Apartment Facelift

This apartment in Sydney’s Northern Beaches had been rented for 20 years and it showed. Heavy curtains were full of dust, yellowing walls were chipped with a layer of grime, the blinds were warped and there were three types of shag-pile carpet in three rooms.

But the bones and layout of the flat were excellent. The two bedrooms were a good size with built-in cupboards, the entry foyer and extra-wide windows made it feel spacious and light, and design features included a curved wall in the living room and art deco fixtures. There was also a bonus ocean view from the living room and balcony.

The Rental Plan
We thought this apartment could be revived and rented out at a higher rate and bought it with a makeover budget of roughly $5000. We planned to renovate with maximum impact for minimum cost and it worked. It previously rented at $350 a week and we just signed the lease for $600.

1. Plan Around Features
The kitchen and bathroom were outdated but useable, so we focused on cosmetic changes. We pulled down curtains and blinds, ripped up carpet, painted walls and laid new polished floorboards and carpet. We kept the colour palette neutral for wide appeal. In the main bedroom was a large timber retro-style built-in robe.

At first we planned to replace it with a modern wardrobe and mirrors on sliding doors. But at a cost of more than $2000, we decided to salvage it with a lick of paint instead.

2. Learn New DIY Skills
Drew had done some house painting in his student days but I was a complete novice. But with our low budget and no major plans, we figured we could DIY the grunt work.

To learn basic skills we visited Bunnings for a workshop. From a 30-minute video on how to paint a wall, I learnt the best paint job would result from a lot of preparation and the right equipment including poly filler, sanding blocks and protective masks. I also learnt how to clean with sugar soap, fill cracks and sand.