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Palm Springs via the Med: A stunning before & after reno

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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After a stint overseas, like many Aussies, Rachel Gadiel returned to Australia in 2020 during the pandemic. Originally a Sydneysider, Rachel was deterred by the house prices in her former hometown and so looked to the beautiful NSW coastal town of Mollymook as an alternative. “I had been visiting the south coast for years and have family down here. I saw this house and thought that buying it made much more sense than buying a beachside apartment in Sydney,” says Rachel who was keen to reside near the ocean.

Before front
BEFORE front elevation
AFTER front elevation
AFTER The exterior of the home was painted in a textured render in Dulux Casper White

Originally built in the late 1980’s, Rachel saw plenty of potential in the home before undertaking a renovation that spanned nine months and finished in August this year. “I felt this house had incredible potential as it had amazing light, great bones and was in a fabulous location near the beach,” says Rachel who engaged an architect (Fox & Wolf Design) and builder (HDG Constructions) to turn her creative vision into reality.

BEFORE lounge
BEFORE lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER dining
AFTER dining

Combining a modern Mediterranean aesthetic with a Palm Springs inspired feel, the renovation is bright, breezy and fairy neutral except for some pops of pink. “The pink door and pink tiles are my favourite thing. I’m a fan of pink and think it’s a great neutral and because I’m single I wasn’t afraid to go with it. That said, every man who has seen the house think it’s quite neutral apart from the tiling,” says Rachel.

BEFORE bathroom
BEFORE bathroom
AFTER bathroom
AFTER Tile Cloud tiles and a Reece vanity feature in the bathroom.

Most of the renovation was cosmetic apart from the removal of the wall between the living and dining areas and the open plan space is Rachel’s favourite part of the home. “I love the open plan living and dining and all the natural light in the house. The way the indoor/outdoor living flows beautifully makes it a lovely place to be,” says Rachel.

BEFORE kitchen
BEFORE kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER deck
AFTER A brand new deck runs off the kitchen and connects the home with the outdoors

Not only was the whole house overhauled, the home’s lower level was also transformed from a brick and concrete storage area into a self-contained studio. Designed to provide a secondary income stream via Airbnb, the space now features a kitchenette, dining area, bed, bathroom and rear courtyard.

BEFORE studio
BEFORE studio
AFTER studio
AFTER studio

“It was literally an open cement slab next to the garage. My big concern with the studio was that there wouldn’t be enough light but my architect made sure there were enough windows and sliding doors. It’s a great addition to the property.”

AFTER studio
AFTER studio
AFTER bathroom
AFTER studio

Photography: Somethings Wild Creative

Book your stay | For more on Rachel Gadiel

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November 15, 2022

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Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalha Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalhaven area on the NSW South Coast, former Block contestants @rachelandryan Carr have transformed a tired rural property into a luxurious holiday retreat that feels like a slice of Italy. Surrounded by the natural beauty of gum trees and rural views, the property is designed to transport guests to the heart of Tuscany, blending the charm of the Australian landscape with the elegance and luxury of Italian design. 

See more on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.
Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! An Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! And this pair of duplexes look pretty stylish too! Ground floor is printed concrete and the top floor is made from lightweight modular panels.

Want to read all about it and see more pix? Comment '3d" and we'll send the article link straight to your DMs! Or find it on the homepage via link in bio.

#3dprinting #3dprinted #3dprintedhouse #3dprintedhome #3dprintedhomes #houseofthefuture #australianhomes #australianhousing
New @kmartaus home coming later this month and her New @kmartaus home coming later this month and here's a few of the standouts, with pricing and more info on the blog now, via link in bio.

Anything catch your eye?

#kmartaustralia #kmarthome #kmartaus #kmartstyling #affordablehomedecor
A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangeh A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangehood cover was fashioned from a piece of American oak benchtop!

This fresh coastal kitchen showcases some of @kaboodlekitchen's latest products to achieve a truly individual space, without paying a small fortune. V groove doors, premium wireware inserts and a concrete look benchtop make for a great combination that's at the same time on trend and timeless. 

See more on the blog now via link in bio and stories.

#flatpackkitchen #budgetkitchen #uniquekitchen #bluekitchencabinets #vgroove #kaboodle #kaboodlekitchen
Swipe for before An interior designer shares the Swipe for before 

An interior designer shares the clever ways they took this homestead from tired 80s to a welcoming country retreat for holidaymakers without spending a fortune or starting from scratch.

This fireplace became a beautiful focal point after a lick of paint, for example.

See more before and afters from @wandarra_homestead on the blog now via link in stories/bio.
How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he s How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he shares with wife @kirstenstanley_ and their young kids?!

When they first set eyes on an expansive acreage on Victoria's Surf Coast, they knew it was the perfect place to build their forever home and embrace working farm life. @studiohallihan helped them bring it all together perfectly!

Take the tour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#modernfarmhousehomes #australianfarmhouse #workingfarm #surfcoastlife #foreverhomes #farmhousestylehome #geelongfootballclub #geelongcats
Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

@castleryau have named the talented stylist @stevecordony as their first Australian brand ambassador and he's curated a capsule of their furniture which he styled to perfection at his stunning country house @rosedale_farm 

I was lucky enough to see the pieces in situ last week and I honestly couldn't believe how well it all worked! They were going for accessible luxury and well, he delivered, and then some!

Head to the blog via link in bio to read more about the partnership.

#castlery #castleryau #stevecordony #rosedalefarm #affordablefurniture #australianstylist
If you pick your restaurants for the interior as m If you pick your restaurants for the interior as much as the food, you might want to add @pinosalmare  by @nicgrahamandassociates to your date night list! 😍

@smartstoneaustralia's stunning Calacatta Viola sintered stone surface features throughout, making a bold statement while being durable enough to be used in the busiest areas.

Inspired by Puglia, Pino's (named after the owner's father) in Cronulla has a real seaside vibe. The Smartstone was also chosen for the outdoor tables due to its UV stability.

#calacattaviola #smartstone #restaurantinteriors #restaurantinteriordesign #italianrestaurantsydney #engineeredstone #sinteredstone
SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
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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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kate Wise says

    November 15, 2022 at 12:24 pm

    I have watched this home transform over the past 12 months. I have been lucky enough to have a look through this masterpiece and I can say is WOW!
    Rachel has done an amazing transformation.

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      November 15, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      Lucky you! It really does look amazing! We are super impressed!

  2. Lana Erbon says

    November 16, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    The end result is beautiful but it’s a copy paste of a three birds home. I liked interiors addict because your style isn’t theirs, so please try not to feature too many Reno school / styling school graduates.

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      November 16, 2022 at 4:10 pm

      We only feature what we like and think our readers will like and judging by the comments on the Instagram post, we were right with this one! But it’s certainly not the case that we only feature a certain look at all. I hope you’d agree! Thanks for your feedback.

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