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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

win a $500 Masters gift card to renovate

Sponsored by Nuffnang

I am so excited about working with Masters because my house is in serious need of some TLC. I love our new house BUT living with 1970's decor in every room does get to you. Especially as I'm spending so much time at home with a newborn. But warmer weather has arrived in Sydney so it's a great time to get inspired for a bit of spring cleaning and  making a start on the renovating and decorating. And this sponsored post opportunity was just the kick up the you know what to get us motivated. I was very kindly given $1000 in Masters gift cards for this makeover and keep reading to find out how YOU can win a $500 gift card from Masters to renovate part of your house.




Now I decided to split my renovating budget between two areas. First up to create a little entertaining area outside. Here is our back porch/patio area. The before shot. Bo-ring. Because we are on a corner block people get a bit confused as to which entrance to use and often this is the first impression. And it's not very attractive, more of a dumping area.  What I really want is somewhere to sit and watch the kids play or have people over for a cup of coffee. That way if we're sitting outside we don't need to stare at our hideous green carpet.  It would be nice to have enough seating that we can have dinner out there too.

before
 
My idea for this space is a small table with chairs and a bench seat to sit on with a couple of cushions (yep, you can get outdoor cushions from Masters) and watch the kids. I love the natural wood of the setting and at a great price at $150. And if there were less people in our family I would totally buy this little yellow set. Talk about a pop of color. This set is coming soon to the Masters website and is such a cute retro setting. Very retro mummy!
I'd also like to see the old light taken down and freshened up with a new light fitting. At the moment it's just a big home for cobwebs.


Industrial looking lights are very popular right now. And you can pay a fortune for them (I know, because I had to buy 3 for my kitchen and searched high and low for the best price I could get). And so I'm loving this light from Masters which suits my Hamptons style perfectly. And at under $70 it's a great price.  I'll probably get one for my front entrance too.
 

 
Now the Masters website is super easy to use. To find this light,  I just went to lighting then on the left hand side, a few more options appear to narrow it down to outdoor then wall and ta da I found what I wanted. Or just pop what you're looking for into the search bar on the top right hand side and go from there.

O.K so that's the outdoors sorted! But I'm lucky enough to have enough money to make over 2 areas of my house. So  next up had to be the nursery, home to Elodie and Emerson. A very 70's room that has hardly been touched since we moved in. That's because no one is sleeping in it. And I didn't put anything away to make it look tidier. This is my honest to goodness 'before' shot. No styling has gone on here.

 
Bare walls, old curtains, old blind, old light fitting and that green carpet. No escaping the green carpet in this house. It's going to be so lovely to decorate this room and put my babies in it! And let it be used as a bedroom.
 

I feel a bit sorry for babies number 4 and 5 because this photo below was the twin's nursery in our old house. No renovating or decorating required. Everything was done for us and it was a fresh and pretty room for 2 babies. Do you love the clothes piled up in the baby bath - ahhh fun times having baby twins in the house.
 
the nursery
 
Now retro daddy doesn't want to paint during his holidays so I've gone for just the decorating option with this room. And Masters have lots of great things to help you decorate! From  floor coverings and curtains to lights and wall decals. Everything is sorted. My vision for this room is something neutral and fun with a touch of vintage. I'm thinking new curtains, a big cream rug to cover the green carpet and a really fun and playful light fitting like this one. And if you're after lighting for your little one's bedrooms then there is a whole section here just for kids lighting.


and I'd love some wall decals. I also plan to hunt around the linen cupoard for some neutral sheet sets and bedding.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who has things hiding in cupboards they've forgotten about. Oh and I’m totally in love with this simple lamp that is neutral, simple and a great price. It’s all about stretching the dollar in this house now that we are a family of 7.This is great for a nursery and has a retro feel about it which I love.
 

Now lucky for me, all of my goodies have arrived from Masters and are hidden away in the garage waiting for retro daddy. He'll be putting furniture together, hanging things, changing light fittings and making over our 2 areas. I'm excited. Him, not so much. But next week I'll be back with my after photos showing you what I've done!

And now it's your chance. To be in the running to win the $500 Masters gift card for your house you need to tell me what area you would makeover and why. Let me now what Masters products you would have to buy? What is your vision? Feel free to share a picture of the space - surely no one has carpet worse than mine. I know how hard it can be to find money in the family budget to decorate so I wish you all good luck……..
 
Competition is open to Australian residents only and full T&C are here.

134 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see the house transformations as they happen!

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  2. We renovated our house about 18 months ago, but what I would use the money for is to give to my mum. Her house looks a little worse for wear and after 'finally' having all 3 kids grown up and moved out - it is time she get the house back up to standard. My mum had the house built 10 years ago for our family as a single mother... how nice it would be to give something back to her for a change and have her living in the house back to its former glory.

    ladybear.me

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  3. We are currently building a back deck on a shoe-string budget, due to the old one faling apart. I would like to freshen up the back of the house with a coat of paint, get some lights and perhaps some cushions to make the area nicer.

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  4. We moved into our newly built home exactly one week before my son was born. Sounds like we would have no need for renovation right? But we moved in with no landscaping! With a newborn, weeks turned into months pretty quickly and now that it is Spring I am just longing to Tom out and sit in our alfresco on a nice outdoor setting or a patch of grass. But alas, being on one wage and entering into a new mortgage with a bubba just been born, things are going a lot slower than we would like! I would love to use Masters to buy an outdoor setting, outside lighting fixtures, solar lights, wood to build veggie patches in our garden and so much more!
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X0a5p2GZ6F8/UE_O6J8ZIYI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/tdOcb89CiHE/s1600/DSC01468.jpg
    Here is a pic of Mr T looking longingly out the window :-)
    Thanks for the opportunity Retromummy! :-)

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  5. Is this for AU residents only? I tried to look up items on Masters, but they couldn't do my post code, so I'm thinking it is.

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  6. PS. Apologies for the typos in that post. Another sleepless night... ;-)

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  7. wow, I love all your ideas Retromummy, especially that gorgeous yellow setting. As empty nesters we love to sit and have coffee in the garden. Speaking of the garden: a lemon tree would be great, and I have checked out the catalogue and picked out some lovely solar lights for that romantic look. I know I could make the $500 stretch with the excellent pricing at Masters but I might have to add a little of my babysitting money to finish off the look. We too live in a 70's house and after four years of painting and minor renovations it is looking better every day. It is amazing how much you can do yourself with the right tools and reasonable prices. .
    We have a Masters store just 10 minutes away so I will take a look later today.
    Thanks Masters for the opportunity.

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  8. What i would makeover? That flat, dull and boring piece of brickwork outside that has grandiose dreams of 'patio' status. It currently is home to a few tiny potplants, a birdcage and my sad, rusty bike, whose tires are deflating daily in sorrow. Is this a patio? Oh, what could it be? Dreaming, dreaming.....

