Purchased in May this year, this 1960’s era Melbourne home stood in all its dowdy, original glory until it was renovated and flipped in just 12 weeks by close friends Emma Dixon Dean and Christine Paterson.
Front yard BEFOREFront yard AFTERFront yard AFTER
“We are two girlfriends from Melbourne who breathe everything interiors and renovations. We collaborated on our first project together and bought a little ugly duckling from the 1960’s and transformed her into a Palm Springs inspired beauty,” says Christine of the home that is located just four houses from the beach in the Melbourne suburb of Black Rock.
Living BEFORELiving AFTER
“The renovations took 12 weeks and we kind of had our own little experience of The Block! We set our budget and pretty much stuck to it but we had a few surprises once demolition started but tackled all of them! She’s a totally renovated home with all the luxuries of contemporary living,” says Christine.
Kitchen BEFOREKitchen AFTER
“The townhouse was built in the 1960’s so we knew we had to honour her existing mid-century features but bring her back to life by exposing all of her beauty! Our inspiration was to bring a little of Palm Springs to Black Rock,” says Christine.
Bedroom BEFOREBedroom AFTER
The creative duo chose to lose the outdated interior vibe while highlighting the home’s mid-century details – some of which hadn’t seen daylight for some time. “We respected the mid-century period by exposing the breeze blocks which were hidden behind years of overgrown weeds and revived the original bricks with a repair and paint!” says Christine.”
Bathroom BEFOREBathroom AFTER
And while the home now features lots of fabulous new spaces, Christine and Emma are most proud of the way that the outdoor areas turned out. “The transformation is amazing in all areas but l would say that the two external entertaining areas are spectacular. You feel like you are on a permanent holiday which is a perfect way to live!”
Completed over a three and a half month period, this three bedroom, one bathroom brick home in Brisbane was overhauled recently by graphic designer and event organiser Lisa Ma and her carpenter partner Paul Harrison who caught the renovating bug after completing a major transformation on their own home.
BEFORE front of the homeAFTER front of the home
“We lived through our home renovation and realised we wouldn’t want to do it again! That’s why we’re happy to enjoy all of our hard work, and continue working projects where we can come home and have a warm shower! We now have a passion for taking dated homes and making them more contemporary and liveable,” says Lisa.
BEFORE kitchenAFTER kitchen
A deceased estate, Lisa and Paul were looking for a home to add value to and then on-sell. “It was a privilege to make the dated home more contemporary for a young family to enjoy. We wanted to bring life back into it,” says Lisa of the home that is located in the Brisbane suburb of Keperra. “It’s a growth suburb for families and has surrounding bushland and hills. The area where this home is in used to be an old drive-in cinema and we love this quirky fact!” says Lisa.
BEFORE bedroomAFTER bedroom
“The one thing that I insisted on was that if we had to keep the existing plumbing in the bathroom, we had to have a touch of luxury with Carrara marble tiles laid in herringbone for the shower niche. Now when someone walks into the bathroom it’s the first thing they notice and comment on. With all our renovations, we insist on shower niches, preferably one that is clearly visible from the door – you want to be able to walk past and have it capture your gaze,” says Lisa.
BEFORE bathroomAFTER bathroom
Lisa’s favourite part of the project involved demolishing a non-structural wall that divided the living and kitchen. “It created a better flow, and let so much more natural light to flow through. It’s hard to believe it was the same house if you remember what it looked like before. It no longer feels closed off, and the new cushion laminated flooring makes it feel so big when it’s quite a small house compared to much larger family homes!” says Lisa.
BEFORE living roomAFTER living room – the removal of an internal wall near the kitchen really opened up the space
Another of Lisa’s favourite parts of the renovation is the new alfresco area. “The new covered outdoor entertaining area has been the biggest wow factor. It has a fly-over roof with insulated panels and overlooks a big flat backyard with firepit and room for a pool. It has me dreaming of summer,” says Lisa.
Having worked as a stylist and designer, I know first-hand that it’s not often you find a client willing to take a design risk. So when Birdblack Design interior designer Sarah Nolen’s latest project allowed her to use a very bold jungle-inspired tile she must have felt as if she’d hit the client jackpot.
Bathroom BEFOREBathroom AFTER
“The tile caught my eye when we were on a shopping excursion with our client. Given we had a good understanding of her personality I thought I’d test the waters and see what she thought. It was love at first sight!” says Sarah of the Di Lorenzo ‘Jane’ tiles that were used in this green-themed renovation in Kiama on the NSW south coast.
Bathroom BEFOREBathroom AFTER
Inspired by Jane of the Jungle, the Italian porcelain tile uses digital ink technology for a precise print and its selection ended up paving the way for the rest of the renovation. “The theme of green was born from our selection of the ‘Jane’ jungle tile. Green worked so well with the ironbark timber flooring and the soft white joinery and wall colours. It was an easy colour to incorporate into each room without it dominating the space,” says Sarah.
“Green works so well with all timber tones and the white marble of the benchtops. It also doesn’t dictate what you can do to the space. You can pair many other colours with it such as reds, mustards, purples and anything with an earthy tone.”
