The Bachelor’s Matty J and Laura Byrne have hit a major roadblock renovating their $2.2 million beach house.
The former reality TV stars snapped up the “ramshackle” coastal property in August, but their renovation journey hasn’t been easy so far.
Podcaster Laura took to Instagram this week to detail the many problems they’ve faced since they started renovating the house, from termites to wood rot and mold.
He posted a behind-the-scenes video showing how they had stripped the ruined property down to its bones and revealed the shocking discoveries they found.
“There was no way to really know what this Reno had in store for us, or how complete the rebuild was going to have to be until we started removing walls and pulling up carpet,” he shared.
“We’ve encountered termites, white ants, rotting wood, mold and more than a few snakes along the way, but it’s finally taking shape and we’re slowly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Bachelor’s Matty J and Laura Byrne (both pictured) have hit a major roadblock in renovating their $2.2 million beach house.
The former reality TV stars acquired the “ramshackle” coastal property in August, but Laura took to Instagram this week to detail the many renovation issues they have faced so far.
Laura, who named the house Chante-Mer, which means “The Sea Sings” in French, also told how construction had to stop for a week so exterminators could rid the site of pests.
“We had to replace all the walls and internal structures in the entire kitchen,” he continued.
Despite the challenges, Laura stayed positive and shared how they plan to transform the abandoned beach house into a luxurious three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
Located on a clifftop in Ulladulla, on the southern tip of the New South Wales coast, 226 kilometers from Sydney, the two-storey former home offers stunning views of the water.
The house last changed hands in 1984 for just $62,500, and Laura and Matty spent $2.19 million buying it in August.
The venue has special meaning for the happy couple, who tied the knot in 2022 at Cupitts Estate Winery, just down the road from their new holiday home.
The house covers 746 square meters overlooking Racecourse Beach and was previously owned by United Nations simultaneous conference translator Valerie Barnes, who died in 2021 aged 94.
Last month, the couple caused a stir on social media after revealing a controversial design choice for their renovation.
He posted a behind-the-scenes video showing how they had gutted the dilapidated property and revealed the shocking discoveries they found, from termites to mould.
The house covers 746 square meters overlooking Racecourse Beach and was previously owned by United Nations simultaneous conference translator Valerie Barnes, who died in 2021 aged 94.
The couple announced their bold decision to make their coastal retreat a “no toilet” zone, sparking heated debate among their followers.
Matty took to Instagram to reveal the news, captioning a video of the work in progress on the bathroom with: “Don’t come for us but this will be a house without a bathroom.”
The short clip showed the partially renovated bathroom, where the walls were clad in a unique combination of beige and cream vertical striped tiles, adding an earthy feel to the space.
Despite the couple’s enthusiasm, their unique choice of tiles and lack of a bathtub didn’t sit well with everyone.
“Damn, that’s the most horrible tile combination I’ve ever seen,” one user bluntly commented, adding, “but not my bathroom so good luck to you as long as you like it.”
Others expressed concern about the feasibility of not bathing, especially with young children.
One parent commented: ‘The children can just sit in the shower. Mine do that most nights.
However, one admitted he regretted installing a bathtub in his own home, saying it is now used more for storage space than anything else.
Last month, the couple caused a stir when they controversially revealed they had decided to make their bathroom “bathless” and also divided fans with their choice of tiles.
And another said approvingly of her bold choice of tiles: “Arrrr, the stripes look so good.”
Laura and Matt are understood to be working with several brands to “sponsor” the property’s major renovations.
The couple plans to completely renovate the “old beauty” to its previous standard but, according to the home’s Instagram bio, will “resist the age-old urge to paint everything white.”
Laura and Matt have already shared photos of their daughters Marlie-Mae, five, and Lola, three, visiting their future “dream home”.
The reality TV stars currently live in a four-bedroom semi in North Bondi, which they bought for $5.2 million in 2023.
They also have a stunning $1.8 million holiday home in Bangalow, near Byron Bay.
After getting engaged in Fiji in April 2018, Laura and Matty finally tied the knot on the south coast in November 2022, five years after meeting on The Bachelor.
They are one of the most successful couples to come out of the show and welcomed their daughter Marlie-Mae in 2019, followed by Lola in February 2021.