Renovating
Rural Houzz: A Reader's Forever Home, Inspired by Houzz
When designing a home on a challenging site for ageing-in-place, this reader turned to Houzz for inspiration and advice
This Houzz reader and her partner bought a beautiful bush block in Hepburn, Victoria, to build a home where the couple could see out their future retirement. “We designed this home so we could age gracefully [in the future], with no internal stairs or steps,” says the homeowner. “It was a challenging build – the block came with a BAL Flame Zone (FZ) rating, which is the highest bushfire building rating in Victoria, and we wanted to achieve a high passive-energy design, all within a budget.”
Fortunately, she had great help she could turn to. When it came to the look and feel of the house, she used images and Ideabooks on Houzz to find inspiration, refine her design thinking and keep all her imagery in one convenient, easy-to-refer-to spot. And when it came to finding essential information on energy efficiency, building in a bushfire zone, decorating ideas and more, she turned to editorial stories on Houzz.
Fortunately, she had great help she could turn to. When it came to the look and feel of the house, she used images and Ideabooks on Houzz to find inspiration, refine her design thinking and keep all her imagery in one convenient, easy-to-refer-to spot. And when it came to finding essential information on energy efficiency, building in a bushfire zone, decorating ideas and more, she turned to editorial stories on Houzz.
The floor plan.
“I have renovated before, but this was the first time I used Houzz Ideabooks to collect images for a project. They were instrumental in improving my design ideas,” says the homeowner.
“Seeing how other people have designed their homes gave me loads of inspiration. I love how Houzz offers ‘real people’ solutions to building and design problems, how you can sort through what you like and don’t like, find answers to questions and source inspirational photos,” she says.
“I have renovated before, but this was the first time I used Houzz Ideabooks to collect images for a project. They were instrumental in improving my design ideas,” says the homeowner.
“Seeing how other people have designed their homes gave me loads of inspiration. I love how Houzz offers ‘real people’ solutions to building and design problems, how you can sort through what you like and don’t like, find answers to questions and source inspirational photos,” she says.
The owner also found Houzz editorial stories extremely useful: this story, for example, provided information on how to design a bathroom for ageing-in-place, this one on innovative eco features, and this one showed some clever ways to magic up more kitchen bench space.
Read on to take a tour through the beautiful result of this homeowner’s efforts and glean insights into her renovation journey.
Thinking of building your dream home? Find a builder near you on Houzz
Read on to take a tour through the beautiful result of this homeowner’s efforts and glean insights into her renovation journey.
Thinking of building your dream home? Find a builder near you on Houzz
Exterior cladding: Colorbond Monument.
The finished exterior
Using the previous Houzz image as inspiration, we chose Colorbond Monument for our exterior – we love the look, plus it meets our home’s required BAL 29 bushfire rating.
The Colorbond Monument creates a bold first impression and, from a performance perspective, will protect our home for years.
The finished exterior
Using the previous Houzz image as inspiration, we chose Colorbond Monument for our exterior – we love the look, plus it meets our home’s required BAL 29 bushfire rating.
The Colorbond Monument creates a bold first impression and, from a performance perspective, will protect our home for years.
Houzz inspiration image
The deep green, blue and grey tones in this Houzz image inspired the colour palette throughout the home.
The deep green, blue and grey tones in this Houzz image inspired the colour palette throughout the home.
Houzz inspiration image
These two Houzz kitchen images inspired me to use birch plywood and Laminex AbsoluteMatt Black for the kitchen cabinets.
The image above also showed me how impactful a raked ceiling would look and how well an island bench would work as a divider within an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space. It inspired me to use concrete block in other parts of the house and black light fixtures on the plywood raked ceiling, too.
These two Houzz kitchen images inspired me to use birch plywood and Laminex AbsoluteMatt Black for the kitchen cabinets.
The image above also showed me how impactful a raked ceiling would look and how well an island bench would work as a divider within an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space. It inspired me to use concrete block in other parts of the house and black light fixtures on the plywood raked ceiling, too.
Houzz inspiration image
This image inspired me to go for integrated, stacked ovens as I have problems with my lower back. Plus, it showcased the need for excellent lighting in the kitchen and inspired me to settle on black for the outside joinery with wood in the centre.
