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Real Reno: Three Birds share latest inspirational renovation

October 6, 2016 4 Comments

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Three Birds Renovations have done it again with house five โ€“ transforming a fibro shack in Sydney’s north-west into a spectacular Hamptons haven, all in just nine weeks! Itโ€™s the first time the talented trio and Reno Addict resident experts have extended a home and used splashes of bold colour, which can be considered risky when renovating to sell. With the first open homeย scheduled for this Saturday, we spoke to marketing extraordinaire Lana Taylor to get the inside scope on the Baulkham Hills reno and all the before and afters.

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You must be incredibly proud of house five? Itโ€™s always daunting when we start the next project, thinking how can we do better than the last house, but we definitely feel we have and all of our trades have been voluntarily saying โ€œoh this is your best one yetโ€ so we are confident it is. We are very proud of it but Iโ€™m also not hugely surprised because of the effort that went into it.

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What is it that makes this house that much better? We loved the original aesthetic, which had a cottage look. A lot of the other homes weโ€™ve renovated had an ugly brick faรงade. I think the fact that we clad the whole house with weatherboard (something weโ€™ve never done before) gives a beautiful finish and relaxed feel to the house along with the colour choice. Weโ€™ve always been obsessed with white and grey and while we did paint this house grey, the pink front door, dark charcoal extension out the back and the green kitchen make this home really special.

threebirds
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Lets talk about that front door. Itโ€™s beautiful and what a statement! Bonnie definitely wanted to do a front door that got noticed and that everyone would fall in love with. She became obsessed with the colour blush but she got cold feet a few times wondering, โ€œis it too polarising? Will it turn off male buyers?โ€ But I think itโ€™s an absolute winner. The post on Instagram of the pink door was our most popular post ever!

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Is it the first time you’ve completed anย extension? Itโ€™s just a simple one, about six metres by four, but it had to be done. With the extension and by converting the garage, we were able to create two living spaces which is a must for any family home and we were also able to add a fourth bedroom.

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There are so many areas to sit and relax throughout the home. Was that intentional? We have learnt along the way about the importance of multiple living spaces and ones that are an escape from the other. Having two living spaces very close to each other, or open, defeats the purpose a little bit and so we created two very separate living spaces. Weโ€™ve also never had a beautiful, covered front porch like this, which we furnished to create another sitting spot. Then thereโ€™s the front foyer or entry space, which could easily convert into a study or another relaxing space. And the deck, thereโ€™s two levels to it. Thereโ€™s the lower level and then the upper deck and so we did take it all into consideration. We always try to design homes we would want to live in with our kids.

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The charcoal wall in the entry is very on-trend but also a little risky when youโ€™re renovating to sell? It was a bit of a risk because the colour smacks you in the face the minute you walk in the front door and we were also worried about whether itโ€™d make the space feel too small. We decided to give it a go and painted the wall in Taubmanโ€™s gravel and it just totally worked. The beautiful chairs are from West Elm and the bird picture from Oz Design.

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Whatโ€™s your favourite space in house five? The ensuite is certainly my favourite bathroom. I love how big it is! We created a wide open ensuite with a big walk-in shower and a half-wall to mount the bath on. The Caroma freestanding bath is gorgeous just being a miniature tub (itโ€™s only 1400 long) and it has flat walls, so it sits flush with the wall avoiding all the dusk pockets you get with a normal freestanding bath. And then, itโ€™s the stunning fan tiles from Amber Tiles that we used on the huge wall to create a statement when you look through. We used white grout to make each tile individually pop.

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The kitchen has a very relaxed feel to it? Itโ€™s a very special kitchen thatโ€™s extremely calming. Bonnie spent a lot of time looking at lots of samples to find the right pastel green and I think the colour she picked in the end, called Misty Lake, was perfect. The other risk was combining gold and silver, which is quite unusual. The rule of thumb is that you have all your metallics matching but in this kitchen we have silver tapware (to match the oven) and gold handles and pendants. I remember questioning Bonnie a few times and she said โ€œyeah Iโ€™ve seen it on Pinterest, itโ€™s fineโ€ and I think weโ€™ve proven it can look beautiful. The other feature is the island. Rather than a typical kitchen island, which runs all the way to the floor, we made half of it look like a table. We did that to help the kitchen flow seamlessly into the other living spaces. The other piece worth mentioning is the Caesarstone on the backbench, which runs up the wall, then wraps around to create a floating shelf. We also integrated all the Fisher and Paykel appliances. Itโ€™s very much the hub of the house and you are part of everything when youโ€™re in that kitchen.

