Home tour: 40 Davies Street, Newport

Want to see inside 40 Davies Street, check it out here:

Trish and Eddy live in Williamstown and they love it. They also love a good renovation project – in fact they have 5 major projects up their sleeve! Their latest project was set to be in the Inner West community so in 2017 they started their search for the ideal house.

40 Davies Street, Newport popped up and it fitted the bill. Not only did it have the potential to be something really special, but it was also perfectly positioned close to all of the Newport action.

I chatted to Trish about her renovation story and what led her up to putting this home on the market in March this year.

Here’s Trish and Eddy’s story….

Tell me, what led to you purchasing this house?

We were after a house that was in a good location, close to amenities and after renovating would have good street appeal. We love the Inner West and its beautiful period homes so we settled on Newport for our ‘renovate for profit’ project.

What was the scale of your renovation?

The house was in quite a state of disrepair. Whilst the original house had good bones, it had been added to over the years in a very adhoc fashion and all of the additions had to be removed. The only sections left standing were the four principal front rooms. The house was overgrown with vines and we collected bins full of old bottles that were used as garden edges! We also had to remove many cubic metres of concrete and old shed materials!

Facade before

Facade after

Was this your first major renovation?

No, we have undertaken a few renovations and a new build in the past; everything from a quick facelift to complete demolition. We calculated that we have now built 5 period fences of various sizes and designs!

Did you use an architect or draftsperson in the design of your home at all?

Eddy has always done the designs for each renovation and new build. He has a keen eye for using space wisely and in an aesthetically appealing way. He uses a draftsperson to complete the engineering specs, but always has the final say on how it will look. We have found a draftsperson far more affordable and as Eddy does the designing we do not feel we need an architect.

Floorplan before

Floorplan after

How did you select your builder?

Word of mouth and meeting with them. Cost and building times were also factored in to our decision. The cheapest builder is not necessarily the best option. Our builder was Trueline building and construction company.

How long did the renovation take from first plans to completion?

Approximately 17 month all up.

Hallway before

Hallway after

What did you find most challenging during the renovation process?

Hold ups in building times e.g. workman not being available for the next stage of construction, summer holidays. And not always receiving what was requested or discussed and agreed upon.

Did you stick to budget?

The renovation went over budget. Some aspects of the job were not expected e.g. having to replace some joists and re-doing the front porch frame. Also, we adjusted some of the design as the build occurred e.g. we decided to increase the height of all the existing doors to create a more spacious feel.

Master ensuite

What was your biggest investment?

Apart from the initial purchase, the main costs incurred were in installing the high-end kitchen, 2 bathrooms and powder room.

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

What is your favourite feature of your new house?

We love the fact that we have restored the facade of the house and brought back its original beauty, but once you enter the house you are met with a very functional, spacious and streamlined modern house that works equally well for a young family or for empty nesters.

High end kitchen

What do you love the most that you spent the least amount of money on?

We love the fact that we were able to name the house again and proudly display it on a plaque at the front door! We were very fortunate to meet the granddaughter of the original owners and we learnt from her that the house was originally called “Nenagh”, after a market town in Tipperary that they had migrated from. As “westies” we are very proud to have played a part in restoring a beautiful old home and retain some of the west’s important history. Unfortunately, too many lovely old homes have been ripped down over the years in Newport and Williamstown.

“Nenagh””

What compromises did you make along the way?

Very few, as we believe if we are going to renovate, then we need to do it properly.

New laundry

Did you access any training or resources to help you in your reno that you would recommend?

The best training for us was experiential. Having done renovations in the past we have gained a lot of knowledge on what and what not to do. For anyone starting out though, we would suggest speaking to others who have undertaken renovations and learn from their mistakes. Visiting lots of open houses is also a good way to gain ideas. If we had our time again though, we would probably complete a project management course.

Bedroom before

Bedroom after

What could have you not lived without through your renovation?

Coffee, milkshakes and banana lollies! Seriously though, the support of our family was amazing. They weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and help us out with fence building (yes, the 5^th one!), painting, landscaping and dressing the house.

Backyard before

Backyard after

What are some of the social media sites and accounts that have inspired you through your renovation?

Anything from kitchens to garden sites! Realestate.com was also useful to keep track of the market and trends. We had the potential sale price in mind when making building decisions so as to avoid overcapitalising. We had a good idea of the market and what was a realistic goal when it came to selling.

An entertainer’s delight

Indoor/outdoor living

Outdoor living

If you renovated again, what would you do differently?

Would completely project manage it ourselves. We feel we have enough expertise now to do this and even though we had a builder, Eddy spent a lot of time checking quality and ensuring that the build was going to plan.

Bathroom before

Bathroom after

Are you planning another reno/demo in the foreseeable future?

Next time we are hoping to renovate a house that we will live in. We have learnt a lot along the way and know what we would like in a home.

What’s one thing you’d tell a friend doing a major renovation like yours?

Check that the house has good bones and that there are no planning overlays that you may not be aware of. Also ensure there are no hidden issues such as easements that will impede your design.