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  9. We've been in our house for 5 yrs now and although we've done a fair bit the house needs alot more done. It had been completley empty for 7 years before we got it so EVERYTHING needs doing. Fencing, bathroom, garden, front balcony, driveway, windows, and hopefully a back deck this summer. Really is so overwelming sometimes. But if I was lucky enough to get this gift I would use it to fix the front balcony and stairs. New balustrading, tiling, and awing. Do you think $500 would cover that? :P

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  10. I had no idea Masters had so much variety! We've just relocated and I'm trying to keep busy to make the house ours, although as you well know RetroMummy a whole house is a BIG project and needs more than a little cash. If I were to be the lucky recipient I think I would definitely splurge on light fittings. Ours our the cheapo standard glass shades and I am dying to update and add a bit of us in the process :) it's next up on the list!

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  11. I love the ideas you have for your renovation projects!

    I would definitely use the $$ to makeover our garage. With a car, 5(!!) pushbikes and lots of outdoor gear - it currently looks like a bomb site in there. Needs some organisation asap!!

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  12. We have just moved from a lovely spacious 5 bed renovated federation to a much smaller 4-5 bed cottage 5hrs away. Needless to say the place needs some work and is a little confused, we really need to paint throughout and replace glass panes in many of the double sash windows which are not working and the french doors! But what I would spend the majority of the money on is my big girls bedroom and dressing room. Sounds opulent but it isn't really just two smaller rooms with an adjoining door (one being originally a closed in verandah). We would love to incorporate some of the lovely wall paper masters has, paint, fix the ceilings, add window furnishing, lighting and storage! Oh and it might be an idea to replace the kitchen flooring as I have just ripped up sticky black and white lino tiles in there!

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  13. I would renovate our bathroom, we bought our house 8 months ago without realize the bathtub has a huge crack in it, and the rest of the bathroom is full of chipped tiles and all ugly fittings. It looks very much like a bull has been through there

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  14. Wow! I had no idea Masters had such great stuff. We just had to get rid of our bbq, so thought it would be a great opportunity to spruce up our outdoor area so we have somewhere gorgeous to sit and relax and smell the roses(we don't actually have any roses but with a Masters giftcard we could have). I love the yellow outdoor set, I've been looking for something similar but unfortunately they have been way too expensive, but this one from Masters is way cheap! I also love some of the outdoor lighting they have, and the Cole and Bright Solar Power mozzie lamp - we have a huge mozzie problem here so can't sit outside without some help. A nice little Weber BBQ would finish the spot off!

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  15. I can't work out how to attach a picture of my bathroom, but picture this - a useless vanity that has stepped right out of the 80s, a mirror that's been decorated with multi coloured stripes (!!), a multi coloured shower curtain and a broken plastic towel rail. Eeek. You can see why I need a makeover...

    So, in typical fashion I've spent my money before I have it, and worked out exactly what I'd have. For under $500 I could have a Finlay & Smith Twin Glass Door Bathroom Cabinet, a Finlay & Smith low profile basin, a vanity mirror, a Splash Designer double towel rail, a Micro Boss Basin Mixer, a Haven white shower curtain and a Mileno Egyptian Cotton Bath Mat... how awesome is that for under $500?!

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  16. We too live in a 70's house..A very large 7 bedroom, three levels. Where to begin with reno's. I would love to do the kitchen dining room area up. it is currently very 70's with a misson brown kitchen and dark dark brown tiles. Reno's are a challenge for us because of the distance and have no tradies available...So once a new kitchen goes in. I would love new light fittings, new blinds, paint.. walking through a masters store is like a dream come true... Having such a large house each room has to be done on a very tight shoe string budget.. but with alot of work it will be achieveable..after living here for thre years I so want to make the house mine with my own little touches... thanks for the opportunity Retromummy...

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  17. I would definitely like to make over our study/sewing/craft/spare room - more storgage urgently required as we can hardly get through the door

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  18. Oh my goodness! So hard to choose just one area that needs attention in my house. It's also a 70's house and is literally falling apart. Cupboards are falling apart, drawers have broken so many times we just dont use them anymore and have to keep the cutlery on the kitchen bench. Skirting boards were never installed properly in the first place. Pretty much every wall needs painting. And then of course there is decorating too! It truly is a renovators delight. $500 from masters would go a long way with us! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

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  19. I would spend the money on weed kill and with what was left over I'd purchase grass. We have just built a house, with 4 kids and no moneu left over I know that the children would love to get outside and play. Grandma keeps asking when she needs to buy last years christmas gift BUT at the stage we're going the kids will have left home before the Trampoline arrives.

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  20. Great prize, thanks for the chance to win! Our house is quite old, built in the 1930s, but out the back a former owner did a hideous renovation in the 70s we suspect, adding a sun room. The roof slopes awkwardly and there are two doors which is unnecessary in such a small space! We do like it because the windows let in a lot of lovely sun during winter, but the curtains are these heavy drapes with an ugly 80s floral print in browns and beiges. When the curtains are open, they are such big drapes that they obscure 30% of the window area. On the ceiling we have one of those large long neon nights that buzz and make me feel like I'm living in a service station or convenience store! So I'd love to change the curtains to some simple blinds, and get rid of the neon and put it a simple and beautiful light fitting.

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  21. We also live in a 70s house, albeit a very small red brick one! And with baby #3 arriving 5wks ago I'd love to invest in some good storage options to make her room look less like something off an episode of hoarders as it's currently our storage/sewing room and I have a 'slight' fabric addiction!! And some will go towards some pretty seating & cushions for the back deck we've been wanting to build for the last 7yrs!

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  22. Karita Guiney karitaguiney@yahoo.com.auSeptember 18, 2012 at 9:11 AM

    We've just signed a contract on our first home and I'd love to be able to decorate my girls bedrooms in the way I've wanted to since they were born. It's been 4 years of rentals and some rather interesting colour schemes! So for us we'd spend the money on some beautiful pink paintn my 4 year old has already picked out, some floating shelves to put all their precious things on that are currently hidden away to avoid getting broken and some nice blinds or curtains. Any money left over I'd use to get some storage blocks for the play room.

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  23. I'd love to do up our outdoor area... the pond recently sprung an invisible leak and now it's sitting empty, well apart from the broken pump, dried up algae and sand in the bottom... I'd love to build it up into a herb garden or bbq/outdoor kitchen area

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  24. Just this morning I was feeling guiltly about the bedsheets as blinds in my little guys room. We've been in this old house for 18 months and boy does it need some loving. I'd grab some paint to cover the purple window frames, choose some new blinds and grab a big rug for my baby's room (more bright green carpet here-it looks like a bowling green!!). Thanks for the opportunity Retromummy & Masters. Sarah

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  25. Oh Corrie, I would use this voucher to make over the bane of my life: The Kitchen. It is truly horrible, with dirty green laminate and not enough storage. The splashback tiles are a grimy eyesore and the whole thing is so tiny it makes me claustrophobic. All of which is difficult to live with when you are passionate about cooking, and have a family to feed on a regular basis! I have been dreaming of a new kitchen since we moved in 5 years ago and we have managed to upgrade the appliances, but there is still alot to be done. My Masters shopping list would definitely include flatpack cupboards, white subway tile for the splashback, and new counters if there was any left over. I would love my cooking experience to be joyfull, for a change! xx

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  26. The teeny tiny 1950's bright red kitchen has got to go.
    It is such a drag cooking in there. Plumbing problems nad very limited space means hubby and I are ALWAYS in each other's way, and getting randomly splashed.
    If we had the budget (and time) this Summer, we'd like to rip it and the adjacent laundry out, and make it all one room. Open plan. With the laundry hidden under benchtops, an actual pantry space instead of the billy bookcase we have, and a window bigger than 40cms. Then I might enjoy cooking again!

