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Even with precision planning, home renovating is a journey of trial and error. Fresh from completing her own project, this renovator reveals what she learnt.

From the get-go Belinda and Steve Graham started ripping off the layers of wallpaper and dodgy carpet that made up the “typical granny decor” of their 1950s fibro house on the NSW Central Coast. But with full-time jobs and a long commute, the couple soon ran out of renovating steam. After a few years of “making do” with a half-finished home, they finally completed their reno. Here's what they discovered on their journey (see page 2 for her sourcebook).

Lesson 1 Reuse what you have — it'll help the environment and your budget. Here, rather than replace all the windows with new aluminium ones, Belinda used as many of the original windows as possible.

Lesson 2 Belinda and Steve are relatively tall, so they had kitchen cabinets installed higher than usual. The custom design looks great and is perfectly suited to their needs.

Lesson 3 Instead of paying someone to tile the kitchen splashback, paint the house and build a cubby for the kids, this clever couple had a go at doing it all themselves, and to great effect. “Now we have a whole bunch of new skills, too!”

Lesson 4 Ask around to find a good tradie. “We asked the local hardware store and found a great carpenter. It's a chain reaction, too, as each tradesperson works with another they recommend.”

Lesson 5 Tackling jobs when time permits takes the pressure off. As does saving money for each project. “We never took out a loan for anything. If we couldn't afford it, we waited.”

Lesson 6 If you can't find exactly what you want, Don't be afraid to customise new furniture with paint, wallpaper or fabric to give it a bespoke look.

Lesson 7 Some tradespeople will try to talk you out of a “difficult job”. Don't be a pushover. Find someone who is willing to work with you to achieve the best possible outcome.

Lesson 8 The amount you spend on a project should reflect how much you use it. “Our biggest bill was for rebuilding the cabin, decking and covering the back. But we enjoy these areas the most,” Belinda says.

Lesson 9 Make the most of a room's potential. The old garage was converted into a “sunken” living room before it was put to better use as two bedrooms for the kids.

Lesson 10 Make sure your home feels like "you". Write up a wish list of features and items and play around with floorplans until you find a combination that feels just right.

Budget breakdown: spend sheet for Belinda Graham's makeover

Kitchen
Everything from structral work, cabinets and plastering to labour, electrics, plumbing and appliances $12,000

Bathroom
Everything, as above $8000

Cabin
Knockdown and rebuild of structure. New doors and deck, plus laundry fittings, plumbing, electricals, plastering and floor tiling $30,000

Front deck
Front-deck cover, stairs and awnings $5000

Converted garage
Raise floor and convert garage to two rooms and a linen cupboard, plus new French doors with windows $7000

Exterior Cladding and windows $5000

Total $67,000

Belinda Graham's sourcebook

When Belinda and Steve Graham bought their 1950s fibro home on the NSW Central Coast it had a typical "granny decor". "The walls were either covered in faux wood panelling or really ugly and peeling wallpaper. Or both. Some walls had up to four layers of hideous wallpaper," Belinda says. "Tiles didn't match and the carpet was different in every single room. The ceiling was sprayed with bubbly fake concrete and the kitchen and bathrooms were ancient and falling apart." They moved in and immediately started work.

Belinda and Steve used tradies from their regional area. "We didn't know where to start to find a decent tradesperson to do our bathroom - our first major work that was contracted out," Belinda says. "So we asked a local hardware (Campbell Building Materials, see below) for recommendations - they deal with tradespeople on a daily basis and know the nice ones from the not-so-nice ones. We called a few and after getting some quotes and chatting about what we wanted with our bathroom, we found a carpenter who we've worked with ever since. It's also a chain reaction - they work with people they recommend so you will likely find a great tiler/electrician/plumber/plasterer via that one contact."

See Belinda's blog at thehappyhomeblog.com

Sources

DOORS, PAINT AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Campbell Building Materials Centre
Part of the Home Timer And Hardware Group, CBMC sells the full range of hardware and building materials, offers specialist advice and sponsors a number of community organisations.
182 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy, NSW 2256
(02) 4341 1411, sales@campbellbuildingmaterials.com.au

WINDOWS & SHOWER SCREEN
Brisbane Water Glass
Specialises in Vantage Aluminium and AWS commercial products and says it has largest range of product in NSW! A member of the Australian Window Association (AWA).
173 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy, NSW
(02) 4344 2455
Also at Narrabeen, NSW

PLUMBER
Brisbane Water Plumbing
0417 610 590

TILER
Colin Page Wall & Floor Tiling
0414 450 734

PAINTS
Belinda and Steve painted the house themselves.
Dulux for white walls and trims.
Interiors in Whisper White. Exterior in Smokey Gum

Wattyl in Colorbond Night Sky for black master bedroom wall.
132 101

Berger Jet Dry for paving paints.
13 25 25

KITCHEN CABINETS & BENCHTOPS
Ikea

KITCHEN WALL SUBWAY TILES, BATHROOM WALL TILES, VANITY, BATH & TAPS
Bunnings
Belinda tiled the kitchen splashback herself.

BATHROOM MOSAIC TILES
Amber Tiles
1300 362 241