You think you know the people in your life pretty well, right? Their likes, dislikes and even favourite colours. But, sometimes that perception of a friend can be completely blasted into oblivion the moment you walk into their homes.

Here’s an example: your work colleague is having a little party and has invited all staff to their home. Now, you know this person, let’s call him Fred, loves his car ­– the V8 Holden Commodore. You know Fred collects memorabilia and treats his car like it’s made from gold. However, nothing could have prepared you for the onslaught of Holden paraphernalia on entering his home. From framed posters posing as ‘art’ on the wall, model cars, kitschy ashtrays, tea towels and EVEN the linen, it was as if Holden had vomited all over the house. Where did Fred go wrong?

When it goes completely wrong

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Now, the example might be a little extreme, but sometimes, people’s hobbies dominate or rather completely overtake the styling of a home. I have seen this phenomenon in many homes, and sometimes it is subtle. Often it extends from a favourite colour (think everything purple!) or a favourite city (we’ve all been in a Francophile’s home and seen the Eiffel tower invade every nook and cranny). Usually, it starts off on a small scale, but slowly creeps in over the years and then one day you wake up on the set of Star Wars. When you wake up to a life-sized cardboard cut-out of wookie in your bedroom, you know you’ve gone too far!

Scale it back

Style, they say, is a second-cousin to class. So the message here is to keep it classy! I’m not saying you need to hock all your collectibles on Ebay, but to scale back. Here’s an example of getting it right. A friend of mine is a cocktail aficionado and loves vintage liquor posters. We all know how alluring bottles of alcohol can be (the colours, the shapes, the sizes) but instead of displaying bottles in an out-dated cabinet, she has decorated her home with beautifully framed posters of her favourite spirits. Her passion for creating cocktails is tastefully expressed without it being forced down your throat. Not only are these posters works of art, but she has stayed true to her hobby.

Striking the right balance

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The most important thing about styling your home is to be completely comfortable in your space. There’s no point in buying and placing pieces in your house ‘for show’. Homes are meant to be lived in ­– so if your precious, priceless objet d’art could be shattered by a roaming toddler, then pack it away. Incorporating a hobby into your home can be achieved by balancing this passion with regular items (or pieces your partner likes). If you’re lucky enough to share the hobby with your partner, then set a limit and stick to it. For instance, ONE porcelain poodle figurine, not a litter! The other option is to create a room or space devoted to your hobby. For example, if you are a mad Elvis Presley fan, maybe you can create a music room and keep your records, posters and movies in that space to enjoy at your leisure.

However, if you want to be in the Guinness World Records for the biggest number of throw pillows shaped as Persian Cats, then open a museum and charge entry!

Men have always insisted they need their space for Private Men’s Business. The Den, the Man Cave, the Pool Room, the garage ­– with women and children relegated to the rest of the house!

Well, not anymore. Introducing the ‘She Shed’

Sweeping the nation

Image Source: Lighter Side of Real Estate

No longer the domain of the hairy ones, women can now have THEIR own space (complete with lockable door) to pursue their interests. I’m not talking about a little nook in the lounge room for their porcelain ornaments or the kitchen but a four-walled structure in the back yard. I’m talking about She Sheds.

A She Shed can be anything you want it to be. A music studio, writing den, sewing room, pottery barn, spa retreat, painting studio, ANYTHING your imagination can come up with. The beauty of a She Shed is you can have as many art works or fragrant candles burning and no-one can tell you the house smells like the perfume counter at David Jones. It can be your relaxation retreat without having to leave the house. Yes, the She Shed is great.

On a more serious note, She Sheds are practical. With more women working from home, (the study is already packed with the kids’ computers and homework) a She Shed is the perfect home office – one you don’t have to share. But here’s the bonus: it can be so much more than just a practical office space.

The marriage saver

I have an associate who runs her own business from home. A great move as she is constantly ferrying kids from school and sport and being at home she can keep an eye on the kids after school. Sounds perfect right? Home/life balance achieved. However, her husband also works from home. While they are a great couple, their businesses couldn’t be more different. She loves to listen to music while she works, he has cables and computers littering the floor. On top of that clash, they SHARED a desk. It was creating tension and both businesses were suffering. So, they decided to wear a business cost and save their work/life balance. After researching the costs and measuring out the backyard, they hired a professional to construct the framework and then rolled up their sleeves and set about creating a small yet perfect space, complete with electricals, window and even a little verandah.  A few weeks later, the cabin was up and a marriage harmonious once more.

You’re only limited by your imagination

Image Source: Oddee.com

Here are some creative ideas from women around the world.

As you can see, you can personalise it to suit your space, budget and needs.

Value added

From a real estate point of view, She Sheds are a sound investment. For example, spending $10,000 on a top-notch space can add a LOT more when your property is on the market. A wider demographic will be attracted and your property could sell for more.

