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Real reno: The Block’s Dani Wales transforms her mum’s dilapidated home

April 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

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When Dani Walesโ€™ mum decided to sell her Townsville rental property, the two-time Blockhead couldnโ€™t resist returning to her hometown and giving her nearest and dearest a helping hand.

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Dani Wales

However, the job was far from easy. The fibro home โ€“ much to their shock โ€“ was in an awful state, having miraculously undergone every rental inspection without raising suspicion. โ€œThe previous tenants had allowed their children to draw all over the walls, there were holes everywhere, the kitchen had been damaged beyond repair (both by ill-treatment and water), the whole house was infested with cockroaches and a family of rats had moved in! There was a ratโ€™s nest underneath the kitchen sink cabinet and another behind a temporary cabinet in the dining room. There was even a dead rat in that one!โ€

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Combine this with a gag worthy smell and a number of structural issues and itโ€™s safe to say the home was crying out for some serious TLC! So together with her mum, dad, partner (The Blockโ€™s foreboyย Dan Reilly) and some licensed trades, they set out to transform the tired house with a budget of $70,000.ย โ€œWe altered the floorplan slightly downstairs as the existing bathroom didnโ€™t meet code in a number of different ways. This bathroom was deleted and halved in size and a new laundry was built there. We then added an ensuite to an existing bedroom downstairs so that we still had two bathrooms in the house.โ€

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After

On a superficial level, they changed the flooring from a cheap mahogany coloured laminate to Formicaโ€™s (who sponsored the project) Golden Wattle, all walls were painted a warm white, a Kaboodle flatpack kitchen was added, the bathrooms were updated, new internal doors were fitted and the exterior of the house was washed and repainted inย an inviting beige. โ€œBoth the simplest and biggest changes would have been the painting and the flooring. The flooring and walls are now a great neutral colour thatโ€™s brightened the whole place up.”

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However, while there were some easy aspects to the reno, Dani and her family certainly had their fair share of troubles. โ€œMy mum was diagnosed with cancer mid way through so things slowed down quite a bit. It was also difficult managing from Melbourneย but I did a number of short stay trips to Townsville when I needed to. Overall, it was a six-month process.โ€

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Having been purchased for $105,000 11 years ago, the property is currently under contract for $350,000. And with such a good profit in sight, Dani has not just her Block reno experience to thank but also the friends she met during the process, enlisting previous contestants to style the property prior to going on the market. โ€œJesse and Kenny from My Handsome were knocked out during eliminations on the Fans vs Faves series of The Block but I definitely donโ€™t think Australia saw the best of them. They are based in Townsville and have a successful interior styling business and have recently opened an interiors store for children in the heart of Townsvilleโ€™s CBD. The brief was bright and modern and Jesse did a fantastic job.โ€

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Find out more about Daniโ€™s post-Block adventures on her blog, The Home Journal.

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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˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness ๐Ÿ˜‰

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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About Olivia Shead

When she's not writing for Interiors Addict, Olivia is now a TV and radio news producer. She's a journalism graduate of UTS Sydney.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarDani Wales says

    April 16, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Thanks for the feature Olivia!!

    Reply
    • AvatarMelody Collins says

      April 17, 2015 at 11:27 pm

      Hi Dani,

      The house looks beautiful! My husband and I are currently renovating a house with the intention to sell. I was just wondering did you hire the furniture or did you purchase it?

      Melody

      Reply
      • AvatarDani Wales says

        April 18, 2015 at 12:41 pm

        Hi Melody,

        We hired a property stylist in the area. We gave her a brief and she set about styling the property for sale as it was empty. She either owns or hired the furniture and decorative pieces from there.

        The furniture and styling items were in place for the professional photos and then stayed in place for the duration of the marketing campaign.

        Well worth the investment I say as people often struggle to visualise themselves in your home.

        Cheers,
        Dani

        Reply
  2. AvatarCarolyn says

    April 20, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    A fantastic makeover. I love the wall colour. May I ask what it is , also the trim colour. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. AvatarWAM Home Decor says

    May 4, 2015 at 9:45 am

    Love the bright rooms and pops of colour. The blues and greens in he cushions and throws give the rooms a really relaxed look. Much fresher look and feel to the place, great job!

    Reply

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