In September last year, I received the most wonderful and unexpected phone call from Hot Tomato radio to tell me that I was the winner of the $20,000 home renovation competition sponsored by LJ Hooker and Smith & Sons. I NEVER enter competitions but I knew this one would help us to finally achieve some renovation goals at our Elanora home. I could not believe how lucky I was to win the prize, and I'm writing to you to say thank you and update you on our renovation projects. 

At the time of winning the competition, we were well underway planning our pool area reno and so we decided to contract Smith & Sons to complete this job for us. It was wonderful to have the $5000 from LJ Hooker to inject into this project. We have transformed our daggy shed and dated pool area with decorative screens, built in seating and storage, garden boxes, and new tiling and pathways to create a cool and functional outdoor area. This project was completed just in time for Christmas 2019 and we loved entertaining out there all through the Gold Coast summer. 

This year we were finally able to commence our long-awaited kitchen project. With $15,000 to spend with Smith & Sons, we have achieved the perfect kitchen for our family. It's stylish and functional, and getting the footprint right with an open plan into the lounge room has meant that we could also finally lay new floors throughout the house. It is completely transformed - and we think it's just gorgeous!

Our home has been a work in progress for many years (since we bought it through LJ  Hooker Palm Beach in 2013) and this prize has been the most wonderful gift. We cannot thank the sponsors L J Hooker and Smith & Sons enough, thank you to all of Smith & Sons' staff and contractors, and thank you to Hot Tomato and myGC for making all this possible too.

I am very, very grateful and hope that you enjoy these images of our renovation projects.