Selling Houses Australia – From Liability to Goldmine

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 10 Season 8

The Story: If you think an investment property will make you rich, think again. Anne and Garry’s house in Perth’s outer suburbs should have been a goldmine, instead it’s a liability. First the suburb failed to grow, then the house started falling apart. Anne and Garry spend every weekend mending, fixing, pruning, mowing and its draining their energy and resources. They want to cut their losses and sell up, but one look at the house and its clear why no one is buying.

The Problem:  This house was a cross between a new-age church and a Swiss Chalet. The home was okay as a rental, but buyers expected a lot more. The home was full of  little horrors and the actual shape of the house could not be changed. The exterior had horrible brick work and 70s style glasswork, enough to scare any buyer away. Not to mention, that there was an overgrown palm tree in the middle of the garden.

The interior of the house looked old, stale and stuck in the ages. There was an ugly ladder leading into the attic smack bang in the middle of the living room. Not only did it look out of place, but was also very unsafe.

The walls inside the home were made out of brick, creating a very outdated and cold look throughout the home. The dining room had poor window coverage, where the harsh Western Australia light was coming through and blinding the dining area. The house was calling for a make-over.

The Solution: The exterior of the home was given a new transformation. The horrible brick work was covered with acrylic render and a new pergola added, which took decades off the look of the house. The 70s looking glass was replaced with new glass which improved the outside of the property, but also losing the ugly yellow tint on the inside of the home.

The interior of the home followed a simple modern theme, where decorating was concentrated on high impact areas throughout the home. The interior brick walls of the living room were banished and covered with plastered wood. New carpet was also added to the living room to create a brighter and lighter room, more full of life.

The kitchen cupboards were given a new paint job, which gave it a fresh new look. Roller Blinds in the fabric Temple in the colour Soft Dove were installed, and the perfect window covering for the harsh Western Australia sun. The colour Soft Dove was the perfect match to the brown brick wall in the dining room, as it added a pop of subtle colour against the wall, but also complimented the white cupboards and appliances.

The master bedroom was given a new soft grey carpet and up to date and modern décor and bed. Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® shades were installed in the fabric Elan in the colour Dessert Sand. The Duette® Architella® gave the master bedroom that special something. It finished the new up to date feel, but at the same time, being so versatile in colour.

Luxaflex® Duette® Architella® shades feature a patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction dramatically increasing the product’s ability to insulate in the winter and cool against the summer heart – perfect for the Western Australian climate.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealers Sunmaster Canning Vale and Sunmaster Joondalup, both in WA.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Selling Houses Australia – The Ramshackle Country Mansion

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 8 Season 8

The Story: When Julienne Wilson saw her ramshackle mansion in country New South Wales, it was love at first sight. For 17 years she battled to restore its crumbling beauty, but when her husband died she decided it was time to move on. The place is falling down around her ears and Julienne doesn’t have the energy or funds to fix it. To add to her woes, country markets are slow and after 3 years and just 7 inspections, her chances of a sale are looking slim.

The Problem: This grand old home was in definite need of some tender loving care to restore it to its former glory. The home was previously a hospital and turned into a family home, which definitely took its toll on the home. The real buyer turn off was the fact that the outside of the house was decaying, which deterred buyers from even entering the house to see the interior. Even though the home had great potential and was full of history, the kitchen was in a need of a massive overhaul, and was literally falling apart. The walls were cracking, the floors needed changing and bits and pieces around the house needed restoring.

The Solution: The home was packed with potential and history, but just needed a good make-over. The concrete path leading to the home was removed and instead replaced with a deco granite path. New plants and trees were planted to give the home a more country feel, instead of a yard that was cramped by overgrown shrubs. The decaying verandah was completely replaced with new cypress wood, and the exterior of the home was refurbished and given a new paint job. Now the home looked buyer friendly from the outside.

The kitchen was given a complete makeover and a fully functional living space was created, while still maintaining the period feel with the Victorian county look. The kitchen now had all the modern components, including the Luxaflex® Tiered Modern Roman Shade in the fabric Linen Weave and Beechnut colour. Tiered Modern Roman Shades stack up, down or anywhere in between, giving you greater control of the amount of light you let into your home.

The flooring of the bedrooms were pulled apart, and instead replaced with carpet to give the rooms a lift. Luxaflex® Roller Blinds in the fabric Waratah and colour Bounty were installed in the bedrooms to give it that final finishing touch. The colour of the Roller Blinds helped in keeping the heritage of the home, but it also makes a very versatile colour scheme for any home.

The use of Roller Blinds created a simple, yet aesthetically attractive choice for the country mansion. Because of the simplicity of Roller Blinds, it fitted closely to the window, and so blends in well with the décor of the home, and allowed for sheer curtains to be placed on top of the Roller Blinds to create that little bit of special touch.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® authorised dealer Taylor Home Décor in Wellington, NSW.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Selling Houses Australia - Playing Ghost Busters in Miles End

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 7 Season 8

The Story: When Carol and Michael bought their 100 year old cottage, they thought they had the perfect renovator. Then they discovered the ghost! Every time they fixed things up, the sulky spook showed its displeasure. Their renovation costs have spiraled out of control and they’re desperate to sell up, buy a cheaper place and use the rest of the funds for their wedding. Can our team turn ghost busters and evict the sulky spook to the land of the spirits?

The Problem: The problem wasn't really a ghost, but instead it was the endless list of half-done renovations. With a traditional house like this, one would expect the inside to be full of character, which it definitely lacked, and it had no street appeal whatsoever. The home also had a completely out of character spiral staircase, and complete wreck of a backyard.

