Home renovations: tips to making the most of renting, what your kitchen is missing the most and what could ruin everything

In all the excitement and stress of thinking about or planning a renovation, it’s easy to forget a vital step.

In the excitement of a major renovation starting, it’s easy to forget about the garden.

If your outdoor space has a few mature trees that you want to protect, or you’ve poured your heart and soul into nurturing your plants, it can be devastating to see it all destroyed by heavy machinery, piles of building materials and the relentless trampling of work boots.

In the end though, you have hired your builders for their construction skills, not their horticultural techniques.

Director of landscaping firm Landart, Matt Leacy, says it pays to have a plan in place to look after your garden from the start.

Don’t forget about the garden.

Q. We have builders coming in to do some major work on our house but I’m a bit worried about the garden. builders are not known for their gardening skills. What’s the best way to approach this conversation?

A. While there are several ways to approach this, Matt says it all comes down to having that conversation with your builder early. Consider what the priorities are in the garden and take action.

“The safest thing to do is protect and isolate areas where you don’t want people to go,” he says. “Trades will always look for a comfortable space to work on site but you can end up with concrete splatter on leaves or sawdust all over the garden. Painters have been known to tip out paint on to a nice hedge.”

Will and Marni Crutchley have just started an 8 month renovation. Picture: Richard Dobson

Sometimes it may be a council requirement to protect trees on your site but, whatever the situation, you can create a physical exclusion zone to ensure they are not damaged.

“Council will stipulate tree protection zones and the builder will have to set up protection with timber battens around the tree,” Matt says.

“It keeps people away from the root zone and the trunk. It may be a part of the DA conditions but you should also have a conversation with the builder, who should have a ‘make good’ section in their quote. In the end though, they are not gardeners so they might not be equipped to ‘make good’ to the standard you would like.”

Protect the plants you want to keep.

Q. There are one or two plants in my garden that have sentimental value. Can I save them?

A. One of the best things about home gardens is the meaning we place on them.

You might have a rose you planted after the death of someone close or, conversely, to mark the arrival of a new baby. I’ve known people to grow cuttings of plants that grew at their childhood home or it might just be as simple as caring for a treasured gift from a friend. Whatever it is, you can’t expect your builders to treat it with the same reverence as you would. Sometimes, Matt says, the best option is to dig it up.

“If the plants are in the line of fire and it’s possible to transplant them, that’s the safest approach,” he says. “Otherwise try to protect them with barrier mesh. If you do transplant it, you will need to keep an eye on it from that point on, but don’t expect that the builder will water it for you.”

Sadly, you probably won’t be able to save your lawn.

Q. What about the lawn? Will we be able to keep it?

A. Unfortunately, not everything in the garden will be salvageable and lawns are often collateral damage during renovations.

“You do have to be practical,” says Matt. “The builders need somewhere to work and often that’s the lawn. Even a lot of people crossing along the same path daily will damage the lawn.”

Instead of worrying about keeping the grass in good condition, Matt says it’s better to focus on the soil.

“Compacted soil can have lasting effects on your garden,” he says.

“One way around it is to create a temporary bridge or platform. The grass underneath might die but the soil will not be easily compacted.”

New lawn laid over compacted soil may do all right initially but it won’t thrive in the longer term, says Matt. If you inevitably find yourself with compacted soil at the end of the build, it might be a good idea to get professional landscaping advice to create a garden worthy of your new and improved home.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF LIVING IN A RENTAL

It should come as no surprise to learn that home ownership in Australia is on a slow but steady decline.

According to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, by 2040 just over half of people between the ages of 25 and 55 will own a home, down from 60 per cent in 1981.

So instead of being a stepping stone towards buying a home, renting is becoming the norm for more people in the longer term.

If you’re staying a while, your place should reflect you, whether you own it or not. And there’s plenty you can do to make it feel more like home.

Rugs can give a room personality.

Q. I’ve just moved into an apartment. I’d really like to make it feel like home. What can (and can’t) I do?

Most leases work on the promise that you will leave the property in the same way you found it – the property manager should have supplied you with a Condition Report when you signed the lease detailing any existing damage.

But, as long as it’s agreeable to the landlord or landlady, often there’s room for improvement, including changing wall colours. Some people might suggest that you should just go ahead and do it with the view to painting it the old colour when you leave but it’s not worth the risk if there are regular property inspections. Check with the property manager for approval in writing.

If you want to paint, you will need to get approval.

You can also change up things like light fittings, handles and even tapware if you’re careful, as long as you keep everything safe that you’ve removed so that you can reinstall it when you leave.

