Sprucing up an indoor area is sometimes as simple as adding a plant or two. They will instantly add colour, life and interest to otherwise drab spaces.

But they don’t just look great, indoor plants also have plenty of health benefits.

1. THEY CLEAN THE AIR

Countless studies have proven plants can help eliminate VOCs (volatile organic compounds), carbon dioxide, benzene and other gases from the air we breathe. Some of these chemicals have been linked to headaches, respiratory illnesses and nausea.

2. THEY CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER

House plants can contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, making you calmer and more optimistic. Studies have shown that patients who face a garden view in their hospital rooms often recover more quickly than those facing an empty wall.

3. THEY CAN IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP

Studies have shown the vapour from some plants, specifically jasmine and lavender, can lead to a more restful sleep. Keep a lavender or jasmine plant by your bed and the smell will help bring on a state of tranquillity that will help you prepare for a good night’s sleep.

4. THEY CAN HELP KIDS STUDY

A potted plant on a desk or in a home office or study can increase focus and productivity allowing you to accomplish more with less stress. In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, researchers reported that plants helped workers complete tasks with more focus and efficiency.

5. THEY LOOK GREAT

Got an awkward corner or a bare wall? Try a plant. Hanging planters will look great in alfresco areas, while planter stands will make the most of corner spaces. Vertical garden planters are another great option and will add some texture and colour to even the blandest spaces.

They're the wives of three of the Parramatta Eels’ most recognisable players. Just don’t call Erin Cayless, Lana Taylor and Bonnie Hindmarsh WAGs.

Lana Taylor, Erin Cayless and Bonnie Hindmarsh from Three Birds Renovations

After starting a boutique renovation business known as Three Birds Renovations together, these hard-working women are determined to make a name for themselves.

"We’re grateful for our husbands’ support but we haven’t used them to promote the business,” says Erin. “We watched them follow their dreams and we've been there for them but now it’s time for us to have a go. This is the next chapter for us.”

Since the 2014 launch of Three Birds Renovations, the trio has bought, renovated and sold three houses in Sydney’s northwest — while strictly adhering to a short turnaround rule for each of the properties.

While they’re not taking on any external client work at this stage, their project management and styling skills speak for themselves — the trio made $375,000 on their latest property after a renovation that cost approximately $160,000 and took them just seven weeks to complete.

It may not be long before this talented trio are tempted to use their skills to help other owners dramatically increase the value of their homes.

How did the three of you meet?

Bonnie: Erin and I have been close friends since we were teenagers and then we met Lana about 13 years ago when our husbands were playing at the same football club together. We’ve been close friends ever since.

What prompted you to try working together? What were each of you doing professionally before that?

Bonnie: I’d been trying to convince Erin that we should flip houses together and the idea of working together was a no-brainer because we had been job-sharing as event managers for years. Erin would run the operations of the event and I would manage all the creative and design elements — and that’s how it works at Three Birds, too. We each brought a different skill set to the table, which has proved invaluable in building this company. Lana used to work as a marketing director so we knew she would bring more traditional business and marketing experience to the team.

What do each of you contribute professionally to Three Birds?

Lana: Bonnie brings the creative vision to every project. She grew up with renovator parents so it’s in her blood. She’s never been trained in interior design, she just knows what she likes and what it takes to create a beautiful feeling in the homes we renovate. Erin is the operations guru. She’s a control freak and likes to be on top of every tiny detail, which makes her the perfect person to run each renovation and ensure tradies turn up when they’re supposed to (a challenge for every home renovator). With my previous experience in business, I try to bring big picture thinking to the company and marketing drive. Apparently I also provide comic relief on site.

How would you describe the Three Birds style?

Bonnie: Our trademark look is white, light and fresh. If we had to name it we’d call it modern coastal with a hint of Hamptons.

Are your interior styles similar or completely different?

Lana: Bonnie is our creative mastermind so her style is the one we follow. To be honest, I don’t even have a style — in fact I’ve now realised my home is positively out of date! Bonnie’s look is so fresh, light and dreamy that it’s been easy for Erin and me to fall in love with her style and make it our own.

