Space of the Week: Inside A Margaret River Luxury Granny Flat
With parents visiting for three months at a time, liveability was key in the design and build of this granny flat
Vanessa Walker
20 January 2020
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor.
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable spaces.
An oversized feature door leads into the generous living area
Photos by Pete Battye of Real Image Photography
Answers by Anita Revel, marketing manager of Leimac Building
Who stays here: Tony and his wife Mary
Location: Margaret River, Western Australia
Building purpose and size: A 70-square-metre one-bedroom, one-bathroom granny flat connected to the main house, which is owned by the couple’s daughter. The small space has high-quality finishes and outdoor entertaining areas to accommodate a home-away-from-home for the homeowner’s parents.
Approximate budget: $180,000
Photos by Pete Battye of Real Image Photography
Answers by Anita Revel, marketing manager of Leimac Building
Who stays here: Tony and his wife Mary
Location: Margaret River, Western Australia
Building purpose and size: A 70-square-metre one-bedroom, one-bathroom granny flat connected to the main house, which is owned by the couple’s daughter. The small space has high-quality finishes and outdoor entertaining areas to accommodate a home-away-from-home for the homeowner’s parents.
Approximate budget: $180,000
The north-facing windows allow the winter sun in to warm the polished-concrete floors in the living area, saving on heating bills.
Brief
Tony and Mary wanted a granny flat that utilised an existing brick wall and undercover barbecue area. This formed the basis for the drawings of the 70-square-metre granny flat. Entertaining is important to the couple so they wanted an up-spec build, with an entertainer’s kitchen and high-end finishes throughout.
The design incorporated a larger than normal living space. To facilitate this, it was decided to give up the second bedroom (making it a one-bedroom flat), and give the extra space to the open-plan living areas.
Brief
Tony and Mary wanted a granny flat that utilised an existing brick wall and undercover barbecue area. This formed the basis for the drawings of the 70-square-metre granny flat. Entertaining is important to the couple so they wanted an up-spec build, with an entertainer’s kitchen and high-end finishes throughout.
The design incorporated a larger than normal living space. To facilitate this, it was decided to give up the second bedroom (making it a one-bedroom flat), and give the extra space to the open-plan living areas.
To save space, the kitchen bench is incorporated into the custom-built dining table.
Their daughter’s block is large, immersed in nature, and was the perfect backdrop for a luxury granny flat. They also decided that investing the extra money into a quality build would let them enjoy the retirement lifestyle they had worked so hard for.
Curious if a granny flat would work on your site? Find an architect near you on Houzz to talk you through local planning requirements and your options
Their daughter’s block is large, immersed in nature, and was the perfect backdrop for a luxury granny flat. They also decided that investing the extra money into a quality build would let them enjoy the retirement lifestyle they had worked so hard for.
Curious if a granny flat would work on your site? Find an architect near you on Houzz to talk you through local planning requirements and your options
The layout shows how the granny flat, garage and main house are connected.
A hole was cut through the garage wall as a thoroughfare between the main house and granny flat.
Essential Questions to Ask Before You Build a Granny Flat
Essential Questions to Ask Before You Build a Granny Flat
Rationale for the flat
Tony and Mary travel from England twice a year to visit their daughter, her husband and their young family. They come for extended visits, up to three months at a time, but didn’t want to outstay their welcome in the main house while their daughter was busy raising two small children.
So, they decided to invest in a granny flat in their daughter’s back yard. This would give them independence during their visits, and the ability to entertain their Australian friends in their own space. It would also afford their daughter some privacy, as well as the freedom of in-house babysitting.
Windows: Jason Windows
Tony and Mary travel from England twice a year to visit their daughter, her husband and their young family. They come for extended visits, up to three months at a time, but didn’t want to outstay their welcome in the main house while their daughter was busy raising two small children.
So, they decided to invest in a granny flat in their daughter’s back yard. This would give them independence during their visits, and the ability to entertain their Australian friends in their own space. It would also afford their daughter some privacy, as well as the freedom of in-house babysitting.
Windows: Jason Windows
To create a luxurious and spacious flat for the homeowner’s visiting parents, the granny flat’s features include:
- A designer wood fire.
- Up-market finishings and solid timbers.
- A polished-concrete floor.
- A tailor-made kitchen bench and dining table.
- His-and-hers wardrobes in the bedroom.
- Ducted air-conditioning (even with an outlet to the bathroom).
Where is this flat in relation to the main residence?
It is adjoined, with a garage in between. It has its own outlook to the garden without a view of the main house.
There was an existing brick structure that saved some expense in the build. The build was designed based on the location of this existing structure.
It is adjoined, with a garage in between. It has its own outlook to the garden without a view of the main house.
There was an existing brick structure that saved some expense in the build. The build was designed based on the location of this existing structure.
The original brick structure on the left.
How long did the build take?
About four months. It took longer than usual because the client chose to build in brick, which entails a longer construction time than a framed build.
Traditional and Not-So-Traditional Granny Flats
About four months. It took longer than usual because the client chose to build in brick, which entails a longer construction time than a framed build.
Traditional and Not-So-Traditional Granny Flats
This room has sliding doors to the deck and backyard beyond.
The king-size bedroom, with his-and-her wardrobes.
The bathroom is also accessible from the bedroom.
Wall and floor tiles: Margaret River Decorator Centre; vanity: Reece
Wall and floor tiles: Margaret River Decorator Centre; vanity: Reece
The deck is lined with cedar and fixed with LED downlights for visibility and ambience.
The 3.6-metre-wide hardwood deck wraps around the two sides of the building to create an outdoor entertaining area.
Best of the Week: 30 Granny Flats and Other Backyard Beauties
Best of the Week: 30 Granny Flats and Other Backyard Beauties
Wide shallow steps ensure safety for the grandparents and grandchildren.
An outdoor dining setting is ready to go.
Your turn
What do you love about this granny flat? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
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What do you love about this granny flat? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
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Craving more great rooms? Take a look at this renovation Styled to Sell: A Chic Coastal Makeover of a Beach House
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I really like the combination of a high-quality standalone unit in such close proximity to the main family house. I'm concerned about the floor, though. Firstly, it looks cold to me - you'd want to have your slippers lined up beside the bed before you got up in the morning (or in the middle of the night). But then it would be dangerous to have loose rugs on a polished surface, whether you're young and fit or old and tottery. It'd be fine in summer, but even Margaret River has a winter of some kind - north-facing windows don't help much when it's cold and grey outside.
hi Debbie, when it comes time for you to plan your own build, we are more than happy to facilitate a ramp, and create a deck in the position you want. Every location has its own quirks and demands. This build responds to the owners' brief so they got exactly what they wanted, within BAL guidelines. :D
Jilly Possum, perhaps there is underfloor heating-? Your thouights are mine exactly-that whole unforgiving, hard, cold concrete floor thing-esp with babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers-urgh. . . Tho carpets can be affixed casually. I thought the ceiling looked a little low, (but probs fits with the standing buuilding, and the shiny-shoe robes doors im unsympatico with, ditto the ensuite layout-but as the Leimac say- its the brief.