings support research showing that home ownership ‘hold time’ has been on a steady increase for over a decade. In 2004 the average time in a home was 6.8 years compared to 10.5 years in 2014 and our survey shows this is increasing to 20 plus years,” says Adbri Masonry marketing manager Karl Wood.

The flow-on effect of staying put means people are concentrating on home improvement projects and, given the Aussie propensity for outdoor entertaining, the backyard is high on the list. “We don’t just reside in the one place for longer, we grow in it, and it’s important that our home and backyard grows with us. A backyard that is perfect for your family today is unlikely to meet your needs in 10 or 15 years and must evolve as your family’s lifestyle does,” says landscape designer and Adbri Masonry brand ambassador Jason Hodges.

Garden pavers

“Outdoor projects represent great investments – not only do they provide you with a brilliant asset at sale, but these areas give back to the family every day. The best part is, outdoor projects have a low whole-of-life cost because they use specialty products that are designed for outdoor use to last long term. The pavers you put in your new courtyard today will still be there long after you leave the home. You might renovate your kitchen and bathroom twice in 20 years, but the outdoors can be done just once if you do it well,” says Jason who shares his top backyard future-proofing tips below.

Do it once, do it well
Unlike kitchens and bathrooms, styles in the backyard last longer. Like any project, there is an obvious up-front cost but when you consider the whole of life cost, the investment in hard wearing materials stacks up. Long after the price is forgotten, the quality remains so consider concrete pavers, by design they are thicker, stronger and built to last outside. Informal seating walls that double as garden beds offer extra seating and long-term good looks and if you’re looking to treat yourself, choose a feature outdoor piece of quality furniture. 

Balinese inspired garden

Prepare for the future
Try to accommodate the fact your ideas and needs will change for your outdoor area over time. So, for example, don’t block access to parts of the yard you may need later – perhaps you will want a pool or a BBQ area. It’s much more economical to think ahead rather than having to build and rip elements out at a later stage.

Hampton's inspired garden

Have a transitional mindset
At all life stages, everyone wants a really nice outdoor room.  Our enviable climate and love of the great outdoors make enhancing our outdoor living areas a top priority for many homeowners. As your life changes think about how you can change the backyard space to meet your needs. An example of this is building a sand pit for the kids while they are little and then converting it into a vegie patch as they grow. Once the perimeter and foundation are built, minor cosmetic enhancements will allow the space to grow with you. The children’s sandpit becomes the veggie garden, and later on in life you can repurpose the sandpit by converting it to a fire pit which is the perfect finish to an entertaining area that’s served your family for life.

Backyard children
This hopscotch area can become a veggie patch when the kids have grown

Take your time
Have a game plan. For more than half of those surveyed, cost is a barrier to renovating. It pays to create an overall picture of what you would like to achieve and then break it down into manageable chunks of your time and budget.

For more | Charlie Albone’s backyard makeover tips

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April 12, 2019

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😍 Not sure what's better: the custom mirror abo 😍 Not sure what's better: the custom mirror above the fireplace in this Art Deco one-bedder or the wallpaper in the kitchen (swipe)?!

It's been a while since we featured an apartment makeover on IA. Would you like to see more apartment interiors? Head to the blog now to see more of this one. Via link in bio.

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#artdecomirror #artdecofireplace #artdecomelbourne #artdecofurniture #artdecobuilding #artdecointeriors #apartmentrenovation #apartmentinterior #smallspaceliving #melbourneapartments #melbourneairbnb #kitchenwallpaper #wallpaperaustralia
Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sh Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sheets and soap and powder!). We have a great roundup of the best options on the blog today. 

A whole host of brands are offering eco-friendly, low tox alternatives to the more chemical-laden ones. Not only that, they often smell amazing, look good on your shelf and come in recycled or recyclable (or even better, both) packaging. 

Good for your skin, your clothes and the planet: what’s not to like?

Do you use any of these?

COMPARE THEM ALL VIA LINK IN BIO NOW.

#lowtoxliving #lowtoxlife #lowtoxlifestyle #lowtoxhome #lowtoxlaundry #lowtoxswaps #naturallaundry #naturallaundrydetergent #naturallaundrysoap #ecolaundry #lowtoxcleaning #ecofriendlyhome #ecofriendlyhouse #laundryliquid #laundrypowder #laundrysoap #naturalcleaning #chemicalfreecleaning #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Play room goals!👌🏻 This is just one room fr Play room goals!👌🏻

This is just one room from today's real house tour which I really love because in employing interior designer @issyandhcreative the owners weren't looking for a complete rip out and re-do but rather to work with what they had in their new suburban home (including a dated kitchen) and give it a largely cosmetic glow up with styling and new furniture (some of which was upcycled). 