Do you have a favourite project?

Erin: Our first house was probably our favourite project because the challenge was so huge. It was a hoarder’s house with rubbish stacked to the ceiling in most rooms. We couldn’t even see the floor, which was covered in soggy newspapers, and the backyard needed controlled burning just to find the boundary fences. The transformation was so great that the neighbours would drive past honking their horns and yelling out thanks from their car windows. It was a baptism by fire.

What do you think is the biggest mistake people make when renovating?

Erin: The biggest mistake people can make is not creating a detailed budget. Ideally you should document a clear scope of work for every single tradie and have them agree to the cost for that scope of work. This is the only way to ensure you come close to your budget. Unexpected things will crop up so you should always set aside at least another five per cent for contingencies.

What’s the ethos of the company?

Lana: Build the life you love. This isn’t a business, it’s a lifestyle. We will often make decisions based on this philosophy. For example, we were debating whether or not we would work on Saturdays (some of our tradies had wanted to). When one of us said ‘‘working on Saturdays and missing my kids’ sport is not building a life I love’’, it made the decision easy.

What’s next for Three Birds?

Bonnie: Our company purpose is to inspire and empower women to pursue their passion for renovating and, ultimately, build a life they love. We know there are many more ways we can do this. Buying and renovating houses will always be our heartland but we want to find ways to connect with our audience in new engaging ways, beyond just social media.

It was always my intention with this blog to transform it into a bit of a city guide that would grow and grow as I explored my adopted city of Brisbane. But, as you may have read, the whole ‘settling in’ thing hasn't quite gone to plan and I'm ashamed to say my blog ended up an early casualty of the move while I tried to piece my new life together.

Things are starting to look up though, I'm beginning to feel more comfortable in my new town and I’m finally getting out and about to some of the places that have been on my radar for a while.

One of these is the Damian Griffiths-owned Les Bubbles - a restaurant that specialises in one of my favourite dishes of all time, steak frites; in fact that’s all they serve. The fact Les Bubbles is a one-dish establishment means you kind of expect it be pretty good. After all, if you’re only cooking one thing, you better be good at it.

Les Bubbles is housed in a building notorious in Brisbane’s underground history. Once a sleazy bathhouse and casino, it was the at the centre of the Fitzgerald inquiry into Queensland Police Corruption in the late 1980s.

The notorious Bubbles bathhouse and brothel on Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley

And what the building looks like today.

The inquiry resulted in the deposition of a premier, two by-elections, the jailing of three former ministers and a police commissioner who was jailed and lost his knighthood. It also led directly to the end of the National Party of Australia's 32-year run as the governing political party in Queensland.

Today, Fortitude Valley, is a very different part of the city than it was thirty years ago. A little like Darlinghurst in Sydney, the area has been cleaned up and is now home to some of Brisbane’s most talked about eateries and bars. This is thanks, in part, to Griffiths who has made no secret of his intention to attract a different kind of demographic to the suburb.

But Les Bubbles isn't ashamed of it’s shady past, in fact it embraces it with a cheeky neon sign taking pride of place in the dining room and a host of black and white photos of the venue’s previous life jostling for space above the tables. On the outside of the building a sign proudly proclaims "Quality meat served here since 1982'.


Downstairs, the fully-tiled Bathhouse Bar still has a 15-person spa bath in one corner (and a strategically-placed pile of towels) for customers who are feeling particularly brave.

But back to the food, the steak comes with a choice of three sauces and bottomless fries (that’s BOTTOMLESS fries ladies and gentlemen). It’s preceded by a tasty salad served with a tangy vinaigrette and walnuts and a basket of bread for the table.

You don’t get to choose your steak cut and, unless you specify otherwise, it comes served medium rare which suited me and my dining companion perfectly. The serving size is huge so even though the promise of bottomless fries was one of the main things that put Les Bubbles on my radar, we didn't need to take our waitress up on her offer.

Squad goals: Amy Poehler and Tina Fey

Be open

Initiate

Repeat

Maz in her Hamptons style kitchen in the Sydney suburb of Thornleigh. Picture: Albert Santos

For Maz Espiritu the potential in the split-level 1950s cottage was obvious from the moment she stepped inside. However her husband Jeff required a little more convincing.

