From Drab to Fab: How a Modern Pavilion Transformed a 1990s Home
Gutting this five-bedroom 1990s home, and giving it a new layout and indoor-outdoor flow brought it right up to date
Georgia Madden
31 May 2019
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, building designer Dylan Barber, director at Dylan Barber Building Design, reveals how he took a dated and uninspiring 1990s five-bedroom, three-bathroom brick house and turned it into a light-filled, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a modern, resort-like feel… all without touching the original footprint.
Images by Chrissie Francis Photography
Answers by Dylan Barber at Dylan Barber Building Design
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Moolap, Victoria
Size: 320 square metres (no change after works)
Building designer: Dylan Barber Building Design
Builder: Clark Homes
Stylist: Mel Wilson at Mel Wilson Interiors
Structural engineer: Intrax Engineering
Energy raters: EnergyLab
Answers by Dylan Barber at Dylan Barber Building Design
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Moolap, Victoria
Size: 320 square metres (no change after works)
Building designer: Dylan Barber Building Design
Builder: Clark Homes
Stylist: Mel Wilson at Mel Wilson Interiors
Structural engineer: Intrax Engineering
Energy raters: EnergyLab
Gained
The entire house was reconfigured to include:
The entire house was reconfigured to include:
- Contemporary living space.
- Kitchen, meals and living areas.
- A walk-in pantry.
- Four bedrooms.
- A music room.
- A new bathroom.
- A new powder room.
- A new laundry.
- A large deck and covered outdoor space.
The floor plan after works
The exterior before works
What was the house like originally?
The original house was built by a volume builder in the 1990s. It was set on five acres of tree-lined, semi-rural land. The house featured red-brick cladding, iron roofing and a verandah around its perimeter.
What was the house like originally?
The original house was built by a volume builder in the 1990s. It was set on five acres of tree-lined, semi-rural land. The house featured red-brick cladding, iron roofing and a verandah around its perimeter.
Painting by Prudence Caroline
What was your brief?
To improve the orientation of the living zone and provide a new ‘pavilion-style look’, with large sliding doors that open onto an entertaining space and a future pool area.
To reconfigure the layout of the house to provide the following:
What was your brief?
To improve the orientation of the living zone and provide a new ‘pavilion-style look’, with large sliding doors that open onto an entertaining space and a future pool area.
To reconfigure the layout of the house to provide the following:
- Large open-plan living area.
- Kitchen with butler’s pantry.
- Laundry.
- Reduce the number of bedrooms from five to four.
- A master suite with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
- Music room.
- Powder room.
- A functional bathroom that allowed two people to use the vanity space at once.
- Internal access from the garage.
What exactly did you do?
- Retained the existing footprint of the house.
- Gutted the interior.
- Completely remodelled the interior and updated the layout for modern living, with a new open-plan living area, kitchen, laundry, bedrooms, bathrooms and a powder room.
- Added a skillion roof to the new living area to draw in the light and create a sense of openness.
- Put in new north-facing windows and sliding doors to further boost natural light and create a smoother indoor-outdoor connection.
- Put in a new, covered deck and pavilion.
- Retained sections of brick in the new pavilion to connect it with the original part of the house.
What problem or constraint did this project address?
Lack of solar access to the living zone was the major problem due to a south-facing aspect and low ceiling heights. This made the living area feel dull and confined.
The owners requested a covered outdoor space to the northern side of the new pavilion so the design had to consider how this would affect solar access to the living space.
The brief also dictated that the new design be limited to the existing footprint of the dwelling.
Lack of solar access to the living zone was the major problem due to a south-facing aspect and low ceiling heights. This made the living area feel dull and confined.
The owners requested a covered outdoor space to the northern side of the new pavilion so the design had to consider how this would affect solar access to the living space.
The brief also dictated that the new design be limited to the existing footprint of the dwelling.
How does the new work draw in the light?
We were able to create a large, new living space that takes full advantage of the sun and views across the rural landscape by demolishing internal walls that separated the living zone and three other northern rooms.
A new skillion roof with raked ceilings delivers a more spacious, light-filled living area.
