When you move into a new house it can feel like a busy and often overwhelming time. However, making your new abode feel like home can be easy by just adding a few personal touches. Below are some of my top tips to making your new house feel like a home.

Do you look out your window to your backyard and see a multitude of weeds sticking out from around plants and wish that you had a nice garden to relax in at the end of the day? Or do you crave a suitable space outside to entertain family and friends on weekends? ​

​Follow my 5 tips below to create the perfect garden space to use over the summer months.

Clear away any leaves that have fallen on the ground with a rake or a leaf blower and give the lawn a good mow. Get the whipper snipper out and do the edges too. Trim any hedges or trees that need tidying up and make sure any fences are tidy and repair fallen pailings if necessary. If your fence looks a bit ratty, get out the paint can and wack some paint on to freshen things up a bit.

If you have a garden shed, store any tools or lawn mowers in there to keep the lawn area clutter free. Otherwise, make good use of your garage. Keep the garden shed doors closed so people can't see the mess inside.

Make sure you water any plants or hedges regularly to keep them nice and green and full of leaves, so your garden looks nice and lush and inviting. If you have a green house, make sure the plants that are in there are nice and healthy too.

If you have outdoor decking, it's important to keep it looking it's best. Clear the area of any rubbish and sweep away any leaves and dirt that's accumulated over time. Use a hose or high pressure cleaner to make the area sparkle. Purchase some deck cleaner and mix with water and scrub your deck clean with this. Wash off and let dry before oiling the timber. Hang some fairy lights around the deck or decorate with candles, so you can entertain well into the night.

If you have a pool in your backyard (lucky you!) it's important to keep it looking clean and prevent it from going green when not in use. It can cost a lot of money to bring a green pool back from the dark side.

Trim any trees or plants away from the pool so the leaves don't drop in when there is a gust of wind and this will help to keep it looking good. If you're entertaining people with kids, make sure your pool fence is up to scratch, so the little ones don't get in when no one is watching. 

I hope this post has helped you to clean up your backyard and create a space that's worthy of entertaining. If you would like someone to help you clean up your backyard, please feel free to contact me and I can put you in touch with one of our suppliers to help get your backyard back on track.

When working out the cost of your new bathroom renovation, you need to plan whether you're going to leave everything where it is, or whether you want to move elements around to create a more pleasing space. If you're on a budget, it's cheaper to leave plumbing and fixtures where they are, rather than hiring a plumber to come in and change toilets, taps and wastes around the room.

Before you start ripping everything out, you will need to decide what steps need to be done first. If you're ordering bespoke items, you will need to do this early, as they will have to be custom made and may take longer to arrive than if you were just to go to Bunnings to pick something up.

Also make sure that you leave time for any mishaps that might occur. Bathrooms are a popular place to find leaks and you don't want to remove some wall tiles only to find a damp patch that needs repairing. If you haven't left room for mishaps in your schedule, it could set you back a while. If tradies have to re-schedule you back in because you're not ready for them at the scheduled time, it could add weeks to your renovation.

Figure out which tradespeople you will need on site first and organise your tradies so that they have enough time for each task to be completed before the next one comes in.

If you have an older home, it may have asbestos in the floors, ceilings and walls that will need to be removed by a professional (unless you're planning on leaving it there and just painting or tiling over it).

You will also need to measure the space to make sure that your new items will fit in, while leaving enough space to walk around in the bathroom as well. You don't want to get out of the shower and not have any room to dry yourself in.
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As a guide, a budget bathroom renovation will cost somewhere between $5,000-$15,000 depending on what you do the to bathroom. A budget renovation could include re-painting the tiles instead of replacing them, respraying baths and basins, replacing shower screens, vanities, tapware and cupboard handles.

​A standard bathroom renovation would cost somewhere between $15,000-$25,000 to repaint walls, replace tiles, shower screens, baths and vanities.

A luxury renovation could set you back over $25,000! Luxury items like underfloor heating and towel rails, specialty lighting, claw foot baths and imported tiles cost a lot more than if you were doing the renovation on a budget.
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You will also have to include the price of a plumber (and also some other tradies if you don't plan to do the work yourself) into your bathroom renovation costs, as well as all the materials that you will need.