This image inspired me to go for integrated, stacked ovens as I have problems with my lower back. Plus, it showcased the need for excellent lighting in the kitchen and inspired me to settle on black for the outside joinery with wood in the centre.
Houzz inspiration image
This shot gave me the idea to add a handy storage shelf above the pull-out recycling bin.
This shot gave me the idea to add a handy storage shelf above the pull-out recycling bin.
Houzz inspiration image
This image was a useful reminder to include a spot for the toaster and coffee grinder in my butler’s pantry.
Even though I didn’t want open shelves in the kitchen as I dislike dusting, including them in the pantry does provide easy access to items and a quick visual of what you have in stock or need to shop for.
This image was a useful reminder to include a spot for the toaster and coffee grinder in my butler’s pantry.
Even though I didn’t want open shelves in the kitchen as I dislike dusting, including them in the pantry does provide easy access to items and a quick visual of what you have in stock or need to shop for.
The finished open-plan living area
I conceptualised the house as three separate wings with all the communal living and working areas (kitchen, laundry and butler’s pantry) contained within one wing. The plywood raked ceiling [not shown] defines this space.
The generous ceiling height allows the windows and external glass doors to capture views and northern light to meet our passive-energy design goals. It also creates a sense of space in this open-plan area and allowed us to include tall open storage in the laundry and pantry.
In addition, having a raked ceiling enabled an unbroken roof plane across the entire house and carport, which makes it easier to accommodate our solar panels.
I conceptualised the house as three separate wings with all the communal living and working areas (kitchen, laundry and butler’s pantry) contained within one wing. The plywood raked ceiling [not shown] defines this space.
The generous ceiling height allows the windows and external glass doors to capture views and northern light to meet our passive-energy design goals. It also creates a sense of space in this open-plan area and allowed us to include tall open storage in the laundry and pantry.
In addition, having a raked ceiling enabled an unbroken roof plane across the entire house and carport, which makes it easier to accommodate our solar panels.
Houzz inspiration image
This image showcased how a high, wooden ceiling can be used to define different parts of an open-plan room and the importance of window placement to capture the views. Bringing the landscape inside visually and establishing our home as part of the Hepburn bush was one of my key design aims.
This image showcased how a high, wooden ceiling can be used to define different parts of an open-plan room and the importance of window placement to capture the views. Bringing the landscape inside visually and establishing our home as part of the Hepburn bush was one of my key design aims.
The finished front hallway
Hepburn has very wet winters and we have also put in hydronic heating throughout the polished concrete floors, so we felt it was a good idea to include a boot and coat area for ourselves and visitors.
This is an extremely useful little spot – as well as somewhere to pull off boots, it provides a spot to hang my daughter’s poodle’s leads and the lower panel hides the hydronic heating pipes, even if I had planned originally to use [the latter] as shoe storage!
Hepburn has very wet winters and we have also put in hydronic heating throughout the polished concrete floors, so we felt it was a good idea to include a boot and coat area for ourselves and visitors.
This is an extremely useful little spot – as well as somewhere to pull off boots, it provides a spot to hang my daughter’s poodle’s leads and the lower panel hides the hydronic heating pipes, even if I had planned originally to use [the latter] as shoe storage!
Houzz inspiration image
Here, I like how the seat and coat hooks are right at the door leading in from the carport/garage and how the same material has been used for the tall cupboards.
Here, I like how the seat and coat hooks are right at the door leading in from the carport/garage and how the same material has been used for the tall cupboards.
Fireplace: Zen Fireplaces.
The suspended fireplace installed
Hepburn also gets very chilly winters, so we wanted to include a suspended fireplace to provide warmth and cosiness. We also have hidden hydronic heating in the polished-concrete floor so, with the fireplace on, it feels wonderfully warm and cosy.
The fireplace is wood-burning, but I also bought an ethanol burner insert for when we have exhausted our stockpile of firewood from reducing the fire hazard rating to build.
The suspended fireplace installed
Hepburn also gets very chilly winters, so we wanted to include a suspended fireplace to provide warmth and cosiness. We also have hidden hydronic heating in the polished-concrete floor so, with the fireplace on, it feels wonderfully warm and cosy.
The fireplace is wood-burning, but I also bought an ethanol burner insert for when we have exhausted our stockpile of firewood from reducing the fire hazard rating to build.
