Old charm meets modern practicality in this Hamilton beauty
You’ve heard the old adage – location, location. You just can’t beat finding your perfect street in your perfect suburb.
Tim and Karen have lived on Everton Street in Hamilton for years. When their young family started to outgrow their original home eight years ago, they had an opportunity to buy another unrenovated property on the same street. It was a house they saw potential in, that they could grow into as a family without leaving their community.
“We knew from the start it’s going to need some work down the track. We didn’t really know when that would be but were giving ourselves five or six years to start.”
After the arrival of their third child, and then of course, the upheaval of a global pandemic, eighteen months ago they knew the time was right to start planning their renovation journey. The original part of the 100-year-old home still retained many of its original features, however the rear extension, added around thirty years ago lacked proper footing and required substantial structural work.
“We had some pretty clear ideas of what we wanted to achieve for the space and we engaged Zoe from Your Home Designs to prepare our plans.
“She was definitely on the mark and we had a great rapport with her. She had also previously worked with Jack and Claire from our builder, Muse Built, so that worked to our advantage.
“Jack’s dad, who is also a builder, lives in our street and has worked on a few houses around here so having that trust before you start made it a lot easier.”
For Tim and Karen, working with Muse Built and Your Home Designs was a truly collaborative experience where nothing was too difficult.
“Jack and Claire came on board, and worked harmoniously with Your Home Designs to make changes here and their experience was invaluable and their communication style was always great. If they saw something they thought may not work they’d tell us. If they had ideas for slight revisions, they would always share them with us.”
Can you describe what state the house was in when you started?
“There was a step down from the original part of the house to the extension with a small kitchen and dining space. There was a toilet and linen cupboard at the end and a deck but there was no internal connection. There was an outside laundry and a man’s shed. You could see how they had gradually added on over the years, with no real continuity. It was really starting to show its age.
“The original part of the house is double brick and suffered quite a bit from damp, so the plaster was peeling off the walls in many places. With the rear of the house facing south, it also lacked natural light and was very dark.”
Tim and Karen’s three children, aged 5, 8 and 10 all lived in the house throughout the 12-month renovation. I have to ask if they have any survival tips for families looking at embarking on the same journey.
“We pulled down the back of the house and just lived in the front. Even though it was like a rabbit warren, we actually loved this time. It was really cosy. We set up a temporary kitchen in the bedroom and the three kids all shared a room.
“Muse Built made a few amendments for us so the space was liveable during the reno. Once the new rear extension was finished, we switched over and lived in the back of the house while they worked on the original structure.”
As can be the case with many older homes, the floor plan in the original part of the house wasn’t practical for modern, family living. Walls were removed and added to create a classic and timeless wide central hallway with rooms off to each side.
Keen to retain the period aesthetic of the original part of the build, Karen sourced two internal doors from Marketplace in the same style as the three original doors and restored them herself. The master bedroom window at the front of the house was still in fantastic condition, due to it being protected over the years by an awning. It serves as a beautiful focal point in this glamorous and serene room.
They also replaced all the original picture rails in the bedrooms, but avoided using them in the hallway, to make the transition to the modern addition more seamless.
Where any original features couldn’t be retained, they were sold so they could live on in somebody else’s home. The thought of taking these pieces of history to the tip was just too much.
“We wanted there to be a distinct difference between the old and new parts of the house. The cornice treatment in the old part of the house makes way for contemporary square set ceilings in the extension.”
One of the joys of renovating a period home is the discoveries you uncover along the way.
“The ceiling in the bedroom is the original one, which we only found when we pulled down the ceiling that was covering it. We also found some places where there had been fireplaces and even covered in windows. It’s just so fascinating to see how people used to live here. They were small houses, but they made it work”.
When some walls were knocked down the original flooring was damaged, so they laid engineered timber flooring from Havwoods over the top. The contrast of the dark, timber flooring with the fresh white walls creates a fresh and bright aesthetic.
