Some people “do it all” and somehow make it look… annoyingly graceful.
Tarryn Donaldson is one of those people. She’s a mum of two, a DIY and interiors lover, and the kind of person who can talk about a renovation plan and a fitness goal in the same breath. Not in a hustle-culture way but in a “this is real life and I’m making it work” way.
Lately, she’s been renovating her pool house piece by piece, with one freshly finished room that set the tone for what the space is becoming. The starting point was simple: a Timber Bed Frame that made the room feel instantly more intentional.
We chatted to Tarryn about the routine that keeps her grounded, the choices she invests in (and where she happily saves), and the calm feeling she’s building into her home, one project at a time.
You’re juggling mum life, renovations and fitness goals at the same time. What keeps you grounded and feeling well through all of that?
Routine! I am a creature of habit and with how crazy my life is in general with the kids etc having some structure and routine helps things flow properly and feel a little less chaotic. Making time for me - that hour of my day where I can sneak off and go to the gym and do something that is only for me sets me up for the day. It helps me start the day on a positive note and those exercise endorphins go a long way when I come back home to the chaos!
When you imagine the pool house finished, what’s the feeling you want people to have the moment they step inside?
I want it to feel calm and inviting. The pool house has evolved over the years - it’s going to provide a sense of calm amongst our soon to be renovated pool area and tropical oasis.
You’ve been transforming your pool house piece by piece. What was the moment you realised the old bed needed to go and the Timber Bed Frame was the start of something better?
It was when someone went over to my mum's house and borrowed one of her single mattresses to use on top of the double sized pull out sofa bed. It really wasn’t a vibe! It came down to choosing something that was both practical, comfortable and looked great in the space.
You are so hands on with your projects. How does your DIY mindset influence the choices you make for your home, especially pieces like the Timber Bed Frame that are meant to last?
I pick and choose where we invest and where we save and do it ourselves. When it comes to key pieces that we want to last for a very long time we choose to invest in quality. For things more like decor, accessories and trends (where we might change our minds within a year) that's where I prefer to navigate towards the DIY route.
Your followers love seeing the real journey, not just the finished room. What has surprised you the most about working on this renovation while keeping life and routines on track?
I tend to thrive under pressure. Sometimes the hardest part for me is actually getting started - making those initial decisions especially when we are investing into things. I always worry that I am making the wrong choice. But once I get over the initial starting point it's all go! I love to see a project through and watch that transformation. It’s especially satisfying when you are physically creating it and bringing it to life yourself. I also prefer to start a project and problem solve along the way as we get to each stage where I can physically see what will work and won't work. I’ve just been doing a massive outdoor renovation that required all the choices and decisions to be locked in before we even started and I found that very challenging! Now that we are halfway through here are definitely some things I would have done slightly differently.
3 takeaways to steal from Tarryn (highly encouraged)
Protect your “one hour”
Your routine doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours. If you can anchor one hour a day, the rest feels less chaotic.
Invest in the pieces that shape the room
When the big items are solid, calm and functional, everything else gets easier. Styling becomes fun, not frantic.
Let the project evolve
Some spaces don’t need a final answer on day one. Start with the piece that fixes the biggest pain point, then build from there.
If you’ve been eyeing a room that’s half storage unit, half “we’ll deal with it later”, consider this a sign. Start with one smart decision. The calm follows.
(And yes, your pool house guests will stop stealing mattresses from your mum.)
