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Dr Chris Brown recalls "dramatic" personal renovation disaster

<p><em>Dream Home</em> host Dr Chris Brown has revealed his own renovation fail on the latest episode of the show. </p> <p>The vet turned TV star has taken on a new role where he guides six teams of aspiring renovators through the joys — and pitfalls — of house remodelling in the new Channel 7 reality show. </p> <p>Speaking to 7NEWS, the star recalled the terrifying moment his home nearly fell in on itself when he was trying to build a garage. </p> <p>“On my first renovation, I decided I needed a garage underneath my house,” he said, adding that he had council approval for the renovation. </p> <p>“With a couple of tradies, we went about digging out the garage underneath the house, in the sand.</p> <p>“We just kept on digging, digging, digging, until a rather large sound indicated the house was about to fall into the hole!</p> <p>“So that’s about as dramatic as it as it gets.</p> <p>“To have your house sort of falling in on itself, that was a pretty big learning curve.”</p> <p>He said that the problem was solved "very quickly" with a lot of underpinning and structural support. </p> <p>“A lot of those steel support posts that you can sort of wind up and down, they went in, and thankfully the house didn’t fold in half,” he said, laughing at the situation. </p> <p>He added that unexpected situations like this are what make renovation shows so appealing as "there’s so much natural drama, you don’t have to fake anything." </p> <p>“Choices have to be made, and it’s either the right way or the wrong way, and you only really discover that as you go along," he added. </p> <p>“Sometimes it’s too late to turn back once you realise you’ve made a terrible mistake.”</p> <p>Chris added that his role on the show is almost as a"coach" to the pairs, supporting them through the renovation challenges, and helping them get to the finish line. </p> <p>“What these couples are going through, and just how much they put on the line to get these renovations done, is quite inspiring and quite uplifting and but also thoroughly entertaining,” he said. </p> <p><em>Image: Seven</em></p>

Real Estate

Inside Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's new $10-million dream home

<p>Bec and Lleyton Hewitt have headed back to Sydney after stints in Melbourne and the Bahamas, with hopes that their new $10.3 million dream home in the semi-rural suburb of Glenhaven, will provide more stability. </p> <p>"I'm a Sydney girl, I love Sydney," said Bec, who swapped the busy inner city life for a more secluded one with her husband their three kids, Mia, 17, Cruz, 14, and Ava, 12. </p> <p>Their new home is close to Bec's family, and one of their neighbours is none other than Bec's former <em>Home And Away</em> co-star Lynne McGranger. </p> <p>Their six bedroom home comes with a host of features, including an inground swimming pool with a cabana, a tennis court, guest cottage and office.</p> <p>It also includes a space that will be used as a "boys room" for Lleyton and his son Cruz. </p> <p>The home sits on just over two hectares, and even features a secret room hidden in the loft, if they want to escape and have some peace and quiet. </p> <p>The couple's lavish purchase comes after they sold their Melbourne mansion in the ritzy suburb of Toorak for $16 million in 2021. </p> <p>They didn't require a mortgage for their new home. </p> <p>A local insider told <em>Woman's Day </em>that "the house is tucked away on a quiet, dead-end road in a sleepy suburb, which will give them a bit more privacy."</p> <p><em>Images: @threebirdsrenovations / Instagram</em> </p>

Real Estate

Even in a housing crisis, Australians can’t get enough of renovation stories on TV. Why?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ella-jeffery-1459839">Ella Jeffery</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p>The Block has begun its 19th season this month, <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/the-block/2023-season-block-confirmed-location-details-scott-cam-season-19-explainer/b4d5fa4e-690f-4755-90da-caba77925836">billed as</a> “a Block that’s entirely relatable to people right around Australia”. This year, contestants renovate five “authentic ’50s dream homes” in “the perfectly named Charming Street, in Melbourne’s Hampton East”.</p> <p>But if the median price for a four-bedroom house in Hampton East is <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/suburb-profile/hampton-east-vic-3188">around A$1.6 million</a> and the nation’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/03/more-than-1600-australians-pushed-into-homelessness-each-month-as-housing-crisis-deepens-report-finds">housing crisis</a> shows no signs of easing, who is The Block relatable to? And why do audiences keep coming back to renovation stories?</p> <p>Home ownership is becoming <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook46p/HomeOwnership">less accessible</a> and more people than ever are renting, but stories about renovation on TV, in film and in literature continue to have a powerful effect on us. Why?</p> <p>One reason they can be so captivating is that they invoke the idea of the dream home.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KadU7z8GHoE?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Season 19 of The Block promises to ‘transform these little time capsules into two-storey mansions’.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Home makeovers are ultimately about us too</h2> <p>Ask anyone you know about their dream home – something I did regularly when I was <a href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/122955/">writing my PhD</a> on renovation stories – and you’ll get an incredible array of different styles, sizes, locations. Maybe it overlooks the ocean, maybe it has the newest appliances, maybe it has a pool, maybe it’s just a house without a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/29/this-isnt-safe-nsw-renters-fight-twin-battles-against-mould-and-landlords">mould problem</a>.</p> <p>The idea of the dream home is deeply rooted in our shared imagination. The philosopher Gaston Bachelard wrote in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13269.The_Poetics_of_Space">The Poetics of Space</a> (1958) that our houses – both the ones we live in and the ones we dream of – “move in both directions: they are in us as much as we are in them”. Bachelard suggests that in even “the humblest dwelling” our memories, desires and dreams are gathered, and this is why houses are so central to who we are.</p> <p>If houses can be expressions of self, our dream houses say a lot about our desires. While it might no longer look like a <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/is-the-aussie-dream-of-a-quarter-acre-block-dead-1221913/">house on a quarter-acre block</a>, the dream still exists. Renovation stories are so compelling because in them, as <a href="https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/ordinary-television/book205099#contents">researchers</a> have noted, home improvement often represents self-improvement – a dream life, not just a dream house.</p> <p>This is especially important in programs like <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388595/">Extreme Makeover: Home Edition</a> (2003–20) and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243688/">Backyard Blitz</a> (2000–), which often focus on people presented as hard-done-by whose lives are changed by renovations that solve their day-to-day problems.</p> <h2>Better house, better life</h2> <p>Reality TV isn’t the only place we find this type of story about transformation and self-improvement. In Frances Mayes’ bestselling memoir Under the Tuscan Sun (1996), Mayes travels to Italy and buys an abandoned villa, Bramasole, which she renovates. In the process, she gains a new outlook on life.</p> <p>There’s a similar story in Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence (1989). Mayle, a UK advertising executive, buys a 200-year-old farmhouse in France and renovates it.</p> <p>Both books were exceptionally successful, inspiring an entire genre of renovation memoirs about wealthy middle-class people able to travel abroad, buy charmingly rundown properties in beautiful locations, and renovate them while enjoying the local lifestyle. In them, renovation is a clear symbol of self-transformation, if only for people rich enough to afford it: renovating houses leads to a greater appreciation of life’s pleasures and a new way of seeing the world.</p> <p>This idea of the renovated life can be especially compelling in a world that increasingly feels <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-doomsday-clock-is-now-at-90-seconds-to-midnight-the-closest-we-have-ever-been-to-global-catastrophe-198457">frightening and overwhelming</a>. Researchers like <a href="https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4273551">Fiona Allon</a> argue that renovation stories allow us to turn away from the alarming outside world – with its violence, looming recessions, pandemics, climate crises – and focus on the smaller, more controllable world of the home.</p> <p>Maggie Smith’s viral poem <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones">Good Bones</a> (2016) plays with this idea. The poem is about a mother trying to convince her children (and herself) that despite being a scary place, the world can be improved. To do this, she uses the analogy of a real estate agent selling a fixer-upper. The poem ends with lines that present renovation as an opportunity for change: "This place could be beautiful, Right? You could make this place beautiful."</p> <p>This optimism is what makes renovation excellent fodder for love stories. In the Nancy Meyers rom-com It’s Complicated (2009), Meryl Streep plays a divorcee looking for a fresh start, who renovates her home and falls in love with her architect, Adam. In The Notebook (2004), Ryan Gosling’s Noah transforms an old plantation estate into his lover Allie’s dream home, a gesture that reveals his enduring love.</p> <p>Renovation stories are always about change (although in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5109784/">some</a> the change doesn’t last). Even if, as may be the case for the increasing number of people who are renting, having a house of our own is itself a fantasy.</p> <h2>Renovate? In this economy?</h2> <p>Many renovation stories can be seen as escapist media that trade on the image of the dream home to sell ideas about wealth, taste and style to audiences unable to afford such things. The Block may involve contestants from a range of backgrounds, but few people can afford the multimillion-dollar houses they build.</p> <p>The Block’s viewership has had ups and downs in its two-decade history, but the show (and many others) continues because, despite being about <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/2023/03/29/the-block-controversy-grand-designs/">profiting from the housing market</a>, it sells the idea of transformation and change, not just in our houses but in our lives.</p> <p>Renovation stories invite audiences to indulge in a fantasy where we become our best selves living in dream homes that protect us from a volatile and threatening world. The dream home might remain a dream, but in renovation stories we escape reality and envision life in a Tuscan villa, or having a butler’s pantry or plunge pool, or simply owning a house of our own.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211334/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ella-jeffery-1459839">Ella Jeffery</a>, Lecturer in Creative Writing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - The Block</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/even-in-a-housing-crisis-australians-cant-get-enough-of-renovation-stories-on-tv-why-211334">original article</a>.</em></p>

