To renovate or not to renovate is the question.
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Whether it’s a renovators dream you’re buying or your own property that you want to add sales value to, two Wollongong design experts weighed in.
Trends suggest people are more focused on entertaining, technology and sleek lines when considering a makeover.
Neutral tones in either concrete, beige colours or black and white can add style and elegance while dating well.
Opening out walls to create open-plan living spaces also make an area seem a lot bigger than it is.
While opening out the kitchen/dining area to an outside decking or balcony is driven by a new desire for entertaining spaces.
A current delight on the market is a two-storey weatherboard cottage on Wyalla Rd in Jamberoo for $675,000.
The spacious home comes with escarpment views, red detailed wallpaper, floral drapes and purple walls.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
As popular TV show The Block comes to an end homeowners, or soon-to-be homeowners, may be looking at updating their kitchens and or bathrooms.
Two award-winning design experts say trends don’t change as frequently as the seasons, while reality television shows aren’t always in line with what’s fashionable and functional.
Open plan, sleek finishes and neutral tones are what will add value - and style - to your home.
Gary Yilmam has run his Wollongong based Best Kitchens business for 27 years, and is proud to have either won or at least been nominated for design awards most years during this time.
Recently the company won an HIA award for a “guest bathroom” which used neutral colours, white marble and worked with a curve detected in the wall.
Yilmam said big trends in both bathrooms and kitchens were “clean smooth lines” like marble, concrete and the mosaic tile look, while “rustic” colours like beige aged well.
“If you use Neutral colours no problem at all, they last longer, and not powerful like pink or blue and red,” he said.
While Yilmam is not a fan of The Block he does believes they are great for the do-it-yourself renovators to get ideas.
However due to the materials used doesn’t think a renovator would necessarily get the “designer” finishes like in the show.
Owner of the East Corrimal based Birdblack Design, Sarah Nolen, said while everyone loves to see renovation makeovers reality television gives unrealistic expectations.
Like Yilmam, Nolen feels The Block helps to get some people out of their comfort zone with renovation inspiration, but if they want it done properly she thinks it’s best to consult the experts.
Trends change around every five years, she said, with open-plan living taking the charge.
“A lot of the older homes were very boxed in, so we’re still looking at opening up spaces. It’s more about lifestyle and entertaining and people how live in their homes,” she said.
Nolen agreed concrete and earthy, warm tones were a good choice that dated well.
Technology was another area renovators were keen to incorporate into their homes, with “a toilet is no longer just a toilet”.
“There’s new technologies like rimless designs … all about anti-bacterial, easy cleaning, it’s now all made for easy cleaning and easy wear,” she said
“A lot of people also like… integrated appliances so that’s more the technology side of things, so you walk into a kitchen and it doesn’t feel like a kitchen, it’s almost like furniture [and] built in an hidden.”
Both design experts agreed hiding appliances like fridges and smaller items like door handles for a sleek look was what people were increasingly asking for.