Keen to make the most of their new home, Barbara and her husband Arthur transformed the tired and rundown property into a bright, contemporary space that's designed for open-plan living and entertaining. The couple purchased the house in 1994, 20 years after it was originally built, and the place was starting to show its age. “It was old and well-used,” says Barbara, “but we could see it had potential.” Though the dwelling sits on one level, the property is set high above the street and one of the reasons they bought it was for its lovely views and open-plan design; the pair were eager to create areas for outdoor entertaining that took advantage of these aspects. Barbara is also a great fan of books and television shows on home design and renovation, and many of the ideas the couple used in their overhaul came from decorating magazines.
Inside and out
While this wasn’t Barbara and Arthur’s first renovation – they added a sunroom and laundry to a previous house – this time, they had much bigger plans up their sleeve. The pair got the project underway by completely renovating their bathroom and adding an additional toilet – with help from Harvey Norman – as well as revamping the kitchen, which was made over from top to bottom, right down to the gorgeous new slate floor. Next, they turned to Keltin Pty Ltd to combine the original lounge and dining room into a large, open-plan space, as well as open up the entry area and re-design the laundry to make it more practical to use. Stylish downlights were installed in all the rooms, with French doors added to the dining and lounge areas to provide much-needed access to the balconies. They finished off the job by completely repainting throughout themselves, and obtained some help with the colour scheme from a Dulux colour consultant. Outside, the original brick house was cement rendered by a local builder, giving it a fresh, contemporary look. The balcony areas were tiled, with new timber railings and decking installed. To keep the sun and rain off, an awning by Dalton Engineering and a bistro blind were carefully positioned over the balcony, while a sail was added above the decking. Even the two sets of external stairs were redone in sandstone with stainless-steel railings by local trades group SCO, and the beautiful gardens were rearranged into two levels and replanted. It was a complete transformation, both inside and out!
Modern makeover
Now, walking in, the house has a relaxed, modern feel that fits perfectly with its open-plan layout and makes full use of the spectacular views offered by its lofty position. All three bedrooms have full-glass windows and doors that open into the garden, while the kitchen, Barbara’s favourite room, boasts bi-fold doors that lead to the outdoor area, maximising both the indoor and outdoor space. When family and friends come over for a visit, they head straight for the living room which also has French doors opening to the balcony area. The flooring is a practical mix of slate, carpet and tiles, with most of the furniture and fittings purchased from Harvey Norman and Domayne. As well, the couple love to display pieces picked up from their overseas travels such as the rug in the lounge room that they found in Morocco. They certainly feel they’ve achieved everything they set out to do, and they particularly love the open-plan design and great entertaining areas. “My favourite part was seeing the house transformed from an ordinary building to something that has a nice modern look, clean lines and maximised views,” says Barbara.
Fabulous results
The renovations took place gradually over a period of 10 years, but there weren’t too many hurdles along the way. “Due to the high separation of the house from the street, and as the building is on a rock base, it was not easy to link the new toilet to the sewer,” admits Barbara, “but all the work took shape in good time.” There are still a few things that need to be done. The decking is getting near replacement and they’re considering adding an extra storey; but, looking back, the couple wouldn’t have done anything differently. "We found that we researched well and kept to our plans,” Barbara states, “and careful planning kept our costs at a reasonable level.” She advises anyone considering a similar renovation to do their research, get a range of quotes and ask plenty of questions if they want to be satisfied with the final result. Today, the couple are very happy with their renovations, as are their family and friends. “Everybody loves the house and enjoys the open aspect,” Barbara smiles.
Story by Lauren Broomham Styling by Kirstin Randl-Katalinic