Old home gets a new look

This dilapidated, fixer-upper house gets a new lease on life. It's prime location makes it well worth the investment.

08/10/2017

With its prime location, this property is in an area where fixer-uppers are snapped up fast, despite the fact that the floor plan of the house was confusing and off-putting. The property was bought and sold many times over the years, and with each new owner came new additions and alterations.

The new owners wanted a home that was flexible and modern. The brief was maximise the potential in every room to allow it to adapt with a growing family. In order to achieve this the interior of the property was completely gutted, while the exterior was renovated to retain the look and style of other homes in this area. The result of this drastic renovation is a more efficient home that retains its heritage.

The original floor plan was reworked to include four bedrooms, three bathrooms, generous living spaces and an open-plan kitchen, as well as a study and media room, and an outdoor area for entertaining. The key to all of this was a generous basement.

When you enter the house, the lounge and dining reflect the original layout. While the original rooms were dark and claustrophobic, the renovations allow in plenty of natural light via the open-plan layout.

Parquet floors were revealed under layer upon layer of linoleum floor coverings. The wood floors were restored and oiled to allow the finish to develop a natural patina over time, with only buffing and re-oiling from time to time.

The basement had a low ceiling, but with some adjustment to the level of the floor, and a slightly raised ceiling after taking a bit off the level above, it was possible to achieve a decent ceiling height to accommodate a media room and home study.

In the main front bedroom, the original doors and shutters were retained to allow for a leafy outlook. The previously unused attic was transformed into a master bedroom.

 

 

To keep an airy floor plan throughout, the ensuite is small but cleverly designed to fit within the space. Surrounded by glass panels, the design allows light to flood the staircase.

In the kitchen, marble countertops are used on the island bench. Clerestory windows in the kitchen flood the room with natural light and compensate for the lack of windows along the walls.

Original timber was used on the lower staircase to subtly reference the history of the house and its many previous lives.

The courtyard at the rear of the property provides a comfortable place to relax and entertain.

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