Seaside beauty A dated Queensland home gets a second chance
HARD WORK AND A HANDS-ON FAMILY HAVE TURNED THIS DATED QUEENSLAND HOME INTO A MODERN HAVEN
WHO LIVES HERE? Simone and Steve, owner-operators of boutique building company SX Constructions; their seven-year-old twins, Kai and Leuca; and Henry the Staffordshire bull terrier. LOCATION: A beachside suburb on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. ORIGINAL PROPERTY: A single-storey 1980s brick house. TIME FRAME: Four months to design, eight months to execute it. WHY THIS HOUSE? Location, location, location! “It was one street back from our favourite beach and only a few streets away from lots of our family and friends,” says Simone. WHY THE RENO? It was only ever the location that appealed to the couple, and the list of problems was long. “The ceilings were low, there were multiple archways inside and it was also very dark due to limited windows and doors, so we often had the lights on during the day. All in all, it desperately needed a new lease of life,” says Simone. THE WORKS: The renovation was mammoth, with only the concrete slab, pool and one external wall standing after demolition work. The couple extended the slab to make way for an expansive ground floor, opening to the pool. “We then popped up a second storey and turned the property into a five-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home, with a rumpus room for our kids and an office for our home-based business,” says Simone. BUDGET BREAKERS? “The large 1200mm x 600mm concrete-look tiles we chose for our bathrooms and office space,” says Simone. “We didn’t realise how much extra these tiles cost to lay, as opposed to standard 600mm x 600mm tiles. Each tile weighed 18kg and a bag of glue would only cover four tiles.” FAVOURITE ASPECT? The timber stacking doors and the leafy backdrop of the neutral-toned kitchen lend the open-plan ground floor a relaxed, tropical vibe. “These two elements have created an oasis where we can pretend we’re on holidays, even if it’s only for a few hours,” says Simone. LESSONS LEARNED: “We definitely learned not to underestimate the toll a project like this takes on all areas of your life, particularly your family life,” says Simone. “We were lucky to have very supportive parents who were happy to spend time with our young children while we were running around making things happen.”
ENSUITE Steve and Simone opted for oversized concrete-look tiles in their ensuite and family bathroom (top left & below right), but they came with a hefty price tag. “We were reluctant to reselect the tiles as we were hooked, so Steve laid them,” says Simone. The tiles are 1200mm x 600mm and have to be installed using a clip system to ensure their weight doesn’t cause them to move during the drying process. Chalky white subway tiles provide a striking contrast, with an ‘Ando’ single concrete pendant from Beacon Lighting picking up the tones of the flooring.
MAIN BATHROOM Matching Posh ‘Solus’ baths from Reece in the ensuite and family bathroom (top left & right) mean there are plenty of options for a soak. A freestanding wash basin by Istone sits neatly on a custombuilt stone bench top and vanity by Ackerman Barkle. A walk-in shower with a glass panel keeps the room open and airy, and mini plant prints by Handmadely.com.au bring in a touch of the outdoors. The oversized modern circular mirror in silver from The Block Shop and an ‘Ando’ single concrete pendant from Beacon Lighting add to the cool finish.
EXTERIOR “We completely changed the external look of the home by replacing the outdated brick with a combination of Scyon Linea and Scyon Axon cladding systems to give the place a more relaxed beach look,” explains Simone. The couple also changed the roof line from the traditional hip and valley to a flat skillion roof with a twodegree pitch (above). “It helps to shape our ‘box’ look,” she adds.