SHE’D NEVER RENOVATED BEFORE. NOW HER HOME IS IN COUNTRY STYLE MAGAZINE
There’s renovating your first home. And then there’s buying a grand 1940s Tudor-style house sight unseen, moving your family across the country and taking on a top-to-bottom transformation.
That was Reno Schooler Jannah Harder’s introduction to renovating. No easing herself in. No starter project. Just one very big house, one very clear vision and a whole lot to learn.
Fast-forward to 2026 and Jannah’s home, Knebworth Lodge, has been transformed into a warm, character-filled family home and featured in an incredible 11-page spread in Country Style magazine.
Proud? You bet we are.
But while the finished home is seriously swoon-worthy, there’s another part of Jannah’s renovation story that we love even more.
She backed herself.
Jannah didn’t come into this renovation with years of building experience, a design qualification or a renovation portfolio under her belt. She came in with a big vision, a love of character and a whole lot of questions.
And, importantly, she came in armed with Reno School.
FROM “CAN I ACTUALLY DO THIS?” TO “YEP, I’VE GOT THIS”
When Jannah and her husband Ben discovered Knebworth Lodge online, they knew almost immediately that they’d found something special.
The location on Tasmania’s eastern coastline was a huge drawcard, as was the home’s incredible character. There was just one small thing standing between them and their dream home...
They hadn’t actually seen it in person.
So they did what any totally sane renovators would do…
Yep, they bought it anyway!
Thankfully, Jannah’s brother Caleb is a carpenter and could see the potential straight away. But Jannah had another advantage up her sleeve:
“I completed Reno School before we purchased our property, and it helped me narrow down exactly what I was looking for—not only in a home, but in a renovation project. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to recognise the potential in our property and turn all my ideas into a clear, cohesive plan.”
Instead of feeling like she had to know everything, Jannah had a framework to work from. She understood the process, had learned how to turn inspiration into a plan and, perhaps most importantly, had started developing the confidence to make decisions for herself.
RENO SCHOOL, ON REPEAT
Completing Reno School didn’t mean Jannah suddenly had every answer tucked away in her head. But that’s the beauty of having the course there throughout your renovation; when a question comes up on site, a trade needs an answer or you’re deep in the details of a bathroom layout, you can go straight back to the lesson you need.
And that’s what Jannah did – often.
“The ability to return to the online platform throughout the renovation and revisit specific lessons was incredibly valuable. I couldn’t tell you how many times I rewatched the kitchen and bathroom modules! Understanding practical details, like the recommended minimum shower-screen length for an open shower, helped me make informed decisions and communicate confidently with our trades.”
Reno School isn’t about turning you into a builder overnight. It’s about helping you understand your renovation well enough to ask the right questions, communicate what you want and make informed decisions when they land in your lap.
THE CONFIDENCE TO TRUST YOUR GUT
One of the biggest lessons from Jannah’s renovation journey? You don’t need to be an expert to have great instincts.
Jannah did her homework. She researched. She created a vision board. She thought carefully about every detail. But she also learnt to trust that little voice that said, Yep, that’s it.
Or, equally importantly, Nope, not that.
Her vision was a modern country cottage: warm, layered, textured and full of natural light. But she wasn’t prepared to simply choose something because it was on trend or because someone else told her it was the right decision. If it didn’t feel right, she kept looking.
And when decision fatigue set in, Jannah turned to the Reno School community for advice.
“Having somewhere to ask questions, seek reassurance and share ideas with people who genuinely understand the process helped me work through decisions and made such a huge project feel far less overwhelming. Whenever I was in doubt, I returned to the vision board, just as Reno School taught me. It became my renovation compass, helping me stay true to the overall vision and make confident, cohesive decisions.”
‘A renovation compass’. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
FROM RENO SCHOOL TO REAL-LIFE RENOVATION
The family moved into Knebworth Lodge and wasted absolutely no time getting stuck in. The renovation became a huge family project, with Jannah’s brother Caleb giving up weekends over an extended period to help bring the vision to life.
The house was gutted, insulated and completely reimagined, all while Jannah and Ben were raising three young children and living through the realities of a major renovation.
It was BIG.
But Jannah had done the prep. She had a clear vision, practical knowledge to draw on and a community she could turn to when she needed it.
The finished home celebrates the original character of Knebworth Lodge while making it work beautifully for modern family life.
And now, seeing that home featured across 11 pages of Country Style, Jannah admits she’s still a little shocked by what they achieved.
SO, WHAT COMES AFTER YOUR FIRST RENO?
In Jannah’s case, apparently another one.
“Now that our renovation is complete, I’m really missing the creative outlet and am already on the hunt for our next project. Reno School also helped me realise that interior design and renovation project management might just be the next chapter for me—and I have no doubt I’ll continue to lean on the incredible Three Birds community along the way.”
More Befores
From buying a house sight unseen as a first-time renovator to contemplating renovation and design as her next chapter?
We are so here for this ;)
‘After’ photography by Renee @reneethurston_
Family photography by Cass @exp_tas
‘Before’ photography by Kate @photos_by__kate
READY TO BACK YOURSELF?
If you’re dreaming about renovating but wondering whether you really know enough to pull it off, Jannah’s story is proof that you don’t need to start as an expert.
Reno School gives you the knowledge, practical tools and support to plan your renovation, make informed decisions and move forward with confidence, from those very first ideas right through to the finished home.
Ready to stop second-guessing and start backing yourself?
