A couple shared how they transformed a Queensland home into a gorgeous pink dream home.
Charlie-Marie WattShe, 37, and her builder husband Leonard, 36, bought the Brisbane property in 2020 for $587,500 and worked tirelessly to make their ideas a reality.
They spent most of their weekends working on the project for four years, in addition to their day jobs.
Charlie, who works in technology, told FEMAIL that at one point the family lived in a 10-person tent in the shed for months while they renovated the interior, but still had access to amenities.
The house was originally an “undesirable” yellow with five bedrooms and one bathroom inside, but is now pink inside with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
‘I love pink, pastels, vintage, art deco and being creative. The house was a little dusty when we bought it, but now guests are always amazed,” she said.
In total, it is estimated that $100,000 was spent renovating the house.
Then: Charlie-Marie Watt and her husband, builder Leonard, bought the property in 2020. The exterior was once a dusty yellow.
After: For four years, the couple worked tirelessly on weekends to transform the family home.
Walking through the front door, your attention is immediately drawn to the baby pink walls, artwork, and floral wallpaper.
In total, approximately $100,000 was spent renovating the house with their own hands.
With Charlie providing his creative talents and Leonard as the handyman, the pair make the perfect team.
‘It was a methodical process. We didn’t want to change the interior of the house to stay true to the character of the house,” Charlie said.
“I’m very lucky because Len is very supportive and with his craft we were able to keep costs down by doing it ourselves, although he rolls his eyes at some of my ideas.”
Despite the huge visual change, the couple only modified one wall of the plan to convert a small, sunlit bedroom into another bathroom.
They also gutted the kitchen and master bathroom and did most of the work themselves, although they were sometimes forced to subcontract.
Before: The house originally had blue walls with brown wooden cabinets.
After: Now the kitchen is pink with stunning floral wallpaper. The kitchen proved to be a challenge as the gas system was replaced with an electronic one and the hob was outsourced.
Before: The house sits on 6.7 acres of land.
After: Some original features still remain, including arches and floorboards.
Bathroom in the before photo
The Bathroom Now: When it comes to interior design, Charlie recommends starting with one “hero” piece per room. For example, when she was designing the bathroom he started with the bathtub and worked his way out.
Now when you walk through the front door, your attention is immediately drawn to the baby pink walls, artwork, and floral wallpaper.
It’s evident that Charlie has carefully chosen his colors, textures and patterns, as everything flows very well without feeling crowded or overwhelmed. She opted for pink, blue and oranges along with art deco-inspired flowers and tiles.
“You need to know where your skills lie when it comes to renovation so you can budget appropriately, know what you’re capable of and what you’re not, and where you’ll need to outsource,” Charlie said.
The property will go up for auction in a few weeks, but the price has yet to be determined, and Charlie admits it will be difficult to get rid of the house.
The couple shows no signs of slowing down, as they already have several projects in the works, including a Hamptons-style renovation on the coast, a second renovation of a property in Harvey Bay, and a series of Restorations of old vans.
“Maybe one day this will turn into a full-time job, but not yet,” Charlie said, adding that she hopes to design and sell her own wallpaper as well.
The property will also go up for auction in a few weeks. The couple is also working on a series of vintage van restorations.
When it comes to interior design, Charlie recommends starting with one “hero” piece per room.
For example, when he designed the bathroom, he started with the bathtub and worked his way outward. For the living room she started with the wallpaper.
She’s also obsessed with wallpaper, something most Australians wouldn’t dare wear.
“I first put wallpaper on laundry and loved it, then I was hooked from then on,” she said.
“You can get rolls from $35 to $400, depending on the designer.”
When using it for the first time, opt to test it in a small room before committing to a large area to minimize risk.
When it comes to style, inspiration can come from almost anywhere. Charlie turns to Pinterest and gravitates toward 1960s decor or furniture.
“Don’t underestimate furniture: it is often a functional and underrated work of art,” he said.
For those who want to do the same, Charlie suggests not being afraid of color and sticking to what you love or are attracted to.
And for investors, make sure the home has “good bones” to work on to keep costs down.