9 easy ways to transform your bathroom without renovating

<p class="first-para">Mouldy grout and dated tiles are just some of the not-so-redeeming features of a tired bathroom, but regular renovations are an expensive and unsustainable option, so how do we fancy-up the bathroom without ripping out the tiles? We spoke to some experts to find out.</p> <p><strong>1. Spring clean</strong></p> <p>“The first step would always be to declutter your bathroom and give it a thorough clean – the tiles, any dust and water marks,” says Leah Peretz of renovation experts Just in Place.</p> <p>Interior designer Suzanne Gorman suggests attempting a DIY re-grout or re-seal on the tiles for a fresher look, but warns: “It is a lengthy process and the dust from removing the existing grout can be major.”</p> <p><strong>2. Between the lines</strong></p> <p>If your bathroom has the traditional sand-based white grout, Gorman recommends changing things up a bit.</p> <p>“There are a vast range of grout colours available on the market,” she says. “The grout colour and finish really does make or break the overall feel of your bathroom. For a subtle, contemporary look we choose grout that blends with the tile colour. If you feel game you can try a contrasting or even coloured grout.”</p> <p><strong>3. Spray it</strong></p> <p>Just because you can’t afford to rip the tiles out doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the brown and tan floral forever.</p> <p>Mary McManus of Lavender Hills Interiors suggests spray-painting outdated tiles. “Old, stained or old-fashioned patterned tiles can be spray-painted fresh bright white to look almost new.”</p> <p><strong>4. Tapping into trends</strong></p> <p>The aesthetic impact of a new toilet is greater than you’d imagine. Architect Ben Johnson of Benedict Design says replacing tapware and sanitary fixtures makes a huge impact on the look and functionality of the bathroom.</p> <p>“The options have exploded in recent years and you can get anything from matte black to gold,” says Johnson. “If you’re replacing your toilet, go for a back-to-wall model as this will keep lines clean and make mopping easy.”</p> <p><strong>5. Exhausted fans</strong></p> <p>If you feel your exhaust fan isn’t at its best, give your electrician a call and have it replaced with a higher powered unit. They don’t cost too much and will prevent unwanted mould build-up and condensation.</p> <p>“An old exhaust fan not doing its job properly can have a huge negative impact on all your finishes in the bathroom,” says Gorman. “Paint, mirrors, tiles and shower screens age dramatically without proper ventilation.” </p> <p><strong>6. The sky’s the limit</strong></p> <p>Go one step further with real ventilation via a skylight – a worthwhile investment, according to Johnson. “Getting natural light into a bathroom will have many benefits, from lifting your spirits in the morning to keeping mould at bay.”</p> <p>Aesthetically, it can also highlight a particular area such as the basin or shower. “If you can, build it with an open shaft that will improve the sense of space by giving additional height and breaking up the ceiling.”</p> <p><strong>7. You’re so vain</strong></p> <p>Peretz suggests upcycling an old piece of furniture with a lick of paint then sitting a basin on top for a unique vanity. You can replace a run-of-the-mill shaving mirror with a glamorous vintage one or opt for a contemporary black statement mirror.</p> <p>Tip: If you just want to replace your shaving mirror with a smarter version, Gorman says a larger mirror will hide any evidence of previous wall fixings. Alternatively, ask your local glazier to make up a replacement.</p> <p><strong>8. In the details</strong></p> <p>From framing your children’s art to displaying your towels on a ladder, all our experts agree that small touches can make a big difference.</p> <p>“Bring in some texture and colour with thick ribbed bath mats and fluffy towels,” says McManus.</p> <p>And fluffy towels are even better when they’ve come straight from a heated towel rail. “Most towel rails come as a plug-in,” says Johnson, “which helps if you’re not planning on cutting into your walls or replacing tiles. A warm towel on a winter morning is a wonderful thing.”</p> <p><strong>9. Go green</strong></p> <p>“A living plant will bring colour and texture into your bathroom,” says Peretz. “A ficus or a palm in the corner can be a beautiful statement if you have enough space. Orchids and bamboos like the humidity.”</p> <p>McManus suggests placing some blue-and-white ginger jars and an orchid on the vanity for that final touch.</p> <p><em>Written by Joanne Gambale. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

8 bite-sized renovations you can do on the weekend

<p>We’re all time poor but that doesn’t mean you have to develop renovation inertia. By chunking down the big tasks you need to do around your home into bite-sized, weekend-worthy nibbles you can power through a number of renovation items piece by manageable piece.</p> <p><strong>1. Replace your handles</strong></p> <p>Upgrading your old, tired <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-reddit-is-losing-it-over-doorknobs-20160323-gnpe5q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">door handles</a></strong></span> is as simple as measuring the distance between the holes and searching online or in store to find a straight replace. Unscrew the old ones, hanging onto the existing screws, as otherwise you may have to cut the ones supplied with the new handles to size, and screw the new ones in place. Simple.</p> <p><strong>2. Changing cupboard fronts</strong></p> <p>A wonderful visual upgrade, you need to check that your kitchen has standard-sized cupboards for this to be an easy weekend upgrade. Standard cupboard and drawer sizes will have plenty of options in stores and online. You’ll need to check the location of hinges, the height and width of fronts and the condition of your carcasses but by unscrewing and replacing cupboards you can transform your kitchen or bathroom cabinets completely. You’ll find some <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/cabinet-fever-on-the-rise-20120706-21kkk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interesting colour, texture and pattern options</a></span></strong> The only impediment is your creativity.</p> <p><strong>3. Paint your doors</strong></p> <p>While painting your whole home might be a bit more than you can manage in one sitting, a nice bite-sized job is to apply a couple of coats of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/for-the-love-of-the-coloured-front-door-20151127-gl5boi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coloured paint to your existing internal and external doors</a></strong></span>. Sure, you might not get through them all in one weekend but you can chip away at this task after work or in the mornings and add amazing contrast and interest to your interior scheme. Remember to use an enamel paint for doors and timber work.</p> <p><strong>4. Replace your shower head and toilet seats</strong></p> <p>One of the things I do routinely when moving into a new property is replace the shower head with a new one. Most replacement shower heads come with thread tape and you don’t need to be a plumber to do this straight replace as it doesn’t interrupt the fitting connection. If you can manage that the toilet seat replacement is a cinch.</p> <p><strong>5. Regrouting tiles</strong></p> <p>Scrape out any old or worn grout and replace with a new colour or a replacement of the existing. A word to the wise – don’t grout floors in white as they will be mid grey in no time.</p> <p><strong>6. Replace bathroom accessories</strong></p> <p>Another quick trip to the hardware store or bathroom supplier and you can <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/budget-bathroom-makeovers-can-make-big-difference-20150703-gi12es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give your bathroom a facelift</a></strong></span> to complement that lovely new shower head.</p> <p><strong>7. Fill gaps and scrapes</strong></p> <p>There are different fillers for different tasks. A quick-dry, all-purpose one like Selley’s Rapid Filler is great for scratches and scrapes on walls or filling in bumps in timber work before painting. Fill gaps between skirtings, cornices and walls with no more gaps. Use a two-part filler like builders bog for areas that need a more hard-wearing but still sandable solution.</p> <p><strong>8. Remove redundant “features” and install new ones</strong></p> <p>Pulling out old, dated or worn shelving and storage cabinets can free up wall space and liberate your rooms from a tired look. Installing wall hung units or floating shelves can give you an opportunity to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/moving-house-how-to-let-it-go-declutter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear your home of clutter</a></strong></span> or create a place for you to best display your favourite items.</p> <p><em>Written by Darren Palmer. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Keeping your cat safe while renovating

