DAYDREAM believer

Having pinned down just the look she desired, the owner of this Sydney home backed herself to make it a reality.

- Chris Pearson

With its light and W breezy interiors and palm-tree outlooks, this semi in Sydney's eastern suburbs resembles a tropical resort. But for owners Alex and Ryan, the journey to this dream destination, no passport required, began with two great leaps of faith.

First, Alex and her husband Ryan boldly bought the property without crossing the threshold. "We were living in London and wanted to return to Sydney," she says. "Our parents inspected it and sent us photos.

They said it had a great vibe." There was plenty to love, even from afar. "It had great natural light, coastal breezes and huge front and back yards. The combination of the natural light and green spaces gave it a beautiful relaxed feel." The couple bought the home in November 2013 and returned to Australia three months later.

But first acquaintance proved far from sunny. "My initial reaction when I first walked in the door was, 'No wonder our parents didn't include photos of the kitchen or the bathrooms," says Alex.

"The kitchen was past its prime and just not practical, with little storage, retro mosaics and a granite benchtop." In fact, the overall interior scheme was a bit dated: the walls were painted a creamy colour, paired with a gold high-gloss on the cypress floorboards.