WE MADE SIMPLE UPDATES ON A BUDGET

It was love at first sight for Amanda and Brad, who found a rustic log cottage outside Canberra with bags of character and great potential.

“BRAD AND I WERE LIVING

in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire when we had our twin boys. By the time they were three years old, we were craving the space and fresh country air you simply can’t get closer to the city. I spent five years in the ACT as a child, and I often thought I’d move back to raise my family.

We rented in an inner Canberra suburb for two years while we looked for a home to buy. Then on a cool May day, in a small town 25 minutes’ drive north of Canberra’s CBD, we drove up a gravel road towards a log house that was open for inspection – and my heart skipped a beat. I just knew this was our new home.

The single-storey house was elegant and durable, and it had good, solid foundations, but it was in original condition and very outdated. However, it had bucketloads of character and a gorgeous view, which is what sealed the deal for us.

WHAT CHANGED?

We were instantly attracted to the rustic features of the house: the exposed beams, panelled walls, log construction and, of course, the sandstone fireplace. While the yard was terribly overgrown and the interior outdated, we knew we could make it ours without it requiring any major works.

The first thing we did was paint. For the exterior we chose a dark charcoal, while inside we painted the original pine panelling white. It’s made our home warm, cosy and modern. In the fireplace room, the sandstone was lost against the white, so we painted the walls in the same dark charcoal to create contrast. It was the best decision we made. Other changes included replacing the old carpet with bamboo flooring, completely renovating the main bathroom and replacing the kitchen splashback, door handles and tapware.”

Find Amanda’s complete story and whole house featured in the new, August issue of homes+