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Real reno: This budget makeover makes creative use of paint

By Amy Collins-Walker • 2 Comments

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Located in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale, this 1960’s two-bedroom apartment got the budget makeover treatment recently with amazing results. Carried out almost entirely by the owners Alannah and Dave, the project makes impressive use of paint as a key renovating tool.

Lounge and dining BEFORE

“Our apartment isn’t big, and had previously been painted all in white, so we were nervous about introducing any colour,” said Dave, who consulted with Haymes colour stylist Wendy Rennie on how to choose colours for small spaces. “We are also planning to rent the apartment out in the years to come, and didn’t want anything too bold. Wendy helped us choose some great tones that were fairly neutral, but so much more effective than the ‘off-white’ colour that was in the apartment before.”

Lounge and dining AFTER featuring Haymes Parchment Grey (walls) and Haymes Greyology 1 (trims)

Swapping out the stark white for a variety of soft greys and black, the renovation proves the quiet power of the colourful neutral. “Just because you like a colour doesn’t mean it’s the right choice, there are a lot of preconceived ideas about colours and we definitely had our fair share. When Wendy initially suggested black for the kitchen and a neutral green tone for the lounge room we were apprehensive. But the results speak for themselves, and I can’t believe how different it feels now. We wish we had discovered colour stylists years ago!” says Dave.

Lounge AFTER using Haymes Parchment Grey (walls) and Haymes Greyology 1 (trims)

Paint certainly made all the difference in the kitchen, with the couple giving the space a cosmetic makeover rather than a complete overhaul. “The kitchen was so tired, and very 60’s. It had beige lino on the floor, shiny beige doorknobs, beige curtains and old beige cabinetry,” says Allanah. The space was transformed with a lick of Intrigue, the brand’s darkest shade of black.

Kitchen BEFORE

“When Wendy suggested we paint the cupboards black, we were initially resistant, and thought it would look dark, and close the room in. But in the end, we figured that she was the expert and so we may as well go along with her suggestion. Ultimately, we absolutely love it. It has completely transformed our kitchen, all for the cost of a few tins of paint. It’s unbelievable,” says Alannah who replaced the kitchen cupboard handles and door knobs too.

Kitchen AFTER – the cupboard fronts are painted in Haymes Intrigue

Wendy also suggested bringing in as many contemporary aspects as possible – the open shelving was a clever move. “Originally the beige cabinetry went right up to the ceiling, we decided to pull off the doors, and bring back the original 60’s shelving that was there before the cabinetry would have gone in. Taking off the cabinets and painting the shelving white instantly lifted the space whilst opening it up more,” says Alannah.

Kitchen AFTER – the bench top is painted in Haymes Ultimate Hypoxy in Aura

The couple’s DIY budget didn’t extend to a marble or stone kitchen benchtop replacement, but they achieved amazing results with Haymes Ultimate Epoxy in Aura. “The Epoxy was magic stuff – super easy to apply and gave us a totally different feel in the kitchen. The bench top is no longer salmon-coloured!” says Dave.

Kitchen AFTER – the indoor greenery is another affordable, transformative addition

The kitchen floor presented a challenge as the couple struggled to find something that could easily be installed without an expert. “The flooring was quite a challenge, there are lots of apparently DIY products on the market, but when you actually start doing your research, most of them are really hard to install by yourself and can so easily go wrong,” says Alannah. The original beige lino was replaced with a product from Pickawall. “We chose a blonde oak surface for the kitchen floor, as the perfect complement to the cabinetry. This product is such a good low-fuss, low-cost flooring option,” says Alannah.

Bedroom BEFORE

The bedroom makeover primarily consisted of fresh paint – Haymes Feather Grey, a moody grey. “We also updated the hideous old curtains that used to be the master bedroom, and replaced some of the old light fittings, though we got a licensed electrician in to do the electrical work,” says Alannah.

Bedroom AFTER painted in Haymes Feather Grey

Of the project, Dave has plenty of advice to impart to would-be renovators. “Allow plenty of time, you want to be able to get the right quality finish so don’t put yourself under time restraints. Anything can happen! Also, do your research and think creatively about possible products. For us, the benchtop and flooring products were not common ideas we had come across but turned out to be brilliant and super low cost.”

Dining AFTER painted in Haymes Parchment Grey

“Despite the hard work, the overall impact has been huge, and we are so pleased with how it’s turned out. In the end, our finished product was worth it, we love what we have been able to do with the space, with a small budget,” says Dave.

Lounge AFTER using Haymes Parchment Grey (walls)

Photography: Martina Gemmola | Styling: Ruth Welsby

For more paint ideas

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May 26, 2017

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There's nothing like ticking off little jobs! We f There's nothing like ticking off little jobs! We finally knocked out our 60s brown tile back step and replaced it with a smaller grey one made from @trexcompany Island Mist decking to match our deck (that went in 4.5 years ago) and now painted brick exterior. Making the step smaller allowed us to add in an additional manhole under the back door too to allow easier access under the house at the back. And we made a cover for that too (final slide) using Trex. I say "we" but I really mean our handyman 😉 One plank was enough for both jobs. Why we didn't do this ages ago I do not know but it's done now! 😁 Installed with @trexrainescape to ensure it stays dry and lasts!

Disclosure: Plank of Trex decking was gifted. I paid for the handyman.

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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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Comments

  1. AvatarElise Crothers says

    June 18, 2017 at 9:11 pm

    Looks great! I’m particularly impressed by the kitchen. Would you mind sharing details of the carpet you used too please?

    Reply
  2. AvatarAmber Byrnes says

    November 10, 2019 at 8:55 pm

    Just wondering if you found the benchtop marked with water- we have recently applied the Haynes Epoxy to our bench top (2 coats) but even wiping with a damp sponge has left marks.

    Reply

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