1880’s House Renovation – Part 1

I am so excited to share with you the brand new project that we’ve just dived right into; our heritage house renovation. Yep, it’s a reno but it’s definitely a little bit different to what we usually share!

 

Why? Well, not only have I purchased this house myself (and let me tell you, settlement was no walk in the park) BUT my team and I will be moving in to this heritage charmer and walking you through the process of a heritage house renovation step by step. That means ALL the in’s and out’s of a full overhaul of a VERY well loved property. This will not be a quick flip but a real ‘slow burner’ of a reno and we will be able to share ALL the details with you as they happen.

Beautiful bones

First impressions of Carrington House might not exactly be positive. There’s a lot of rubbish and debris, not to mention damage to the property from the previous occupants. BUT, we are choosing to look past that to the character of the home that is already apparent. I see this as a bit of a ‘broken or wounded house’ that has had the character and charm beaten out of it over the years but that still retains its beautiful bones and the promise of something amazing.

The positives (and a couple of negatives)

At these initial stages, we need to tackle the fact that it’s currently not habitable due in large part to some of the structural issues, some damp and mould. There is asbestos present (as you would expect with a property of this age) but it’s intact and not a danger to the team or I. It might be tricky to see past the obvious flaws but when you do, you’re able to see the gorgeous sandstone foundations, the brickwork and the chimney and the great sized yard with plenty of potential.

Getting started

After finally settling on Carrington House (the new name for the property), the first steps that I (and any budding renovator) needed to take to was to stop by with the builder to ensure that the property is secure. That means checking that all the doors are safe, the locks are changed and it’s ready for my team and I to move into ASAP.

This is a really important first step for all renovators to take as your safety, the safety of the team you choose to work with AND the security of your property are really paramount. Making sure all these boxes are ticked in the very first days can prevent a lot of issues from occurring down the track.

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