When choosing things like tiles and tapware, you will need to decide whether you want to purchase high end products or budget products. If you are on a budget, you could opt for budget tiles and high end tapware and lighting to give the room a more expensive look than just purchasing all budget items.​

It is possible to do a quality bathroom renovation for under $10,000. If you are on a budget but still want to do a bathroom renovation, I have some handy tips to show you how to save some money on your renovation.
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For a budget bathroom renovation, I can't recommend Bunnings enough! Head down to your local and check out their bathroom displays. They can show you how to create an expensive look, for a budget price. Don't forget to also have a look at other bathroom showroom displays to see what sort of ideas you can get for you renovation from there too. You may be able to pick up some discounted stock from their warehouses as well.
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Choose bathroom tiles that complement the colour of your house's interior. Larger tiles give the illusion of more space - however they are usually more expensive. You can use patterns, colours and textures to give your bathroom renovation some individuality as well. You can also choose different grout colours to create style in your bathroom.

Reece has a page on their website dedicated to tiling tips that provides some fantastic tips and tricks for tiling your bathroom.
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Choose modern tapware to create a look of luxury. Bunnings has a whole range of stylish bathroom tapware to complement your bathroom renovation. Square tapware is all the rage right now as it looks modern and exudes luxury.

You can get some beautiful bathroom vanities these days. Look for something with an undersink or bowl on top of the vanity for a more modern look. You can pick up a vanity off eBay, gumtree or your local Bunnings or bathroom display centre.

Inset baths are usually placed in a corner of the bathroom and attached to the wall via tiles. If you're doing a budget renovation, an inset bath is probably the way to go, unless you can get a freestanding bath for a very cheap price.

Sometimes all you need are the right accessories to compliment your bathroom renovation. You could renovate your bathroom with budget items and go out and buy a plush rug and towels to really set the room off. And the best thing about this - you can even take your accessories with you when you move too!
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It is possible to do a budget DIY bathroom renovation quite easily by yourself, especially if you have some experience with tiling. If you remove the tiles yourself, install a new vanity and shower screen, and lay new tiles, your bathroom will definitely benefit from being updated. The other option if you don't know how to lay tiles, is to buy some tile paint and paint over the top of them. You can always look up some Youtube videos on how to do this.

I hope this blog post has given you some good info about bathroom renovations. If you're considering selling your property and would like to know whether a bathroom renovation would help to increase your sale price or not, please give me a call on 0414 520 853 to discuss.

When it comes to decorating your home, there are so many different styles to choose from. Whether it be something on trend like a Hamptons home or something more personable like a Moroccan style abode, you can really make your home ooze with your own personal style, with a few key pieces. I've chosen my top 15 decorating styles to help you make your home beautiful. ​
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​Hamptons style is inspired by holiday homes in New York’s Long Island. Natural textures such as white-washed linens, freshly painted white timber and accents of blues make up the majority of this style. The aim of this style is to create a relaxed, coastal feel to a home. Plantation shutters usually look at home in this style, as do island benches, timber floor boards, glass panelled doors, and aluminium framed windows. For lighting options, stick to metal or glass pendants and lanterns or anything in a shiny chrome. For furnishings, think large sofas in neutral colours and loads of cushions with stripes or light blue floral patterns.
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​Boho is a style that originated from the travelling gypsys of Eastern Europe. It is an eclectic and unique style where it more is more and doesn’t matter if things don’t match. The design rules of Boho are that there are no rules. If you have collected anything throughout your travels, it should be on display. Wooden furnishings feature heavily in Boho design as do exotic fabrics, patterned rugs, books, mirrors and artwork. Low tables and floor cushions work will in Boho homes and dark feature walls don’t look out of place either. These days people are also choosing to mix indoor plants with macramé pot plant holders into boho designs and hanging chairs made from textured rope also look fantastic as features as well. Think bold colours, multiple patterns and the odd cow skull hanging from the wall as well.
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​Industrial style is a combination of exposed steel and rustic wood with the occasional exposed brick and industrial lighting fixtures thrown in for good measure. If you don’t like a cluttered home, this is the look for you. Industrial décor is sleek and organised with plenty of baskets or bins to hide items out of the way.

​Choose rustic colours of browns and beiges and use accent colours for rugs and cushions. Use bold furniture in raw or unfished woods (ie. coffee tables) and leather sofas to fill large living areas. Exposed pendant lamps with Edison lightbulbs (with exposed filaments) look fantastic in Industrial styled homes, with a lot of emphasis put on large caged designs.

​Mid century modern is an understated style that is characterized by clean simple lines, minimal ornamentation, an emphasis on function, masses of glass and a strong connection to nature.

​Furniture is usually organic and geometric in shape and has flat surfaces and peg legs or hardware. This design revolves around a space remaining clutter free. Natural materials like wood, metal and leather are usually paired with bold patterns but with minimal fuss.

​Exposed ceiling beams, pots and pans on hooks, antique lighting, deep kitchen sinks, open cabinets with reclaimed shelving and barn doors all make up elements of rustic farmhouse design.