<p>Planning renovations or starting a DIY home project? It’s worth it in the end, but the process can be stressful for people and pets. With a little planning, you can ease the stress and keep your cat safe as you transform your home.</p> <p><strong>Plan ahead</strong></p> <p>Before starting your home improvement projects, make sure you have made arrangements to keep your cat safe during this time. Renovation chemicals, debris and noises can be harmful to your cats’ health and even lead to behavioural problems. Workers coming in and out of your home create a high risk of your cat escaping.</p> <p>Pets need to be kept away from work areas for their safety and the safety of workers. If the planned work is extensive or your pet is very sensitive, it would be worth boarding them for the duration of construction; you’ll have peace of mind knowing they won’t be exposed to anything dangerous and won’t get frightened and run away.</p> <p><strong>Creating a safe space</strong></p> <p>If your cat is staying home with you, set them up in a separate room with everything they need: litter tray, food and water, toys, and their favourite bedding. Choose a room as far as possible from the construction zone, that workers do not need to access, and put a big “Do Not Open” sign on the door. Make sure windows and flyscreens are secured. Even with all these measures in place there is a high risk of your cat escaping during renovations so guarantee your cat’s microchip and registration details are up to date with the Pet Registry.</p> <p>Cats are especially sensitive to noise and can become stressed with the unfamiliar and often very loud sounds associated with construction. Even the most confident cats want to have a safe, quiet space free from startling noise. When setting up their room it is a good idea to include a high perch and an igloo bed or box that they can retreat to. This will help them to feel secure, and calming interventions such as Feliway, Zylkene and Tranquil Treats can also be beneficial. Cats are creatures of habit, so maintaining their normal feeding, playtime and sleep routines will reassure them.</p> <p><strong>Hazards for your cat</strong></p> <p>Small particles of dust and debris from renovation work can easily attach to your cat’s coat, their bedding and get into their lungs and eyes. This can cause difficulty breathing, asthma, eye irritations, skin allergies and/or toxicity if they ingest chemicals or foreign materials. Keep their room scrupulously clean and monitor their health closely.</p> <p>Many older homes have lead paint and asbestos, which are extremely dangerous for people and for pets, so consult professionals before embarking on any DIY.</p> <p>Cats are more sensitive to fumes than we are, so don’t assume that because you don’t notice an odour your cat is safe. Keep in mind a cat’s lungs are much smaller than ours and their sense of smell is much better than ours. Renovation work such as painting, floor finishing, using adhesives and varnishing are all potentially harmful to your cat. Make sure there is sufficient air flow to allow fresh air into areas where there may be heavy fumes not only for your cat’s safety, but for the safety of yourself and workers. Keep your cat away from these areas in a separate room with ample air flow for at least 1-2 days to allow time for fumes to dissipate. Even if your cat is mostly staying home during renovations, you should consider boarding them during dangerous, noisy, or fume-emitting jobs. </p> <p>Document all the products used (safety data is usually printed on the packaging; take photos to record all the paints and chemicals used for your renovations). If your pet somehow ingests something, the product information will help your vet to determine the best treatment.</p> <p><strong>Adding ‘feline features’</strong></p> <p>While you’re renovating, consider including some special “feline features” to your home, such as indoor catwalks, shelves and perches. It is a great idea to make use of vertical space within your home as cats love high vantage points which enable them to look down on their world. You might even incorporate a “catio” or access to an outdoor enclosure for your feline friend to enjoy. By creating a secure outdoor area for your cat to explore they will be protected from the dangers of cars, cat fights and injury all the while protecting not just your precious pet but also native wildlife and birds.</p> <p>Once the renovations are done, thoroughly clean your home and remove all potential hazards. If you’ve made big changes, gradually introduce your cat back into the home: things will look and smell different to them, so make sure there are some blankets and toys that have your cat’s scent on them. This will reassure them that they are indeed “home”. </p> <p><em>For general advice on cat care and everything feline, call the Cat Protection Society of NSW on 02 9557 4818 or visit their website <a href="http://www.catprotection.org.au">www.catprotection.org.au</a></em></p> <p><strong><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with the Cat Protection Society.</em></strong></p> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied - Cat Protection Society</em></p>

Family & Pets

Renovating your home could ruin your relationship… but it doesn’t have to

<p>Many <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-home-renovations-1.5856136">Canadians have turned to home renovations</a> to find space — both literally and metaphorically — after a year of working, learning, exercising and doing just about everything else from home. As we head into spring and summer, the most popular seasons for home improvement, it’s important for couples to set ground rules before breaking ground.</p> <p>While more living space, a dedicated home office or upgraded kitchen might ease the strain the pandemic has put on homes and families, the renovation process, which <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/life-after-50/201811/renovation-and-couples-conflict">tests relationships at the best of times</a>, could put more stress on partnerships already cracking under the weight of the past year.</p> <p>Contractors and architects say the recent surge in renovation work has them fielding up to five times as many calls per day than they were pre-pandemic. And according to a recent <a href="https://abacusdata.ca/home-renovations-covid-19/">Abacus Data survey</a>, 44 per cent of Canadian households have done or are planning to do renovations this year. Most say they are doing the work so they can feel more relaxed in their homes.</p> <p>At the same time, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/couples-counselling-covid19-1.5557110">phones are also ringing at couples counselling and family law offices</a> as more seek professional help to either preserve or dissolve their relationships.</p> <p>“Couples are experiencing a whole variety of stresses — childcare, household management, personal challenges, strains in the relationship — and the temperature has gone up during the pandemic,” says <a href="https://tribecatherapy.com/">New York City therapist Matt Lundquist</a>. He believes that while the stresses of the pandemic may not be the cause of marriage problems, they are revealing cracks that were already there. </p> <h2>Relationship cracks on full display</h2> <p>Renovations can widen relationship cracks as couples find themselves navigating financial stresses, extended disruptions and making thousands of decisions — from how much they can afford to spend to lower a basement to selecting drawer pulls for new kitchen cabinets. </p> <p>The process can amplify conflicting approaches to <a href="https://doi.org/10.9790/1684-1305064448">decision-making, unhealthy communication habits and latent tensions in relationships</a>.</p> <p>These strains are on display on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/">Reddit’s r/relationship_advice</a>where desperate users seek advice for resolving renovation conflicts with their partners.</p> <p>From “I’m an <a href="https://www.16personalities.com/intp-personality">INTP</a>, he’s an <a href="https://www.16personalities.com/entj-personality">ENTJ</a>, we’re renovating and fighting so badly I fear our relationship will never recover” to “renovation taking way longer than expected, BF taking it personally when I try to speed the process along. We’re at a breaking point” and “renovation frustration with me (29f) and him (31m) — is this understandable or abuse?”</p> <p>Gloria Apostolu, principal architect at <a href="https://www.postarchitecture.com/">Post Architecture</a> in Toronto, pauses for a moment when asked how couples handle the demands of making so many decisions during a renovation. “Every client has their Achilles heel,” she says. “And it’s never where or what I expected.”</p> <h2>Different breaking points</h2> <p>Some of Apostolu’s clients can’t make sense of tiles. Others balk at the price of a front door or are overwhelmed by having to settle on a faucet type for the main-floor powder room all before the contractor even arrives to tear the place apart. </p> <p>Making high-stakes decisions as a couple, Lundquist explains, requires advanced skills, such as weighing pros and cons, gauging the level of acceptable risk and being decisive under pressure, or “pulling the trigger” in contractor parlance. It also requires what he calls relationality — listening and curiosity, taking turns, empathy and working to understand your partner’s point of view, even if you don’t see its logic or agree with it.</p> <p>“It tremendously taxes our skills not to react when our partner says something we disagree with, or isn’t what we expected,” says Lundquist. What really feeds a relationship, he adds, is trying to be curious about where your partner is coming from and resisting the temptation to shut them down or make a counter-argument before fully understanding their point of view.</p> <p>On the other hand, he often encounters partners who, in trying to keep the peace, are <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/let-go-resentment">not assertive enough about what they want, which can lead to lingering dissatisfaction and resentment</a>. </p> <p>The last thing a relationship needs, Lundquist jokes, is a big, expensive, fixed piece of resentment that a couple is forced to stare at as they sit next to each other on the couch every evening.</p> <h2>Honesty and a smooth renovation</h2> <p>Apostolou echoes the need for openness as a foundation for a smooth renovation. </p> <p>She suggests devising a system at the start for resolving the inevitable conflicts that will arise. This could mean taking turns, or giving veto rights to the person who is most dedicated to that part of the home. For example, the person who does most of the cooking gets the final say on kitchen details. </p> <p>She advises it is most important to work it all out in drawings before you get started. “Don’t rush the design process. You don’t want to be making decisions that are more costly than they would have been if they were planned out in advance.” </p> <p>Apostolu’s no-surprises approach has garnered <a href="https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/post-architecture-inc-pfvwus-pf%7E847407266">effusive five-star reviews</a> from clients on home design and improvement website Houzz.</p> <p>One is from Stephanie Nickson, a financial services consultant, and her partner David Raniga, who now runs his massage therapy practice in the light-filled basement of their recently renovated home in Toronto’s Wychwood neighbourhood. </p> <p>Raniga jokes that the hardest part of the process was dealing with his wife’s inability to make decisions. But because they remained open to each other’s needs throughout the process and stuck with the vision and budget they set at the beginning, they say they actually miss the process now that it is over. And they are almost giddy with the result. </p> <p>“I literally say I love this house every day. We were so lucky,” Nickson says.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/renovating-your-home-could-ruin-your-relationship-but-it-doesnt-have-to-157942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Aussie man faces sky-high rent for “rotten” home