Bathroom AFTER
Aside from a brand new aesthetic, the bathroom’s layout is completely different too. In the middle of the house, the original bathroom had no access to natural ventilation. “The layout of the bathroom is a far cry from what it once was. The room can now function properly with adequate space around each designated area. When lounging back in the freestanding bath looking up at the tiles, you’ll feel like you’ve ducked off to a hidden paradise. The Velux skylight above the shower is also a highlight for me, not only functional but you can look up and see the stars at night,” says Jane.
The client loved the tile so much that it was used in the kitchen too – another space with a refreshed layout. “The old kitchen was situated right in the middle of the house away from any external walls. We made use of the adjacent slim sunroom and extended the kitchen into this space. New windows and doors were installed and the natural light now comes flooding in,” says Sarah. Ironbark timber floors, shaker style joinery in satin white and soft marble-look benchtops (Smartstone Amara) complete the look.
Kitchen BEFOREKitchen AFTER
“When we design we constantly look to the rooms adjoining the kitchen and bathrooms and see if there are options to better utilise the spaces together. In this case we were able to completely transform the old sunroom that was too skinny to even fit furniture in. By opening up this space we’ve now created an entertainer’s dream kitchen and the natural light that pours through this space breathes life into every nook and cranny,” says Sarah.
If you’re a fan of this blog you’re no doubt aware of norsu interiors – the Melbourne based retail and online purveyors of stylish Scandinavian art and homewares started by Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier. It’s a familiar story (virtually a trope!) but Nat and Kristy met at mother’s group, left their corporate careers behind and haven’t looked back. The latest chapter in their story has proven quite the social media hit.
norsuHOME exterior – the humble exterior belies the treasures within
Norsu relies heavily on styling its wares inside its founders’ homes so when Nat sold her house recently it left a rather large hole for the brand’s followers. “Selling it was bitter sweet. Our customers had seen me in the street and said ‘what are we going to do when we don’t see your house on Instagram?’ and that’s when I realised we needed to do something pretty special,” says Nat. Which is how the duo came to renovate Nat’s original 1920’s Californian bungalow using lots of stylish but affordable choices – the whole process of which was documented online.
norsuHOME lounge roomLounge room details
Based in Glen Iris, norsuHOME was renovated in just five months and proved the perfect showcase for norsu’s renovating and styling prowess. But what made the process so captivating and impressive for the duo’s followers is that they managed to create a very luxe look for less. Think flat pack kaboodle kitchen cabinetry, partnerships with Australian and international suppliers including Caesarstone, Dulux, GlobeWest, Godfrey Hirst, Perini Tiles, Smeg and Sussex Taps.
The stunning new bathroom features Nood Co basins and Sussex taps
“We wanted to share the journey with our social media followers and prove that renovating doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Our goal was to show viewers how to apply some creative choices during the renovation process without breaking the bank, while sharing tips on how to confidently select finishes, incorporate colour, create cohesiveness, and of course have some fun along the way,” says Nat who is an experienced renovator having done it several times before.
Nat’s son Harvey’s bedroom features wardrobes made from kaboodle custom cabinetry in Dulux Vivid White – a thrifty yet stylish choice
“Looking to keep costs to a minimum I searched every flat pack storage idea known to man. I had sample finishes sent, I visited every hardware store in the area and I saved one million ideas on Pinterest. I’ll admit, I went into this research phase with trepidation, afraid the flat pack options would be bland and somewhat unprofessional looking. Boy did I learn quickly how ignorant these thoughts were, especially when finding kaboodle Kitchens,” says Nat.
Harvey’s bedroom
“I instantly fell in love with kaboodle, not only because of their extensive range of door profiles, but because they have a paint-your-own-door option. The idea of designing a bespoke flat pack option was perfect. I instantly knew that if we could select our favourite colours and paint finish, we could create some magical. This is exactly what we did,” says Nat who ultimately used kaboodle cabinetry in every room of the home.
Kitchen
Initially designed as a speedy ‘cosmetic renovation’ the overhaul quickly became a more involved task but the gorgeous result is an open plan, Nordic-inspired, practical family home that Nat shares with her husband Dan and children Annabel and Harvey.
Master bedroom
“After the reno was complete, our day jobs kicked into gear, and we had some serious fun with the styling. We live and breathe interiors, and truly believe you can create something magical by carefully selecting the right furniture, art and soft furnishings for your home,” says Kristy.
Annabel’s bedroom
This project was also the perfect platform for the norsu team to officially launch their dedicated styling arm, led by in-house qualified interior designer Lauren Bartlett-Bragg. “If you like the look of the norsuHOME and would like to recreate this within your own home, we offer a range of services to suit any budget and would love to work with you,” says Kristy.
The toy room showcases many of norsu’s stunning art prints
And if you’d like to step right inside the process and glean some tips for yourself, there are 11 episodes available online where the duo share a plethora of practical renovation and styling tips. Each episode features detailed commentary from Nat on her personal experiences throughout the project as well as tips and tricks from norsuHOME’s expert suppliers.
Laundry
In addition to the 11 episodes you can even do a walk-through of the home using amazing virtual reality technology that has captured the space in 360 degrees. It’s perhaps not great news for the bank balance though as (in a rather savvy marketing move) you can click through and shop every item in the home too. Enjoy!
