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Our “nanna house” reno update and what’s planned next?

By Jen Bishop •

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It’s been more than 18 months since we bought our family home on Sydney’s upper north shore and, bathrooms aside, it’s largely unrecognisable from the dated home it once was. Lived in by the same lady for three decades, it was not exactly modern, but it was a great size with four bedrooms, and a decent floorplan which didn’t need changing (although we’re now constantly coming up with things we’d do if money– or over-capitalising– were no object!). Add to the a flat block, a decent, private, backyard and walking distance to a cafe, and the bones were great, although we had no character features to speak of (hello, sixties red brick)!

Anyway, the New Year seemed a great time to recap on everything we’ve done so far. Still on the to-do list is:

  • 2 new bathrooms (yup, they’re bloody expensive!)
  • A new driveway (also, not cheap)
  • A new laundry (this is a tiny room behind the kitchen barn door but it’s low on my priority list if I’m honest!)
  • Skylights
  • Tiling the front veranda
  • New outdoor lighting
  • Air con in the bedrooms
  • New windows
  • Turning the garage into a studio

My favourite projects so far have been the kitchen (take a video tour with me here):

and the most recent, the deck:

The flooring was a HUGE game changer for the house as we previously had  parquetry, pine boards and, God help us, cork, all at different heights. We are still in love with our Quick-Step laminate more than a year on. Our floor is probably the thing I get asked about the most.

Our new wardrobe doors made a big difference to the bedrooms and we’ve actually changed almost all the doors in the house with Corinthian but we’re yet to shoot them.

My home office was one of the first rooms we did but I’ve increasingly found I just don’t use it! The nature of my job means I don’t need much other than my laptop, with everything stored in the cloud, and I always find myself in the kitchen/dining with the best natural light and proximity to the kettle and the front door when couriers knock! I often have Seb at home (with or without nanny), and for the foreseeable future I’ll have Charlie at home every day too, so it doesn’t make sense to be stuck up at the back of our long, single-story house.

It’s a beautiful room with the best wallpaper ever, but it’s about to be turned into a very lovely guest bedroom with doors out onto the back yard. I’m going to call it the garden suite 😉 Will shoot and share that one with you soon.

We also did Charlie’s nursery this year, although he is still sleeping in our room so it’s currently a very tidy and serene nappy-changing room!

We’ve also changed all the lighting, installed air con, painted throughout, put wainscoting in the dining room, replaced most of the skirting boards, gutted the linen cupboard and put in new shelves, put in plantation shutters throughout, carpeted all the bedrooms, and done a fair bit to the back yard (thank you, Damian!) and the front (including picket fence, painting all the trim and a new house number, but we’re not finished enough to shoot it just yet). The master bedroom has also had a big makeover but is also not quite finished enough to shoot and is currently a bomb site of baby stuff and a bassinet squeezed in!

The living room was one of the first rooms we made over and it’s recently been changed a lot, but here’s a video of the original if you’re interested! We’ll shoot version 2 soon too. And Sebastian’s room has hardly changed at all, which proves it is as timeless as we planned it to be.

What’s next?

The main bathroom is the thing we’ll be saving hard to get done this year so I’m about to start planning that. We may even have a crack at a cosmetic makeover on the en suite ourselves. Then there’s a list of smaller projects we’d like to crack too, especially skylights, but we shall see!

I hope you enjoyed the recap and I’m always happy to answer any questions you have about suppliers or what we’ve done and why.

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All photos by Jacqui Turk, except Charlie’s nursery, by Sam McAdam-Cooper.

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January 3, 2019

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Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

#elsternwick #melbournehome #melbournehomes #masterchefaustralia #masterchefcontestant #masterchefcontestants #chefskitchen #heritagearchitecture #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #monochromehome #colourfulhome #bookshelfstyling #bookcasestyling #colourfulbooks #fireplacedecor #velvetcouch #livingroomstyle #livingroomart
GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Bl GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Block master bedroom walk ins on the blog now.

Which was your fave?

Via latest posts link in bio now.

#walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #wardrobes #wardrobe #wardrobe #bedroomstorage #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #kinsman #kinsmankitchens #kinsmanwardrobes #dressingroom #dressingtable
A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

Via link in bio now.

#newbuild #hamptonsaustralia #hamptonsnewbuild #fretwork #benchseat #benchseating #fireplace🔥 #fireplacedecor #ikeahacks #diymudroom #mudroom #kidsroomwallpaper #frenchdoors #frenchdoor #hallwaydoors #frenchdoorpantry #butlerspantrydesign #newbuildupgrades
Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or bo Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or boring!

