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Shelley Craft used her years of experience hosting The Block to turn around her own nine-week challenge renovating her dream beach shack.

TV star Shelley Craft of The Block has pulled off the ultimate renovation transforming a 70-year-old fibro beach shack on a tight budget in just nine weeks.

The much loved Aussie TV personality and her husband Christian Sergiacomi took a fibro surf shack and turned it into a chic coastal pad that they’ve affectionately nicknamed ‘The Little Blue House’.

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BEFORE: How the fibro home looked pre-renovation.

With a nine-week deadline, Ms Craft set about her own challenge to pull off a quirky, stylish renovation on time and under budget.

”We have replaced every wall and ceiling, as well as the entire external cladding. This 70-year-old home that once had a very tired look to it, has had a total refresh while maintaining the character and charm of the original,” she said.

Her biggest challenge was how to tackle the ageing fibro without compromising the 1950s look and feel they wanted to maintain.

DURING: The exterior was stripped.

“Although I am a huge fan of ‘retro’, there is always a level of comfort and modern living that you need to consider when renovating. So our choice of colour and styling is a nod to mid century in 2020,” Ms Craft said.

“We were determined to keep the cottage looking as original as possible, so we chose to reclad the exterior frame in Cemintel and add the battens to recreate the 1950s style,” she said.

DURING: The exterior frame was reclad with Cemintel.

“We had a really limited budget and I was incredibly surprised at the cost effectiveness of the Cemintel cladding. So much so, that we could afford to do the exterior of the adjacent garage as well, all within budget.”

“Removing old fibro can certainly have the ability to scare people off a renovation project, but knowing that you can reclad your home with a superior product within a tight budget is amazing.”

AFTER: A softer feel to the exterior with walls set to stand the test of time.

Having lived weatherboard homes with paper thin walls most of her life, soundproofing the walls inside was also essential.

“One of the key challenges for Pacifico Cottage was due to it being a small home,” she said of the Byron Bay property.

“With one open plan living area and shared common walls for all bedrooms, we needed to ensure that sound travelling and unwanted noise was reduced as much as possible.”

“Therefore, finding the right plasterboard product that provided the solution to this was imperative, and helped us deliver a sense of privacy for everyone residing in the different rooms.”

BEFORE: One of the bedrooms pre-renovation.

AFTER: White adds brightness and pastels add comfort inside the home.

She used Gyprock options for walls, ceilings and wet rooms like the bathroom and laundry.

“From Superceil for our ceilings to Superchek for the walls and Aquachek in the wet areas, Gyprock had our project covered. And it’s Australian-made.”

The change was worth it, with the soundproofing helping provide privacy and helping the acoustics of the home.

AFTER: Gyprock products helped boost the acoustics of the home.

“You cannot hear a peep through the walls,” she said. “The density of the sheeting really gives an extra sense of strength to the build and a very solid feel to the property, handling bumps and dings much better than the standard.”

With the structure covered, Ms Craft’s plan was to add lightness and brightness with colour.

Pastels rule the roost outside, adding to the beachside chic of the home now.

“The home was a striking blue colour when we bought it and we wanted to have some fun this time around, so we’ve chosen to stick with that colour palette but opt for a more subdued blue.”

AFTER: New seating was added, with wood elements providing warmth.

AFTER: The home has beachside chic.

Inside the restructured home was kept clean and white, to boost natural light and add to the seaside feel.

She also used natural timber throughout the home to add warmth to rooms such as the dining and living area via the floors, tables, seating and cabinetry.

AFTER: Styling focused on plants, natural wood and pastels.

Indoor plants, textured throws and multi-level seating in the lounge lifted the areas softness and comfort level and made the space functional.

“When you build or renovate you have to think about the long term wearability, liveability and longevity of your hard work,” Mr Craft said.

“We love this little home and know that we have created a very special place that will stand the test of time.”

The next season of The Block begins August 23.

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The post How The Block’s Shelley Craft turned fibro to fabulous appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Gold Coast developer Ron Bakir’s Homecorp Property Group is teaming with global funds manager Morgan Stanley to create the city’s first dedicated build-to-rent project, a $200 million venture at Varsity Lakes.

The Capital Court project, comprising four towers of nine to 16 storeys, is to go on an elevated site at Varsity Lakes in the heart of the central Gold Coast’s education and technology hub.

It is expected to become a long-term home for some renters, including families.

The development, to be undertaken in two stages, will involve 450 one and two-­bedroom apartments on a 1.3ha site.

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It has been bought for $11.25m from a syndicate that earlier acquired it from the Sunland Group. The project’s first stage is expected to start before Christmas.

The Ron Bakir-founded Homecorp, which has delivered more than $1.5 billion in residential projects over the past 16 years, describes the project as a major step toward a diversification of its portfolio into an emerging sector of the property market.

Build-to-rent is an established business model in the US and UK where it provides a stable, long-term income-generating asset class.

