“Lay the groundwork today for a feuxttuernes ion”
living area
Amelia plans to turn the existing dining room into a butler’s pantry. That’s going to be a generous room for the size of the house, and the couple plans to knock down the back wall and take over the porch area to compensate for the lost dining space. I can see a much better solution. If we build out to the side, across that vacant strip of land, we’ll create a huge living/dining room o the kitchen with bifold glass doors to either side. The proposed pool can move slightly forward on the block, allowing the new living area to look out to the garden on one side and the pool on the other. This will leave the formal sitting room for a second space as the kids get older, and it will add tremendous value to the home.
two-step plan
Nicholas and Amelia know their budget won’t stretch to the extension just yet. Rather than remodel the back of the house now, they can go ahead with the plans to install the butler’s pantry and re-landscape the garden, laying foundations for the side extension at the same time. This allows the site to become level, in anticipation of the future addition – saving thousands of dollars but allowing them to still install that pool and enjoy the outdoor entertaining area until they are in a position to inance the build. Everything will be ready for phase two. Plan for now, do it later.
garden
There’s a lot of garden out the back, but it’s steep and not very user-friendly. Amelia and Nicholas want room to entertain but, as it is, the space is in disconnected sections. We need a clean, lat area outside the back door that runs across the new extension and is big enough for an outside eating area. I would suggest a 600mm-high retaining wall – just the right height to sit on – with steps up to the lawn. It would also be lovely to have a large deciduous tree in the top corner to add shade in summer and allow light to stream through in winter when it loses its leaves.
butler’s pantry
This is every entertainer’s dream. It’s de initely an indulgence, but this is Amelia’s house and cooking is her passion. The pantry should have cabinetry to the ceiling to maximise storage, and the whole back wall should be adjustable loor-to-ceiling shelving. Amelia plans to build her large new fridge into the new dividing wall and wonders which end of the room to put it. I’d say the front, as this will de ine the working kitchen space. Next to that, a frosted glass door will allow the light from the existing dining window to lood into the kitchen. They have committed to a new kitchen, but when they do the big reno and remove that side wall, these new cabinets can be re-used and recon igured.