<p dir="ltr">As the cost-of-living and housing crisis collide, it has left many Aussie renters living in poor conditions while paying an increasing amount to do so.</p> <p dir="ltr">For Jarod, who wished for his surname not to be used, this has meant experiencing multiple rental increases over the past couple of years, all while living in a home without heating or cooling that is “falling down”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 51-year-old lives in Hobart, one of the country’s least affordable cities, and has gone from paying $450 a week back in 2020 to a hefty $540 now, with another jump expected to hit in the coming months that he is estimating will be upwards of $600.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result of the skyrocketing rent, he has been forced to share the rental with a friend since it is “impossible” for him to live alone.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s set a precedent for greedy landlords and you think you are paying a lot of rent so you would get good services but this house is rotten and it’s falling down,” he told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/impossible-rental-crisis-reveals-unaffordable-homes-across-australia/news-story/9037cc4ad2bd91b8c34cd03f176f032a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The bathroom is falling into the floor, there is no heating and no cooling and this is a 200-year-old house that is basically in original condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But that’s not uncommon. I have looked at a lot of viewings and you see a really bad kitchen with no working oven and no heating and they still want top dollar and are not willing to budge to do any renovations.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The semi-retired antique dealer is also taking part in a project with Everyday’s Home, an affordability campaign group, by measuring the temperatures in his home.</p> <p dir="ltr">He told the outlet that one of his rooms measured at 41C recently despite the peak of summer still to come.</p> <p dir="ltr">Having moved to Tasmania in 2008, Jarod said he was easily able to find affordable rentals until 2016, with the recent exodus of people from Sydney and Brisbane making things even worse.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s causing strain on relationships with other people, like the other person I live with and my family and I’ve had to ask my family for money over the recent period as I’m struggling financially,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have started to look but I don’t drive so I have had to look out in the remote areas and they are just really difficult with transport and getting around and getting to basic stuff like the shops.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then you’re sacrificing your lifestyle and things like the shops and day-to-day activities that you would normally do. It’s just a really anxiety-ridden process.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have been trying to find somewhere else but it’s really difficult as there is no stock available for the people looking as well, so you go to somewhere for example and there will be hundred people there.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jarod’s story comes as a new rental affordability report from SGS Economics and National Shelter found that 40 percent of low-income households are experiencing rental stress, as well as struggling to pay for food, heating, and healthcare.</p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison, only 35 percent of low-income households were experiencing rental stress in 2008.</p> <p dir="ltr">The housing crisis has affected renters across the country, with historic lows in affordability being recorded in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ellen White, the lead author of the report, said the rental crisis had spread to regional areas following the pandemic, with the recent floods also having an impact.</p> <p dir="ltr">National Shelter CEO Emma Greenhalgh has called for rental reform to help curb the rental crisis and stop the rise in homelessness and housing stress.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We need rental reform that includes limiting rent increases and adjustments to income support including Commonwealth Rent Assistance,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also need greater investment in social and affordable housing to reverse a decade-long decline.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d298f84e-7fff-902f-572c-2cfe957523b0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

Blockheads’ four tips for living large in a small space

<p dir="ltr">While many of us dream of having ample room in our homes, the reality for many of us is that our spaces are more compact than we may like.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, this doesn’t mean we can’t have our homes renovated or decorated as we’d like them - it all comes down to being savvy with the space we have.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3b7912a-7fff-eae3-b58a-bc823e196a42">For Brad and Lara Cranfield, who claimed victory in the 2012 season of <em>The Block</em>, making conscious design choices helped them in renovating their dream house in Byron Bay and transforming it from a shack to a spacious home.</span></p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ZWkZ1FTJJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ZWkZ1FTJJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brad and Lara Cranfield (@bradandlara_theblock)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Our house was in its original 1960’s condition when we purchased it. There were small rooms everywhere – an entry foyer, a lounge room and a pokey kitchen and dining room – so we knew that we had to open it up to increase the light, space and make it family-friendly,” Lara says.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’re looking to achieve something similar in your home, Lara and Brad have shared their four top tips for making the most of your space, even when it’s compact.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Be selective of flooring details</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">For Lara and Brad, selecting a light colour and the direction of their flooring was a key to helping open up their space.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e27ad509-7fff-0856-9c49-7df598429dbd"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The Carpet Court ambassadors chose light brown flooring that complemented their ‘beachy’ aesthetic, while also being within their budget and opening up their rooms.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/b4-after1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">“By selecting lighter flooring, we were able to visually open each room, particularly smaller areas such as the bedrooms and home office, making each look and feel larger,” Lara explains.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Installing the flooring so that it ran along the length of each room was critical in visually elongating the rooms, making them appear larger.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Open up with your windows</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Even if you’re working with limited space, taking advantage of windows can help make your home feel larger than it really is.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Windows play an important role in opening up a space – from letting in natural light to drawing the eye upwards or towards the outdoors – so how they are dressed needs to be carefully considered,” Lara says.</p> <p dir="ltr">To take advantage of their high ceilings, Lara and Brad installed floor-to-ceiling window shades and opted for a thin track system to create a simple, sleek look.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another option is to add in a skylight or install larger windows, with the couple suggesting those that are floor-to-ceiling to maximise natural light entering your spaces.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ensuring your home has enough access to natural light is essential in helping it feel spacious, bright, and open,” Lara adds. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Take to the walls</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Along with more light and light flooring, busting out the paint on your walls and ceilings can work in tandem to open up your home.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Using light coloured paint on the walls and ceiling will also help maximise the space and work alongside the natural light to brighten your home,” Lara says.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62ee793f-7fff-2255-bedc-fe0fa2297da1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">If you opt for a darker paint, less natural light will be reflected within the home and artificial light will be muted.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/b4-after2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Rearranging your walls altogether - if it’s in your budget - is another dramatic way to change the space inside your home.</p> <p dir="ltr">After eliminating some of the walls in their home, Lara and Brad turned their series of small rooms into an open plan living area - with dramatic results.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To maximise space, we knocked down all adjoining walls to create a large, open plan living area. As some of the walls were load bearing, we had to add ceiling beams,” Lara explains.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Eliminating these walls has changed the way that we live – I can now see where the family is and what they’re up to, which is great when you have young children.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Balance furniture and clutter</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">After picking your flooring, changing your physical spaces and updating the paint, all that’s left is to decorate, which can also be done strategically.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2da02e3c-7fff-3da7-ad07-ceadb52b1d95"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Lara suggests scaling the size of your furniture to your spaces and removing unnecessary items to minimise clutter, and even considering built-in furniture.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/after1.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr">“Make sure that you select the right scale furniture for a space – and that doesn’t always mean including small items for small rooms! Large furnishings can still be put into a small room. And remember, less is more, so if a room is cluttered make sure you declutter and take any unnecessary items out,” she says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You also want your room to be functional – you may create a beautiful room on paper, however in reality it doesn’t always work. Built-in furniture, like a banquette with storage or a coffee table that works as a box, allows you to enjoy the room and your home free of unnecessary clutter.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b1c6e44-7fff-55e3-173b-2f2561fd2da6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram / Depthfield Photography - Michael Lean</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Aussie mum's thrifty Kmart renovation hack