Gold Coast developer Homecorp Property Group and global funds manager Morgan Stanley plan to create the city’s first dedicated build-to-rent project, a $200 million venture at Varsity Lakes. Picture: Supplied

“This project leads Homecorp into a new era by leveraging us into a sector that we believe will command a much higher market share over the next decade,” Mr Bakir said.

“It’s a compelling business model that has been recognised by Morgan Stanley at a time when affordability constraints are impacting on homeownership levels.

“This will be the first purpose-built project for the Gold Coast to utilise the build-to-rent model and it comes at a time when tight rental vacancies have persisted for many years.

“The Varsity towers will provide residences where families may choose to live for many years at a time, even across generations, so this project has been designed with that specific purpose in mind.”

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir in his Surfers Paradise office. Picture: Regi Varghese

Mr Bakir said Capital Court was crafted to create a village atmosphere by providing lifestyle amenities, including a residents’ club, cafe, expansive outdoor swimming pool area, a large gymnasium, a dog-wash park, games room and a cinema.

He said the Gold Coast’s Condev group was the intended builder of the project.

Morgan Stanley, which has a successful track record of investing on the Gold Coast, has $US552 billion in funds under management and has been an active investor in the global build-to-rent sector.

Homecorp’s construction arm, which was established by Mr Bakir in 2014, is majority-owned by Japanese industrial giant Toyota.

The post Gold Coast developer Ron Bakir’s Homecorp Property Group teams up with funds manager Morgan Stanley for build-to-rent project appeared first on realestate.com.au.

14 Parliament Street, Sandy Bay. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE chance to purchase a home of this stature, elegance and old word appeal is a rarity.

Its position? Outstanding.

The level of luxury on offer? Superb.

The effortless fusion of period details with sophisticated modern convenience? Oh yes, it ticks that box with ease, too.

No.14 Parliament Street is the only home for sale in this desirable street right now. And, speaking of the rarity of the opportunity to purchase in this neighbourhood, just one home has sold in this street so far in 2020.

Gorgeous period details.

Indoor-outdoor flow.

Sophisticated and stylish.

Knight Frank property consultant Abi Freeman said since launching, the home had attracted a very good level of interest.

She said potential buyers adored the great location and the superb street appeal.

“It also benefits from having the Parliament Street Oval and Fitzroy Gardens on your doorstep, without having to mow the lawns,” she said.

Abi believes the location has to be on the top of any Best Features list for this property.

She said it had so much to offer.

“The home is in immaculate condition,” she said.

“It has a flexible floorplan that can be configured as a three-bedroom home. Currently it is being used as two bedrooms plus a study.

“And there is no shortage of space with its formal lounge or second living room.

“For people that enjoy entertaining, this home would be fantastic. It flows from the lounge room, through a living area to a courtyard — plenty of room for a party.

“It is a home where living is easy, and it only requires low maintenance.

“The property is walking distance to the city, Battery Point, Sandy Bay precinct, the beach, schools, university, nearby restaurants, and so much more is at your fingertips.”

Picture perfect.

Light filled.

Work from home.

Who would be the ideal buyer for this graceful, refined home?

“A professional couple, or a small family,” Abi said. “Or perhaps someone that wants a city base.”

No.14 was built in the early 20th century.

This solid brick, two-storey townhouse is situated in one of Hobart’s prime locations, close to the city in a leafy area of upper Sandy Bay.

Over the years, the home has been sensitively renovated to accommodate modern living, while retaining many beautiful period features such as ceiling roses and cornices, original banisters and attractive bay windows.

A spacious, light and airy living and dining room at the front of the house leads through to a stylish modern kitchen with Tasmanian oak timber floors and quality appliances.

An expansive island bench accommodates preparation and mealtime, while a cosy sitting area at the rear opens onto the delightful sandstone courtyard.

The courtyard looks like it was plucked from a glossy magazine, with beautiful greenery, sunshine and privacy.

Enjoy a meal with friends.

Have a soak in the tub.

And what a treat to have a spot to relax such as this in a city property.

The free flow of these living spaces makes the home ideal for family living or entertaining.

The lower level is also home to a concealed laundry that sits neatly beneath the staircase.

A modern bathroom with a bathtub and shower over is just beyond the laundry.

A store room, accessed from the courtyard, completes this level of the home.

The top floor of the home is dedicated to the sleeping quarters, including a beautiful master bedroom with an ensuite and two generous bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, one currently used as a home office.

A window-seat within the bay window of the master is an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying the scenes across the park to the river beyond.

Classic Hobart vista.

Simply stunning.

They can also be appreciated from the charming adjacent balcony, while from the rear windows of the home, Mount Wellington can be viewed.

The house has efficient hydronic heating and provides off-street parking for two cars behind the security of electric gates.

This property is barely a five-minute drive from the Hobart CBD. Cafes, medical facilities, public and private schools, and the water recreational areas of Marieville Esplanade are all close at hand.

No.14 Parliament Street, Sandy Bay is listed with Knight Frank at “Offers over $1.2 million”.

The post Dream homes in this street are all too rare appeared first on realestate.com.au.