The Place Between

The Place Between Renovation consultant : design & manage
Supports homeowners and building professionals

25/08/2026

More is more. 💚

17/08/2026

So true

Well that’s the dining table that supported us with what could have been a very challenging conversation. We prepared a ...
07/08/2026

Well that’s the dining table that supported us with what could have been a very challenging conversation. We prepared a home renovation contract.

Enjoy renovating! 💚

Tea, documents, documents, computer, documents, pen, paper and more documents. Ok some were drawings but they were architectural technical detailing. 🤓

We are shattered and have a bit of a headache after 1.5 h sitting there looking at the details and discussing how to navigate what we wish was straight forward but never is.

That table held doses of calm and practical reasoning. We did it 💪

In an ideal world, builders and homeowners would know exactly what’s going to happen. They would have measured perfectly, and thought about everything before commencing.

Do you know the phrase “best laid plans”? IYKYK

Even with the best intention and care, a home remodel is absolutely going to require changes. Each of them is a potential trap.

I heavily promote the use of a home renovation contract - not only because it deals with basics contractual terms - but because it provides a space for that very important conversation.

That moment in time where, as people entering a contractual relationship that pertains to something potentially very stressful and risky, you take the lead to foresee how things are going to pan out if they go well AND if they go wrong.

That’s a no brainer.

Valerie Couillard | sustainable home renovations is all about creating that space and we are very proud to be launching The Place Between’s Home renovation contract template (2026 edition) this autumn.

DM if you’d like to know more.

Do you know how to write up@a home renovation contract?

19/07/2026

Doing part of your renovation yourself? That’s sensible and crazy at the same time.

Painting the stairs? Absolutely.

Building plywood cupboards? Why not.

Learning as you go? That’s part of making a house your own.

But here’s what I’ve learnt from years of renovations…

The decorating isn’t usually what costs people the most.

It’s the decisions.

The order things happen.
The conversations that don’t happen soon enough.
The quote that looked cheaper.
The layout that wasn’t tested.
The “we’ll work it out later” moments.

Those are the expensive bits.

You don’t need someone to take over your renovation.

Sometimes you just need someone beside you to sense-check the plan, answer the awkward questions, review quotes, help with scheduling or stop an expensive mistake before it happens.

That’s exactly what I do at The Place Between.

If you’re planning a home remodel, or you’re already in the middle of one and feeling stuck, follow along. I share practical advice to help homeowners renovate with more confidence, less stress and fewer costly surprises.

If you need a sounding board, send me a DM with the word PLAN.

13/07/2026

Link in bio to book a conversation 💚

03/07/2026

When I visited my clients last month, this room was no longer just “finished.”

It was lived in.

Filled with old and new pieces. Colours that make them smile. A space that finally feels like them.

A few design decisions we made together made all the difference:

• Rethinking the office. We almost put it in the other room next door. Instead, we gave the workspace the room with the beautiful natural light and large window. Sometimes the best design decision is simply putting the right function in the right space.

• Letting go of the original floorboards. The plan was always to restore the original pine throughout the house… until it became clear it wasn’t the right solution. Late-project changes like this can send everyone down a decision rabbit hole (floor levels, adjoining finishes, timing, budget…). Instead, the flooring specialist I matched them with worked brilliantly alongside the rest of the team, and together we found a better solution. I think that engineered oak was absolutely the right call. Beautiful, practical and built to last for decades.

• Building the atmosphere. The botanical mural was never meant to steal the show. Together with a carefully curated palette of tonal eco-conscious paints, it creates a room that feels calm, layered and connected to nature. Nothing shouts for attention, but everything works together.

Looking around, it’s hard to imagine any other version of this room.

That’s usually a sign we’ve made the right decision. Not because they’re fashionable, but because they simply feel right.

If you’re planning a renovation and would like an experienced second pair of eyes before making expensive decisions, you can 📲 book an online renovation strategy consultation via the link in my bio.

25/06/2026

The magical part of this room wasn’t the bespoke carpentry. It was the conversation that led to it.

This space went through several iterations as my clients and I explored what would work best for their family.

One option was a long desk running beneath the windows. It made perfect sense on paper and would have created a lovely study/work-from-home space.

Then came the conversation.

My clients explained that their teenagers would never want to share a desk (no matter how long it was!). They each needed a space they could call their own.

That changed the brief.

We didn’t want to lose the openness of the room, so instead of creating two separate rooms, we introduced a partial dividing wall that defined two individual study areas while keeping the space feeling light and connected.

This is what I love most about bespoke design. It’s not about arriving with all the answers. It’s about listening, asking questions and refining ideas until they genuinely fit the people who will live there.

A huge thank you to and , who helped overcome the carpentry challenges and brought the drawings to life beautifully.

I’ve since heard the teenagers can’t stop studying… I’ll happily take that as a design success. 😉

Designing bespoke storage, carpentry and spaces that solve real family challenges has become one of my favourite parts of what I do.

Would your family have chosen one long desk or two separate study spaces?

💚 If you’re planning a renovation and want a home that’s designed around the way you actually live, I’d love to help.

InteriorDesign HomeRemodel ThePlaceBetween

25/06/2026

Design magic anyone ? 🐉✨

This one was a long collab with my clients. Various iterations of this room. I had drawn a long desk all along the windows to start with, suggesting a study /work from home space seeemed to be what suited their needs as a family.

Building on that idea the clients explained their teens would not want to share a desk, no matter how long it was, and instead they would want to have their own separate space.

We could not bring ourselves to close this open space. Yet we did, partly. To draw a dividing (peace) wall were my instructions, and I went on to produce this double desk space.

It turned out beautiful didn’t it?

What do you think?

I worked with on this and was a superstar in helping me adjust the potential carpentry shortfalls and bringing my drawings to life.

I hear the teenagers can’t stop studying 😉

Specifying bespoke carpentry storage and spaces has become a recurring theme in my services. I love it and I’m always ready for another challenge. It truly is magic to me.

Get in touch if you feel you need support with your space.

18/04/2026

Am I the AH? 😂

I made my son a little video. I always find things look clearer on camera. You can see your mess.

When I used to put my house on the market nearly every year, my trick was to take pictures to see more clearly how to stage it better. 😉

Seriously, this garden room is a game 🎮 changer (pun intended). We all fight for it, even though it’s one of the snugger spaces in the house. And I’m delighted my kids benefit from this daylight (okay, while watching screens… but still?!)

We had a dysfunctional conservatory that was blocking access to the garden. Did you know conservatories often reduce the value of a property? They can be trouble.

👿

If you’d like help remodelling your home sustainably so that it works better for you, give me a shout. Send me a DM or book a consultation.

Disclaimer:
I can’t promise your teenagers will keep the space in good order.

Renovation love 💚

Thank you for the beautiful tiling work 🫶👌👌

09/04/2026

Ladies and gents, I give you the more realistic version. Now I was to see this in your kitchens. You’re welcome. ✨

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