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  27. Hi Retromummy,
    we moved into our place in january of this year we also planning on getting married so we are saving all our money for the wedding and have no money to renovate! We had similar issues to you will sellers who werent very nice. When we bought they promised a shower screen from italy would be installed by settlement on handover was a broken and rusty shower screen not happy! so will $500 dollars i would buy this shower screen
    http://www.masters.com.au/product/900009014/pipers-elfreda-shower-screen-900mm.
    Also my fiance is a huge book fan and after living in the house for 8 months there is still 8 books of books sitting in the laundry i would love to create storage in my carport to store his books! thanks for the giveaway
    Kate

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  28. I would love to make over the girls room and put in some functional and attractive storage...with locks...even looking at their rooms drives me insane as it is never tidy!!

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  29. We moved house in March and desperately need to makeover parts of it. I would start at the front entrance because thats the first place people are going to see and it should express your style/vision for the house. Here is a pininterest board I have created for you showing how I would transform the front of the house into a rustic welcoming area where you can sit, relax and emjoy country living http://pinterest.com/lotlots/masters-makeover/

    P.S. Thanks for introducing me to Masters. I'd never heard of them before now and $500 certainly goes a long way. You must have got so much for $1000!

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  30. When we bought out house 8 years ago, the back verandah was beautiful. But the decking wasn't treated, and is now rotted, unsafe, roped-off, unusable and unsightly. We started replacing them one by one as they went, but it quickly got out fo hand and clearly needs a complete re-do - properly this time! So I would use it for new decking ( http://www.masters.com.au/product/900015188/treated-pine-decking-90-x-22mm-x-5-4m ), no two ways about it!

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  31. I don't know where I would start! We did a panic move when we found out we were adding twins to our tribe almost 2 years ago. We had just finished renovating a gorgeous weatherboard cottage & it broke my heart to sell it! Our new house is much like yours Corrie - great size, great bones but somewhat dated in it's decoration! Acres of slate (even in the bathroom!) that lovely brown boucle carpet, powder blue laminate kitchen, different curtains/blinds on every window (bright bright blue in the kitchen!). But I think if I were lucky enough to win, i would replace some of the truly hideous light fittings. I've just been having a look & Masters have some gorgeous lights, & I'd definitely be taking home one of those Hamptons style outdoor ones you featured. It would look sooo much better than the orange glass one we have now!!

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  32. We have a concrete patio in our backyard. It's a perfect play area for our munchkins, but because we haven't been able to prioritise any money towards it, it's still bare concrete and not at all good for our 9 month old to crawl around on. We'd love to tile and, and we're keen to give it a go ourselves, DIY style, so I would definitely spend this money towards some tiling products and outdoor lighting. We also have a room in our house known as the "junk room" where we just chuck anything that doesn't have a home. The reason it's like this is because it's the only room without a wardrobe, and therefore lacks organised storage. It would be great to buy some built in wardrobe tracks and doors, so that this room can finally become an organised junk room ... maybe even with a special sewing corner for Mummy!!

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  33. Your renovations sound like lots of fun :) And what a wonderful opportunity to allow others to join in!!

    I only just heard about Masters the other week from my mum, she was telling me about the one near her place.

    I would love to make-over my laundry.

    I had a spinal fusion many years ago which means that I cannot bend my upper back and also have arthritis in my lower back. It also means that my lovely energy efficient front loading washing machine and dryer are not really accessible for me, making washing clothes quite difficult and on bad days quite painful but we make do :)

    We have been talking for a while now about making over our laundry with some sort of shelving that the washing machine and dryer can sit on at a height that I can do the washing easily.

    It would be really nice to have some help towards the cost of the make-over and it looks like Masters has a good range of cabinets and shelving available :)

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  34. What a great giveaway!
    My mind is already spinning thinking of what I could do with $500.00 at Masters!

    Sometimes I wish I lived in a 1970's house...ours is more like a 1930's house...complete with an Early Kooka freestanding cooker.
    So if I won, I would head straight to the kitchen department.
    I would put the $500.00 towards a kitchen overhaul...Daddy R and I were just talking last night about how we really need to suck it up and renovate the kitchen.

    Here are pictures of our existing kitchen.
    http://motherdownunder.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/my-kitchen.html

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  35. I would LOVE to fix up my Kitchen. Our house was built in the 1940's, and has hardly been updated with the exception of a new stove in the 1970's. I'm dying to get started on it. I'm an easy to please girl - I would love enough storage to fit all my gear in, and some new bench tops. It is also mint green and in desperate need of a paint. I don't think$500 is going to be enough to do it all, but I would love to give it a try. Here is a post I wrote about my kitchen!

    http://www.countrylifeexperiment.com/2012/05/my-kitchen.html

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  36. Wow how I would love this opportunity $500 masters voucher! Now what I would do is use it towards making over our garage for a kids playroom. So I would need timber for the stud work and plasterboard if anything left some paint and maybe a rug for the floor. This would give us back a little space back in our small house with a family of 6 we need a little more space. The kids would love this!

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  37. Gosh what don't I need from Masters. Our house was a new build a year ago and we need timber screens for our gardens. Our neighbours are on top of us, we have a small garden and we need some privacy. I wouldn't mind some spray paint to renovate an old out door setting, a couple of light fixtures and a canvas or two for the bathrooms as well. The sell canvasess did you know. Masters is pretty cool.

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  38. Baby number 3 is (hopefully) arriving any day now and his bedroom is still in pieces in our dining room. Since having an office built in to the 4th bedroom a few years ago, we now must have it all removed and transferred to the dining room. All three bedrooms need a fresh lick of paint and some new furniture..rugs..lighting...the works.

    However the majority of the work needs to be done in the 'new' office - I need excellent storage options for my university books and folders, plus my scrapbooking materials; some nice corner lighting for the reading corner I'm also planning in the space; and a fluffy rug to keep my toes warm when the study goes into the night.

    We've just had a Masters open here in Mount Gambier SA and I've already added a few things to my wishlist. This voucher would certainly help me on my way to realising my vision for the completion of our house (indoors at least!)

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  39. Oh, I can't wait to see how the transformation goes!

    As for us, our house is currently undergoing renovations for baby #2 - a new bedroom and a study area.

    And that's just part one of an ongoing project including the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, Miss 3's room and our master bedroom, front and back yard and pool area! Basically, the rest of the house ;-)

    If we won I would spend the $500 on reviewing Miss 3's bedroom and finishing the pool area. We are coming into the wet season here and being able to have comfortable seating and a finished patio area around the pool would be amazing - especially because if Miss 3 could live in the pool, she would, lol! I'm thinking I can relax on the fab Finlay & Smith Super Pod furniture while watching Miss 3 swim her heart out before joining her for a dip...which is the best thing for cooling off on a 35 degree, 95% humidity day in Darwin!

