Renovating? The ‘RUSSH’ editors share the best brands and tips for all things home improvement

Renovate. A word synonymous with stress, anxiety and overwhelm at times. But then there’s also beauty, pride and accomplishment… that’s why we do it after all isn’t it?

Whether you’re picking up the sledge hammer yourself or project managing someone to do it for you, renovating is a task not for the faint of heart. The RUSSH team are here to report their experience on making all sorts of home improvements. And for those who aren’t renovating right now, but one day dream of spending weeks caught up on what shade of white paint to choose (sigh), there’s something for you too. Without further ado, come on in – steel capped boots required.

Mia Steiber

Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher

I renovated my whole apartment two years ago, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, floors, wardrobe – basically everything. I’m right on the beach, so it was important to me to keep the coastal feel consistent through the interiors.

Every single one of my taps and faucets came from ABI Interiors for all rooms. The brushed metals collection was bold enough to make an impact but also still soft. Plus, all the products came with a 20 year warranty which was extremely important to me. My pull-out faucet in the kitchen is still my favourite feature of my whole renovation. My big splurge was the Caesar Stone Calacatta Nuvo bench tops which I carried up my splash back. My two tone cabinets are polytec, white and prime oak. I used the same colours for the bathroom, laundry and wardrobe. I also splurged a little bit on some Castella solid brass handle from Restoration Online. The sink is a deep, deep stone white from Blanco. And I did install an Insinkerator and Fisher and Paykel Appliances. Would recommend.

For the bathroom and laundry – more ABI Interiors. In those rooms, my cabinet handles were also from ABI. I used a tonne of the ABI Interiors inspo pictures to actually plan my spaces, so naturally I picked all the fixtures from there too. My wet area tiles came from Tile Cloud, I used subway tiles and faux terrazzo in the bathroom and then finger tiles and terrazzo in laundry. I also made sure each room had a mix of white and wood elements but never quite the same so it wasn’t too matchy-matchy. My laundry splurge was a Vintec mini wine fridge. My husband is a wine collector so we wanted somewhere to store them correctly.

The things I learned – nothing ever runs to time. Always budget more than you think you need. And never say “we’ll be done by Christmas”. That’s the kiss of death. Don’t fuss over a few hundred dollars, especially if it’s going to lead to your comfort. We decided on heated floors and a heated towel rail for the bathroom – the floor kit was only $500 and the towel rail was $300. I can’t believe we were ever considering NOT doing it. And make sure you have all your appliances ordered and ready for when building starts. Things can be different sizes and your builders will need to measure everything you plan to use. Also make sure you get everything with a great returns policy or you might find yourself with a microwave that physically cannot fit into the space and no way to return it.

Stacey Gaskin

Consumer Revenue Manager

The October long weekend is exactly a year since my husband and I started the work on our 80s gem. Architecturally designed in its day, the house hadn’t been touched since it was built and had character in spades.

We started outdoors (and are still going) with clearing out a lot of what I like to refer to as bush. A renovation of flora and fauna if you will. Sadly we were unable to retain much of what were once beautifully maintained gardens, however a few established trees have kept their pride of place. The only things we needed for this momentous task were grit and determination (and a lot of sunscreen) along with some council vouchers, a chainsaw, various other garden tools and a trailer.

Before we moved into the home, the carpets needed a refresh after 37 years, so all three bedrooms had beautiful Australian made regenerated nylon loop carpet installed. Next was window coverings. With plans to add plantation shutters throughout the home, we wanted a quick, budget friendly option to replace the curtains. In the main bedroom, we went with a roller blind that provides privacy but still lets in a lot of natural light. In the living room we chose S Fold sheer curtains.

In the past year there’s been a lot of paint. The blood that runs through my veins is probably Dulux Natural White at this point. We wanted a clean base and later we can decide if we want to spruce up any areas with more colour.

Any major works like new kitchens and bathrooms are a while off yet (hello high interest rates), so we’ve been changing fixtures and fittings to spruce things up. I constantly scrolled ABI Interiors for months before settling on brushed nickel (they can send samples of finishes too!) so our kitchen is set to have this beautiful mixer installed along with a new sink (yet to be chosen). I saw that ABI has just released tiles and I’m in love with a few styles. If a kitchen renovation is a couple years off, I’m prepared to invest in a mini renovation until then, so a new splashback of these or these would make me want to cook more, I’m sure of it. Currently I have been searching for some new kitchen cabinetry handles and I think I’ve found them. These Tubby T-Pull handles in Tumbled Brass from LO&CO will really elevate the space and retain the warm 80’s character I love so much.

So that’s where I’m at right now. For any fellow DIYers out there, just know you’ve got this. You can have 5-10 projects all happening at once and feel overwhelmed and yet the excitement still flows through at 3am, alongside a jolting memory that you booked an aircon trade for 6am.

Emily Algar

Beauty Editor

A few months ago my husband and I bought the apartment next door to the one we previously rented (convenient), but it needs a lot of love. The former space was newly renovated and architecturally designed, so the transition to mostly original features was a shock to the system. Before we moved in, we had the walls painted white, Dulux Lexicon Quarter underneath and Natural White on top. It’s fresh but milky — we get a lot of direct sunlight, and I didn’t want the space to be blinding in the morning.

Next on the to do list is to rip up the carpet and resurrect the mosaic parquetry floorboards underneath. Fortunately they run through the entire apartment minus the bathroom; stripping and refinishing should make a world of difference. They’re currently very warm and glossy (not good).

