Kitchen
The recycled door that transformed our kitchen
How a smarter doorway, IKEA cabinetry and reclaimed materials changed a dark, disconnected room.
Read the story →A home and lifestyle publication
From renovating our first home to creating life on the Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road Living is about creating a beautiful home and lifestyle. Along the way we share renovation projects, DIY ideas, local walks, beautiful places, wellness, and inspiration for living well.
The first home we renovated.
Renovation stories
Home Renovation
Room by room, these stories share practical lessons and ideas from our renovation projects.
Bathroom
A calm family bathroom without moving the plumbing
How we fitted the house’s first indoor toilet and created a practical family bathroom without moving the existing plumbing.
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Bedroom
The full wall wardrobe that transformed our bedroom
How careful planning, flexible storage and a wall of sheer curtain gave an old bedroom the storage it was missing.
Read the story →Renovation
When Painting Our Old House Went Wrong
What a delayed exterior painting job and later rectification taught me about timing, trades and old houses.
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Renovation
Why We Plastered Over Our 100 Year Old Walls
How the right plasterer found a practical solution for our badly cracked horsehair plaster walls.
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Old house
5 Things to Look for Before Buying an Old House
Five things we learned to check, including the stumps, planning restrictions, roof, asbestos and building condition.
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Before
AfterOld house
What Renovating a 100 Year Old House Taught Us
What restoring old features, working with heritage restrictions and changing plans taught us.
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Our Home
The Worst House on the Street
Sometimes the best homes don't make a great first impression.
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Lounge
How We Brought Our Dark Lounge Room Back to Life
When we bought our Californian bungalow, the lounge room wasn't exactly welcoming.
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Exterior renovation
We Painted Our 100-Year-Old Roof With Brooms
How we patched and painted a rusty 100 year old metal roof instead of replacing it.
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Renovation planning
How I Keep a Home Renovation Project Organised
The practical mix of hand-drawn maps, notebooks, spreadsheets, photographs and good trade relationships I use to keep renovation projects moving.
Read the story →Hands on projects
DIY Projects
Practical projects including the home gym, outdoor bath and new ideas still to come.
Before
AfterHome gym
How We Turned Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym
How we converted one section of our existing shed into a comfortable home gym while retaining the larger section for storage.
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DIY
Replacing and Painting the Fences Around Our Old House
How we worked through neighbours, council requirements, heritage considerations, trades and DIY painting.
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Garden
What We Learned Clearing an Overgrown Garden
Our overgrown garden looked like a simple clearing job until we discovered tree permits, an arborist and roots in the plumbing.
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Home gym
How much our shed to home gym conversion cost
A transparent look at what we spent turning part of an existing shed into a comfortable home gym at our Great Ocean Road property.
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Outdoor bath
How We Turned Our Old Bathtub Into an Outdoor Bath
When we renovated our bathroom, we removed the original bathtub to make way for a new layout.
Read the story →Living well on the Great Ocean Road
Lifestyle
Wellness, slower rhythms and simple spaces that make everyday life at our current home feel more intentional.
Sauna
Why We Added a Sauna to Our Home
Creating a home isn't just about renovating rooms. It's also about creating spaces that help you slow down and enjoy everyday life.
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Travel and design
Two Japanese Baths I Still Think About
Two private onsen experiences in Japan, from our honeymoon in Kumamoto to a Japanese larch house in the forests of Azumino.
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Lifestyle
How We Created Spaces That Make Home Feel Like a Retreat
How an outdoor bath at our first house, followed by a sauna and home gym at our Great Ocean Road home, changed the way we think about living well.
Read the story →Local life
Great Ocean Road
A growing collection of beaches, walks, cafes, weekend ideas, hidden places and the local lifestyle.
Explore Great Ocean RoadBeachesWalksCafesWeekend ideasHidden placesLocal lifestyle
Recently published
Latest Stories
The newest stories from our homes, projects and life on the Great Ocean Road.
Lifestyle
How We Created Spaces That Make Home Feel Like a Retreat
How an outdoor bath at our first house, followed by a sauna and home gym at our Great Ocean Road home, changed the way we think about living well.
Read the story →Travel and design
Two Japanese Baths I Still Think About
Two private onsen experiences in Japan, from our honeymoon in Kumamoto to a Japanese larch house in the forests of Azumino.
Read the story →Renovation planning
How I Keep a Home Renovation Project Organised
The practical mix of hand-drawn maps, notebooks, spreadsheets, photographs and good trade relationships I use to keep renovation projects moving.
Read the story →
Great Ocean Road
A Winter Visit to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie
A freezing winter visit and a very good reason to order the hot chocolate.
Read the story →Renovation
Why We Plastered Over Our 100 Year Old Walls
How the right plasterer found a practical solution for our badly cracked horsehair plaster walls.
Read the story →Renovation
When Painting Our Old House Went Wrong
What a delayed exterior painting job and later rectification taught me about timing, trades and old houses.
Read the story →DIY
Replacing and Painting the Fences Around Our Old House
How we worked through neighbours, council requirements, heritage considerations, trades and DIY painting.
Read the story →Garden
What We Learned Clearing an Overgrown Garden
Our overgrown garden looked like a simple clearing job until we discovered tree permits, an arborist and roots in the plumbing.
Read the story →Old house
5 Things to Look for Before Buying an Old House
Five things we learned to check, including the stumps, planning restrictions, roof, asbestos and building condition.
Read the story →BeforeAfterOld house
What Renovating a 100 Year Old House Taught Us
What restoring old features, working with heritage restrictions and changing plans taught us.
Read the story →BeforeAfterHome gym
How We Turned Part of a Shed Into a Home Gym
How we converted one section of our existing shed into a comfortable home gym while retaining the larger section for storage.
Read the story →Exterior renovation
We Painted Our 100-Year-Old Roof With Brooms
How we patched and painted a rusty 100 year old metal roof instead of replacing it.
Read the story →
Our story
From Renovating Our First Home to Building a New Life on the Great Ocean Road
The story behind Great Ocean Road Living, from renovating our first home room by room to creating a new life on Victoria's Great Ocean Road.
Read the story →Outdoor bath
How We Turned Our Old Bathtub Into an Outdoor Bath
When we renovated our bathroom, we removed the original bathtub to make way for a new layout.
Read the story →Lounge
How We Brought Our Dark Lounge Room Back to Life
When we bought our Californian bungalow, the lounge room wasn't exactly welcoming.
Read the story →
Great Ocean Road
One of Our Favourite Dog Friendly Walks in Torquay
An easy coastal walk from Fishos Café to Whites Beach and back, perfect for an early morning outing or weekend stroll.
Read the story →Sauna
Why We Added a Sauna to Our Home
Creating a home isn't just about renovating rooms. It's also about creating spaces that help you slow down and enjoy everyday life.
Read the story →Home gym
How much our shed to home gym conversion cost
A transparent look at what we spent turning part of an existing shed into a comfortable home gym at our Great Ocean Road property.
Read the story →Our Home
The Worst House on the Street
Sometimes the best homes don't make a great first impression.
Read the story →Bedroom
The full wall wardrobe that transformed our bedroom
How careful planning, flexible storage and a wall of sheer curtain gave an old bedroom the storage it was missing.
Read the story →Bathroom
A calm family bathroom without moving the plumbing
How we fitted the house’s first indoor toilet and created a practical family bathroom without moving the existing plumbing.
Read the story →Kitchen
The recycled door that transformed our kitchen
How a smarter doorway, IKEA cabinetry and reclaimed materials changed a dark, disconnected room.
Read the story →