Fresh faced Fab facade

A CRISP AND CONTEMPORARY MAKEOVER TRANSFORMS THE TIRED FACADE OF A FOREVER HOME IN SYDNEY’S INNER WEST, AND HEADS ARE TURNING

Moving to Sydney 25 years ago, advertising executive Bron was instantly smitten by the warren of hidden laneways, historical cottages and proximity to the water that characterises a harbourside pocket of Sydney’s inner west.

Six months later, she’d snapped up the perfect two-storey charmer (left), where she now lives with her son Joe, 14. By last year, however, the exterior of her beloved home was in need of serious attention and, in the case of the balcony, quite urgently. The structure was bowing precariously at either end, the unsealed terracotta tiles were cracked and the timber posts and railings showed all the tell-tale signs of rot and termite damage. “The builders were horrified to see the state of the balcony and wondered how the whole thing had not collapsed, so we had to move quickly,” says Bron. Timber boards were laid and painted white and old timber posts were replaced with aluminium to avoid future damage, yet, it’s the crisp new palette that’s turned her forever home into a local celebrity. “The original colour was drab, in fact, ‘Drab’ was the actual name of the paint colour,” says Bron, with a laugh. “I had played around with the idea of very dark grey or blue, and then we found the perfect colour scheme,” she reflects. “A year down the track, I still stand outside and feel so happy.”

“ON A WALK WITH MY SON perfect WE SPOTTED THE colour. WE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DULUX OOLONG” ~ BRON, HOMEOWNER

MAKEOVER BUDGET: $25,000*

MISS POPULARITY These days, it’s common for passers-by to knock on Bron’s door (left), enquiring after the colour of the facade. “I love it. I’m proud to say this is our home,” she says, with a smile. “The contrast of the dark grey with the crisp white is stunning. I was worried that a dark colour would make it appear small, but it hasn’t at all.”

SHOW STOPPER The moody grey of Dulux Oolong paired with Dulux Vivid White creates monochrome magic on the exterior of this home in Sydney’s inner west (opposite). The original golden exterior had long been a sticking point for homeowner Bron. “I always felt that it was too warm and dated, too close to yellow for me,” she says. “I often compared it to the colour of cheap foundation that you could buy at discount stores.”