Renovation wow
An amazing transformation
KITCHEN With the solid timber kitchen still in good condition, Solée and Tim decided to simply upgrade the finishes. The dated cabinetry fronts and green splashback tiles were painted white, with handles powder coated in black. Existing spotted-gum timber benchtops were reconditioned, with the stainless-steel top on the island replaced to match. To maximise functionality, cupboards were added either side of the rangehood to boost storage.
INSIDE STORY
WHO LIVES HERE? Solée, a volunteer charity coordinator; Tim, a lawyer; Pearl, eight; Louis, seven; and also Peggy-Sue, the British blue cat. LOCATION: Newtown, Victoria. ORIGINAL PROPERTY: Circa 1921 Californian bungalow – with references to the Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco periods – which had been adapted with numerous renovations and extensions. TIME FRAME: Almost three years from the initial design through to completion. WHY THIS HOUSE? “We had previously owned a red brick house in Richmond, so we were drawn to this home’s similar bricks, which are quite rare in this area. We also loved the idea of having a massive 1000sqm block with a north-facing yard,” says Solée. WHY THE RENO? “We bought the house in February 2014, and before we’d even moved in, we had engaged Nellie O’Keeffe and Brent Yttrup of Noby Architects to draw up plans for a complete overhaul. It was quite tired, particularly the back end and yard, so the brief was to re-energise the house and restore its original charm.” MUST-HAVES? Lots of glass to draw in natural light and connect the home to the garden, reinstallation of the two original fireplaces, and cosmetic upgrades throughout to complement the home’s heritage. THE WORKS: “We got rid of any add-ons, like the tacked-on sunroom, as well as any references to the 1970s and ’80s in the palette of finishes.” BUDGET-BREAKERS: “Turning back the clock to reinstate the fireplaces cost a bomb, but we knew that it was the right thing to do!” FAVOURITE ASPECT? “I love that our home has become really welcoming and engaging. Whoever walks through the door feels instantly relaxed, and I think it’s because of the timber, plants, artwork and the wonderful connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.” LESSONS LEARNED Be kind to your tradies. “Some days I baked morning tea for everyone, and I think that created a healthy morale and meant there was a lot of love and energy invested in the process. By the end, our beautiful builders really felt like part of the family.” >
DINING AREA One of Solée’s wish-list inclusions was an industrial-style sliding timber door, which is a great design feature both aesthetically and also functionally. “In knocking the wall out and replacing it with a door which spans the same width, there’s flexibility to have it closed or open,” Solée says. “We mostly leave it open as it allows more light to flow through the house.” An Ailish Bourke artwork has prime position over the restored fireplace.
LIVING AREA “Part of the brief was to maximise the northern end and capture the beautiful natural light and views to the garden,” says Solée.
The solution was to enhance the size of the windows and add a large glass sliding door to create a seamless connection out to the new deck (above). “I wanted to create more intimate nooks, so we also added a sliding door to partition the area. The kids love it; when the door is shut they really feel it’s their zone,” she says. Furnished with a King Living leather sofa, the room also features eclectic vintage pieces like the coffee table and an old movie set light from Mill Markets, layers of hides and cushions for softness.
KITCHEN A pair of Thonet chairs turn the peninsula bench into a casual breakfast bar. New bulb pendants from Beacon Lighting create a subtle feature, and Solée upgraded the tapware with a pull-out mixer; for similar try the Vivid multi function sink mixer from Phoenix Tapware. She also brought greenery into every space with nooks and shelves adorned with pot plants. “They’re great for air purification and very calming,” she says. >
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
DINING AREA: Fireplace: Restoration, $2000; Flooring: Supplied, laid and polished, $3600; Furniture: Bombora custom table, DSW Eames chairs, ; Lighting $895; Paint: Dulux Natural White, $3000; Sliding door: Custom sliding timber door, $3400; Window and carpentry: $10,000. KIDS’ LIVING AREA: Door: Timber sliding door, $3300; Lighting: $900. Paint: $3000; Windows: $2000. KITCHEN: Benchtop: Timber, $2200; Refurbishment of old benchtop, $300; Carpentry and plasterboard: $3600; Extra cabinetry (beside rangehood): $2000; Lighting: Beacon Lighting, $135; Painting: $900. Stockists, page 190
organic “OUR HOUSE FEELS VERY AND CONNECTED TO THE OUTDOORS” ~ SOLÉE
MAIN BATHROOM With a spacious, functional layout paired with good foundations, only cosmetic changes were necessary in the main bathroom (above). “We were able to keep the bath, and the existing marble benchtop was great, so we just modernised a few finishes to tie it in with the other bathrooms,” says Solée. A lino floor was upgraded with the same honed bluestone used throughout and, for a touch of luxury, underfloor heating was installed. The dated tapware was switched for contemporary black fixtures, and the cabinetry was refreshed with timber veneer vanity fronts, which were paired with powder-coated black handles.
ENSUITE Once “absolutely hideous”, the ensuite (left) now has beautiful honed bluestone flowing from the floor and up the walls. It creates a sophisticated backdrop for a Caroma Cube basin atop the custom floating vanity, topped with Caesarstone in London Grey and paired with Astra Walker Icon aged brass tapware. “I really didn’t want drawers below the vanity, as being quite a small bathroom, I didn’t want anything encroaching on the space,” says Solée. Instead, the storage was concealed behind the vanity mirror. “There was a lot of pressure on the builder to cut the mirror in exactly the right spot for the tap, but he did a fantastic job!” she says.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
MAIN BATHROOM: Door and drawers: New veneer door and drawer fronts, $500. Tapware and accessories: $1250; Tiles: Honed bluestone and installation, $2400. ENSUITE: Fixtures: Caroma Cube basin and toilet fixtures, $1500; Window, skylight and carpentry, $7400; Lights: LED downlights, $300; Storage: Custom mirrored vanity, $2800; Tapware: Astra Walker Icon aged brass and accessories, $2450; Tiles: Honed bluestone supply and installation, $7800; Vanity: Custom floating with London Grey Caesarstone top, $1500. BACKYARD: Arbour: Steel and timber, $10,250; site painting, $2200; Doors: Custom timber-framed glass doors and louvres, $17,000; Preparation and framing materials: $6750; Sunroom: Demolition, $2800; Timber decking, $13,000. Stockists, page 190