FROM RAT HAVEN TO COASTAL RETREAT: HOW JESS TRANSFORMED A RUNDOWN FIBRO SHACK
If the name Jess Canabou rings a bell, you’d be right! Jess is our resident Three Birds Customer Experience Queen, so you might recognise her from our Facebook groups, or maybe you’ve had the pleasure of chatting with her over email. You might even be following her renovation journey on Instagram!
When Jess and her partner set out to renovate their Northern Beaches home - a 2-bedroom, rat-ridden fibro shack - they knew they were in for a challenge. Nestled just a stone’s throw from the beach, Jess envisioned a breezy, open-plan home that embraced indoor-outdoor living. With a small block to work with, she was determined to make every square centimetre count. And to make every dollar stretch as far as possible.
Armed with a clear vision and a little help from Three Birds Reno School, Jess transformed a humble home into a dreamy coastal retreat for her family of three.
“After flipping a few homes, we wanted to find a home that we could really sink our teeth into. This home was perfect. It was an unkept, 2 bedroom fibro home. There was layer upon layer of smelly carpet, smashed windows, rats and rotting timber.”
With a conservative budget, Jess became a master of sourcing bargains - snagging sinks from ex-kitchen showrooms, surplus flooring from commercial builders, and even upcycling second-hand furniture from Marketplace and the local tip.
AN UNEXPECTED CURVEBALL
Renovations are never straightforward, and Jess’s journey was no exception. The project unfolded in two stages: first, making the home livable while they planned the grand transformation. But just as things were gaining momentum, life threw a curveball - Jess discovered she was pregnant. While this initially felt like a setback, it was of course the perfect blessing. The extra time gave them the chance to fine-tune their design, ensuring the home would work seamlessly for their growing family.
The Big Blowout
One of the biggest surprises came when framing up the roof. The original plan was a budget-friendly prefabricated truss roof, but the builders pointed out an opportunity—by cutting and pitching the roof with large timber beams, they could gain an additional 60m² of full-height attic space. It was a $40K budget blowout, but after weeks of deliberation, they took the plunge. And according to Jess, it was worth every cent.
The Reno School Effect
As a passionate renovator and long-time Three Birds fan, Jess was an early Reno School student, eager to learn every trick of the trade. Her biggest takeaway? “PLANNING IS EVERYTHING!” The templates and guidance from Reno School were game-changers, helping her stay organized and maximise every dollar. She also made full use of the Reno School supplier discounts, scoring great deals from Tile Cloud and Beacon.
Jess is a firm believer in the power of renovation and the knowledge gained from Reno School. When asked if she’d recommend it to a friend, her answer was a resounding yes.
“The community is amazing and the planning tools make all the difference.”
The Final TRANSFORMATION
Slow and steady wins the race, and Jess’s renovation journey evolved over a three-year period. The first year was dedicated to making the house comfortable to live in, while the remaining time was spent on landscaping and final touches.
Now, their rat-ridden fibro shack is a stunning, weatherboard, light-filled home that perfectly suits their beachside lifestyle. Jess’s favourite space is the living room, with its breathtaking 6m raked ceiling - a space that wouldn’t exist if not for that bold budget stretch.
A LABOUR OF (ONGOING) LOVE
Jess’s family home continues to be a labour of love that keeps on changing and evolving with her family. More recently, she’s added a plunge pool, given her (now 8-year-old) daughter’s room a ‘big girl’ makeover, and painstakingly DIY’d a stunning herringbone brick driveway created from bricks collected from around her local area.
Jess’s journey is proof that with determination, creativity, and the right resources, even the most daunting renovation can become a dream home. And for those considering taking the plunge, Jess has one piece of advice: plan, plan, and then plan some more!
If you’re keen to join Jess and over 25,000 other supportive students in our Three Birds Reno School community, sign up today and start turning your renovation dreams into reality!
