Capital Gains: when renovations go right

No one likes the disruption of having their home turned on its head during renovations.

James and Katherine Dale are an exception to the rule. The couple are renovator buffs with design talent and experience in spades.

James, a builder, is adept at creating contemporary luxury homes while Katherine is a home design enthusiast and together they have worked their revamp magic on properties they have owned.

Katherine says ideas are always flying for their next residential project.

“We love to buy unloved homes and turn them into dream properties,” Katherine says.

“It’s a creative outlet for both of us and every home that comes to fruition is a collaboration of ideas between our architect Koda Design and ourselves.”

The Dales have listed their four-bedroom Garran home as they prepare to renovate another property.

The former bland ex-government house is now a sophisticated, yet supremely comfortable family home that marries contemporary and traditional elements. The Hamptons-inspired exterior and interior come together for an elegant clean-lined, classic, less-is-more look.

The Dales bought the house four years ago and Katherine says the renovation was completed within a short time frame so caused minimal disruption for the couple and their young children.

“James, myself and our architect are all on the same page and between the three of us we are able to have things on paper very quickly and get the work done.”

The luxury home features soaring pressed metal ceilings, a covered outdoor entertaining area, study nook, well-maintained gardens with sprinkler irrigation and a 5000-litre water tank, double glazed windows and wooden floors.

“I could happily live in this house for a very long time,” Katherine says.

“It’s a beautiful family home in a wonderful location so it’s going to be pretty sad to leave. It has a lot of warmth and we have loved living here.”

No. 37 Fitchett Street, Garran will be auctioned on Saturday, April 23 through Cream Residential agent Jane Kusetic. Price guide: $1.3 million-plus. Inspect: Saturday, 2pm -2.45pm. EER: 5.

 A splash of colour

Brightly coloured homes are a rarity among the muted tones that dominate Canberra’s housing streetscape.

So Craig Richardson is accustomed to the attention his bold blue house in Hackett receives.

“When people step inside they are generally surprised at how large and light-filled the house is, and most love the unexpected pops of colour in the living areas,” Richardson says.

The Richardsons chose restful shades of blue for the outside, and accents of blue and purple inside for the three-bedroom house.

“I have never been a fan of bland shades and even growing up as a child we got to choose feature wall colours in our rooms. The idea of having colours here probably stemmed from that,” Craig says.

The Richardsons renovated and extended the property in 2003 and 2007 creating a tree house-style home in a mature garden setting metres from the foothills of the Mount Majura nature reserve.

“There is something very peaceful about living here, it’s so close to the city but we don’t get the through traffic, and there is lot of wonderful bird life,” Craig says.

No. 72 Rivett Street, Hackett is for sale through Luton Properties Dickson agents Jenny and Michael McReynolds. Price: $925,000. EER: 0.5. Inspect: Saturday, 10.30am-11am.