Here it is! Our (previous) renovation.

Only a year later, and I’m finally ready to share some images from our past home project.

It feels almost absurd that we completed our home only to leave shortly after. It wasn’t our original intention. But when we found the block and space for our next home, it felt like the place we’d raise our little family. I seem to be living the notion that "marrying a builder means you are constantly on the move."

First, I want to apologise for the distance between posts. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I recently had a baby. It’s been a huge year. I’ll share a more in-depth post soon (with some fun preg outfits!), but for those who’ve followed along, you’ll understand this time has been wrapped in big emotions.

For anyone who has experienced loss, it’s expected. I needed to take time to be present, to slow down and step away from work and online life. So, thank you for sticking around.

Now to the house! I’m so happy with how this place came together. It holds a very special place in our hearts.

This was a renovation of a smaller (three-bedroom, two-bathroom) existing home on an acre block. We were looking to downsize from our previous build, and this existing home felt like the perfect renovation project. We kept the original footprint but completely reworked both the exterior and interior.

We added an outdoor kitchen in the garden and extended the studio to create a wellness space, rather than expanding the main house. This gave us a sense of additional space (especially for entertaining!) and allowed us to make the most of the property.

The renovation took about a year from start to finish. Henry, being a builder, moves quickly once he gets going. Working with the existing foundations also sped things up compared to a new build.

I didn’t have a particular style in mind regarding materials. We chose natural timber cladding and window frames to keep the palette soft and in tune with the landscape, which was a big contrast to our previous home. I wanted to have fun with the interiors, focusing more on depth and warmth than sticking to a set style or era. Whether it was the kitchen stone, timber floorboards or tile choices, I wanted the space to feel lived-in and welcoming to us and anyone visiting.