<p>Home décor on a budget has become the latest phenomenon this past year, with creative women showing off their inspiring rooms that look a lot more expensive than they actually are.</p> <p>The most recent is a mother who has stunned thousands after completely transforming her home for less than $20,000.</p> <p>Stay-at-home mum Rebecca Townsend proudly shares photos of her creations through her Instagram account and says that except for the fireplace and air conditioning system, everything else is the result of her and her husband’s hard work.</p> <p>She managed to find affordable duplicates of designer pieces in order to create a “slice of heaven” on a budget.</p> <p>“With help from family and a lot of hard work, we’ve managed to not have one trade come through the house, we’re pretty proud of that,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6251367/Mother-transforms-home-using-Kmart-versions-designer-decor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em></p> <p>“We repurposed and recycled things to save on costs so we can splash out on big ticket items such as the mirror splash back and heater.”</p> <p>The kitchen was torn down, including the surrounding four walls, only a few days after they moved into their new home.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BblAO_EjBSR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebecca Townsend (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Certain clock designs can put shoppers back hundreds of dollars, but thanks to Ms Townsend's savvy skills, she managed to find a replica for $19, which features a wooden backing to give a more rustic appearance.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl9Bh_7nLbQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early morning cuddles in bed with Mr.2 ..and every.single.teddy he owns 🤦‍♀️ I’ve got a corner of the mattress, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🤷‍♀️✨🌟 Enjoy your day instafam 😚 . . . Tap for sources🌟✨ . . . #earlymorninghangs #styling #loungeroominspo #howihome #myfabhome #mydomaine #apartmenttherapy #homeinspo #interior123 #plantmom #planteriordesign #plantsofinstagram #itsajungleinhere #crazyplantlady #rustic #interiormilk #styleitdark #industrialdesign #mybohotribe #chickswithplants #myhomevibe #boholocs #bohemian #thehecticeclectic #kmartstyling #styleonadime #showmeyourstyled #hyggehome #actualinstagramhomes #cornerofmyhome</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:44pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>To further cut down on costs, Ms Townsend purchased many items second-hand, which resulted in huge savings.</p> <p>In the past, the mother-of-one shared her and her husband’s work after they decorated their bathroom using items from Kmart, ALDI and eBay, totalling to $800.</p> <p>“You don’t need to spend a lot these days to get the designer look, you just need to be savvy, wait for the specials and shop around,” she said.</p> <p>“The bathroom is the only room we didn’t rip apart the moment we moved in, we just cleverly designed it on a budget with items mostly from Kmart to make it more designer.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn2gJjiHpMS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YES, I’m back! Well, I’m back ..yes, I’m BACK IN BLACK!!! . . . Black is the new black guysss and I’m all over it like a bee on a flower 🐝 (there’s a spring reference for you there 😉) . . . The bathroom is the only room in the house we didn’t completely gut the moment we walked in the door from getting the keys, we’ve just cleverly decorated it to make it ✨POP✨on a very tight budget of $800! This completely decked the room out from top to bottom including swapping all the hardware out for the more modern black look, you just need to be savvy and look for the bargains (don’t be afraid to be stingy 😜) and get your hands dirty with some #diy the money you save on the little things allows you to splash out on the bigger ticket items! . . . ✨I’ll go into more detail in my stories 🙏 ✨ . . . #diystories #blackonblack #backinblack #bathroomdecor #bathroom #bathroominspo #bathroomremodel #luxuryinteriorsonabudget #cornerofmyhome #newinteriorsontheblock #actualinstagramhomes #apartmenttherapy #interior123 #interior_design #designsponge #interiormilk #howihome #homeinspo #industrialdesign #kmartstyling #kmartaus #styleitdark #styleonadime #deliciousdarkdecor #interiorboom #myhomevibe #myhometrend #dailydecordetail #livefabulousandfearless</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" href="https://www.instagram.com/champagne_dreaming_on_budget/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rebecca Townsend</a> (@champagne_dreaming_on_budget) on Sep 17, 2018 at 8:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ms Townsend hopes that her décor-on-a-budget will help inspire other people to step out of their comfort zone.</p> <p>Her and her husband worked together on this home project during the time their baby was on home oxygen and was in and out of hospital.</p> <p>“After our son was born at 23 weeks gestation and spent 125 days in hospital, we bought this house when he was only seven months old and on home oxygen, but it didn’t deter us from creating a wonderful home for him to grow up and into,” she said.</p> <p>“Whatever challenges you may face, don’t put renovating off if it will provide you with happiness, if we can do it on a budget through all our ups and downs, you can too.”</p>

Home Hints & Tips

One of Australia’s smallest homes sells for less than $100K

<p dir="ltr">One of Australia’s most unusual homes, a tiny cottage that sits on stilts, seems to have found a new owner.</p> <p dir="ltr">A blue, one-bedroom house in Innisfail, Queensland, is currently under offer at $95,000, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/property/homes/australias-tiny-blue-home-on-stilts-sells-for-95-thousand/c117bc64-2ea0-45e1-b145-98c47faaa7d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine</a></em>, after it was listed for $99,000 by Raine & Horne.</p> <p dir="ltr">With just 110 square metres of internal space, the property could be one of Australia’s smallest permanent homes.</p> <p dir="ltr">While <a href="https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/innisfail/properties/8-pelican-street-innisfail-4860-queensland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a> describes it as having “plenty of life left in it” and “ready for a quick restoration”, the current state of the home’s interiors makes it uninhabitable, including holes in the walls with exposed wires, a shell of a kitchen, and loose wooden pailings on one side.</p> <p dir="ltr">The agent told the outlet that the house is on “stilts” after being moved from another local block and described it as a “potential gold mine”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The current owner reportedly had plans to build on the 1067-square-metre block, but these have since fallen through.</p> <p dir="ltr">An oven, bed, and a fridge with writing on it remain in the house, along with a single basin on the floor in one room.</p> <p dir="ltr">The space underneath the home is also partially enclosed, with an existing shower and the potential to be turned into a studio.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4454c38d-7fff-a958-a70d-d6eee8258d1f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Raine & Horne Innisfail</em></p>

Real Estate

UK couple strike gold under their kitchen floor

<p dir="ltr">A UK couple have made a surprising discovery while renovating their home, with their find selling for £754,000 ($AU 1.3 million) at auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">After ripping up the existing floorboards and jackhammering through the concrete in the kitchen of their East Yorkshire home, the couple uncovered a small urn containing 260 ancient coins.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>BBC </em>reported that the coins dated from 1610 to 1727 and belonged to the Fernley-Maisters, a family who traded through the Baltic region. </p> <p dir="ltr">Auction house Spink & Son said Joseph Fernley and Sarah Maister were married in 1694 and lived in Ellerby.</p> <p dir="ltr">Joseph died in 1796 aged 76, and Sarah died aged 80 in 1745, with the family line “dying out soon after” according to the auction house.</p> <p dir="ltr">Auctioneer Gregory Edmund told the outlet that the sale sum was an “absolutely extraordinary” result and said the costly urn was no larger than a can of soft drink.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Picture the scene – you’re choosing to re-lay your uneven kitchen floor, you put a pick-axe through the concrete and just beneath you see a tiny sliver of gold,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the time, you think it must just be a bit of electrical cable, but you find it’s a gold round disc and beneath it there are hundreds more.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-29911120-7fff-2ab8-6964-7eedba22d546"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I will never see an auction like this again.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/coins-find.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The coins were found during renovation works in an East Yorkshire home (left) before being sold at auction. Images: Spink & Son</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Though the couple made the discovery in 2019, they have only just sent the coins to auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spink & Son said the collecction was “one of the largest hoards of 18th Century English gold coins ever found in Britain”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The coins are only represent about £100,000 in today’s currency, but they attracted such a high price due to their rarity, which only skyrocketed after the find gained global attention and became the subject of media coverage.</p> <p dir="ltr">Selling in lots, the highest individual price for one of the coins was a hefty £62,400 ($AU 108,000), paid for a 1720 coin described by the auction house as “imperfect”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Edmund described the bidding as “electrifying”, with the auction attracting the interest of collectors around the world.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-946d24fb-7fff-52fe-56f6-1d2bba9289ea"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Spink & Son</em></p>

Real Estate

Does your house have a mullet?

