• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • DSC_0257Designing Wandarra: Breathing new life into a 1980s homestead
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Rosso Levanto.2Stunning showroom designed to be a real life Pinterest board
    • Northmead cube bathroomsDi Lorenzo Tiles open new showroom as family business thrives
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • Rosso Levanto.2Stunning showroom designed to be a real life Pinterest board
    • kuddlava-table-lamp-pleated-white__1416409_pe975547_s5.jpgWhat’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • Kaye_1368_LRBreathing new life into Sorrento’s limestone heritage
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Salted Choc PB PretzelFoodie Friday: Salted chocolate peanut butter pretzel cocktail
    • Muse marrakech Retreats Co Riad Botanica courtyardAussie in Morocco launches design retreat in Marrakech
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Real reno: This Sydney home went from drab to fab

By Amy Collins-Walker •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

The renovations on this family home were so extensive that the resulting abode is unrecognisable from its humble beginnings. Situated in the leafy Sydney suburb of Woollahra, the process took place over 12 months and had a sizeable budget. The owners needed more space for their expanding brood and they wanted to make the home more light-filled and functional too – their brief was certainly met!

Exterior

BEFORE exterior

MNP3732-370

AFTER exterior

“The home was a hideous brick box with no character whatsoever. The internal layout was also inadequate and not functional,” says the owner, who engaged the company Modify to manage the entire process, including preparing plans and managing the Development Application process with council – a lovely job to outsource! “They also managed the interior specifications and the construction process too so it was an end to end assignment,” says the owner.

BEFORE lounge

MNP3732-037

AFTER lounge

The home was entirely gutted and the floor plans were changed completely too – the relocation of a staircase and the addition of a multitude of windows were some of the most extensive but effective changes. “Most critically, we moved the staircase from the middle of the ground floor to the side and the introduction of beautiful steel frame windows and French doors throughout meant we were able to draw in significant amounts of light at the same time as adding great character.”

Internal staircase

BEFORE internal staircase

MNP3732-109

AFTER internal staircase

The process also included an extension to the rear and the addition of a raised rear courtyard and side passage to the home which allows a seamless transition from inside to out. “This wasn’t possible with the old home as there was a series of steps down into the backyard,” says the owner, who is pretty thrilled with the end result. “I particularly love my beautiful kitchen and butler’s pantry that flows to the living area and out on to our gorgeous rear courtyard.”

Before kitchen

BEFORE kitchen

MNP3732-057

AFTER kitchen

MNP3732-332

AFTER kitchen (butler’s pantry)

The exterior looks entirely different too, not least in part due to the addition of a black steel balustrade fence at the front. “We also widened the garage to allow for greater storage and functionality and the new fence at the front has added greater security,” says the owner. The black accents continue throughout the home – some of them were picked up inexpensively online. “The black internal door handles were a great buy as they are classic, timeless and we got them for a bargain online!”

Rear exterior

BEFORE rear courtyard

MNP3732-305

AFTER rear courtyard

“It’s important that you have confidence in the process when you undertake a project like this. The renovation process can be quite daunting and when demolition starts you have this ‘oh my goodness, what have I done?’ moment! But if you employ the right professionals to help and have confidence in them then the results can be amazing,” says the owner, who is looking forward to tackling another renovation in the future.

MNP3732-011

AFTER dining

MNP3732-087-2

AFTER study nook (we love how the bi-fold doors conceal it when not in use)

“Modify managed the process extremely effectively and we were delighted with the outcome both cost-wise and with the actual home itself. I have kept in touch with the company director whom I loved working with and I hope to be able to work with again,” says the owner.

MNP3732-219

AFTER bedroom

MNP3732-251

AFTER bathroom

BEFORE floorplan

Woollahra before

Woollahra after

AFTER floorplan

For more information on Modify.

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

May 11, 2016

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • A luxurious slice of Italy on the NSW South Coast

  • Latest Kmart Home range, coming later this month

  • I tried the latest robot window cleaner and I’m obsessed!

  • Palette Cam 14 home design apps to help you build your dream space

Follow us on Instagram

@decordesignshow day 2 @decordesignshow day 2
Lots to see and great networking at @decordesignsh Lots to see and great networking at @decordesignshow today
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. 

See more on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.
Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! An Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! And this pair of duplexes look pretty stylish too! Ground floor is printed concrete and the top floor is made from lightweight modular panels.

Want to read all about it and see more pix? Comment '3d" and we'll send the article link straight to your DMs! Or find it on the homepage via link in bio.

#3dprinting #3dprinted #3dprintedhouse #3dprintedhome #3dprintedhomes #houseofthefuture #australianhomes #australianhousing
New @kmartaus home coming later this month and her New @kmartaus home coming later this month and here's a few of the standouts, with pricing and more info on the blog now, via link in bio.

Anything catch your eye?

#kmartaustralia #kmarthome #kmartaus #kmartstyling #affordablehomedecor
A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangeh A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangehood cover was fashioned from a piece of American oak benchtop!

This fresh coastal kitchen showcases some of @kaboodlekitchen's latest products to achieve a truly individual space, without paying a small fortune. V groove doors, premium wireware inserts and a concrete look benchtop make for a great combination that's at the same time on trend and timeless. 

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

#flatpackkitchen #budgetkitchen #uniquekitchen #bluekitchencabinets #vgroove #kaboodle #kaboodlekitchen
Swipe for before An interior designer shares the Swipe for before 

An interior designer shares the clever ways they took this homestead from tired 80s to a welcoming country retreat for holidaymakers without spending a fortune or starting from scratch.

This fireplace became a beautiful focal point after a lick of paint, for example.

See more before and afters from @wandarra_homestead on the blog now via link in stories/bio.
How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he s How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he shares with wife @kirstenstanley_ and their young kids?!

When they first set eyes on an expansive acreage on Victoria's Surf Coast, they knew it was the perfect place to build their forever home and embrace working farm life. @studiohallihan helped them bring it all together perfectly!

Take the tour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#modernfarmhousehomes #australianfarmhouse #workingfarm #surfcoastlife #foreverhomes #farmhousestylehome #geelongfootballclub #geelongcats
Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

@castleryau have named the talented stylist @stevecordony as their first Australian brand ambassador and he's curated a capsule of their furniture which he styled to perfection at his stunning country house @rosedale_farm 

I was lucky enough to see the pieces in situ last week and I honestly couldn't believe how well it all worked! They were going for accessible luxury and well, he delivered, and then some!

Head to the blog via link in bio to read more about the partnership.

#castlery #castleryau #stevecordony #rosedalefarm #affordablefurniture #australianstylist
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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/

More from Bathrooms

Stunning showroom designed to be a real life Pinterest board

Di Lorenzo Tiles open new showroom as family business thrives

Tomorrow’s bathrooms are warmer with more personality: opinion

Stone Ambassador’s success story goes truly national

Mosman en suite gets “sexy, strong, girly and sophisticated” look

Pokey extension becomes beautiful open plan living space

Natural stone in the bathroom? Absolutely!

What’s new in furniture and homewares: March 2025

Cool bath mats Australia: the best places to buy online

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    June 4, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    Amazing home. Congrats all involved.

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in