(Photography: @abbeycholmes)
Undertaking a home renovation is no small feat. It takes a lot of patience, time, money and grit, but it’s all worth it once it’s transformed from a house into a home. Former AFL player, Survivor Australia and SAS star, Abbey Holmes and ex-AFL player husband, Keegan Brooksby have been renovating their dream home over the past year. With it, they have faced a variety of challenges.
In an interview, Abbey told us the biggest struggle she’s faced is “the sheer amount of decision-making. There are SO many choices to make, and it can feel overwhelming at times. And timelines…they always blow out. You think something will take a few weeks and next thing you know, you’re waiting months! But it’s all part of the journey.”
They’ve been documenting the whole process on their Instagram, @pro_jecthouse2home, from ‘operation remove hideous feature wall’ to replacing the flooring, making over their decking, and our favourite: their battle with the resident possums.
Seeing potential in the property, in November 2023, they secured the four-bedroom house in Melbourne’s bayside just days after their stunning, star-studded Northern Territory wedding. It was in an auction against two other bidders after it was listed with a $1.29m-$1.4m asking price, and public records show they paid $1.45m for the beachside property.
“We locked in a 90-day settlement as we had our 7-week overseas honeymoon locked in throughout December/January,” they shared in the caption of their first post on Instagram.
“That 90 days finally took us through to last Friday when we picked up the keys for the very first time. We have so many plans and ideas for this place but being amateur renovators, we want to share our experiences.”
After knocking down old furnishings and adding their own personal touch, they’re getting closer to completing their dream home.
5 of Abbey’s renovating hard truths
When asked what she wished she knew before starting, Abbey said, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You go in with all this excitement, but things take time. We are still far from finished but it’s important to pace yourself and enjoy the process rather than rushing to the finish line.”
She shared five key learnings from their renovation journey.
- Budget for the unexpected, there will ALWAYS be surprises.
- Pick your tradies wisely, a great team makes all the difference.
- Live in the space first (if you can), you’ll get a feel for what you really need.
- Stick to a cohesive style, it helps everything flow together beautifully.
- Take breaks! Reno burnout is real. Step away and reset when you need to.
5 of Abbey’s top tips for renovating
If you’re thinking about doing a reno, Abbey said to “GO FOR IT! It’s a wild ride, but when you step back and see what you’ve created, it’s worth every bit of stress!”
As a beginner who tackled a year-long renovation, here are her tips to nail it:
- Plan, plan, and plan some more! The more organised you are, the smoother it’ll be.
- Know your budget and then add extra – things WILL cost more than you expect.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help, get expert advice where needed.
- Be flexible. Things won’t always go to plan, but that’s okay!
- Enjoy it! It’s a big project, but it’s also so rewarding.
From blueprint to beautiful!
Having moved away from their home state, South Australia, to reside in the stunning Melbourne bayside, Abbey shared they both love the beach. Living close to the water, they wanted to bring that vibe into the house.
“As it stands at the moment, [the house is] a little bit of an ugly duckling,” Abbey said in a video. “Both of us settled on the concept of Hamptons style, beachy, light, bright, lots of timber, and white – and just a really crisp kind of vibe.”
One of the things they love is the high ceilings, which is another common feature of Hampton-style homes.
“[For so many houses], you walk in and it has a low ceiling. As a tall person, that’s an issue for me, so in here we’ve got some nice high ceilings which I think adds to that.”
Over the last year, Abbey and Keegan have ripped up their carpet and replaced it with a beautiful, white/cream carpet. They’ve had their old, orange-brown floorboards removed and installed a beautiful, light oak-colour and they painted the walls and skirting boards a fresh, crisp white. Now, they’re installing new features, such as hanging rattan lights and sleek ceiling fans, and they’ve begun the landscaping in the yard.
4 of Abbey’s go-to brands for styling her home
After the renovation comes the fun part – styling!
When asked which room is her favourite, Abbey told us, “Definitely the living room! We’ve styled it with a light, airy, beachy vibe – soft neutral tones, natural textures, and a relaxed feel that makes it so inviting. The curved modular couch adds a beautiful, effortless flow to the space, while the matching coffee table ties in seamlessly with the wood detailing on the sofa. It’s where we unwind after a long day, kick back, and truly enjoy being at home. Whether we’re watching the footy, catching up with friends, or simply relaxing with family, it’s the heart of our home and a space that brings everyone together.”