The latest @kaboodlekitchen trends release, in collaboration with stylist @jono.fleming, are anything but. These are just 4 of 6 new colours for the brand, sold in Bunnings.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the others (hint: one of them might be pink! 🩷). You'll also find out how to get a free copy of the latest Kaboodle edit magazine sent to you, chock full of inspiring real projects like my navy laundry!

Which of these is your pick? Would you venture outside of a white kitchen? What colour is yours?

#kaboodlekitchen #kaboodlelaundry #kaboodle #flatpackfurniture #flatpackkitchen #bunningskitchen #flatpackcabinets #budgetkitchen #ontrendkitchens #colourfulkitchen #colouredcabinets #kitchencolourtrends2023 #colourtrends2023 #boldkitchen #jonofleming #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #bunningsdiy #heartyourhome #realreno #realrenovations #kitchenbeforeandafter #kitchenonabudget #colourfullaundry #flatpacklaundry
Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own rug range this week and they're a bit gorgeous! 😍 These are the kind of beautiful, neutral, textured, natural, ethically and sustainably produced rugs that will stand the test of time.

Pop over to the blog via link in bio to read our chat with him.

“I believe in the democratisation of good design,” says Darren, who wanted the rugs to be affordable. “It was very important to me that they were ethically made, and they are all Good Weave certified ensuring that no child labour is involved in their creation."

#darrenpalmer #darrenpalmerofficial #darrenpalmerinteriors #theblock #rugshopping #rugdesign #ruggoals #rugmaking #naturalrugs #sustainablerugs #ethicalrugs #jute #juterug #juterugs #handcarved #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #goodweave
Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost pe Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost perfect score on the Block last night.

Even if their bedsides weren't exactly generous, they were bigger than most last night. What was going on there?!

As ever, love to know your thoughts. See more, read the judges' comments and shop the looks via link in bio now.

#theblockroomreveals
#theblock #theblock2023 #blockshopper #masterbedroomdecor #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #mastersuites #walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realreno
The latest pieces from @mockaaustralia are designe The latest pieces from @mockaaustralia are designed to give your home an endless summer feel ☀️

The Dilllon rattan bedhead is $399, the Blair buffet (swipe) is $469 and (swipe again) the rattan Canyon cabinet is $259.

See more on the homepage now via link in bio.

#rattanlovers #rattan #rattanfurniture #rattandecor #rattanbed #rattanbedhead #timberbuffet #mockaaustralia #mocka #affordablefurniture
My home is not always photoshoot ready, guys! Bu My home is not always photoshoot ready, guys! 

But check out my navy laundry looking perfect in the new issue of @kaboodlekitchen's edit magazine (and the reality!).

Two years on, we're still loving this room!

You'll also see the entertainment unit we created with the same Berry Blue Kaboodle.

Get a free hard copy sent to you (it features many other gorgeous projects using Kaboodle flatpack) or download the digital version via link in my bio now. Enjoy!

#kaboodlekitchen #kaboodle #kaboodlelaundry #flatpack #bunnings #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #barndoor #laundryroomdecor
▶️ Swipe for before! Bathroom of my dreams 😍

Overcrowded with fixtures and with very little natural light, this main bathroom was in need of an update. The existing window was removed and replaced with custom steel bi-fold doors with clear glass above and ribbed for privacy below. “They provide an abundance of natural light and connection to the beautiful garden and incredible view. Indoor or outdoor bathing is now optional!” says Darren Genner of @studio__minosa 

Head to the blog via link in bio to see this home's KITCHEN transformation.

#outdoorbath #outdoorbathroom #outdoorbathtub #gardenbathroom #gardenviews #bifolddoors #steelbifold #blacksteeldoors #blacksteeldoors #bathroombeforeandafter #studiominosa #bathroomdesigninspiration #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome  #indooroutdoorflow
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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 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarAfbraakwerken says

    January 8, 2019 at 12:23 am

    Thank you for sharing such nice renovation ideas.Keep posting

  2. AvatarNicole Wallace says

    January 9, 2019 at 9:46 am

    Your office!! SWOON!! I love pink & that is just fab.

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      January 9, 2019 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks Nicole! About to turn it into a guest room but the wallpaper is of course staying!

  3. AvatarAntonia says

    March 2, 2019 at 8:26 pm

    What beautiful spaces you have created. Will you be sharing where you sourced your furniture?

    And your floors?

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      March 3, 2019 at 8:44 pm

      Hi Antonia, happy to tell you where anything is from! If it isn’t listed in a blog post, please just ask and I’m happy to tell you. I have blogged a few times about our gorgeous floors. If you search Quickstep on the blog, you should find it. Thanks for the lovely comment. Jen

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