    Miss 3's room is a mixture of various themes at the moment and I would love to be able to re-do it just for her, especially as so much attention has been focused on her sister's arrival!! I'd start with some beautiful curtains, and she loves the Philips Flower Chain light fixture. A fresh coat of paint, some wall decals and she's all set to go!

    Sigh...oh to dream...

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  40. We have a white board with a list of jobs that need to be done around the house however not many items get crossed off. The most imported thing on our list is to fence off the pond in our frontyard to stop our baby from getting into it.

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  41. We are planning a kitchen dining lounge renovation. We need most things for these rooms. Lights, floor coverings, paint, a kitchen. We have industrial carpet in the kitchen so it is really gross. I will try to post a pic so you can see. Maria.

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  42. Hi Corrie,
    We are finishing off our verandah that wraps around the front and side of our house and needs some furnishings. I love the look of the Finlay Smith Milano Teak Outdoor Table and the matching bench seats as well as some fun cushions.
    Cheers, Shaz

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  43. I would love to make over my kitchen it's so retro built in the late 50's early 60's it way past due. I just would like top paint it and paint the existing cupboards and walls and kitchen frame and replace the yellow peeling lino that at times we almost trip over as there are so many pits and gaps. Not much, however, it would really give the kitchen a lift and it would give me a lift too as I spend so much time in there these days baking & cooking on a tight family budget. Cheers:)

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  44. I would love to sort out our outside area in time for summer. With a toddler and another on the way it would be lovely to have somewhere nice to sit and watch the kiddies play, and also make them their own outside play area. (kformosa@hotmail.com)

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  45. My problem area of the house is the downstairs 'toy room'. I hate going down there as it's always a mess and I can't stand the old carpet, curtains and not to mention the old 80s (not in a good way) tv cabinet. I would love to give this room a make over. I can see Bahama Blockout Eyelet curtains totally rocking it down there. Also maybe a Dante shag pile rug in green to add some colour and a bit of flair. Perhaps even a couple of Xavier DIY Batten light fittings to replace the dated oysters that are down there now. Oh I could check out this stuff all day!

    Belinda :-)

    PS - Here is a link to a blog post I did about this room and how much I loathe it here... http://belblogger5.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/stinky-room.html

    PPS - I hope I win!!!!

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  46. Our games room and passageway has the original 70's exposed bricks, which need a cover up with a fresh coat of paint to lighten up the areas. A new rug would finish off the makeover.

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  47. Great giveaway Corrie, and Masters!

    I currently do not have any outdoor seating, and would love to be able to set something up. Perhaps build a deck? Or even something like an outdoor umbrella. And then furniture with some cushions and some deco too!

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  48. With our new unit being built we want to make a great outdoor area so we can entertain with the view of the city. I will definately be spending the afternoon on the masters website

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  49. We are due to move house in a month. There is so much that is a concern for me at the new place. The rising damp which means there is mold on the walls, ceilings and curtains. The bathroom that is at least as old as I am. The yards that need a lot of work. A lot.
    It's definitely a fixer upper, and lots will have to wait because we just do not have the means to put so much work into a place that isn't our own. My priorities will be to fix the mold firstly. I cannot bear to live in a place there the mold is waist high on the walls. *shudder*

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  50. we dont own our own house but would pass on to mum and dad to repaint and or recarpet their bedroom. They have done so much for us over the years and to give a little something back would be lovely

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  51. I would splurge on light fittings! We live in defence housing and I would love to pretty up the boring light fixtures a little. Also paint so that I can get some of those furniture painting tasks I have have had on my mind for ages actually completed.

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  52. We did a major reno of our house last year (read move out of home, live at my parents while pregnant/new born baby, live out of two rooms for 8 months). We got almost everything finished however the suprise find of asbestos meant that we ran out of money to do the kids rooms up - Maya (3) has a lovely shade of bright pink and orange walls with it all cracked and peeling. Flynn (1) has blue and green walls with mould everywhere.

    They need a lot of TLC and smart accessioning to make each room look fab

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  53. wow what a fabulous prize. I've had so much fun browsing the Masters website, gosh I didn't know that they would have so much variety!

    I purchased my little unit almost two years ago and would dearly love to makeover my 'backyard'. At the moment it is what I fondly (sort of) call 'Italian' in that it consists of lots and lots of concrete - various pieces, not all level, and a clothesline. I have attempted to make some progress by planting some dwarf citrus in pots and have a decent number of herb pots, but there is nowhere to sit, there's no lighting (not great for using the space for entertaining... yay for Spring!) the BBQ stays in the garage, and the outlook from my kitchen window is straight into my neighbours kitchen (and bathroom) - ewww!

    I would love to have some screening, seating, solar lights and maybe even a folding clothesline. Oh how lovely it would be to use it over the coming months!

    Thanks for sharing this giveaway Corrie, enjoy the rest of your holiday in the sunshine - it's pouring in Melbourne today!

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  54. I would so love to win this voucher. I have to renovate every room in my house as it is all over 20 years old now - very worn and tired!
    Thank you for showing us Masters - I will go there and have a good look around as I would love to start with the outside like you have. It would be lovely to sit outside with family and friends.

    Kathy

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  55. Wow what a great store! I would spend more than my voucher there I think! I'd love to paint so would buy some tools, some organising items, new lights, and even some plasterboards for our new area. Thanks for the opportunity!Amanda k

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  56. Oh I love Masters! I would redecorate my lounge. We have just renovated our kitchen, master bedroom/ensuite and our lounge is next. With 3 boys (7y,5y,3y)It would be simple and 'boy proof' new lighting, wall piece, storage and a splash of colour!

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  57. Oh, man would $500 do wonders to my home!! I have an almost totally rotten deck down the side of my house which stops the children from playing out there and me entertaining.... It's sooo dangerous!! I would also really love to spruce up the yard, build tge chooks a new coop and get some fruit trees.... Some pots of paint wouldn't go astray for some furniture restoration projects I would love to do... I would just die if I got it!! Masters has just opened up walking distance from my house! Loving it :)

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  58. I am a young mum (23) to a gorgeous 19 month old and currently in my last year of study at UNSW. The area I would love to make over would be our living room. I would love a splash of colour on the walls and some cleaver storage to hide the little ones toys in when she is sleeping. Anything to help make the precious moments I have at home with her that much more special =]

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  59. I'm renting so I would give the card to my sister. She is slowly (very slowly) trying to renovate her house. Not sure where she would start though - kitchen? bathroom? laundry? sunroom? They are all in need of some serious updating.

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  60. Awesome giveaway!

    I would use the money to do up the upstairs bathroom. It has bright blue tiles on the floor on the walls and up until a few months back the walls painted blue also. I found some white paint and painted over them which looks heaps better but still SO MUCH BLUE!!

    I would buy new tiles, new paint and a new sink/ vanity!

