Whatlookwereyougoingfor?Wewantedour
hometobeclassic,elegantandtimelesswith
reclaimednativemataiflooringandwhitewalls.
Payinghomagetothevilla’scharacter and
history was important to us.
Whatchangesdidyoumaketothefloorplan?
Weknockeddowneveryinternalwallexceptfor
thehallway.Internally,theonlythingsthatare
stilltrulyoriginalarethearchinthehallway,the
floorboardsandthefrontdoor.Thehallwayused
torunrightthroughthehomebutwefitteda
scullery/laundryintoa sectionoftheoldhallway
andturnedtheoldlaundryintoa bedroom.
Becausewewereaddinganensuite,someof
thewindowsonthesouthsidehadtoshift.We
movedoneofthebedroomsfromthewestern
sideofthehometocreateourlivingroom.
Panelledinternalslidersbetweenthekitchen,
diningandlivingroomsandhallwaymakethe
homeopenplanbutallowus to create separate
areas when entertaining.
Whatotherinteriorworkdidyoudo?Thewhole
housewasrewiredandreplumbed,newdouble-
glazedwindowswereinstalled,andweputnew
ceilingsovertheoldones.Thereallyfunstuff
beganwiththeceilingrosesgoingupandthe
pressed-tinwallpanelsbeing installed in the
hallwayandbathrooms.
Oncethewallswereplasteredandpainted,
thenewkitchenwasinstalled.Thencamethe
tiling,thebathroomfittingsandthelastof the
electricalwork.Thefinalstepwashavingthe
carpet laid and the floors sanded and polished.Whatabouttheexterior?Overhalfthehouse
needednewcladding.Thefrontporchwas
rottenandalsoneededreplacing.Wereplaced
thelaceworkonthefrontverandahwith
beautifulartdecofeaturesandgavethehouse
a freshcoatofpaint.Wealsohadthestained
glassinthefrontdoorreinforcedbecauseit
wasquiteweakandwewantedto make sure it
would stand the test of time.yhg| 95R