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Real reno: the tired rental in need of a massive facelift

By Olivia Shead •

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Having bought her three-bedroom brick home in Eimeo, Queensland as an investment property, Debbie Goodwin had been renting it out for some 15 years. So when the idea to sell came to mind, it was time to get the hard hat on and the tool belt out, because it was in serious need of a revamp!

Before: bathroom
Before: bathroom
After: bathroom
After: bathroom

“It had good bones but it had to have a massive facelift on the interior. So we completely gutted the whole inside of the house and put in a brand new kitchen, bathroom, laundry, toilet, painted the whole interior, put in new blinds, fans and aircon, timber boards in all the living spaces and tiles in all the wet areas.”

Before: Living
Before: Living
After: living
After: living
lounge 1
After: living

Costing $50,000, it took approximately 10 months, with Debbie and her husband doing a lot of the reno themselves, after work and on the weekend. “The biggest challenge was definitely the time factor as we have three small boys and a business that operates seven days a week.”

Before: kitchen
Before: kitchen
After: kitchen
After: kitchen
After: kitchen
After: kitchen

With the new kitchen, living and bathroom making the biggest difference to the home, as a seasoned renovator, Debbie made some smart moves, knowing when to spend big and when to rein it in. “The freestanding bath was the best bargain product that will really add value to the home. As was repainting, especially in the living room, as it is now so fresh and inviting. Definitely worth the money.”

Before: main bedroom
Before: main bedroom
After: main bedroom
After: main bedroom

As well as budgeting, another of Debbie key’s considerations is choosing the right people for the job, thinking it’s best to get the experts in first time round and save the time and money of re-do jobs “My advice for would-be renovators is to source good tradies. Be organised and always be prepared for unexpected costs to crop up.”

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November 23, 2015

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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. 

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📸 @jonathantabensky
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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. Emma says

    November 23, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Great transformation! And I love the bathroom vanity and mirror – can you share where they are from?

    • Debbie says

      November 23, 2015 at 11:22 pm

      Hi Emma, the mirror is from our store L’Amour Home, and we had the vanity custom made by our cabinet maker City Cabinetmakers Mackay

  2. Belinda Smith says

    November 25, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    Very simply and nicely done Debbie. It must feel nice to come home to.

  3. Sandra says

    November 27, 2015 at 8:05 am

    Looks great! Just wondering how much this Reno improved the valuation by? And what was the rental increase?

  4. WAM Home Decor says

    November 27, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Gorgeous reno! The bathroom is a big change and that mirror is amazing. Huge improvement.

  5. Minne says

    November 30, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Fantastic! Love your style! I am looking for an interior decorator to help with my furniture. Do you have any suggestion?

  6. Alix says

    December 16, 2015 at 6:47 am

    This renovation looks fabulous – amazing what a difference non-structural changes can make! Just wondering why you decided to spend 10 months doing it yourselves and miss out on rent during that time, rather than get tradies in to do it quickly and get it on the market? Were the savings of doing the work yourself worth it? Would love to hear your thoughts.

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