Selling Houses Australia: Season 16, Chipping Norton

From drab 80s battleaxe to modern family home

First impressions and street appeal are everything when trying to sell a house. But for husband and wife Tina and Mick, their battleaxe former display home lacked both of these crucial elements. With the front of the house only accessible via a pedestrian walkway, and the back of the house connected to a driveway, it certainly wasn’t oozing market appeal. The home’s 80s design and décor, together with some unusual home improvements, were also detracting from its overall saleability.  

So, when Tina and Mick put their family home on the market with the intention of funding their semi-retirement, they failed to secure any reasonable offers—and the home sat without a buyer for a long 12 months. 

Eager to sell and move on to the next phase of their life, the couple called on the Selling Houses Australia team to step in and work their magic—on a tight budget. 

Bringing the light in

One of the biggest problems with this home was its lack of light. The  rooms were drab and uninviting, and some years ago, the couple had deliberately blocked off one of the windows to create a darkened ‘media room’. 

A key priority was therefore brightening and lightening the interiors on the lower level of the home—painting the walls white, laying new flooring where possible, and installing new window coverings to gently filter the light flowing in from the outside.

The team chose Luxaflex® Duette® Shades for this purpose—in Architella Elan Transparent fabric, and a neutral Moonstruck colour. These light shades provide full privacy, but also enable plenty of light to flow through into the interiors. They also have smart honeycomb shaped ‘pockets’ which trap air, acting as insulation for the home.  

In the refurbished living room, these shades were also paired with sheer Luxaflex® Curtains in Orlane fabric and Organic colour, giving the space a sense of style and sophistication. 

Bringing new life to the kitchen

The existing kitchen was also a major barrier for the sale of this home – with a poor layout and dated aesthetics. The team decided to retain the existing cabinetry, but installed new appliances, a laminate benchtop,  and gave the entire space a much-needed coat of paint. 

Luxaflex® Duette® Shades were also used in the kitchen to maximise the flow of natural light and make the space feel fresh and modern. 

Transforming the outside

The lack of a clear frontage for this home was also deterring buyers. The Selling Houses Australia team therefore focused most of their budget on creating clear ‘front’ and ‘back’ zones—and turning the existing concrete jungle into an appealing backyard oasis. 

This involved installing a new high wall in the rear for privacy, painting the awning, and adding new turf and plants—all of which brought the area back to life. A new glass fence was also added to ensure the pool area was compliant with council regulations.