SILVER LINING
Clouds appeared on the horizon of this Victorian reno, but hard work and persistence saved the day
A freak thunderstorm puts a dampener on things, but the couple behind this reno in Geelong, Victoria aren’t deterred
The road to renovation glory, as many homeowners will know, is rarely smooth. Yet for Kristen and Steven Paul, turning their ageing bungalow in Geelong, Victoria, into the family home of their dreams appeared to be hiccup-free.
Then a completely unscheduled event put, let’s say, a dampener on proceedings. A one-in-50-year summer thunderstorm unleashed a massive deluge of rain that caused flash flooding in the region, including in the couple’s newly excavated wine and produce cellar.
“Our stormwater pipes had not been connected to the mains, so when the storm hit, the rainwater went straight down and under, filling up the cellar,” says Kristen. “The cellar is more than two metres deep and the size of a big room, and the water was three-quarters of the way up. We found ourselves with a huge underground pool. It was a definite moment of ‘Oh my goodness!’”
Understandably, they couldn’t have been more grateful when their tradesmen rallied to save the day. “Our plumber Tommy and his dad – who is also a plumber – came to the rescue,” says Kristen. “They got several pumps going to beat the rise of the water.” Before long, the renovation, under the charge of Paul Di Stefano Design and Matt Wilson of Built By Wilson, was back on course.
For Kristen, owner of Geelong’s Goose concept store, seeing the vision take shape was very exciting. “This was to be a home for us to stay in for a long time, so the design had to incorporate a good flow with generous dimensions, lots of natural light and timeless finishes,” she says. “The original four rooms at the front remained while the rest was demolished.”
A strong connection to the outdoors was also high on the wishlist. “One of the main considerations was to open up the new kitchen to the deck,” says Kristen. “We also added an ensuite for us, a new family bathroom and an additional bedroom, as well as a separate laundry. But we decided to keep the house on one level, and we’re very happy we made that decision. It means that we’re all close to each other, yet we have our own space, too.”
The existing home included a mishmash of minor alterations carried out over the years, but there is now a marriage between old and new – while the use of tonal shades of grey and aquatic blue delivers a sense of continuity. “The walls in the front lounge and dining rooms were repainted, but I colour-matched them to the original,” says Kristen. “It makes the timber sing – it has so much soul and was one element I loved about the old house.”
A delightfully eclectic collection of artwork and homewares injects further life and style. “I’ve always loved pieces that have sentimental attachment, as well as beautiful artisan objects that I discover when I purchase for the store,” says Kristen, who also knew where to begin with selecting the tiles, cabinetry and countertops for the kitchen and bathrooms.
“I looked for quality finishes and materials that would last and make it simple to update colour trends with accessories,” she says. “The choice of terrazzo flooring in the bathrooms was influenced by the curved terrazzo porch at my great-aunt’s home.”
The result is everything Kristen and Steven had hoped for, and more. They have no intention of moving. “My joke to the kids,” says Kristen, “is to be careful with whatever they’re doing around the house, because they can’t damage my forever home!” See more projects by Paul Di Stefano Design at pauldistefanodesign.com, and by Built By Wilson at builtbywilson.com.