Nothing should be too delicate or precious when decorating in a rustic farmhouse design. Hardy, practical pieces with distressed woods should be paired with second hand finds, stainless steel appliances and modern lighting. Similar to boho designs, things don’t need to match. 
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​Think of the French countryside and images of an old chateaux with lavender fields and bright sunshine, rustic stone garden beds and rusted metal come to mind. This is the charm of French Country design at it’s best. Contrasting textures and colours of sunny yellows and soft golds, burn rust and fiery reds, cobalt blues and dark hunter greens should all be used when decorating in a French Country style.

​Natural stone floors, painted walls, exposed beams and delicately carved wooded furniture should be paired with natural furnishings, textured throws and cotton rugs. No French Country home should be without a stone fireplace with a wooden top, usually placed in the centre of the living area or off to the side of a large bedroom.
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​Think geometric shapes and patterns, opulent finishes, rich colours, luxury living with a hint of glamour and decadently detailed pieces in streamlined shapes – this is what Art Deco is all about.

​Starbursts are usually added to design elements or furniture, elaborate mirrors, lighting and artworks without encouraging a cluttered look. Chandeliers play a big part in lighting Art Deco homes and large pieces of glamourous, textured furniture will accent any room.
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​Contemporary interior design is known for having sleek surfaces, crisp furnishings, and cutting-edge art in bold colours. ​The colour palette is usually muted (think browns, creams or pure white) with pop of colour in artworks or soft furnishings. This shifts the spotlight onto the choice of materials and textures used throughout the room instead.

Furniture features clean lines and smooth surfaces without any detailing and lighting pendants usually involve straight lines and metallic finishes.
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Cottage design is all about creating light, bright and airy spaces, by ways of painted furniture with weathered finishes, textured baskets, natural-fibre rugs and colours replicating a cottage garden (think light apricots, dusty pinks, sunflower yellows, robin’s egg blues and light shades of greens.)
 
It’s not uncommon to find floral fabrics paired with stripes and solids and second hand wooden furniture in cottage design. These all help to create a vintage feel. DIY is also big in cottage design with curtains and pillowslip covers featuring heavily.
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​​Minimalism can be described as the stripping away of all unnecessary elements and focusing on only what needs to be there. When decorating in a minimalist design, think – “less is more”. Think quality instead of quantity.

Eliminate clutter and decorate with simple, sleek furniture in a monochromatic colour scheme. Keep all surfaces clean and clear of items that aren’t needed. Start with a neutral base tone and only add one or two other colours as accents. Black and white schemes work wonderfully in minimalist homes.​

Traditional design is inspired by the 18th and 19th centuries and features timeless classics incorporating art, antiques and pieces of history. Symmetry is huge in traditional design and pieces of furniture always match perfectly.

Dark warm tones are a must in the colour palette and often rich jewel tones are used as features. Ornate furniture such as claw foot baths, carved wooden tables and tufted upholstery are defining features used in this style of decorating.

​Wingback chairs with high backs, wooden legs and winged sides often feature as focal items, as do fireplaces, chandeliers, and candle holders. Rooms also feature architectural details such as crown molding, columns and wood panelling. 
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​Moroccan designs are a blend of African, Arab and Mediterranean embellishing styles. Arches, domes and ornamental mosaic tiles usually complete the look with strong, rich colours of reds, oranges, bright blues and greens featuring heavily.

​Furniture is usually patterned and set low to the ground. Pillows, shallow bowls, decorative fabrics and wooden ornaments really help to furnish rooms. Patterned floor tiles, metal lanterns and candles are a must when decorating in a Moroccan home design.
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​Shabby chic is an eclectic, relaxed style which has a lived-in look and a feminine vibe. You’ll usually find a lot of distressed furniture, chandeliers, and floral fabrics in shabby chic homes.

​When decorating, start with a neutral background, with loads of light, and add in pastel colours in the form of rugs, cushions and throws and second hand furniture. Stringed lighting DIY furniture and lots of plants also adorn shabby chic homes.

Tropical interior design involves the use of natural materials, such as wicker, rattan, and bamboo with fabrics featuring palm leaves, lattice prints and cane motifs. Oversized wallpapers are on trend at the moment with images of palm fronds, dense foliage and even flamingos adorning walls!

​Tropical designs feature vibrant colours and coastal feels. Bright blues and yellows used to feature a lot in tropical beach houses, however nowadays modern home owners are choosing soft blues, whites and greens to replace these outdated colours. Outdoor showers and surfboards are being featured in backyards and frangipani trees are adorning gardens with a relaxed, tropical vibe.

