Houzz Tour: A Family Make A Rented Property Their Own With DIY Tricks
Designer know-how, a flexible landlord and some great accessorising enabled this family to put their mark on their rented home
Nestled in the heritage-listed area of Guildford, just north of Perth, lies this rustic worker’s cottage – the perfect setup for Nelly Reffet from Twinkle & Whistle and her partner to rent while they started a family. Here’s how Reffet broke the boundaries of a traditional rented property without falling out with her landlord.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lived here Nelly Reffet and her partner with their baby girl and two cats
Location Guildford, Perth, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lived here Nelly Reffet and her partner with their baby girl and two cats
Location Guildford, Perth, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
‘Guildford’s a truly charming and lovely place to live in – think character homes, large blocks, and lots of established trees,’ remembers Reffet. ‘The house was a typical worker’s cottage from the turn of the century that tucked into its surroundings perfectly.’
Renting Rule 1 If you don’t ask, you don’t get
As a condition to the lease, Reffet and her partner convinced the landlord to replace the kitchen flooring. Tired vinyl flooring on the kitchen side and a worn Berber carpet on the dining side were exchanged for laminate floors. The couple laid out the laminate floors themselves and the landlord covered the costs of the materials (about £420).
Check out ways to add character to a rented kitchen
As a condition to the lease, Reffet and her partner convinced the landlord to replace the kitchen flooring. Tired vinyl flooring on the kitchen side and a worn Berber carpet on the dining side were exchanged for laminate floors. The couple laid out the laminate floors themselves and the landlord covered the costs of the materials (about £420).
Check out ways to add character to a rented kitchen
Reffet loves the Metters wood stove in the kitchen, which she finds ‘very, very cute’. In fact, it’s these rustic and authentic features that showcase the history throughout the cottage.
Renting Rule 2 Think about the future
Reffet wanted a home that felt lived in and suited her family’s style and needs, but because this property was rented (and would continue to be) she had to think ahead. ‘I wanted something that was neutral and timeless enough for most people to like it and that would not look outdated in two years’ time,’ she explains. ‘It was important the design stayed true to the character of the home, so I opted for simple materials and shapes, in line with the style of a small rural retreat.’
Reffet wanted a home that felt lived in and suited her family’s style and needs, but because this property was rented (and would continue to be) she had to think ahead. ‘I wanted something that was neutral and timeless enough for most people to like it and that would not look outdated in two years’ time,’ she explains. ‘It was important the design stayed true to the character of the home, so I opted for simple materials and shapes, in line with the style of a small rural retreat.’
‘The large rustic floorboards are definitely one of my favourite features,’ says Reffet. ‘Uneven, with lots of dents and scratches, they always looked as if they could have told us many fascinating stories had they been able to talk. I also adored the super-high ceilings that made the rooms look and feel much bigger than they actually were.’
Take a look at more ways to use natural wood to stunning effect
Take a look at more ways to use natural wood to stunning effect
Renting Rule 3 Accessories are your new best friend
As an interior designer, Reffet knew all the tricks for adding temporary personality to the space without causing any permanent damage. She fell in love with accessories that accentuated her personal design style and could be updated with the seasons. In the sun-soaked living room, colourful cushions liven up the sofa and a vintage print adds interest to white walls.
As an interior designer, Reffet knew all the tricks for adding temporary personality to the space without causing any permanent damage. She fell in love with accessories that accentuated her personal design style and could be updated with the seasons. In the sun-soaked living room, colourful cushions liven up the sofa and a vintage print adds interest to white walls.
Vintage accessories and collectables draw attention to treasured home features, such as the original living room fireplace.
Tropical-bright cushions provide a modern twist for the traditional white cane outdoor furniture that’s nestled within big agaves and bougainvillea. And the geometric rug brings the indoors out to the patio.
‘I loved the peace and quiet of this house and the fact that we had awesome neighbours. Our street had a community feel that’s so rare these days in suburbia,’ says Reffet. ‘We regularly had deliveries on the front veranda of homemade chutneys and jams, and felt connected to the land and to other people in a way that I didn’t think was possible in a large city. Precious!’
