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When cost of living increases put your reno in jeopardy, be smart

June 8, 2022 2 Comments

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With a piping hot property market over the last two years, you may have bought the imperfect house in the perfect location with plans to renovate and transform it into your dream home. However you may now find yourself reconsidering your plans as the cost of living and interest rates rise.

Rather than cancel your plans, you could rethink your renovation. Serial flipper Claire O’Connell shares seven ways you can make some less costly changes that will have a big impact.

Do one thing 

Simply put, renovate one room in your house. Maybe you can no longer undertake a massive renovation but you can renovate one room. Consider which room will bring you the most joy. 

Do it yourselfย 

Thereโ€™s a huge amount of savings to be made by doing updates yourself. The biggest tip with DIY is to be safe and know your limits. It can feel really intimidating when you first get started but itโ€™s like everything: the more you do, the more you learn.  

Paint is your friend

Paint is truly transformational and Iโ€™m not just talking on the walls. Make a statement in kitchens and bathrooms by painting the cabinetry. Are the bench tops dated? Epoxy them for a faux marble finish.   

Before & after

Update your flooring

Flooring is a great way to change the look and flow of your house. Having multiple different types of flooring divides the space and, in my opinion, stunts the flow of a house. When Iโ€™m designing our renovation projects I always ensure the flooring is consistent throughout the house and if I want to add carpets to bedrooms then I will run the same flooring throughout the living areas and into the hallways. It can be costy to demo tiled floors so you may be able to lay your new floor over the top or you can paint the tile.

Before & after: Flooring

Get organised

Get organised when buying your materials, fixtures and fittings and donโ€™t be afraid to upcycle.If you intend to stay on budget then you must be organised and have your material list planned out ahead of time.

When you give yourself time, you have the benefit of shopping around. This will allow you to shop clearance items or shop secondhand and upcycle items. This is one of my favourite tips to help your renovation look custom without the big price tag.

If you leave it to the last minute, you may end up spending more.

Update decor

Give your home an instant facelift by changing your decor. Iโ€™m a sucker for a seasonal refresh and this can be achieved at minimal cost but have a big impact. Consider updating foliage or adding a new colour palette. Swap out throw cushions and throws.

Kerb appeal

Freshen up the exterior of your house to make it feel like a new home. Simple changes such as pressure washing can give your home, driveway and footpath a new lease on life and cost very little. But donโ€™t stop there; add some colourful pots or hanging pot plants and add some seasonal flowers or evergreens to frame your house. You will be surprised how much joy this can bring you.

Kerb appeal: Before & after

Most of these changes can have a big impact on your home for little cost so if youโ€™re putting your renovation plans on hold this may be just what you need to love your home in the meantime. Which of these changes will you be making in your home?

Follow Claire and her husband Derek and their forever home reno journey on Instagram

All images are of Claire and Derek’s own reno projects

Serial renovators embark on 15th house and this one’s for keeps!
Claire o’Connell and her now husband Derek have been renovating for profit for the last decade after meeting as backpackers…

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I'm absolutely loving the simple yet on trend scal I'm absolutely loving the simple yet on trend scallop design and colour pop of these lampshades from new brand @soffle_lights 

Read founder Sophie Cartwright's top tips for transforming your rental home on the blog now. Via link in bio.

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๐Ÿ“ท@the.palm.co
Washable rugs, eco-friendly play mats, reversible Washable rugs, eco-friendly play mats, reversible linen, gorgeous wallpaper and the chance to win a beautiful bouclรฉ recliner chair!

Today's kids room roundup is full of loveliness if we don't say ourselves!

Via link in bio now.

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A glass shower screen is not the only option! In A glass shower screen is not the only option!

In this 80s villa reno, @trentinidesign took inspiration from an archway typical of the era and used it throughout the home.

The bathroom was transformed from a classic three-piece set up that included a shower, bath and vanity. Kathryn removed the bath and split the room in half and designed an arch to sit between the two zones. 

โ€œI wanted something spectacular. Rather than having a vanity with a piece of glass like you would typically see, I was really trying to push myself as a designer. It was costly but it worked out well and the feedback has been great."

Swipe for the before and follow the link in bio to see the rest of this home.

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One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

Head over to the blog via link in bio to read all about why she went bold and full of pattern in this project, which is a stark contrast to her zen and neutral Northern Beaches abode.

There's also plenty of details about where things are from etc.

"Iโ€™m not an interior designer so I just chose what I liked and followed my gut. Ultimately this home has been an opportunity to explore my alter ego โ€“ it allowed me to do things that I wouldnโ€™t normally do.โ€

๐Ÿ“ท @tanikablair_photography 

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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˜
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarTash says

    August 15, 2022 at 4:49 pm

    May I ask what colour white did you paint the front facade please? Thank You ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      August 16, 2022 at 9:42 pm

      Hi! You can contact them via the link at the end of the article ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply

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