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Today’s home tour will take you on a unique before and after transformation. This is a fantastic home transformation! From a dilapidated shack to a cozy family home.
Casey Divall, from Designing Spaces, was a pleasure to chat with. We wanted to know how they accomplished this fantastic renovation.
Casey and Nathan had high expectations when they started this renovation project.
Casey laughs, “It was a classic case of a bad house on a good road!”
When we bought the house, the previous owner had started renovations. However, the plans only took advantage of the site and the orientation.
We wanted to preserve the structure built after World War II rather than tearing it down and starting from scratch.
We decided to extend the extension on the back of the home to create a large open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space. The northern orientation allowed for more natural light to enter the room.
We also added an oversized single-car garage. “We also added an oversized single-car garage.”
This incredible transformation of a shack into a stylish and comfortable home in South Warrnambool, Victoria, is fantastic.
It’s in a fantastic location. We fell for it and wanted to maintain its original design.
Casey says, “It is close to the CBD and several beaches, so we knew someone would be interested in calling it home when we were done.”
Before we began, the house was uninhabitable. The original construction consisted of 3 bedrooms, a tiny living space, a bathroom, and a leaning kitchen.
It’s now a three-bedroom home with a main bedroom, walk-in closet, and ensuite. There is a separate toilet, laundry, and second bathroom.
The kitchen, dining, and living areas are all open-plan, and we added a second area to the house. We said a one-car garage to the exterior and a covered outdoor space just off the living/dining room.
Casey believes that home renovation would only be complete with some challenges.
Casey laughs, “Nathan’s (also the Managing director at Designing Spaces) having back surgery and being unable to work for 6-8 weeks when we were two months into the project wasn’t ideal!”
“With every renovation, a few issues always need a little creative thinking, and this was no exception.
The original house could have been more square in some areas, especially at the back. This was overcome by installing a bulkhead hiding the fillet where the extension meets the original structure.
Managing time and coordinating with your trades can be a real challenge when undertaking a renovation.
We were probably a bit crazy to do a renovation “on the side” as we run our own company! We had to test each other’s patience!
The home is finished with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
“My favorite room, without a doubt, is my kitchen.
“I was set on using green slate and raw Birchply for the cabinetry, as I thought it would complement the polished concrete floor beautifully. The kitchen has the coastal cottage look we wanted. The oak handles and farmhouse sink complete the look.
“I also liked the combination of the monument matte cladding and the Spanish green Conite on the outside. Who could forget the terrazzo tiles that we used for the ensuite? “says Casey with joy.
Nathan loves the natural lighting that spills onto the polished concrete floor in the dining and living areas. He was thrilled that the new owners, who bought the house halfway through renovations, backed his idea to install the rough-sawn timber batten fencing.
It’s not just a great feature; it also creates a private yard for the driveway.
Casey and Nathan, who run Designing Spaces and do house flips on the side, know a lot about renovations.
Nathan started Designing Spaces in our lounge in 2009. I joined him in the business after having our three children in 2014. He had worked in the building design industry for more than ten years.
Casey proudly says, “Now that our team has grown from 3 to 5, we offer a complete suite of interior design and building services for new residential and commercial constructions as well as renovations.”
Casey’s top tips for renovating a home to make money or “house flipping” are based on her experience.
Do your research
Before you purchase a renovation project, consider a few things.
What is the performance of the market in which you intend to buy? What type and size of home is the market looking for? Can you renovate the house without going overboard? “How long will it take you to finish the renovation?”
Know your real estate agent.
If you plan to renovate to sell your home, you should hire a real estate agent you can trust who knows the local market.
This is an invaluable resource for setting budgets and determining a realistic price that you can get for your finished product.
Add 10%
Do a detailed budget. Investigate all costs and add 10%. Casey knows that there will always be unexpected obstacles.
Budget carefully
Focus on where you can get the best bang for your money. As they say, bathrooms and kitchens sell homes!
When it comes to flipping homes, sometimes less is more. Don’t, for example, spend thousands on custom cabinets in the living room that might not be to your buyer’s liking or may limit their vision of that space.
A blank canvas allows them to customize their space to suit their needs, and it helps you keep your budget in check.
Be flexible
It would help if you were flexible. It is to be used when inevitable obstacles arise so that you can find solutions and adapt.
Prepare to work hard.
This is especially relevant in a tighter marketplace — if you are going to make money, you will need to work many hours yourself!
“With this project, for example, we did many tasks ourselves. For instance, we painted the exterior, built the fences, and restored the original timber floor. We also landscaped the yard and provided extra hands for our tradespeople when needed.
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