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Renovation queen Cherie Barber has detailed exactly how she gave Bachelor star Laura Byrne’s home a $70,000 facelift, adding more than $36,000 in value in the process.
The TV presenter visited the home of Laura’s mother, Kim, in Wollongong, New South Wales, with instructions to tidy up the heritage space that has become a shadow of its former self, littered with clutter and old memories.
In just a few days, Cherie was able to improve Laura’s family home while retaining many of its heritage features.
BEFORE: Renovation queen Cherie Barber has detailed exactly how she gave Bachelor star Laura Byrne’s home a $70,000 facelift, adding more than $36,000 in value in the process
BEFORE: The TV presenter visited the home of Laura’s mother, Kim, in Wollongong, New South Wales, with a brief to sort out the heritage space that has become a shadow of its former self.
AFTER: In just a few days, Cherie managed to improve Laura’s family home while retaining many of its heritage features (sun room pictured now)
Cherie (left) said it can be hard to get in and change heritage homes, but it’s important to retain some of the charm (Laura Byrne, right)
“Filled with family memorabilia, the home was solidly built in the 1950s by Kim’s father, who has since passed away,” Cherie wrote in her website.
‘It has high ceilings and extensive use of natural woods throughout. So my order was: keep it traditional, no bright colors, don’t paint over the woodwork, and keep things simple.
THE SUN ROOM
The first place Cherie tackled was the sun room, which is the first thing you see when you enter the house.
‘You’ve probably heard many real estate experts sing over the years “make a great first impression.” Well this was not one of them! Cherie said.
As soon as you opened the front door, he said you were “immediately smacked in the face with a room full of clutter” that had been pushed into a dark room.
First, he got rid of the clutter and the dark wood venetian blinds, and then he painted the ceiling white and the wood paneling a cream color.
BEFORE: The first place Cherie tackled was the sunroom, which is the first thing you see when you walk into the house.
AFTER: First, she got rid of the clutter and dark wood venetian blinds, and then she painted the ceiling white and the wood paneling a cream color.
“When you’re working with traditional-style homes, you want to stick to warm colors like creams to give that sense of history,” Cherie said.
She said that under the mess were green tiles that she left as part of the estate of the house.
Finally, he removed the old front door and replaced it with one that adds ‘traditional charm’.
Cherie also added new white wood venetians and sheer drapes, as well as some wall lights to brighten and enhance the area.
BEFORE: Cherie then went to the master bedroom, which she said was more like a “construction zone” than a bedroom.
AFTER: In the bedroom, Cherie also painted it in a similar shade to create a cohesive feeling throughout the house.
THE MAIN ROOM
Cherie then went to the master bedroom, which she said was more like a “construction zone” than a bedroom.
The reason this was the case was because Laura’s mother, Kim, had started the renovations several years ago before sustaining a hip injury.
It then stayed untouched for years, until Cherie started boarding it.
“Once all the building materials were cleared out of the room, my team and I went to work painting the walls a cream color so it would cohesively match the colors I used in the sunroom,” Cherie said.
AFTER: She also removed the old closets and installed a new one with a mirrored door to “bounce light around the room,” added additional dressers, and new window cabinets.
She also ripped out the old cabinets and installed a new one with a mirrored door to “bounce light around the room,” added extra dressers, and new window cabinets.
“Kmart’s Makena King Duvet Cover Set works in tune with the wood colors, as do the textured throw pillows, all from Kmart,” Cherie said.
The TV host added that often you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to make a house look expensive.
BEFORE: Finally, Cherie said she took care of the “incredibly cramped” craft room, which needed to accommodate a sewing desk, the piano, and storage for other arts, crafts, and sewing supplies.
AFTER: “In total, this renovation cost $33,015.52 for all materials, labor, new furniture and styling items at full retail cost,” Cherie said.
THE CRAFTS ROOM
Finally, Cherie said she took care of the “incredibly cramped” craft room, which needed to accommodate a sewing desk, the piano, and storage for other arts, crafts, and sewing supplies.
He used the same paint and wallpaper to include a highlight.
“In total, this renovation cost $33,015.52 for all materials, labor, new furniture and furnishings at full retail cost,” Cherie said.
‘Of this, materials represented $26,724.52 and labor $6,291.00. The increase in property value was $70,000, resulting in a net gain of $36,984.48.’