Also in the original part of the house is the family bathroom. Karen designed the bathroom from a picture she had found on Instagram. With soaring 3m high ceilings, an abundance of natural light thanks to a massive sky light, and large format tiles floor to ceiling, its success is in its restraint. With a dedicated wet area for the bath and shower, separated from the vanity with a fluted shower screen, the minimalist design creates a sense of peace and effortless glamour.
Karen trusted her gut when it came to tile selection.
“The tile selection process was actually a bit of a saga. Everything I selected kept being discontinued. I was a bit hesitant at first with my choices but it’s worked out really well. I didn’t think it needed the addition of feature tiles. I wanted to keep it restrained and pared back.
“Both Muse Built and Your Home Designs pointed us in the direction of ABI Interiors for our tapware selection so the process was all really easy for us. ABI were really good to deal with, especially with the supply of samples. We were able to order a couple of taps to start with and see how we liked them. One arrived slightly tarnished and within two days they had sent us a new one.”
Karen’s favourite aspect of the original part of her home was inspired by another picture Karen saw on Instagram. She has a hidden cupboard at the end of the hallway. Disguised with Laminex Surround cladding, it looks like one wall. Behind the hidden door reveals not only shelving for storage, but also a laundry chute to transport the family’s dirty clothes directly to the downstairs laundry.
Stepping up into the new extension at the back of the house is a little like stepping into another world. It takes you by surprise.
The first thing that takes your attention is the wall of glass leading onto a massive deck with views across to Merewether and Adamstown, and then you turn to see the most incredible black and white kitchen illuminated by a row of massive sky lights.
“As soon as I saw a picture of the kitchen in a magazine I knew it was what we were going to have. The layout had to be this way so that did make it easy. We really wanted the kitchen to grab your attention.”
Built by the team at Bliss Kitchens, the hero would have to be the hand selected slabs of Dolomite stone on the benchtops that Karen and Tim went to Marble Hub in Sydney to select. The door profiles and decision to go without handles definitely allows the stone to shine.
The addition of black Polytec joinery complements the stone and also allows the black fridge to blend in without having to go to the expense of installing a fully integrated fridge. The granite sink is another genius design decision that contributes to the high end overall aesthetic.
“I love our coffee nook. We use it every morning. This is the biggest pantry I’ve ever had. I love how it’s all tucked away out of sight.”
The exterior of the new extension has been clad with James Hardie’s Oblique cladding and the simple colour palette of black, white and grey with touches of timber works really nicely with the original brickwork. Bricks salvaged from some of their demolition have been repurposed to create a set of steps leading to the downstairs rumpus room.
“When the kids have friends over, this is their zone”, explains Karen when we enter the downstairs rumpus room.
Also on this level is a study, laundry, and a carpeted spare bedroom with an oversized barn door.
“The open shelving wasn’t a part of the original plan but we really love it. It’s such a contrast to the laundry we had before that was outside, and we had to sweep the leaves off the floor before we could use it!”
What’s your favourite thing about the renovation?
“I love that there is so much room. The kids can have their space and we can have ours. It’s great when family and friends come over because there’s plenty of space for everybody. It also feels so light now.
“Even dinner time is so great. We've got a choice of where we want to sit – inside or outside and you can still cook dinner and the kids are there. Whereas before, the lounge rooms were at the front and the kitchen was at the back. Despite it being two stories and the kids having their own space downstairs, it still feels very connected.
We always wanted our home to be a drop-in centre for our kids’ friends. It’s a good space for everyone to be in and you’re not on top of each other. It’s a real family home. We’re very happy.”
Was this your first renovation project?
“Yes, and I loved it!”
Wait….what???
“No, truly! We actually didn’t find it stressful and that’s because of the team from Muse and Your Home Designs. They both commit to undertaking a project like it’s their own. Their attention to detail meant we had complete trust in the process. There was a lot of problem solving along the way, but we were never rushed. We talked the whole way through.”
Their new home now suits their needs perfectly and provides ample space, while still preserving the original charm through preserved historical elements. Perhaps the greatest gift this renovation has given them, is the sense of family connection.
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