Bringing the love back to a European style home.

6 years ago

When we bought his home I searched Pinterest, Instagram and even Google images to try to find information on renovating a European home but there was none!
I thought I would have to go it alone but them someone suggested Houzz design dilemmas, so here goes....
I am Interior Designer but I've put my career on hold for a bit to work in our family home. With 2 adult and 1 teenage children, we were thrilled to find this 5 by 3 with a pool going begging.
Built by Serbian migrants fleeing conflict in the 1990s, it had beautiful work but was wearing the scars of a decade of abuse and neglect, so we got it cheap.
By week 2, we'd allocated $12000 just to repair damage, so we have a big commitment here!
I'm writing this post to get feedback from you guys which I will use to spur me on! Now if you will please excuse me, I'll get back to cleaning the grout on the kitchen floor. Adela

Featured Answer

julie herbert

6 years ago

Hi Adela,
What a lovely home, some great features, I think formal landscaping would really look beautiful, a hedge at front of fence, could even be tiered, a row of magnolias above the hedge would look stunning and compliment the house, keeping it formal and uniformed will look gorgeous , viburnum gives a lush look, buxus gives formality and magnolia’s add a luxurious evergreen look.

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Comments (25)

PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
okay that should have been 12 000, not 120 000...the budget will blow out but not that big I hope
PRO
Bluethumb Online Art Gallery
6 years ago
What a project! Have you considered getting some Australian art for your walls? We really love the pieces in our "Contemporary Abstracts" curation!

https://www.houzz.com.au/projects/1703472/contemporary-abstracts
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I would choose your paintings then take the colours from them for your cushions and throw. Add a textured rug. I think the large black TV coupled with the black TV cabinet detracts from the room. Lovely floors and paint colours. This should not be a hard project with such a lovely room and well chosen furniture.
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@Anne we are drawing to the end of our similar area renovations, I am looking forward to getting the furniture out of storage and thinking what stays and what goes.. it is exciting but exhausting as well we moved out for 4 weeks while structural stuff was done and have been back in for four with about 2 weeks to go, very tough living, my best friend has been a $29 target electric frypan, I am the creative gourmet of electric fry pan foods , good luck with your job, ours is finally looking like it has been worth it. The only bad trade we have had is the electrician and he is going to be here in half an hour I need to get dressed and be ready to have stern words with him
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PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
Your art looks great!
bigreader
6 years ago
Does your area need the security of the front fence? If not I'd remove it and do a landscaping plan. You certainly have the room for a feature tree or two. I'd keep the black accents and replace with a warm white. Then add lots of glossy green plants.
Anne Monsour
6 years ago
Hi, Change the house colour, landscape the front yard , install adjustable aluminium louvres over windows or perhaps awnings , “Seed and Feed “ the footpath and pressure hose the retaining wall. The louvres give weather protection and privacy . Before the morning heat was horrendous and the windows had to be shut when it rained .
PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
6 years ago
i would be looking to improve the front with some landscaping to soften the house and the harshness. Start with a plan to include some European style deciduous trees, such as Manchurian Pears, which are tough once established, and will complement the existing architecture.

Manchurian Pears are attractive through all the seasons, and will improve your outlook, and reduce the glare to the front windows. As they take a few years to establish plant them as soon as possible, they will anchor your front landscape design, which you can complete down the track as time and money allows.

Best of luck,
Dr Retro
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
thankyou everyone! we're spraying the weeds this weekend and putting some topsoil down. big reader - that front fence is so ugly. Hubby says it's legal because of the high retaining wall. We're going to grow a tight hedge, then remove that fence!
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
anonymous and, those photos look so smart, have only seen aluminium louvres on apartments here so far, maybe because of the price....
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
Dr Retro, thanks! hadn't thought of deciduous trees , maybe because I planted way too many at the last house and was forever sweeping and blowing...
Anne Monsour
6 years ago
Hi Adela , Yes the louvres were expensive but worth every cent for the heat reduction and privacy . My suggestion for the front is to plant climbers on the footpath to grow up and cover the retaining wall and fence . Maybe Jasmine ? I am trying to work out plants for a renovation house but don’t know much .
Anne Monsour
6 years ago
My house was originally blue and multiple colours inside . We bought it when it came on the market for a 2nd time and painting and new kitchen were done . You could do it in stages if you have a budget . I would do the landscaping first as you are obviously not doing it up to sell . Then do the painting and then maybe those louvres unless weather ( comfort ) is a problem . The side of my house faces due East (Qld) and with no protection the bedrooms up were so hot in the morning.
Anne Monsour
6 years ago
Jasmoides
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
we are very close to the coast, with salt in the wind. I was actually thinking indian hawthorn for the hedging? I saw it growing at Majestic Point Applecross which is very exposed bit I'm not sure how tight you can clip it
julie herbert
6 years ago
Hi Adela,
Indian hawthorn would be a great choice , it responds to a gentle clip , planted close together they form a slight rounded shape so it is perfect for a hedge close to beach
‘ snow white’ is lovely.
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
thanks! I'll check at the nursery
PRO
iMPERIAL PROJECTS
6 years ago
Hi have you found any help so far ?
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
so far been working on the inside...replacing all the crumby carpentry and plumbing..
just got these new shelves today. Front double doors fitted with new marine grade stainless steel, have to choose a paint colour!
illegallyblonde27
6 years ago
the spacing of yoir plants in pots in the pool area is too close and the depth of the bed seems too narrow to support strong root systems. You don't want that retaining wall to become an expensive problem as it is quite nice.

I like the fence it just needs softening. A row of pencil pines would be stunning. some hardy draping plants such as silver falls would soften the harsh edges. You can then plant something behind it to get the height.
farsideb
6 years ago
What about something like a creeping fig on the retaining wall. They grow quickly and when clipped will look like a hedge.
farsideb
6 years ago
Oh, and don't dare change the internal ironwork, it's amazing.
PRO
ADELA DESIGN
Original Author
6 years ago
currently getting a bespoke handrail made to match the bannister, deciding on a design
PRO
BC Magic Wallpaper
6 years ago
Have you thought about wallpaper? feature walls? Our wallpaper peals on and peals off with easy. You can do it yourself without fuss or extra cost. You could Let your teenaged design there room with wallpaper that you can strip down and change when they move out or move into a different phase. We also custom make our designs to your chose of colour and size for free.
User
6 years ago
I like the look of the outside of the house , and initially I wouldn't change the yellowy beige colour . What I would do is get the concrete block retaining wall either rendered in the same colour as the house , or if the budget ran to it -- get a genuine stone facade . As far as gardens to soften the look , I'd stick to the meditarreanian theme , and do a couple of 2 metre tall green leafy plants in wooden round planters ( half wine barrels or similar ) , and maybe a long , slim garden ( 4 or 5 metres long by 40cm wide ) with marigolds or similar .
me me
6 years ago
I agree with making the retaining wall the same colour as tha house. And formal Mediterranean landscaping.

Bringing the love back to a European style home.

julie herbert

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