If you are thinking of selling and would like some help to achieve one of the above looks in your home to create the perfect open home for your buyers, please contact me and I can help you style to perfection, with the help of one of our many home styling companies.

If you are thinking of selling or buying a property and would like to download some free real estate guides to help you on your real estate journey, click the image below.
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Summer is a great time to install a brand new pool in your backyard so that you can beat the heat with family and friends. I have made a list of my top 10 pool trends to help you build the most stylish pool to splash around in.

With the large amount of sub-divisions occurring in the suburbs lately, backyards are becoming smaller and the addition of a plunge pool is the answer to limited spaces. Plunge pools are becoming hugely popular in high end properties that have a large internal floor plan and a smaller backyard. 

Plunge pools are usually smaller than 6m x 4m and provide the occupants with a place to sit and relax, while entertaining friends or family on built-in seating inside the pool. These smaller pools enable occupants to swim in the summer months and still use the other part of the backyard in cooler months.

Round plunge pools are on-trend at the moment, as their curved edges create a line pleasing to the eye in an otherwise square or rectangular backyard. Decking around the pool can also be added to incorporate the pool into the setting.

Built-in bench seating around pools are also becoming very popular. Wooden benches which surround the pool are custom made to create an area where people can sit and enjoy relaxing by the pool, while the kids are splashing around in the water.

A lot of benches incorporate a hinged lid which provides under-bench storage for things like pool inflatables, or cushions for day beds. Add some cushions to your bench seating and you have yourself a very comfy day bed to relax on and soak up some sunshine.

Glass pool fencing continues to dominate luxury homes with pools, as it’s stylish design allows the eye to view the pool area, without having a steel pool fence limiting your view. Installing glass rather than steel bars is more expensive, however it really adds a touch of class to the space.

Natural swimming pools (or Eco-friendly pools) are becoming on-trend with people who like the idea of living off the grid, or as eco-friendly as possible. They are chemical-free pools which are filtered naturally by using rocks, plants and a built-in biological filtration system to clean the pool and filter out any bacteria.

With more and more people going to Bali for holidays lately, the trend of building your own tropical oasis in your own backyard is becoming more popular amongst Australians. We are seeing pools surrounded by tropical plants, stepping sones, Balinese huts surrounded by frangipani trees, outdoor showers and Balinese statues which have pride of place as a water feature, beside and into pools.

Infinity pools have always been popular, as they are a very stylish addition to a backyard. Again drawing inspiration from Balinese hotels, more people are choosing to include infinity pools in their homes to re-create the feel of being on holiday in your own back yard. Infinity pools have a streamlined look and can make an outdoor area feel more relaxing with water cascading over the edge.

Glass wall pools are emerging as a popular design trend in residential homes in early 2019. We have seen the likes of these in hotels and such, however more people are opting to install them into their own backyards now as well, as they look very stylish and add a touch of luxury to a home.

Pools which incorporate a shallow lounging area for relaxing on a daybed or for kids to splash around in are also becoming popular in 2019. This design allows parents to do some gardening while keeping an eye on kids splashing in the shallow part of the pool, without having to accompany them in the water. We are seeing companies popping up everywhere, who sell loungers specially designed for immersion in the shallow water. These allow you to be able to relax in the pool, without actually having to get wet.

Pools with a seperate spa area provide relaxation at the end of a hard work day and can be used in winter as well as summer, as the water is usually heated. We are also seeing houses with portable saunas installed for that ultimate spa feeling at home.

Outdoor showers are becoming increasingly popular in modern day design as people are taking inspiration from other countries where outdoor showers are the norm, and getting a plumber to install them around pool areas, to wash clorine away after swimming.

​Outdoor showers are also being encorporated into home designs where there is no swimming pool in the backyard, as people love being immersed amoungst nature and feature outdoor showers in addition to internal bathrooms.

The great debate about pools is always “should i get a salt water pool or a chlorinated pool?” Well, the answer is, it’s totally up to you. There is no better choice (unless you want to put in an eco-friendly pool) between the two. It just comes down to personal preference. Salt water pools still have a bit of chlorine in them, as the salt gets converted to chlorine over time. Salt water pools are slightly more cost effective than chlorine pools, but not by much.

I hope that my top 10 pool trends has helped you to consider which pool would best suit your needs. Getting a pool installed can help to raise the house price if done properly.

​If you would like some advice on renovating your home or putting in a pool, please get in touch via phone on 0414 520 853 or email kelly@markwardproperty.com.au.

If you would like to download some free real estate guides, click the image below.