The renovation

EXPERT ADVICE

A regular suburban home can also be energy efficient. Philippa and Chris have a grey water system, they harvest rainwater, and a home automation system ensures that electricity isn’t wasted. “We tried to make our home as energy efficient as possible,” says Philippa.

Chris installed an Ecogator Grey Water System. The waste pipes from the shower, bath and washing machine are extended to a central point where the water passes through a filter into the water tank from which it is pumped to the garden.

“For rainwater harvesting, the gutters all feed into an underground channel that Chris designed and gravity forces the water into two JoJo tanks with a capacity of 5 000L each. We use this water for our vegetable garden and topping up the pool.

“The house is largely automated via a Control4 system, and several lights are on motion sensors to help keep me from leaving them on all the time. We also have a solar geyser,” adds Philippa.

The enclosed front porch was opened up to restore the original 1920s architectural features that were typical of this era, such as columns. Walls between three rooms and a covered porch (bottom right) were demolished to create the living area that now leads onto the veranda. Under this deck is space for additional rainwater tanks, a project for the future. What was a bedroom became part of the open-plan living area.

The original kitchen became a scullery.

The covered porch is now the dining area in the living room.