<p dir="ltr">Just like the iconic hairstyle, the pandemic has seen the mullet become a popular trend for homes - and if you’ve recently renovated, you might have a mullet house too.</p> <p dir="ltr">And like the mullets on our heads, mullet houses keep it formal and private out the front and restrict the party to out the back.</p> <p dir="ltr">The term is used in the real estate world to affectionately describe a house where the front façade is traditional and generally older, while the back is ultra-contemporary, per <em><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/real-estate-trend-do-you-own-a-house-with-a-mullet-1172003/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-585b1316-7fff-3d55-a7e4-55818b7a8d71"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Amid the boom of renovations during the pandemic - a period where the number of renos was 80 percent higher than pre-Covid levels according to the Housing Industry Association - modern spaces began appearing in our backyards as lockdowns saw many of us contend with the limited or non-functioning space we had.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/mullet-house1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>‘Mullet houses’ have been multiplying thanks to an explosion in renovations during the pandemic, with this home in Bulimba, Queensland, being a prime example. Images: <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/36-duke-street-bulimba-qld-4171-2018065764" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a></em></p> <p dir="ltr">Terraces, which make up 10 percent of Australia’s housing stock, saw some of the biggest mullet house transformations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, heritage streets in Melbourne’s affluent inner and middle suburbs have seen mullet houses crop up, all while keeping up the character of the streets.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, as homeowners feel the bite of rising interest rates and hefty mortgages the flood of pandemic renovations has reduced to more of a trickle, with buyers now opting for already-renovated homes over fixer-uppers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aaron Neighbour, the co-founder of Atlas Architects, told <em><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/mullet-houses-transform-melbournes-heritage-streets-behind-closed-doors/?rsf=syn:news:nca:hs:socref" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a></em> that this was due to rising costs of materials and climbing interest rates.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Up to 12 months ago we were doing a heap of renovations and I think with the HomeBuilder scheme … there was definitely that incentive,” Mr Neighbour said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the moment, we find prices have inflated in the time (between designing and getting council or building approval).</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s tending to be quite expensive and a lot of people are finding they have to re-evaluate their project.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Even so, mullet houses haven’t died completely, with Mr Neighbour noting that older buyers with “more savings” and those looking to renovate their forever home are still going forward with renovation plans.</p> <p dir="ltr">Buyer’s advocate Nicole Jacobs said mullet houses have even become a particular preference for buyers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For homes with heritage overlays, many councils allow an extension on the back as long as it looks like it’s from a different era than the facade,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of people appreciate the (original) architecture and then put in a modern back end to meet the standard of living these days.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-014e4f1b-7fff-b43e-fb3a-f85aa89c460f">Images: <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/47-govett-street-randwick-nsw-2031-2018039133" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a></span></em></p>

Real Estate

“I live in a tent”: Horror renovations see woman living in home with no roof

<p dir="ltr">A woman and her son have been left living in a “tent” home filled with mould, exposed wiring and holes after renovation plans went horribly wrong.</p> <p dir="ltr">In February 2020, Jill Harris hired Extension Factory to extend and add a second storey to her Melbourne home.</p> <p dir="ltr">Two years later, she says she has been left living in poor conditions after numerous problems plagued the construction work.</p> <p dir="ltr">With tarps replacing the roof overhead, Ms Harris said the home is flooded by “waterfalls that leak through the light fittings” when it rains and that the only thing her home was good for was Halloween.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I call this the tent. I live in the tent because there is no roof over my room or my son‘s room,” she told <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-753fe61a-7fff-bc70-a1b0-3fb26a2702bf"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I have good days where I try to be positive and I have the lowest of lows.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/aca-house-damage.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Exposed wiring, holes, and a lack of a watertight roof have been just some of the issues Jill Harris has faced while living in her unfinished home. Images: A Current Affair</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Harris said the builders first built the storey out of square, forcing them to knock it all down and start again.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(It) just went completely wrong from there. They built it 160mm out of square, which we didn't find out till 12 months later,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Work was eventually stopped by surveyor Steve Maloney after the builders allegedly continued work without the permission of the inspector.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Maloney said work needed to stop because of the “owner(s) and their builders' compliances with the building legislation”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since then, Ms Harris has turned her unfinished home into a warning against the company, adorning the front with signs reading that the company is “destroying our lives”, “doesn’t care” and that “a contract with them means nothing”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-98e35689-7fff-0363-0578-8796f43ec3b1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ts (sic) cheaper for the “Extension Factory” to put this in the hands than it is to honour my contract with them and finish my home. Tens of thousands of dollars of mistakes, so they gave up and use lawyers to protect them!” another sign reads.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/extension-factory1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></em></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>After no resolution was reached to finish her home, Jill Harris let out her frustration against Extension Factory through signs displayed in front of her home. Image: A Current Affair</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Gerry Hoggard, the owner of Extension Factory, conceded that there had been issues with the property and said he could appreciate Ms Harris being upset.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It certainly was an error, it was built out of square, we accepted responsibility and took it down,” Mr Hoggard said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know what she’s living through.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t like it (my name) being treated that way, but I can appreciate she‘s upset about what’s transpired.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although he claimed that Ms Harris was advised to vacate the property at the start of the build, her brother Ashley, a former Extension Factory employee, said it wasn’t going to happen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s not the sort of job that you would leave anyone occupying the premises,” Mr Hoggard said.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Ms Harris said she wasn’t told that she would need to vacate her property.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>A Current Affair </em>reported that it alerted the Victorian Building Authority to Ms Harris’ situation, prompting the organisation to release a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The Victorian Building Authority takes complaints against building and plumbing practitioners extremely seriously,” it read, adding that the building authority carries out thousands of inspections to ensure work is compliant.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When it doesn't, we use the powers available to us to hold practitioners accountable."</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ed70c5a-7fff-44b9-bdcc-0831adfcf2d3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em> Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

Real Estate

Guide to getting approval for renovations

<p>Home renovations can be fun, exciting and even life changing, but before you get carried away with the romance of it, it’s important to be aware of the red tape.</p> <p>We’re going to take a look at some of the essential legal boxes you need to tix when renovating. While doing so may seem like a bit of a nuisance during the renovation process, it will ensure that you don’t waste your money (and risk your safety).</p> <p><strong>Council approval</strong></p> <p>Depending on where you live, the nature of your lodgings and the type of renovations you have planned, you may require some form of council approval.</p> <p>Your best bet here is to contact your local council ahead of time and check what your requirements are. You may need a planning permit if your renovation requires building alterations and you may need a surveyor to confirm the plans meet regulations.</p> <p><strong>Meeting requirements</strong></p> <p>If you’re taking a gung-ho approach to the renovations and planning to manage the project yourself, rather than hiring a registered builder, you’ll need to make sure you obtain the correct building permits and ensure the work is up to required standards. </p> <p><strong>Hiring licensed tradespeople</strong></p> <p>It’s generally recommended that you only used licensed building practitioners and tradespeople. Builders, architects and engineers must meet certain obligations to maintain their accreditation, which ensure their work and your home are protected.</p> <p>Make sure you ask for references, check for a current license and insurance policy and even consider a simple contract describing the work and any warranty.</p> <p><strong>Additional hazards you may have to deal with</strong></p> <ul> <li>Termites can be a big problem and undo months of hard work on renovations and building projects. If you’re concerned about termites affecting your project, it’s advisable to contact your local council and find out if your area has a documented termite problem. From here they can advise you on how best to protect your renovations from infestation.</li> <li>Many homes may contain asbestos building products, and if you think yours does you’re obliged to get a check from a reputable assessor. If they find asbestos, make sure you hire a licensed removalist to ensure you get rid of it safely.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Win a share of $35,000 in renovation vouchers while adding value to your home