    Can't wait to see your makeovers!

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  61. I would use it to do up my double garage. It currently still looks like a garage - sloped cement floors, garage door still attached, but we use it more as an extra entertaining and multi purpose space. I would insulate the ceilings (as it is a garage, it is the only part of the house not insulated), close in the door with windows/sliding door, window coverings, flooring, lighting and a fresh lick of paint. OOOh wouldn't that be nice! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  62. We are currently planning to make our garage into a bedroom for our teen son, he is sharing with his brother and they are busting out of their tiny room. Id love an area for him to call his own and have his friends hang out, this would be a great prize to start it off! Leah - mum to 4

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  63. I have been 9 months seperated and thrown myself into trying to finish off so many unfinished areas of the house. I only have a limited budget but have found that with a LOT of hard work and the wonderful assistance of my 17 YO son, and a lot of time, you can make a difference. A $100 worth of paint has made a huge difference to my lounge room which had never been finished - it was half taupe from the owners before us, 2 walls were cream from an attempt from the ex, and some areas just plaster where the chimney had been taken out and the ceiling replastered. Now I have nearly done it all in one color! Ceiling white for the ceiling, ceiling roses and cornice, warm white for the walls and I might do a white picture rail. I managed to scrape together enough on a special for wooden flooring DIY so that is next. Sanding the decking outside is next as $60 of decking oil will make a huge difference there. I would use the voucher to put cupboard doors on my kitchen I think and lots of odd bods like skirting to finish off the lounge, more paint for the bedrooms, etc. I know we will get there eventually! :) Somedays the painting soothes my spirit and heart ache.

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  64. Wow, your back light looks exactly the same as the one at my front door. That is one thing I would do as well - replace that light. Next up would be extra lighting for the front yard, as all of my solar lights chose this week to die. There seem to be a few options available on the Masters site to choose between.

    Next on the list would be decorating my son's room. He's 12 and currently occupies the room that used to be the nursery. So pale green walls & a frieze of teddy bears picnicing. Cute but way to babyish for him. Paint would be the first thing, a rug to cover the horrendous carpet, and probably some wood to build a custom bookshelf & computer desk for him. And a nice desk lamp (like this one http://www.masters.com.au/product/900022560/riley-flexi-table-lamp-matalic-silver).

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  65. I would love an outdoor seating/entertaining area. We have nowhere at the moment and seem to drag out the esky to use as a seat a lot! Shocking I know. Eeek, would love to win. Thanks Retro Mummy xo

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  66. I love that lemon yellow outdoor set and it would be great on my front porch, but if I were lucky enough to win, I would replace my oven that sounds like a jetplane taking off every time i turn it on with http://www.masters.com.au/product/100185495/westinghouse-60cm-stainless-steel-pyrolytic-oven-por881s. It seems that all my major kitchen appliances are nearing their end and I would love to replace the stovetop and rangehood as well. Good luck with your makeover.

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  67. I would love to have the money go towards new toilets for the house. We have three toilets and they are about 20 yrs old. One by one they are failing, and we're not able to have them repaired as they are no longer being manufactured!! So the whole unit must be replaced. If there's any money left (I doubt!!) after that, I'd get new light fittings. The light fittings that came with the hosue use a bulb that is no longer being manufactured - I know, right?!! So I desperately need to replace those as one by one the bulbs pop and I cannot replace them :(

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  68. I'd love to make my outdoor patio area a little more appealing. It needs some 'warmth' with some pots or decoration on the bare wall and maybe a comfy lounge type chair so I can lie and relax with bubby no.3 while watching the girls play.

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  69. Our next project is our bedroom.We desperately need to build built in wardrobes and Masters have everything we need to complete the job

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  70. Well our place was built in 1980, has lovely cathedral ceilings but also dark brick exposed walls, wood paneled walls, etc. We dealt with some of the issues with white paint! but my kitchen has wooden floor, wood paneled ceiling and wooden doors. Bit over the whole wood experience. I would use the money to paint the kitchen doors a fresh shade of white, they are solid wood tongue and groove style so painting them would come up a treat! The ceiling would be painted as well - the floor I don't mind, it tends to hide a multitude of sins! The light fittings in the kitchen need replacing as well - we have a not so beautiful bell shape copper light fitting, maybe something like the "Searchlight Bert 4 Light Bar with Glass Shades" at Masters. Definately be replacing the kitchen door handles as well, they were gold painted at some point in their history, but that has now rubbed off so they have this uneven burnished metallic look to them.
    Heidi

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  71. Melissa Davis melskates@hotmail.comSeptember 18, 2012 at 8:58 PM

    T The garden's definitively a mess,
    H Hideous plants & weeds in excess!
    E Every growth makes me stress!

    G Gaggly, old and almost dead,
    A Absolutely need a new garden bed!
    R Ready for new, out with the old,
    D Digging to plant,ready to remold.
    E Eating our own fresh fruit & veg,
    N Now I'm making my winning pledge!

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  72. I would love to get some wall art, and kitchen pretties because we rent a tiny house and I would love to make my baby's room beautiful.

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  73. I would love to put some money into our backyard for summer. It always seems to be the space that is forgotten and I would love to pretty it up with a family table.

    Thanks so much for the chance to win this great prize !!

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  74. http://www.masters.com.au/product/900039817/red-centre-premier-4-burner-hooded-and-cabinet-bbq

    I'd pick our bare alfresco to renovate! Our last BBQ died, and this one would be awesome - especially with our lovely Spring/Summer weather in Perth!

    jo.marks@bigpond.com

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  75. I'd love to sort out the laundry. Due to zero cupboards or shelves, everything always seems to end up on the floor (baskets, detergent bottles etc).

    I'm envisioning something simple and streamlined, not fussy. So I'd like to put in a two or perhaps three long shelves above the top loader. One for baskets and buckets and the other for detergents, peg bucket etc. I'm thinking uprights, brackets and shelves. Plus a couple of new baskets. WOW, total for all that is under $80! I should also replace the clothes airer that keeps falling over. Looks like they have several airers to choose from, but I'd have to decide upon one in the store as they don't all have measurements in their descriptions.

    Just spotted this screen. It looks like just the thing for Mum, who wants to hide an unused door/doorway. Perfect colours too.

    I STILL have some of the $500 and plan to spend the remainder on some plants for the garden. I like to look and see what's pretty and luckily there's a Masters store about 10 mins away from where a good friend of mine lives, so I'll be able to pop in and browse on the way to/from their place.

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  76. I would completely do-over my kitchen, it's currently dark and wooden. I noticed Masters have kitchen benchtops, so would definitely grab one! I would also paint my cupboards white and update light fittings. Masters also have sinks and tap fittings so I would be looking to upgrade those as well.

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  77. So many rooms.........so many ideas.....but I think I would put it towards finishing of the outside room of the deck

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  78. How exciting for you Corrie! A change is such a wonderfully refreshing thing to bring to our homes! Lucky me, I currently live in Police housing due to my husband's work posting, so definitely no glamour around here haha! I would love to freshen up several areas in our home, mostly the children's areas, my daughter's bed room is particularly dreary, but it IS a 109 year old house so the challenge is here :)

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  79. We're in need of a total renovation! We're saving up to do bits and pieces as we go but it's so expensive! The previous owners of the house we bought loved a feature wall! When we first moved in, we counted 16 different wall colours throughout the house (everything from Barbie pink to mustard!). So we're in need of lots of paint!

