When landscape designer Russell and his wife Therese bought a rundown cottage in the beachside suburb of Avalon, it was in need of a serious overhaul – luckily, they had a few tricks up their sleeves! The couple have operated their landscaping business, Barcoo Landscapes, in the area since 1985 and came to Avalon to be close to the beach and the laid-back lifestyle it affords. When they moved into the 1950s-style house in 1990, it was a small, two-bedroom green fibro cottage complete with old concrete tiles, and badly in need of a makeover to suit its seaside location.Since then, there have also been a few additions to the family – son Matthew and daughter Jade, plus pet spoodle Tex – which definitely meant some renovations were in order. “It’s very important for us to make sure the children are happy and comfortable,” adds Russell. “We love open-plan homes, but we love a happy household best.”
Step by step
Since they first moved in, the family has completed two renovations, adding a third bedroom and a back deck in 1996 before turning the deck into an indoor living area in 2008, and extending a new deck from the living area at the same time. These days, the three-bedroom, split-level house has a relaxed, coastal feel that was inspired by the beach culture around Avalon. The walls were painted, floorboards sanded back and skylights added for natural light, giving the rooms a lighter, friendlier feel. The couple also installed built-in wardrobes in each bedroom for extra storage and installed shutters on the windows for a lovely, beachy look. Now you’ll usually find the family spending their time in the upstairs living area that was previously the deck. “The doors and windows are bi-fold,” explains Russell, “so in summer it can still be a deck, but in winter it’s a warm, sunny room – we use it 1000 per cent more now!”
Backyard blitz
But bigger changes were underway outside, something Russell and Therese were both eager to get started on. “Originally there were no fences or garden,” Russell recalls, “but as we both work in the landscape horticulture field, we were happy to make our garden something to enjoy.” The couple took a semi-formal approach, using boxes, mixed with a touch of the tropical and planted the front and back yards with camellia and murraya hedges, and about 50 kentia palms to give the place a holiday feel. “Our aim was for it all to be fairly maintenance free and pest resistant,” he says. They also created interesting features in the stone path and water feature and installed two water tanks; one a feature waterlily/fish tank, to help keep the gardens lush. “The garden has to be fairly tough,” adds Russell. “Strong enough to resist all the soccer and rugby balls that our children, their mates and the dog like to play with.” A bullnose verandah with two-tone colours was also built to provide a place to sit and relax outside, while the new driveway gave the children somewhere to ride and play and created a double carport under the back living room.
In time - and under budget
The couple saved on money by doing much of the work themselves, particularly outdoors, and their relatives Craig and Bob Deakes also provided a valuable helping hand along with Therese’s father Bob and Glen Carter from Waterview Constructions in Mona Vale. And by working in stages they were also able to stick to a budget, something they were quite happy to do. “The renovations didn’t take long because the old fibro cottages are quite simple to work on,” says Russell. And while the family love the look of their beachside home, they’re constantly trying to improve things. “We still need to add the kitchenette to the new living area. Then it can be a guest retreat if necessary with its own bathroom.” But Russell and Therese definitely feel they have added value and are more than happy with the final results. “It feels relaxed, the kids feel happy here and we’re close to the beach,” says Russell. “We’ve come a long way since our little green house.”
Story by Lauren Broomham Styling by Kirstin Randl-Katalinic