Jesse and Ben - Real Life Reno
Jesse and Ben from Redlands QLD have been busy renovating their newly purchased 1980's brick home. Purchased as an investment property for the couple, they have decided to keep the design earthy and neutral to appeal to as many buyers as possible when they decide to sell. They revamped their kitchen using our Thirroul in bone as a splash back and now we're eagerly waiting to see what they come up with for their bathroom and laundry design!
What spaces did you renovate?
We are slowly renovating the entire home. We currently have just done the living, kitchen and dining room!
We are slowly renovating the entire home. We currently have just done the living, kitchen and dining room!
What motivated you to renovate?
The space and the room were dilapidated, and we purchased the home with renovating in mind. We have always loved the idea of renovating and it meant we could still affording something in our budget.
A beautiful splash back with our Thirroul in bone
Were you living here at the time of your renovations?
Yes we were! Would I recommend renovating a kitchen and living in it?... Probably not haha. We had to live off frozen food, noodles and only a small bench to prepare for a month whilst we were slowly chipping away at a kitchen. I feel like we appreciate the space a lot more now that we had to work for it.
How would you describe your style?
Simple and neutral! We are doing this home as an investment property so we want it to appeal to as many buyers as possible
Talk us through the process you took in the planning stages of the renovation!
We were actually lucky, I studied architecture and am a freelance interior designer so the planning stages were rather seamless. I created mood boards and 3D models of the spaces to show Ben the design intent, compared it to our budget and removed items that were not within it.
Jesse's Mood Board
Were there any delays? How long did the renovation take?
The renovation went over three months. We did it slowly as we could afford it. We did mostly everything ourselves, except electrical, plastering and plumbing so it was a lot of work!
What was the most challenging part of the renovation? Did anything go wrong? How did you adapt?
We accidentally smashed our brand new cook top which definitely threw a spanner in the works! We had to remove a wall, get plumbing and electrical to the island bench and work around an existing air conditioner which proved difficult. But overall happy how it turned out!
Did you and Ben butt heads over the design at all?
Not particularly! He was struggling to understand my design intent prior to modelling the space, but after I modelled it we worked together to get it to a design we were both happy with.
Were you juggling a career as well as overlooking the renovations?
We both work full time. Luckily Ben works in education so school holidays help getting extra work done, not just on weekends.
Did you come into the TileCloud showroom to look around at tiles? Did you order samples?
We ordered samples prior to ordering the tiles!
Why did you choose TileCloud / What did you enjoy best about the TileCloud experience?
We chose TileCloud because of their competitive prices, great customer service, design and quality. I went to many different tile showrooms and Tileclouds unique tiles and price put them ahead of any of the others. We will definitely we using TileCloud again for bathroom and laundry renovations!
Any advice for first time renovators?
Write out an excel spreadsheet of absolutely everything and stick to it! Make sure you have a clear and concise design intent before starting otherwise it wont be consistent. I had everything I needed to get the finish I wanted saved for 1-2 months before renovating to think on the finishes selection to see if my taste changed. Eg. Do I still love this tile? Are we sure we want timber benchtops? Are Hampton style cabinetry going to date? Don't underestimate how much rubbish you accumulate... I felt like I was at the dump every weekend. And most importantly... have fun!
You can follow Jesse and Bens reno journey on instagram: @ourbricksinthesticks
Courtney Cole
As an interior designer at TileCloud, Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the world of home renovation. With a Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration and a passion for creating stunning interiors, shes dedicated to helping people on their journey to transform their homes. Currently channeling her expertise into renovating her own home, she aims to share valuable insights, tips, and inspiration to assist others in achieving their dream space!