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  80. My daughter's room needs a renovation, there are holes in the walls that have been patched but never fixed properly or painted from when they had to run the a/c hose through the wall, the blue paint is bleeding through the yellow paint, her cupboard doors are melamine and all the paint is coming off in strips, and the carpet is a very close second to your pic in ugliness.
    She deserves a nicer room, she has a new bed and cupboard and curtains but the rest of her room is dreadful.
    We would need ceiling paint, primer for the walls, a special primer for the cupboards, I would love to get new carpet for her room, we would also need coloured paint for the walls, a nice shade of light purple is what I am wanting, also I think we will need some sort of filler to fix the holes in the wall, and also a new fan to replace the one that is currently in her room.

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  81. I have just had surprise baby number 4, we do have a 4 bedroom house but with 3 kids already, two had to share a room, hence i have a cot, king single, two chests of draws back to back, small wardrobe and change table crammed into a very small room,so i desperatly need a wardrobe from floor to ceiling to fit all the boys clothes and then i can get rid of two chests of draws and open up the boys room for them as the older of the two is 7, I could basically get a new wardrobe using all the Closet Maid wardrobe systems from draws and hanging space, now that would be wonderful! Thanks

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  82. My teenage daughter has been promise a room makeover since we returned to this house 8 years ago. She is living with faded apricot walls and curtains and a ver old fashioned fabric apricot lampshade! I could use the Masters gift card for paint, light fitting, blind and some storage / shelving solutions. Wow what a blessing it would be. Looking forward to seeing your makeovers!

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  83. I would renovate our kitchen; it is so out-dated and is in need of new counter tops.

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  84. Some people have exposed brick and want to cover it up. I dream of exposed brick! I have exposed brick wall paper and want to cover it up, renovate and stop excusing our kitchen to visitors. With 2 under 2 its been on the to do list for a long time.

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  85. At the moment any room you picked in our house could do with a make-over/lift. We started renovating 23 years ago & it's reaching a point where we need to renovate again!

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  86. I am married to a plumber. You would think I would have a good bathroom. Nope. Got to be one of the worst family bathrooms in Melbourne (no exaggeration really). My vision is pretty simple. Keep it neutral, timeless and add personality with fittings, manchester and decor. With two little children the bathroom has got to have a bath. I love the look of a freestanding bath. If I am lucky enough to win the Masters gift card, it would go a long way to purchasing the 1520 Blaque Free Stand Bath (we need the shortest length as the bathroom is not very big). Thanks.

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  87. Thank-you!! I have been after lighting for my boy's bedroom for so long, the only thing I'd found was WAY out of our price range, but now I've found just what I want!! The cute little aeroplane ceiling light will fit perfectly with the clouds on their walls! Now just to wait for Masters to open here in March! Can't wait to see the changes in your place :)
    -Kim www.happymummyinspired.blogspot.com

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  88. Thanks corrie for this chance!!!
    Love all your ideas!
    We desperately need some timber to do a ramp out the back so Cooper can get safely out to the backyard in his walker. That way the kids can spend lots of the school holidays outside and keeping the house semi tidy!!!!
    Bron
    Coopersmum76@yahoo.com.au

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  89. Oh my I would go crazy at masters! We would definety put the money to good use on our bathroom. It is terrible. Masters have a very simple and classic double vanity - perfecto! Heated towel rails, masters is my oyster. I have EVERYTHING crossed x
    Potts.family@optusnet.com.au

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  90. Oh, this is easy! We have a little outdoor courtyard in front of the kitchen, that at the moment is nothing but hard earth, and weeds. It is not used at all, which is sad, as it is fully fenced (though the fence is broken), and flat, and literally the only suitable space for my disabled daughter when she is outside, as the rest of our block is not fenced, and steep, built on a retaining wall. We have a deck upstairs, but as I am also disabled, I can't carry a disabled 4 year old up a flight of stairs, so it has long been my dream to transform that little space into a tranquil area that we can enjoy together. $500 from Masters would transform the whole space! I would get a couple of Del Terra Shogun Carver chairs, a little table, some pretty coloured flowers in pots, the makings of a herb garden, some hardware to fix the fence, some bright paint to paint the fence, and if there was enough left over, a small water feature. $500 would buy ALL of this, and give us a beautiful outdoor space just for us to enjoy some fresh air, while the bigger girls are at school. Great giveaway :-)

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  91. We purchased a 1970s renovator late last year. It has a bright green kitchen, with tiles to rival Corrie’s carpet, a bright yellow bathroom and to tone down that colour palette – lots of mission brown. With the $500 Masters voucher I could buy paint and
    painting gear. I could also buy some bits and pieces for the bathroom like a new basin or some mosaic tiles. I failed to mention we have tiles falling off the walls in the bathroom post-game of washer splat by my two and four year old. We also have some lovely, lairy wallpaper (two different seventies prints) that we need to remove and then maybe replace with a
    better design? Ahhh the choices! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

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  92. Working long days Monday to Friday and trying to catchup on shopping, housework & loved ones at the weekend I sometimes forget to go outside & get some sunshine & fresh air. I was thinking today that a nice little table & two chairs just outside my laundry area would make an enticing area to spend some time having a coffee, lunch or reading a magazine. That yellow setting is perfect (already checked & my closest 3 stores are out of stock!) & yellow is my current favourite colour. I brought some quilt fabric tonight because of the lucious yellow in it. The addition of a few fragrant plants in pots & veges in the garden bed would make it perfect! Thanks for the opportunity. Tracee xx

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  93. We moved into our new house in January so what I'd use this for us landscaping the backyard. I've just had a baby and suffered hyperemesis throughout my pregnancy so the backyard for pushed further and further down the to do list. It's currently sand sand and some weeds. I'd love to be able to get it ready for summer, get the older two kids outside playing!

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  94. My garden is dull and boring,
    It’s lifeless and in great despair,
    Some new accessories would liven it up,
    And give it panache and flair!
    With the fabulous voucher from Masters
    I'd buy solar lights, candles, bug zapper,
    Garden tools to keep the area maintained,
    And keep the backyard looking dapper!

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  95. My lounge is completely empty, so I should spend $500 there, but.... When I was browsing the Masters site I saw the most amazing chair pods for lounging out by the pool while I watch the kids swim. So tempting!

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  96. Love your blog and reading of your adventures. I bought a rather run down little workers cottage about 5 years ago. I am slowly fixing it up when finances permit. I put in all new blinds, but most of them have fallen apart, so I would pick out better quality ones. Currently, I have a mix of sheets from Vinnies on various windows...not a pretty sight! :)
    debbie

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  97. I would buy paint, lots of it! In magnolia with a beautiful fresh blue thrown in. Our house has had the hands and often feet, of two young kids all over it, and I think it would give me a lot more motivation to keep it clean when it doesn't look like someone has walked up the walls!