This home first came to my attention when it was a finalist in this year’s Dulux Colour Awards. Given the rainbow palette within, it’s easy to see why the house was given a nod in the paint brand’s annual celebration of clever colour use. Located in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn North, this original 1960’s home sits on a large, leafy block and was renovated by Melbourne’s WOWOWA Architecture. A riot of colour, the home has a truly joyful feel.
Lounge
With a design brief that placed colour at the top of the list, WOWOWA Architecture directors Monique and Scott Woodward set about redesigning the home’s internal spaces to make them more compatible with modern family life. “For us it was about working with the quirks of the original house, finding ways to celebrate what was here,” says Monique. Championing the home’s original 1960’s aesthetic has certainly paid off – the result is a highly original family home that screams fun.
Bathroom
“In referencing the era, we were conscious of designing a home that was very much its own space. We didn’t want it to be kitsch, or feel nostalgic in a way that was pastiche. Just optimistic,” says Monique. The owners had five specific colours in mind when commencing the renovation – pink, yellow, blue, green and orange feature on brightly painted doors, feature lighting and bright carpets throughout. Judicious use of timber anchors the wayward palette.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a design highlight – three multi-coloured translucent Kartell pendant lights hang above a large timber island bench that doubles as an extra dining space. The bench top’s side profile was inspired by the shape of a lamb chop, a reference to the Greek owners’ carnivorous preferences.
The kitchen bench profile echoes a lamb chop
Located on the ground floor, the master bedroom is a sumptuous treat. Lined with timber panelling, the room features a shock of fuchsia carpet on the floor, brass closet handles sourced from the US and a vintage robe that doubles as a bedhead and storage unit.
Master bedroomChild’s bedroom
Outside, the timber takes centre stage again – the backyard is a fabulous entertaining spot that remains fairly unchanged save for the addition of steps. “The steps were designed to provide different tiered spaces for people to hang out,” says Monique.
Backyard
Photography: Martina Gemmola | Styling: Ruth Wesby
Located in Roseville, on Sydney’s upper north shore, this stylish home was designed by Clare Le Roy of The Little Design Corner for her young family of five, with particular provision for her disabled son.
Open plan lounge, dining and kitchen
“Our middle son is profoundly disabled and in a wheelchair so we needed a flat block so he could access the whole house. I wanted to do a renovation so that I could put my own design stamp on my home plus be able to arrange the spaces so they met Hugo’s access needs as well as the needs of my other two sons. I wanted to create an organised, relaxed and open plan family home, and I’m thrilled with how it all turned out!” says Clare.
Bathroom
A two-stage renovation, the first part involved reworking the existing 1920’s California bungalow. “We retained the period features of the existing bungalow but modernised it with new flooring, bathrooms, lighting and bespoke v-groove joinery,” says Clare. The second renovation stage saw the addition of a brand new extension to the rear of the home.
The original bungalow as seen from the new extensionThe home now boasts a new pool and cubby house
The new pavilion-style rear extension boasts full height double glazed windows that look out to a new pool, garden and slick cubby house that even has lighting and power connected allowing it to double as an all-weather separate play zone. “The pavilion contains a new kitchen, laundry, mudroom, bathroom and a media room plus an alfresco dining and lounge area,” says Clare.
Dining room
Impressively, the home’s main features centre around Hugo’s disabled access, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice. “Although the bathroom and lounge/dining areas don’t look like they have been designed for a disabled person, there’s hidden features that made it work perfectly for him. There are no thresholds that we needed to cross with his wheelchair, there is flat access from the front to the back and the corridors and spaces within the home are generous in width so he can be moved around easily,” says Clare.
Lounge room
But not only has Clare created gorgeous, tranquil, monochrome spaces but they’re highly functional too. “The house has a huge amount of function and storage hidden behind closed doors. The mudroom at the side entrance is one of the hubs of the home where you can hide away school bags, iPads charging, sports gear and other things you don’t really want to look at!” says Clare of the space that is conveniently located next to the laundry.
The enviable mudroomStudy nook
“Overall though, I’d say the best part of the project is the flow of the house. From the front door you can see right through to the back of the house and as you move through it you go from the bedrooms in the existing renovated bungalow through to a really modern extension overlooking an idyllic family garden. The use of v-groove was what tied the old part of the house with the new,” says Clare.
Recently renovated by the team at SJB, who removed all traces of a previous 1980’s-era renovation, this heritage Melbourne home ‘Villa D’Arte’ is full of drama and strong paint choices – the latter of which saw it nominated in this year’s Dulux Colour Awards.
Study
“Working with clients that were well known to us, the project was essentially a reversal of downsizing where the client and a large art collection were moving from a contemporary penthouse to a grand Italianate villa,” says Andrew Parr, director of SJB.
The grand old home from the streetMaster ensuite
“There was also a large collection of furniture to be incorporated including both a contemporary collection from a penthouse and historic collection from their farmhouse,” says Andrew of the project that was completed in early 2018.
Guest bathroomThe staircase, where old meets new
The gorgeous historic heritage home now boasts a contemporary extension that was crafted in concrete and zinc and the monochromatic scheme really makes the owners’ art collection pop.
