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The reality of a reno: The Interiors Addict & Nest Designs Palm Beach apartment project

September 24, 2013

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By Emma Blomfield

As we prepare to reveal the finished Palm Beach Apartment project (a joint project between Interiors Addict and Nest Designs) this Thursday, stylist Emma Blomfield tells us about the less glamorous reality behind the scenes of a top-to-bottom reno.

The Palm Beach Project hasn’t been without drama. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you will have seen a few of the issues that have arisen!

Firstly, the tenants in the apartment when it sold weren’t the tidiest, so the kitchen, bathroom and carpets had seen a lot of wear and tear. We got to work repainting and giving the apartment a bit of a facelift; that was relatively drama-free apart from the fact that the light switch cover plates were apparently imported from Europe so there were none anywhere in the country that would fit for us to replace them! We also soon realised once the tenants’ furniture was removed, that the carpets would need more than a steam clean so they were ripped up and replaced with gorgeous sisal in a chocolatey colour.

We had planned for the kitchen to be replaced the week before the carpets were laid but the kitchen company had double booked us and had to install a week later. Unfortunately the mains weren’t turned off before removing the old kitchen and overnight the dripping faucet leaked into the surrounding rooms and the brand new carpet was ruined. After much to-ing and fro-ing (48 hours in fact) a carpet cleaning company was called to come and dry the wet carpet. He turned up without the right machine so the carpet was left wet for a further 48 hours. If your carpet gets wet you have a small window of opportunity to get it dried or it’s ruined. Eventually, the kitchen company agreed to replace the carpet.

In the meantime, the kitchen bench was brought in to be installed and cracked just before it was put in place so add another 4 days of kitchen reno to the list. We were originally quoted 3 days to remove the old kitchen and install the new one but it ended up taking 2 weeks after the splashback was finally installed and the correct stove top was installed (the supplier sent the wrong size first).

Another thing you can never rely on is lead times from suppliers. Most suppliers were fantastic and after picking some alternative products because others had sold out (that was time-consuming in itself) from when we first worked on the initial moodboards, we had the bulk of the furniture delivered on time. Unfortunately, the coffee table and side table from West Elm have never arrived despite being paid for in full. We were told a 2-week wait but that turned out to be 6 weeks and after following up 4 times, we were eventually told there were none of these coffee tables anywhere in the world nor were they able to tell us when there ever would be again! So the coffee table saga continues. In the meantime, we purchased a lovely rustic-looking table from Freedom.

Oh, and don’t ever count on anyone who says they will deliver on a specific day, and don’t even think about asking them to call ahead. Because they won’t. The pod chair on the balcony was to be dispatched from a Sydney warehouse and should have taken maximum one hour to arrive to the apartment. We received it 8 days, 9 phone calls and 3 emails later.

So, a reno is never without some drama and frustration behind the scenes and we wanted to share the reality of that with you! Despite all these setbacks, we’re all ready to reveal the finished apartment this Thursday and look out for details of how you can win a weekend away there via Instagram!

For more details on the apartment or to book it, visit Beach Stays.

–Emma Blomfield is an interior stylist at Nest Designs.

emma blomfield
Emma Blomfield

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Those finishing touches make ALL the difference! Those finishing touches make ALL the difference! 

@kethy.australia, whose cabinet hardware I've used in my own kitchen, laundry and on my recent sideboard glow up, are passionate about bringing you the latest design and finishes from around the world!ย 

Their stunning timber knobs and handles from Denmark add texture, warmth and an organic feel to yourย projectsย that can only be achieved by using natural materials.

Whether you're embarking on a new build, renovating an existing kitchen, bathroom or laundry or updating a piece of furniture, Kethy have something for you in their huge range.

See it all online and find your local re-seller at their website via link in @kethy.australia bio.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarEmma - My Bespoke Chair says

    September 24, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Love the behind-the-scenes dramas! But it looks as though you had it under control. Being a stylist is not all about prettying a place up – there seems to be a lot of leg-work, people and project management.

    But, about those pesky customer service sagas and delivery times…you won’t get that hassle at My Bespoke Chair. We’re on time, every time! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Sorry I can’t be there for the Grand Reveal. x

  2. AvatarHunter & Ivy says

    September 25, 2013 at 8:20 am

    Yes, this sounds like a pretty normal kind of renovation to me. I always ask my clients to keep a wide open mind about potential ‘issues’. Renovating is an inexact science at the best of times, throw in a heap of suppliers from all over the country or indeed other countries, mix in some ‘touchy’ tradespeople and voila….you have a roller coaster ride. Luckily, it all comes together in the end and the pain is usually forgotten when you’re busy admiring how brilliant your home now looks ;). Can’t wait to see the reveal! Cx

  3. AvatarShari Dingle says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    I’m not surprised to here your West Elm saga. I ordered items from Pottery Barn Kids in June and after following them up I’ve now been told mid October. I think they need to work on their stock control/customer service.

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