<p>A <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">simple renovation</a> is one of the easiest ways to add value to your home. And from August till November, <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LJ Hooker</a> are helping you out, giving you the chance to win a <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5,000 renovation voucher</a> out of a pool of $35,000. Whether it's a small bathroom renovation, sprucing your kitchen with new benchtops, or brushing up multiple rooms via a new paint job, it’s <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a small investment</a> that can <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pay off substantially</a>. To help you figure out what your home needs, book an appraisal with them <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p>It is a good idea to add value to your home before selling. Making small improvements will give your property a fresh, new look and increase your chances of getting the best return.</p> <p>Adding value to your home does not have to involve breaking the bank with expensive renovations. You can easily <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boost your property’s value</a> on a budget with some simple yet effective DIY hacks that will increase the likelihood of selling your home.</p> <p><strong>The rooms that add value to your home</strong></p> <p>When you are looking to add value to your home on a budget, you want to make improvements that will create maximum impact with minimum investment. Think about small updates that can increase the functionality of the room. Home improvement does not need to mean spending a lot.</p> <p>Here are the rooms that, when done right, can add great value to your home:</p> <h3><strong>Revive your kitchen</strong></h3> <p>People spend a lot of time in their kitchens. The classic go-to room, your kitchen should be one of the first rooms to focus on <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improving prior to selling</a>. You do not need a full-on makeover.</p> <p>Start with updating the floor if needed (vinyl is a great cost-effective option that looks great and will not break the bank) and give old cabinet doors a facelift with new paint and fixtures. Countertops can be revamped with laminate benchtops - the most cost-effective material.</p> <p>Another point of focus should be your splashback. Scrub to remove any grime or consider stick-on tiles that can be placed over the top of your old splashback for an instant, budget-friendly upgrade.</p> <h3>Maximise space in bedrooms</h3> <p>Have a ‘spare room’ that is primarily used for storage or as a study space? Consider converting it into an extra bedroom. Doing so will add value to your home and attract more buyers.</p> <p>With your existing bedrooms, consider giving them a repaint and adding extra storage options such as installing a built-in robe or extra shelving. Make bedrooms ready for staging by adding plush finishes such as comfy bed throws, cushions, shaggy rugs and fresh flowers.</p> <h3>Make your living room liveable</h3> <p>The family living room should be a space of comfort and function. Open up the space by neutralising the wall colours and letting in maximum light with the use of added lighting such as floor lamps or by swapping out heavy curtains for light-coloured shutters.</p> <p>Turn awkward nooks into usable spaces for storage and consider investing in smart home technology with smart lights, a smart thermostat and adding a smart device to your TV for easy voice-command operation.</p> <p><strong>Add value to your property on a budget</strong></p> <p>There are many things that you can do to <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">get the most value when selling your home</a>. If you are planning on selling soon and want the best return on your investment, then the key is to spend money in the right places.</p> <p>Even on a budget, there is still a fair bit you can do to your home to have it <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ready for appraisal</a>. You do not need to spend a dramatic amount of money, especially if done right. Here are our top ways to instantly add value to your property:</p> <h3>A fresh coat of paint</h3> <p>Re-painting a room makes it seem brand new and refreshes the complete look of your home’s interior. It is also a good way to add light to a room, particularly if you choose neutral colours such as whites and creams. This creates an overall brightness and airiness to your home, making it more inviting.</p> <h3>Curb appeal</h3> <p>First impressions count! Your home’s exterior is the first thing people see. Boosting its curb appeal is therefore a quick yet effective way to <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">add value to your property</a>. You can do this by mowing lawns, pressure washing the exterior walls and driveway, fixing broken fence pailings, adding outdoor lighting to your entranceway and planting new plants.</p> <h3>New flooring</h3> <p>Floors have a big impact on the perceived value of your home. If your floors are in generally good condition, you can help increase their value and appearance by simply steam cleaning to remove old built-up dirt and stains, replenishing timber floorboards with new lacquer or a wax finish or hiring a buffer to buff and polish.</p> <p>If your flooring is old and outdated, it is possible to install a new floor without having to sacrifice too much of your savings.</p> <h3>Add space and cleanliness</h3> <p>You want to make the best first impression when selling your home. Do this by getting rid of any rubbish and clutter and by giving your home a deep clean to remove any mould, dirt and deodorise furniture.</p> <p>By removing clutter and giving your home a deep clean, you are making your home fresh and inviting for potential buyers. Some quick ways to create a more open living space include:</p> <ul> <li>Removing excess furniture</li> <li>Clearing table tops</li> <li>Keeping knick-knacks and collectibles to a minimum</li> <li>Storing unwanted or unused items in under-bed storage boxes</li> <li>Invest in space-saving options such as stackable boxes, furniture that doubles as storage, and vertical hangers or shelves.</li> </ul> <h3>Update old fittings & fixtures</h3> <p>Giving old doors, cabinet doors and drawers a facelift with new handles is an instant upgrade that will add value to your home. Replacing old light fittings and light switch face plates is another way to add value without much effort or money.</p> <h3>Create inviting spaces</h3> <p>Improving the key rooms in your home can contribute to the overall <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worth of your property</a>. If your home’s interior is in good condition and indoor spaces are usable, then you are likely to get a higher market price when it comes time to sell. You can prepare your home for staging by focusing on the main liveable spaces of your home such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room.</p> <p><strong>A key summary of adding value to your home</strong></p> <p>If you are on a budget and want to add value to your home, you should look at the below options:</p> <ol> <li>Transform your home with a coat of paint</li> <li>Create some street appeal by sprucing up your front yard and home exterior</li> <li>Install new floors or polish old ones</li> <li>Get rid of clutter and put personal items in storage</li> <li>Update fittings & fixtures on cabinetry, lights and doors</li> <li>Stage key rooms to improve appearance and function</li> </ol> <p><strong>Let us help show the value of your property</strong></p> <p>If you are ready to sell your home and wondering how to add value to your property to maximise your return, then give the above budget-friendly tips a go. You do not have to spend a lot of time or money to improve your home. Remember, the key is to make your home beautiful and functional. If you do not enjoy using your home while you are living in it, then how will potential buyers?!</p> <p>Voted Australia’s number one real estate brand, a little help from the team at LJ Hooker can be invaluable when it comes to <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selling a home</a>. Book a <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">property appraisal</a> today to get your home market-ready.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LJ Hooker.</a></em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

10 sure-fire ways to boost the value of your home

<p>How do you boost the resale value of your home? Should you add another bedroom, build a pool or a granny flat, or would a garage be better?</p> <p>While it seems tempting to just go all out and add any feature you can think of, it's important to remember that not every <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">home renovation</a> is going to actually benefit you when the time comes to sell. You need to focus on changes to your home that suit the lifestyle of the neighbourhood. Here are some ways you can do this and boost your home's sale prospects.</p> <p><strong>1. Get some expert advice</strong></p> <p>Before you start knocking down walls, it’s a good idea to get a professional such as a <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">real estate agent</a> or an interior designer to give you some advice as to what they believe would add value to your property.</p> <p>The benefit of asking a real estate agent is, they live and breathe property in your local area and are very familiar with what buyers are looking for in a new home. You could also use the opportunity to get a free property appraisal.</p> <p>Plus, booking a <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free appraisal</a> with LJ Hooker will not only shed light on the value of your home, but can also put you in the running to win one of seven $5000 renovation packs - as long as you book before November 30.</p> <p><strong>2. </strong><strong>Highlight a standout feature</strong></p> <p>Does your home have a feature that other properties don't? For instance, does it have a beautiful view - can you make enhancements such as enlarge the windows, or change the window treatment so it is easier to see out and enjoy the expanse? If you don't have a view, can you create one with smart landscaping?</p> <p>If you have a swimming pool, ensure the lighting is good to help make this a feature. If you have an ugly side fence, you could transform this using an evergreen wall or vertical planter boxes. If your living area is separate to your garden, bring a bit of nature inside using indoor planter boxes, potted or hanging plants.</p> <p>With <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the right help</a>, you can identify and emphasise the features of your property that will help make it a strong contender when it hits the market.</p> <p><strong>3. </strong><strong>Invest in your garden early on</strong></p> <p>A manicured mature garden with established shade trees is very popular with buyers. Growing an established garden takes years to grow – so it’s a good idea to get this underway early. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the use of the garden long before you sell. Check with your local council about planning laws around trees that could extend beyond your property boundary too!</p> <p><strong>4. </strong><strong>Revamp the kitchen</strong></p> <p>The kitchen is the one room that can make or break a sale. It’s usually the most expensive room in any house, so prospective buyers don’t want to see a kitchen that needs a total upgrade. This doesn’t mean a total re-fit, but there are some small things you can splurge on that will help make your kitchen more appealing.</p> <ul> <li>Add appliances</li> <li>Fresh coat of paint</li> <li>Do up your doors & door handles</li> <li>Lift the lighting with fluorescents or spotlights above benchtops and potentially a pendant light for some visual interest.</li> <li>Replace old benchtops</li> <li>Re-tile or fix the floorboards</li> <li>Ensure you have good storage and have maximised your bench space</li> <li>Ideally having a kitchen that flows outside to an alfresco eating area gives cooks the option to cook in the kitchen if at the outside BBQ</li> </ul> <p><strong>5. </strong><strong>Enhance the bathroom</strong></p> <p>Buyers today like beautiful bathrooms - they want a room they can relax and pamper themselves in, no matter what size or condition your bathroom is in. It is Ok to spend some money on the bathroom to make the most of what you have.</p> <ul> <li>Replace any cracked basins, toilets or tubs.</li> <li>Replace your vanity or mirror and add new lighting fixtures to make a really good impression on your buyers.</li> <li>If you have small bathroom – consider wall-mounted sinks and toilets and towel rails behind the door and use big mirrors to make the room appear twice the size.</li> <li>Repaint stained or chipped bathtubs and basins.</li> <li>Add to this a fresh coat of paint on the walls, and you have a whole new bathroom.</li> </ul> <p><strong>6. </strong><strong>Go with the flow</strong></p> <p>A property that flows smoothly from space to space is important to buyers, as it directly affects how easily and comfortably people can move through the home. Spending time getting this right can add significant dollars to your properties value. Consider:</p> <ul> <li>Where the kitchen is located, does it flow easily into the eating / living area?</li> <li>Do you have an outside eating / sitting area where you can entertain friends in summer or simply relax with a good book? This is an extra room in the eyes of a buyer.</li> <li>Is there a smooth indoor / outdoor flow?</li> <li>If you are looking at improving the 'flow' of your property don't forget to think about ventilation. Cross breezes in summer can be life saving when its hot. Consider adding shutters, or louvres, larger windows or add large doors to the outside to help bring the fresh air in. </li> </ul> <p><strong>7. </strong><strong>Add a granny flat</strong></p> <p>If you have the space, a granny flat can be a big drawcard for buyers for a multitude of reasons. Family buyers love a granny flat as the space can double up as a rumpus room for the kids, a place for the in-laws to stay or a home office.</p> <p>In addition, astute buyers see the opportunity of being able to lease out the external flat and help with their mortgage.</p> <p><strong>8. Pop on a fresh coat of paint</strong></p> <p>Paint can totally transform your property and help catapult it from the 70’s or 80’s into the 21st century. Consider re-painting the façade of your property if it is looking a bit tired, or if you have exposed brick you could render the façade and paint it. This will help create a good first impression and set the tone for the rest of the property.</p> <p>Don’t stop there, re-painting the walls inside also has a positive effect on buyers as it instantly refreshes the entire home. You can’t go wrong with fresh, crisp paint job in modern neutral colours. </p> <p><strong>9. Add extra storage</strong></p> <p>Another great investment is to add built in cupboards throughout the property – in bedrooms, family rooms, hall ways, garages…anywhere you have the space. Buyers love great storage so this can make your home much more appealing.</p> <p><strong>10. Create an outdoor entertaining space</strong></p> <p>An outdoor entertaining area adds a whole new room to your home, and buyers love this. When planning your outdoor space, consider how you envisage it to be used. If you have the space, perhaps one that is ideal for a large family, a large dining area may be the best option with BBQ and cooking area.</p> <p>If space is tight, a deck or patio with comfy seating and shade may be the best option. If you have a balcony, adding a table setting, even small, is very appealing to buyers. They will be able to project themselves, enjoying their morning coffee in the sun.</p> <p>Ready to sell your home? <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Request a free appraisal</a> to get a better understanding of where your house stands in the current market today. It will give you a detailed breakdown of your property's size, location, how it compares to similar local properties, potential areas of improvement, and much more.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://go.linkby.com/TBDJBQJE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LJ Hooker</a>.</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Historical home renovators share kitchen tips and tricks

