I know a few people have been looking forward to this one, and I've been reluctant to post as I've just been so busy and to be honest, you might not see our vision.
First of all, we bought in one of the most expensive areas on the Surf Coast of Victoria, Australia - and we found the cheapest place we could that wasn't demolition material, and had a few things that we wanted - a shed, a big garden, and north facing. It's an old eighties brick house that's tiny by Australian standards at 81 m 2, and to be honest, the first time I saw it I just rejected it outright. But we decided to look anyway, and I immediately saw the potential, if not fell in love with it straight away. Ignore the brown brick - we'll be painting it all white or an off white over the summer which will immediately brighten it up.
Okay, front room first. Small, but will fit what we need. We may need to build a front porch as the front door opens straight into the living area. We are immediately getting rid of the shitty electric heater - in fact, it's already pulled out. Those windows face south (toward the ocean, and the Antartic, so that's the shaded side away from the sun for us). We'll replace the curtains, and by the time you read this post, some walls will be removed, left and right. More later.
Directly in front of that, facing north, is the kitchen. Yep, that's all going. We will also get rid of that window and block it off, and put a window facing north where the rangehood currently is. That'll give us a nice view and more light. Yay.
Then you walk down a hallway, where on the southside are two rooms - a small bedroom and the master bedroom. This is the small one. Bit of a mess.
To the right of that room (north facing) is a laundry. Dumb. People didn't think about views or passive heating or anything in those days. That's going. Tomorrow. We'll put in a european style laundry, and the space will then open up and get more light, with some double doors opening onto the deck. All double glazed.
Next to the laundry is the bathroom. It'll stay as is for now - it's all functional. There's a door that leads to the laundry that is going tomorrow and that'll be blocked off and plastered up. Eventually those middle walls will go and we'll do a different bathroom but not for a few years. Yes that's my wetsuit hanging over the rail. I live a five minute drive from my favourite surfing beach.
Front of house again, but the other corner, is the master bedroom. Check that shagpile baby. And the vintage lights. It's all very 70's retro. We'll keep the light fittings, because. Note the robe to the left. Sliding doors would be better.
Speaking of retro, here's the retro bathroom fittings we pulled out.
Here's the back room - we've pulled the shagpile out already. The subfloor is pine, so pretty sure we're just gonna sand right through, tan wash it to stop it going yellow, and varnish it. That window will eventually be double glazed, because it's north facing, and will be fkn hot in summer.
We're now debating about keeping the pine subfloor vs hybrid flooring which would be more waterproof and hardy, as the pine floor would take a lot of maintenance and get scratched easily. I'm not keen on the pine though I love the look. I'll probably win. I also think we may have carpet in the main bedroom.
Next job for me is painting and designing the Ikea kitchen. Costs are adding up. Send help and finances.
With Love,
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Honestly, it looks pretty awesome. Very cozy. I traveled lot in caravans and mobile homes, so 81m². The flat I live in at the moment is around that, probably a little less, and has more than enough space for Lily and I. The important thing is indeed the garden 😅 Even my kitchen is only 2x2m, which is actually great as I just spin on my heels without having to walk anywhere while preparing my creations.
For the floor - can't you find a kind of resistant, transparent coating for it? My mom has wooden floors, and yes, they get worn down, but around every 4-5 years we'd sand it down and put on the coating again. Not sure if it's pine, though.
For the front terrace, a friend of mine has that in the Intag valley around the corner. First, it was just open, but due to the huge amount of mosquitos and such he built a mosquito-net-wall around it. Looks pretty cool, and is like a half-open space, still separated by a door, but you can look inside. I tried to find pictures, but couldn't.
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love your excitement for transforming the house! It’s always inspiring to see someone take on a renovation with such vision and care.
I actually do enjoy it!!! But I'd like to get to the 👉 by it's NEARLY DONE.
Me, me, me! :D Was hoping for a tour without being a creepy stalker.
Okay just finished reading this - you could do home makeover videos, you've got so many plans. But the house looks like it's got great potential and cozy. I personally like the flooring (and the door to the laundry and bathroom) . I can't wait to see where you guys take it though :)
I love it when you look through my window. I leave the curtains open just so you might come.by.
❤️
At first glance, it looks like a cabin rather than a house, no wonder you wanted to run away! But if you want a good bargain you really need to look beyond the surface and visualise the potential, plus having a handyman at home can make a hell lot of difference.
I was wondering why you wanted a north facing garden because we always want a south facing one, then I remembered you're down under, and everything is the other way round. Learn something new every day.
Can't wait to see the transformation, if it's not too intrusive
Ha yeah I was confused on the UK when people talked about going south to get warm!
You know, I think it's the average size of an apartment in France ... And certainly on par with many small places I have seen in Europe. But the garden and outdoor area - that's another story! We spend a lot more time outdoors in winter than you do in UK.
