The 13 Week Renovation Challenge- Home Tour with Maddy & Charlotte

Choosing the home to renovate takes a keen eye, and we wanted to understand what they were looking for in their property search. For Maddy and Charlotte, they look for locations with growth potential and how the home is oriented on the block (hello, natural light!). The home’s condition itself is also important. They found the perfect “challenge house”.

“For us, when purchasing a property, it always comes down to a few key fundamentals. First up, we always look for a property that has “good bones” – things like a solid roof, strong foundations, and structurally sound piers. Fixing those kinds of things, while sometimes necessary, doesn’t always add visible value, and buyers don’t always realise how expensive they are. They’re also the things that can blow your budget really quickly, so we try to avoid major structural issues where we can. Thankfully, this property had really strong foundations!” They said.

While they might make it look like a breeze, the level of planning and design decision-making is thorough and complex. Such a short timeframe to complete the project requires careful processes and selections.

“With a 13-week timeline, you really need to be across everything before you even start. We spent a lot of time upfront locking in layouts, selections and trades so things could run as smoothly as possible. With that said, no matter how organised you are, things never go exactly to plan, so you have to be ready to pivot and make quick decisions on the fly. When you’re renovating for yourself, it’s all about your own taste, but when you’re flipping, you really have to step back and think about the end buyer.”

The sisters’ YouTube series and Instagram posts have documented the renovation journey, from beginning to end, with no gatekeeping on the financial details.

“We tend to stick to more neutral palettes and finishes so the home appeals to the widest possible market. Bold choices can work, but in the price range we usually renovate in, around $900K to $1.6M, it makes more sense to keep things timeless and broadly appealing.”

The final results are spectacular, with a breezy, modern vibe transforming the once dark and dingy home. Flooring Xtra laminate (Lima, Tolmi) features throughout, a fresh palette and a durable finish set the tone. 

“It made the home feel clean, fresh and more modern straight away, and having the same flooring running through the main areas created such a seamless flow. It just made everything feel more cohesive and put together. We wanted something that looked good but also felt durable and could handle everyday wear. We were going for a coastal aesthetic, so incorporating warm timber tones into our flooring definitely created that coastal calm feel.”

While the timber tones grace the floors of the living spaces, the bedrooms offer a softer underfoot experience. The spaces are cosy and serene with layers of neutral colours throughout.

“We knew from the start we wanted carpet in the bedrooms (Narooma, Oyster). It just softens the space straight away and makes it feel calmer and inviting. And honestly, who doesn’t love stepping onto soft carpet first thing in the morning!

We loved the light tones because they kept the rooms feeling really bright and fresh. It also complemented all our other finishes so beautifully, from the sheers to the paint colours and soft furnishings. At the same time, it’s practical. It’s easy to clean and maintain, which is really important when you’re designing for a wide range of buyers.”

The recent sale of their challenge house adds another string to their renovation bow, learning and growing with each project. So what flooring advice would they give to anyone trying to fix, renovate or flip a home on a budget?

“One of the biggest things is don’t skip your subfloor prep. It can feel like an extra cost at the time, but it makes such a difference in the long run. It’s definitely something that’s worth doing properly from the start.

We’d also suggest chatting to the team at Flooring Xtra about all the different types and materials available. Flooring technology has come such a long way, and there are actually some really affordable options now that can give you a very similar look to higher-end materials, like wool carpet. Having a dedicated installation team from Flooring Xtra makes such a difference, too. It makes the whole process feel really seamless from start to finish.”

The question on everyone’s mind is what’s next for Maddy and Charlotte. It turns out it’s not sitting on their laurels relaxing! With a new project on the horizon, Flooring Xtra are looking forward to seeing how it unfolds… including a repeat flooring selection.

“We wanted to be proud of the home we were creating, so choosing a quality hard flooring product was really important to us. We loved it so much that we’ve actually already ordered it again for our next reno!”

Watch this space!

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To see the 13 Week Challenge, you can view the whole series on YouTube or follow their Instagram to see the highlights and latest news.

How to clean laminate floors.

Laminate floors, like all hard flooring, should be frequently vacuumed or swept to remove dirt or grit to minimise scratching or wear. It’s also important to clean up any spills as quickly as possible. Read our hard flooring care guide for more information.

Is laminate flooring resilient?

Laminate flooring has a high scratch resistance due to its melamine and aluminium oxide wear layer finishes. It is a good option for busy homes and homes with pets.

How often should you vacuum carpet?

Vacuuming frequently will help reduce wear and tear on your carpet by removing dirt and grit from fibres. Vacuum frequently, weekly if possible and book in a yearly professional clean too.

What are carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles are pesky critters that can cause havoc on your beautiful flooring. They can come inside hiding on fresh flowers or through open windows and doors. The larvae feed on animal fibres meaning your wool carpet or rugs can be in serious trouble. There are ways to avoid and tread carpet beetles and you can read our blog to learn more.