‘I loved the peace and quiet of this house and the fact that we had awesome neighbours. Our street had a community feel that’s so rare these days in suburbia,’ says Reffet. ‘We regularly had deliveries on the front veranda of homemade chutneys and jams, and felt connected to the land and to other people in a way that I didn’t think was possible in a large city. Precious!’
Renting Rule 4 Work with what you have
One of the biggest challenges for Reffet was the lack of natural light – a common challenge for residents of worker’s cottages – but she used this to her advantage. ‘The house was fairly dark and by 4pm, even in summer, we had to turn the lights on. I decided to keep the back rooms (living areas) in an off-white colour to maximise the little natural light they got,’ she explains. ‘The front rooms (bedrooms) were even darker, but I decided to embrace their darkness and make them cosy and moody with a colour palette of grey and green on the walls.’
Reffet painted the top tiers of the walls in a white to match the ceiling, to add to the sense of height and space. A high headboard aided the visual balance between floor and ceiling.
Headboard: Ikea
Be inspired by more ways to use dark colours
One of the biggest challenges for Reffet was the lack of natural light – a common challenge for residents of worker’s cottages – but she used this to her advantage. ‘The house was fairly dark and by 4pm, even in summer, we had to turn the lights on. I decided to keep the back rooms (living areas) in an off-white colour to maximise the little natural light they got,’ she explains. ‘The front rooms (bedrooms) were even darker, but I decided to embrace their darkness and make them cosy and moody with a colour palette of grey and green on the walls.’
Reffet painted the top tiers of the walls in a white to match the ceiling, to add to the sense of height and space. A high headboard aided the visual balance between floor and ceiling.
Headboard: Ikea
Be inspired by more ways to use dark colours
Once the walls had been repainted in moody hues, the couple used brighter colours in decorative items and soft furnishings to provide contrast and cheerfulness.
Paint: Dulux ‘Timeless Grey’
Paint: Dulux ‘Timeless Grey’
In their baby girl’s bedroom, Reffet lightened the dark wooden floorboards and grey-green walls with white soft furnishings – such as the sofa and rug – and by painting the decorative mouldings and mantelpiece white. The back of the fireplace was painted pink and acts as a handy cubby for storing toys.
Paint: Dulux ‘Still’
‘I wanted the room to feel cosy and soothing (which was not that easy due to its size), in line with the style of the rest of the house, and I didn’t want it to look too babyish,’ says Reffet.
Renting Rule 5 Make it easy for the landlord
The couple also managed to convince the landlord to fund the renovation of the old bathroom. ‘The layout was awkward – an old laminate vanity unit had had some water damage, the shower enclosure was no longer waterproof and, on a more selfish note, I wanted a bath because we had a baby girl who was growing and who no longer fitted in the kitchen sink!’ Reffet says.
The couple also managed to convince the landlord to fund the renovation of the old bathroom. ‘The layout was awkward – an old laminate vanity unit had had some water damage, the shower enclosure was no longer waterproof and, on a more selfish note, I wanted a bath because we had a baby girl who was growing and who no longer fitted in the kitchen sink!’ Reffet says.
Reffet decided to prepare a moodboard, source products (using her expert design knowledge) and source quotes from tradesmen before taking the plan to the landlord – doing all the hard work for him.
They got rid of all the floor and wall tiles, the shower cubicle, the old toilet suite and the vanity; prepared and waterproofed all surfaces for tiling and/or painting; moved some pipes around in order to fit in a bath; tiled the floor and walls above the bath; installed a bath, toilet and new vanity unit; repaired the ceiling; painted the walls and repaired the broken sliding door. Not bad for just £2,800.
They got rid of all the floor and wall tiles, the shower cubicle, the old toilet suite and the vanity; prepared and waterproofed all surfaces for tiling and/or painting; moved some pipes around in order to fit in a bath; tiled the floor and walls above the bath; installed a bath, toilet and new vanity unit; repaired the ceiling; painted the walls and repaired the broken sliding door. Not bad for just £2,800.
The compact backyard also fits a laundry and an outdoor loo that’s covered in a beautiful orange trumpet vine, the flowers of which fall to the ground to create a burnt orange carpet in winter.
How have you made a rented property your own? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
How have you made a rented property your own? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.