Unit 15, 63-69 Kirkham Road Bowral, NSW, 2576
Despite Sydney’s booming property market, there are some homes that simply continue to evade sale. This family home, in the leafy northern Sydney suburb of Denistone, was one of them.
Denistone is a thriving suburb and popular with young families - close to the Paramatta River and just 17km to the Sydney CBD. Homes in Denistone typically sell in 38 days.
Set on over 1,000 square metres, and in an appealing tree-lined street, this particular home was designed and built 65 years ago by Robert, an engineer. When Robert was moved into a care facility following a series of strokes, his daughters Jan and Sue were desperate to sell the home in order to pay for Robert’s round-the-clock care. Yet despite being on the market for close to two years, there wasn’t a buyer in sight, and the four-bedroom home was simply sitting empty.
Sadly, while Robert’s home had huge potential and was in a charming street, it was tired and in dire need of an update. Rising damp, broken stairs, an overgrown garden and some rather drab interiors were all holding it back.
With maintenance costs escalating, and Robert’s savings dwindling, the sisters called the Selling Houses Australia team in for help – contributing $60,000 towards the rapid renovatio
One of the key priorities for this home was giving it some street appeal and maximising the potential of the huge block.
The Selling Houses Australia team set about removing many of the overgrown trees and shrubs to clean up the space and make it more usable and attractive.
A new hedge was planted at the front of the property, and a front path and drive were laid with modern blue-toned paving. The front entry was also tidied up and tiled to make it more welcoming.
Luxaflex® Evo Awnings in Spectra fabric and in Pearl colour were installed over the front windows to give the home a more contemporary appeal, and to shade the interiors of the front-facing rooms on sunny days.
One of the great benefits of these awnings is their UV protection and insect resistance. They’re also ideal in light-moderate windy conditions, as the fabric resists blow-outs, and they are very easy to roll-up and retract after use.
The rear garden of the home was also cleared and tidied, and a circular paved area created with comfy seating and a BBQ.
Luxaflex® Spring Straight Drop Awnings in Spectra Fabric and Pearl colour were also installed on the rear to lend visual consistency with the front of the home, and to provide shade protection for the rear-facing rooms.
With the front-porch re-designed, this home was instantly more warm and welcoming. On the inside, however, it was a different story. The front entrance and hallway were very bland, with dated carpet and walls in dire need of a paint.
The team gave this space a new, fresh appeal - retaining the beautiful fluted glass walls that separated the entrance from the main living room, painting the walls, and installing new floating floorboards.
Luxaflex® Duette® Shades were used to cover the front-facing windows, in Elan fabric and in Daisy White colour. A key advantage of these shades is their unique honeycomb structure which captures air and helps regulate the temperature in the room.
Previously, the living, dining and kitchen areas of this home were separate, with a wall inhibiting the natural flow from one to the other. A key priority for the renovation was therefore removing this wall, and creating a new, modern kitchen, living and dining space.
A smart decorative screen was installed to mask the set of stairs, which flowed up from the kitchen area, and all of the existing cabinetry and furnishings were replaced with a bright new kitchen and a central island bench.
To give the kitchen a brighter and more modern feel, and regulate the flow of air into this space, Luxaflex® Duette® Shades in Elan fabric and Daisy White colour, were also used.
The living area was also given a new lease of life, with new flooring, furnishings, paint and window coverings. The team also replaced some original 1960s Luxaflex® Venetian Blinds – which had certainly stood the test of time - with new Luxaflex® Silhouette® Shadings in Originale fabric and in Radiant White colour.
These shadings have unique S-shaped vanes that float between two sheer panels, which diffuses light into the room. When the vanes are tilted, you can also block the outside world’s view and bounce upcoming light up onto the ceiling.
With four bedrooms, this home had plenty of potential appeal to young families. However, this wasn’t previously being maximised, and the bedrooms were very dated and uninviting. These rooms were all painted and given new furnishings to bring them to life.
In the master, Luxaflex® Silhouette® Shadings in Bon Soir fabric and in Seclusion White colour were used to create a sense of sophistication and luxury. Blockout opacity was also chosen for the fabric, to ensure this room could become a dark and peaceful sanctuary.
The other three bedrooms all had Luxaflex® Duette® Shades in Elan Fabric and Daisy White colour, to regulate the flow of air and create a stylish, modern and consistent look.
Set over three levels, this home also had two other living areas – both of which were given Wendy’s stylish touch, with new paint, furnishings and window coverings.
As with the remaining bedrooms, Luxaflex® Duette® Shades were used in these rooms for style and consistency.
The single bathroom in this home was previously a very cluttered space, with musk-pink tiles throughout and a very dated 1970s feel. For cost purposes, the team retained many of this room’s original features, but brought them into the 21st century with a new backlit mirror, new vanity and tapware, and Luxaflex® PolySatin Shutters in White. These same shutters were also used in the new downstairs laundry area.
Made in Australia, these shutters add a touch of elegance to any room, and are the ultimate solution for wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries. They are also backed with a 20 year warranty, are impervious to moisture, and won’t blister, peel or fade.
After a very successful open house once the renovation was complete, Rob and Robyn sold within just one week, for an incredible $360,000.
If you're interested in finding out more about the window coverings used in this renovation,
The products in this episode were proudly supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery Dealer, Fashion Floors & Windows, Epping.
