I must admit, as much as I’ve been looking forward to sharing this reveal, I’m feeling equal parts nervous and excited!
It’s not because I’m disappointed with the outcome, in fact I’m quite the opposite, though I am wary of disappointing you guys.
You see, I knew from the start that translating the success of this makeover through photographs was never going to be easy. In person the house looks beautiful and I’d now say it’s even the prettiest in the street (definitely the most stylish), however as it sits on the low side of a sloped road capturing the full effect with a camera has proven difficult. In photos everything just looks a little bit wonky and weird, and somewhat obscured due to the shallow position.
Still, I’ve done my best and hope you can look past the less than ideal factors. Also, it bears remembering that this was a DIY budget-friendly refresh of a standard suburban house (please don’t go comparing me to Joanna Gaines – LOL!).
If you’ve been following along with this makeover from the start, then you’ll be across most of the project and product info. I’ll touch on some aspects as I go, and link to past posts where you can find further information, though if you’d like to fully catch-up on all the previous content you can do so HERE.
So, let’s remember where we started…
As mentioned in my original post, it’s only a relatively young house (around 14 years old) with good bones and lots of potential. There was certainly nothing offensive about it though there wasn’t anything special either. It just looked like any other slightly dated, somewhat neglected house in the neighbourhood – particularly the one right next door which happened to have the exact same colour scheme!
A fresh change was called for.
And here is is now…
You can find side-by-side before and afters towards the end of the post.
Argh, it feels so weird putting these out there! I so hope you guys like it!
Obviously the big changes are the painted brick and garage door.
When comparing the new white to the original yellow the difference is so dramatic that at first it can seem a little startling.
I must admit, I made lots of skeptical srunchy faces at it for a good few weeks before deciding I’d made the right choice. The colour is Antique White USA and the paint is Texture ‘Medium Cover’ (both Dulux) which creates a gorgeous bagged effect – LOVE it!
Although my initial vision was for a black carriage style garage door I honestly couldn’t be happier with this alternative. In fact, it may even be better!
It’s a sectional door by Gliderol which I purchased through Bunnings and I love the simple panelled design and warm timber-look finish. It compliments the other timber elements and duck-egg accents perfectly, as well as helps warm-up all the white.
My favourite area is the front door.
It was one of those REALLY easy yet SUPER effective little transformations.
First we decluttered be clearing the old decor, removing the ugly security screen door and taking down the aluminium shade from the sidelight. Then we simply made things look pretty by painting the door a lovely soft blue, installing a new light fitting and adding stylish accessories!
I was struggling to find a nice large plant to use beside the front door. Everything established was really expensive and I was worried that might be wasted money if it simply died (given no-one is living at the house to care for it). So I ended up using this artificial fiddle leaf (bet you couldn’t tell, right?) from Koch & Co. which is totally awesome…and definitely will never die!
And I’m in love with the wall baskets from Early Settler which add just the right hint of something. Aren’t they cool?
Something I haven’t spoken much about is the garden.
I wish the roses were in bloom for my after pics however this particular shot is from a month or so back.
Although it appears okay in the before pics, that’s actually a bit of an illusion. Whilst the plants looked quite green and full from an elevated perspective, at ground level things were very different. Most of them were leggy, sparse and scruffy, there were loads of weeds, and many were half dead by the time summer was over. Unfortunately we had no choice but to remove lots of them and seriously cut back others. It was a shame though it had to be done. I know the garden might not seem as nice now however in reality it’s actually a hundred times better.
Of course we didn’t have the budget to create a brand new “instant” garden full of large established plants so we kept things neat and simple by planting Westringa, Viburnum and Pittosporum around the house and Rosemary, Gaura and Dietes in the retaining walls and street level beds. They’re only mostly babies though they are sweet yet tough. Then we mulched everything for that nice finished look.
I really struggled to get a decent photo of the little lawn area. The grass is slowly coming back to life now that we’ve had some rain and it’s staring to look nice so to give the space some purpose and personality I added a simple rattan settee and ceramic stool.