The brief was to create a family friendly home. "They weren't looking for perfection but rather a warm and relaxing retreat for their busy young family." This playroom though? Pretty close to perfect! And the mum did the colour coded books herself. Love that😁

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#playroomideas #playroomgoals #playroomdecor #familyhomes #kidfriendlyhome #kidfriendlyinteriors #familyhomedecor #sustainabledecor #affordablerenovations #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #beanbagchair #beanbags #colourcodedbooks #colourcoded #toyroom #kidsroomdesign 

Pix by @tealily
All the heart eyes for this little setup 😍 Hea All the heart eyes for this little setup 😍

Head to the blog to shop this and two other gorgeous styled images from @greenhouseinteriors 

The stunning @mrsniceart artwork has already sold but the good news is, you can still get prints of it!

Styling by Aisha Chaudhry for Greenhouse Interiors, assisted by Nikki McGar, Kylie Harris, Rachael Blake and Max Green. Photography by Stephanie Rooney. 

#poolart #sideboardstyling #buffetstyling #consolestyling #vignettes #greenhouseinteriors #barcartstyling #shopthelook #bluehomedecor #poolumbrella #beachumbrella
Bookworms need a cosy book nook! 📖 🐛 Seb an Bookworms need a cosy book nook! 📖 🐛

Seb and Charlie had one of those kid size couches in their playroom but frankly, they'd outgrown it! I picked this Aussie made compact 2-seater Ruby sofa from @fantasticfurniture 

I'd usually go for grey to keep it neutral but as it's in a kid's room I went for this heather blue fabric to make it a little more fun while still classic. There's more than 50 fabric choices for Fantastic's Aussie made range so good luck choosing 😂 

I left the legs off to keep it below the windowsill. I'm super happy with the quality. It looks a lot more expensive than its $699 pricetag 👌🏻

Books, natural light and a cosy couch = happy boys! And let's not pretend they won't be watching the odd movie on there too 🍿 because #keepingitreal

#FantasticFurniture #FantasticFamily #booknook #booknookstagram #booknook #bookwormsofinstagram #littlereader #littlebookworm #cosycorner #cosycorner #playroomideas #toyroom #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #aussiemade #aussiemadefurniture #twoseater #kidssofa #kidscouch #bluesofa #loveofreading
Last week we interviewed chalk paint pioneer Annie Last week we interviewed chalk paint pioneer Annie Sloan from her UK base about colour and Aussies' relationship with it. (And how's this for a before & after kitchen?! 😍)

Annie’s latest green hue, Coolabah Green, is inspired by the Eucalyptus trees of her childhood (did you know she was born in Sydney?). “I made it in tribute to Australia and I’m thrilled to say that’s been really popular both here in the UK and in Australia. It’s a kind of smoky, silvery sage green that’s very easy to work with and would complement accents of Amsterdam Green deliciously.”

Sales stats show Aussies are all about greens while elsewhere in the world greys and blues are more popular from her range. So tell me, are you a green lover?

Head to the blog to read Annie's thoughts on upcycling furniture and more. Via link in bio.

#chalkpaint #chalkpainted #chalkpainting #chalkpaintfurniture #chalkpaintlove #chalkpaintmakeover #anniesloanchalkpaint #anniesloanhome #anniesloanpaint #paintedkitchencabinets #paintedkitchen #paintedkitchens #upcycler #upcyclers #upcyclersofinstagram #upcycledfurniture #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #anniesloan #greenkitchencabinets #greenkitchens #greenpaint #coolabahgreen #coolabah
I've been a fan of @tkmaxxau since WAY before they I've been a fan of @tkmaxxau since WAY before they were in Australia. Browsing the ever changing shelves in the home section of my local store, searching for bargains or something gorgeous nobody else will have, has become a bit of a hobby!

Top tip: it's also a brilliant spot to grab a gift, from the home or toy section. 

And as for those red clearance stickers? What a rush!🎉

Are you a TK Maxx shopper?

#tkmaxx #tkmaxxaustralia #tkmaxxfanfinds #comeshoppingwithme #comeshopwithme #homeshopping  #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
As many original external features as possible wer As many original external features as possible were retained in this Queenslander's exterior but the interiors were almost entirely rebuilt. Highlights include a timber and pink upholstered 1970’s inspired sunken lounge with crazy paver floor, nestled below 5-metre ceilings. It opens out onto a north facing lawn and enviable bespoke pool.

Did we mention it has Brisbane city views?! 

Take the tour now via link in bio.

@typearchitecture @andymcpherson_ 

#sunkenlounge #crazypave #crazypaving #seventiesinspired #seventiesinterior #bespokepool #curvedpool #custompool #custompools #custompoolbuilder #queenslanderrenovation #queenslanderhome #cityviews
Mouthwash and toothpaste pretty enough to leave ou Mouthwash and toothpaste pretty enough to leave out, gold sinks to match your taps, textured tiles you'll want to keep touching and a pink clothes airer (not often we get even vaguely excited about those, so listen up!😂).

All this and more in this month's bathroom and laundry roundup, on the blog now via link in bio.

#toothpastes #naturaltoothpaste #lowtox #mouthwash #naturalmouthwash #bathroomstyling #designerbathroom #clothesairer #laundryroomdecor #laundryhacks #goldbasin #goldsink #texturedtiles #pinktiles #pinkbathroom #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #laundryroutine #laundrytips #bathroomhappiness
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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