Q. What about the flooring? I’m not loving the carpet

Large floor rugs are a great way to inject personality into a room, even if it’s carpeted.

In fact, using them in high traffic areas such as hallways and living areas will have the added bonus of shielding the carpet from spills, protecting you from claims on your bond for cleaning. Look for something light, large and preferably washable that will be easy to carry when you move.

Hanging art could cause some problems.

The walls look a bit bare. What can I hang?

Hooks and nails in walls can be a bit of a sore point with property owners, especially if the place has just been painted.

Look for products like removable hooks from the 3M range, which are suitable for lighter weight frames or just plain old Bostik Blu Tack for posters and unframed works and photos. Alternatively, freestanding low shelving can be ideal for propping frames against the wall and giving your space that ‘New York loft’ feel. You can also swap out vertical blinds for something like ready made curtains from Ikea or Spotlight to soften your space and make it feel more lived in.

KITCHEN RENOVATION: WHAT YOUR SPACE IS MISSING THE MOST

Nothing sets a renovator’s heart aflutter like the prospect of redoing the kitchen.

But while it’s so easy to get lost down a Pinterest rabbit hole of beautiful imagery, this room, like no other, will succeed or fail based on its functionality.

So as you’re poring over tile choices and benchtop selections, you need to think about how it will all work on a day-to-day basis.

Interior designer Stewart Horton, from Horton & Co, says it’s surprising how often functionality is forgotten.

Understand how you want your kitchen to work on a day-to-day basis. Renovation by Three Birds Renovations. Picture: Chris Warnes.

“A lot of clients have a long wish list and they want everything on it,” he says.

“I need to remind them sometimes that they might get everything on their list – but it will be horrible.”

Q. I’m getting into the nitty gritty of planning a kitchen reno. I have all the basics in place, benchtop materials, splashback tiles and tapware. what am I missing?

A. It’s a bit of a relief when you reach that point where your budget and your dream kitchen start to find some middle ground, but a good looking kitchen will only get you so far.

Stewart says being realistic about your lifestyle and how you like to cook is the key to a successful outcome.

“My clients range from Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw types who use the oven for storage to people who want their kitchen to be suitable for catering events,” he says.

“The first thing I ask is what is wrong with their existing kitchen which often flushes out any problems.”

Don’t waste space. Design by Greg Natale, gregnatale.com. Pic: Anson Smart

He says try to avoid being swayed by what your friends have or what you’ve seen on your favourite cooking show.

“Wine fridges are popular but then I often see them years later and there’s nothing in there,” says Stewart.

“They’re a fad and then they become a 800mm by 600mm waste of space. “People always want them and I never see them used.”

He says the same goes for that cooking show must-have — the wall oven.

“Sometimes my clients will demand wall ovens but it can have a snowball effect creating problems that an underbench oven will solve,” he says.

Q. OK, so I’m getting a picture for what I should leave out, but what should I include that I’m not seeing? I really want this kitchen to be usable for everyone in the family. Is there anything I should be considering?

A. Unless you’re into statement appliances, like a KitchenAid stand mixer or a retro Smeg toaster, a dedicated appliance cupboard is a great inclusion, says Stewart, because it reduces clutter on the benchtop and gives your smaller appliances somewhere to live.

Bins also often tend to be an afterthought, despite being a necessary part of kitchen management. Again, if you’re happy with a designer bin in the space, all good.

Otherwise, having an accessible but concealed system of recycling and rubbish bins will make life a lot easier. Pets’ needs also tend to go under the radar. If your pet eats in the kitchen, think about the placement of water and food bowls.

Some people even install a pet food cupboard and an integrated food station into their kitchen joinery for furry family members.

A pet food cupboard could be a good idea.

Q. I really want this kitchen to be usable for everyone in the family. Is there anything I should be considering?

A. I’m not sure how much space you have to play with but think about how accessible things are. The working triangle between oven, fridge and sink is important but that’s just the beginning. Can two people reach the dishwasher at once so that they can unpack it together? Will you have to stand back to open an overhead cupboard so that it doesn’t hit you in the face? Sometimes an open shelf at a lower level can be a better option than a closed cupboard for frequently used items such as drinking glasses. Is there room for a chair or stool to sit so someone can keep the cook company while they work? Important conversations have a way of happening with more ease in less formal settings than sitting at the dining table. They don’t call it the heart of the home for nothing.

Robyn Willis is The Fixer. here to answer all your home improvement, renovation and repair questions. Email us at [e-mail]

Originally published as Home renovations: tips to making the most of renting, what your kitchen is missing the most and what could ruin everything