There is nothing more satisfying than a DIY project. Editor Trudi Brewer shares her latest interior project: transforming a tool shed into a stylish sleep out. Find out how an extra room can become a haven for friends and family. Scroll on to see the transformation.
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DIY is not for the faint-hearted. Expect delays when working with contractors and, often, a compromise with the budget vs. your wishlist. So, where to start? To add an extra room to our home, this space was once a toolshed (yes, I kicked my hubby out); his tools had to go. Next, my wish list was realised into a mood board. Every home renovation needs a plan, in this case, a tool shed converted into a sleep out.
Thankfully, one of my skills is the power of persuasion, so roping in the family was essential to getting the right build, lighting, and cute bedside tables. My hardworking electrician and cabinet-maker sons and a patient builder hubby got the hard graft underway. First, the building, including popping the roof to give the space a lofty feel, insulation, and adding a bathroom, required lighting and power rewiring.
I planned to create a tranquil space, with a holiday vibe, to host guests and family when they visit.
A big open-plan room with a functional layout needs soothing paint colours, cosy bedding, and warm, inviting flooring to create a restful space that is timeless and easy to clean. Remember that the tiniest details can have a significant impact. Scroll on to see the results.
Before the tool shed, and after the gorgeous sleep out.
Flooring
Flooring must stand the test of time while looking warm and inviting. Belgotex has a brilliant selection of wood floors and carpet, almost all of which can be installed directly (in our case, onto plywood with a concrete base), either glued or floating. Bjelin (pronounced Beer-Lin) offers the beauty of a European timber flooring, with the hard-wearing Woodura technology. In easy speak, that is a water and dent-resistant surface of engineered wooden panels that are three times stronger than traditional wood planks. Responsibly sourced and long-lasting, subtle shades from pale white wash to dark natural oak are available to suit any room in your home. Finally, when cleaning this European Hardened timber flooring, a vacuum cleaner and a Bona Micro-Fibre Spray mop are all you need, and the shine is restored in seconds. The finishing touch was the pure wool carpet rug under the bed. Also from Belgotex, the Copenhagen collection is made from New Zealand wool, with a hessian backing, and trim offering a sustainable, luxurious look that complements the open-plan studio style.
The open plan living area and bedroom.
Not only is the flooring hardwearing, but it is also easy to keep clean. The Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System is my latest high-tech home helper. The auto-empty dock empties itself after each use; this is a standout feature. The nozzle senses dirt levels and offers multi-directional cleaning, but wait, the MultiFLEX wand for bends to clean under furniture, so you don’t need to. Also, if you have pet fur to deal with, the odour neutraliser technology combats unpleasant smells - it’s genius.
Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System, $1450.
Paint
I began by choosing a paint colour scheme for your DIY project. What may look okay in a test pot may not work once painted. So, you need to get the colour on the walls to see how it changes in different lighting. Subtle differences that may seem unimportant on colour charts are glaringly obvious once the walls are painted. The default for many is to go with a variation on white. I wanted a pop of colour to evoke a restful holiday vibe that would complement the bush setting of our home. So we settled on Resene Comfortably Numb, a cool blue grey and Resene Half Back White. If you can’t decide, Resene ColorShops offer brilliant service with expert advice for choosing paint shades, including the Colour Choices, an e-book to help guide you. Not only does this help you be more adventurous with different paint combinations and delves into the science of colour and the various finishes from gloss to semi-gloss, satin, and low sheen. The more knowledge you can learn about paint shades, the more confident you can be with the colour scheme in your home.
The open plan living and bedroom.
Resene Comfortably Numb paint and Resene Half Back White paint is available from Resene ColorShops. The BOUCLE S-Fold Curtain, $249, from Freedom. Lukeke Deflated Pendant in Gold Ruby, $1400.
Tapware
There are some stunning tapware options on offer; don’t always opt for stainless. Felton’s Tate Sink Mixer in Brushed Gold did steal the show in our cute new kitchenette. The brushed gold makes a bold statement and complements the colour theme throughout the entire studio.
The kitchenette is compact but efficient.
Bathroom
Our colour scheme started with Resene Comfortably Numb as a feature shade, then Resene half black and white as the base colour, with a hint of gold as an accent hue. I also tried to tie those hues into the bathroom colour palette. We opted for a tiled feature wall using Italian graffiti tiles in the colour sky, laid in a herringbone pattern to anchor those colours. Gold light fittings, the Felton Tate gold tapware, and single floating Mico Heirloom Strata Studio towel warmers helped add that metallic polish.
The new bathroom has the same holiday vibe with the Mico Raymor Crawford Wall Hung Vanity 2 Drawer, Custom Colour Resene Comfortably Numb available from Resene ColorShops.
Felton Tate sink mixer in brushed gold, $1,037. Mico VCBC Moon Kordura countertop basin, $305. Missoni Giacomo towels from $29. Mico Heirloom Strata Studio Towel Warmer, $365.
I could not be happier with the finished result. It’s a lovely space to relax in. Yes, there was a lot of hard work and a few tears, but I learned that planning is everything. Once you establish a budget and the look and feel of your room, the rest is just muscle, legwork and patience.
For the cooler months ahead.