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  98. 100th comment. That's got to be lucky right :)

    My partner and I bought a 1975 bungalow in a coastal suburb of Perth last year and aside from the kitchen its all still well and truly in the 80's! I've made a start on our living room and the outside areas but $500 wouldn't be enough to cover the major changes required so I'd spend it on our bedroom instead since that's where we spend most of our time.

    First of all, I really really dislike our bedroom light! (http://instagram.com/p/P4ZGRCkNDs/) and my poor Irish boyfriend would love a fan in our room to help keep the heat at bay in summer so I'd get a stainless steel fan with a simple light to replace the glowing orb we currently have.

    Then I'd pick up a large piece of plywood and some brackets to make a bedhead (I have plenty of batting and fabric in the stash!), two ss & glass wall lamps (and globes! dont forget the globes!) and some wallpaper to decorate the odd shaped entry way to our room (I already picked up a mis-tint from Masters to paint the rest of the walls).

    If there's anything left after all that I'd get a steel frame dog bed (that I can customise the cover with more stash fabric!) for my puppy to sleep on in the hope that I might wake up in the morning without a 30kg miniature pony asleep on the end of our bed!

    oh, and a sausage sizzle! Because you cant go to the hardware store without getting one!!

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  99. I would definitely use it to fix up my outdoor area. It currently comprises of a old table which is a health hazard and bird shit :)

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  100. Like you I think I would be working on the outside eating area. I've had my pieces for quite a while and with my budget (what budget?!!) I'm considering looking for new chairs at next years council roadside cleanup. I really like the look of the Del Terra Highland bench and chairs. Hope Retroddaddy gets going so you can enjoy the sunshine in comfort soon. Cherrie

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  101. My husbands man-cave is no more now that we are expecting bubba 2. The man cave needs to become a study/playroom, with that in mind, we have to start from scratch! I would love some Closet Maid Cube organisers along with draws for toy storage. Some Floating Wall Shelves for storage above the desk, as well as some coloured Mountable Storage Cubes.

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  102. Hi I have daughter 17 just finishing school, getting ready to head into university next year, but wanting to stay at home with some independence. Our house has a kind of converted single garage that she is using as a bedroom, but it desperately needs paint, carpet, curtains (to suit her) some gorgeous Laura Ashley wallpaper and with whatever is left wardrobe bits. Her room is currently to hand me down depository as she grows from young teen to now young lady,it's time to give her a wonderful space. Brown lino and daggy peeling blue paint just don't cut it.
    She will be studying for a very long time. Chris

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  103. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  104. I have lovely apricot & yellow (?) bathrooms, only cosmetic, but in the sinks only the hot taps work now. I have bought new vanities but all the plumbing is welded of course so not easy to change, need to pay for a plumber. I was cleaning the outside of a shower screen the other day and it came loose, so any extra funds towards a new shower would be very welcome!!

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  105. I also live in a 1970's house. It will be a while before we can tackle the kitchen with its walls of mustard and khaki sunflower tiles! In the meantime, I would love some outdoor furniture to drink coffee with my friends while we watch the kids play. I love the bright colours of that cafe setting.

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  106. I would love to get the toy room (literally just a room full of toys, oh and the sofa bed that never gets used!) and go crazy in the storage department, I'm thinking bookcases, fabric storage boxes, lots of hooks to hang toys from. And of course if it was available I'd get the inst-pick-er-up-a-ra that magically put all the toys back in their right homes at midnight! A girl can dream right ;-)

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  107. With two pups, we definitely need to fix up our backyard before summer so we can invite friends over for a bbq. New grass and new plants which have been eaten away and dug up are desperately needed.

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  108. Oh gosh, how welcoming would winning this be!

    With 7 children (including 2 teenagers) and 2 adults in this house, one functioning shower... I would splurge the whole $500 on wall and floor tiles, tap fittings, light fitting, vanity for our second bathroom! It is in desperate need of fixing and while the 70's was a good decade for some... the designer of our bathroom clearly had too much to smoke while fitting it out!

    Nat McArthur

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  109. I would love to renovate our deck! The timbers are old and the kids get splinters every time they walk on it without shoes. Summer would be so much more inviting outside our house with new timber boards on the deck.

    We would need to buy the treated pine decking, preferably the 5.4 m lengths to get more coverage..oh and of course some stain to make it look like merbau!

    I am so excited about seeing what you do with your house, it is going to be so exciting, I love renovating!!

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  110. I would love to renovate our bedroom/en suite. I want to lighten and brighten our room, and embrace white and a hint of silver. I would purchase the
    Oscar Blockout Eyelet Snow Curtain 120 x 221cm, with the
    Extendable 19mm Rod Silver 80-140cm. And for a bit of elegance, I would purchase the
    Crystal Beaded Batten Fix Light. For our en suite I would need to purchase from Masters the
    Finlay & Smith Twin Glass Door Bathroom Cabinet, oh I can't wait to start renovating.

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  111. Our garage is a nightmare. So much so I have to walk sideways and suck my belly in to get past the car after it's parked.
    I'd invest in two bays of shelving - floor to ceiling height - and some plastic tubs to protect the smaller items from getting too dusty.
    Not just a renovation, but a necessity.
    I'd be happy to provide before and after photos for your blog!

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  112. I would love to re-do our alfresco area! It is plain and boring and with warmer weather coming I would like to use that space more!
    I love the outdoor settings Masters sell and would add maybe a hammock for ultra lazy weekends watching the kids play outside!!

    Thanks for the chance :) x

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  113. Hi retromummy! we have been in our house for almost a year, we renovated inside including bathroom and kitchen before we moved in - so now we are waiting to reno the outside including exterior lighting (the one you pictured was georgous), outdoor seating (bench seating. A $500.00 masters voucher would come in very handy! thanks

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  114. i would love to do up our outdoor area. looks more like a storage area at the moment. i would get some chairs and a table and put some nice pots and plants around to give it some more colour, and make it look less plain and boring. make it into a nice area to watch the kids play in summer.

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  115. It would certainly be a tough choice, but I think our living room would look really different with the tired old curtains replaced and maybe the dirty carpet ripped up and replaced with something cleaner and more attractive.
    Thanks for this, would so love to win!

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  116. Hard to know where to start, but definitely our outdoor area. We've moved into a house with space for one, but would love to put a large table out there. After looking at the website it would be hard to choose, but I'm sure I'd find a way! :) It would lovely to be able to sit outdoors and enjoy a coffee, reading the weekend papers.

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  117. I thunk given the opportunity We would use the money to fix our bathroom and toilet. The taps leak, the tiles are chipped and it's been over 12 years since we painted. We have tried hard to renovate but it always goes to the bottom of the list when your a single income family and I'm home with my miss two. If we won it would be a great Early Christmas present before our second munchkin arrives new years.

