Houzz Tour: Versatility Rules in a Reconfigured Home for Two
Changing the orientation of an old cottage gave it a new lease on life – and new owners who love living there
Joanna Tovia
13 September 2018
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Nathaniel Clarke and Pamela Medlen were out walking their dogs with houses on their mind when they stumbled upon the Perth property they now call home. The 1960s house had two bedrooms and a study, but lacked the light, space and functionality they needed. They knew it had potential, however, and the home has been extensively renovated and extended to suit their love of cooking, gardening and entertaining – despite its steep site.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Sound engineer Nathaniel Clarke and TV news presenter Pamela Medlen, and their two beagles
Location: Bayswater, Perth
Size: Original house, 87 square metres; addition, 136 square metres; land, 560 square metres
Architect: TCR Design Group
Builder: Bacic Group
Who lives here: Sound engineer Nathaniel Clarke and TV news presenter Pamela Medlen, and their two beagles
Location: Bayswater, Perth
Size: Original house, 87 square metres; addition, 136 square metres; land, 560 square metres
Architect: TCR Design Group
Builder: Bacic Group
The original 1960s house had several things going for it, despite its flaws – it was double brick, had jarrah floors and, most important, had major potential.
On the downside, the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house had no entryway, no connection to the outdoors for entertaining purposes, and the kitchen was too small. Clarke and Medlen love entertaining, so things definitely had to change. The other significant drawback was that the north-facing walls were taken up by the bathroom and laundry, dramatically reducing the opportunity for natural light and winter warmth to enter the home.
On the downside, the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house had no entryway, no connection to the outdoors for entertaining purposes, and the kitchen was too small. Clarke and Medlen love entertaining, so things definitely had to change. The other significant drawback was that the north-facing walls were taken up by the bathroom and laundry, dramatically reducing the opportunity for natural light and winter warmth to enter the home.
TCR Design Group director and principal architect Aaron King proposed cutting off the back of the brick cottage and extending out and down to the rear laneway to make full use of the site and reorient the home. The extension added a master bedroom, living/dining area, kitchen, powder room, garage and new entrance.
The majority of the original house remained after the renovation, aside from one bedroom being demolished to make way for the connection between the two buildings.
“The design required the ability to absorb the needs of a professional couple with two dogs who love sharing their house and entertaining, but also required a home that provides a sanctuary from busy professional lives,” King says.
The majority of the original house remained after the renovation, aside from one bedroom being demolished to make way for the connection between the two buildings.
“The design required the ability to absorb the needs of a professional couple with two dogs who love sharing their house and entertaining, but also required a home that provides a sanctuary from busy professional lives,” King says.
King designed the new interior spaces to connect to different levels of courtyards. “Glass to the northern elevations bathes the house in natural light,” he says. The home is now a relaxing inner-city sanctuary, with blurred boundaries between inside and out.
Although the owners love colour, the materials palette itself is restrained. Warm timber tones, dark honed concrete and white walls in Dulux ‘Natural White’ create a neutral backdrop for the couple’s art and colourful rugs.
Rug: Temple Rugs
Rug: Temple Rugs
The plasterboard walls feature a flush skirting detail in line with the mid-century aesthetic Clarke and Medlen love. The floors are honed, burnished concrete, created by adding black oxide to the mix before pouring.
Cushions: Asbury Park Agency
Cushions: Asbury Park Agency
The extension is passive solar by design, and has underfloor heating. The walls and roof are highly insulated to contain the heat (and keep it out in summer).
The sliding wall visible here is a creative design concept that defines the public and private areas and reflects the owners’ quirky side. When the 2.4-metre-wide panel is pushed to the south, it conceals a built-in bar and opens up the entry to the bedroom. When the sliding panel is moved over to the other side, it conceals the master bedroom and reveals the built-in bar.
Gubi chairs: Ultimo; Custom ‘Untold’ dining table: Jack Flanagan
Gubi chairs: Ultimo; Custom ‘Untold’ dining table: Jack Flanagan
“The design has an element of fun,” says King. “When entertaining, the private spaces can be closed off with a sense of theatre. The design provides creative solutions that also have practical functions.”
Various panels on the dining room cabinet open to provide storage, and the piece adds a sculptural element to the space.
Arlequin C cabinet: Emmemobili
Arlequin C cabinet: Emmemobili
As well as creating a liveable and enjoyable home suitable for entertaining, transforming the dysfunctional layout of the original house also created future earnings potential. The home can be split into two separate apartments if required, allowing it to be occupied by guests for extended periods or for one area to be rented out on Airbnb without overlap.
Arketipo Sofa: Ultimo; Johnny Romeo art: Linton and Kay Galleries
Arketipo Sofa: Ultimo; Johnny Romeo art: Linton and Kay Galleries
The extension is the unshaded section to the right of the original home.
The clients requested that their new kitchen be bathed in natural light, as well as being highly functional and adaptable to either intimate cooking for two or entertaining 20 dinner guests.
Godfrey copper pendants: Lightly; Eames stools: Living Edge
Godfrey copper pendants: Lightly; Eames stools: Living Edge
The copper pot in the powder room ties in with the kitchen pendants in the adjoining room.
The new master bedroom flows on from the kitchen/living/dining area, the bold artwork echoing the style on display in the rest of the house. The north-facing room looks out to one of the home’s staggered courtyards.
As in the living areas, the heroes of the couple’s bedroom are bold, colourful artworks.
Oda Light-Pulpo lamp: Ultimo; bedding: Pure Linen; Habibi side table: Living Edge
Oda Light-Pulpo lamp: Ultimo; bedding: Pure Linen; Habibi side table: Living Edge
Strategically placed windows invite the outside in to an ensuite that’s both sophisticated and hard wearing. The joinery and Smartstone vanity tops match the kitchen, built-in bar and powder rooms, creating a sense of synergy.
Along with clerestory windows, the bathroom is bathed in natural light courtesy of a large picture window.
Bath: Sea of White; tapware: Kaldewei
Bath: Sea of White; tapware: Kaldewei
The Duragroove fibre cement exterior cladding is painted in Dulux ‘Luck’, and the decking is spotted gum. Two entertaining terraces are linked together with a middle garden terrace, the staggered design responding to the sloping site. The lower terrace, with its sunken built-in seating, serves as a useful gathering spot for guests.
The owners use the upper terrace as a private sanctuary, but it is also large enough to host dinner parties under the wisteria-covered pergola.
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More
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The creative and thoughtful use of shape and colour is impressive - the curved table legs and kitchen bench chairs, the fascinating cabinet, the curved cactus - even the sunken garden includes curves and straight lines. This is such a clever and stylish renovation - wonderful!
Great - actual authentic art works and decor that does not look blandly 'styled'.
Love the built-in bar and the garden/courtyard.