"Cleantok has become my religion": Inside the five-year renovation of a 1950s red brick house

• Owners: Jacqueline Mitchell and Will Coleman
• Project timeline: Renovations ongoing, began in August 2021
• Most expensive cost: Garden – $10,000+
• Where you saved the most money: DIY landscaping and painting
• Most unexpected cost: Driveway – quotes came in at $30,000, so this project was parked
• What would you do differently?: Would have had the house re-levelled immediately. Even though we haven’t done major renos, the uneven floor affects every bit of furniture.

For many young Australian families, buying and renovating a home isn’t a grand TV-style transformation – it’s a long game. Bit by bit. Room by room.

That’s been the reality for Jacqueline Mitchell and Will Coleman, who’ve spent the past five years gradually shaping a 1950s red-brick house into a warm family sanctuary in the suburbs.

Like many of their generation, the couple struggled to break into the market.

After months of being outbid in their hometown of Newcastle, they were close to moving back to Sydney to rent and keep saving – until Will’s father offered to sell them his home.

“It felt like the universe stepped in,” Mitchell says.

“The house had solid bones, charm, and was just a little crooked in places. We could see the potential from the start.”

Since then, they’ve juggled raising their son Dashiell and daughter Winona, working creative jobs, and renovating on a real-world budget. No architect, no full-blown extension – just clever tweaks, late-night projects, and plenty of learning along the way. 

“The first thing we did was paint it white, a s—, classic millennial move,” Mitchell laughs. “It was during COVID. We painted it by hand in three days – our hands were swollen by the end.”

Coleman is a guitarist with Velvet Trip and also works as a disability support worker. Mitchell is a dance photographer, a ballet teacher, and the owner of Everline Studios. Their home reflects that creative energy, and is layered with music, family photos, and stories.

“For most people, the garden is the last priority, often squeezed into the final budget, but we flipped that narrative,” Coleman says.

“I was dreaming of a rugged native garden, while Jacq had her heart set on something lush and tropical. In the end, we took a diplomatic approach – she had the front garden and I took the back.”

The garden has since become the backdrop to some of their most treasured memories: Mitchell’s grandma’s funeral, Dash’s baby shower, Coleman’s proposal to Mitchell, and plenty of summer days under the sun.

“We also painted our front door pink and created a makeshift driveway,” Mitchell says. “We got quotes around $30,000 for a proper [driveway], so we scrapped that idea.

“Our kitchen still looks like it belongs in a campground, but Will somehow cooks incredible meals in it.”

They’ve kept things realistic, focusing on making the house functional and comfortable, rather than perfect.

The nursery floor has a 40-millimetre slope, and the house needs re-stumping – a job that could spiral into a bathroom renovation they’re not ready for.

“So for now, we’ve just fluffed it up a little, made it feel like home, and we’re waiting until it feels right to make the big move,” Coleman says. “In the meantime, we’re doing what we can ourselves.”

Their budget-savvy strategy includes sourcing second-hand furniture, creating DIY panelling and curtains, and adding thoughtful touches like moulding to match the original trim. 

“One of the biggest transformations was removing the horrific security screens on every window,” Mitchell says.

“Will tackled it with an angle grinder and a whole lot of elbow grease. Otherwise, it’s just been scrub, polish, and love. Honestly, Cleantok has become my religion. A deep clean works wonders – except for the old shower screens. Nothing can save those.”

The experience has been humbling and grounding. For Mitchell and Coleman, renovating slowly has been both the most satisfying and financially sensible decision – one that’s allowed them to fall in love with their home and their neighbourhood.

“I’ve genuinely fallen in love with the locals,” Mitchell says.

“When we were pregnant with Dash, we’d come home to piles of gifts and hand-me-downs on our doorstep. It’s a real community here – quiet, unpretentious, and deeply generous in its own way.”