PRICE & SOURCE LIST
Brick Paint | Dulux Texture ‘Medium Cover’ in ‘Antique White USA’ | $640*
Fascia & Eave Paint | Dulux Weathershield ‘Low Sheen’ in ‘Antique White USA’ | $80*
Retaining Wall Paint | Dulux Masonry Matt in ‘Linseed’ | $80*
Front Door & Shutter Paint | Dulux Weathershield ‘Semi Gloss’ in ‘Duck Egg Blue’ | $40*
Garage Door | Gliderol Tuscan Door in ‘Golden Oak’ | $2,600* (gifted at half price)
Plants | Variety mainly from Bunnings & Aumans | $220
Mulch | Cottage Bark from Whittlesea Garden Centre | $150
Mailbox | Sandleford Crest Mailbox and Treated Pine Post from Bunnings | $36*
Wall Lights | Brilliant Black Manoir Exterior Light from Bunnings | $73 each*
Porch Light | Batton Fix Cage Cube from Bunnings | $75*
Door Mat | Madras Link Door Mat from Bunnings | $18*
Door Numbers | Nickel Numbers from Bunnings | $8*
Wall Baskets | Early Settler | $120*
Plant Pots | Tuscan Path Glazed Pots from Bunnings | $60*
Artificial Fiddle Leaf Fig | Koch & Co. | $60*
Gable Pediment | DIY | $30
Shutters | DIY | $20 each
Settee | Facebook Marketplace & Black Spraypaint | $30
Drum Stool | Already Owned | $0
GRAND TOTAL $4,433
OUR TOTAL $1,770
*We were super lucky to be gifted some items from Bunnings, Dulux, Early Settler and Koch & Co.
In the interest of providing an accurate indication of the full overall expense, I’ve still included all costs in the Grand Total.
And now, for the fun bit…
I really want, no, need, to extend a huge thank you to all of you who have followed along with this makeover. I’ve received countless lovely and encouraging comments, emails and messages which have truly helped drive me to the finish line. I am incredibly grateful.
I also have to recognise my dad, my brother, and foremost my mum, who I absolutely could not have done this without. You know I love and appreciate you endlessly.
Okay, enough with the sap. Anyone would think this was some kind of silver screen awards speech!
Anyhoo, just hoping you guys like it and that it helps inspire you in some small way.
Find all of the previous flip house posts HERE.
WOW! That simple coat of paint has transformed your beautiful home. I love the colour of the door and shutters. Well done on a beautiful make over!
Thank you so much :)
I think you have done a wonderful job. I would probably have gone for bolder black door nos. on the white wall, but you have done fantastically well.
Thanks so much. Yes, I considered this though felt it might be too busy given the sconces flanking the garage. Definitely an option :)
Stunning Transformation!
Thank you :)
Love everything you did. The changes are amazing and perfect. The curb appeal is over the top now.
Thanks Olivia :)
You did a very nice transformation. Congratulations. The only thing that does not appeal to me: the wooden decor part unter the roof joints. I see it colaborates with garage door color but, I find it disturbs me.
LOL, fair enough. It’s simply anchored to the brick with four screws so would be easy for any future owners to remove. I really like it so it was a bit of a self-indulgent experiment on my part and was a fun and inexpensive addition.
I love that part, the wooden feature was one of my favorites of the update! It gives a statement without being overbearing and it looks so good with the garage door.
Thanks Tina :)
AMAZING – my house next???
LOL! I’m always up for a makeover ;)
Oh wow! Simply stunning. Such a great effort and beautiful result at such a great price for all you’ve done.
Thanks Sharon :)
Incredible! What a stunning transformation! You have a fine eye for details that pack a large punch of WOW factor and create a memorable transformation. Can’t wait to see your next project!
Aw, thank you so much :)
Looks amazing! You’re so talented!
Thank you :)
Beautiful! I love a good before and after!
‘Course you do! Thanks Sherry :)
Keep up the great work Kristine! I love to see what you do on a budget, it encourages me to move forward on my own projects. And I am sure Chip and Joanna would be impressed to!!!
LOL! Thanks Lisa :)
Ahhhhh-mazing transformation. Truly epic!!
Thanks heaps :)
Really amazing. I understand what you mean about photographing it as most/all of the really photogenic houses we see are level or slightly above road height. Considering this you’ve done an amazing job to make t look so good. It’s really quite amazing.
Thanks so much. Yes, I was trying to find examples of pretty suburban houses on the low side of the road though I actually couldn’t! I guess it’s because they’re tricky to capture well.
