Project Of The Week
Decorating
A Brilliant, Budget-Friendly Makeover of a Period Cottage
An interior designer used lashings of paint, cosmetic design tricks and a skilful eye to renovate her home on a budget
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Rachael Pearse, interior designer at Staple Design, reveals how she transformed her tired two-bedroom, one-bathroom house into a bright and welcoming family home… without breaking her moderate budget.
Gained: A new covered deck/ outdoor entertaining area, garden shed and rear landscaping. We also renovated the kitchen, the master bedroom (adding new built-in wardrobes and an integrated bedhead, a new pressed-tin ceiling and lighting), and the second bedroom (which also received a new built-in wardrobe).
The bathroom, laundry and studio were also renovated. The living room received a cosmetic upgrade.
See more stunning decks
The bathroom, laundry and studio were also renovated. The living room received a cosmetic upgrade.
See more stunning decks
The rear of the home before works
What was the house like originally?
It’s a two-storey weatherboard worker’s cottage believed to have been built around 1911. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small living area, and a small studio in the roof space.
Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: An Out-of-the-Box Solution for a Cramped 1920s Bungalow
What was the house like originally?
It’s a two-storey weatherboard worker’s cottage believed to have been built around 1911. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small living area, and a small studio in the roof space.
Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: An Out-of-the-Box Solution for a Cramped 1920s Bungalow
The original master bedroom
The original bathroom
The original open-plan kitchen/living/dining room
The owners made a feature of the original fireplace and exposed-brick wall in the new design
What did you set out to achieve?
We wanted to renovate the existing weatherboard cottage in a timeless manner while being sensitive to our budget.
This project was primarily a renovation and most of the work was cosmetic. We didn’t have to knock down all walls or reconfigure the layout – the house had really great bones, but just needed a facelift as it was looking really old and tired.
Get must-know tips about renovating on a budget
What did you set out to achieve?
We wanted to renovate the existing weatherboard cottage in a timeless manner while being sensitive to our budget.
This project was primarily a renovation and most of the work was cosmetic. We didn’t have to knock down all walls or reconfigure the layout – the house had really great bones, but just needed a facelift as it was looking really old and tired.
Get must-know tips about renovating on a budget
The ground-floor plan, showing the new deck
What were your must-haves?
What were your must-haves?
- Extra storage throughout the cottage.
- A neat and tidy bathroom with plenty of storage.
- An alfresco area for entertaining.
- A new shed.
- A dishwasher.
The first-floor plan showing the studio
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Upgraded the master bedroom with new built-in wardrobes and bedhead, a new pressed-tin ceiling and new lighting.
- Renovated the second bedroom, adding a new built-in wardrobe, a custom-designed daybed and change table, and installed new lighting.
- Refurbished the original kitchen and living area with fresh coats of paint.
- Put in a new bathroom with a European laundry (located inside a cupboard).
- Installed a new fit-out to the upstairs studio with a desk and cupboards.
- Added a new rear deck and landscaping to the back of the house.
- Repainted the exterior of the house.
Tell us about the new built-in shelving in the master bedroom
Old homes often have very little built-in storage, so one of the key aspects of this project was to maximise the storage in every room as much as possible. The existing master bedroom had absolutely no storage. It also had corrugated steel cladding to both the walls and ceiling, which made the room feel dark and cold.
We stripped the room back to the studs and re-clad it in plasterboard and a decorative pressed-tin ceiling.
New built-in wardrobes were designed to add storage while creating a beautiful backdrop for the bed. The wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling, so the upper cupboards are perfect for items that don’t need to be accessed frequently, such as suitcases.
A timber shelf was added behind the bed in lieu of bedside tables. The shelf can be styled with different art and objects to add personality to the room.
Looking for storage ideas? Have a read through our storage articles here
Old homes often have very little built-in storage, so one of the key aspects of this project was to maximise the storage in every room as much as possible. The existing master bedroom had absolutely no storage. It also had corrugated steel cladding to both the walls and ceiling, which made the room feel dark and cold.
We stripped the room back to the studs and re-clad it in plasterboard and a decorative pressed-tin ceiling.
New built-in wardrobes were designed to add storage while creating a beautiful backdrop for the bed. The wardrobes extend all the way to the ceiling, so the upper cupboards are perfect for items that don’t need to be accessed frequently, such as suitcases.
