Houzz Tour: The Unbelievable Outcome of a Cosmetic Makeover
Benedict Design hits refresh on a dated 1980s brick house, transforming it into a light, bright and open family home
Rebecca Gross
13 February 2019
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Some renovations make it hard to believe it’s really the same house, before and after. This is certainly one of those. Benedict Design transformed a poorly orientated brick house with small openings into a light and spacious home that connects to the garden. “Constructed in the early 1980s in a typical project-home style, the house was badly in need of a contemporary refresh,” says Ben Johnson of Benedict Design. “Good bones and great views laid the foundation for an amazing transformation, but looking back at old photos it’s hard to imagine you are in the same house.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two young children
Location: Meroo Meadow, NSW
Size: 215 square metres, four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Budget: About $650,000
Designer: Benedict Design
The owners spent two years looking to buy a small working farm, wanting to make a lifestyle and career change. Visiting the children’s grandparents one day, they looked at the neighbouring property, a deceased estate. The site, on a small farm on the NSW South Coast, had a great location, productive soil and a spectacular outlook towards Cambewarra Mountain. The house, however, was dated and poorly designed. It had a low-set verandah and small openings that offered limited views. Nevertheless, the clients purchased the house and engaged Benedict Design to improve it.
Who lives here: A family with two young children
Location: Meroo Meadow, NSW
Size: 215 square metres, four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Budget: About $650,000
Designer: Benedict Design
The owners spent two years looking to buy a small working farm, wanting to make a lifestyle and career change. Visiting the children’s grandparents one day, they looked at the neighbouring property, a deceased estate. The site, on a small farm on the NSW South Coast, had a great location, productive soil and a spectacular outlook towards Cambewarra Mountain. The house, however, was dated and poorly designed. It had a low-set verandah and small openings that offered limited views. Nevertheless, the clients purchased the house and engaged Benedict Design to improve it.
“The overarching idea was to utilise as much of the existing building as possible and work within that envelope to reinvent the home to suit the young family and their lifestyle,” says Johnson. “This was both a cost and sustainability consideration. The existing footprint was therefore kept and the spaces within had to better connect with their surrounds.”
Front door painted in Golden Marguerite gloss: Dulux; Shadowclad Natural Groove exterior cladding: Carter Holt Harvey; Custom orb roofing and half-round gutters in Monument: Colorbond
Front door painted in Golden Marguerite gloss: Dulux; Shadowclad Natural Groove exterior cladding: Carter Holt Harvey; Custom orb roofing and half-round gutters in Monument: Colorbond
Johnson retained the structure and footprint of the house, and opened up the internal and external connections for light, space and views. The general layout of the house has been retained with the kitchen, living and dining areas in the centre of the house opening to a rear balcony.
The existing attached garage was repurposed into a master bedroom suite and home office. Located on one side of the living area, it’s separated from the children’s bedrooms and guest bedroom at the other end of the house. A mud room, entered via the deck, is also included to provide a functional entry after farm work and garden play.
The existing attached garage was repurposed into a master bedroom suite and home office. Located on one side of the living area, it’s separated from the children’s bedrooms and guest bedroom at the other end of the house. A mud room, entered via the deck, is also included to provide a functional entry after farm work and garden play.
The original entrance was concealed under a low-slung porch roof and felt lost in the long facade of the building.
Johnson created a clear entry point with a bright yellow door that also reflects the design approach throughout. Dark-coloured vertical cladding contrasts with the yellow and conceals much of the brickwork. The owners didn’t want to hide all of the home’s past, so exposed sections of brick were retained around the front door and rear porch.
The dark cladding wraps into the entrance and extends through the interior of the house out to the rear deck. “This has the effect of drawing you in and adds some drama to the experience,” says Johnson.
Johnson created a clear entry point with a bright yellow door that also reflects the design approach throughout. Dark-coloured vertical cladding contrasts with the yellow and conceals much of the brickwork. The owners didn’t want to hide all of the home’s past, so exposed sections of brick were retained around the front door and rear porch.
The dark cladding wraps into the entrance and extends through the interior of the house out to the rear deck. “This has the effect of drawing you in and adds some drama to the experience,” says Johnson.
The original facade before works
The original entrance before works
The existing house had brown-brick interior walls with arches for doorways and internal windows.
Johnson swapped the arches and multiple shades of brown for clean lines and a fresh palette of neutral tones, blonde timbers and yellow accents. “Existing spaces were given new life to better reflect the young family’s needs and lifestyle,” says Johnson. “This, in combination with new [external] windows, roofing and the porch structure, dramatically altered the building’s appearance into a modern and welcoming family home.”
Painting and bagging the brick lightened and brightened the interior, while providing texture and character and maintaining the benefits of thermal mass.
