Home design:
Caroline Novinc cleverly transformed a tiny Queenslander into a practical home for her family of six plus a dog. Hande Renshaw discovers how she did it.
a space-saving revamp for this tiny Queenslander
The breezy and sub-tropical climate of Brisbane cast a spell on Caroline Novinc and her husband Mark Roderick almost two decades ago. As soon as they came across the area, they were keen to create a home within this slower-paced and idyllic landscape. In 2007 they stumbled on an old and neglected Queenslander in the inner city, begging for a restoration. “We fell in love with the house at first sight,” recalls Caroline. The couple bought it with a view of transforming it into a family home for their boys Jack, 12, Harry, eight, Charlie, seven, and
Oscar, five. And pet labrador, Nellie.
With the help of local architects, Caroline focused on functionality – a sanctuary that would withstand
her frantic schedule as a busy mum. “Our mutual love of simple, well thought out design inspired us to breathe new life into our tired old 1920s Queenslander. We worked together with the architects to create a minimal and functional home for our family of six,” says Caroline.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-level home has a very modest footprint on an already small lot, which is less than 200 square metres. “Although small in size by today’s bloated standards, the design works well for us. We’ve retained the rooms that make up our living areas instead of adopting open-plan living,” says Caroline. “Every element in the design of our home has been carefully considered – clever storage, a wellequipped kitchen, and a home which is easy to clean and low maintenance were all high on the agenda.”
In almost every room there is multifunctional joinery and built-in furniture such as bookshelves, desk systems, wardrobes and seating – all designed to maintain a clutter-free home. In the living space there are bookshelves to display Caroline’s favourite books and treasured items, as well as seating which doubles up with storage underneath to hide those things she doesn’t want on display.
Colour in the Hamptons-style spaces is an important element. Caroline chose an elegant and refined palette – a mix of charcoal and ivory against the warmth of timeless timber flooring. The use of white on every internal wall was a tool to make the spaces look breezy and much larger than they are, with pops of charcoal in the fans, pendants and light switches. “The palette of materials in the design allows us to change the feel of our home between the seasons – it’s the perfect canvas to add to,” explains Caroline.
A favourite part of the home is the kitchen. “Having four hungry boys, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Its central location in the house allows me to see out into the street and also keep an eye on the kids in the backyard
– it functions so well,” she says.
The kitchen is split into two sections, with the appliances tucked away
in the internal section and hidden from the dining and living spaces. Both spaces are equipped with a sink, which allows a few people to use the kitchen at once and not get in each other’s way.
Similarly, instead of one large bathroom, there are three small spaces to suit the children’s needs – housing a toilet in one room, a sink and then a shower, to avoid congestion. “Although small, our home works so well for all of us – we never feel cramped up,” says Caroline.