Renovate With Gilly's - An Interview with The Homely Hub

Tell us a little bit about yourselves?

We are both teachers. I (Claire) am a Primary School teacher and Max is a Highschool teacher. We are a family of four. We have a daughter Daisy, who is almost 3 and a son Albie, who is 1 year old. In our spare time we love taking on home projects and renovating our home. Our first home sparked our love for renovating houses. Now we are in the process of renovating our new home.

How did you two meet and how long have you been together?

We met in high school and have been together since we were 15 years old. We have been together for 13 years, married for 5. 

What was your first project together?

Our first project was our first home which was a 4 bed, 2 bath investment property we purchased when I was 17 and Max was 18. Both our parents were excellent help in guiding us through renovating both inside and out. Looking back our style has changed dramatically as we’ve become more experienced.

What do you love about renovating and DIY?

We love the whole process from planning to finished product. The excitement you get when researching and purchasing, followed by the gratification you get when completing the project and then of course the enjoyment once done. 

What or who inspires you most?

Magazines, books, and social media inspire our ideas. We love bouncing off each other’s ideas and coming up with a unique project.

Tell us a story about your favourite DIY project or renovation?

 Our current-house main bathroom renovation. It was something we waited nearly a year to start so lots of planning and mood-boarding went into the project prior. We encountered lots of hiccups along the way and had to be flexible in our approach as we had to make some changes, but it was all worth it in the end.

What do you recommend for people wanting to get into renovating as a couple? 

Good communication is probably the most important part. We tend to complement each other quite well and generally have similar ideas and tastes which fortunately makes the process enjoyable. When we do have a difference of opinion, we find having time to think each perspective through helps.

What are the challenges being in this as a couple?

Probably trying to juggle two toddlers and full-time (Max) and part-time (Claire) work. Often those things take priority, meaning we don’t always dedicate the time we would both like to towards the Homely Hub.

Did you always know you wanted to style?

We both grew up in families where interior design and styling was valued and appreciated and were both eager to begin styling our own house with our own tastes. We enjoy watching The Block, Grand Designs and other home-inspired TV shows where we get lots of inspiration. We also really love shopping and happily browse a range of homewares stores.

What's been your favourite thing about creating Homely Hub?

It’s been a creative outlet and motivational tool. We have loved sharing our creative projects with our followers and the processes involved. It has pushed us to strive for better results and think outside the square. The Instagram community is extremely supportive and is a major reason we do what we do. 

5 best tips and tricks for styling a home? 

1. Neutral Tones- We love having a warm, inviting colour palette using neutral, warm tones. 
2. Minimalistic- less is more. When it comes to styling, it is important not to overdo it. 
3. Odd Numbers and Heights- I always like to style in clusters of three of ranging heights. I always like to aim for a look that is perfectly imperfect. 
4. Textures and Shapes- Use a range of textures e.g. throws and cushions of different shapes and sizes to create interest and warmth. 
5. Artwork- Centre your colour scheme for a room in your home around an artwork, so that the space is cohesive and complementary. 

Where next for you two?.  

Now that we have just about completed the interior renovations in our current house, we are looking at refreshing our exterior façade. We feel first impressions are so important to the overall feel of a home. 

What's been your greatest lesson on this journey so far?

That we wish we started our Instagram account earlier! We’ve found it to be such an enjoyable experience and are really looking forward to where it might head in the future.

How did you find using Gilly's Products? What was your favourite product? Why do you love Gilly's? 

We came across Carnauba Wax when we wanted a low-sheen, protective and easy to apply product for our timber dresser we upcycled. We really love how natural the timber looks and the smooth finish you get with Carnauba Wax.

We’ve since used it on a range of other timber products and have happily recommended it to others.

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