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“The floors I adore, the shutters were a
risk because we went with something
so dramatic but they turned out to
be perfect.”
While they made their existing
bathroom much larger, the couple
consciously decided not to add a
second bathroom, nor add another
bedroom with ensuite.
“We just thought about where we are
in life—Fletcher is 15 now, so we won’t
have him at home for much longer.
Do we want a house with all these
extra rooms and bathrooms when it is
just me and Tim? And apart from that,
who wants to spend their spare time
cleaning?” Belinda laughs.
Belinda says she has always followed
her heart when it comes to the look and
feel of her home.
“I am not a risk-taker by nature but
I have backed myself not to go with
the mainstream when it comes to my
house. For instance, my head was
telling me to go with white shutters
because they go with everything but in
the end I just had to do the opposite.”
The decision to stay small and bespoke
has also had follow-on advantages.
Belinda and Tim’s dollars went much
further, allowing them to invest in
finishes that will stand the test of time.
Among them a spotted-gum hardwood
floor throughout, new double-glazed
windows and statement black
plantation shutters.
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