How Betty’s Bungalow Proves the Power of an Exterior Transformation

For many homeowners, it's easy to focus renovation budgets on kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces. But as 2025 James Hardie Exterior Transformation Competition winner Georgia Hurst discovered, transforming the exterior of your home can completely change not only how a property looks, but how it feels to live in.

As a solo mum renovating a 1970s Perth home, Georgia's journey resonated with homeowners across Australia because it reflected a reality many people know well: balancing renovation dreams with budget constraints.

Winning the James Hardie Exterior Transformation Competition provided Georgia with access to expert design support, personalised façade concepts and products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection, helping her reimagine what was possible for her much-loved home.

Seeing Potential Beyond a Dated Façade

Before the renovation, Betty's Bungalow was a largely original 1970s brown brick home.

"It was structurally very strong but was very hidden and a bit tired from street view," says Georgia Hurst. "I could see so much potential in the house, but before starting I didn’t realise how achievable an exterior transformation could be."

Having already completed major interior renovations, Georgia saw the exterior as the missing piece of the puzzle. She dreamed of creating a home with the warmth and character of traditional weatherboard cottages while ensuring it still felt appropriate for suburban Perth.

Bringing a Cottage Vision to Life

One of the most valuable aspects of winning the competition was the opportunity to work through multiple design concepts before construction began.

Throughout the process, expert design support from FutureFlip’sNeil Hipwell helped Georgia explore different cladding profiles, colour combinations and façade treatments. Visual renders allowed her to see how various options would transform the home, giving her confidence to make decisions and understand the impact of each design choice before committing.

"I wanted the house to feel like a timeless cottage rather than a newly renovated home," she says. "The aim was never to make the bungalow look like something it wasn't, but to bring out the character that had been missing."

The Difference the Right Materials Can Make

At the heart of the transformation was the 150mm Linea™ Weatherboard from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection.

"I've always loved weatherboard homes and dreamed of living in one," Georgia says. "I chose the 150mm Linea™ Weatherboard because it gave the bungalow the classic cottage look I loved while offering the durability and low-maintenance benefits of Hardie™ fibre cement without the hassles of timber."

Combined with a refreshed roof colour and a soft, warm exterior palette, the weatherboard helped completely redefine the home's character and street presence.

Renovating on a Budget Doesn't Mean Compromising on Results

One of the most powerful lessons from Georgia's story is that meaningful transformation doesn't require an unlimited budget.

"Renovating on a budget means constantly deciding where your money will make the greatest difference," she says. "You have to become very comfortable with prioritising, compromising and doing things in stages."

For Georgia, that meant completing much of the work herself, often with support from family and friends, while investing in products that would deliver long-term performance and durability.

"A budget can sometimes make the process more creative because every decision has to be considered rather than simply choosing the most expensive option."

It's a message that sits at the heart of the Exterior Transformation Competition: homeowners don't need to have all the answers, nor do they need limitless resources. With expert guidance, thoughtful design and the right materials, extraordinary results are possible.

More Than Street Appeal

While Georgia hasn't undertaken a formal valuation since the exterior transformation, she has no doubt the renovation has improved the property's appeal.

More importantly, it has transformed the way her family uses and enjoys the home.

"The front yard has become an extension of the house, a place where we play, garden, sit together and make memories," she says. "It has given us more usable space and made the home feel finished and genuinely ours."

Betty's Bungalow is proof that a dated façade doesn't have to define a home's future. With vision, support and the right products, an exterior transformation can completely change the character and liveability of a home, while also contributing to its overall value.

Ready to Reimagine Your Home?

The James Hardie Exterior Transformation Competition exists to help homeowners unlock the potential they already see in their homes.

If you've ever looked at your façade and wondered what it could become, now is the time to take the first step.