Kitchen
“The new extension in concrete and zinc inhabits the outdoor space and provides a contemporary component isolated from the main heritage volume. The kitchen and butler’s pantry residing within this area uses black timber cabinetry and heavily veined black marble to counter the great penetration of light and brightly coloured contemporary art,” says Andrew.
The rear extension
“The continuation of timber as a flooring ties the whole back to the house as does the view back into the garden and heritage elements of the house. Fine details such as the slim vertical black pendant lamps over the marble island visually cohere to the black steel framed windows and black line seen throughout the project,” says Andrew.
Formal loungeMaster bedroom – the artwork above the fireplace slides across to reveal a TV
With land prices continuing to climb, and the demand for heritage homes showing no sign of abating, Australians are getting savvy with their renovations. One increasingly popular response is the pre-fabricated modular extension, perfectly demonstrated by the dramatic transformation of this early 20thcentury cottage in Perth. Rather than building a heritage-look extension, the design team behind it created something much bolder.
The eye-catching modular extension sits atop the original 20th century cottage
Located in the well-heeled Perth seaside suburb of Cottesloe, the original home was struggling to accommodate the needs of its growing inhabitants. “The design brief required three extra kids’ bedrooms, a large playroom and a bathroom. With their children getting older, the family was finding the need for more space was a growing concern however they loved their prime location in Cottesloe,” says Matt Keogh, the managing director of Nexus, the company responsible for the project’s design and build.
The new living room and kitchen
“They wanted to ensure that the entire family could continue living comfortably in their own spaces within the home for many years to come,” says Matt. It was also important that the extension complemented the existing home. “Another important element in the design brief was to look at a way to perfectly represent the ‘old meets new’ with a modern extension being seamlessly integrated on an older style cottage house,” says Matt.
The new upstairs playroom
But what is most impressive about the process was its speediness – a pre-fabricated modular second-storey was added onto the existing abode, and the owners didn’t even have to vacate the home for a single night! “The clients didn’t have to move out at all during the build which is one of the main reasons so many choose to go down the modular route. The extensions were craned in in a day, the stairs were measured up a day later, and it took three weeks for them to be custom-built and installed. During this time, the carpenters finished off any jobs that needed completing upstairs as part of the renovation process, while the clients were ‘business as usual’ downstairs. All up, this drastic transformation was completed on-site within six weeks,” says Matt. Ah-mazing!
New child’s bedroom
As for the clients’ favourite part or the renovation, it’s the zinc cladding used on the upper storey extension. “People seem to have very strong feelings about it and many passers-by love it. We believe that the clients’ choice was spot on and a great standout design feature – it certainly isn’t like any of the other homes in the area,” says Matt of the extension that is a striking contrast to the white cottage below.
The zinc cladding is a design highlight
“The ‘old meets new’ staircase is another brilliant feature. It runs from jarrah at the bottom and finishes with pressed metal stairs at the top to continue representing the two styles both inside and outside,” says Matt.
Backing onto national park and located at Peregian beach, just south of Noosa, this home was originally built in 1982 and, while well-maintained, was in dire need of a refresh when renovation specialist Maria Baron from Black and White Projects bought it recently.
BEFORE front of the homeAFTER front of the homeAFTER letter box
“When we purchased Parakeet Cottage, it was well loved and well looked after with incredible potential. The aspect means that the home has 180 degree western elevated views of Noosa national park. This is a view that will never be built out and location is everything,” says Maria of the home that is enviably located just a short stroll from the beach also.
BEFORE kitchenAFTER kitchenAFTER kitchenAFTER breakfast serveryAFTER deck
Specialising in fast-paced renovations, this one took just five weeks to complete from demolition to styling and Maria describes the end aesthetic as having a modern coastal tribal vibe. “The vision was to refresh this property as a holiday home and give it a real personality. We wanted something bold and timeless so the modern coastal tribal vibe was the perfect direction. It reflects the beach location and has that relaxed feel that people seek when holidaying,” says Maria.
BEFORE loungeAFTER lounge
The home is fairly monochromatic with colour pops throughout. “Monochrome is our signature. It is timeless and versatile and can be easily updated from Modern French to Hamptons in the future,” says Maria. The black and white kitchen is one of the home’s standout spaces. “The 40mm Carrara marble look stone really sets the kitchen apart. We selected some lower matte black cabinetry to ground the kitchen and white upper cabinets. To smooth the transition between upper and lower cabinets we chose a classic white subway splashback with black grout. This kitchen is timeless and also really easy to update with coloured accessories,” says Maria.
BEFORE main bathroomAFTER The main bathroom features an antique wooden vanity
The bedrooms feature bird prints and one feature wall each – a nod to the local wildlife that includes kookaburras, black cockatoos, lorikeets and parakeets. “The master bedroom features a black cockatoo next to painted panelling (Taubmans Matt Black) for a high end feel, bedroom two features a parakeet and Taubmans Malted Mint teal-coloured paint. Finally the dusty pink paint (Taubmans Kangaroo Paw) enhances the galah print,” says Maria.
BEFORE master bedroomAFTER master bedroomAFTER master bedroom
Fond of upcycling, Maria incorporated some old pieces into this project too. “Hunting pre-owned items and upcycling old furniture is something we love doing. We used an antique console for the main bathroom in this project. It was a great find and this was the key statement piece for our main bathroom,” says Maria.
