STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: SWOON OVER SARAH'S HOME MAKEOVER
We know you all love some reno eye candy so get ready to swoon over this beautiful transformation by Reno School student, Sarah Kinter.
When Sarah and her hubby, Nick, bought their 1950’s post-war “humble brick home” back in 2010, they always knew it would one day receive the makeover it deserved. But it wasn’t until 2021, several years after completing Three Birds Reno School, that Sarah and Nick put hammer to nail and embarked on their journey to give this old girl a facelift.
BREEZY + RELAXED TROPICAL VIBES
Sarah’s aim was to create a home that felt like a tropical beachside holiday. “Light-filled, natural fibres, raw textures, plenty of greenery & of course, little nods to the nautical” were the basis of her vision board.
“Wowee! I blinked and missed the whole day whilst buried in my Vision Board ☺️ It’s been such a great help & it’s so fascinating to see it all unfold as the day went on. Totally worth the effort!”
NODS TO THE NAUTICAL
We’re loving how the combo of white weatherboards, navy painted bricks and a classic Adirondack chair on the patio adds just the right amount of ‘nautical’ to this Adelaide home.
And can we please take a moment to appreciate the new fretwork, complete with gorgeous carved palm tree detail? It was built by Nick for Sarah as a memento of a Byron Bay holiday. #awwww
From poolside to fireside
The decision to install a pool was a biggie for Sarah and Nick, both financially in the short term and in terms of future access if they were to extend the house without first committing to the pool. The pool won out and they are thrilled with the decision.
When the weather is warm, the poolside is the place to be, when it’s cooler, the double-sided fireplace is a major drawcard. The couple can relax fireside with a glass of vino, either inside on the sofa or outside looking out to the pool and deck area.
LAST bUT NOT LEAST
Sarah runs her own beauty business, The Swoon Effect, from a home studio which prompted the last and smallest room of the reno - the luxe poolside powder room (the far right image below). It’s small but perfectly formed and very versatile! This room is used by clients during business hours and pool guests out of hours.
“I couldn’t have done it without the Reno School. The confidence & knowledge that this course provided me has been invaluable. Particularly in a somewhat male-dominated world, I’ve found my voice and love being able to refer back to the online information to confirm what I’d already had in my mind.
I tend to walk into meetings now saying “What would Three Birds do?” 😉
Grateful is an understatement 🙏🏻 ”
You can see more of Sarah and Nick’s beautiful home at @swoon_reno
📸 Photos by Emily O’Brien for Place Journal.