Looks like a stylish, brand new house. I love the white painted brick with the light blue accents, and although I also love the front door area, I think my favorite is the new beams–the wood ties into the garage door beautifully and makes sense of what had been a pointless empty space. Well done!.
Thanks so much :)
It looks fantastic – I initially thought you had replaced the roof, but realized it just looks that much better with the new color!
We were lucky that the roof was nice and neutral to begin with, though you’re right, it does look better now!
Kristine, I love it. The house looks like it is sitting lightly on the ground. The add of colour on the door and shutters and the wooden additions really make this house look loved, it’s now a home. And it is a must to pull out the old plants and put in some new ones, it is appreciated by Buyers, to not have to do any work in the garden after moving in, bonus. It looks so fresh. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you :)
The neighbors must be thrilled! Love how much you’re able to do on a budget. Really, really nice work!!! You’re so talented!
Wow!! What a beautiful transformation – I love all the changes you made! Love the colours, the wood beam detail, garage door, lights, plants, baskets…the whole thing. You’re so talented!! Thanks so much for sharing this!
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! I’m floored. The wood touches are what transformed it, in my opinion. Having major garage door envy.
This is so wonderful! Well done.
Oooooooh I love how the garage turned out! I’m guessing the neighbours might come knocking for some tips!
It. Looks. GREAT!!!!
Kristine, this is your calling. You are amazing at transformations. Remember your Gran’s home? You knocked it out of the park and have done so once again. You should market yourself as a house-stager (not just inside, but outside too). Seriously, you lift the resale value tremendously. Please don’t knock yourself or worry what we think, you are a star and these posts have been my absolute favourite, along with the ones of your Gran’s home.
Aw, you are too sweet. Thank you so much :)
Great makeover! I especially like the wood trim and the garage door, one could not look as nice without the other!
And I also like the fact that the former entrance looked as if you entered a cave…
Now it’s so bright.
Great work!
I mean I also like that the entrance that looked like as if you entered a cave is now so bright and welcoming… Sorry.
LOL! I knew what you meant. Thanks so much :)
OMG! I love this! You are amazing! And I think you’re correct about the garage door. It’s perfect!
Your flip work makes such a difference. It’s wonderful! Especially knowing how you kept costs down. It should be an inspiration for anyone buying a fixer tract house! I think you worked miracles. :-)
Karen
Amazing transformation… You should be very proud of what you and your team have accomplished… Super impressed! This will sell FAST!
INCREDIBLE! I absolutely adore your blog and the work that you do. You are always so honest and real. You are truly talented – don’t ever doubt yourself! This really looks amazing – I love seeing your before and after’s!!
I cannot believe you did all that for $4400! Wow! The transformation is remarkable! And BTW, I love the wood decor part under the roof eaves. What a simple way to add a pop of interest. I am going to remember this for one of my flip houses.
What a makeover, Kristine! This homely house went from mundane to marvelous. Love the blue touches with the black. Definitely fresh. I agree that the entryway makes the biggest impact. I was wondering if trimming those front hedges to mimic the house’s slant would help but I guess that’s a silly idea.
If it were my own home, I would be tempted to hang some of those retro bulb string lights in the entryway to add some charm and wit. But probably not appropriate for a resale.
Thanks Ann. Yes, I think the slope on the hedges is accentuated by the images though it actually looks totally fine in person. Thanks so much :)
The transformation is terrific and makes the house so much more interesting and inviting. Don’t be too quick to dismiss a comparison to Joanna because I think she would like it too. Thanks for sharing.
Because I’m not so much into painting furniture anymore, I only dip into your emails about once every hundred years and am so glad I dipped today. What a stellar transformation–from that horrible dingy yellow to clean, fresh, and pretty! Such a nice place to call home. Sweating details is worth it!
I’ll speak for myself by say I’m not expecting Joanna Gaines and that’s what I love about your work. Your eye for reinvisioning a space and repurposing / reusing items all on a budget just amazes me. And by watch your projects I find myself envisioning spaces and items in a similar way.
Love the way the front exterior turned out and agree the garage door turned out better than the original concept. Love everything and would make a bit on the house now if I could. And I can’t believe your cost was less than half of the total cost of the makeover.