“It was hard for him to see the potential — he knew it needed a lot of work and money. But I knew from the moment I stepped inside that this was our new home,” says Maz. “The house had a lot of character and I figured we could really work with it to create a Hamptons-style look if we allocated the right amount of money and spent it wisely. The huge balcony that overlooks the masses of greenery out the back just won me over and the location is just fantastic.”

The couple bought the three-bedroom home in Thornleigh in Sydney’s northwest in 2013 for just over $700,000. Maz estimates they have spent about $80,000 so far remodelling the bathroom and kitchen and giving new life to the living areas.

As first-time renovators the whole process was daunting but the couple went into it knowing there would be parts of the renovation that tested their patience.

“We had hopes of completing the house in a year but it’s been almost two years and we’ve only just finished the top floor,” says Maz. “Jeff was certainly patient dealing with contractors — and with me — but the biggest things we have learned have definitely been doing all the handy work, tiling and plastering the walls ourselves.”

Dream kitchen

One of the main projects in the renovation was the complete re-imagining of the existing kitchen which Maz says was very dark and had asbestos in the walls.

Picture: Albert Santos

“We made the whole space feel bigger by removing the internal walls,” she says. “That enabled us to design an open plan kitchen and living area and rearrange the layout of the home to really allow a flow of air and light throughout the entire top floor.”

After selling the existing kitchen cabinetry on eBay to raise some extra funds, Maz and Jeff purchased a new benchtop and cabinetry which they had professionally installed.

 The Gyprock, tiling, installation of the rangehood and ducting and the painting however were all DIY jobs so that the couple could save money to spend on other parts of the renovation.

The kitchen renovation wasn’t without its challenges — after the removal of the walls, the floorboards didn’t line up. Removing them wasn’t an option as they were one feature the couple had elected to keep from the start.

“We wanted to keep the original wooden floors so we had them professionally sanded down and varnished in a dark colour.”

Picture: Albert Santos

It’s ended up as one of Maz’s favourite rooms in the house.

“It caters easily to entertaining people and truly makes cooking more enjoyable with plenty of room to move around,” she says.

Bathroom bliss

If the kitchen was hard work, Maz and Jeff’s renovation of the home’s main bathroom was on a whole other level.

“The house was old and we knew it needed some work,” says Maz.

“Most aspects were functional but the bathroom was old and we discovered during the course of our renovation that the plumbing was not to standard. The shower waste was just running to the ground outside so we had all that soapy gunk just sitting on the ground or running into the downstairs walls. It was disgusting to say the least.”

Picture: Albert Santos

Their problems didn’t end there. The bathroom had only one small waste hole and the wall beams were rotting and needed to be replaced.

To save the money that they would need to spend fixing the plumbing, the couple took on all the plasterboard work, waterproofing and tiling themselves also installing the shelving, towel rails, mirror and the curtain rail.

“We definitely underestimated the difficulty in tiling with 600x600mm porcelain tiles, especially when we discovered that the walls were uneven,” says Maz.

Nevertheless the job was finished and the end product shows no signs of the difficulties the couple faced.

Words of wisdom

Like many first-time renovators, Maz and Jeff found the process time consuming but ultimately rewarding. Their advice for would-be renovators?

“Research, research, research,” says Maz. “It will build your knowledge and help you make wise decisions before and throughout the renovation process. There’s a lot of thought and weighing up that you should do before going ahead — it’s not for everyone and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice, be open minded and be realistic with time frames and budget. Don’t forget to set aside a budget for the unforeseen circumstances too.”

Picture: Albert Santos

First published in Home, The Daily Telegraph 11 September 2015

There’s no doubt building or renovating can be a very stressful time. Budget constraints, time pressures and a never-ending stream of questions that need an answer as quickly as possible can seriously test the most even-tempered homeowner.


Ask any couple who has boarded the renovation roller coaster together and they will surely have more than a few anecdotes about times when things just didn’t go to plan.

