First impressions

With the right roofing and cladding materials, it's easy to transform the look of your home or create character where previously there was none, as these projects illustrate

this home underwent a major transformation, both inside architecture, cottage, estate, facade, historic house, home, house, neighbourhood, plant, property, real estate, residential area, roof, siding, window, black — this home underwent a major transformation, both inside and out. the home exterior was enhanced by cladding it in pale coloured stucco and making the windows and entrance more dominant

this home underwent a major transformation, both inside architecture, cottage, elevation, estate, facade, farmhouse, home, house, landscape, mansion, outdoor structure, plant, plantation, property, real estate, residential area, roof, tree, yard, green, black

before remodelling the brick and tile home was cottage, home, house, property, real estate, residential area, roof, white, black

as the enclosed porch at the rear was backyard, cottage, home, house, lighting, outdoor structure, porch, property, real estate, residential area, roof, shed, siding, tree, window, yard, black, white

the clerestory turret ensures natural light penetrates into cottage, estate, farmhouse, historic house, home, house, landscape, mansion, plantation, property, real estate, residential area, roof, tree, villa, black

Extensively renovating a home can include a complete character make over. But it's easier to give a home a new identity if it has none in the first place.

Before architect David Hacin got his hands on this 1950s house, it was plain and uninspiring, and had very little street appeal.

"It was basically a blank slate. It had small windows, an overpowering roof and no personality."

But Hacin, and the homeowner Lilli Gordon, saw the home's potential. Located in a good neighbourhood, it was surrounded by grand residences, and came with a great deal of land.

One of the main objectives was to make the house more attractive from the outside. The lower level of the two-storey home was concrete, and the upper level was brick, which gave the home adisjointed feel. Hacin decided to clad the entire home in pale-coloured stucco, which unified the two levels, and gave it a more contemporary feel.

Gordon felt the home was dominated by the heavy roof structure, so she and Hacin explored various ways of remedying this.

"We raised the windows above the roof line and created a grand entry way, which counteracts the roof's strong horizontal lines," says Gordon.

The roof's two different materials shingle and copper also help to break up the solid feel of the roof, as does the addition of a clerestory turret.

The grand entry way was created because Gordon wanted the home's entrance to have a more ceremonial feel. Having a roofed-over entrance also provides shelter from the wind and rain.

One of the major problems before renovating was the lack of natural light penetrating into the home's centre.

"By cutting through the attic and adding the clerestory turret we were able to flood the centre of the home with light," says Hacin.