Home renovation ideas Australia: Key to combining country charm with contemporary living
Modern living can come with some of the treats of the past and the regions if you know how to do it right.
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Sydney-based architect Katherine Burdett, from Noble Architecture, didn’t even set foot inside the rundown three-bedroom Federation home in Scone, in the Hunter region of NSW, before she snapped it up.
“I came across it by accident,” Katherine says.
“The yard was overgrown, so the house wasn’t visible from the street, but I must noticed it was in a good position in an attractive tree-lined street. It was an affordable opportunity, an undiscovered diamond in the rough and I could tell there was something there worth unearthing.”
The home was also north-facing and well positioned on a generous, flat corner block, which any good architect knows adds up to property gold. The agent sent her a walk-through video and that was all Katherine needed to know.
She knew she could transform this neglected country home into a chic, liveable retreat that would blend heritage character with the modern luxury fixtures and airy spaces typical of her urban projects.
REGIONAL HOME STYLE SHIFT
It’s exactly the sort of modern renovation that many city people are considering as the Covid-19 driven exodus away from urban areas to the regions continues.
In 2020, more than 233,000 capital city dwellers moved to the country or the coast, looking for more space and, of course, value for money. And often they’re transporting an urban aesthetic to their new regional homes, many of which may not have been updated for decades.
“Moving to the country doesn’t suddenly mean you have to start dressing head to toe in tweed and dining on chequered picnic rugs with floral cushions everywhere,” says Katherine.
“It doesn’t mean you’d like your kitchen to be closed-in. There’s a desire to live like the current generation with modern preferences and technologies, and not like our parents or grandparents.”
Of course, that does tend to take a bit of work. Katherine’s first task at her new home was clearing away tangled vegetation and a dilapidated pergola.
Next, removing chipboard joinery and the property’s dark, thick carpet.
Then she set about restoring the historical features that made the home unique, such as ornate ceilings and fireplaces. After that, came the modern elements, a double shower in a bathroom, window seats to enhance the indoors-outdoors connection and marble kitchen benchtops. Katherine focused on bespoke detailing such as Australian-made brass Astra Walker tapware, finger jointed pine skirting and personal touches she had collected on overseas travels, such as Charles and Ray Eames house numbers from Los Angeles and cabinet handles from San Francisco.
The vision was to enhance the heritage features at the front of the house, while opening up the rear.
“Landscaping was important to formalise a grander entry, and to create spaces to enjoy cool shade in the heat of summer,” she says.
A new pergola and fire pit for outdoor entertaining were also installed.
Once Katherine had finished, the result was spectacular; a fresh, four-bedroom masterpiece that precisely blended the old with the new, effectively bridging country and city.
you can do it too
MODERN HOME WITH HERITAGE CHARMS
As an architect, Katherine was at an advantage when it came to transforming this blast-from-the-past regional gem into a fresh, modern living space, without erasing its heritage charms. But she says with a good eye, and maybe a bit of expert help, anyone can do the same.
“Minimalist, clean lines, lighter more open spaces, more glass and a dialogue between the house, garden and pool, and contrasting modern elements with the original features of a period property” are what define today’s country style, says Katherine.
“Try to find something you can bring back to life, preserving and highlighting history and telling the story of time,” she adds.
Today’s country style isn’t about twee wooden kitchens or frilly checked curtains.
These are some of the elements that make up the new country style code, that look equally at home in a city or rural postcode:
● Go for natural materials and colours, and textural features for contrast.
● Champagne coloured cork is a beautiful alternative to carpet or timber and can be much cheaper, while maintaining the feel of light, natural warm material. It’s also easy to keep clean and feels good under bare feet.
● Different paint colours gives atmosphere. Soft grey makes living rooms feel more formal, while peachy hues add warmth and fun. A snowy white facade is always fresh and crisp.
● Frameless glass corner window seats are a great way to connect to views.
● Choose a feature stone and repeat it throughout the home. Some marble sellers sell by the slab and you may get benchtops, splashbacks and shelves from one slab.
Heritage features of the home were retained, while new joinery was added to the living room and kitchen.
Do your due diligence
It’s crucial to understand the property’s structural integrity and its plumbing, electricals, soil type and bushfire risk to avoid making an expensive mistake.
Your best bet is to engage a structural engineer and architect for advice before purchase. “They can provide you with a quick overview of the design possibilities and potential risks to factor in to your decision and budgeting,” says aKatherine.
Try to use local tradespeople where possible, to support your new suburb. And when you uncover character home quirks during the reno process, roll with them.
“Try to let go of any perfectionist tendencies when dealing with old buildings,” says Katherine.
“In older homes, straight lines are a rarity.”
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Originally published as Home renovation ideas Australia: Key to combining country charm with contemporary living
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