“We amazingly managed to sell our old house to the neighbours and rent it back off of them until the project was finished” - Julie


specialises in traditional interiors, so Michael’s desire for this style was a departure from her norm. While the end result is very much a modern, clean aesthetic, Julie has tried to incorporate touches of warmth and comfort by throwing in some timber elements and textured fabrics. “We’re constantly trying to compromise between luxury and comfort,” asserts Julie. lements of walnut are dotted throughout the interior, while Julie has introduced two four poster beds, which Michael isn’t so keen on. However she defends her decision: “I was aiming for classic contemporary with those!” says Julie. As the furniture from their previous cottage- style home couldn’t fit into the new spaces, it was sold  resulting in them having sourced an entirely new collection. “It’s wonderful to have all new furniture, the girls love it,” Julie adds. The home’s generous internal space totals around 2 square metres.


REFLECTIONS With the project almost complete, the couple reect on their journey and in doing so have some advice for anyone taking on a similar project. They emphasise the importance of making ample time to tackle questions and


sep/oct 2023


deal with construction issues. According to Michael, this is crucial because you’ll likely encounter a barrage of queries every week, and find yourself delving into extensive research to source subcontractors, especially given the tight labour market. “It’s all been worth it, but it is a lot of hard work.”


Another valuable piece of advice, echoed by both, is the need for a substantial contingency plan. Despite Michael having earned the title of Mr. Spreadsheet,’ given to him by his wife, even his meticulous planning couldn’t keep up with the uctuations in project costs. “rices are so variable, how can you plan without a massive contingency” says Julie. “You just can’t.” What they thought were “solid numbers,” had actually become unforeseen and dramatic cost variations, which ultimately forced them to exceed their budget.


Despite encountering what were some highly taxing challenges along their journey, the couple say their new home is nothing less than perfect. Julie is proud of their “quite remarkable” achievement, concluding that they’re so satisfied with their home that “even though we spent two decades in our previous one, we don’t miss it in the slightest.”


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