It takes equal measures of ample renovating experience and unbridled optimism to stand before a house that’s missing a roof and say: “Structurally the home was in excellent condition,” but that’s exactly what professional renovators Josh and Jenna Densten did when they first laid eyes on the dilapidated homestead that was to become their new home in Rutherglen, Victoria.
But anyone who has been a fan of Josh and Jenna since they first appeared, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as contestants on The Block in 2011, would know that they have a knack for seeing potential in houses that no one else would dare to touch.
Take their former home, Canning Cottage in inner-Melbourne, which eventually went on to win ‘Best Residential Design’ at the Australian Interior Design Awards in 2018. Before the pair worked their magic on that property, it was nothing but a tiny, badly updated, heritage-listed house with a shonky rear extension.
The move: From inner Melbourne to regional Victoria
Canning Cottage was always supposed to be the family’s forever home, but in late 2021, after months of lockdowns and separation from family, Josh and Jenna began entertaining the idea of going back to their roots and moving to the country.
“We didn’t have a support network and the things we once loved about city life had really lost meaning,” says Jenna. That was when Josh spotted the Rutherglen homestead for sale on Facebook Marketplace. “We were first drawn to the property and from there we fell in love with the historic wine region, the food, the people and the beauty.”
Here, we track the renovation of their Rutherglen home, which was nicknamed ‘The Castle’ by the couple’s daughter Fred. “When we first drove up to the property, it had two tall brick chimneys sticking up into the air, with no roof! Its also perched up on a hill overlooking Rutherglen, so it had the presence of a castle,” says Jenna.
Finding Rutherglen homestead
“Did you know we purchased this home on Facebook Marketplace?” Josh and Jenna shared on Instagram. “It was during that time we’d prefer to forget, between lockdowns, when we were visiting our family. Josh had found a listing for an old home with no roof on Facebook, and I instantly disregarded it! However, we found ourselves at a nearby winery and decided to do a little drive-by for fun.”
After seeing it for themselves, they fell in love and arranged a viewing the next day on their way back to Melbourne. They put in an offer and the rest is history!
Josh and Jenna’s Rutherglen home renovation so far
Phase one: The ‘Shouse’
Josh and Jenna, who operate Plan Proofing, a design and renovation consulting service, knew that time was of the essence. They submitted their plans, permits and trades for the home during the settlement period. “By the time we moved up [to Rutherglen] things were moving fast!” says Jenna.
Because the home wasn’t in liveable condition, however, the family first needed to take up residence in a large shed on the property, which Josh and Jenna also transformed into a gorgeous family home.
“Shed life won’t be so bad. We’ve definitely lived in worse!” wrote Jenna on Instagram when they moved into the shed house in December 2021.
Phase two: The Castle house restoration
By November 2022, renovations of The Castle were well underway. “We are making great progress on the old home,” says Jenna before shooting off a list of all the jobs they’d already managed to tick off their to-do list: “We currently have a brand new shiny galvanised iron roof and bullnose verandah, all new timber double-glazed windows, internal base flooring down and the decking is starting this week!”
Jenna says one of the reasons they were able to progress with the updates so quickly is because the home was in such great structural condition.
“Someone knew how to build back in the late 1800s. We had to rip up old floorboards as they were rotten and damaged in areas. Lucky for us, the sub floor was all red gum which was in as good condition as the day it was laid.”
The family had also adjusted to country living, with gusto. “The space we have here is really freeing. The chickens, our family, the vegie gardens and the shed parties have really filled our cup back up,” says Jenna.
Guest bedroom
In May 2023, the couple unveiled their first completed room: the guest bedroom. “My vision for this room was to create a whimsical and nostalgic guest bedroom with the view to become Story’s [the couple’s daughter] bedroom when the time is right,” wrote Jenna on Instagram.
“We incorporated a mix of old and new with whimsical wallpaper and soft green joinery. I wanted this room to feel cosy, layered and have a sense of history.”
Girls’ bedroom
Then in July 2023, the couple revealed Fred and Story’s shared bedroom. “The inspiration behind the colour palette was not just Freddie’s favourite colour, pink, but also the history of the home,” says Jenna, referring to the home’s original painted-brick exterior.
The couple colour-drenched the room in Dulux Mornington, to create the room’s whimsical, warm atmosphere. “We love that the wall colour matches the skirting, it allows the generous space and fit-out of the room to shine,” says Jenna.
Rumpus room
Next was a multi-functional and family-friendly space: the rumpus room. This room was also colour-drenched, this time in a serene shade of green, Dulux Paris Creek.
“It will be a place to play, gather, relax and enjoy,” the couple wrote on Instagram. “The very purpose of this room is to create a cosy and comfortable breakaway zone from the main living areas of the home.”
To maximise room and pack in as much storage as possible, the couple chose to include a mix of both built-in joinery and loose furniture.
Hallway
In October 2023, the couple unveiled their newly renovated hallway. “Here’s the hallway progress to date after a HUGE weekend of renovations,” the couple wrote on Instagram. The simply styled hallway features an understated, neutral colour palette and and brand new floor from Form Flooring.
While most of Josh and Jenna’s followers were amazed by the complete transformation, other eagle-eyed fans spotted a key detail missing: the original leadlight windows surrounding the door. “The stained glass was broken and not energy-efficient so we’ve replaced it with double glazing,” wrote Jenna in response to the comments. “For us, every efficiency is everything. One day we will get it replicated in double-glazed,” she said.
