The most beautiful investment in the backyard

A Central Coast home beauty studio, built for business

When Kerry-Anne and Stuart purchased their Terrigal property on the NSW Central Coast in July 2017, they had a clear vision for what it could become. A home with room to grow, room to work, and room to create something genuinely special.

Shortly after settling, Kerry-Anne made one significant addition to the property: a Melwood.

Installed in February 2018, the building was designed to serve as a professional beauty studio – a private, luxurious space where Kerry-Anne could treat clients without them needing to enter the main house. It was a practical decision, a business decision, and as it turned out, one of the smartest investment decisions they ever made.

When Kerry-Anne and Stuart sold the property in November 2021, they did so for over a million dollars more than they had paid just four years earlier. The Melwood – the only major change made to the property in that time – had played its part in a quite remarkable outcome.

Designed to impress – before clients even step inside

For a beauty therapist, the environment in which you work is everything. Ambience matters. And Kerry-Anne was determined that her studio would offer an experience worthy of the treatments she delivered.

The building she chose was a Melwood Porch/Verandah 20 hybrid – a design that combines a welcoming porch frontage with a verandah running along its length. Measuring 6.3m x 3.2m and wrapped in an L-shape covered deck, it’s a building that feels both substantial and connected to the garden around it. And it’s exactly the kind of first impression that puts a client at ease before they’ve even stepped inside.

The two visible sides of cladding were upgraded to beautiful cedar weatherboard which were later painted a soft grey, complemented by Colorbond® roofing in “Surfmist” and white aluminium windows throughout. Double glass doors on the side, flanked by fixed sidelights, open the studio to the verandah and garden. At the porch end, double 10-lite doors add architectural character and invite in the light – and clients – from a second angle.

A fit-out that feels like a high-end day spa

The interior is every bit as considered as the exterior. Crisp white walls and a high-pitched ceiling create a sense of space and airiness, while warm timber flooring grounds the room with natural softness. Sheer white curtains dress the doors and windows – privacy that is light, breezy and utterly inviting.

The fit-out is quietly luxurious with inviting textures, tasteful finishes and a stylish separate bathroom. Splashes of blush pink combine with honey-coloured natural tones to create a palette that is warm, feminine and welcoming. It’s the kind of fit-out and finish that transforms a building into a genuine destination.

From first impression to final detail, this is a beauty studio that would not look out of place in a high-end day spa – the perfect place to be pampered.

A million-dollar return – a Melwood made the difference

For several years, Kerry-Anne welcomed clients to her home beauty treatment room. But towards the end of 2021, it was time for her and Stuart to move on.

Having purchased the property in July 2017 for $1,103,000, they sold it in November 2021 for $2,110,000. In just four years, with the Melwood as the only major improvement made to the property in that time, they made more than $1million.

Of course, the Central Coast property market was buoyant in that period, and that context matters. But a well-designed, beautifully finished garden building – one that adds versatile extra space, generous covered outdoor living and genuine architectural appeal – helps. Buyers notice. And in a competitive market, the details make the difference.

The best backyard investments keep paying

While adding a Melwood won’t guarantee a million dollar uplift to your property, adding an extra room always adds value – when you do it right. Kerry-Anne’s story is a compelling reminder that investing in your property thoughtfully, and building something of genuine quality, tends to pay dividends in ways you might not expect.

The best backyard investments aren’t just the ones that improve your daily life. They’re the ones that keep paying long after the last client has gone home.

Kerry-Anne’s beauty room is a hybrid Melwood Porch/Verandah 20 measuring 3.2m x 6.3m wrapped in an L-shaped 1.3m wide deck.

It features an upgrade to cedar weatherboard cladding to the two predominant sides, with board and batten cladding to the other two. Kerry-Anne also selected a set of timber 10-lite double doors as well as full glass double doors with sidelights. Aluminium windows are “White”, and Colorbond® roofing is “Surfmist”.

All measurements are approximate.