AFTER bedroom twoAFTER bedroom three
The wood accent continues in the master bedroom ensuite – a custom floating timber bench is the hero of the space. “We love adding custom made items as they give uniqueness and warmth. For this project we added a custom floating timber bench in the ensuite. It’s solid Australian hardwood and fits in with the monochromatic bathroom theme. It was a raw rough timber slab which we prepped, cut and finished ourselves,” says Maria. Both bathrooms feature matte black tapware from Reece.
Appropriately titled ‘Stealth House,’ this post-war weatherboard Melbourne home was expanded recently with the addition of an ultra-modern extension at the rear, that cannot be seen from the street. “Like its aeronautical namesake, the form of the house is memorable, yet when it needs to be, is invisible,” says the home’s architect Mark Lam.
The home’s new highly-angular timber-clad rear extension evokes a Stealth bomber
“The extension to the rear of the house is invisible from the front other than the timber laundry ‘box.’ Although it looks dark from the outside the interior is bright and spacious and is connected to the garden via large windows and glazed doors,” says Mark.
The front of the home
Home to a family of five, the owners of the West Footscray home wanted to maintain the heritage focus at the front but demolish the run-down extension at the rear. “The brief was to keep the original front of the house so that the character of the street is maintained. The dilapidated back of the house was to be updated with an open plan living area with plenty of wall space for the owners’ art collection,” says Mark.
The lounge room features some of the owners’ art collection
Timber is undoubtedly the star of this home, which is unsurprising when you consider that the owner is a highly skilled carpenter and joiner. “He did most of the work himself,” says Mark says that the timber details are one of his favourite things about the home.
Dining
“The simple yet effective form of the roof and the timber work at the rear of the house is my favourite part. The timber finishes – especially the cladding, eaves lining decking and joinery. I also love the seamless blending of the old and new parts of the house,” says Mark.
Bedroom
Melbourne readers will be able to get inside and take a look when the home is opened as part of the upcoming Melbourne Open House program in July. With 224 buildings opened to the public, the 11th annual Open Open House Melbourne Weekend runs from Saturday 28th-Sunday 29th July and will be the largest program ever presented. There are 87 new buildings in the program, as well as 23 residential properties, and 84 buildings in the City of Melbourne.
“Aside from the timber finishes, visitors will be able to check out the owners’ art and upcycled timber furniture collection gives the space a homely yet gallery-like feel,” says Mark.
Located on the NSW central coast, it’s hard to believe that this four-bedroom, three-bathroom coastal dream of a home was once a simple fibro cottage. “Our goal was to create a light-filled sanctuary that felt comfortable and inviting. It’s a real sanctuary but with plenty of space for entertaining,” says expert renovator and former Blockhead Kara Demmrich who tackled this project with her husband Kyal after purchasing the original home for $710,000 in early 2017.
Kitchen and dining
Originally intending to carry out a single-level extension, the house was completely gutted and little of the original house remains. Aside from the four bedrooms, three bathrooms and large open plan living spaces, the home also has an outdoor kitchen and plunge pool – all of which resulted in the home being purchased at auction for $1.59 million upon completion. That’s quite some increase in value!
Lounge
Drawing on a mix of inspiration, the original Canary Date palm tree at the front of the house and the Desert Modernism movement that came out of Mid-Century Palm Springs homes, were two key references.
The front of the home
“Although the palm tree inspired our design theme, we wanted to create a classic coastal look for the facade using some of our favourite materials – white weatherboards, timber and limestone. We’re so happy with how it’s all come together and we believe we’ve created the perfect facade,” says Kyal of the front of the home that features blackbutt timber decking, hand-laid limestone walls and white weatherboard cladding.
Master bedroom
“The original home was a small weatherboard cottage with lots of tack-ons, such as a carport, shed, back verandah and outdoor laundry. Initially, you had to walk down the driveway and the front door was located on the side of the house – this is one of the first things we knew we had to update. First impressions count, and having an open, welcoming path to the front door is important to us,” says Kyal.
EnsuiteEnsuite shower
Mostly though, the high ceilings and large expanses of glass are what really catch the eye upon entering the house. “The first thing that strikes you about the renovation is the scale of the ceilings. At 3.6 metres high, they make a real statement,” says Kyal.
Guest bedroom
To ensure the project not only looked great, but felt comfortable too, Kyal and Kara selected Gyprock Superchek plasterboard for its impact and sound resistant benefits. “Gyprock Superchek makes this house like a little Fort Knox. It’s great for families because it delivers better sound absorption and less noise transfer. This results in a noticeably quieter interior environment and creates a level of serenity,” says Kara.
A barn door conceals the entertainment room
Kyal and Kara also chose to install some of the internal doors as sliding ones using barn door fittings – a time-saving choice as much as an aesthetic one. “The installation process was easy and saved us time and effort, and Corinthian Moda doors are factory primed on all sides and edges, and as a result they deliver a superior finish with any paint sheen. They are a great design feature that emphasises the shaker profile of the doors and create a statement in themselves,” says Kara.
