Selling Houses Australia: Dolphin Point Makeover
Steve and Serena Blakey had spent twelve months on the market and dropped their asking price from $1.3 million to $1.18 million without a single serious offer. Too many coastal renovations solve for the big-ticket items — a driveway, a kitchen — and treat window coverings as a finishing touch. When Charlie Albone and Shaynna Blaze took on the Blakeys’ Dolphin Point beach shack for Selling Houses Australia, PolySatin Shutters and Roller Blinds were central to the turnaround, not an afterthought.
1. Why Window Coverings Mattered to This Sale
A coastal listing lives or dies on a handful of details buyers notice immediately.
- Coastal humidity — sea air rules out anything that warps, peels or fades
- Buyer-ready aesthetic — every room needed to photograph and show well, fast
- Ocean view preserved — the entire sale pitch was “beachside living”
Two products did almost all of this work across the whole house.
2. Products Featured in This Renovation
Shaynna Blaze made the same two calls in room after room.
a. PolySatin® Shutters — Bathroom, Kitchen & Living Room
Selected for the majority of the house, including the ocean-facing living room.
- Durable polyresin compound, impervious to moisture, warping and fading
- Handles a high-humidity bathroom without the risk timber carries
- Full glare control in the living room without losing the ocean view
b. Roller Blinds — Bedrooms
Paired with PolySatin Shutters to complement the home’s ocean views.
- Insulation against cold sea air through winter
- Complete control over light and privacy
- A combination hard to get from curtains alone in an exposed coastal position
c. Pairing Both Products by Room Function
The real decision wasn’t which product — it was which room got which.
- Wet and view-critical rooms (bathroom, living) went to PolySatin®
- Bedrooms went to Roller Blinds for softer, adjustable light control
- One consistent look carried across the whole renovation regardless
3. Tips for a Coastal Sydney Renovation
The Dolphin Point lessons apply directly to any Sydney home near the water.
- Choose moisture-proof materials: anything within reach of sea air needs to handle humidity without warping.
- Pair products by room function: don’t default to one product for the whole house.
- Protect the view, not just the glare: shutters control light without sacrificing the outlook buyers are paying for.
- Sort window coverings before listing: it’s one of the fastest, least disruptive ways to lift a home’s appeal.
4. Trending Styles in Australia
Three choices from this renovation show up across coastal Sydney listings generally.
- Coastal grey exteriors: chosen here over off-white for a more modern curb appeal.
- PolySatin® in humid rooms: the default choice wherever timber shutters would be a risk.
- Roller Blinds in bedrooms: paired with shutters elsewhere rather than repeated through the whole house.
5. Making the Most of a Renovation Before Selling
Not every dollar spent before a sale needs to go into structural work.
- Prioritise the ocean-facing or view-critical rooms first
- Don’t skip window coverings when styling for sale — buyers notice glare and dated blinds immediately
- One trade covering every room keeps the look consistent and the timeline short
Serena and Steve received multiple offers after the makeover aired, securing a final sale price of $1.2 million before their second open home — $20,000 above their original asking price after twelve months with no offers at all. Steve called it life-changing for the family.
Explore the range
- PolySatin® Shutters — Moisture-proof polyresin louvres, ideal for coastal and humid rooms. Greenguard Gold certified, 20-year warranty.
- Roller Blinds — Sleek, contemporary light control, available in Qmotion battery or PowerView motorised operation.
- PowerView® Motorisation — Scheduled scenes, app and voice control, no cabling.
Inspired by this transformation? Book a free in-home measure and quote at astyleofshade.com.au/contact-us/, or call 1300 347 967. A Style of Shade, 430–432 New South Head Road, Double Bay NSW 2028.
