836 Sydney Road North Coburg, VIC, 3058
While buying the worst house on the best street is almost always a wise real estate investment, it's not quite the same scenario when it's the worst house on the worst street.
Such was the case for Brazilian sisters Fernanda and Roberta, and their husbands Carlos and Tiago, when they purchased a five bedroom house on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the northern Sydney suburb of Belrose.
Originally, their plan was to knock down the existing home, which was in dire need of an update, and build two new homes on the 708 square metre block, which they purchased for $1.01 million in 2015. However, when council rejected their development proposal, the two couples decided to sell up, count their losses, and move on.
Yet despite Sydney's flourishing property market and the home's enviable Belrose address, they simply couldn't sell. Just 15 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, and close to schools, shopping centres, and the coastline, properties in this leafy part of Belrose can sell for in excess of $2.3 million.
However, this home's location on a busy six-lane road, and its proximity to a sizeable electricity substation and bus stop were proving to be major drawbacks. The house itself, and the garden, also had very little appeal to potential buyers.
The house, built in 1970, had experienced numerous renovations over the course of its life, and as such, had quite an awkward layout. The main entry to the home was hard to find, and there was no flow between the living and dining areas. While the couples had given the interior a basic cosmetic renovation - painting it all white and installing new flooring - it was still somewhat bland and uninviting.
Outside, things were far more dire. The pool was run-down, and the spa was in need of repair. The pavers were cracked, the garden was messy and overgrown, and there was no gate on the driveway, meaning the front of the home was completely open to the main road.
Desperate to shift this seemingly unsaleable home, the couples called on the Selling Houses Australia team for help - putting $55,000 of their own savings towards the project.
One of the biggest drawbacks to this home was its peculiar layout - the result of a series of ad-hoc renovations. The entry to the home was hidden down the side, and there was no clear flow from front to back.
Wendy Moore, the Selling Houses Australia team's Interior Designer, came up with a smart new redesign, which involved re-positioning the front door, creating a 'mud room' and study at the entrance, and knocking out a section of wall to create a walkway through to the current living area.
Luxaflex® LumiShade® Window Coverings were installed in the study area - in Standard Fabric and White colour - to soften this area of the home, and obscure the view out to busy road. A contemporary take on a classic window covering, Luxaflexv LumiShade® Window Coverings combine the versatility of a vertical blind with the elegant appeal of a soft window furnishing. The collection is a perfect balance of style, durability and practicality that works well in any interior setting.
The kitchen, despite being clean and functional, lacked appeal and was awkwardly tucked away in the centre of the home. The team completely opened up this space, connecting it to the living area, and creating a warm and welcoming dining room.
The kitchen was given a sophisticated facelift, with monochrome paint on the existing cabinetry, a new island benchtop, luxury lighting, and Luxaflex® Lumishade® Window Coverings on the windows in the dining area, to subtly filter the light and add a touch of elegance, and style.
The team also added value to the home by turning a previously under-utilised space off the main living area into an inviting reading nook, with colourful wallpaper, stylish furnishings, and Luxaflex® LumiShade® Window Coverings - also in Standard fabric and White colour.
These shades have the advantage of letting light flow into this room, while creating a sense of calm and privacy and, as with the study area, obscuring the view out to the busy road.
The bedrooms were both given a lick of paint - and new bed coverings and furniture - to make them feel calmer and more sophisticated.
Luxaflex® Duette® Shades in Elan Fabric and in Daisy White colour were also installed in the two larger bedrooms. The unique honeycomb structure of these shades gives the room a contemporary look, as well as providing efficient insulation by trapping air within the honeycomb cell. Importantly, they are also easy to care for and clean - a priority for potential home owners.
One of the most appealing features of the newly designed home was its cabana, or pool room, which the team created by separating out an area of the garage which opened onto the rear.
This space was given a small kitchenette, and turned into a peaceful and inviting 'chill out' zone, with a comfy couch, TV, and floor-to-ceiling Luxaflex® LumiShade® Window Coverings in Standard fabric and White colour, to add a sense of calm and tranquillity.
Just three and a half weeks after the renovation was complete, the home was sold to a young family for $1.823 million, above their asking price and giving them a very healthy and surprising return on their initial investment.
If you're interested in finding out more about the window coverings used in this renovation,
The products in this episode were proudly supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery Dealer, Shades of Pittwater, Dee Why.
