While separately they don't profess to be masters of their crafts, together Ann-Maree and Phil Hastings have produced a work of art.
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The couple were recently awarded a Heritage Award for the renovation of their home at 43 The Crescent. While before photos show gaudy green walls and a yellow kitchen, guests are now greeted with neutral tones and heritage styling, with comfortable modern touches.
While the hands-on renovations were the work of Mr Hastings, the styling is the work of his talented wife. He said while he was the "doer", his wife was the art director.
The couple have owned the heritage-listed building since 2009, but got started on renovations in 2010. The first to go was the kitchen.
"It was an old yellow kitchen, the cabinetry was very dated and quite rotten," Mr Hastings said.
He used his own handyman skills to do most of the renovations.
The kitchen took six weeks to renovate completely, including replacing the windows with period leadlight windows and putting down a new wooden floor, which came from an old school.
However it was the second stage of renovations, to complete the rest of the home, which caused more problems. While the plan was to have it complete in 12 months, it took two years.
Mr Hastings said while he loved doing the renovations, he wasn't a professional builder and that was what takes the time.
It was also hard, the couple found, to source heritage materials from Canberra. They have travelled to both Sydney and Melbourne to purchase things like windows and light fittings to suit the period.
However, despite these setbacks they're proud of how the project has turned out.
"It's nice that all the effort that we've put in has actually been rewarded," Mrs Hastings said.
"I wish there was more of it around here, especially in Queanbeyan."
The Heritage Award winners were announced at the Queanbeyan Museum as part of the Heritage Festival.
The Hastings took out the restoration of a heritage building category, and highly commended went to the owners of the home at 11 Surveyor Street.
In a separate category, Marilyn Folger was awarded for her contribution to heritage through the Queanbeyan Museum and other community-orientated projects.
