“Knock
down the
extension and
start again”
the floor plan
As Lis is keen not to lose any of
the backyard, they’ve considered
building a second storey. But this
may be over budget and there’s
plenty they can do within the
existing footprint. I’d build a new
extension to complement the
original house, only extending out
beyond the original floor plan by
a metre. I’d reorient the kitchen
along the back wall with a butler’s
pantry and laundry at one end
and build in a bench seat with
storage along the adjacent wall
as part of the dining area. This
would create room for an informal
living area on the left. The roof line
and internal ceiling levels would
be designed to improve the sense
of space and facilitate passive
heating and cooling. I’d suggest
a solid floor such as concrete
that would act as a thermal mass
for the sun to heat up in winter.the bathroom
There’s wasted space outside the
bathroom, so I’d extend the family
bathroom into that area, with
full-height cupboards at the entry.
As this is the only bathroom for
a family of four, a second would
be a bonus. I’d put an ensuite
next door, taking space from the
existing bathroom and the side
courtyard, creating a master
suite. This will extend the long,
fairly dark hallway, but I’d use
artwork or lighting to create
interest, and install skylights.furniture
Lis’ mother gave her a lot
of vintage wooden furniture,but she’d like to know how to
incorporate it so they don’t feel
as if they are living in an antique
shop. I like a house that has an
eclectic mix of older and newer
furniture, but Lis shouldn’t be
afraid to get rid of some of it and
just keep the pieces she loves.
An option might be to repurpose
a couple of items as vanities in
the bathroom and ensuite. The
family eats outside a lot, so here
I’d go for a thin steel table on
casters, which could be tiled on
top to create a unique piece. I’d
team it with chairs with a bit of
transparency to them so you
almost look through them from
the living area. And perhaps I’d
extend the internal bench seat
outside to create a daybed.material selection
As Lis wants to lighten up the
house, I’d suggest painting the
walls white: a favourite of mine
is Dulux Fair Bianca Half. I’d keep
things simple and pick a couple
of materials and use them
throughout to create a cohesive
look. I’d opt for natural materials
such as concrete, wood and brick.
In the kitchen, I’d go for white
cabinetry but incorporate a timber
shelf in the same wood as Lis’
furniture to tie it all together. If you
go for brick tiles on the floor of
the new extension, they could
be continued up the side of the
kitchen bench with something
like white Caesarstone on top.
It’s all about being creative with
the few materials chosen that
will ultimately create a unique
home for Lis and her family.THE SOLUTION:
Lis and Karl’s home is a typical worker’s
cottage in a beautiful street with a lot of
opportunity. It does have many attributes:
a more formal, second living room with a
fireplace at the front of the house that
has a cosy feel and three bedrooms, which open up onto a side
courtyard with a lovely ambience. But there’s little privacy between
the bedrooms and no obvious master bedroom or ensuite. The
condition of the extension is a worry, especially as there are issues
with a leaking roof and damp. Lis suspects it was built without proper
foundations. Seeing as this is where the family members spend most
of their time, I think this is where the bulk of the budget should be
spent. The rest of the house needs a little love, but it’s been there for
more than 100 years and is unlikely to fall down any time soon.Sally’s assessment
the advice
Sally Holbrook
Director,
Northbourne
Architecture
+ DesignADVICE PROVIDED IS OF A GENERAL NATURE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS A STARTING POINT. LOOK INTO YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS ANDREGULATIONS BEFORESTARTING ANY RENOVATION WORK. PHOTOGRAPHY: (MATERIAL SELECTION) NIKOLE RAMSEY, (FURNITURE) ARMELLE HABIB. STYLING: (MATERIAL SELECTION) EMMA O’MEARA, (FURNITURE) JULIA GREEN. ARCHITECTURE: (FURNITURE) PICKLES & ROUSE, PICKLESANDROUSE.COM.AU. BUILDER: (MATERIAL SELECTION) MULHERON BUILDERS, 0409985 459.ARTWORKS: (MATERIAL SELECTION, FROM LEFT)PIRUM PARUMANDAPPLE PAPPLEPOSTERS, FINE LITTLE DAY, FINELITTLEDAY.COM. PAINT COLOUR MAY VARY ON APPLICATION112 / Inside Out