LifeStyle Experts:

Cherie Barber

Renovations Expert

Ask Cherie

Cherie Barber is a full-time professional renovator. She has personally renovated 26 properties and been involved in deals well over $50 million. You can catch Cherie on the LifeStyle Home Channel.

Latest Q+A's

Tile Paint

Posted Wednesday 25 April 2012 |0 Comments

Hi Cherie, Where do you buy tile paint from? Emily.

We are starting to renovate our home. In our living area and dining area the tongue and groove walls are horizontal and as it is a pretty long room we were wondering what a cheap and effective way to get a smooth flat wall?...

How to lighten up my Kitchen

Posted Wednesday 28 March 2012 |0 Comments

My kitchen faces south and is located towards the middle of my home so it can be quite dark. The kitchen does adjoin a dining area which is next to a glassed and roofed alfresco area. I am thinking about installing a skylight...

Re cementing cracks in brickwork

Posted Monday 19 March 2012 |0 Comments

Dear Cherie Our house is 12 years old. The bricks on the outside wall are imitation sandstone blocks. In three places the mortar has come out of the brickwork. What could I buy to fill the gaps. Would something like...

basic fixups

Posted Monday 19 March 2012 |0 Comments

hi, my dad has been trying to fix the ceiling, the house is only 15years old but the builder must have taken shortcuts, the back water tap leaked for a few years and somehow half the house, showing on the ceiling is cracking...

Our home 100 years old

Posted Thursday 8 March 2012 |0 Comments

Hi cherie, After a bit of help, Our house is old its around 100 years old i am not sure where it was build etc. The thing is my grandm sold it to use for half price what they are asking for houses the same around here....

White walls

Posted Monday 19 March 2012 |0 Comments

Hi Cherie,we have just bought our first house,it is a very small house and I have read that if you paint everything including the skirting board white it will make it seem bigger.Is this correct? Is there anyother way to...

Painted Brick

Posted Thursday 5 April 2012 |0 Comments

Thanks for answering my question. If you cannot afford cement rendering, what are your view in painting the brickwork? Thanks again.

Fixing the front of an ugly house

Posted Tuesday 3 April 2012 |0 Comments

I have a limited budget, but really ned to improve roadside appeal. It has limited privacy from the road and can be a bit noisy. There is a small carport to the left of the house also. Any suggestions recommended please....

plastering 1925 old brick home inside and out

Posted Tuesday 28 February 2012 |0 Comments

hi Cherie, must say you have a very impressive write up - well done!!! I have hired a plaster to fix existing cracks in my 1925 bungalow. he advised he could use cheaper products but the finish would not be any where...