Our kitchen and bathroom are the biggest undertakings. We’re still in the research and planning stages but one thing I have locked in is my moodboard (the most fun part, naturally). I love natural stone but I worry about its durability, especially in the kitchen (advice or words of warning are welcome). I’m pretty certain I’ll do Calacatta Viola for the bathroom vanity though. I really want an inlay sink; are they as hard to clean as people make out? Given my extensive collection of skincare, storage is important to factor in; I’d love beautiful twin mirrors but I think mirrored cabinets are a smarter call. There’s a large linen cupboard just outside the bathroom and the plan is to combine the two for more space, plus a new internal laundry. I’m also campaigning for a free standing bath but I’ll see what’s possible. This one from The English Tapwear Company would be perfect. Our existing bathroom actually has sconce lighting (a dream) but the fittings are terrible. I browse Etsy a lot, something like this would do nicely. I also love the simplicity of Sydney based ceramicist Studio Enti. I need to think about flooring, too. I love the look of Travertine, specifically these mosaic tiles from AB Interiors. I’ll have to get an expert to tell me if this all works cohesively. I can’t visualise a finished space to save my life.

I’ll be honest and say the kitchen is overwhelming. We have a supporting column, so are trying to find a way to integrate that with a degree of subtlety. Originally we planned to extend and create a butler’s pantry, but we’ve decided against larger structural changes. I do want floating shelving on one wall, I think it will open up the space nicely. I had my heart set on Calacatta marble bench tops but we’ve actually been looking into a material called Lapitec; the reason being we’ll probably move and rent our space in the next 36 months. Lapitec is virtually life-proof and feels like a safer bet in the long term. We’ll have to wait and see…

Furniture wise, I could go on forever. But the first purchase will be a new lounge. Really into this Elio shape from MCM House. I also like a home with character, so I’ll do my best to source second hand and vintage pieces. My grandparents actually have a beautiful wooden sideboard I’ve already claimed… My favourite place for inspiration, aside from Pinterest and Instagram, is actually hotels. I have a huge collection of boutique spots that seem to cobble together pieces in a way that feels dynamic and homely but stylish. I’m not into clinical interiors. This will be the guiding light as we dive into the project. Wish us luck…

Megan Nolan

Marketing Manager

Having received the keys to my first place only four weeks ago I’m just starting my renovation journey. I have however been relishing the research portion of the process and have lots of fun ideas.

First thing on my list was getting my floors sanded and re-stained, and as with any tradie my tip is to be really firm with what you want and get multiple quotes. I personally live by the mantra that you’re better off going for someone you trust over saving a few hundred dollars – it will pay off in the long run when you’re happy with the results and don’t have to spend more money fixing things. I was very specific about the colour I wanted for my stain and ended up going with this Feast Watson Walnut Interior Stain. I have an art deco apartment and it brings about the beautiful rich warmth that era of architecture inspires.

My windows currently don’t open as they have been painted shut (the confusion is real) so once I manage to get these open I will likely need to sand them back and re-stain. Same goes for my skirting boards. TikTok has given me a completely false confidence that I will be able to do this myself so I’m planning on purchasing an electric hand sander to save my poor hands.

The next wise word of advice I received is to take your time and to work at your own pace (and to your own budget). Spend some time living in your place before you make too many big changes so you can get a feel for how the space functions. I’ve found some really great renter friendly hacks and products which I’m going to install in my space for 6 months so I can test out whether I like them. Stick on tiles are a great short term solution that can change the entire feel of your space before you commit to the real deal. If you’re not ready (or unable) to take the lighting rewiring plunge then battery powered globes can also be a lifesaver.

Phoebe Holden

Designer

We moved to Sydney around six months ago and though we rent, our apartment is a hidden gem that I constantly dream about renovating. I have little in the way of tips but plenty when it comes to inspiration and delusional wishlists. I am passionate about natural building materials and homes that are built into nature rather than on top of it. I have two favourite designs, these homes are so special and inspiring. The first is Frey House II by Albert Frey, a Swiss-born architect who worked in Palm Springs, California establishing a style of modernist architecture called ‘desert modernism’. I dream about this tiny house often, built from cheap materials and blending seamlessly into the desert, it is perfect. The second is Salvador Dalí’s home (now museum) in Port Lligat, Girona. In my dreams, I turn to both he and his builder Emili Puignau for creative direction when expanding and renovating.

Impossible dreams aside, I think our apartment could be completely transformed by a new decking system. For this I would turn to Rufus Knight, an incredible Aotearoa based architect. I would take his lead and then Katie Lockhart’s for the interior. Our apartment is made of concrete that has been slathered in an unappealing shade of white paint, I would strip this back to reveal the base, keeping this completely natural aside from a Bamboo Silk Rug by Nodi. Katie Lockhart is a wizard when it comes to wood and tiling, for our bathroom I would love slightly distressed Tuscan tiles with very little light coming through. Of course, these tiles need equally special fabrics to complement, fluffy Tekla and Baina towelling in Cocoa and Kodiak Brown Stripes would be my first choice.

Without being able to renovate just yet, I think furniture can make a world of difference when in need of a refresh. Anything designed by Simon James is a winner for me, his aesthetic is refined but completely adaptable. The Simon James Arcade Daybed is available in Raf Simons x Kvadrat alpaca velvet which is the best upholstery I have seen, maybe ever? Other wishlist items include Hotaru Buoy Pendant by Barber & Osgerby and anything from Isamu Noguchi’s Akari Collection. The 4pm Lounger by Massproductions and Hans J Wegner’s Flag Halyard Chair will forever be on my wishlist alongside The Fulcrum Light by Cheshire Architects for Resident.