Details:
Complete renovation 1970s 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom unit
Property Size: 104 sqm
Architect: Brad Inwood Architects

When the owners bought this south facing 1970s unit in Cronulla it was the classic ‘renovators delight’ think blue carpet, vermiculite ceilings, years of tiles being laid over tiles and the archetypal pink tiled bathroom and toilet.

LifeSpace Building was called upon to complete a full renovation converting the space from an investment property with good bones to the perfect first property for a young couple looking to start a family.

The results speak for themselves.

A false ceiling was created to cover the vermiculite and was finished with sleek shadow line detail. Bi-fold doors opened the whole unit up and flowed through to a decked wrap around balcony. This also had the effect of creating cross directional air flow thus reducing the need for air conditioning. Another key point for unit living was adding much needed storage to the garage, laundry and main bedroom.

Perhaps the biggest and also most demanding transformation was achieved in the bathroom. The challenges lay with the tightness of the space, access and age of the building.

A wall was taken out to gain more space from the hallway and the door was moved. Two niches were cut into the walls to add extra storage space and eliminate the need for shelving. To continue with the clean lines the shaving cabinet was recessed into the wall.

The high-end finish and luxury feel of this bathroom lies in the craftsmanship of the build. All of the external corners of tiles and all the niches are finished with mitered edges and the, bench top and taps line up with the joint of a tile.

When the clients decided to capitalize on their renovation and sell, they achieved a record price for the block. The quality of the bathroom was something that was very attractive to buyers.

From the client
“You just simply weren’t going to find that level of design or finish in a comparative property, so I was able to turn that into a major selling point. The feedback on the bathroom was very favourable”

Karla Madgwick, Gibson Property Agents

From the builder
“Knowing the best place to spend your budget is an essential ingredient when undertaking a renovation. While not everyone might go for a blue kitchen with black vinal tops the condition of the cabinetry, layout and storage was pretty good. LifeSpace Building were able to modernise the kitchen by retiling the splash back with white subway tiles and replacing the oven and dishwasher. Saving budget in the kitchen meant we were able to deliver the clients the ultimate bathroom that they were after. ”.