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Working out how to use space wisely is a daily challenge for design professionals Rosie (Bunnings Workshop community member @RosieD) and husband Ciaran, who wanted to make the most out of apartment living. So when they bought their first home, a small 1960s unit and fixer-upper in a block of five, they knew the project would centre around style and an abundance of storage. “Anyone who lives in a small apartment knows that having a place for all your stuff makes life easier,” says Rosie. “Everything is out of the way, making the apartment feel calm and more spacious.” The pair favour a look that nods to the Mid-century Modern aesthetic, so designing streamlined integrated storage was key.
Their modest renovation budget and a desire to create something unique – as well as being able to adjust it over time – led them down the D.I.Y. route. “My thinking is, there’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you have the tools and develop your skills, you can modify things to suit your needs,” says Ciaran.
The couple spent months planning and drawing different versions of their joinery, eventually choosing black SpecRite Formply – a durable board normally used for concrete formwork, with raw edges, which they sealed using Cabot’s Cabothane Clear. Walls painted in contrasting Dulux Natural White make the apartment feel as airy as possible, and existing engineered timber floors bring the necessary warmth. Green accents (bathroom tiles and front door, which was painted in Dulux Mangrove Leaf) add colour.
Renovating began in 2018, when the bulk of the work was done, with tinkering continuing over the next few years. The kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms were tackled first, with joinery sections cut to size in a friend’s shed “over many weekends”.
They then labelled and stacked the pieces before assembling the ‘boxes’, which sat in the living room while tradies rewired the electrics, gutted the bathroom and moved the original plumbing to fit the new layout.
While the couple used professional cabinet-makers to build more complex cupboards, doors and drawers, they built the kitchen carcasses and all the shelves and other storage units throughout the apartment themselves. The Formply was an inspired choice. “It’s relatively cheap, simple to work with and you don’t need to edge it. Plus, you can easily modify or reuse it,” explains Ciaran. “Being able to choose the material at our local Bunnings then grab more when we needed it was great,” he says.
Pine plywood doors and drawer fronts on all the cabinetry were finished with Feast Watson Liming White, while a room divider of SpecRite merbau battens was routed to achieve a bamboo-like design. “I’m constantly looking for things to do!” says Ciaran. “We love the flat and are so happy with what we’ve done. We invested a lot of time, but saved a lot of money.”
Check out more storage hacks for space-challenged homes.
Photo Credit: Jody D’Arcy
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