Child’s bedroom
The outdoor space is perhaps one of the most enviable aspects of the home – I love the Moroccan-inspired tiles lining the plunge pool combined with lush greenery and breeze block wall. Alfresco lovers, Kyal and Kara completed the space with a fully integrated kitchen and barbecue, covered deck area (with large skylights) and poolside outdoor shower.
Plunge pool
“We’re big believers in every detail being carefully considered – it’s the details that count and create a unique and beautiful renovation,” says Kara.
“The Dulux colour ‘Jiping’ was used throughout the whole of the house. I was looking for a dark colour to be used as a block colour in the hallway to the old house and also in the new kitchen and dining space,” says the home’s architect Emma Mitchell who recently designed a light-filled rear extension for the original late 1800’s home.
Bathroom
“The colour is a dark green colour and went well with our blue-green palette. The dark colour in combination with a white ceiling and walls above the picture rail height worked to enliven a dark hallway space and also make the new living at the end of the passage jump with vibrancy and natural light,” says Emma.
Hallway
The home’s new extension features a bathroom, laundry and bright kitchen and dining space that is connected to the back garden area.
“I was working with a late 1800 period house and I wanted the new spaces to have feelings equal to the scale and craftmanship to that of the old part of the house,” says Emma. And it certainly does with the beautiful cabinetry and tongue and groove wood panelling that features on the kitchen cupboard fronts, walls and ceiling.
Capturing the natural light was one of the most important parts of the project and it was achieved using a coffered ceiling and a series of external blades that were painted in Dulux ‘Endless’ – a bright grassy green that features inside the house too.
The external blades on the rear of the home provide pops of colour and they’re designed to evoke a tree canopy
“Fixed external blades were positioned to screen the internal spaces from overlooking and at the same time direct north light into the new living areas. The screens were designed with thoughts of creating a sense of tree canopy and filtered light. Bright colour on the exterior face of the blades is viewed indirectly on the interior when the colour is reflected onto the interior faces of the blades,” says Emma.
Bedroom
As for her favourite part of the home, Emma cites the blades and the extension’s coffered ceiling. “The coffered ceiling around the perimeter of the new space gives the new space a sense of scale equal to that of the old house,” says Emma.
‘A renovator’s dream’ was the best way to describe the Melbourne home pictured below, when it was purchased by Corinne and Ben Taylor in 2013 before undergoing an extensive renovation. Located in Melbourne’s Yarraville, this home was originally built in 1947 and now features a fabulous modern extension at the rear, much of which was completed by Ben who works in construction.
BEFORE front elevationAFTER front elevation
“When we first bought our house our design goal was to always maintain the original period of the front of the home and build a modern contemporary extension with an open plan layout. We wanted to create a direct contrast between the rear modern extension and the front period style of the home,” says Corinne.
BEFORE kitchenAFTER kitchen
“My husband and I bought this house just after we were married and began renovating it straight away. It was our little, but not so little, project we wanted to accomplish together as newlyweds before we began our biggest challenge of becoming parents,” says Corinne who now shares the home with the couple’s two sons.
BEFORE bathroomAFTER bathroom
“For the build, we engaged my father and brother to complete the main structural components of the front and rear as my father runs his own building company in Ballarat. My husband and I then engaged all of the trades directly and project managed the build and fit out components whilst both working full time jobs and living in the house the entire time. Let’s just say that this got quite testing at times living with a temporary kitchen and bathroom for over six months,” says Corinne.
BEFORE kitchen & diningAFTER kitchen, dining & backyard
With a career as a project manager in the construction industry, Ben tackled much of the renovation himself including the majority of the fit out. He worked on the plumbing (he’s a plumber by trade) and carpentry including the installation of windows, skirtings, architraves and the timber floor. “He even completed the massive task of measuring up and installing the glass balustrade to the stairs and second floor,” says Corinne.
AFTER: The glass staircase that Ben, impressively, installed himself.
With 6.5 metres ceilings above the kitchen and dining areas, and a large open plan area at the rear of the home (that spills out to the garden), the new home certainly feels much more expansive than the original. “By not having a large block we sought to maximise the flow of the house and ensure that every inch was used as efficiently as possible,” says Corinne.
AFTER dining
“Natural light and high ceilings were very important as we wanted to create a bright home that provided abundant natural light and also natural ventilation. We originally intended to have a single story extension to the rear but then chose to increase this to double storey to allow us to draw as much natural light in with the north facing facade,” says Corinne who also wanted to be able to open the rear of the house up during the warmer months to extend the living area into the backyard and further maximise the use of the block.
AFTER the view from the second floor
“Our interior design brief was to utilise as many natural materials as possible to create an environment of warmth, texture and vibrancy. We chose to use materials such as Australian hardwoods, recycled brick and polished concrete to create this feel, along with light textured tiles to reflect the light throughout the bathrooms,” says Corinne.
AFTER: An abundance of windows let light flood the space
With the teenage years upon them, and the family feeling the squeeze in their original 1940’s weatherboard home in Sydney’s Avalon, Nikki and Adam Yazxhi decided to stay put rather than move into a new abode. “With the boys being 11 and 14 we were at a crossroads as to whether to sell and buy something bigger, or stay and renovate to make the house work better,” says Nikki who is the creator and editor of lifestyle website BellaMUMMA.
