Renovating – What colors do you guys advise toUSE?

Hi,

Whatever you choose try to select something that does not date quickly ie the next owner would look at and think this bathroom etc was revamped in 200?. Avoid textured tiles on the floor.
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Dark floor tiles seem to attract dirt or make people think they don’t have to be cleaned i’m not sure which.
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We have a preference for wooden bench tops. Can be very expensive but the advantage is that if tenant burns/scratches/cuts chews or sets up a chemical lab on them then you can just sand them back with heavy grade paper and re seal.
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We used to have a good source for solid core door panels. ie the bit that goes inside the heavy ply covered fire doors.These looked fantastic when cut and polished and were almost indestructible. Have not be able to find them for a while now.
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Good Luck.

Hi Alex,
Here are my thoughts:

For a bathroom – keep the colour scheme very neutral – white tiles are always good (when I was renting, I really preferred these as you can easily tell when they’re clean). And, of course these are easy to match. Avoid mosaic tiles – more grout = more cleaning/dirt showing. Taps/showerheads are best in a silver colour – just try and find one that doesn’t show finger marks/scratches too much.

Kitchen fittings: For door handles – keep them small unless you’re trying to make a design statement. Brushed stainless steel-look handles for kitchen cupboard doors are a good look. I love the look of timber benches, but would choose laminate for an IP based on price. This choice, of course, depends on your target market.

Cupboard doors in vinyl wrap are about middle of the range in cost, and are fairly long-lasting. New Antique White is a colour these come in, and it ties in really well with both modern and traditional styles of home. The colour is very close to Dulux Fair Bianca, which makes it easy to match it to neutral walls if needed. Also matches virtually any bench type/colour. And make sure you get good hinges on the doors, and don’t forget the little plastic dots that ‘silence’ the doors when they close.

I’d be interested to hear what you choose. Hope all goes well with your reno!

Leila

Also white tiles are more appealing for the tenant. They can use their own colours for decorating. Better than restricting with one colour, say green!

Hi,

I’ve just finished my building my first IP and realise how hard it can be making decisions on materials and finishes. Even if it is only an “IP” you want to choose something that you’re not going to have to change for a good many years if you hold onto the property. I’m nearly finished my Interior Design diploma and still found the decisions challenging.

I agree that white or a neutral colour for the bathroom is ideal. Gloss white tiles are great but if keeping white for the floor as well go for a matt finish. I personally went for a white on the walls and a neutral stone coloured tile for the floor with a sandy coloured grout. Whatever you do make sure that you seal the grout as it will help to protect against staining and mould.

I would definitely go with laminate benchtop and either laminate or vinyl wrap cupboards. If you want a timber look for the doors there is a great range of laminates out there now. I would also stick with chrome knobs and tapware.

Keeping the paint work in neutral colours will mean that the tenants can introduce their own colours with furnishings and accents. A feature wall however is still a great idea and you could choose a strong colour that is still in a neutral tone. Beauty with adding colour through a feature wall is that is really is just a few coats of paint and can easily be changed/updated for minimal cost – much better than having to replace tiles etc.

Happy renovating!

let’s not forget the pleasure of making your personal mark, no matter how ‘generic’ – you do get to choose, which is fun!

Picking the colours and how you will redecorate your IP, no matter how ‘cheaply’, is one of the most fun parts of property investing and one which is really rather satisfying! The rest is basically a big headache at worst and a giant admin and people-managing exercise at best!

and, er,

“completely renovate the kitchen and bathroom in my renal unit”

OOOH! Sounds painful!!!

daaussie, sent this reply to your PM:

Hi there,

Apologies for the late reply.

Rental…you selling or continuing to rent it? Would have to look at that for durability. Also, look lsightly at durability for sale of a rental, but also the look will have to be spot on.

I just completed a bathroom last week. Tiled full wall with a lighter/natural looking tile, quite big. Put a mirror on both walls as it was quite a small room. 2 bedder apartment, I’m assuming small? If so, keep it light, help it look big.

White fittings? If they are new style….maybe. If you want clean a sheek, polished brass(silver) is a good thing.

Terracotta tiles? Once again, prob a little 10 years ago there too. Polished porcelain is fully nice, comes up a treat. The walls- as in splashback? You can get a “fake” stainless steel finish. It is like a stainless steel laminate.

Bench tops….there is also another good :fake: as I call them product for that. You would know of standard laminex, well, you can get that, but in gloss. If you get the right stuff, from a distance it will look like a stone benchtop e.g. granite/marble. These are good cheaper way, but very effective. Remember if you have power on the wall and go stainless splashback, go with stainless powerpoints, classy finish.

The bathroom sounds interesting. You wil have to give me a look at the completed pics. Keep it shiney, clean looking. Not too many fetures, you don’t want it to look “busy” or cluttered.

I hope this helps.

Let me know how you go.

J.

J.

Hey Alex,

O.K. The laminate thing- if you wanna have a crack at it..good luck! I would suggest getting someone in to do it for you. I have my own cabinet maker who does odd jobs for me like that and the big stuff. So possibly get in touch with a cabinet maker about using laminex type products. If you get a good one they will point you in the right direction. It’s hard to explain the products that I use.

Having said that, I should have my website completed within 6 months and I will have a project archive with photo/pictures and further details. Some in depth info on products used also. THis would be very helpful currently.

Darker tiles…..questionable again. I have recently completed the intereior of a project. Small three bedroom house. Tiled everywhere except the bedrooms. Used a light colour. They are polished porcelain. That means alot of preparation, extra care in cutting a laying and fussy finishing. You then seal them once all processes complete. The finish is excellent. the peole that have been in for a look at this place have all commented on the tiles. yes, they get dirty, but when all processes are carried out properly, this means simply sweep over the tiles and they are clean, it is great, easy to maintain.

keep it light, simple. When you walk into plush, expensive hotels- do they look new? Pretty much. Those tiles were probably laid 10 years ago, but you could probably walk into a tile shop and find 3 similar types of tile. The key also is that they are shiney and clean looking- polished. Does that make sense? try that, it’ll spin you out. Might make your decision straight away for you. Or you may prove me completely wrong, won’t work in all cases.

Hope you have sucess in selections.

J.