Seeing is believing

This dramatic lakeside house is an unrecognisable version of the original, thanks to an extensive renovation by Don Nelson Architecture

Grand entrance to this home with floor tiles, apartment, ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, hall, hardwood, interior design, lobby, property, real estate, wood flooring, brown — Grand entrance to this home with floor tiles, columns, stairway, with view through glass doors to dining room and lake views beyond.

Entranceway to house with bright-lit formal look, and architecture, building, estate, facade, hacienda, home, house, lighting, property, real estate, black

Large curved staircase with wooden steps linking three ceiling, floor, flooring, hardwood, orange, product design, wood, orange

Pool with wet edge looking out to lake, chair, estate, floor, furniture, leisure, outdoor furniture, outdoor structure, property, real estate, sunlounger, swimming pool, table, vacation, water, white

Exterior of house looking over pool back to architecture, estate, evening, home, house, landscape lighting, lighting, property, real estate, reflection, swimming pool, villa, black

Stairway with wooden steps, cream walls, and wooden baluster, ceiling, daylighting, floor, flooring, handrail, hardwood, home, house, interior design, stairs, wood, orange, brown

Image of house before renovation with brick and building, elevation, facade, home, house, property, real estate, residential area, siding, window, black

Before and after pictures demonstrate just how much a home can be transformed by a great renovation. And, in the case of this project, they provide proof that no matter what style of house you have, you can make drastic changes for the better.

The lakeside house, originally a 1950s brick-and-tile bungalow with basement garaging, was extensively remodelled by Don Nelson Architecture.

Don Nelson says the owners wanted a more spacious, contemporary home that would have a much better connection with the lake, in terms of both the view and indoor-outdoor flow.

Nelson created a new formal entrance lobby, where circular columns flank a void and direct the eye to the view beyond.

The original kitchen was dismantled and the house extended to create a new, larger kitchen. The dining and family living area was also remodelled and now opens out through bifold doors to a large deck. Curved outdoor stairs link the deck with the pool terrace.

"The main floor of the existing house was typical of its era, but the rooms were very small," Nelson says. "The three bedrooms were reconfigured to create two large bedrooms and a main bathroom. We also added a new top floor to accommodate a master bedroom, ensuite and large, walk-in wardrobe. This bedroom opens to a tiled deck with views over the pool and garden to the lake."

The original basement now houses new bedrooms and a lounge-games room.

"With its modern Mediterranean look, the house looks very different from both the street and the lakefront," says Nelson. "It is also far more liveable."