Since we purchased and renovated our very first home all those years ago, it’s been a dream of ours to renovate full time. So we’re feeling pretty darn grateful that ten years on, we can call this dream a reality! (Read more about our first renovation here)
Lapping up the ‘newborn bubble’ down on Toowoon Bay Beach
After having some time off in our newborn bubble, we were keen to find out next renovation project. Once we knew we were ready, the first step was to determine our budget. After using RAMS Home Loans to finance our Toowoon Bay Reno, they were our first port of call. In particular, we dealt with Personal Home Loan Specialists, Greg & Lisa. Having their personal mobile numbers is efficient and the process so streamlined. With a budget in mind, we began the search.
Although we wouldn’t be living in this renovation, we knew we needed to find something close to home to make it work. Turning our attention to neighbouring suburbs such as Long Jetty, Blue Bay and Shelley Beach we found the perfect project in an area thriving with young families and new business. With an ever-growing cafe culture and plenty of boutique shopping options, this is a community we absolutely love being a part of. We knew this coastal lifestyle would also appeal to others, whether that be a local, someone looking for a sea-change or a Sydney-sider looking for a more affordable housing option.
Our next renovation project in the coastal town of Long Jetty
When developing plans for the project, our very first source of inspiration came from the Canary Island Date Palm that was already at the front of the block. We also love the breeze blocks we see on beach shacks when we drive through Long Jetty – both these elements lend themselves to a ‘Palm Springs’ feel. We love a coastal home so we felt we could blend these two aesthetics well. As for finishes, we wanted to keep the exterior light and fresh. We decided on a COLORBOND® Surfmist roof and we’re very excited to be one of the first homes in Australia to be using the new Surfmist Matt finish!
Long Jetty Reno Mood Board. A mix of mid-century inspired rooflines, gorgeous patterned waterline tiles, and natural textures.
We also wanted to ensure we made use of the large, flat block, so our renovation goals included building a grand family home with four bedrooms, large open plan entertaining areas and an outdoor space that you’ll never want to leave! One thing we decided early on is that we’ll be sticking with a more traditional gable roofline at the front, and transition to the flat, skillion roofline toward the rear of the home. After finalising our plans with our draftsmen, Etchells, we submitted our plans to council and played the waiting game!
Existing footprint
Proposed new footprint
What an exciting day it is when plans are approved and work can commence! This day was bittersweet for me (Kara) though – Ziya was having a sleep regression, we had a lot of other work on – including filming for The Living Room – and knowing that this was just the beginning I was feeling completely overwhelmed. And once demolition began it became obvious that this project was huge! The existing house had quite a lot of ‘tack on’ rooms, including sheds, an outdoor laundry, pergola and carport. Once these were stripped back it was obvious that this was almost a new build. There is a lot of work and budgeting ahead of us – this renovation is going to be our biggest yet and we’re looking forward to having you on the journey with us!
Watch Episode 1 of the Long Jetty Reno Online Series, brought to you by RAMS.