A timber shelf was added behind the bed in lieu of bedside tables. The shelf can be styled with different art and objects to add personality to the room.
Looking for storage ideas? Have a read through our storage articles here
How did you upgrade the kitchen on a budget?
The home was renovated in the ’90s by the previous owner. Rather than replacing the kitchen, we gave it a facelift.
We sprayed all the cupboards white to brighten up the space. We put new matt-black cabinet handles on all the doors and stained the edge of the benchtop black to tie in with the black detailing.
We re-tiled the kitchen splashback and found a way to integrate a dishwasher into the design (there wasn’t one previously). We also installed a new stove and oven.
The home was renovated in the ’90s by the previous owner. Rather than replacing the kitchen, we gave it a facelift.
We sprayed all the cupboards white to brighten up the space. We put new matt-black cabinet handles on all the doors and stained the edge of the benchtop black to tie in with the black detailing.
We re-tiled the kitchen splashback and found a way to integrate a dishwasher into the design (there wasn’t one previously). We also installed a new stove and oven.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The project was done on a tight budget and we did a lot of the work ourselves while living in the space.
The project was done on a tight budget and we did a lot of the work ourselves while living in the space.
What was the budget?
Between $50,000 and $100,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the new deck, new bathroom, and cabinetry in the bedrooms.
Between $50,000 and $100,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the new deck, new bathroom, and cabinetry in the bedrooms.
What jobs did you do yourselves to keep costs down?
- Painted the interior and exterior of the house.
- Installed the pressed-tin ceiling in the master bedroom.
- Demolished the old outdoor shed and landscaping.
- Installed the new shed, garden beds and recycled-brick paving.
- Undertook the project management of the cabinetry works and bathroom renovation.
We adore how the vanity extends over the bath – tell us more
We made the cabinetry in the bathroom work hard by floating it over the end of the bath and seamlessly extending the Corian benchtop over the existing window sills.
The intention was always to integrate the cabinetry into the existing shell of each room as much as possible.
We made the cabinetry in the bathroom work hard by floating it over the end of the bath and seamlessly extending the Corian benchtop over the existing window sills.
The intention was always to integrate the cabinetry into the existing shell of each room as much as possible.
Why do you think this project works so well?
I think the key to this project was a considered design approach that was sensitive to budget.
Refurbishing the existing kitchen rather than completely replacing it meant we could stick to the original budget and not over-capitalise on the home.
A coat of paint both internally and externally was also a really inexpensive way to give the home a fresh and contemporary look.
I think the key to this project was a considered design approach that was sensitive to budget.
Refurbishing the existing kitchen rather than completely replacing it meant we could stick to the original budget and not over-capitalise on the home.
A coat of paint both internally and externally was also a really inexpensive way to give the home a fresh and contemporary look.
Key features
- A new look to the interior and exterior of the home on a budget.
- Generous built-in storage.
- A bright and practical new bathroom.
- An affordable update to the dated kitchen.
- A new entertainer’s deck.
The new second bedroom
Interior materials palette
- Interior walls painted in Dulux Vivid White.
- American oak veneer on bathroom vanity.
- Bathroom vanity benchtop and integrated Serenity basin in Corian Glacier White.
- Original Ceramics In and Out Series glazed porcelain tiles on bathroom floor and bath surround.
- The dark marble-finish laminate benchtop in the kitchen is original.
- The edge of the kitchen benchtop was stained in Feast Watson Black Japan timber stain.
- Kitchen splashback tiles are no longer available, but the Kite tiles at Perini Tiles are similar.
- District Lantern light in bathroom.
Exterior materials palette
- Jarrah decking.
- Exterior painted Dulux Stepney with trims in Dulux Vivid White.
Tell us
Are you as inspired by this clever cosmetic upgrade as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Looking to give your home a fresh new look this year? Have a chat to an interior designer in your area
Are you as inspired by this clever cosmetic upgrade as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Looking to give your home a fresh new look this year? Have a chat to an interior designer in your area
Answers by Rachael Pearse, interior designer at Staple Design
Who lives here: Rachael Pearse, her partner and their child
Location: North Fremantle, WA
Original size: 100 square metres
Size after extension: 125 square metres (a new 25-square-metre deck was added)
Interior designer: Rachael Pearse, interior designer at Staple Design