And once business is done for the day….

Image Source: Lighter Side of Real Estate

I forgot to mention, She Sheds also make a great after-hours relaxing retreat (sitting on the verandah with a cold glass of wine) once the kids are tucked in bed…

The old saying that you’re only as good as the company you keep can be applied to many scenarios, and not surprisingly, it can be easily applied to where you live.

I’m not talking about specific suburbs or what your next-door neighbour does for a living (although that’s another blog entirely), but rather what condition your street is in.

While some features of your street can’t be easily altered (such as broken footpaths or overgrown tree roots) there are steps you can undertake to tidy up your street that will undoubtedly add value to your property, especially when selling.

Litter bugs be gone

No one likes litter, and NO ONE like a litterer. Now I’m not asking you to become the litter police of your street, but maybe think about forming a community beautifying working bee. It’s as simple as popping a leaflet in your neighbour’s letterboxes and sending an open invitation to band together to help keep your street clean. While everyone leads busy lives, you might be surprised with the response. You can create a simple rotating timetable and take turns picking up litter (and removing the posters from the electricity poles). All you need is some rubber gloves and a few plastic bags. You might even pick up some new friends!

The old couch that time forgot

One of my pet hates is seeing old furniture (especially mattresses) sitting on a footpath. It’s unsightly, unhygienic and unfortunately a staple on most suburban streets. In most cases, people have moved house and decided to dump their unwanted broken sofa or soiled mattress on the side of the road rather than pay a removalist. And, unfortunately, these ghastly pieces sit there rotting until the next council clean up. Here’s what you can do. If you see your neighbours moving, let them know you are watching, they’ll be less inclined to dump and run. However, if they do leave an unwanted deposit, contact your local council and report the offence.

Nature’s first green is gold

A hot trend I’ve been following for a while are community gardens. There’s nothing more satisfying than growing your own produce. However, many people don’t have the space or time to invest in their own patch of earth. Getting together with your neighbours and even getting the kids involved is such a wonderful and satisfying way to build community spirit AND increase the value of your street.

At the end of the day, whether you are planning on living in your street for the long haul, or you’re planning on sell soon, keeping your street tidy and clean will most definitely add value to your property. Keeping your verge mowed, clean and tidy, free of leaves and litter will add immensely to the value of your property as its gives a sense of a well loved area inside and out.

You will be surprised how a few small steps can make huge improvements, and your actions and ideas will rub off on others. You’ll also realise that once your neighbours become involved, it’ll be a lot easier to maintain the neatness.

Take pride in where you live!

If you could see the future, then you could (possibly) avoid making mistakes, or even choose a different path. When it comes to your business, many start their careers hungry, determined, but also a little naïve.

In my 20-plus year career, I have learnt many lessons along the way on how to run a successful business. And I am both proud and humbled that I can wake up every morning and do what I love every single day. That’s not to say that I haven’t stumbled or had any roadblocks. Many times I wish I had had a crystal ball to see into the future or go back in to the past and give my 20-year-old self some advice.

Recently, Fortune magazine ran a feature profiling successful business men and women who are under 40 on what advice they would give their younger selves. Some of the brightest were interviewed and there were some running themes. Surprisingly, it was not all business-based, but rather how they strike work-life balance, where they holiday and even their favourite rooms in their homes!

Here are some of the best pieces of advice that ring true for me as well:

“Ask questions and listen more than you talk. You can’t be an expert at everything– and at 20 you’re more likely to be an expert at nothing! That said, with inexperience comes fresh perspective.” Ivanka Trump, EVP, Development and Acquisitions, Trump Organization.

“It was the same advice that I gave myself when I was 20, which is, any time you have a difficult decision, imagine yourself as a 90-year-old looking back at this moment. What decision would you wish that you would have made? Go forward and look backward,” Nick Woodman, Founder and CEO, GoPro.

“I would tell myself to buy real estate next to the High Line in NYC! I’d also tell young Sarah to be more patient with my career and to realize that good things will happen with hard work and time,” Sarah Kauss, Founder and CEO, S’well.

“When pursuing your first job, focus on working with great people, and not the job with the highest paycheck,” Kevin Chou, Co-founder and CEO, Kabam.

“Get up, dress up, show up. I think of it as my motto—get up with the energy to tackle every day, dress the part, and show up with your best A+ attitude,” Alexa von Tobel, Founder and CEO, LearnVest.

I suppose the lesson here is that throughout our careers, our lives – anything we pursue – at the core of everything we wish to achieve should be pursued with a gung-ho attitude. Go hard or go home. To achieve the best, you must GIVE it your best, every time. And as always, striving for a balance is integral to living a full, satisfied and happy life.