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Real reno: hoarder’s home to open-plan modern living

March 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

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When best friends Lana Taylor, Bonnie Hindmarsh and Erin Cayless tired of their corporate careers, they saw it as the perfect opportunity to go into business together.

Friends Bonnie, Lana and Erin made a $155,000 profit on this, their first renovation
Friends Bonnie, Lana and Erin made a $155,000 profit on this, their first renovation

Starting boutique renovations company, Three Birds Renovations, their first project — just finished a few short months ago โ€“ saw them take on a challenge so daunting, many veteran renovators would have run a mile!

Before: Master
Before: master bedroom
master after
After: master bedroom

โ€œThe house was in terrible condition,โ€ explains Lana. โ€œEvery room was filled almost to the roof with rubbish. We even had to guess some of our measurements because we couldnโ€™t get the tape measure across the room. It was extremely dark inside and the front yard was so overgrown that you couldnโ€™t see the house from the street and school kids had to walk out onto the road to get past! One neighbour over the side fence even had the unfortunate view of theย sameย bed sheet hanging on the Hills Hoist for 10 years. Almost daily we would have people honking their horns and stopping their cars to tell us how much they loved what we were doing. It was an unexpected perk!”

Before: Kitchen
Before: kitchen
kitchen after
After: kitchen

Knocking down almost every wall inside the Castle Hill home (in Sydneyโ€™s north-west), the end result saw an open-plan design that was light, breezy and modern. Transforming the three separate rooms of kitchen, living and dining into one large space, they also stole centimetres from neighbouring bedrooms to create a luxury master suite. โ€œWe knew it was important to create a luxury master suite so we stole space from each of the other bedrooms and the hallway to create a parents’ retreat with ensuite,โ€ says Lana. โ€œThis meant moving some walls less than 30 centimetres (which sounds a bit silly) but we were committed to creating the right end result rather than going with the easier or cheaper option.โ€

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Before: lounge
lounge2 after
After: lounge
lounge after another shot
After: lounge

Taking just six weeks to renovate, every single item in the house was changed, except for the floors. โ€œUnderneath all that stuff the floors were original hardwood, so we decided to sand and stain them. They came up beautifully in the end. And through a stroke of good fortune, the roof was in great condition and was already the exact dark grey colour we wanted, so no update was needed there either.โ€

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Before: facade
After: facade
After: facade

Running the whole project themselves, Lana admits they werenโ€™t on the tools too much! โ€œOur intent is to always book tradies to do the work, but when the budget gets tight, it is tempting to put your hand up to do some of the painting or landscaping. In the end, we laid most of the turf (and when I say we I mean our husbands!).โ€

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Before: alfresco
After: alfresco
After: alfresco

Having originally bought the property for $808,500, renovating it for $90,000 and selling it 10 weeks later for $1,055,000, they made a gross profit of $155,000: not bad for a two-and-a-half-month turnover! Inspired by their success, they have now completed a second reno —ย also in Castle Hill — which has just gone on the market. Itโ€™s equally, if not more, gorgeous! Check it out hereย before it gets snapped up.

Follow the girls’ latest projects on Instagram.

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
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.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarSteph @ Lipstick & Cake says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:41 am

    Wow, what a reno! Absolutely love what the girls have done with this place.

    Reply
  2. AvatarNicole Lucas says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:50 am

    What an amazing transformation! Can I please ask what coloured render/paint you used for the exterior? Thanks Nicole

    Reply
    • AvatarOlivia Shead says

      March 17, 2015 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Nicole,
      It’s Taubmans Cobblestone Path.
      Hope that helps!
      Olivia

      Reply
  3. AvatarMelanie says

    March 16, 2015 at 10:27 am

    What an amazing transformation. How could somebody live with all that mess? Did the person who lived there pass away & thats why all the stuff was left inside? It looks like a completely different house now!

    Reply
  4. AvatarMariah says

    March 16, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Wow! Amazing work and such a brilliant $ outcome!! Well done girls x

    Reply
  5. AvatarRachel says

    March 17, 2015 at 9:08 am

    Beautiful job. Though I am curious about the actual renovation expenses. Having done renovations I know even on a tight budget they add up fast.

    Reply
  6. AvatarAmber says

    March 17, 2015 at 11:37 am

    I live near this house and the real thing is just as good as the photo’s. The house looks amazing, the girls did a great job, I love their style!

    Reply
  7. AvatarWAM Home Decor says

    March 20, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Gorgeous reno! A lot of work cleaning that up, results are amazing! The lounge area styling is great, loads of cushions and layering. Beautiful.

    Reply

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