Light & bright for my bathrooms

"The property was advertised in a strip advert in HouseFinder magazine, and on the very first day of distribution, a client read the magazine, contacted me about the house, had a viewing, and bought it! Yes, the very first client who responded to my HouseFinder advert is the one who purchased the property!"

Ursula Gollwitzer renovated a two-level residence, and the beautiful bathrooms caught our attention. She is the winner of this issue’s Readers Revamp prize, receiving a gift voucher from Ferreira’s Garden Centre, Windhoek.



She describes herself as a jack of all trades and has been involved in landscaping and interior design, revamping homes, for as long as she can remember.


Before


After

Over 10 years ago, she sold her landscaping business through a brokering firm. During that entire process, the brokering firm approached her to sell businesses through them, and that's how she became a business broker.


Before


After

THE STORY UNFOLDS

The bathrooms you renovated look amazing. Could you please share your background and how you started renovating and redecorating properties?
It began in my mid 20s when I rented a home and assisted the landlord with redesigning the garden, interior, and repainting.

What aspect of such projects do you enjoy the most?
I love selecting materials and witnessing the end results. Viewing before-and-after photos is particularly satisfying as everything comes together.

Can you provide some background on this project?
The entire house was tiled in a brownish color, and I immediately felt it needed neutral and light tones. These are currently in vogue and appeal to most prospective buyers.

What were the key features you incorporated into the new bathrooms?
I aimed for a modern, clean aesthetic with neutral tones, allowing clients to easily complement the space with their own colours. The walls were repainted in white, a timeless choice that enhances the feeling of space in smaller homes.

What was your biggest challenge?
The plumbing in the main bathroom posed the greatest challenge. Moving the bath required extensive adjustment to the plumbing, particularly since there are limitations on how high you can modify plumbing upstairs. Converting from a bath to a shower was especially complex, but we managed to achieve a flawless outcome.

Do you have any budgeting tips for us?
Always consider what prospective buyers would value when renovating, and opt for quality over brand names. Choose mid-range brands for durability without overspending.

Be resourceful – for instance, I refurbished an existing shower door rather than purchasing a new one, saving a large amount.

Embrace a minimalist approach with timeless appeal, avoiding unnecessary extravagance.

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