Natural Beauty: A Characterful Extension to a Classic Home
Honesty in materials and the odd playful touch shaped this new extension to a delightful heritage villa
Georgia Madden
15 April 2021
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, we speak to Hamish Villis, builder and director at Build Theory, and Tessia Manuele, interior designer and principal at Tessia Interior Design. Together they share the journey of extending and opening up a dark and poky heritage villa for a young family in Adelaide, SA.
Images by Christopher Morrison
Answers by Hamish Villis, builder and director at Build Theory; and Tessia Manuele, interior designer and principal at Tessia Interior Design
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Black Forest, SA
Budget: Around $400,000 to $450,000
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Four bedrooms, one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Original size of the house: Around 200 square metres
Size after works: Around 250 square metres
Architect: Design MC
Builder: Hamish Villis at Build Theory
Interior designer and stylist: Tessia Manuele at Tessia Interior Design
Answers by Hamish Villis, builder and director at Build Theory; and Tessia Manuele, interior designer and principal at Tessia Interior Design
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Black Forest, SA
Budget: Around $400,000 to $450,000
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Four bedrooms, one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Original size of the house: Around 200 square metres
Size after works: Around 250 square metres
Architect: Design MC
Builder: Hamish Villis at Build Theory
Interior designer and stylist: Tessia Manuele at Tessia Interior Design
Describe the house
Villis says: It’s a single-storey, double-brick villa with a stone facade. We’re unsure of the exact build date but it was advertised as 1890s when the client bought it.
What condition was it in when you came onboard?
The house had a three-part rear extension done over the past 130 or so years that was in poor condition and didn’t suit the client’s needs.
We kept the four bedrooms in the original part of the house, removed the three-part extension and added a new bright and open extension.
Villis says: It’s a single-storey, double-brick villa with a stone facade. We’re unsure of the exact build date but it was advertised as 1890s when the client bought it.
What condition was it in when you came onboard?
The house had a three-part rear extension done over the past 130 or so years that was in poor condition and didn’t suit the client’s needs.
We kept the four bedrooms in the original part of the house, removed the three-part extension and added a new bright and open extension.
What wasn’t working for the client?
Villis says: The three-part extension was dated, dark, pokey and the client didn’t find it an enjoyable space to be in.
Itching to extend your own too-small home? Find a builder on Houzz to help make it happen
Villis says: The three-part extension was dated, dark, pokey and the client didn’t find it an enjoyable space to be in.
Itching to extend your own too-small home? Find a builder on Houzz to help make it happen
Brief
Villis says: The client wanted a functional home for their young family. They sought a timeless design that incorporated playful and unique colours and materials.
Villis says: The client wanted a functional home for their young family. They sought a timeless design that incorporated playful and unique colours and materials.
What were their must-haves?
Villis says:
Villis says:
- A functional floor plan.
- A timeless colour and materials palette.
- A design that injected their personalities into the space.
The butler’s pantry is concealed behind a charming barn door
Gained
Villis says:
Gained
Villis says:
- A new rear extension housing an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area, ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, family bathroom, laundry/mud room, butler’s pantry, and study area.
- A new master suite.
- A new outdoor entertaining area.
- A wider hallway to the original house.
- Re-roofing to a section of the roof.
- Rendering to the western facade.
Tell us about the study
Villis says: Both parents work from home so it was important to give them a spacious work area that was aesthetically pleasing too.
The architect incorporated a slatted screen from Sculptform to define the space, while keeping it connected to the main living area. It’s a great solution as it offers the client enough privacy to work without distraction, but also allows them to speak with anyone in the adjacent kitchen and living areas.
Villis says: Both parents work from home so it was important to give them a spacious work area that was aesthetically pleasing too.
The architect incorporated a slatted screen from Sculptform to define the space, while keeping it connected to the main living area. It’s a great solution as it offers the client enough privacy to work without distraction, but also allows them to speak with anyone in the adjacent kitchen and living areas.
What was the budget?
Villis says: Around $400,000 to $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the finishes, hardwood elements including a new timber floor, beautiful tiles and quality tapware.
Villis says: Around $400,000 to $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the finishes, hardwood elements including a new timber floor, beautiful tiles and quality tapware.
Tell us about the beautiful encaustic tiles
Manuele says:
Incorporating different tiles throughout the design was very important; it was our way to introduce different colours, textures and patterns into each area.
Villis says: The Cerbis Ceramics tiles in the laundry/mud room are actually four different styles that Tessia and the clients chose to use together to create a unique floor. It was quite a bold move by everyone that has really paid off.
Manuele says:
Incorporating different tiles throughout the design was very important; it was our way to introduce different colours, textures and patterns into each area.
Villis says: The Cerbis Ceramics tiles in the laundry/mud room are actually four different styles that Tessia and the clients chose to use together to create a unique floor. It was quite a bold move by everyone that has really paid off.
Tell us about the laundry/mud room
The laundry/mud room has direct access from outside through the pantry, meaning the client can come straight inside and remove their shoes and coats before moving into the other areas of the home.
The wall paneling is Easycraft easyVJ – a great, easy-to-install product that adds warmth and texture to the space.