To view the house on realestate.com.au and find out more about the open home this Saturday, click here.

โ€“Lana Taylor is one third of Three Birds Renovationsย alongside Bonnie Hindmarsh and Erin Cayless, and one of our Resident Experts. The best friends and busy mums walked away from their corporate careers in pursuit of a more fulfilling life. They created Three Birds Renovations โ€“ a boutique renovation company where they buy, renovate and sell suburban homes. Their ultimate ambition is to build a life they love, hoping to inspire others to do the same.

Read all Three Birds Renovationsโ€™ posts.

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Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping ALL the character!

What a great example this is by @huntingforgeorge 

See all the details, and the laundry, on the blog now, via link in bio.
The patient has very much bounced back! Letterbox The patient has very much bounced back!

Letterbox kinder egg deliveries from a friend, dressing changes without a flinch and refusing to nap despite all the bribes (check the face on him in pic 3!).

Thanks for all your care and messages/comments for this tired and shaken up mama! Now very relieved and grateful ๐Ÿ™
Before & after It's not just the award winning de Before & after

It's not just the award winning designer houses that get us excited here. It's also the beloved family homes which are renovated and extended to make them fit for purpose so people can continue to live where they love ๐Ÿค—

@inspiredspacesaus helped her clients with teenage kids transform this house in Sydney's Hills District inside and out, making it their forever home. 

Due to the nature of the block they could only extend sideways and then gave it street appeal with render, new windows and doors.

See inside on the blog now, via link in bio. It was completely overhauled!
Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into tiled steps ๐Ÿค•

Oh what a night. Thankfully Hornsby Hospital were as amazing as always and we avoided stitches. All taped and glued  back together and now to keep him calm for the next few days (๐Ÿคช) and watch for signs of concussion. 

Bravest little patient ever. Yes I've had a ๐Ÿท

Funny how we go into super organised mama mode in times like these. Grabbed dinosaurs, textas and scrapbook on the way out in case we had a long wait!

UPDATE: thanks for all the love! Charlie is so well this morning after a big sleep!
Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressi Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressive!

The new @studio.xox ONLY sells Australian brands. Like @nood_co coloured basins, lead-free eco brass from @faucetstrommen and @lindseywherrett's  ceramic basins made by hand in Tassie.

And as for their Sydney showroom (they also sell online): WOW.

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

#interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop
#creatingbeautifulspaces #homestylingdesign
#designbywomen #homestylingtips #sydneycreatives
#homestylingsydney #interiorstyling #interiordesignsydney
#everydaydesign #interiortrends #renovationinspiration
#homedesigninspo #lovemyhome #stylingdetails
#loveinteriors #homeimprovements #interiordesignaustralia
#dreamhomeinspiration #homemakeover #personaldesign
#interiordesignaus #creatingbeautifulspaces
#creativehomes #housestyling #sydneyhomes
#interiorinspiration #myhomedesign
I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

๐Ÿฆ˜๐ŸจForget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers๐Ÿ™

Apply to exhibit or find out more at their website, via their bio, now!

Are YOU buying more Australian made post covid?

#madeinaustralia #australianmade #aussiemade #aussiedesign
Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
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Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarDaniel Tyrrell says

    October 6, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Not sure about the landscaping in the front yard but WOW what a fantastic job! Great color palette.

    Reply
  2. AvatarLara says

    October 7, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Flippin ridiculously good! Be still my beating heart.

    Reply
  3. AvatarTrees says

    October 10, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Great Reno! Where are the round white fluffy wall decors from? Also dinning chairs?

    Reply
  4. AvatarAnn says

    September 12, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Absolutely Love it !does anyone know what colour was used on the front door

    Reply

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