history & showcase

carl jung said, “the home is the mirror of the self”.

when i look at my history, carl jung’s words ring loudly in my ears. i have spent more than half of my life carefully planning and managing the re-building and re-shaping of the homes my family has lived in to adapt to each new stage of family life and increase the value of each asset. and importantly, to give each home a heart.

i have brought the same passion and careful planning to each of my clients’ homes that i have helped to re-build and re-shape.

as a physiotherapist, i have also brought the same careful approach to my patients’ bodies to re-build and re-shape them to adapt to major life changes – to bring out the best in their bodies so they can enjoy each new stage to the full.

the intrinsic link between bodies and homes is not lost on me. flexibitlity and adaptability are the mainstays of any treatment or exercise programme for our bodies - so too in our homes. we need flexibility to continually adapt to each new stage of life and to new circumstances. 

click below to see how this approach will work for you

history and showcase: the approach

the approach i take in treating and bringing out the best in a body is the same approach i take to treating and bringing out the best in a home. you begin with an overall vision and feeling of what you want in the long term. you then work out what you need right now and in the medium term. and then you create a step by step plan.

this way, time, effort and money is never wasted. every improvement you make and every cent you invest along the way is part of a well considered plan that takes you to your short, medium and long term goals one step at a time.

for example, clever planning can take a house from a rental property to a home you love living in to a major superannuation asset.

i believe an important part of clever planning is re-using features of the home you are grateful for. not only is this resourceful, it gives the home a heart. the first step of any plan is to adapt what you love about the old into the new. it never ceases to amaze me how the love and respect for the original character of a home gives any new stages instant heart.

as you can see from this outline of my last 33 years, i have used the principles of live well and sell well to enjoy every property to the full as well as maximise its sale price.

click below to see the history and experience available to you

history and showcase: 1974

1974
queens road hamilton house and land purchased.
overall vision: prepare for ultimate return to brisbane. secure exposure to brisbane property market while overseas. remove 1920’s façade to reveal original 1880 features, bring the river and city view into all living areas, realise long term investment potential of its position and views.

designed and project managed short term improvements, re-opened verandahs to link formal living spaces to the northern sun and the spectacular river and city views to the south.

1974
returned to brisbane.
indooroopilly house and land purchased.
overall vision: secure a family home close to husband’s new business. quality architectural features such as a beautifully wide hallway and a large leadlight bay window increased options for siginificant future development. possible to re-build in two stages to live well with a young family and increase value of asset. retain hamilton property for investment potential.

click below for the 1974 to 1984 experience

history and showcase: 1974 - 1984

1974 to 1981
designed and project managed the staged renovation of indooroopilly family home.
first stage: made structural changes and extensions that worked towards second stage and enhanced the original character of the home. re-opened verandahs, replicated arches and used recycled windows, doors, timber and furnishings.

1981 to 1984
second stage: extended to include two built-in fireplaces and a parents’ retreat. reversed the floor plan to allow all living areas access to northern verandahs. physiotherapy rooms were created at the garden level, on my graduation from university of qld as a physiotherapist with a double major in psychology. over a five year period our adolescent family successfully adapted existing living spaces to provide short term and emergency foster care for 9 newborn babies and young children. ran my physiotherapy practice from home until we moved to urquhart house red hill in 1993, where I extended my practice.

1984
sold hamilton house and land: high auction price achieved as a result of the sell well preparation and presentation.

click below for the 1984 to 1993 experience

history and showcase: 1984 - 1993

1984
wategos beach byron bay house and land purchased.
overall vision: secure exposure to coastal property market while working overseas, bring the outside features in (rock hillside, rainforest, views of the beach and lighthouse), holiday well as a family and realise long term investment potential. designed and managed a staged renovation in line with vision, took advantage of natural slope of land and views to create a one bedroom studio apartment at garden level.

1989
urquhart house red hill house and land purchased.
overall vision: upgrade for tenants, realise its great long term investment potential by re-building the house to embrace its position and views, replace family home with a residence in a central location flexible enough to adapt to the needs of adult children and ageing parents, expand my physiotherapy practice, enjoy a unique lifestyle in a 'superannuation' property.

1991
lillian cottage red hill house and land purchased.
overall vision: long term superannuation investment, upgrade for tenants short term and renovate to realise the long term potential of its position and views.