The large verandah was designed at a height and angle that allows the winter sun to filter inside, while blocking out the high summer sun.
We were able to create a large, new living space that takes full advantage of the sun and views across the rural landscape by demolishing internal walls that separated the living zone and three other northern rooms.
A new skillion roof with raked ceilings delivers a more spacious, light-filled living area.
The large verandah was designed at a height and angle that allows the winter sun to filter inside, while blocking out the high summer sun.
How would you describe the revamped living area?
The new pavilion structure provides a spacious, light-filled zone for modern living and entertaining in style.
Browse more contemporary, combined kitchen/dining/living areas
The new pavilion structure provides a spacious, light-filled zone for modern living and entertaining in style.
Browse more contemporary, combined kitchen/dining/living areas
How does the new pavilion complement or contrast with the original home?
The new structure sits boldly against the existing dwelling, while drawing on some elements of the original in a contemporary way. A larger verandah wraps around the new pavilion structure, following on from where the existing verandah begins. The retention of the existing red brick within the new pavilion facade provides a visual connection between the new and old.
The new structure sits boldly against the existing dwelling, while drawing on some elements of the original in a contemporary way. A larger verandah wraps around the new pavilion structure, following on from where the existing verandah begins. The retention of the existing red brick within the new pavilion facade provides a visual connection between the new and old.
The new master ensuite
What was the budget?
Approximately $400,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
The owners engaged their own builder, but I’d assume that most of the budget went on building the new pavilion structure.
What was the budget?
Approximately $400,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
The owners engaged their own builder, but I’d assume that most of the budget went on building the new pavilion structure.
The new master ensuite
What challenges did you have to work around during this project?
The design came together relatively swiftly with the main challenges being to reduce the amount of potential demolition, while providing a functional layout. We had to consider the location of the existing plumbing when locating new wet areas due to a concrete footing system. We also had to factor in the position of the original room when designing the new pavilion.
What challenges did you have to work around during this project?
The design came together relatively swiftly with the main challenges being to reduce the amount of potential demolition, while providing a functional layout. We had to consider the location of the existing plumbing when locating new wet areas due to a concrete footing system. We also had to factor in the position of the original room when designing the new pavilion.
What are the key features of this project?
Why do you think this home works so well?
The reconfiguration brings new life to the original home. It is now functional, spacious and takes full advantage of the sun.
- Full-height, north-facing doors blur the line between inside and out.
- The internal raked ceilings continue outside.
- Timber lining to the underside of the new verandahs brings warmth and a natural feel.
- Red brick cladding around the new pavilion structure creates a sense of connection with the original part of the home.
Why do you think this home works so well?
The reconfiguration brings new life to the original home. It is now functional, spacious and takes full advantage of the sun.
Interior materials palette
Interior fixtures and fittings
- Caesarstone benchtop in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Two-pack polyurethane painted cabinetry doors with a flush finish in the kitchen.
- Dulux Lexicon Half on interior walls.
Interior fixtures and fittings
- Posh Solus freestanding bathtub in the ensuite.
- Venice 700 solid surface basin.
- Milli Axon wall basin mixer tap set.
- Rinnai 950 gas fireplace.
Exterior materials palette
Your turn
Has this clever redesign given you some ideas for your own renovation? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more renovating ideas? Don’t miss this Houzz Tour: A Concrete House Built to Stand the Test of Time
- Silvertop ash to decking, ceiling lining and screening.
- James Hardie Axon cladding and Matrix cladding (both painted in Dulux Domino).
- Rylock window and doors.
- Colorbond in Monument corrugated-iron roofing.
Your turn
Has this clever redesign given you some ideas for your own renovation? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more renovating ideas? Don’t miss this Houzz Tour: A Concrete House Built to Stand the Test of Time
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Does a skillion roof cost a Skillion Dollars haha . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you
so many of these 80’s and 90’s houses are solid but so dark and daggy. Good to show what can be done even if it took a lot of work and bid $
Not sure if I ask the question here, but can I find out how much the cabinetry around the tv and fireplace cost?