Photography: John Downs
It takes optimism, hard work and a keen eye to see the potential of a run-down house but these homeowners recognised a hidden gem in this tired, lacklustre dwelling and set about breathing new life into it.
Leaving the essentials of the structure intact and retaining details such as classic batten-and-board facias and an elegant bay window on the second floor, lots of paint and a complete rework of the ground floor layout transformed this charming, yet neglected house into a family oasis with some serious kerb appeal. Here’s how it was achieved.
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Garage removal
The old garage was removed to make way for extra living space downstairs and a new garage was erected on the other side, leaving a proper yard and the opportunity to enhance the front entrance of the dwelling and celebrate its architectural heritage. New ground-floor windows were installed with weatherboard detailing to match those on the second floor.
While the new staircase to the front door remained in essentially the same position, a landing was added and the run-down awning that had seen better days was removed to reveal and extend the front facade of the building.
The driveway that was cluttering the front yard was also removed and replaced with lush turf that no longer detracts from the entrance to the home. Inside, the space downstairs was reimagined within the same footprint to incorporate an open-plan layout and extend to produce a spacious indoor-outdoor living zone at the rear of the home.
The original character of the home was retained, now celebrated in coastal blues and accented with fresh white paint on the window frames, latticework and staircase. New grass was laid and a paved walkway was introduced to create a defined entrance, leading up to the brightly painted new stairs. A white picket fence is the pièce de résistance for what is now a charming coastal abode.
Backyard exterior makeover
In the backyard, the classic Hills Hoist clothesline and the tired lawn were ripped up to create space for a generous inground pool. A bank of new large sliding doors was the perfect makeover at ground level to encourage indoor-outdoor entertaining – now a breeze – while the glass fence beautifully integrates the pool seamlessly into the design.
