The 1930s beach home in Lorne, Victoria went from a dated weatherboard cottage to a chic family home. As aspiring renovators, we asked Lucy what the experience taught her about DIY home makeovers.
Provide some insight into the home that you renovated; what was it like prior to the makeover?
A: We wanted to future-proof an existing 1930’s beach house and provide comfortable accommodation for our family and friends, who often come to visit. The scope of the renovation involved retrofitting the existing home to ensure it met the comfort and durability standards of the new extension.
Tell us about the style of the renovation; what inspired this look?
A: Location always has a big influence on the form and function of a project. This home is situated in Lorne on the Great Ocean Road, so we were greatly influenced by the coastal and bush setting of the property. From a functional standpoint, we selected products that were best suited to the needs of the house, whilst the design concept drew upon nature, the materials and colours found in the surrounding environment.
Tell us about the carpet and flooring products that you used; what are their features and benefits?
A: We used Carpet Court’s Precinct Oak engineered timber floorboards in ‘Bora’ for the home, together with Carpet Court’s Far North carpet range in ‘Daintree’ for the bedrooms. The Precinct Oak boards were selected due to their size and variance in grain. We wanted timber flooring that was light but still had an earthy warmth to it, which is why we settled on Pine – it fit the brief perfectly.
We loved the quality and softness of the wool carpet and the rich variance in tones of the Far North range. The Daintree finish, whilst predominantly a warm neutral beige, also weaved in warm mustards, browns and earthy tones that created a rich finish. These additional tones helped to add warmth and character to each of our bedrooms
When it came to selecting your flooring and carpet, what was the brief?
A: The interior design concept for the home was all about warm and earthy tones. We wanted to create a space that felt homely and inviting as soon as you walked through the door.
What are your top five tips for choosing the perfect flooring or carpet for your room?
A:
1. Consider the functionality of the room. For example, is it a busy thoroughfare or quiet, private space?
2. Take samples of your flooring options and view them in your space. Materials will look different with certain lighting, so make sure to decide based on how it looks in your home.
3. Don’t skimp on quality. You need your floor to last, so select a good quality product that will provide longevity for your home.
4. Consider all the other elements in the room and how these will work with your floor.
5. Understand the prep work required before your installation to select the best product option for your home.
As experienced renovators, what are your top three tips for undertaking a renovation? What advice would you give to someone looking to undertake a renovation for the first time?
A:
1. Have a clear vision and plan before you start. Mood board your ideas, bring your selections together and work out your budget so that you can be confident in your decisions.
2. If you can do it yourself, do it! You can save a lot of money if you’ve got the time complete certain tasks yourself.
3. Time management is key. Create a schedule, share it with all involved, and keep it up-to-date regularly
How did you make an informed decision on your flooring and carpet selection? Did you review samples to see what colours and textures would and wouldn’t work in your home?
A: We visited a Carpet Court showroom to look at samples initially and from there, shortlisted our favourites. The staff instore were extremely helpful and were able to tell us what products would be more suitable for particular areas of the home. The final decision on which flooring options we were going to use happened at home when viewing the samples next to all the other design elements in the room.
What are the benefits of installing an underlay?
A: We wanted a plush, premium feel to our bedrooms, so to increase the softness and comfort of our carpet we added the additional layer of the underlay. The underlay also has a beautiful and soft feel underfoot with thermal and acoustic benefits as well.
Tell us about the installation process. Did you have to undertake any preparation before the install?
A: To prep for the Precinct Oak boards, we sanded back our existing floorboards to remove the lacquer. The floor upstairs was not level, so we had Carpet Court come to level-off certain areas beforehand so that the install process was fast and seamless.
What was the biggest setback during your makeover, and how did you overcome it?
A: We faced a lot of challenges with our renovation, mostly with delays due to COVID-19 restrictions. It was difficult to get products, materials, and deliveries on time and not to mention labour shortages. As we weren’t building in a major city, we had limited access to skilled trades and had to do quite a lot of jobs ourselves. Time management was crucial to help us overcome these challenges and keep the project on track.
Image Credits:
Project: The Beach House @HuntingforGeorge / Hunting for George
Interior Design & Styling: @LucyGladeWright / Lucy Glade-Wright
Photography & Video: @Summer_Slay / Jonno Rodd
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