The existing house didn’t have insulation in the walls, which was remedied during construction. Sarking, or roof insulation, was also added under the new roof sheeting, and the owners say they have noticed a huge difference in the quality of the indoor environment and the ability to control the temperature.
The existing house didn’t have insulation in the walls, which was remedied during construction. Sarking, or roof insulation, was also added under the new roof sheeting, and the owners say they have noticed a huge difference in the quality of the indoor environment and the ability to control the temperature.
The owners wanted better connected living spaces, improved natural light and views of the garden and surrounding landscape. A large wall of glazing brings daylight into the living areas and allows for views towards the front of the property.
A timber-batten screen and double-sided fireplace replace the internal brick wall and allow light and sightlines between the living area and kitchen. The new fireplace with its tiled-flue enclosure is the central focus of the living space, with the black-pigmented concrete hearth and plinth, which provide storage and display space.
Double-sided wood fireplace (CDF800L): Chazelles Fireplaces; Rombini by Mutina tiles: Di Lorenzo; Tasmanian-oak timber screen; blackbutt floating floor with satin finish
“Working with a modest budget, we needed to be innovative in our approach to the living areas to maximise connection, light and the feeling of space,” says Johnson. “Several design strategies were employed, including larger 2.4-metre-high doors, larger internal openings and rationalisation of the circulation through the house.”
Johnson removed the low ceilings in the dining and kitchen area to expose the trusses and raked roof. He lined the underside of the roof with v-joint cladding and added three large skylights. The lining and trusses are painted white to enhance the sense of light and volume, having an uplifting effect on the entire living area.
The operable skylights not only provide more natural light but also improve cross ventilation, allowing hot air to escape when opened.
The operable skylights not only provide more natural light but also improve cross ventilation, allowing hot air to escape when opened.
Larger expanses of glazing installed along the northern wall open the dining area to the rear verandah and garden, strengthening the interior connection to the landscape. “You can now feel and see the day’s weather, which was important to the owners,” says Johnson.
The new doors and windows have semi-commercial frames and are fitted with low-e glazing to keep the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
“The area is known for big storms that roll in from the coast, so in addition to improving the views and amenity, the owners wanted a kitchen where they could see and experience the weather,” says Johnson.
Demolishing the wall between the dining room and kitchen created one larger open space, and dark joinery provides a counterpoint to the light, bright interior, with pops of yellow continuing the vibrant tone established at the front door.
Kitchen joinery and benchtop: Ocean Kitchens; polyurethane satin finish in Nightsky: Dulux; Negro Tebas benchtop with suede finish: Silestone; Wall light: West Elm
Kitchen joinery and benchtop: Ocean Kitchens; polyurethane satin finish in Nightsky: Dulux; Negro Tebas benchtop with suede finish: Silestone; Wall light: West Elm
The kitchen’s rear wall has been pushed north to create more floor and bench space. Large north-facing windows offer more light and views, and glass doors open directly to the verandah.
Outside the kitchen, old concrete troughs have been set on custom-made frames to provide a herb garden within arm’s reach of the kitchen.
The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, and glass doors provide direct access to a more private verandah (separated from the larger deck by the kitchen).
Ceramic hexagon mosaic tiles in antique grey: Tiles Direct
The children’s bathroom has been consolidated into one space and is designed to be light, simple and robust. “A larger window was installed so that when the kids aren’t using the bath, the parents can soak and enjoy the view,” says Johnson.
The original house had a shallow north-facing rear verandah that extended the length of the house.
Johnson retained the verandah and extended it further north alongside the dining room. A higher roof allows more natural light to filter inside and a retractable shade sail provides sun control and enables the outdoor space to be used year-round.
Custom-made shaderunner in Weather Max fabric and Sandstone Heather colour: Aalta; Blackbutt timber decking
Custom-made shaderunner in Weather Max fabric and Sandstone Heather colour: Aalta; Blackbutt timber decking
“The fact that we have completely changed the look, feel, functionality and connection of the home to its surrounds is fantastic,” says Johnson. “When the owners moved back in they felt like they were visiting a beautiful holiday house and it took some time to realise this was now their home.”
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More
Craving more amazing home transformations? Don’t miss out on this Houzz Tour: A Sandstone Worker’s Cottage Balances Old and New
Tell us
What do you love most about this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments, save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more amazing home transformations? Don’t miss out on this Houzz Tour: A Sandstone Worker’s Cottage Balances Old and New
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wow. wow. wow! what a beautiful 'simple' make over! I am stunned.
I love the idea of working with the shell/what is there/reducing the footprint and the architects did an amazing job to give it a new feel. It became a truly gorgeous home. Very inspiring.
A truly amazing transformation....love it all!!!!
Love this front door, it’s been our inspiration photo for our new build,