“When someone is building a new home they are using their hard-earned money — and a lot of it — and making some very big decisions. It’s a very stressful time,” says builder Adam Dovile who, with partner Lisa, won Channel Seven’s House Rules in 2014.

“People always say the secret is to plan, plan, plan but in reality it’s inevitable that unexpected issues will come up during any project whether it’s the sudden discovery of old building rubble under your site or a bathroom fixture that arrives with a giant crack in it. And when things pop up like that, it can really add to stress levels that are generally already pretty high."

Expecting the unexpected — and building a contingency into both your budget and building timeline — will help minimise stress when unforeseen circumstances occur.

But it’s also important to keep your cool with family, friends, neighbours and contractors when things don’t go quite to plan. We asked the experts for their advice for staying as stress-free as possible during an otherwise anxiety-inducing period.

Family

In times of high stress or anxiety, it’s often the people closest to us who bear the brunt of high emotions and bad moods.

If you’re renovating with a spouse or partner, relationships expert Alice Haemmerle says being absolutely clear about the desired outcome from the very beginning of any renovation or building project can help ensure both partners are on the same page.

“When things don’t go to plan — or even when they do — it’s important to know that you’re both working to the same goal,” say Alice who has worked extensively with the Housing Industry Association on builder-client relationships.

“Before you even engage a builder or think about which tiles you’re using for the kitchen splashback, I advise couples to go through each space of the home separately and write down two things. The first one is how they want that space to make them feel and the second is what they want their first thoughts or words to be when they enter the finished space for the first time.

“If you can reach an agreement on these two things then you will both be working to the same idea for the finished product so any mishaps or questions along the way can be resolved with confidence rather than an argument about the choice of paint colour or floor covering.”

Try to keep at least one room clean and free of clutter when you're renovating

If you plan to live in your home while you are renovating it, Alice recommends keeping at least one room completely pristine at all times so you have somewhere to escape to when it all gets too much.

“I also recommend people take a break completely from the process occasionally and go and stay in a nice hotel for the weekend or at a friend’s place,” she says. “It helps you disassociate from what’s going on at home and gives you a neutral space to resolve any disagreements about the renovation. It’s also great for getting a bit of perspective.”

Your builder

The relationship you forge with your builder is one of the most vital aspects of the building or renovating process.Adam, who has recently joined the team on Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens, says a “connection” with your builder is always a good starting point.

“You want to feel comfortable with your builder or tradesperson from the very start,” he says. “Trust is key in this relationship so if you have a funny feeling when you first meet them, go with your gut and find someone else.”

Lisa and Adam Dovile

First and foremost, choosing a builder you trust is of utmost importance.

“Choosing your builder is something you should take very seriously,” says a spokesman from the Master Builders Association. “Do lots of research about the type of projects they specialise in and make sure that matches up with the type of build or renovation you want to do. Ask for references when you contact the builder and get in touch with past clients to check not only on their work but also their communication throughout the project.”

Regular communication with your builder, contractor or tradesperson during your project will help iron out most issues before they arise.

“Be honest and upfront from the very start about your budget and your expectations in regards to time but always remember your builder is the expert,” says Alice.“Be open to suggestions from them about materials because, as the expert, they will more-than-likely have had experience with similar ideas or projects.”

The Department of Fair Trading suggests an honest conversation with your builder should be the first course of action should any problems arise.

“Following your conversation, confirm in writing with your builder what was agreed to be done and by when and date and keep a copy of this correspondence,” the Fair Trading website advises.If you still can’t reach an agreement, contact Fair Trading to assist with dispute resolution.

Neighbours

No one wants to be woken unexpectedly at 7am by jackhammers or noisy tradies gathering at a work site to get the day started. Keep your neighbours on side by keeping them constantly updated about the progress of your build or renovation and feel free to drop in regularly to ask if they have any concerns that can be easily rectified. Some renovators even go so far as regularly delivering “care packages” to neighbours including baked goods, chocolates or other treats.

If your neighbour does approach you with a concern, listen and do your best to find a solution. If mediation is necessary contact your local Community Justice Centre for advice.

First published Home, The Daily Telegraph 12 September 2015