Open plan dining and kitchen
Like many people, after considering the cost of moving and stamp duty, and how much they love their neighbourhood, the family were compelled to stay put. “We decided to renovate and to put the money that we would have spent on moving and stamp duty into creating our ultimate dream home,” says Nikki whose husband Adam is the creative director at Maxco, a brand strategy and design agency.
Bathroom
Home to the couple for almost 15 years, the home was transformed with the help of the couple’s friend and interior designer Nina Maya, over a period of three months. The result is a simple and elegant interior that is big on neutrals and refined texture. The home’s original charm is complemented by natural materials including European oak flooring, marble, stone and brass.
Child’s bedroom
The family love to entertain, and Adam is a passionate cook which explains why the home’s new kitchen and benchtop bar are standout features of the renovation. Not only is the kitchen much bigger in size but it features some fabulous new appliances too, including a fusion gas/induction ASKO cooktop.
Kitchen
“The cooktop provided me with a gas option. To be honest, the hardest thing to get over here was just getting induction compatible cookware. Induction cooking is fast, very fast when boiling, and incredibly precise. I really only use the gas hob when searing steaks in my large cast iron skillet or when using a wok,” says Adam.
The fabulous new bar sits adjacent to the kitchen
The renovation included knocking out the wall separating the living room and kitchen to increase the connection to the outdoors. Full-height, glass bi-fold doors were installed on the back deck together with skylights to flood the home with natural light.
The home’s new Stegbar bi-fold doors really open up the house to the outside
The home’s walls were redone and shelving added too, using Gyprock’s Sensitive plasterboard. “The bespoke plasterboard shelving in the living area is definitely one of the wow factor features in the house. It’s great for creating niches that work in harmony with the overall design of the room,” says Nikki. The plasterboard was also used to replace the home’s original cornices with a shadowline effect, for a more modern aesthetic.
The lounge room features new Gyprock display shelving
“We also replaced the small timber framed windows in the bathroom with floor to ceiling Breezway Louvres from Stegbar. This is a popular trend in architectural design which we liked, but we chose the louvres mainly for their ventilation properties and ability to allow natural airflow and light into the home, while giving the illusion of more space,” says Nikki.
The bathroom features Stegbar louvres
“We are so in love with the outcome of the renovation. It’s our dream home and we couldn’t be happier.”
It’s House Rules time again folks and the first reveal to take place was in Adelaide where former AFL star Jared had his bachelor pad transformed into a New York inspired home for him and his partner Jess. “You guys just blew us out of the water. You don’t know how much it means that you created a life for Jared and I,” said Jess of the seven day renovation that has increased the property’s value by $160,000 according to local property experts.
Lounge room
With its new look, the beachside home now features exposed brick walls, raw timber and an industrial feel. The harder features are softened with plush furnishings including textured rugs, velvet chairs and cushions, floral prints and hints of turquoise and blush – much of which was sourced from Early Settler.
Adelaide contestants Jess and Jared
Master bedroom Designed by Chiara and David, the master bedroom saw the dated glass bricks removed and exposed brick put in its place. While the couple loved the exposed brick and bed recess, they weren’t impressed with the paint work. “I think maybe just the finishes around the bed is probably what got you guys. But besides that, we thought it was great,” says says Jess of the space that features a gorgeous Early Settler pink velvet occasional chair.
Master bedroom
Bathroom Designed by Mel and Dave, Jess was blown away by the new bathroom. “This is next level. It’s not our bathroom! This is my favourite room in the whole house,” said Jess.
Bathroom
Kitchen Josh and Brandon’s new industrial themed kitchen left Jared speechless. “I’m still lost for words. We were blown away,” said Jared.
Kitchen
Dining room Toad and Mandy designed the new dining space and the couple are enthralled with it – particularly the fake beam on the ceiling. “We walked in and we were just blown away – it hit the ‘New York warehouse’ rule perfectly,” said Jared.
Dining room
Queensland team Mel and Dave received the highest score of the night with 9/10 points for their efforts in the couple’s bathroom but it was fellow Queensland carpenter brothers Josh and Brandon that won overall this week with a combined total of 28/30 points.
There’s a knack to extracting the most out of a small space, especially apartments. With no expansive foyers, hallways, multiple bedrooms and dead spaces to cram the extras into, you have to be especially inventive with the limited space you have.
This month I thought I’d share a couple of space-saving projects I recently completed for an apartment makeover. Although I had help from my tradie team, they’re projects that could be easily replicated by any capable DIYer.
Installing a barn door This tiny one-bedroom Sydney apartment measures just 40 square metres, so there was not a spare nook and cranny in sight. On a challenging $5000 budget, the focus was on creating much-needed storage to capitalise on every square millimetre of space. Central to the cosmetic facelift was a dedicated media nook that could be tucked away out of sight when not in use.
BEFORE kitchen & study nook
There’s good reason barn doors are so popular: they’re super practical, cost-effective and look fantastic! You can either make a feature of the door, by purchasing something in a recycled timber or decorative design, or simply buy a plain timber door and paint it the colour you want. Instead of the traditional sliding door that needs a wall cavity to tuck into, a barn door simply attaches to a top bracket and slides across the wall.