The Solution: Inject character into the home. The barren front lawn full of nothing was transformed into a beautiful traditional formal garden. It became a place to relax and unwind, with attractive water features. Street appeal was created by giving the home and walls a new coat of paint.

The endless list of unfinished jobs that needed a finishing touch were tackled, and the out of character spiral staircase was too costly to remove, so instead was disguised by painting the staircase the same black colour as the black wall, which minimised the impact of the modern feature.

The modern kitchen felt very disconnected from the classic looking house, so a look of modern heritage was added into the kitchen. And the backyard was transformed from an unfinished wreck of a shed into an entertaining area.

The team from Luxaflex installed NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters in White throughout the home. The Polyresin Shutters were a perfect match for the home as it brought an elegance into the traditional home. The Polyresin Shutters created the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional, and complimented the mismatch wall colours of each and every room in the home. They are also set to withstand time, as they are guaranteed to not blister, peel, flake, corrode or flake.

Luxaflex NEWSTYLE® Polyresin Shutters are energy efficient as they are completely adjustable, allowing you to fully control the solar energy entering your windows and doors. Their macrocellular construction creates effective dead-air insulation, and coupled with the vinyl’s low conductivity they greatly reduce heat exchange. Luxaflex Newstyle Polyresin Shutters reflect inbound solar rays back to the outside during summer, but can be opened to allow the warming sun into your home in winter, thereby reducing air-conditioning costs and making the shutters very versatile for any home.

All Luxaflex® Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex® Gallery dealer Solomons Flooring at Gepps Cross, SA.

Watch Selling Houses Australia every Wednesday, 8.30pm AEDT on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel. 

Selling Houses Australia – Country Pub

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia season final episode 13 aired last night, and from what we saw, the team did an outstanding job renovating the run down pub in Alexandra.

The Story: Ever dreamed of owning a nice little pub in the country? Think again. Barney and Barb thought their country pub would give them an idyllic lifestyle where they could work and play together; the reality was a 24/7 commitment working 7 days a week, 14 hours a day.

The Problem: The couple purchased the leasehold on the run down pub in Alexandra, Victoria 3 years ago. They worked tirelessly to turn the place from bankrupt to the most popular pub in town. They’re pillars of the community raising thousands of dollars for charity, but their efforts have taken their toll, physically, emotionally and financially. Despite their hard work, the pub is struggling to make a profit and now they just want out.

Kids Play Area

The Solution: The Luxaflex Ventura Folding Arm Awning was installed as it offers the very best in the open style awning market. Available with a wide range of accessories, this model can be customised to suit almost any situation. The 6.5 metre motorised Ventura Awning featured Dickson fabric in colour silver pearl, and fit perfectly in the outside courtyard of the pub.

Luxaflex Dual Roller Blinds in Prague Sunscreen fabric in colour Sheer Crepe and Plaza Plus Blockout fabric in colour White, were installed in the small bedrooms as it kept the room looking very streamlined and stopped it from having a bulky feel. By teaming a sunscreen and blockout fabric, you have the ability to adjust both light levels and night time privacy in the one application.

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, Decorator Curtains and Blinds in Greensborough, New South Wales.

Selling Houses Australia – 180 degree views

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 12 aired last night!

The Story: Saying goodbye to your home of 50 years is always going to be tough. But when it has 180 degree views of Sydney harbour and the water is at the bottom of the garden, its downright gut wrenching. But Sally Cahill-McQuinn has little choice; she can’t afford the upkeep on the old weatherboard and needs the cash to fund her retirement.

The Problem: Sally is hoping to sell the home for 4.5 million, but views or no views this house is run down and needs a more high end feel if it’s going to meet Sally’s price expectations.

The Solution: Luxaflex Pirouette Shadings in Satin fabric in colour Magnolia gave the home the high end feeling it needed. Pirouette Shadings have soft horizontal veins that give a contemporary and sophisticated look that allows you to enjoy the view, whilst not compromising on privacy. The team decided to use the Ultraglide operation system as it provides effortless operation with a retractable cord for enhanced child safety.

Luxaflex Roller Blinds in Sunseeker translucent fabric in colour Ice were installed in the living room, dining room and kitchen area to reduce the glare but not block out the magnificent water views.

Living Room, Dining Room & Kitchen - After

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, Master Quality Shades in Mosman, New South Wales.


Selling Houses Australia airs every Wednesday, 8:30pm on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel.

Selling Houses Australia – Half built home

The LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia Episode 10 aired last night, see how the team transformed the half built home in Grays Point!

The Story: Building your own home is quite a challenge… and finishing it is another! Gerry and Ruth built their home on the river at Grays Point in Sydney. It was a labor of love, and after spending 12 months living in a caravan, they moved in when the project was incomplete. That was 27 years ago and the house still isn’t finished! There’s no proper bathroom, no stairs to the front door, no balustrade on the balcony and the list goes on. Gerry has a passion for flying and it’s his dream to sell the house, move to the country and have his own airstrip.

The Problem: No one wants to pay 1.4 million for their waterfront wreck, which to top it all off, they’ve been trying to sell themselves without an agent!

The Solution: Luxaflex Silhouette Shadings were used as they worked well with the modern styling of the home. Daylight efficiency is maximised by Silhouette Shadings by diffusing and dispersing sunlight throughout the dark bedrooms in the home. Luxaflex Roller Blinds with EDGE technology were installed in the bathrooms as Luxaflex fabrics are treated with DURAGUARD® Fabric Protector, which effectively resists water stains from moisture and condensation on windows.

All Luxaflex Window Coverings were supplied and installed by Luxaflex Window Fashions Gallery, A’besco in Caringbah, New South Wales.

Selling Houses Australia airs every Wednesday, 8:30pm on The LifeStyle Channel, only on Foxtel.