8 Formby Road Devonport, TAS, 7310
Donyal Gregoriano has always loved her big, old home in the rural suburb of Lewiston, South Australia. After the breakdown of her marriage, she was determined to stay in the house to give her three young daughters some stability. But unfortunately the mortgage repayments proved too great, so after 18 years Donyal had no choice but to put the house on the market. With a fairly flat market to contend with, buyers were instantly put off by the huge amount of maintenance required. Set on 2.1 acres, both the front and backyards were dilapidated and bare. Inside, the rooms are drab and lacking in personality. While the granny flat is a bonus, adding value to this property, it’s unfinished and unappealing.
If the house is sold for a reasonable price, this single mother of three will be able to clear her debts and buy a smaller place which will allow her to start a new chapter with her daughters. This old homestead needs a lot of love. With an asking price of $565,000, it's been on the market for five months, yet not a single offer has been made on the four-bedroom, two-acre property. Enter Charlie, Shaynna and Andrew, who worked their magic on this charming residence.
For Shaynna, the bones of this house were solid but the main sticking point was that it felt soulless and unloved, so her main focus was a cosmetic fix across the board.
The first step was to get rid of its 90s feel so the flooring was replaced throughout with both carpet and walnut vinyl planks to give the house a more classic timeless feel.
The other main areas of focus were the kitchen, living and dining spaces. The kitchen had a good layout so a simple solution worked well here with a spray of the cabinetry and benchtops to freshen it up.
Shaynna also wanted to create a cosy family space with zones for the living and dining rooms. This worked by replacing the aluminium doors with timber frames as well as selective styling to create two welcoming and defined living spaces.
Along with a fresh lick of paint to bring this house back to life, Luxaflex® Wood Essence Blinds were installed throughout, including all the bedrooms and study. Wood Essence Blinds are the modern alternative to traditional timber venetians. Made of resilient polystyrene, they offer enhanced quality and durability to stand the test of time in any home. Resistant to warping, cracking, peeling or discolouration, Wood Essence Blinds are the ideal solution for damp or wet spaces such as bathrooms and laundries.
Luxaflex® Wood Essence Blinds offer the look of natural timber and is available in 2 slat sizes and a range of 8 classic neutrals and wood tones, to coordinate seamlessly with any interior. White was chosen for the bedrooms and lounge to provide a clean aesthetic. Easy to operate, they make an excellent choice for spaces which require the flexible and convenient light control.
The same treatment was applied to the granny flat to bring it up to scratch. The blue carpet in the kitchenette area was the first to go, and replaced with the same walnut vinyl as the main living area. A new coat of grey paint modernised the space, and sleek white Luxaflex® Roller Blinds were installed over the windows and sliding door. A highly practical and cost effective option, these Roller Blinds are easy to use via chain operation, and effectively block out light and prying eyes to cater for secluded living away from the main residence. Luxaflex® offers a vast collection of fabric designs and varying operating systems, from affordable and timeless, to unique and exclusive, to suit any home and renovation style.
The back garden was really barren so the focus here was to add some colour and grass to break from the excessive amount of concrete. Charlie wanted to create more space for an entertaining area which flows on nicely from Shaynna’s updated interior living spaces. This area was finished off with some timber panels to help enclose the verandah as well as an outdoor table setting and casual lounge.
To open up the view from the house, across the pool to the acreage beyond, Charlie pushed the pool fence out which also helped to connect the pool to the back of the house.
Despite being in a regional market, the property sold for $582,500! Donyal was overjoyed - the sale was just what she needed to move on with her life.
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The products in this episode were proudly supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Window Fashions Gallery dealer Shades of Barossa, Tununda SA.