The laundry/mud room has direct access from outside through the pantry, meaning the client can come straight inside and remove their shoes and coats before moving into the other areas of the home.
The wall paneling is Easycraft easyVJ – a great, easy-to-install product that adds warmth and texture to the space.
A cosy built-in seat in the mudroom, where the parents and children can sit and pull off their shoes when entering the home.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
Manuele says: We used natural materials – such as timber, concrete and terracotta – wherever possible to create a sense of connection between the interior and exterior spaces.
The strong use of timber creates a warm and inviting space. There are pops of colour and pattern throughout the fixed joinery elements and in the overall design (such as in the selection of tiles and light fixtures), which adds individuality and interest to the home.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
Manuele says: We used natural materials – such as timber, concrete and terracotta – wherever possible to create a sense of connection between the interior and exterior spaces.
The strong use of timber creates a warm and inviting space. There are pops of colour and pattern throughout the fixed joinery elements and in the overall design (such as in the selection of tiles and light fixtures), which adds individuality and interest to the home.
The ensuite
How does the new work address the problems identified above?
Villis says: The new work has given the client a whole new way of living. Each of the wet areas are well thought-out and functional, the kitchen/living/dining area is big and bright, yet warm in texture and feel; the study offers a place for the client to work from home; and the outdoor area gives the family a spot to entertain.
How does the new work address the problems identified above?
Villis says: The new work has given the client a whole new way of living. Each of the wet areas are well thought-out and functional, the kitchen/living/dining area is big and bright, yet warm in texture and feel; the study offers a place for the client to work from home; and the outdoor area gives the family a spot to entertain.
How does the new extension complement or contrast with the original home?
Villis says: With its skillion roof and raked ceilings, the new extension contrasts with the original, traditional home. It is designed to optimise the excellent northerly aspect.
Villis says: With its skillion roof and raked ceilings, the new extension contrasts with the original, traditional home. It is designed to optimise the excellent northerly aspect.
What challenges did you have to work around?
Villis says: The project began right in the heat of Covid-19 so I was in isolation for 14 days and relied on video calls and picture messages for site inspections.
Covid-19 also had an impact on lead times for certain items.
Villis says: The project began right in the heat of Covid-19 so I was in isolation for 14 days and relied on video calls and picture messages for site inspections.
Covid-19 also had an impact on lead times for certain items.
What are the defining features of the house now?
Villis says:
Villis says:
- A large, light-filled kitchen/living/dining area.
- Beautiful joinery and finishes, specified by Tessia.
- A spacious master bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
- A beautifully detailed ensuite and family bathroom, which boast volume-enhancing roof windows that vault up from the showers.
- A seamless indoor-outdoor connection, thanks to huge sliding/stacking doors and a servery window in the kitchen.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
Other than the bedrooms, it’s basically a whole new house that gives the family exactly what they wanted, without compromise.
Other than the bedrooms, it’s basically a whole new house that gives the family exactly what they wanted, without compromise.
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
Interior materials palette
- Caesarstone Primordia to the kitchen island benchtop.
- Caesarstone Raw Concrete to the rear kitchen benchtops.
- Wormy chestnut detailing throughout the house, including the solid timber flooring, kitchen detailing and bathroom vanities.
- Terracotta feature tiles to the kitchen island from Cerbis Ceramics.
- Concrete encaustic tiles to the laundry and pantry floors from Cerbis Ceramics.
- Light green finger-mosaic tiles to the family bathroom from Italia Ceramics.
- Easycraft easyVJ wall panelling to the laundry/mud room.
- Sculptform slatted screen to the study area.
- Dulux Lexicon Quarter throughout the interiors.
- Dulux Ageless Grey to the study feature wall.
- Dulux Lexicon Quarter two-pack polyurethane finish to the kitchen joinery.
Finger tiles from Italia Ceramics run all the way up the wall of the family bathroom to draw the eye upwards and create a sense of volume.
Fixtures and fittings
Fixtures and fittings
- Sponge Up terracotta pendants in the kitchen from Aptos Cruz Galleries.
- Natural leather tab pulls to walk-in wardrobe and mud room drawers from Made Measure.
- Leather-wrapped handles to pantry door from Made Measure.
- Grace Gooseneck sink mixer to pantry in brushed nickel from Argent Australia.
- Frankie 400-millimetre basin to ensuite and Frankie 600-millimetre basin to family bathroom, both ABI Interiors.
- Studio 1650 bath from Argent Australia.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal for your own renovation or extension? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great extension? Take a look at this Houzz Tour: A Cottage Extended Up and Out in an Unusual Fashion
Which idea would you steal for your own renovation or extension? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great extension? Take a look at this Houzz Tour: A Cottage Extended Up and Out in an Unusual Fashion
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Lots to like here, tasteful neutral, safe but without being totally bland. Love the island (timber and brick) love the mud room/laundry floor.
Like the leather pulls, the timber vanities and the office screens.
Only downside TV placed too high (and this is a built in feature)(remember, eye level when seated!) and sofa too small for space.
Love the kitchen pendants - thanks for identifying them. No keen on the terracotta tiles at the base of the kitchen island, but everyone has different tastes.