1993
indooroopilly home featured in queensland homes magazine.
indooroopilly home sold for a record sale price as a result of my sell well preparation and presentation: one of 4 houses sold in Brisbane that year in the top sale price category.

click below for the 1993 to 1999 experience

history and showcase: 1993 - 1999

1993 to 1995
fully designed and project managed the major renovation of urquhart house. transformed the run-down 3 bedroom workers' cottage into a dramatic and sophisticated 3 level home that still complied with a character classification. the superb city view dictated the city lights take centre stage on all 3 levels. widened internal proportions to frame view. re-pitched angle of roof to create a sky level master bedroom retreat and studio bedroom. built expanded treatment rooms at the front of the home to easily welcome patients. the home’s near city location enabled my practice to include all maternity hospitals.

1995 to 1999
built a garden level apartment under the street level to make the most of the natural slope of the land and create a two bedroom multi purpose living space.

expanded my physiotherapy practice to develop and run the aquafit programme for pregnant women at wesley hospital and also an integrated ‘continuity of care’ treatment programme for women during their major life changes.

further developed the philosophy of integrating the big picture and small details for students and patients alike in my teaching role with the university of queensland at the mater hospital.

click below for the 1999 to 2002 experience

history and showcase: 1999 - 2002

1999
caloundra beachfront apartment purchased.
overall vision: replace wategos beach house to adapt to our family’s next stage, bring the outside features in (rocks, sand and waves) to every facet of the apartment to holiday well and increase value of asset.

2000
sold wategos beach house and land. high sale price achieved as a result of my sell well philosophy and presentation.

2001
purchased an art deco apartment in spring hill.
overall vision: replace urquhart house as our main residence, live well in a superannuation property close to husband’s business, the city and parklands, capitalise on its unrecognised potential and have an ideal base to begin the development of the well well well group.
began the 9 month lead-up to the presentation and marketing of urquhart house.

2002
urquhart house featured in queensland homes magazine.
urquhart house sold at a record sale price for red hill as a result of my sell well preparation, marketing programme and presentation.

click below for the 2002 to 2007 experience

history and showcase: 2002 - 2007

2002
moved to spring hill apartment and began developing the well well well group.
project managed the removal of walls and the painting of the interior to create a lightness of being that reflected the era of the building.

2003
kangaroo point riverfront terrace apartment purchased.
overall vision: replace lillian cottage as a short term investment property, secure exposure to brisbane riverfront market while overseas, bring the riverfront aspect into all living areas in future renovation.

2005
began the 6 month lead-up to the presentation and marketing programme for the sale of lillian cottage red hill.

2005
sold lillian cottage red hill for $160,000 more than initial estimations as a result of my sell well preparation, marketing and presentation.

2007
finalised development of the well well well group and added stay well to live well and sell well as services being currently provided.

33 years on, i believe there's a lot to be said for staying well, selling well and living well!

click below for a sample of recent projects in homes, workspaces and apartments

history and showcase: homes

grieve road rochedale: re-design of the floor plan and fit out of a dated 800 square home. preparation of a feasibility opinion, reports and concept plans. presentation of options: (1) to become a timeless and sophisticated family home on acreage or (2) to put the foundations and structures in place to attract a higher price if the property was to be sold. creation of a detailed 30 page inspiration folio to illustrate all recommendations.

arthur street caloundra: preparation of a modest home for sale starting with a feasibility opinion. detailed recommendations included all internal and external painting and fit out. project management of all stages. selection and provision of furnishings and 'props' for sale.

history and showcase: work spaces

stock broking and investment company petrie terrace: re-vamp of the 5th floor of a city fringe office building. recommendations included ideas for refurbishment and full internal colour schemes. colours chosen were not only to freshen and update, they also had to integrate with existing logo and branding materials. liaised with building manager to re-design plans of foyer and reception area to create a more appropriate use of the spaces. liaised with building manager to incorporate my designs and colours into the subsequent upgrade of all common areas in the building.

history and showcase: apartments

chiswell place caloundra: upgrade of a 25 year old beachfront apartment building. development and drawings of a detailed staged concept plan. immediate recommendations dovetail with future staged works and include full internal and external colour schemes, external building features, windows, pool renovation, paving and landscaping.

bridgewater quays kangaroo point: upgrade of the main entry foyer and six common entrances in a 12 year old, 46 unit, riverfront complex. recommendations and project management included opinion reports, artist's impressions, drawings for better use of space, construction details, tiling and all paint colour schemes. recommendations also included staged upgrade of external building and grounds.

craigston spring hill: complete the overhaul and restoration of a 90 year old heritage listed building. as a member of the steering committee for same, involved in the development of the concept plan logically ordered into stages, the upgrade of the grounds, security, colour schemes and roof garden.