Houzz inspiration image
I really liked how the fireplace creates a cosy defined living space within the large, open-plan room in this image.
I really liked how the fireplace creates a cosy defined living space within the large, open-plan room in this image.
The finished main bedroom
In our main bedroom, I wanted to include a room divider/bedhead to create a sense of privacy from the sitting room. Having it open allows us to retain the passive cooling ventilation from the windows at each end of the room, as well as natural light and a sense of spaciousness.
In our main bedroom, I wanted to include a room divider/bedhead to create a sense of privacy from the sitting room. Having it open allows us to retain the passive cooling ventilation from the windows at each end of the room, as well as natural light and a sense of spaciousness.
The Labyrinth book shelf
Houzz inspiration image
For the design, we were inspired by the open shelves of this Labyrinth bookshelf. We adapted it to include electrical wiring and a solid back for the headboard, and it was built by Nature’s Secret in Tasmanian oak. They then created other custom furniture in the same oak, including an AV unit and buffets, which we’ve used elsewhere in the house.
For the design, we were inspired by the open shelves of this Labyrinth bookshelf. We adapted it to include electrical wiring and a solid back for the headboard, and it was built by Nature’s Secret in Tasmanian oak. They then created other custom furniture in the same oak, including an AV unit and buffets, which we’ve used elsewhere in the house.
Houzz inspiration image
This image of a bookshelf in a Bellarine beach house [in Victoria] also fuelled our design thinking for the room divider.
This image of a bookshelf in a Bellarine beach house [in Victoria] also fuelled our design thinking for the room divider.
Houzz inspiration image
For the colour palette in our main bedroom, I was inspired by this bedroom image with its touches of soft flamingo pink and the warmth of the green velvet chair, combined with the dark wall paint.
For the colour palette in our main bedroom, I was inspired by this bedroom image with its touches of soft flamingo pink and the warmth of the green velvet chair, combined with the dark wall paint.
Tiles in both bathrooms: DeLucia Tile Gallery.
The finished main ensuite
The earlier Houzz image of the tiled bathroom inspired me to use a patterned tile in the main ensuite.
I picked out the blue-green colour in the leaf and bird pattern ensuite tiles, matching it to the Porter’s Paints Hailstorm used on the adjoining main bedroom’s walls. I asked the tiler to mix the patterned tiles with plain ones from the same range – I think he did a fantastic job.
The finished main ensuite
The earlier Houzz image of the tiled bathroom inspired me to use a patterned tile in the main ensuite.
I picked out the blue-green colour in the leaf and bird pattern ensuite tiles, matching it to the Porter’s Paints Hailstorm used on the adjoining main bedroom’s walls. I asked the tiler to mix the patterned tiles with plain ones from the same range – I think he did a fantastic job.
Houzz inspiration image
This image is a great example of how patterned tiles can make a feature in an otherwise neutral space.
This image is a great example of how patterned tiles can make a feature in an otherwise neutral space.
Houzz inspiration image
The muted tones in this image drove my thinking for the main bathroom colour palette.
The muted tones in this image drove my thinking for the main bathroom colour palette.
Houzz inspiration image
The huge window providing lush views, as well as the shape and position of the freestanding bath, impressed me here.
The huge window providing lush views, as well as the shape and position of the freestanding bath, impressed me here.
The finished main bathroom
Your turn
Are you as wowed as we are with how this reader designed her dream home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see how another reader used Houzz to transform their home? Don’t miss this Room of the Week: A Reader’s Bathroom Inspired by Houzz
Your turn
Are you as wowed as we are with how this reader designed her dream home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see how another reader used Houzz to transform their home? Don’t miss this Room of the Week: A Reader’s Bathroom Inspired by Houzz
Who lives here: A couple and their dog, whose young adult children, extended family and friends visit
Location: Hepburn Springs, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
House size: 178 square metres
Construction started: October 2021
Construction completed: October 2022
Architect: Stephen Davis
Builder: Reco Renovation & Construction
Cabinetry: Correct Cabinets
BAL 29-rated windows & external doors: Paarhammer Windows & Doors
Custom timber furniture: Nature’s Secret
Landscape design: Gary Winter Landscape Design
Landscaping: Artisan Scapes