Situated on the southern edge of metropolitan Sydney and backing on to the Royal National Park this Bundeena home is the embodiment of a modern renovation adding value, style, and a place fo family to come together. Homeowner Jen and her three children live in the home but recently welcomed Jen’s parents which was a defining moment in making the choice to extend and renovate the home. Originally a single-storey dwelling, the house has been transformed into a modern two-storey oasis where multi- generations can live comfortably. The new second level is practically self-contained, providing a space for Jen’s parents with bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry included to optimise privacy and provide the family with options for years to come.
Data from the Housing Industry Association indicates such renovations are surging. Australians desiring more functional, purposeful spaces which can accommodate dynamic families has driven the annual growth rate of alterations and additions valued over $10,000 to 111 per cent. 1 In the 2020/21 financial year alone there was $43.0 billion worth of renovation activity. “The façade is your first impression of a home, your welcome, and it’s incredibly important to get the scale and materiality right here to make sure you are building a home with an inviting space that homeowners want to be in,” says Graham Irving from Arctec Circle Building Design, who worked with Jen to ensure the design of the addition provided the look that appealed to her and updated the design of the original house.
For inspiration, Jen accessed designs online, visited display homes, and also viewed the surrounding neighbourhoods’ new builds so her new home would fit into the streetscape and softly blend into the bushland just metres from the back of the property. “Living on the edge of the Royal National Park, we didn’t want our home to stand out too much. Harmony with the natural setting we wake up to every day was important to us,” said Jen.
Giving the house a modern and warm vibe, a variety of exterior cladding profiles were chosen featuring a predominantly neutral palette that reflects the natural bushland surrounds. Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding fibre cement panels provided the consistent embedded texture look and was ideal as the dominant exterior building material making an impact with its clean lines and form to deliver a modern design aesthetic. With its vertical grooves, Axon™ Cladding has been used as a contrasting feature on the front of the house at the entrance and around the living room window and at the rear of the house where the home opens to decks on each level from which to enjoy the view of the National Park which stretches until the horizon.
Both cladding types appealed to Jen, but particularly, the Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding after it was suggested by her builder James Powditch from J.P. Build. According to Jen, she really liked the simple but styled textured panelling look provided by Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding. The home’s original exterior was rendered brick veneer and the decision was made to cover the original brickwork with the cladding to ensure a continuous look, offering a contemporary transformation of the house.
Using the cladding instead of building with brick and then rendering was a wise decision as not only would rendering have increased both the cost and build time of the renovation, but we have all the benefits of the cladding material.
The fire-rating of both cladding types was ideal for the home’s location. With their home located on the edge of the Royal National Park, we are in the worst bushfire category so knowing that Hardie™Fine Texture Cladding and Axon™ Cladding had a strong fire rating put my mind at ease,, according to Jen.
Windows also had to include shutters for the same fire safety reasons.
For a timeless look, Jen has chosen a minimalist colour palette, keeping it to two colours and choosing a low-sheen paint that works with the modern profile to give a contemporary matte look.
For this project, the Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding, which is shipped pre-primed and ready to paint, has been painted in a dark Taubmans’ Wallaby to match the Colorbond roof. Axon™ Cladding, with its striking vertical lines, colour contrasts with the rest of the build by being painted in Dulux’s Winter Fog.
While increasing square feet is an obvious benefit of any home addition, it should also be an opportunity to consider your block and how you live, to define the new space and redefine the entire home. This renovation has exceeded Jen’s expectations and she could never have imagined her vision for her home looking this good. The result is a stunning modern family home perfectly suited to the family’s lifestyle for many years to come.
To really appreciate the after, here's a reminder of the before.
Find out how to achieve a modern renovation for your home with James Hardie’s Renovation Guide https://www.jameshardie.com.au/renovationguidez.
Till next time... have you undertaken a renovation recently?
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