Project Of The Week
Renovating
Project of the Week: A Family-Friendly Extension to a Period Home
Architect Vanessa Wegner transformed her 3-bedroom Federation home with flexible spaces and enviable indoor-outdoor flow
In this new Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, architect Vanessa Wegner takes us through the transformation of her Gladesville family home.
What was the house like originally?
A single-storey Federation house in a conservation area with three bedrooms, one bathroom and two living areas. The house had a 1980s rear extension, which we removed.
A single-storey Federation house in a conservation area with three bedrooms, one bathroom and two living areas. The house had a 1980s rear extension, which we removed.
The existing brickwork and Federation features were all in good condition.
And the site?
A level site with a north-facing rear yard featuring beautiful, mature crepe myrtle, jacaranda and magnolia trees.
A level site with a north-facing rear yard featuring beautiful, mature crepe myrtle, jacaranda and magnolia trees.
What exactly did you do?
- Increased the size of the house from 175 square metres to 190 square metres.
- Transformed the darkest bedroom in the house into an ensuite and wardrobe for the master bedroom.
- Renovated the original bathroom and added a laundry.
- Transformed an unused living room into a bedroom.
- Added a studio at the rear.
- Put in a new deck that wraps around the garden and links the buildings together.
- Added built-in storage to the kitchen, bedrooms and laundry. Also a storage area under the house.
- Installed a wood-burning Jetmaster fireplace in the living room.
Where did most of the $500,000 budget go?
On labour for the rear renovation, the concrete slab, cedar ceilings, timber veneer to kitchen cupboards, and the marble benchtop.
On labour for the rear renovation, the concrete slab, cedar ceilings, timber veneer to kitchen cupboards, and the marble benchtop.
What were your must-haves?
We wanted to create a warm, contemporary home with a connection to the garden. We wanted to keep it single-storey to save on costs and keep the living areas all on one level. We also wanted to add a studio to the rear of the house that would make for an adaptable space.
We wanted to create a warm, contemporary home with a connection to the garden. We wanted to keep it single-storey to save on costs and keep the living areas all on one level. We also wanted to add a studio to the rear of the house that would make for an adaptable space.
What was the biggest challenge?
Getting it through council.
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Getting it through council.
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How does the new work co-exist with the original home?
The modern addition complements the original home by contrasting with its Federation style. The new timber ceiling at the end of the old hallway signals your arrival at the new open-plan living area.
See more gorgeous gardens
The modern addition complements the original home by contrasting with its Federation style. The new timber ceiling at the end of the old hallway signals your arrival at the new open-plan living area.
See more gorgeous gardens
What elements did you incorporate to give it a casual, family-friendly feel?
- Large timber sliding doors in the living room open up the space to the garden, creating a great social space – we spend most of our time there.
- We can easily cosy up the space in winter by drawing the curtains and lighting the fire.
- The concrete floor helps keep the home a comfortable temperature. In winter, it soaks up the northern sun and heats the space until early evening, and in summer it feels cool underfoot.
- The kitchen island bench acts as a gathering space.
- Robust, kid-friendly finishes (great when you have kids who enjoy playing soccer and scootering in the house!).
- No unused spaces.
What was your underlying philosophy when designing this home?
A family house does not need to be huge to accommodate a family. This space, while fairly compact, works well as the spaces are connected so that no-one is too far from each other, but can easily be separated when required.
The connection to the outdoor space is great and is such an important feature when you live in Sydney’s gorgeous climate.
A family house does not need to be huge to accommodate a family. This space, while fairly compact, works well as the spaces are connected so that no-one is too far from each other, but can easily be separated when required.
The connection to the outdoor space is great and is such an important feature when you live in Sydney’s gorgeous climate.
Why do you think it works so well?
It is a simple design, yet highly detailed. A strong use of timber in the design allows the house to feel warm and comfortable and not too stark. The living-kitchen area is one big space that is subtly divided with the use of a timber joinery wall and a lowered ceiling over the dining area.
The studio and timber deck that run around the backyard link all the spaces together and create a courtyard garden.
It is a simple design, yet highly detailed. A strong use of timber in the design allows the house to feel warm and comfortable and not too stark. The living-kitchen area is one big space that is subtly divided with the use of a timber joinery wall and a lowered ceiling over the dining area.
The studio and timber deck that run around the backyard link all the spaces together and create a courtyard garden.
Key features
- Heated concrete floor.
- Wood-burning fireplace.
- Lots of built-in storage.
- Appropriate shading to north-facing windows.
- Courtyard garden.
Tell us
What do you love about this house? Tell us why in the Comments. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join the conversation.
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Find an architect near you
What do you love about this house? Tell us why in the Comments. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join the conversation.
More
Find an architect near you
Answers by architect Vanessa Wegner
Who lives here: Me, my husband Martin and our children William and Charlie
Location: Gladesville, NSW
Original size: 175 square metres
Size after extension: 190 square metres, plus a new 40-square-metre studio at the rear
Gained: A new open-plan living room-kitchen-diner, a renovated master bedroom with new ensuite and robe, a renovated family bathroom with a new laundry, and a studio in the garden.
Budget: $500,000
Builder: Glenn Robinson at Total Project Control
Engineer: Brent Guest a BVG Consultants