In 2022 the Clients of a 60’s brick veneer home made the start on a renovation project to make their home more comfortable, functional and enjoyable. The brief included making the living area brighter, more open and connecting it to the back yard. The thermal performance of the house was cold in winter but the family were relatively comfortable in summer. Practical solutions to improve the energy efficiency of the house included installing wall insulation, upgrading windows and improving cross-flow ventilation.
The kitchen lay in between the living room and rear deck, and was more of a thoroughfare than an efficient work space. The kitchen fit-out also needed upgrading and potential relocation needed to be considered to allow for other project requirements.
Previous House
New House
The house roof extended over part of the rear deck, separating the rumpus room from the main house. By enclosing this space, the Owners conceived that they could have a new second lounge/study area, and the rumpus become a 4th bedroom/family room with ensuite for guests.
Previous Rumpus, New 4th Bedroom/Family Room & Ensuite
In this family home better use of space in the utility areas was sought. The original separated bathroom, toilet & shower rooms (and the laundry) needed reconfiguration to be functional and enjoyable spaces to use.
The new bathroom, with a separate shower & toilet room, allows the family members to use both spaces simultaneously, whilst maintaining some privacy.
New bathroom & shower/toilet room
The original single-glazed, aluminium frame windows were starting to show signs of wear and contributed a good deal to heat loss in winter.
New and replacement windows, and new glazed doors, are all high-performing double-glazing in composite frames from Miglas, with beautiful hardwood inside and aluminium outside for durability & low-maintenance.
MCL Constructions, working together with Miglas, were able to replace corner windows seamlessly, and infill existing openings in the external brick veneer to suit the new doors & windows.
Previous dining window / New kitchen window
For the laundry & kitchen cabinetry the Owner put time & effort in to refining the layout, ensuring the cabinetry suited their preferences and made good use of space.
The refurbishment of the deck and new connection from the dining and study spaces, makes the outdoor space more inviting and usable.
New fascia, gutters and downpipes replace the old, to improve stormwater drainage. Now connected to a tank on the side of the house for watering the front garden, and tanks under the deck for watering the back garden.
Future projects to the backyard and driveway were laid out in the concept design, to ensure they were considered with the current works. These future projects, along with other home improvements such as adding a solar system, are to be completed later by the Clients. By including all the works on a concept plan, the bigger picture can be examined.
Previous Deck
New Deck
Re-configuring the kitchen, dining and lounge spaces, together with the new sliding door to the deck, has enabled a much more inviting and practical floor layout whilst keeping the areas relatively separate and homely.
Through a holistic lens, the interconnection and flow between rooms and outdoors could be examined from different angles. A functional and pleasing design results, whilst keeping in mind future projects, changing living arrangements and budget expectations.
It was a pleasure to work with Stella, Carsten & family on their project, helping them achieve a home that is well suited to their lifestyle and able to be enjoyed. MCL Constructions has done a fine job in delivering the design as intended.
