Ok, 6 months into our reno (10 months since we moved into the house) and finally some before and after photos . Only of the kitchen and family areas though, but hopefully some more soon, now I have started. We are in no way finished, heaps of little things to do, even in the pictured areas, but hopefully you will get the idea .

For those who don't know (or have forgotten ) we recently renovated our house of 10 years plus in Melbourne, but 18 months after we finished we packed up and moved back to our native Tassie for family reasons. We bought a circa 1981 house of approx 40 squares on 5 acres. The whole place was in immaculate order, but very dated, so we embarked on ANOTHER reno (yes we are crazy ). This one has taken a bit longer, because DH has been doing most of it himself, with the help of one guy, who is a registered builder, plus other trades where required (plumber, electrician, etc).

Enough yak, here are the pics (NOTE: The before pics are from the real estate site, when we bought the place, so not our furniture).

This is before and after of the kitchen (DO NOT laugh at the magnificent copper rangehood in the before photo, you are just jealous ) .

BEFORE:

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AFTER:

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New cabinetry: Parbury Alabaster
Benchtop: Quantum Quartz Coco
Wall paint: Dulux Hog's Bristle Quarter
Solid timber flooring: Tasmanian Blackwood

And of course (in case you missed my splashback saga) the glass splashback is Dulux Nick's Nook. Many thanks to Michelle for introducing me to this wonderful colour and also for her extreme patience in helping me select it for my splashback . Thankyou also to everyone else who contributed to that particular thread (you know who you are ), much appreciated that you were all there to support me in my time of need

Here's some before and after's of the family dining area and the living room:

BEFORE:

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AFTER:

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BEFORE:

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AFTER:

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BEFORE:

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AFTER:

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We knocked out a wall between the kitchen and dining area to let in more light (column had to stay - it was load bearing), ripped out yukky built-ins, plastered all walls, laid new timber floor, all new architraves and skirting, new curtains and curtain tracks, new light fittings. The flash has washed the fireplace out a bit, it's a nicer dark red than what is showing here. Also, the rooms are all still a little bare, because we still haven't unpacked most of our boxes and all my knick-knacks are who-knows-where - on the plus side, it may never be this tidy again!!!

Also, forgot to get a really good pic of the feature wall - will do it next time !

Wall paint: Dulux Hog's Bristle Quarter
Feature Wall: Dulux Esprit
Solid timber flooring: Tasmanian Blackwood
Artwork over mantlepiece: Commissioned from Stephanie Curtis at Artsolutely

Thanks also go to DH (not only for doing all the reno work ) but also for helping do these photos , which I am still useless at doing, even after over 1000 posts .

Whew, big post - hope you like it, guys - we do!!! Will post some photos of other rooms really soon

Just beautiful. Hats of to you and your DH - although there was something about that copper rangehood

I'm going to have another look...

OMG [ img ] [ img ] [ img ] .....IS IT THE SAME HOUSE ???? [ img ] [ img ] [ img ]

Simply amazing transformation. If the work is a taste of things to come, you're going to have a STUNNING home MJ
Don't keep us waiting too long for more pics . C'mon....crack the whip & get DH on the ball

Thanks very much, mpcj and Southies ! Promise I will try to keep the photos coming

Oh wow! found your thread! Great improvement

What are you working on next?

Thanks, SS !!! We are working on EVERYTHING at once - nearly every single room in the house is being renovated simultaneously, except the study and big rumpus room, which are a separate wing and have been our living quarters since May !

It is all nearly finished though - probably formal dining might be next to show, DH was working on the built-in cupboards yesterday, so I can finally unpack and reorganise my crystal and my good dinnersets etc (was worried they would eventually get broken otherwise!)

I cooked tea in my new kitchen for the first time yesterday evening - heaven !

WOW!

MJ you and DH certainly have an eye and talent for doing reno's!

Well done looks fabulous,and yeh I say more piccies too!!

Beautiful MJ! I can tell exactly how much work has gone into this transformation, having been through it on a smaller scale a few years back. You're either very brave or very stupid, doing it twice in such a short time.

The house would have been an absolute stunner in its day, people really would have been envious of the exposed brickwork and the timber kitchen. Not to mention that rangehood. But now! Now it's just fabulous!



Funny thing - Nick's Nook and Esprit were going to be my feature colours in our bedroom and ensuite....until we were told we couldn't have Dulux colours. Love those greens!

Thanks bel and Kek ! I know it will all be worth it in the long run, we will have a spectacular house, but the process has been stressful to say the least . Especially the second time round, living in the demolition site with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old - what were we thinking ?

This is the last time for a VERY long time, I can assure you !

Wow!! Simply gorgeous guys!!

Very clever work by your DH and very clever colour choices by you! I am using green as a feature in my home too Ijust love it, and I adore that lampshade you have, I think I have the same one

Well done

Yes what were you thinking! Brave, you are very brave

Wow your house is looking fantastic, absolutely love your floors they are gorgeous.

Thanks, haywgl ! DH is an absolute legend, can do anything, who would think he's an accountant by profession .

As for the colour choices, while I made the final decision, the real credit goes to Michelle, she's amazing - seems to know exactly the look you are trying to achieve, even without seeing the real room, don't know how she does it!!!

And I have to admit, your thread inspired my choice of lampshade, it is just the same - thankyou !

bel - Thanks for taking the kind option and saying "brave" instead of "incurably insane" !

all the sand - , I just love Tasmanian Blackwood, so many gorgeous colours and grains in it, we are so happy with it!

Well done M! The photos were worth waiting for, I nearly missed this thread!

Your house looks great! DH has done a fantastic job and not a spider to be seen………

You have taken a 70’s style home and bought it into the 2010.
I hope you’ve had fun in between all the other stuff.

Keep posting pics……

Thanks so much, Michelle, couldn't have done it without you !!

There are still spiders, believe me - two shocking huntsmen last week, one in master bedroom and one in the rumpus !

Hoping for a peaceful and even boring 2010 (fingers crossed!) - but don't think our family does peaceful and boring !

WOW!!!! It looks so so good!! congrats

Wow! Congrats on a great job. It looks stunning. I have to know, where have you stashed that copper rangehood and dining room light fitting! Surely you have put them away for use later in your reno! The light fitting reminds me of the one that is still in my mothers house now!!

Thanks, Riss

Hi, fairyblue - Thanks for the compliment . The copper rangehood is outside on the patio - one of the kitchen guys offered us $50 for it to put his barbie in - think we might take him up on it !

The light fitting is gathering dust under the stairs (lots of dust at our place ) - that thing was a serious health hazard. DH is 6 foot 4 and kept banging his head on it: it's so solid and heavy he nearly knocked himself unconscious a couple of times !

MJ it looks fantastic!! Thanks for FINALLY sharing the photos!

Thanks, Lisanne - getting there !