RENOVATE | New Year, New Home

5 easy wins to kick start your renovation or new build project this year.

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine5 January 2023renovation plan, renovation, stages of building a house, building projet, building project, interior design australia, Australian designComment

RENOVATE | Checklist for DIY interior design

Tackle your DIY renovation with confidence and know how to make your interior design planning and selections go smoothly.

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine11 January 2021DIY, reno, renovation, renovation plan, renovation checklist, how to renovate your house, how to renovate on a budget, budget renovation Comments

RENOVATE | How much does an interior designer cost?

How can an interior designer help and how much do they cost? The interior industry has so many professions that specialise in many different niches of home design so it’s no wonder I hear people struggling to understand how they can work with an interior designer.

It’s often an awkward thing to ask how much an interior designer’s services will cost so… here it is!

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine29 November 2020renovation, how much does an interior designer costComment

RENOVATE | Timber flooring types

Have you ever tried to choose timber flooring only to find yourself overwhelmed by the prices and types of timber available? Same! … and let’s not get started on all the different species and colours. To understand what is available I think it’s important to know the distinction between these types of timber (and timber look) flooring so you can make an informed decision between prices and brands.

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine30 October 2020hard materials, timber flooring, timber floorboards, renovation, floor types, choosing timber floorsComment

RENOVATE | Choosing materials, finishes and fixtures

You’ve decided to renovate your home, how exciting but also EEK, scary!

Once you start looking at all the white paints, penny round tiles and tap ware finishes available it can dawn on you just how big this project you’ve taken on is.

I feel you, it’s hard, but here are a couple of things that might help you become unstuck.

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine28 September 2020material selection, hard materials, tiles, tiles design, kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, renovation Comment

RENOVATE | Adaptive reuse in wattle + daub houses

We are in a period of design where we are adapting traditional Australian homes to make them work for contemporary living. Early styles were more about the practicalities of living and it wasn’t until we started to import decorative styles a little later that embellishments were added (think high Victorian terrace housing). Most historical construction techniques can be traced back to a need for basic shelter using materials from the surrounding area. Wattle and daub houses are no exception.

RENOVATEEmily MacAlpine31 August 2020heritagehome, renovation, alterationsandadditions, heritage house, wattle and daub, Central West NSWComment

HOME | Window treatment tips

Window treatments can often be thought of after the build is done which can result in frustration at some missed opportunities. Thinking of them as part of the bigger design process means that we can get a more considered outcome. Here are some things you can think about BEFORE you even start to build or as the frames are going in.