Latest news with #KellieRichardson
News.com.au
04-08-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Celebrity interior designer reveals bathroom mistakes that can destroy a home sale
A badly presented bathroom can sabotage the entire sale of a home, regardless of the state of its other rooms. Working across both commercial and residential with an array of high profile clients from politicians, sportspeople and developers, celebrity interior designer Kellie Richardson said simple bathroom mistakes can instantly damage buyer perception, reduce offers or stop a sale from happening altogether. The founder of Kurved by Design said buyers tended to pay closer attention to bathrooms than many other rooms. 'They stop imagining and they start scrutinising,' she said. 'If something looks or smells off, it can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in perceived value.' According to Ms Richardson, a dirty bathroom can entirely jeopardise a sale and opinion of the home. 'I have been into some bathrooms where they have brown tiles, gold accents and it's been very, very outdated but they've been very clean and tidy and people can look at it and go okay, we'll need to spend a bit of money getting the bathroom done but at the same time we can live with this sort of ugliness in it,' she said. 'There are other bathrooms that we have been into and they are very dirty. They're smelly. They're a bit mouldy. People do look at (that) and think there is a roof or a ventilation problem or they smell mould so maybe there is a bit of rising dampness. 'That will impact the buyer completely, because that's a huge amount of money with cost and time and you have to get professionals in, so the house prices go down because that is marked as a massive renovation especially when you're dealing with water.' Ms Richardson said if the bathroom is dirty, a lot of people assume that the whole house is going to be dirty. She added that the most common bathroom mistakes for sellers were overpowering smells, brown rings around the bath or dirty shower floors, carpet in the bathroom, hair in the sink or drain, used toothbrushes and cluttered vanities. 'You want to have something that smells nice like burning candles or oil sticks. Things like that. Nice smelling soaps. A lot of people buy with emotions,' she said. 'We've also had bathrooms that are very dirty, dusty and haven't been cleaned, the brown rings in the toilet or bath turns people away as they think it's really grubby and I'd have to rip the whole thing out and start again. 'We've had situations where we've actually had carpets in the toilets and that turns people away a lot especially because with males using the toilet, a lot of people think it's very dirty and germs and it's quite disgusting and unhygienic. 'Just doing simple things like cleaning up the hair and dust can make a lot of difference because it makes the buyer think that whoever is living here is hygienic and clean and has looked after the property. 'Then they start to see themselves in that nice, clean area.' Ms Richardson said to take everything off the counter, such as toothbrushes, perfumes, deodorants and instead have just a candle, soap dispenser or plant. 'Keep it simple, so it makes the bathroom look a lot cleaner, clearer and bigger,' she said. 'It definitely does make or break a sale, just like the kitchen does, because these are high areas that cost a lot of money that we use daily. 'If there are issues with rising damp, mould, tiles are coming away, it's in disrepair or it's not going to be very clean or hygienic, that turns a lot of people away because they will be thinking of the money, it hasn't been looked after and there's going to be problem after problem.' Ms Richardson said there is also focus on 'cosmetic' enhancement rather than major renovations. 'People don't want to go in and do major renovations especially with the cost of living,' she said. 'When people go in, you will either lose people, or people will decide they can do a few cosmetic things and it'll be fine. 'This is why kitchens and bathrooms are so important, because they're the biggest money spend.'