Wait til you see what we do!
Exactly and we still believe we chose well. In fact an envious friend said to us today that they want us to help them find their next place as we were obviously good at finding a solid house for a good price!
It's amazing all you plan to do, and all you've gotten done so far! Just like the Rover projects, I can't wait to see each step as you go.
I did like the design on the bathroom door. WE put southern pine in what is now the office. Big mistake. It's too soft for the traffic it has and is full of dents and scrapes. It also discolored badly. But it will stay as it is until my sister hits the lottery.
But for a bedroom your pine should be fine.
We have already changed our minds... Two of the rooms will have carpet, and then it'll be a hard wearing hybrid timber look floor. I don't want to fuss with soft pine!
Congratulations!
Setting up a house is a very difficult task and I am not sure, if I will ever do it or not ( because I can't even afford to buy one), but I like your enthusiasm to deal with everything personally - making sure, you have what you want.
Thanks lovely. We are privileged to own a home that's for sure.
It looks wonderful, loads of potential.
I would keep the pine floor. I did in the cabin too. It was 100 years old. I repaired it, sanded it carefully until smooth and painted it with a chalky paint. If it wasn't this badly damaged I would have stained it. Still once painted it looks good now.
Looking forward to seeing your vision coming alive.
Thanks for sharing.
!HUG
It's too knackered to keep, and I don't want hubs freaking out every time there's a dog in there. I'll show you what I mean in next post. I ver your floors looked lovely!!❤️
A shame… ok, will check it out. Sorry was absent most of the last 2 weeks. Got really sick and had to go to emergencies to get treated with heavy antibiotics. Recovering now, stopped the course last Saturday. Had some unwanted side effects from them.
Will check your posts out in detail in the next days.
Thank you ☺️
Oh darling I'm.sorry to hear that but glad you are okay!
Thank you so much 😊
Slowly but recovering.
!LADY
So exciting: an almost blank canvass! Good luck!
It is!!! Thanks.
Haha, it took me a while to realize that when you say facing north, you mean the light that we have facing south :)
I don't know the Australian standards but for mine, it is perfect! And I am sure that you'll make it a lot better!
Enjoy the renovation :)
Yes I was confused in UK too!!!
Wow this house looks comfy
So much sunlight entering house.
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Thanks for sharing. Moving can be so nerve-wracking.
It has some charming details in the bathroom and the doors to the laundry area. Glad to hear the kitchen will get some updates. Agree about the pine floor: it looks great, but most people would rather wake up to a cushioned carpet under their feet in the bedroom. I used to stub my toe all the time on hard floors in the bedroom.
Awesome that you live so close to your favorite beach for watersports.
Thanks @creativetruth ! I think we are old enough not to ruin carpets these days!
The white and light wood do make it look bright and airy, and who doesn't love a good old shagpile!
I can feel your enthusiasm. Does the outdoor area need much work done?
Heaps of work, but we could leave if we wanted if that makes sense. I wrote a garden post the other day that gives a brief run down. I'm enthusiastic but very tired. So much yo do!
Aha lemme get to that garden post in a few minutes
No wuzzas I mean there will be more coming
I would be more than happy to offer my physical labour to help with these various projects, but the round trip is a bit excessive :) I am sure I would learn so much along the way. This looks like it is going to be wonderful, but holy - hell - it is a lot of work. At least it has the throes of being a forever home by the looks of it. :)
I simply cannot fathom how fast the progress on this will be going. The thought of knocking down walls in a double brick house makes me queasy. You are braver than I.
Congratulations, it's a home.
My home is located 12 kms outside Vancouver Canada, and my home is built in 1958 and needed various fixes and upgrades. I remember how my right hand trembled signing the mortgage. It eventually became home for my kids. After 25 years, it still needed some fixes, but now I have no excuses when I'm about to retire. No more mortgage. Home sweet home.
This is a cute house with a lot of potential! I see why you & Jamie like it, and it will be so fun to see what you do with the place! I am so happy for you! 😊
Thanks so much! It has tons of potential and I like that it's essentially a blank slate!
looks nice already. Best of luck with it. You would be mad to get rid of that pine floor. Its nice.
You and hubs would get along ;p
I had pine in last house. I really don't want it again. It ends up looking shite.
True that. I had pine doors so painted them all white and they look much better actually.
Ooo I can see the vision! What a lovely home, i'd have jumped at that house too.
With a porch or veranda on the front as you say would be lovely. Hammocks out from overlooking the garden.. dreamy.
I think that's the best bit about doing a house up is making it your own exactly how you like it.
I love the pine floor as well, i'd leave that.
As you say the decor inside is dated but so much potential! Envious
Aw, thanks for hte vote of confidence! Pine floors look so good unpainted, but unfortunately it's a little patch work and i want the same flooring throughout and you can't have pine in kitchen or bathroom...