byhayleyjohnston

byhayleyjohnston Hi, I’m Hayley - Interior Designer & Founder.

I work with busy professionals undertaking full-home renovations who want a clear, considered outcome, without managing the process themselves.

21/09/2026

4 weeks until we start pulling this place apart 🥲

After a year of living here, designing, documenting, working through approvals and wondering when we’d actually get to start… we’ve officially moved out and the countdown is on.

Tapware and timber flooring are ordered, I’m finishing off our construction documentation and we’re locking in windows, doors, tiles and stone.

First up will be removing the fireplace and getting stuck into the attic! New dormer windows, roof works, levelling floors and all the very unglamorous things that eventually make the pretty things possible.

It feels slightly surreal that after talking about this renovation for so long, we’re finally only weeks away from actually doing it.
Let’s see how this goes 🫠

14/09/2026

And so it begins!!

A year ago we bought our very rundown Victorian terrace in Sydney. We’ve spent the last year living in it, figuring out how we actually want the house to work, designing, documenting and very patiently working through approvals.

And now we’re finally about to start the proper renovation.

I’ll be sharing it all as we go. The design decisions, materials, costs, construction, things that inevitably go wrong and, hopefully, eventually… a finished house.

5 weeks until we start on site. Here we go 🙌🏼

Darlington Terrace - Living RoomThe design for one of the first spaces you’ll experience when you enter our home.We’re r...
11/08/2026

Darlington Terrace - Living Room

The design for one of the first spaces you’ll experience when you enter our home.

We’re removing the existing fireplace, opening up the room and introducing a new staircase, then layering back in the detail through high gloss walls and joinery, wall mouldings, decorative cornices, natural stone, warm timber and aged metal.

I wanted this room to feel sophisticated and collected, with a mix of vintage references and more contemporary pieces. Not overly perfect or matched, but considered.

Swipe through for the concept, finishes, samples and where we’re starting from.

So, what can you actually make a benchtop out of?Natural stone is only one of the options.From stainless steel and timbe...
11/08/2026

So, what can you actually make a benchtop out of?

Natural stone is only one of the options.

From stainless steel and timber to terrazzo, porcelain, tile, concrete, solid surface and laminate. The material you choose can completely change the way a kitchen looks, feels and performs.

There’s no one “best” benchtop material. It comes down to the look you’re trying to achieve, how you use your kitchen, maintenance, fabrication and budget.

Save this one for your kitchen reno.

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10/08/2026

There are SO many more benchtop options than just stone.

Before we get into thicknesses, profiles and all the fun details, I’m starting with the basics, the different materials you can actually use for a kitchen benchtop.

Because the material you choose influences pretty much every decision that comes after it.

What are you choosing for your kitchen?

What our DA actually cost usOne of those renovation costs that can be easy to underestimate, so I’m sharing exactly what...
09/08/2026

What our DA actually cost us

One of those renovation costs that can be easy to underestimate, so I’m sharing exactly what we spent getting our DA approved.

Worth noting, I did the drawings and shadow diagrams myself, so we didn’t have to pay for those. Perks of being an interior designer!

DA approved ✅

Now onto the Construction Certificate… and plenty more spending, I’m sure

09/08/2026

Room 02 | The final powder room design

One of the smallest rooms in the house, but definitely not short on detail.

The biggest challenge was fitting a shower, toilet and vanity into such a tight footprint without compromising on the overall design.

We’ve landed on Viola stone, deep burgundy, custom vanity and a fully colour drenched scheme to create the moody, luxurious feel I had envisioned from the beginning.

I’m really happy with where this little room has landed.

Powder room complete. Now onto the kitchen…

Porter's Paints Tiles | Stone | Bathroomware CERAMICA SENIO Astra Walker

19/07/2026

Room 2 | Why I’m colour drenching our powder room.

The obvious choice for a small room would be white.

It reflects light, makes the space feel bigger, and it’s considered the “safe” option.

I’m doing the opposite.

We’re colour drenching the entire room in a deep burgundy. The walls, ceiling, matching tiles… the lot.

It might sound counterintuitive, but darker colours can actually make small spaces feel more immersive and considered. Instead of your eye stopping at contrasting surfaces, everything blends together to create depth and atmosphere.

Because this is a powder room, I want it to feel like an experience rather than just a functional space. Somewhere guests walk into and immediately think, wow.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay. I think the best interiors have a point of view.

Would you be brave enough to colour drench a room in your home?

16/07/2026

Room 02 | The stone that inspired the entire design.

If I had to choose one favourite natural stone, it would be Viola. Every single time.

We used it in the kitchen of our last apartment, and I knew I wanted to bring it into this home too just in a different way.

So instead of another kitchen, it’s becoming the hero of our powder room.

For me, great design usually starts with one element that sets the tone for everything else. In this case, it was the stone.

The rich burgundy tones, dramatic veining and warmth of Viola inspired the colour palette, the finishes and the overall mood of the room. Every other decision has been made to complement it, rather than compete with it.

Sometimes all it takes is one beautiful material to shape an entire space.

Now the challenge is bringing the rest of the room together.

15/07/2026

Room 02 | Episode 01 | The Powder Room

The next room we’re designing might be one of the smallest in the house but I want it to make the biggest impression.

The vision is a space that feels rich, moody and completely unexpected. Think boutique hotel rather than your typical powder room.

The entire design revolves around one goal: creating a luxurious experience for anyone who walks through the front door. From the burgundy colour drenching to the Viola stone vanity, every decision is about making this little room feel intentional and beautifully considered.

It’s also going to be one of the trickiest rooms to design. We’re fitting a toilet, vanity and shower into a very compact footprint, so every millimetre counts.

Over the next week, I’ll be taking you through every design decision as we bring this room to life before our DA gets approved.

I have a feeling this might end up being one of my favourite rooms in the house.

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Rosebery, NSW
2018

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