the blogThe Interiors Edit
A cursed Queensland home gets a second chance in Carina Heights
On Selling Houses Australia episode 2, we headed to Carina Heights, Qld. My job? Strip away the chaos, fix the broken floor plan and finally give this hardworking family the bright, open, modern Queensland home buyers were searching for, and that Elton and Belinda had been dreaming of for far too long.
A fresh start in Rostrevor on Selling Houses Australia
In Rostrevor, Adelaide on Selling Houses Australia, I stepped into a renovation that grabbed my heart! It started with Lyn, who lost her husband and love-of-her-life Don, a couple of years back. Together, they built a home in Rostrevor that was full of noise, parties, kids, and memories, but after Don passed away the home became heavy for Lyn. She tried to sell with no luck, and it was time to take a different approach. Lyn and her devoted son Tom were ready for us to reimagine the space – something fresh, hopeful and true to the life they built. Let the reno adventure – and Season 18 – begin!
Home Love Part 4: Transforming an indoor‑outdoor zone on a budget
If you’ve been following my Home Love renovation series, you’ll know I’m all about clever updates that make a home feel beautiful, functional and ready for the next family to enjoy. Today, I’m so excited to reveal one of my favourite changes in this budget renovation: an indoor‑outdoor refresh that proves you don’t need a huge amount of money to make a huge impact.
Home Love Part 3: A new bathroom, plus a contemporary budget reno
The original bathroom was small, dark and showing its age. To bring it back to life, I started with a clear goal: make the space feel bigger, brighter and easier to use every day. That meant reworking the layout for better flow, improving storage and choosing finishes that feel calm but elevated.
Home Love Part 2: My kitchen and laundry reveal
The kitchen and laundry are the hardest‑working rooms in any home, and when you’re renovating on a budget, they’re also the spaces where smart decisions deliver maximum impact. Many of you know me from Selling Houses Australia, where I’ve seen again and again how the right updates can completely reshape the way a home feels and functions. See how I applied these learnings to my own kitchan and laundry in Home Love.
Home Love Part 1: Planning my renovation
Renovating an investment property on a tight budget is always a balancing act, but this home deserved a second chance. It’s full of character, beautiful natural light and huge potential. It just needed a clear plan and a fresh vision to bring it back to life. This project is part of my Home Love series, where I share honest insights, renovation on a budget strategies and interior design inspiration you can use in your own home.
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.
How to decorate a neutral living room
So many people love decorating with neutrals; it’s so soothing and serene, and it definitely has longevity. There’s also a feeling of safety that goes along with choosing this palette, but it can easily slip in boring if you’re not careful.
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.