Tag: hobbs jamieson

Granny flat, pool house or studio: whatever it is, it’s gorgeous!

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date April 26, 2022
No Comments on Granny flat, pool house or studio: whatever it is, it’s gorgeous!

Studio, granny flat or pool house. Whatever you call it, it’s certainly a popular option for Australian homes of late, no doubt due to rising property prices and people spending a lot more time at home due to the pandemic. So, when this light-filled, multi-purpose dwelling landed in our inbox we just had to share. The work of Hobbs Jamieson, this stylish studio is part of a family home located in the northern Sydney suburb of Clontarf and quite simply, it’s the bright, white pool house of our dreams.

“The homeowners are a professional couple with two young children, and they wanted to create a multi-purpose pool house building that could function as a studio and secondary dwelling when required. The family often have overseas based family visit and stay for a few months at a time,” says architect Adam Hobbs of the intention behind the project.

With a gabled roof, and v-groove panelling, the studio complements the original period detailing of the main home, and also falls in line with the future renovation aspirations the owners have for the site.

The studio boasts a pretty glorious vista across the pool to the river — The studio enjoys pretty glorious views across the pool to the river

“The project focussed on taking full advantage of the views toward the harbour and creating a tranquil, private, self-contained space filled with light that can accommodate multiple uses,” says Adam who explains that the owners also use the space for exercise and a general escape from the principal residence.

As for the design, it features a large, vaulted ceiling with exposed trusses and gable end, clear-storey windows. “This creates a fantastic feeling of openness for the space,” says Adam. The studio has a wall bed that can be put away to make room for the space to be used in different ways.

An important technical detail is that the studio features fire retardant, non-combustible Australian hardwoods due to the project being located within a BAL-29 bushfire rated area.

“As for the end result, we are happy with the way the building elevates the site as a whole, responds to the requirements of a multi-purpose brief and the architectural proportions of the space internally and externally.”

Photography: Luc Remond

For more on Hobbs Jamieson Architecture

Real reno: Sydney family home now sports stylish curves

From arched mirrors to rounded furniture shapes and arched hallways, there’s no doubt that curves are trending which is why…

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Jewel tones feature in light & bright new Sydney home

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date June 15, 2021
3 Comments on Jewel tones feature in light & bright new Sydney home

“The design brief was simple. We needed to create a light and open home that connects well to the outdoor spaces and was contemporary in its design,” says architect Adam Hobbs of Hobbs Jamieson of this gorgeous new build in the Sydney’s Willoughby. Home to a couple who receive frequent visitors (namely their children and grandchildren), the single level dwelling was designed to take full advantage of the winter sun while maintaining privacy for its occupants.

From the street, interesting details abound; a detailed, closed and private wall faces onto the street and if you look closely, you can make out the house number within the home’s brickwork. A relatively understated design, the front elevation gives no sense of the home’s expanse from the street. Once inside, large voluminous spaces connect to varied outdoor spaces.

A standout design feature, the pool runs onto a courtyard from the living area, adding atmosphere to the space. “The pavilion style allows for a series of smaller spaces interspersed between, rather than the typical house with backyard arrangement,” says Adam. Importantly, the large living spaces face north, allowing for winter sun to enter while keeping the summer sun out.

One surprising feature of the home is its bold use of colour – particularly in the kitchen and wet areas. The bright tones were chosen to offset the home’s abundance of neutral brickwork, concrete and glass. “Once the main structure was up, the clients felt that the kitchen would look great in a different, perhaps even unexpected colour,” says Adam who explains that they were inspired by a cushion with teal embroidery.

“The architecture of the house is very strong and as much as they love it, they wanted to inject something of themselves into the building,” says Adam. The striking teal tone is Dulux La Pineta and it looks fabulous paired with Statuario Maximus Caesarstone for the benchtops and Western red cedar battens on the kitchen island.

The bathroom vanities are far from the typical white also – blue and purple (Dulux Hothouse Orchid and Dulux Pelagic) is another bold choice. The brightness of the vanities was offset by large format porcelain tiles from Artedomus.

