In a home that Dulux states as having the ‘Best exterior before and after transformation of 2021’, we’re excited to take a peek inside this beautifully renovated Hamptons style house. From dated and drab to airy and elegant, Karolina from My Hamptons Haus gave this home a head-to-toe makeover. Let us show you all the before and afters, including our favourite and the show-stopper room — her Hamptons inspired kitchen!
Pour yourself a cuppa and sit back, this is a home tour you’ll want to savour ’til the end!
Related article: From 90’s nightmare to a dreamy coastal boho kitchen — a stunning before and after kitchen transformation
Related article: Design inspo: Beautiful breakfast nooks
Karolina and her husband wasted no time in transforming this brick home into a dreamy Hamptons oasis.
“We bought our home in February 2020. The red brick home was built in the early 1970s. The kitchen had last been updated around the 1990s. We bought the house knowing we would renovate right away, and before the home was ours we had planned what it would look like. We changed pretty much everything on the first floor, except the windows and wardrobes,” says Karolina.
“Before we even got our keys, we contracted AusFit Projects to begin the kitchen renovation. We also decided to go with a project company as we were very limited with time. We moved into our home on a Friday and by the Monday the project company was there to start demolition of the kitchen and bathroom. Those projects were completed in just five weeks!”
Purchasing the home knowing she’d renovate gave Karolina time to plan her perfect kitchen.
“I love the Hamptons style. My hubby Thomas loves a more modern look so we worked to incorporate both styles in our renovation.
“Before we even found our new home, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and Instagram getting inspiration. I was also thinking about colours, must have items and most importantly — making sure the kitchen would be functional.
“I needed shaker profile cabinets, marble fish scale tiles and the waterfall edge stone bench top.
“Even though we couldn’t see the space, we worked off the floor plan provided by the real estate agent. Once the final drawings were complete, we asked if we could access the property to do a few quick measurements. After a few tweaks here and there, the plans were locked in and the colour choices were made. After three months we got our keys and everything was final and ready to go.”
The kitchen wasn’t the only project that needed to be renovated — the whole house was done!
“After the kitchen and bathroom projects were completed, we took on the rest of the first floor reno ourselves.
“Then we made a start on the exterior of our home. We managed this renovation ourselves. In 2021, we went on to be named Dulux’s ‘Best exterior before and after transformation of 2021’,” says Karolina excitedly.
“In August last year, we decided to take on the second floor of our home. Our renovation was completed around Christmas. The only space we didn’t renovate as part of this self-managed renovation which took a whole four months was the bathroom. This included a double garage, an office, laundry, entertaining area, bar, and fourth bedroom.”
Karolina isn’t done with the Hamptons style house renos yet. Her most recent project was transforming the home’s second kitchen into a home bar of your dreams!
“It was a second kitchen which we didn’t use very much so we converted it into a bar! It was a long four months in the making. So much hard work went into the design and transformation, but it was so worth it!
“The bar definitely gets more use than the second kitchen,” Karolina laughs.
With such a large renovation, ensuring things stay on budget isn’t always easy but Karolina shares how she did it.
“We splurged on things like the stone, shaker profile joinery and our Billi Filtered Water Tap. We ended up saving by getting the Billi Water tap, as we didn’t have to put plumbing to our fridge. Buying a standard French door fridge without water or ice saved me around a thousand dollars.
“Saving on small things like these allowed us to splurge on things that would extend the life of the space. An example would be the stone as it doesn’t scratch or damage easily — and having three young kids — accidents happen.
“Overall we saved a lot by managing many of the renos ourselves, saving on paying a project manager.
“My advice is don’t rush into anything and be sure to plan! The planning is the most crucial step in the whole process. Once things start to go wrong, it can be too late to change your mind. Always think about how you will use the space alongside how you want it to look aesthetically.”
Carrara stone — Smartstone
Mayfair cabinet knobs, cabinet handles — Zander Architectural
Fish scale marble splash back tiles — The Factory Outlet
Pendant lights — Beacon Lighting
INGOLF bar stool — IKEA
Smeg Duel Fuel Upright Cooker — The Good Guys
Billi Boiling and Chilled Water Tap — Appliances Online
Sink and Mixer — Franke
We’d like to thank Karolina for sharing her Hamptons style house renovation with us. You can find more before and after images, as well as follow the rest of her home journey on her Instagram. What are your thoughts on this Hamptons makeover? Did you have a favourite area? Let us know in the comment section below!
Find more kitchen articles here