AFTER the study is now tucked away behind a barn door
For my project, I wanted a work space and shelves on one side, and storage space on the other side, with the barn door sliding between the two. The plain door and fittings are from Bunnings, and I had my chippie add VJ (vertical joint) panelling, which I painted the same colour as the walls.
AFTER Storage aplenty!
There’s a mountain of clutter that can be neatly stowed away in what is now a stylish focal point of the room. The added bonus is that it has inserted a small entrance foyer into the tiny apartment, creating a more formal entrance.
AFTER kitchen & study nook from the lounge
Adding bedroom storage The small bedroom already had a mirrored built-in wardrobe, but it wasn’t sufficient to contain the overflow. Adding a second full-sized wardrobe would have been overkill, so the compromise was a flat-pack robe from Bunnings concealed by a sheer curtain on a curved track. It’s a visually softer alternative to a traditional built-in, and you can vary the look by choosing a more decorative fabric.
BEFORE bedroom
If you want to learn a host of interior design tricks, tune into this webinar by my good friend and colleague James Treble, as he runs through some of the key learnings from our Interior Design For Profit course.
AFTER bedroom
Cherie Barber is the director ofRenovating for Profit, a company that teaches everyday people how to buy and renovate properties for a profit.
“The original home was a tiny pre-1946 cottage that was literally falling down,” says Letitia Ellis of her recently renovated home in Brisbane that was stripped right back and elevated to create a double story home that is almost unrecognisable from the original.
BEFORE front elevationAFTER front elevation
“I lived in the original home for a few years prior to the renovation as it took a few applications to get the renovation approved. Brisbane City Council didn’t want the facade changed so the original house was raised and the original front door was replaced with French doors that open onto a front deck that captures the city views,” says Letitia who runs her own interior design business, Letitia E Designs.
BEFORE Preparation for raising the house. This original first floor became the top storeyAFTER the home now boasts city views
With demolition out of the question due to heritage protections, Letitia set about transforming the original home into a light-filled, expansive Hamptons-inspired space that combines traditional and modern elements. “I wanted to create a modern, open plan Hamptons inspired home that considered and blended in with the typical Queenslander style of the neighborhood. I also wanted to include standout design elements, whilst ensuring the overall modern design could stand the test of time by not relying heavily on current passing trends,” says Letitia.
BEFORE kitchenAFTER kitchen. What a transformation! The floors are blackbutt timber in a matte finish.
The new kitchen is a highlight and the large set of stairs beside it catch the eye too. “The stairs had to fit into a really pokey space so the decision was made not to go with typical Hamptons style sawtooth built-in stairs but rather go with light and airy – so they are not closed in at all,” says Letitia.
The bathrooms are another great example of Letitia’s skill in combining old with new. Large grey concrete-look tiles and white hexagonal feature tiles are typical modern bathroom fare, but it’s the Shaker cabinet doors that make the difference.
AFTER bathroom
“The three bathrooms take on a more modern design with concrete look tiles that were chosen to withstand the mess that three boys make – there isn’t a white or light coloured tile in sight! But to ensure that the bathrooms matched the more classic Hamptons style of the kitchen and scullery, the same cabinetry was used,” says Letitia.
BEFORE livingAFTER living details
Other classic elements include wainscoting and pressed metal. “Handmade pressed metal tiles were used in the scullery and laundry,” says Letitia.
While the renovated and extended Victorian cottage is a fixture in Australian cities, it is nice to see just how differently each home is tackled. We’ve featured a couple of these renovations recently but this one is the most detailed which is unsurprising given that it belongs to a builder who built it to showcase his work.
The kitchen features a plethora of show-stopping brass!
“This renovation and addition transforms a Victorian cottage into a light filled showcase home for the builder client. Distinct connections, materials and forms separate major elements within the house to create a richly detailed experience,” says the home’s architect Stefan Bagnoli. Such details include internal glass walkways, external timber cladding, a spiral staircase and a mirrored back fence.
The mirrored back fence reflects the playground opposite
“The rear of the property faces onto a playground reserve. A mirrored back fence was designed to acknowledge and allow the more public facade of the project to be interacted with. The mirrored surface visually extends the parkland and provides a playful feature for locals to enjoy. Embracing the public and existing context of this site was central to the design,” says Stefan.
The home boasts a gorgeous bespoke spiral staircase and round window that can be opened.
With no heritage overlay on this house (or any others in the area), it’s interesting to note that most of the houses in the suburb (Hawthorn) have remained sympathetic to the original Victorian cottages lining the street. “With this house, it was more about being sympathetic to the existing house and the neighbouring houses without it becoming a mock addition. Though it could be read as a splicing of mid-century modern Australian with a Victorian cottage,” says Stefan.
Bathroom – the external timber cladding throws lovely shadows within.
“The house provides ‘little sanctuaries’ within so the family can both be together and have their own zones. The family love the flow of the house and enjoy discovering new ways of seeing the space as the light and seasons changes and react to the timber and brass. Together with custom designed moments each space is designed for the inhabitants,” says Stefan.
Glass walkway
“The clients wanted the house to have moments of joy, which are achieved by rich material and light interplays, both within the home and with the rear park interaction. And Oreo has passage under the glass-cantilevered floor along the side of the house – allowing him to run freely from front to back yard,” says Stefan of the family’s beloved dog.
