Grain of truth

Every year, new and improved materials find their way onto the market. Designed to provide better insulation, speed up construction or be kinder to the environment, these materials all offer a common aesthetic their ability to resemble wood.

But when architect Nic Owen was asked to design a modern, yet sympathetic, extension to a Victorian cottage, he chose the traditional, natural material.

"Externally we used a lot of wood to tie in with the original structure, but also as a way of softening the modernist additions," says Owen.

"Internally, wood was used to delineate areas within the large open-plan kitchen and family space, as well as to add visual warmth."

The owners chose hoop pine, blackbutt and blackbean hardwood for the kitchen and living area, as these feature throughout the house, and again it adds cohesion to the project.

"The eating area is contained within a space that projects from the rest of the house," says Owen. "The hoop-pine ceiling has been used as a linking device between the external decked area and this space."

Hoop pine was then used for the kitchen where the ceiling height was lowered again to create an intimate working environment.

"We've offset the extensive use of wood with a two-pack painted finish on the cabinetry, which was deliberately made without handles to continue the sleek, ageless feel," says Owen.

"This is the strength of this design using wood to pay respect to the original Victorian structure, while providing a timeless backdrop that will have relevance for years to come."

Story by: Trendsideas