For the next 10 weeks an audience will watch as a Launceston couple guts and renovates a humble city cottage off High Street.
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In Tasmania’s own renovation show – similar to The Block – Sarah and Sam Haberle from S.Group will renovate an 1890s cottage in 10 weeks.
Their efforts will be revealed in eight online episodes.
Named Ava, the cottage sits on a small 130 metres squared footprint.
“We were inspired to do it because we needed somewhere for the family,” Mrs Haberle said.
With Sam an architect and Sarah an interior designer, the couple are not short on experience.
They decided to empty and renovate the cottage to show Tasmanians what could be done in their community.
“We could use our skills to inspire others because so many people are renovating at the moment,” Mrs Harberle said.
“Why not do something local?
“People can drive past the house and watch it progress.”
The couple will be forced to move from their existing home later in the year – meaning there is no room for delays on their cottage development.
“The work is huge and we are doing it in a quick timeframe,” she said.
While Mrs Haberle expects the renovation episodes will provide entertainment, she hoped to inspire and encourage people to undertake a similar project of their own.
“It’s a lot of hard work and it’s almost like we could have demolished the house – but we love the historical shell,” she said.
“There’s the Block and shows like that, but to see it locally – it’s the first time something like this has been done in Tasmania.
“People are suddenly like wow, I could actually do this.”
Sitting on a small parcel of land, the Haberle-family home will need to fit five people when finished.
Mrs Haberle will be forced to use her interior design skills to make the space feel as open and practical as possible.
She intends to create a master wing with a lounge and bathroom to create a “section and a feeling of more space”.
A double dividing fireplace will also be installed while Mrs Haberle intends to use storage solutions to maximise the area.
She said the aim was to make the space livable “while maintaining the historical aesthetic and incorporating modern elements to show off Ava’s big personality”.
After ten weeks of sweat, possibly tears and a lot of paint, Sam and Sarah will hold an open house at the cottage.
Visit sgroup.com.au/blog/meetava for episode one.