HGHOUSES
92 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
H
aving lived in Tokyo,
where they raised
threeyoungchildren
in compact quarters,
the five-bedroom
open-plan home Jody and
James Austin built on their return
to Brisbane in 2004 seemed
luxurious by comparison.
But families and their needs
change over time and their home’s limitations soon became
apparent. “It just wasn’t working,” says Jody. “The open-plan
layout meant we were always on top of each other and noise was
a problem. We wanted a bit more separation from each other.”
They considered extending, but then came across a property
forsaleinariversidesuburbfiveminutesaway.“Itwasugly,”
says Jody bluntly of the 1910 Queenslander. Its iconic verandahs
had been closed in and there was an extension built from asbestos
on the eastern side. Mindful of the pitfalls of renovating an old
home, their builder, Angus Cowan Constructions, warned against
buying it. “Even the kids were asking, ‘Why are we buying this
old house?’” says Jody. But she and James focused on the
possibilities offered by the large block and empty undercroft.
“We could see what it could become and pushed ahead.”
The intrepid pair consulted Michael Dougherty Design to help
plan a major renovation. With their trusted builder back on board,
the project began with a delicate manoeuvre: the house was
shifted a metre sideways to create a driveway large enough to
reverse up. The house was also raised and soil underneath
removed to gain useable height in the undercroft, giving the
Austins an extra level with little change to the home’s footprint.
Next, the addition was carefully demolished, to be replaced by
a new living room and kitchen. Much of the internal structure
was removed and existing rooms reconfigured to improve the
flow between spaces. The five-bedroom layout turned out to beprescient: the family welcomed
a fourth child before moving in.
Today, the home presents as
a paragon of old-world charm.
From the front garden, steps
lead past restored verandahs
to the main living level. Inside,
a large, light-bathed living area
links directly to the new kitchen
and dining space. Down the
hallway are the main bedroom suite (once the formal living
room), a family bathroom, 11-year-old Billy’s room (previously
the kitchen), and 15-year-old Molly’s domain. Edward, 16,
and Jack, 13, have bedrooms in the undercroft, which also
accommodates a bathroom, capacious family room and laundry.
Even before the renovation began, Jody was pondering the
style aspects of her new home. Enter interior designers Lauren
Pearse and Angie Rogers from Rylo Interiors. “It was a bit of a
jigsaw puzzle because we weren’t starting from scratch,” says
Lauren. “Jody loved the Hamptons look; we personalised it by
mixing it with her Asian antiques.”
The result is a well-curated interior that merges assured
aesthetics with family-friendly touches. Upstairs, traditional
tongue-and-groove panelling, polishedtimber, marble surfaces,
antiques and lush textiles against neutral walls construct a
picture of sunny elegance. On the ground level, polished-concrete
flooring, a darker palette and funky furnishings strike an edgier,
urban vibe. It’s a beautiful visualisation of the separation of
spaces the Austins sought, a home where all the family members
can enjoy coming together or following their own interests.
“It was absolutely worth taking on such a major renovation,”
says Jody. “The house works brilliantly for us.” >
Michael Dougherty Design,Burleigh Heads, Queensland;
http://www.doughertydesign.com.au.Rylo Interiors, East Brisbane,
Queensland; (07) 3891 6795 or rylo.com.au.