Period Home Restoration and Extension in Hawthorn
Our clients, who work from their Hawthorn home, wanted a striking contemporary building with an integrated office.
Their block had an eight-metre variance in levels, falling from rear to the front – a challenge, but one which helped create a home with a real ‘wow’ factor.
In practical terms, they needed four bedrooms, two with ensuites and the master with an extensive walk-in robe. They also wanted a third bathroom to service the living areas, which include a generous rumpus room and formal entertaining area.
- Blend of Victorian Period Features & Modern Design
- Open Plan Rear Living and Dining Space
- Alfresco Veranda Entertaining with Heating Panels and Fans
- Oak Timber Flooring
- Calcutta Marble Bench Tops
- Imported Italian Tiles
- Ducted Vacuum, Heating and Cooling
- Home Theatre
Prior to their period renovation and extension, the owners had lived in their Hawthorn home for 3 years, however, the original double fronted Victorian weatherboard had been a family home growing up.
Over the years many of the classic wooden features had been removed to reduce time-consuming maintenance work. The picket fence and entry gate were demolished and replaced with a sturdy steel fence. Ornate period features such as eave brackets, verandah fret – work, decorative corbels and mouldings were also removed leaving a simple façade.
The owners planned to completely refurbish and partly restore their home. By combining period grace with modern open plan living and unique features and furnishings, the home now has a light filled stair well, which accesses a second storey addition with a retreat and home theatre room.
The ground level features magnificent Oak flooring, an open plan kitchen with a Calcutta marble bench top and the living area leads out to the alfresco entertaining area. At the rear is a beautiful pool surrounded by landscaped garden beds. A rear double car garage also provides off street parking and storage space.
Stepping inside this home it is surprisingly spacious as it was designed to maximise a relatively small 450 square metre block.
Reflecting on what the home was like before the renovation, the owners can’t believe the transformation. The toilet used to be an old out house in the back yard and there wasn’t much space for a family to live. They recall the family wedging a broken oven door shut with a broom while baking and on really cold days leaving the oven open for heating! They are still in disbelief that their renovated home is the same home he grew up in.
The home’s beautiful distinctive Tutor style exterior has white plastering with black-painted mahogany timber, decorative clinker brickwork in herringbone designs and diamond-pane glass, all reminiscent of the Tutor style Australian buildings. The heritage listing meant we could not alter any part of the exterior including the colour palette or any window glazing.
The design concept was for internal changes only the idea was to completely gut both floors by removing all internal walls to create a blank canvas. The staircase remained and all the internal doors were retained to recycle into the new design. The challenge here was to maintain the structural integrity of the building whilst relocating walls. Many of the solid brick internal walls and fireplaces were load bearing. A big expense on engineering allowed us to open up this home bringing the floor plan into modern day with open living, large entertaining kitchen/dining and bedroom all with ensuites.
The home now has a beautiful wide grand entrance complete with the existing staircase and void. Both, the open plan dining and kitchen to the left or the living to the right are both equally welcoming with pale oak flooring and plantation shutters.
The kitchen showcases European Miele Generation 7000 Intuitive technology. Sleek and elegant appliances include steam combination oven, speed oven, convection oven, range hood, induction cooktop, coffee machine, warming drawer, integrated fridge/freezer and dishwasher. There is extensive joinery and storage, 2 island benches, natural stone bench tops and splashback both in Taj Mahal Quartzite and the butler’s pantry includes a Miele wine-conditioning unit. The heritage large window here floods the room with an abundance of natural light.
The Laundry is off the kitchen and hidden in the fifth bathroom behind bifold doors. Here you will find Miele fashion master steam ironing system. The powder room along with all upstairs bathrooms include the Luxurious Hybrid Ecology System Toilets.
Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling Porcelain tiles and a breathtaking grand master bedroom that flows to a sunroom private balcony.
Other features include wallpaper inserts to cabinetry, Lutron home automation and security cameras, European gas log fireplaces, full reverse cycle heating and cooling and remote controlled double lock up garage.
See our other projects.
- Richmond Heritage Renovation and Extension
- Malvern East Knockdown and Rebuild
- Prahran Heritage Renovation and Extension
- Surrey Hills Knockdown Rebuild
- Kew Double Story Restoration and Extension
- Double Storey Edwardian Style Home Extension in Glen Iris
- Abbotsford Custom New Home
- Canterbury Extension and Renovation
- Brighton French Provincial Knockdown Rebuild
- Armadale Victorian Style Renovation and Extension
- Malvern East Californian Bungalow Extension
- Kew Victorian Home Renovation
- Brighton Period Home Renovation & Restoration
Ready to discuss your ideas?
SPEAK WITH THE SHERBROOKE TEAM
If you’re thinking about extending, renovating or building a new home, we can help. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you would like more information about us or our services.