Unassuming street façade hides soulful rear extension
This renovation involved taking a home built in the 1950s and injecting much-needed character and utility
Architect: Blue Giraffe Studio
From the architect: We took a 1950’s home and injected soul and heritage into it. By replacing aluminium sliding grill windows with beautiful timber casements, the home is drenched in natural light and sings in its brass and timber accents. The modifications have been done only to enhance the heritage and not detract from it.
The front of the house is clearly defined with its Queenslander slant, even though the floor plan has been completely redesigned and the interior and exterior have been given a fresh new charm. The rear extension comes as a complete surprise and none of its drama is alluded to by its street façade. We were very careful to make the extension modern but not ‘cold’.
The warm timber floors, timber windows and pops of colour offset the black exterior, white walls and expansive glass. Most suburban homes don’t have the benefit of stunning outlooks to mountain ranges or heavily wooded forestland, so what you do with it is what makes the difference. The full height glass bi-folds open up the entire back wall of the home to the terraced garden.
The exterior incorporates Asian design philosophies – which are perfectly suited to the temperate climate of Brisbane. The home can completely open up in the warmer months. This is a child friendly home that allows the family to live in style without being too pretentious.
The floor plan lends itself to housing the kids sleeping and play areas in the older part of the house and the new structure with its open plan and high ceilings to house the main living spaces. The master suite is separate enough to give it sufficient privacy from the rest of the house.
The inconspicuous BBQ area with its green wall and built in seats creates an almost separate room off the deck for entertaining and casual dining. The shallow deck extends the living room to the garden and vastly extends the 190 sq. footprint of this home to feel much larger than it actually is.
Overall this home is a jaw dropping surprise hidden away in a beautiful Bayside suburb in Brisbane that is sure to delight its residents and guests for many years to come!
Story by: Trends
Photography by: md photography
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