As for Adam’s favourite part of the project – he loves the home’s main living space and the way in which the courtyards are integrated into the design. “We are also proud of how we have responded to the brief to ‘shut the building off from the street’, by creating a layered brickwork presentation that employs details that offer interest back to the street.”

Photography: Luc Remond

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Real reno: Sydney family home now sports stylish curves

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date September 6, 2019
2 Comments on Real reno: Sydney family home now sports stylish curves

Pantry — The timber-battened pantry hides structural support for the second floor too

From arched mirrors to rounded furniture shapes and arched hallways, there’s no doubt that curves are trending which is why this unique Sydney renovation piqued our interest. Located in Balgowlah Heights on the Northern Beaches, this 1980’s era family home was overhauled recently and now sports a new extension, granny flat and pool area characterised by a rather sensuous series of curves – a design choice that was both practical and aesthetic.

“The original renovation was horribly constructed, dark and compartmentalised. It’s not uncommon in homes that people are looking to renovate but this one had it all!” says the project’s architect Adam Hobbs of Hobbs Jamieson who replaced the rabbit warren of rooms with a series of curved, open-plan spaces that allow the light and breezes to permeate.

“We were asked to open up the space, make it more contemporary and employ a classic, natural colour palette. And although it’s a new structure, the same brief applied to the granny flat,” says Adam.

Home to a professional couple with primary school aged twin daughters, the granny flat was added with a view to future-proof the home. “It’s for when the children are teenagers, but in the short term it acts as a second living space associated with the pool so the owners can entertain – like a pool house concept I guess,” says Adam of the new building that opens onto the pool area and sports a bar area and covered cabana space too.

And when it comes to showcasing the curves, the kitchen is a rather show-stopping space. “The kitchen was a rare venture for us with curves, but it made sense given it allows smooth circulation through the house, it opens up and connects the spaces and it adds a real opulence to the space,” says Adam.

Kitchen joinery — Beautiful bespoke curved joinery features throughout the kitchen

Clad with bespoke Blackbutt timber battens, the pantry hides structural support for the upper level while acting as a device to separate the living areas. It’s also been designed in such a way that sight lines are maintained through the home. “We are really proud of the way we worked with the curves. The whole feel of the home’s living areas was completely changed by them.”

Pool and granny flat — The view from the back deck takes in the new granny flat and refurbished pool

Photography: Luc Remond

For more | Another Sydney family home renovation

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Before & after: Clever joinery star of Sydney apartment

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date April 17, 2019
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“The home’s owners are children of the 1970’s which had some impact on the selections,” says architect Adam Hobbs of Hobbs Jamieson in what is a bit of an understatement in my view. For me, this 1960’s era apartment (located in Sydney’s Balgowlah) reminds me a little of the TV show Mad Men with its mid-century furniture selections, pops of timber and all-round cool, masculine vibe.

“Add value, don’t be fussy, make it comfortable and do it all on a budget!” said the apartment’s owners, a professional couple, when briefing Adam before the renovation. As such, Adam’s main objective was to maximise the visual and practical impact of a renovation without spending too much.

“Based on this we decided to avoid structural change to the building and focus on how small practical improvements to the usage of spaces could increase the apartment’s flexibility and sense of usable space,” says Adam.

A dramatic suite of changes ensued resulting in the apartment having many more features than it had in its pre-renovated state. From an internal laundry to a built-in study area, built-in day bed, roman style bath/shower combination and fully equipped kitchen, every dollar of the $100,000 renovation was judiciously spent.

“The result is a sleek, very practical fit out that has added around three times the value to the dwelling as to what was invested in the works. It’s also resulted in a significant increase in the comfort and usability of the dwelling,” says Adam.

AFTER hallway – the timber on the ceiling is a nice touch

The kitchen in particular is a smart space – sleek but warm courtesy of overhead timber cupboards, the relatively small space is much more usable than it used to be. “I like how everything seems to fit the space well and maximises the available storage. I also like how most of the appliances are integrated. Most storage joinery is integrated into the building making it feel quite sleek but not pretentious,” says Adam.