Mercury
13-05-2025
- Business
- Mercury
How to unlock up to $20k in extra home value with easy DIY - realestate.com.au
Investors looking to sell their property can add an extra $10,000 to $20,000 in value by refreshing their bathroom through easy and inexpensive DIY, an industry expert said. Celebrity interior designer and founder of Kurved by Design, Kellie Richardson says a few basic reno hacks were enough to increase the sale price of a home, at a time when everyday Aussie were counting every dollar. Latest property data shows national home prices grew 3.71 per cent over the 12 months to the start of May and 3.35 per cent across all capital cities. It means a $800,000 home now sells, on average, $26,800 more than it did a year ago, with a basic DIY reno potentially adding a further 2.5 per cent profit, according to Ms Richardson. 'You do not need a massive budget to make a big impact, especially when it comes to bathrooms. Property buyers generally look at the quality of the kitchen and bathroom and if they present well, this helps to get the sale over the line,' she said. 'In fact, if these areas present really well, they can help to lift the sales value of a home by…$10,000 to $20,000. 'You can go to Bunnings now and get really good round mirrors for $50…and even tapware, you can get brands like Borrelli for under $100 there, too.' MORE NEWS How to pick the next booming property market Innovative planning laws passed to fix Aus housing crisis Tide finally turns for renters Interior designer Kellie Richardson says a basic bathroom DIY could add thousands of dollar to a home's value. With Australia's property market heating up and buyers becoming more discerning, Ms Richardson encouraged sellers to focus on strategic, cost-effective upgrades that could dramatically shift a home's appeal. And it all starts with the bathroom. 'Bathrooms sell houses. They are emotional spaces for buyers and the good news is you can transform the entire vibe for under $1000,' she said. Ms Richardson's budget bathroom styling strategy is part of a broader series of DIY hacks she shares with sellers looking to maximise sale price without overspending. 'Smart styling creates emotional impact and emotional impact drives better offers. You do not need $10,000 to add value. You just need to know where to spend $1,000 wisely,' she said. Here are her top tips for elevating your bathroom without blowing your budget. Tapware 'Changing your tapware to matte black, brushed gold or even gunmetal is a quick way to bring a designer feel to the room. These pieces are easy to replace and often available in budget friendly kits from major retailers,' Richardson said. 'Simple changes can be done yourself or by a handyman.' New tap ware is an easy and inexpensive way to freshen up a bathroom. Holders 'Towel holders, toilet roll holders and shower caddies can instantly upgrade a tired space. Brands like Barelli, available at Bunnings, offer sleek styles in contemporary colours including black that are simple to install and highly effective in updating the space,' Richardson said. Tile repaint 'Instead of retiling, which is expensive and time consuming, consider tile specific paint. It can completely transform the colour and finish of outdated tiles with a clean, modern look for a fraction of the cost,' Richarson said. 'Often these types of changes will only cost a few hundred dollars and deliver a transformative effect.' A young woman attentively examines the ceramic tile in her hands during renovation work in the bathroom New basin 'A fresh basin can be purchased and installed for well under $200 and it can modernise a vanity instantly. Look for curved or organic shapes for a more up to date feel,' Richardson said. 'Again, affordable and budget basins can be purchased from Bunnings or other retailers online and provided there is no plumbing change, these can be replaced fairly easily. The impact is dramatic.' Bath spray paint 'For older properties with a dated or stained bath, resurfacing spray paint can make a huge difference. With proper prep and a little patience, your bath can look brand new without needing full replacement,' Richardson said. Resurfacing sprays, new mirrors and new basins are also simple ideas to give your bathroom a new look. New mirror 'Swap out basic frameless mirrors for round, matte framed or backlit options. A new mirror is one of the most affordable ways to shift the overall tone of the room and add a focal point,' Richardson said. Colourful towels 'Ditch faded or mismatched towels. Choose lush, hotel style towels in warm neutrals or pops of colour to add energy and personality. Roll or layer them for a boutique look,' Richardson said. New towels can give you bathroom a colourful new look. Plants 'Bathrooms love greenery. Add an indoor plant or two, like peace lilies or ferns, to soften the space and add life. Even artificial plants can create a calming, spa like feel,' Richardson said.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Kellie was 18 when she put her weight loss down to 'being busy'. She had cervical cancer and only just caught it