While it would be wonderful to see every original detail restored, if you’ve ever renovated a heritage home, you’ll understand the challenge. Supportive followers praised Josh and Jenna for reviving a home that was in complete disrepair. “You’ve made this roofless structure … into a home,” wrote photographer Sophie Marsh.
Phase three: The Extension
Jenna says she likes to think about the renovation having three distinct phases: the heritage home restoration, the landscaping and the extension. The modern wing of the home which juts out from the home’s rear was designed to maximise natural light and take advantage of the property’s glorious views. The extension contains the open-plan living room, kitchen and dining area.
Kitchen, living and dining room
Josh and Jenna unveiled the completion of the living, kitchen and dining room in November 2023. “Our extension is designed to be just right for our family — big enough for fun but not too much to handle. Easy maintenance, durability, and a connection to the outdoors were non-negotiables for us,” wrote Jenna.
Jenna says the key to achieving a harmonious open-plan space is to stick to a colour palette which helps to create cohesion between each distinct zone. “We aimed for a colour palette that compliments the landscape,” says Jenna. “Earthy neutrals throughout was our choice.”
Let’s take a closer look at each zone to find out how Josh and Jenna created a dreamy and durable family-friendly open-plan living space while sticking to their budget.
Kitchen
When planning their kitchen renovation, Josh and Jenna were stunned at how much trade prices had increased — meaning they needed to work smarter within their original budget. “Dealing with high trade prices led us to learn new skills for DIY work,” says Josh, who recommends that anyone planning a kitchen renovation should get as many quotes as possible. “Labour and material prices have risen significantly and budgets may need adjustment compared to previous expectations. We saved by handling carpentry, plumbing and painting ourselves.”
“Balancing renovating and parenting two kids was also challenging,” says Jenna. “We had to take it in turns to renovate and parent! Not sure which job was harder!”
Josh and Jenna’s kids also inspired them to ensure every detail in the kitchen — from the floor up — is durable, easy to maintain and up to the demands of daily life on a farm. Tile throughout was a no-brainer. “It’s durable, especially in high-traffic zones like the island bench and entry. It also provides a cool feel in summer and supports underfloor heating in winter,” says Jenna.
Other neat design features include an Electrolux induction cooktop that syncs with the rangehood and adjusts the speed of the fan according to the heat level selected on the cooktop.
Practicality was the driving force behind the kitchen’s design, says Jenna. “Speciality tapware like filter taps, pot fillers and taps with instant boiling and chilling functions,” were at the top of the couple’s list of must-haves.
Now that the room is complete, Jenna says she’s so glad she installed two ovens. “It’s a luxury and allows us to cook dinner and dessert simultaneously.”
“Capture every item in your kitchen renovation budget: appliances, joinery, plumbing, electrical, fixtures, carpentry, painting, heating/cooling and tiling,” say Josh and Jenna. Doing so will allow you to avoid any surprise costs that may pop up during a renovation.
Josh and Jenna’s kitchen renovation budget tip
Living and dining room
The warm, neutral colour palette flows through to the living and dining areas. To bring texture and interest to the living area, the couple used timber ‘Arava’ floorboards by @terramaterfloors to create a feature wall.
Laundry
It’s rare to find a farmhouse laundry you can genuinely describe as calming, but somehow Josh and Jenna have managed to do it! The same earthy neutrals give the space a connection to the adjoining kitchen and butler’s pantry but clever joinery and deep cabinetry conceal the room’s genius inner-workings.
“Our girls explore and play freely,” says Jenna, who encourages the kids to enjoy a free-range lifestyle on the farm. “But as many parents will know, playing outside leads to delightful laundry challenges!” Jenna says selecting a washer and dryer with smart sensors makes wash day a breeze.
The couple also prioritised bench space for treating, sorting and folding washing and a deep sink that will serve double duty as the fresh fruit and vegie washing station for goodies gathered straight from the kitchen garden.
Landscaping
One of the first big projects Josh and Jenna tackled outside is the pool, installed next to an alfresco area with a fireplace and lounge area. “Bring on summer! Sitting here, watching the sunset while the kids swim and play on the grass. THIS is what I’ve been waiting for,” they shared on Instagram.
The pair have grand plans for the home’s landscaping. “This property is about the exterior, more so than the interior,” says Jenna. “We plan to utilise the land to nurture fruit, vegetables, animals and flowers.”
They’ve even called upon landscape designer Phillip Withers to help create an “epic landscaping plan” that will complete the home’s incredible transformation.
“Another weekend of landscaping, and I am SO excited to no longer have mud at my front door!” the couple shared, along with images of new paths around garden beds full of natives and rustic boulders. The chooks appeared to be enjoying their new setting too.
Dedicated to doing it themselves, Josh and Jenna are trying not to bite off more than they can chew. “Instead of tackling everything at once, we’re focusing on one area at a time,” they said. The “back of house” zone, as they’ve called it, will be for their girls to play and chickens to roam. “Today’s mission is to build the trampoline for the kids!” they shared in September 2024. “Josh has been hard at work building this fence around the perimeter, and we can’t wait to see jasmine growing over it.”
The front of the house is still a work in progress at this point, when it comes to landscaping. It looks beautiful in the spring sunshine, though.
We look forward to seeing the landscaping come together as they complete their Rutherglen Homestead renovation.
Josh and Jenna Densten are documenting the renovation of their Rutherglen home via Instagram @joshandjenna and YouTube.
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This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
