Looking for an older-style home to renovate, Paul and Elena restored a dated Federation house to its former glory – and created their dream home in the process! The couple were married in Strathfield in 1988 and have lived in the area ever since. After their children; Nina, 12 and Julia, nine; were born, the couple decided to look for a house they could buy, move into and eventually renovate to suit their own style. “We wanted a house we could be proud of,” Paul says, “a house that would reflect our tastes in what a period-style home should look like.” The family finally found what they were looking for in 2002, and moved in May of that year. It was originally a single-storey Federation house named Glengarry, which was built in 1915 and retained many of its original features including patterned ceilings, three marble fireplaces, casement windows, timber flooring and the old-style layout of small rooms. But the previous owners had added a second storey in a Cape Cod style complete with aluminium windows, plain ceilings and sliding doors. “Upstairs did not have a single Federation feature!” Paul exclaims. The stairs to the second storey had been cut into the ceiling in the dining room, while an extension had also been added to the rear with different floor levels, barred windows and contrasting coloured carpet. What’s more, the walls were painted in a few colours, mainly pink, the kitchen was very old and falling apart, and most of the first-storey floors were tiled! “The skirting, architraves, windows – in fact, all the timberwork – had been painted over,” Paul relates, “and because of this, the windows were stuck and couldn’t be opened properly.”
Starting from scratch
In Paul’s words the house was “an absolute mess”, but the potential was there for the couple to restore it to its original state while adding some special touches of their own. After drawing up plans with the help of an architect, the renovation began in March 2006, and Paul and Elena learnt everything they needed to know – from demolition to painting – along the way. With the assistance of a builder and various tradespeople, each room in the house was basically stripped bare. Ceilings, doors, carpets and fittings were all ripped out and the bathrooms completely gutted with the old tiles, shower screens, vanities, toilets and tubs all thrown out. “Upstairs we even took down the non–load-bearing walls and redesigned the entire floor,” Paul comments. One day a week, the pair would go shopping for everything from bathroom tiles, timber cornices and ceiling roses, to carpet, light fittings and timber flooring. “Our goal was to bring the old rundown period-style home back to life, to give it an open-plan family room and to make the house our home,” Paul explains. Finally, after three years of gruelling work, the home is complete and the couple have certainly achieved all they set out to do. “It now has an open feel to it, especially at the rear where the kitchen and living room have become one,” he smiles. “This is our favourite part of the house and it’s here we spend most of our time with family and friends.” Downstairs, there’s also an office, formal dining room, family room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry, while upstairs are four large bedrooms, two bathrooms and a storage space.
A complete transformation
Unlike when they bought it, the whole house is now in the Federation style and each room complements the next. Reluctant to use white or beige, Elena chose 17 colours with the help of a colour consultant, to give the vibrant home a real Federation feel. “Upstairs, all the rooms consist of one colour,” Paul explains, “while downstairs, a picture rail separates the main colour and lighter upper colour of the room.” Outside, the house has a painted in a ‘paperbark’ look with beige and blue accents on the windows and timberwork. “I painted the house myself,” Paul reveals, “and it took me about three months to complete – the intricate cornices and roses were the hardest.” All but one of the old ceilings were pulled down and replaced with ornate ceilings and cornices, while downstairs, the new timber floors are made from spotted gum slats that were sanded and coated with a matt Tung oil. Elena chose the Marquadt kitchen which was made entirely in Germany, then shipped here and assembled on site. “We insisted that the granite benchtops be very wide to allow ample space to work on and also to put food on when we entertain buffet style,” Paul relates. “We also created a walk-in pantry under the stairs.” Outdoors, an awkward kidney-shape pool was filled in and is now used to grow vegetables and strawberries, while the family room opens to a paved courtyard and a 12-seater table.
Award-winning results
This impressive renovation, which won two awards from the Council for Period Renovation and Landscaping, certainly wasn’t without its challenges; even keeping the front of the house in its original condition proved a constant problem for the family. “We had the roof tiles off at one stage and it rained for days – tarps were everywhere,” Paul recalls. “If water had seeped inside the house, it could have peeled the internal render off the walls.” But, although they moved out for 16 months while the major renovations took place, the biggest challenge was living in their house for two months without a working kitchen! “The manufacturers made and delivered incorrect cabinets,” Paul explains, “so we had to wait for them to be made and shipped from Germany.” Their budget for the improvements also blew out to over double what they had planned. “Our plan, right from the outset, was to do things once, and do them right the first time no matter the cost,” Paul says, “but we couldn’t be any happier with the outcome.” The family love everything about the house, especially the stained timberwork, open-plan kitchen/family room, and features such as bookshelves all the way up the staircase; and estimate they have increased its value by two to three times what they paid for it. “If we ever decided to sell, the new owners can move in and live immediately,” Paul smiles. “There isn’t a single thing they will have to change or fix.”
Story by Lauren Broomham Styling by Greg Sukendro