I never would have know the fig plant was fake. Although never say never about it “dying”. My former mother-in=law had an extreme brown thumb and “killed” a fake plant by watering it. It turned brown and had to be thrown out.
LOL! Yes, I will need to remind everyone not to water the fig!
Thanks so much for your lovely words Pat :)
This makeover is really wonderful…and I love how you do things with a budget in mind! The beautiful design elements make for fabulous curb appeal! The buyers will be lining up! Great job!
Ok I just have to say that I’m so glad you aren’t Joanna Gaines! Your transformations are so realistic and doable for us average folk with average suburban homes. Its truly inspiring to look at beautiful outcomes and think i might actually have the time, money, and skill to do something like that.
Hear, hear! :)
Thank you :)
Very nice! As usual, you did an amazing job with a small budget.
I’ve been awaiting the reveal and you definitely did not disappoint. Stunning!
You did an outstanding job!! The things that take it from an average makeover to an excellent makeover are the garage door, the wood beams, and the color of the front door. I would let you makeover my house any day. I enjoyed following your posts to see the final reveal. I only wish we had Bunnings in the USA too. Five Stars!!
Thanks so much :)
Beautiful! Well done!
Wow I love it so much! Only thing I would change are the false window shutters ;) but that’s a personal dislike of mine, however I understand the design appeal. The color scheme is amazing, and that fake fiddle/pots at the entry way are the best!
Totally stunning achievement! Love your color choices and the fresh, modern updating. The wood brings in the warmth and the blue accent colors are subtle and cheerful. Everything looks refined, but warm and welcoming. Just WOW!
Amazingly beautiful and so inexpensive! Good job!
Incredible. Always love what you do, and to think you do it for so little makes your transformations all the more incredible! The only question I have is why leave the wall above/behind the setee yellow?
Agree with the statement above about Joanna — her budgets are huge, and I’d bet anything she’d admire your work if she were to see it!
I imagine the neighbors are going to start beating down your door to come redo their homes now …
LOL! Yes, there are actually still two small yellow walls…one on the left side of the driveway – which I couldn’t get into any of my photos – and that one on the far right. We kinda ran out of paint (LOL!) though then decided that the yellow actually works to border everything, warm up the stone-grey, and tone with the fence (which we definitely won’t be painting).
Thanks for your lovely words :)
Really nice!
Are you planning any window coverings or are you leaving that to the buyer?
My concern as a buyer would be those big windows and the low elevation of the house. It looks like from the pics people can look right down into the house. If you are planning on that cost I would consider (as a buyer) I would consider blinds that draw upward so privacy is not an issue and still having plenty of light. The house looks great and I really like your choice of the front door color.
I think we’re probably going to leave internal window dressings to the buyer. Any standard roller blinds would work well :)
That looks incredible! You couldn’t even see the front door before and now it pops out, it’s light and bright and airy and fresh and modern! Amazing what paint can do! :)
Beautiful! Modern with a touch of wood. Awesome colors and the garden is fine. You can’t do everything. Something must be left for the new owner to personalize. If I may offer one suggestion, perhaps trim the front boxy hedge to the lowest point all the way across.
Thanks :)
Do you mean trim the box hedge so it’s plumb level? Not slightly angled with the street? I actually think that would mean the right side would be little more than short woody stems!
This is the problem with photos which I tried to touch on in the opening of the post. Sometimes they can accentuate things which in person actually appear quite fine. I had to use a super wide angle lens to get the entire house in frame which can slightly distort the overall view. The hedge is only very slightly angled in reality.
Holy Smokes! That looks terrific, job well done!!!! I particularly love the garage door, it’s beautiful. And love the faux fiddle leaf fig. When I clicked over to check it out, I couldn’t believe the price. We pay three or four times that much here in the U.S., too bad they don’t ship here:(
Everything is just beautiful, you should be so proud!
Yes, I was so stoked when I learned about that website. Great prices and such a huge variety too.
Excellent result! Looks fantastic and so great to see such a stunning transformation.
NICE! WOW! Love the color scheme. Great job.
You did an amazing job. You brought the whole outside of the house to life. I love the way you tied in the garage door with the wooden design under the eaves….very nice. You made the house POP! You should be so proud!