Abbey shared her top places to shop for home decor, bedding, lighting and more.
“Oh, I LOVE this part! A few of my go-to’s are…”
- King Living & Globe West for beautiful, timeless furniture
- Uniqwa for those wow-factor decor pieces
- Adairs and linen lovers for bedding (so many luxe options!)
- And we love to collect Indigenous artwork from art centers in remote regions from our travels across the country
Curb appeal on its way
The facade of their home has had a major face-lift. Previously a light blue colour with striped awnings and green slats, it was very much in need of help.
After spray-painting the exterior walls and deck an almost white colour, it has successfully opened the space up and contrasts nicely against the timber ceiling and framed sliding doors.
But of course, as with all renos, there is always a problem. And their problem is quite a funny one.
They underwent the removal of their front deck because of their rivals: the possums.
Possums crash the reno
A problem that many Australians can relate to – having resident possums running across the roof, making a mess in the backyard, and sometimes, trying to sneak into the home in the darkness of the night. During their renovation, Abbey and Keegan discovered they are a part of the large percentage of Australians who will join the possums in a battle of the home.
“Peter and Paul the possums are here, and Patricia may be as well tonight,” Keegan laughed in a video. “It’s their house, we’re just paying rent.”
Many followers took to the comments and shared their own possum experiences, with many not knowing how to deter them. A few months later, they shared an update.
“We had the possum man out for the 3rd time as the possum situation has escalated and now there is like a gazillion living in the walls! We’ve worked out that the ONLY possible way they can get in and out is from under the deck….” Abbey wrote in the caption. “We were looking to eventually down the track, pull up the deck as it’s dodgy but it looks as though this might have been bought forward. Possum man is coming back tomorrow to install one of those one-way gate things to try and lock them out! WISH US BLOODY LUCK!”
But as with all possums, they don’t give up without a fight. In a video with the caption, “VICTORY 👌🏼🐀😂Well, Kinda! They’re still trying to smash the windows and break back into the house BUT they’re out for now”, they shared they indeed removed the entire deck.
“We have claimed victory against the possums,” Keegan laughed. “They are no longer in the premises. We forced them out. They threw a counterattack, they prepared a counter-offensive and now they’re trying to get into the actual house. Every night they’re banging on the windows but we’ve kicked them out. They haven’t paid rent in too long. So we evicted them. As you may remember from previous episodes, this used to be a deck. We had to remove all of the deck and seal it up in the middle of the night when we knew the possums had left, and they came back and they couldn’t get in. Some say it was impossible, but victory!”
If there’s one thing we find funny, its a stand off between homeowners and possums.
Who are Abbey and Keegan?
For those who may not be following along on Abbey and Keegan’s journey, here’s a little about them.
Abbey has an accomplished career as a former AFLW player and sports commentator. She played in the Northern Territory Football League, becoming the first woman to kick 100 goals in a season, as well as leading the leagues goal-kicking tally four times.
You may also recognise her from one of Australia’s most-loved reality TV franchises, Australian Survivor. She appeared for the first time in season 6, where she finished in 5th place. She made such an impact on the game and the fans that she was brought back the following season to compete in Australian Survivor All Stars, where she placed 19th. She has also starred in reality series, SAS Australia.
Keegan Brooksby is a former Australian rules footballer known for his role as a ruckman in the AFL with a notable career spanning multiple clubs. In 2023, he claimed his second Knuckey Cup, awarded to the team’s best and fairest player. He led the SANFL in hit-outs that season and earned a spot in the Advertiser Team of the Year.
Abbey and Keegan were each others first Bumble dates and they got engaged in November 2020 before marrying on November 6 2023 in a gorgeous, red sand-drenched ceremony near Uluru.
The exciting announcement!
In January, they shared some exciting news: they are expecting their first child! Abbey shared with news.com.au that she discovered her pregnancy shortly after running the New York Marathon in November 2024.
“Oh, mate! It’s been a rollercoaster, that’s for sure,” she told us. “There are definitely days where I’m completely wiped, but at the same time, there’s something really special about building a home that our little one will grow up in. That keeps me going!”
While renovating is exhausting, Abbey insists that it’s a rewarding experience that anyone considering a home reno, should do.
“Hands down, [the most rewarding part is] seeing your vision come to life. There’s something so special about walking into a space you’ve designed and knowing all the hard work, planning, and decisions have paid off. Every little detail whether it’s a custom fixture or the perfect splashback, it just makes it feel like home.”