Kellie Richardson had her whole life ahead of her when one simple health check-up derailed her course forever. Then aged 18, Kellie was full of ambition and enthusiasm for having a family one day and a dream career as an interior designer. On reflection, she thought she was fit and healthy, but had ignored some subtle warning signs. By the time Kellie had hit her 19th birthday she had observed a sudden drop in weight - 7kg in a matter of weeks - paired with severe bouts of tiredness. She simply put it down to a new exercise regime and being 'super busy'. One night when out with her close friends in Melbourne where she lived, the topic of PAP Smears (now known as Cervical Screening Tests) came up in conversation. 'A couple of the girls had gone and got one done, [but] I hadn't had one yet,' Kellie, now 45, told FEMAIL. 'I was quite nervous about it all, especially being a young girl, not knowing how or what they do, and how invasive it is on your body.' Although Kellie didn't book in for a Cervical Screening Test immediately, a strange coincidence happened just one week later which she took as a sign to get the appointment scheduled. 'It was weird. I had a day off work, and I was driving through back to home. For some reason I went by where I used to live and where I used to go to a family doctor,' she said. 'I thought I should ring up and see if they had any appointments for the following Monday when I had my RDO (registered day off), to see if I could get in with a female doctor to have a pap smear test and a general check-up.' Upon calling, the receptionist Kelli spoke to had just had a cancellation 30 seconds before and the doctor could see her right there and then if she was free. Looping back round in her car, Kellie went straight in for what she thought would be a regular, routine check-up which she said ended up being very 'very relaxing' and not a daunting as she'd once thought. It was Wednesday at 8.30am the following week when the doctor called with shocking news. 'She said "Kelly, we need to get you into the specialist straight away. The results have come back, and you've got cervical cancer",' she recalled. The term cancer had never entered Kellie's mind. She was simply convinced she was 'too young' at 19 for this to be her reality and in complete disbelief at the diagnosis. Within four weeks, Kellie was booked in with a specialist but maintained a positive attitude of 'what will be will be' - something that she still upholds today, now aged 45. 'In that time, you don't understand what you're dealing with or what's going to happen. You have cancer, but [it] might be just early stages, it might be okay. You're quite naïve at that age,' she said. At that point Kellie's cervical cancer was stage two with signs it was progressing rapidly. By the time Kellie reached her surgery date just four weeks later, her cancer had reached stage three and scarily 'bordering on stage four'. Kellie was also hit with another blow as the surgery unveiled previously undiagnosed endometriosis too - which explained her 'extremely painful, heavy periods' growing up. 'When I was younger, I had to have medication to stop my period because it went to six weeks constant, and I had big blood clots from it,' she said. After 'burning off the cancer' as much as they could from her first initial operation, the surgeons unfortunately couldn't get everything. Kellie was put into early menopause instead as a form of preventative treatment to stop the spread of the cancer. After a year of painful slow-release injections into her stomach each month, Kellie's cancer didn't completely go away, but it did decrease. Then, as if the body hadn't endured enough, she was put through menopause for a second time - this time using a nasal spray to administer the medication for a full 18 months, as her body wasn't coping well with the injections. Kellie was 22 when her body finally went into remission, and she was miraculously given the all clear by doctors. The next five years Kellie enjoyed her life, started a successful interior design company, appeared as an expert on popular television shows, started on a weekly radio segment and had two children. However, after her second baby at 28, doctors advised Kellie that a hysterectomy was in her best interest, so if she wanted a third child, she would have to be quick. 'I had to have a hysterectomy at 31 after my third [child] because of the endometriosis [and] cervical cancer... they didn't want to risk it coming back,' she said. In March this year Kellie underwent one final surgery - this time to completely remove her ovaries and all remaining scar tissue from her previous ordeals. 'I had a lot of growths, cysts and all sorts of stuff happening which just looked a bit suspicious,' Kellie explained of her latest surgery. After a whopping 26 year battle with cancer scares, an auto-immune disease and her body enduring three rounds of menopause, Kellie is finally cancer free, happy and optimistic about her future. When quizzed on what she's learnt from her cancer ordeal, Kellie warned of the dangers women face by not getting a regular cervical screening test. 'If something's not right, look at it straight away,' she warned. 'You've got one chance at life.' And with many women thinking cancer only affects the older generation, Kellie's story is proof that it does strike the young too, and more often that we think. 'I've always said to people to go and have a PAP smear; it takes five minutes [and] they're there to save our lives.'
