| | Twice
the fun
This
renovation resulted in a completely rejuvenated house with twice the living space
and a popular outdoor entertaining area
According
to Nic Owen, the client’s brief originally asked only for the replacement
of rotting windows and doors at the rear of the house.
“This
quickly evolved into renovating and extending the family room and bedroom, creating
a large pergola, and a deck which wraps around a much-loved birch tree,”
he explained. “The final brief included built-in barbecue facilities and
clever integrated storage spaces throughout.”
According
to Owen, before the renovations the rear of the house consisted of a tired, low-quality,
rotting, early-‘80s timber skillion, which was tacked onto the rear of a
good-condition brick-and-tile single-storey Californian Bungalow house.
“Some
of the special design considerations included a large, transparent gabled roof
for the outdoor space, which was designed to act as a cover from the weather.
The new roof enables light to filter through, catch the natural breezes, and hide
certain less-desirable elements of the existing rear skillion (and cat enclosure
on the existing roof) in a cost-efficient manner.
“The
deck as an extension to the living space was designed to fit around a prized birch
tree. The integrated tree became a focal point while also creating a good relationship
with the landscaped garden. This outside living room also features a joinery unit
that encloses a barbecue any chef would be proud of.
“Another
design feature is the creation of a flexible floor space in the extended family
room. At present, an alcove of the room is used as an open-plan bedroom which
overlooks the glass doors and rear garden. The built-in storage and wardrobes
are unobtrusive and hidden to enable the function of the room to be adapted if
ever needed. The clients love it as it is flexible and furniture and function
can be moved around as needed.
“The
design was inspired by the simple and cost-efficient gable forms of the existing
building while also making the most of the beautiful trees and garden.
“My
favourite part of the renovated space is the new ‘outdoor room’ (deck
with pergola over), which offers inside comforts (barbecue, seating, audio and
lighting) with the beauty of the outdoors. The glass doors and windows offer a
180-degree view of the landscaped garden.
“An
unusual challenge came in the form of a cat named Harvey! The owner has a cat
that enjoys roaming about in a cat run/cage that runs up the south of the building
and onto the roof. This cage had to be retained and hidden from the rear garden.
The cat flap door also had to be hidden from view in the family room. The large,
transparent gabled roof pergola hides the cat cage, while the cat flap door >>
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