Autumn Update

Seasonal Updates

May 14

Autumn is the season of completion. When the trees drop their leaves, the days are shorter, nights – longer and the longest to-do lists. There’s a busyness about Autumn that’s very productive. We can get things done that have needed our focus and attention.

Tying up loose ends and putting the final touches on our long term projects. The seasonal character of the year is there to help us do this work before Winter arrives and we look back at what we’ve actually achieved to be grateful and reset for a new cycle.

What have you been getting stuck into these last 2 months?

Have you got some BIG ideas coming forward and being REALISED…

I started working on a renovation of my own. Over the last year or so my focus was to take action when the opportunity arose in April. I had been wanting to get stuck into this for years.

Little Queens Retreat vision board

RENOVATING A SMALL APARTMENT IN 2021

A quick renovation on this investment unit will showcase the relaxed contemporary living style by Dwelling Design.

The home circa 1980’s with original passage arches, paved courtyards and typically proportioned rooms. I needed to come up with a colour palette to modernise the home without rejecting it’s roots while also, not rehashing any potentially dated colour ideas. The context is a renovation for sale. This allowed the design choices to be broadly appealing and attractive to discerning young buyers.

Sometimes when developing a concept, one or two elements will inspire the whole aesthetic for the project, in my project there was a leaning to warm timber. The essence of natural timber was a driver for colour and material choices.

During April’s demolition, it was an excellent achievement to wave bye-bye to creamy beige bathroom tiles and 1980’s tapware, aluminium venetians and beech laminate flooring.

THE DESIGN SELECTIONS

Clean lines, seamless surfaces will make everything feel more spacious. Related colours to create relaxation and flow from one room to the next.

Curves and minimal detailing, contrast and subtle texture.

BATHROOM

A retreat vibe with earthy concrete look matt porcelain tiles…. natural oak and chrome.

KITCHEN

Monochrome modern with a little glamour of white with matt black handles and tapware…

COURTYARD

Playful black bamboo and tropical fiery foliage contrasting with ferns…

FENG SHUI

Balance the five elements to improve harmony and energetic flow in the interior design, using a bagua map and flying stars.

Is long-distance reno optimism going to get us to the finish line in 6 weeks?

21 April

BEFORE

While planning this renovation, my scope grew from changing out kitchen tap, handles, painting front door and a bathroom renovation. Only.

To gutting the bedrooms, living room, stripping blinds, door handles, light fittings, all flooring and subsequently the skirtings. Repainting everything, replanting garden beds and fencing the yard.

A blessing in disguise, the condition of the property was not good when I collect the keys last month. I had planned 3 weeks to turn it around for sale.

The only fixtures we didn’t demolish was the white kitchen and 5yo oven, both somehow still immaculately white and in good condition.

Of course when it came to the crunch would I really be happy to be doing half-a-reno?

I’d apply all the smart budget saving tips. I also had to consider the risk of being locked-down from day 3.

Optimism was at a much needed high, it seems to help.

11 May

PROGRESS

Impressive service from every contractor and supplier with short lead time, fast quoting, delivery and support.

Kitchen with a quick bench top resurface and paint job is looking slick.

Half way through the bathroom tiling – my tiler has hurt his back! He’s nowhere to be seen for a week..

That floor tile though.. Perfect

There’s a mysterious leak in the ceiling. My team have cut a plasterboard panel away to leave a gaping hole for the full renovation-nightmare effect.

There are tears. Did I mention *strata property* But nothing 800kms and a few deep breaths won’t solve.

Flooring is measured, drool-worthy and ordered BUT the skirting board guy tells me to wait til July to get new skirts, any one worth their salt is booked for weeks. Extend the schedule til July, unless someone cancels?

“Very good taste in colour."

Trevors Carpets

GO YOUR WAY

Do you love the sense of completion and feeling of accomplishment you get when you finally have the resources and opportunity to go for your dreams?

It’s motivating, right!

Putting the right people on your team so you can access their skills and knowledge can be the secret sauce for enjoying your adventure more. Good people helping can be the difference between a bumpy and smooth ride.

I look for people with the right attitude to life – it’s meant to be enjoyed and celebrated. So much so through our work and our rest.

STUCK ON STARTING?

If you are new to building and renovating.. don’t guess.. follow professional insight to complete lifestyle design.