the blogThe Interiors Edit
A colour refresh in Alice Springs on Selling Houses Australia
Travelling to the Northern Territory to film our final episode of Season 17 was just a dream. Such an amazing landscape from which to find inspiration - but first, we headed off to meet Richard and Kat who, along with their three daughters, had always dreamt of living in the remote beauty of Alice Springs. The couple bought their home during the property boom for $675,000, but as the pandemic eased, they found themselves unable to maintain the mortgage from afar. With the market in a downturn, they faced the harsh reality of selling at a loss. My job? Transform their vibrant yet overwhelming home into a calm and inviting space that would attract buyers.
A renovation rescue in Harrington Park on Selling Houses Australia
This is a story about transformation. Sometimes, it’s not just about adding new features but about reimagining the space to meet modern expectations. Diane, our homeowner, found herself in a bind after purchasing a new home before selling her current one. With a bridging loan looming over her, she needed to sell her six-bedroom house quickly and for a good price. The challenge was to make this really large, somewhat dated home appealing to buyers who might otherwise be drawn to newer properties. To do that, it needed oodles of character and a LOT of styling - not to mention a serious kitchen update!
Embracing the location in Ballina on Selling Houses Australia
Welcome to Ballina! This serene coastal town in northern New South Wales was the scene of our latest renovation on Selling Houses Australia, where siblings Alison, Ian, and Christine were eager to sell their parents' architecturally unique home, which had been their dream retirement spot. The house, stuck in a 1990s time warp, was struggling to attract buyers.
Restoring heritage beauty on Selling Houses Australia in pretty Camden, New South Wales
It’s just as pretty as a picture in south-west Sydney’s historic Camden, with every house just so… Well, maybe not every house, as landscape designer Dennis Scott and I discovered on episode nine of Selling Houses Australia Series 17,
Dangerous curves in Tallebudgera, Gold Coast on Selling Houses Australia
Tallebudgerer is such a special suburb on the Gold Coast, with a laidback lifestyle, gorgeous natural beauty and a fun, family vibe. But that wasn’t the case for Dee, who was struggling to juggle a full-time job with single parenthood and some health challenges. Can we turn her dated home into a family haven?
Selling Houses moves a whole kitchen in Hornsby Heights, NSW
In this episode of Selling Houses Australia, I ventured to Hornsby Heights, a picturesque suburb in Sydney's North Shore. Charlie and Stella, a couple with two growing daughters, were struggling to sell their family home after jumping the gun and purchasing a new property closer to their daughter's high school.
Did the Westleigh log cabin on Selling Houses Australia sell?
Peter, a dedicated science teacher, and his fiancée were eager to sell Peter's unique four-bedroom log cabin. Despite its charming architecture and stunning bush views, the house had been on the market for months without success.
A case of too many bedrooms in Hobartville, NSW
In this episode of Selling Houses Australia, I found myself in Hobartville, New South Wales, where Carmel and Carlo were struggling to sell their six-bedroom family home. To be honest, it was a little cramped, with lots of tiny rooms and just not enough living spaces.
Selling Houses Australia: Step back in time in Engadine, NSW
Vanessa, a single mum of two young kids, was struggling to sell her family home after a difficult separation. Despite its spacious layout and prime location, the home had been on the market for six months without success. So, what could be the problem? For starters, the layout was upside down, with the living spaces upstairs and the bedrooms down.
A tiny house makeover in Hastings, Victoria on Selling Houses Australia
We visit Hastings, Victoria, where Pete was desperately trying to sell his family home so he and his girlfriend Bridget could buy their own. The issue on this one was a weird one – the ‘main’ home on the property was teeny tiny, and it was connected to a (surprise!) quite spacious granny flat! The two homes were disjointed and bland, but rather than delivering two small houses squeezed onto one block, we had to create one big family home.
Colour theory: how house paint can update a home’s look
When it comes to renovation projects, the result of a simple paint job can be stunning. A fresh coat of paint can make any house look, well, fresh and is a relatively inexpensive and quick way to give a series of sad-sack rooms a fantastic facelift.
Sheer curtains, honeycomb blinds, plantation shutters: window dressings you’ll love
Interiors expert Wendy Moore uses modern window treatments when updating rooms to create a certain ambience and improve the functionality of a space. Here are a few ways to give your windows a sparkling makeover
Meet Dennis Scott, NRL player turned Selling Houses Australia’s resident landscaper
You might know Dennis Scott as a TV gardener. Or perhaps, you recognise him as NRL player Dennis Scott of Canterbury Bulldogs. He might even be the guy that used to fix your car – because Dennis is a man who wears a few hats!
Selling Houses Australia’s best rooms from Season 16
Week after week, Dennis and I were charged with completely transforming rundown or charmless homes on Selling Houses Australia, with a view to increasing their sellability and improving the lives of their hardworking homeowners. Here are some of my faves from Season 16.
Back to front in Chipping Norton, NSW on Selling Houses Australia
I knew it was going to be a huge challenge to transform this home into a desirable pad for the modern family. Luckily, upstairs didn't need much attention, but downstairs was a jumble of small rooms that were dark and dated, the layout that makes it feel like a maze.
Bringing back period charm to Brunswick West, Victoria on Selling Houses Australia
Would you buy this home? Situated on the corner of a very busy intersection, this solid little Victorian-era dwelling in Brunswick West, Victoria had been in the same family for 70 years. The challenge: to restore its period charm without breaking the budget. See how we did it!
Transforming a bachelor pad in Mudjimba, Sunshine Coast on Selling Houses Australia
Macca's expectations of the home were completely unrealistic. He wanted $1.3 million for a property that was likely worth closer to $900K. Market feedback for Macca was pretty brutal, knowing that this was his last financial opportunity. It was hard not to feel for him.
Did the Jannali home on Selling Houses Australia ever sell?
This was a case of homeowners Nicky and Danny simply outgrowing their little house. It was time to move on, and selling made sense to them – but will our renovation be enough to sell this home?