<p dir="ltr">A US couple who have renovated several historic homes have made a splash on social media, with nearly two million people following their process of restoring old residences.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the number of people tuning in to see Adam and Jessica Miller’s renovating ventures grew to a fever pitch because of their latest and much more personal project: renovating Jessica’s childhood home, that also happens to be 115-years-old.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c459232f-7fff-c21b-ac91-91b8f26f1d73"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After buying the home from Jessica’s parents, the Millers were eager to preserve the home for future generations, including their four sons, but taking on the 1906 home hasn’t been easy.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJWgfz2pfPH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJWgfz2pfPH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Adam Ramsey Miller (@oldhouseadam)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“When Adam and I decided to purchase my family home from my parents, the main concern was to keep all the original woodwork on the outside intact,” Jessica told <em><a href="https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/kitchen-renovation-tips-tiktokkers-historic-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Realtor.com</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">After replacing the significant amount of water-damaged columns, the couple spent nine months restoring the outside of the home before turning their attention to the kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since breathing new life into the space all while maintaining its character, the couple have shared some tips and tricks for those planning on renovating their own ageing kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Make your renovation suit you</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">No matter the extent of renovations you’re planning for your kitchen, any changes you make to this frequently-used space should prioritise function - which can differ person to person based on your lifestyle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Be very aware of what you need out of the kitchen in terms of function. Let it work for your family and lifestyle,” Jessica said.</p> <p dir="ltr">In their home, she said they chose two different countertops - nonporous, spill-friendly quartz and heat-resistant soapstone - to make their kitchen feel “like it was all found in the house and opened up to reveal a grand kitchen space”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Avoid blindly following trends</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Though it may be tempting to follow the latest trends, the Millers suggest leaning into the concept of designing a space that suited and highlighted the beauty of their historic home.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Once we leaned into this concept, it opened up a whole new world free of restraints,” Jessica said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We were inspired by Old-World European functionality mixed in with the vibe and history of the home.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4d199794-7fff-e927-a425-a5b2858f7fcb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">If you do want to incorporate certain trends, such as a large island or natural wood finishes, you still can in a way that stays true to the look and feel of your home.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhGEdwpClH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhGEdwpClH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Adam Ramsey Miller (@oldhouseadam)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Work with what you have</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Old homes come with plenty of quirks which make them unique, and adjusting the existing layout rather than ripping down walls and cabinets can help maintain the home’s unique character.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t assume that you need to start down to the studs,” said Jessica. “Most of the time you can use the existing layout and cabinets.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since Jessica’s parents renovated the kitchen 11 years ago, Jessica said they didn’t feel the need to tear out cabinets, opting instead to tweak the “vibe” of the space.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also kept the range hood but adjusted the colour from cream to a warm white to change with the overall vibe. The kitchen layout was solid, so we didn’t have to adjust anything there,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Expect costly surprises</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Renovations can be a costly undertaking for any house, and rehabbing an older home is no exception - and can even come with surprise costs.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Millers can attest to that fact, and suggest saving a buffer of at least 10 percent of your expected costs just in case.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We ran into more water damage in the island than we expected based on a small leak from the sink. This led to a complete island rebuild and new plumbing from the sink into the house,” Jessica said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Since we worked with a local plumber, we only had to increase our plumbing budget by a couple hundred dollars.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would say keep a solid 10% set aside for any unforeseeable expenses.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-83c8bb77-7fff-036c-5675-89751765d5d7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @oldhouseadam (Instagram)</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Block house shut down following dangerous discovery

<p>Monday night's tense episode of the block featured quite the worrying development, as contestants hammered into the floor and made the unwelcome discovery of what appeared to be asbestos.</p> <p>Tom, the Melbourne-based plumper, and his wife Sarah-Jane were coming to the end of the demolition process for the guest bedroom with only a small section left to smash – when the descending mallet revealed the alarming discovery.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/Asbestos-pic.jpg" alt="" width="702" height="417" /></p> <p>“As soon as I saw it, I’m like: Oh god, here we go, more delays,” said Tom.</p> <p>The Block moved quickly once the toxic substance was spotted ,with everyone in House One dropping tools for a full day as the team moved in to assess and remove the potentially deadly substance.</p> <p>“They shut our house down, and rightfully so – asbestos is very dangerous,” said Tom, who was left with little to do but visit his fellow contestants while he nervously waited to see how long his house would be out of action.</p> <p>Six hours later, Keith and Dan finally returned to give the site the all-clear that work was safe to resume.</p> <p>Dan offered some explanation as to why asbestos hadn’t been spotted before the houses were handed over to the contestants: “In this location, under the fireplace and used as formwork, it’s very hard to locate," he said. "That’s why we didn’t find it – Tom’s done the right thing in alerting us."</p> <p>The hit reality TV home make-over series scored an impressive 984,000 viewers during Sunday's episode, making it the most popular entertainment program of the night.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 9 </em></p>

Real Estate

Scotty Cam joins in on Block challenge

<p dir="ltr">In a series first, Scotty Cam will be both hosting and taking part in <em>The Block</em>, having been tasked with renovating a 154-year-old country retreat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Season 18 of<em> The Block</em> will see Cam tackle a “weatherboard House” built in 1866 by Scottish immigrant Joseph McGeorge.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the 59-year-old had a headstart on this season’s contestants, starting to make over the home - which has been desolate for 25 years and left “falling to bits” - three months before the contestants.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the teams work on their houses each week, Cam will continue to renovate his property and even be included in the room reveals.</p> <p dir="ltr">So far, Cam has completed three rooms, including a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette, though the exterior of the property is covered in scaffolding and the exterior walls, roof and verandah have been ripped apart.</p> <p dir="ltr">The formerly drab and aged bedroom has been given a modern country vibe, with navy blue panelling on the walls and a bed frame panelled with rattan.<br />Cam continued the navy theme into the bathroom, transforming the grimy room with its pink sink and sky blue tiles into a spacious area with a grey tiled splashback, more navy wood panelling, a free-standing bath and a spacious shower separated by a glass screen.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for the kitchenette, the dirt-filled room still had remains of old kitchen utensils on the tables and a barren oven cavity which was transformed in a modern space with navy furniture and decor, beige wall panelling, timber floorboards, under-cabinet lighting, a bar fridge under the new bench, and new cabinetry.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was revealed that Cam would be picking up renovating tools during the show last year, and his progress comes amid stellar ratings following the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/don-t-waste-my-time-elle-ferguson-and-joel-patfull-face-heat-on-the-block" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversial departure of Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The engaged couple left after being on-set for just two days, after Patfull’s mother was hospitalised following a fall, though Cam <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/scott-cam-speaks-from-the-heart-about-block-stars-abrupt-exit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described their behaviour</a> as “p*** poor” and “un-Australian”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-096eca6b-7fff-5525-42a9-60c6be89aa31"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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