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  118. I read this post when it first came up on my newsfeed and it has only just crossed my mind again as I stand in the door way to my double garage that I share with my 3 kids (6,5, 15mths) their side toys and my side all my sewing gear and realised Oh my goodness I could so use that masters gift card. Not only is the garage door still on there is no installation above the ceiling so it gets really hot in summer and I have to pull everything out to the kitchen table. I am standing on half cememt floors and half secondhand carpet. There are toys everywhere and I need lots of shelves not only for the kids stuff but for mine. It is so embarrassing that I have to make sure that the door is closed whenever anyone is over and that the kids don't take anyone in there. Thanks for the opportunity Corrie the list is endless lol

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  119. WOW - what a great opportunity to win $500 worth of home improvements. We can not paint walls here as we would have to repaint it back to it's original colour before moving.
    I would however love to replace our out door entertaining table and chairs. With 8 moves in 9 years the table and chairs have seen better days. I would love a Finlay & Smith Super Pod Chai to sit out and watch the kids play. We have not handled the move south well and are waiting to get back outside. I can see myself know knitting and doing Amelia's readers on this chair.

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  120. If I was to win the Masters $500 voucher I would buy paint and blinds .I was given awful fabric for curtains 15 yrs ago and some are still hanging ....the others my new rescued from the pound doggie has chewed. And also need new scenes where she tried to escape and wrecked the screens . It would be lovely to fix it all up thanks for the opportunity.

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  121. You have some fantastic ideas and I've never herd of masters until now. I went and had a look at there website and wow great savings on great products have got my eye on a few things!!
    Well I'm 12 weeks pregnant and I really don't know where to start with the nursery!!! I've got a lot to do on a budget. The first thing would be paint, we have mould on the ceiling in that room and I'm worried that could come back when bubs arrives so we'll have to get a mould resistant paint, god knows how much that will set me back. Exciting times to come and starting from scratch is going to be challanging :)

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  122. This is definitely a cool giveaway! I would use the money in one of two spaces (or both if I'm clever and stretch it like you have). Our problem areas are our lounge room and my craft room. My craft room has sooo much crammed into it... it's barely functional. I need better storage and display options. And the lounge room... well, it's dismal. We are using someone else's ugly couch and it's just such an unattractive space. We need new couches, and lots of pretty little things to decorate it with.. throw cushions, wall art, trinkets, side tables.. you name it. Any help these two rooms can get would be a huge bonus!

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  123. We bought our current house with all the plans in the world, but with my husband's work sending him away for weeks at the drop of a hat and two small boys to take care of, it just hasn't happened. What I would LOVE is to rip up our horrible brown and filthy carpet and replace it with some of your gorgeous oak floating floorboards. Such a small thing I would like changed, but I think the end result would be amazing!

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  124. I have always enjoyed decorating but since my husband was diagnosed with kidney disease and received a transplant, having him home all the time in his recovery, I am making it my focus to make our house a home to encourage recovery and inspire. As he is not working at the moment and with 4 children I can get quite creative on very limited funds. I would focus on new seating on our little patio, some greenery, possibly an outside blind. I would also like to freshen up our outdoor setting with some new seating too that is looking tired. Great to get outside and soak up some vitamin D and enjoy some meals outside now the weather is warming up.

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  125. we renovated our home 8 years ago this was to include the bathroom ,we bought the bath tub and the tiles then ran out of money so these are still sitting in the shed waiting to be installed....$500 would help imensely with glues grout sand and waterproofing medium :) thanks Retro mummy and Masters great giveaway!!

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  126. I would be concentrating on the main bedroom. It is outdated and has no sense of comfort.
    First the lights
    Bloomer 3 Light Ceiling Fitting as the main light and then Clate Glass Shade Wall Light x 2 for above the bed.
    And window coverings:
    Adjustable Awning Sand 240 x 210cm
    I choose outside awning so as not to clutter the inside.
    Finally some paint to finish it off, not sure of the colour, so would have to see instore for some guidance on that.

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  127. We are homebodies and have built a barebones outdoor pagola. The problem is we sit on our old cat scratched going mouldy from rain old lounge! I would stretch a Masters gift card to buy outdoor seating and BBQ.
    I went online dream shopping and came up with this:
    http://www.masters.com.au/product/100467783/red-centre-hood-gas-bbq-4-burner $278.00

    http://www.masters.com.au/product/900040189/del-terra-sussex-timber-setting-5pk $178.00

    http://www.masters.com.au/product/900016162/resource-wrought-iron-bird-feeder $20

    http://www.masters.com.au/product/900028407/poppy-wall-art $19

    This would leave me with $5.00 to spend on bird seed for the bird feeder!!
    Sorry I got a bit carried away with my Master shopping spree :)
    Cheers Christine.

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  128. There are so many places in my house that could use $500 spent on them. Too many I think. I might need to spread it around.

    First stop - the kitchen wall. I have a spot for a clock. I have been meaning to buy one for 5 years. Love the Iron Clock in white. 60cm - a nice size

    Secondly a mirror for the top bathroom. Only been renovated for 5 years. Still no mirror on the wall. Too bad if my 8 year old would ever love to see her own smiley face.

    Thirdly I see myself wearing the relatively comical backpack style petrol powered blower vac. We have a courtyard with an enormous jacaranda tree (which in horticultural terms is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of leaf, flower and stick droppings) and a Crepe Myrtle. These are all pretty - in other peoples yards. I can honestly see me every morning with this thing strapped to me. Like a home renovation project everyday!

    With the change ANOTHER can of gloss black enamel. If that dog would stop scratching my much loved, much saved for and perfect front door we would be much better friends. It needs a quick makeover before I put my wreath up.

    And no doubt while I am there spending my vouchers my husband will add to his tool collection and my daughter may finally convince us to but some outdoor christmas lights - she has visions of a full scale production!


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  129. Hi corrie,
    The masters website is awesome! I just sat down with a cup of coffee and began searching and found it really comprehensive and easy to use-in all honesty there are so many products to choose from! If I were lucky enough to win I would love to buy a little outdoor setting (love the yellow one that you picked!) and a vanity for the bathroom- I love their beautiful white set. Our bathroom is from 1960's featuring purple (!) tiles and a vanity/sink that is cracking and looks awful so I would definitely buy a new vanity, I can't believe masters even has a bathroom section, definitely a one stop place to shop! Thanks for the chance corrie,
    Kindest
    Lisa Oliver

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  130. Hi!
    There are so many areas of my home needing a little decorating TLC... but with the warmer weather approaching, I'd definitely apend the $500 Masters gift card on my back deck.
    My darling husband re-stained the boards last summer, but the area is in desperate need of some STYLE! I'd add some colours to make the table more comfortable, some outdoor wall art, and some lovely potted flowers for colour. That should turn it into the perfect area to sit out and relax watching the kids play in the garden!

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  131. For us it'd be our outdoor deck. It's quite big so I have a vision of potted colour, some outdoor lounges (with colored scatter cushions), a little water feature (nothing like the sound of trickling water), a hammock and one of those outdoor fires that we could toast marshmallows on... It would be the perfect outdoor space that would have a feel of instant tranquility. :) xx

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  132. like the cards..i think it can also be used in the same way for Plastic cards..isn't it?

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