There’s a common theme emerging at the midway point of Art and Matilda Green’s renovation: if we’re in for a penny, we’re in for a pound.
After purchasing their ’90s Warkworth home, the couple embarked on an ambitious renovation: a new open-plan kitchen and living area, a sleek bathroom and ensuite and a laundry. But as plans have progressed, so too has a familiar renovator’s mindset: the irresistible urge to add one more thing.
“That’s definitely been the theme so far,” says Art. “We’ll say, ‘Oh, we’re opening up that wall for a light. While it’s open, we may as well add heated rails and all this other stuff.’ Everything becomes, ‘Let’s just tack it on while we’re here.’”
When Your Home and Garden visits, the kitchen and living area have been stripped back to a shell. Buster, the family’s Jack Russell, leads the way through a busy hub of tradies as new Tile Warehouse tiles are laid in the bathroom and laundry, and LaBella Kitchens begins installing the cabinetry. It’s an exciting stage for the pair, who spent six years gradually improving their previous home, but this project is on another level.
“I’ve been getting on the tools a little,” says Art, “but definitely more in an assistant role – helping with demolition, taking out walls, that kind of thing.”
His biggest task was removing a “monolith” of an internal elevator installed by the previous owner.
“God forbid we need it in 20 years, but it took up so much space it had to go. It was huge, with a 400kg steel beam attached. We even discovered they’d built walls around it.”
“I was on edge,” adds Matilda.
The halfway point of a renovation is often when the wild-eyed ‘what have we done?’ moments creep in. Here, though, the mood is surprisingly calm.
“It’s actually been great,” says Matilda. “We’ve got teams who communicate really well.”
“We’ve got outstanding tradies,” adds Art. “Everything’s going to plan.”
And then there’s Steven. “Everyone needs a Steven,” says Art. “He’s a bit of a lone ranger – a local who’s been helping us with everything. Steven’s essentially project managing, dealing with tradies when I’m not here. He’s been incredible.”
Standing in what will soon be a fully functional laundry, complete with Beverly Rose benchtops installed by Unique Stone, an Archant sink, VidaSpace cabinetry and Haier appliances, Matilda can barely contain her excitement. The previous version barely qualified as a room.
“It’s a privilege to have a laundry full stop, but this one was basically a tiny hallway. To soak anything, I had to contort myself around the elevator,” she says. “With three kids, you spend so much time in the laundry, you want it to be at least a little enjoyable.
Louise Robertson from LaBella Kitchens helped design the laundry and the kitchen. “LaBella has been amazing,” says Art. “We thought we’d be organising tradies, but they’ve handled it all. Louise understands how a family lives, making things accessible for the kids.”
One of the items within reach of small hands will be a Haier 87L 300 Series Beverage Centre. A wine fridge… for the children? Think again.
“We go through a lot of milk – about 12 to 14 litres a week from a local farmer,” says Matilda. “At the moment, we’ve got an annoying rotation system with bottles in the garage fridge and empties piling up on the bench. It drives me nuts. So, the drinks fridge will actually be full of milk.
Milk logistics aside, the couple are equally excited about their new ensuite. “Our current shower only comes up to my shoulder and I have to crouch,” says Art. “So standing upright in a proper Athena SlateForma shower lined with beautiful Tile Warehouse tiles is going to be amazing.”
While builder’s floodlights are currently illuminating the scene, a fresh fit-out of statement pendant lights from local manufacturer Mr Ralph will be the crowning touch, indicating they’re nearing the finish line.
So, this far out from that exciting day, what’s keeping them going?
“It doesn’t have to be completely finished,” says Matilda, “but I’m looking forward to everything being in its place again. Art adapts quite well to things being everywhere, but if I don’t know where things are, I feel scrambled. I’m looking forward to having a system again — and no random piles of laundry on the deck.”
Check back in with Art and Matilda next month, when we visit their completed renovation.
Art and Matilda’s renovation mid-point checklist
- 400kg internal elevator removed to make way for laundry, storage and open-plan living.
- Tile Warehouse tiles laid in the bathroom, laundry, kitchen and ensuite.
- VidaSpace cabinetry and hideaway Concelo hampers installed in the laundry alongside a Haier 12kg 600 Series front loader and 10kg heat pump dryer.
- Athena SlateForma Artus two-wall showers and a Cassini bath installed.
- Voda Plumbingware basin mixers, a double-head shower, a shower mixer and a brushed copper Apollo sink mixer installed.
- New LaBella-designed kitchen layout, with Haier 87L 300 Series Beverage Centre and 600 Series freestanding dishwasher.
- Prepping and priming for Resene paintwork completed.
With special thanks to:
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